Hart Book Description:
In a forest clearing we see Gereint out hunting transfixed at the sigh of Enid, who sees the White Hart coming towards them.

Book Background:
The lovers depicted here are Gereint and Enid. Their story appears in the Mabinogion as well as in Chretien de Troyes' Erec and Enid. Gereint is a knight of Arthur's court who seeks to avenge an insult done to Guinevere by Edern ap Nudd. He pursues Edern with neither arms nor armour, but is given these by Earl Yniwl, who has been dispossessed by Edern. The only way Gereint can avenge the insult to Guinevere is to fight Edern at the Sparrowhawk contest---a tournament in which a kestrel is awarded to the knight who successfully overcomes all challenges. The contest rules state that each combatant must fight for his lady's honour, and Gereint has no lady. He asks to champion Enid, Yniwl's daughter. He beats Edern, wins the sparrowhawk and wins Enid as his wife. The hunting of the White Hart---a ritual hunt which is the preserve of the Pendragons only---takes place in Gereint's absence. Arthur himself captures the beast and cuts off its head; the custom is that the head should be awarded to the fairest lady, but Guinevere delays the disposal of the head until Gereint returns with Enid. Guinevere takes Enid under her protection and prepares her for marriage to Gereint. The head of the White Hart is awarded to Enid. The testing of Gereint and Enid's love in the ensuing story is very much as a result of the foregoing incident. The appearance of the White Hart in Celto-Arthurian literature usually heralds a change in the order of things, for it is a messenger of the Goddess of Sovereignty whose Otherworldly influence leads the lovers in this story into further testing and many severe trials of their affection. Gereint's rather superficial affection for Enid is deepened, while her unworldly idealism is assimilated into a more practical manifestation of love. The White Hart represents the call of the Otherworld to compassion and commitment to the spiritual quest. The attainment of its head is a royal or initiatic task which only king, champion or lover can undertake. (For a fuller breakdown of this story see Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain.)

Archetypal Meaning:
The White Hart is the Otherworldly messenger into spiritual adventure and the purity of love. Those who hunt it are drawn deeper into themselves and made aware of the pure power of love to overcome all obstacles. It also represents the silver chain of sexual desire which is between men and women, but it also enhances that desire into love that is strong as death.

Divinitory Meaning:
Love, both sexual and spiritual; the vision of inner beauty; emotional ties; trust; the marriage of minds and hearts; platonic friendship; fulfillment of desire.

Shaelin-Margras
margras@mciworld.com