explore the life and soul of Mary Magdalene

Exploring The Life & Soul of Mary Magdalene Written by Sheranda Tay Introduction Once upon a time, about 2000 years ago in a little town called Magdala in Palestine, a girl was born who would captivate the world. She was Mary Magdalene. We will explore her life and her soul in this metaphysical course of study to gain a deeper understanding of the woman who has been known to be everything from a common prostitute to a venerated saint of the Orthodox Catholic Church. The quest has blossomed with The Da Vinci Code (1997), by Dan Brown, to discover the true Mary Magdalene. Eager New Age followers and Catholics alike are all asking: Who was Mary Magdalene, and was she really married to Jesus? The launch of this quest for knowledge about the Biblical figure Mary Magdalene, the belief that she was married to Jesus and they might have even had children, really heightened with the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982) by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. I myself was lured into its mystery and intrigue in 1984. The book states that a secret society of mystical, wealthy, warrior‐like male figures, “The Knights Templar,” lasted throughout the centuries. Supposedly, “The Knights Templar” kept the secret that there was a physical bloodline of Jesus Christ through his marriage to Mary Magdalene. I did not feel repulsed by this hypothesis and in fact I was excited to learn of this romantic mystery. This mystery, however, I have learned has many dark veils. Who was Mary Magdalene? What do you believe? Why is she such an enigma? How did the politics of religion play into her story? The many faces of Mary Magdalene represent the journey of the soul. It is through the process of falling from grace, and then climbing back up, that we master the traps of the third dimensional reality. The Magdalene represents the repressed, degraded, once spiritual woman, driven into exile from a cruel, murderous world. Through centuries of sacrificial acts of lambs and brutal war, we have come to the end of the fight, and we must finally surrender, to the Mother, to the Father, to our divine callings. We long to go home and live in peace. The “Magdalene Messengers,” are singing about The Coming of The Bride and her Bridegroom Jesus. You may be a “Magdalene Messenger,” feeling drawn to step up and say: Mary Magdalene is important to our times and we ask her for spiritual direction. Sounds like romantic fancy? Yes it is and yet, it is possibly true. The Heaven on Earth plans didn’t get cancelled. Sarah Heartsong and The Sharing Group say in The Return Of The Dove (2006) that although many have forgotten, Mary Magdalene is coming back to remind us that soon, “The dark will fall, and Christ will reign over planet earth! Perhaps you hear the wedding bells for Jesus Christ? You are not alone. The popularity of the Magdalene reflects upon the joy of return, and ‘The Return of The Dove’ is upon us now.” This paragraph reflects my personal beliefs that are based on extensive research on the subject. I am an individual who looks for truth through metaphysical resources, as well as resources that are more traditional. Just being a feminist or a biblical scholar alone, would cause a biased outlook. I have always known that beyond bias lives Truth. In the discussion section, I will give my hypothesis as to what I believe is true about Mary Magdalene. For now I will stick to a well‐rounded informational viewpoint. In the beginning of writing this course I set out to find out what single archetype Mary Magdalene represents. I could not narrow it down to just one or two. Mary Magdalene’s archetypes in my understanding include The Enigma, The Divine Feminine, The Sophia, (Wisdom Deity), The Embodied Mother Goddess, The Black Madonna, The Bride of Christ, The Scorned One, The Repentant One, The Envied Companion of the Savior, The Co‐
redemptrix (a female redeemer), The Tower and yet the human woman fallen ill from the ways of the world. Is there anything that this woman doesn’t embody? Well yes, she was never an evil woman, a slut or a prostitute. Those labels have been given to her by those who had motives to discredit her. She has survived the judgment, and she is now more loved and accepted than ever. The emotional reaction she provokes in people amazes me. Today she is in the limelight and I think Magdalene‐Mania is here to stay and why not? We could use a strong female superhero, one that might have been married to Christ! Meet Mary Magdalene, an intrinsically simple yet complicated female legend and the most popular Major Arcane Tarot figure of our current times. This is probably because we are thought to be in the last years of “the end times.” She was the one who 2000 years ago announced that Christ had Risen. Now it is our turn to Rise and Ascension is for every human! Wouldn’t it be fitting that Mary Magdalene would enter our consciousness now. The year 2000 has passed and still Jesus has not Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 1
returned. So many metaphysically opened‐minded people hold on to their hopes and personal beliefs regarding the Ascension, and many Christians believe that the horrors of Revelations will soon play out. This planetary birthing process is very scary. Mary Magdalene I feel, holds our hopes, fears, dreams and imagination in the palm of her hands. How do you feel about her? Through this metaphysical course, I hope to explore the life and soul of Mary Magdalene in such a way, as to give you a clear metaphysical understanding of who she really was, beyond bias. What you will learn is that our fascination with her is based on profound spiritual significance, Gnostic wisdom, and most of all, the desire for Truth! She is an enigma because we do not know who she really was, or is (remember life is a continuance). She has mirrored all of us, but who is she beyond our mirrors of her? To quote the book by Susan Haskins, Mary Magdalene: Myth And Metaphor (1993), “I realized that her image embodied the perceptions of every era, being refashioned again and again to suit the needs and aspirations of the times.” Good work Susan Haskins, my sentiments exactly! Who was Mary Magdalene? What do you believe? Why is she such an enigma? Why do we care about her, so deeply? Right now, I will give you the Internet’s poll on Mary Magdalene. Here are the scores: I think Mary Magdalene was probably: (6%) A reformed prostitute (27%) Jesus’ wife (26%) An early church leader whose importance is not fully reflected in the Bible (41%) One of Jesus’ followers and the first to see the risen Christ, as it