The word Grail is derived from graduale, which means step-by-step, degree by degree. There are six degrees or levels of awareness in the Grail quest, and each one is represented by an animal.
The raven is the symbol of the first degree and represents the messenger of the Grail and “the finger of fate” that initiates the quest.
The peacock signified the second degree and symbolised the search for immortality. It also suggests the colourful and imaginative nature of the quest.
The sign of the third degree was the swan, because the one who took up the Grail quest sang a swan song to selfish and indulgent ways. In order to succeed in the quest, one must overcome weaknesses of the mind and heart and move beyond petty likes and dislikes.
The fourth degree was signified by the pelican, a bird willing to nurture its young by wounding its own breast. It symbolized the quality of self-sacrifice and the willingness to endanger self for the sake of saving one’s own people.
The lion was the sign of the fifth degree. It stood for leadership, conquest, and the attainment of high goals.
The sixth and highest level, represented by the eagle, was achieved at the end of the quest. At that time the seeker of the Grail would have gained the power and knowledge necessary to understand fully the significance of the search.