says in the Bible Review Of Literature (Exam questions are not drawn from the Review Of Literature section.) This course on Mary Magdalene includes metaphysical resources of information. I have included the sources of information that I have found over the course of twenty‐two years, which had validity in creating a correct understanding of who Mary Magdalene really was. When the New Age Movement started to flourish in the eighties I naively thought that unity of information existed within the “enlightened ones” that focused on metaphysical truths. I would come to learn that truth has many interpretations and agendas, even within the New Age Movement. I have grown up a lot since then, and unfortunately, the sharks of life are just as prevalent in the waters of gurus and high priced channeling seminars. I am excited about a new book on Mary Magdalene that is currently in the pre‐press stages of publication, which will be recommended in the discussion section of this course. Following are five books written about Mary Magdalene that are currently on the market, chosen to help bring you a clear history and understanding of all the different points of view that exist about Mary Magdalene. The author Margaret Starbird has worked hard to create an uproar, which the Catholic Church will need to contend with. People are demanding new answers to age‐old questions. Because of Margaret Starbird and Dan Brown, the author of the novel, The Da Vinci Code (2003) the quest for the Holy Grail has re‐surfaced and the world is looking at Mary Magdalene. Margaret Starbird believes that Mary Magdalene is the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail, she believes signifies an actual bloodline of Christ through Mary Magdalene. For the review of literature I will start with The Woman With The Alabaster Jar (1993) by Margaret Starbird. Margaret Starbird has a Masters Degree from the University of Maryland and has studied at Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, and also at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her theological beliefs were shaken when the book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982) by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln suggested that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and that their descendants carried on his holy bloodline in Western Europe. Shocked by such heresy she set out to refute it, but instead she found compelling evidence to believe it was true. She now crusades on with her belief that Mary Magdalene was really Mary of Bethany. In the book The Woman With The Alabaster Jar, Mary Magdalene and The Holy Grail (1993) Starbird wrote, “Based on fourth‐century legend preserved in Old French, Mary Magdalene is said to have brought the ‘Sangraal’ to the southern coast of France. It was asserted in later legends that this Sangraal was the ‘Holy Grail’—a chalice. In fact, it was said in later versions to have been the very cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper on the night of his arrest.” After writing The Woman With The Alabaster Jar, Margaret Starbird wrote three more books about Mary Magdalene. They are The Goddess In The Gospels: Reclaiming The Sacred Feminine (1998), Magdalene’s Lost Legacy: Symbolic Numbers And The Sacred Union In Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 2
Christianity (2003) and Mary Magdalene, Bride In Exile (2005). Her passion about the subject of Mary Magdalene seems personal and heartfelt. A woman named Lesa Bellevie, has authored the book called, The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005). Don’t laugh, this book is incredibly well researched and it is very complete. The author does not hold any degrees but she is an excellent compiler of information. The book is an awesome encyclopedia of Mary Magdalene, and the author’s unbiased approach was helpful. You don’t have to be a biblical scholar to understand her book about Mary Magdalene. The third book about Mary Magdalene that I have chosen to use to write this course is Mary Magdalene, Myth And Metaphor (1993) by Susan Haskins. This book is helpful and seems to have a well‐rounded approach. To quote her, “We know very little about Mary Magdalene. The predominant image we have of her is a beautiful woman with long golden hair, weeping for her sins, the very incarnation of the age‐old equation between feminine beauty, sexuality and sin. For nearly two thousand years, the traditional conception of Mary Magdalene has been that of the prostitute who, hearing the words of Jesus Christ, repented of her sinful past and henceforth devoted her life and love to him. She appears in countless devotional images, scarlet‐cloaked and with loose hair, kneeling below the cross, or seated at Christ’s feet in the house of Mary and Martha of Bethany, or as a beauteous prostitute herself sprawled at his feet, unguent jar by her side, in the house of the Pharisee. Her very name evokes images of beauty and sensuality, yet when we look for this creature in the New Testament we look for her in vain.” The reason we fail to find this kind of reference to Mary Magdalene in the Bible is due to the political influence of the New Testament, which resulted in unbalancing the polarity of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine energies. Keep this in mind because Mary Magdalene’s image is very political as well. Politics and religion have always walked side by side. The fourth book I have chosen was written by a man. The journey to discover the true Mary Magdalene is no longer just a woman’s quest. The Gospels Of Mary: The Secret Tradition Of Mary Magdalene, The Companion Of Jesus (2004) by Marvin Meyer, is an excellent book. Marvin Meyer is one of the foremost scholars on Gnosticism, the Nag Hammadi library, and texts about Jesus outside the New Testament. He is Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies and director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Chapman University, Orange, California. This is a good book if you want to avoid the Holy Bloodline theory. Chapter six of his book is about the very important Pistis Sophia. The Pistis Sophia is a Coptic book that was discovered in the late eighteenth century by Dr. A. Askew, an Englishman. He found it in a London bookshop. The British Museum acquired the codex after his death. The importance of the Pistis Sophia is that it clearly establishes Mary Magdalene’s role as an interlocutor, (a questioner). According to Lesa Bellevie, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005), “In Pistis Sophia, there are a total of 115 different questions and interpretations of Jesus’ teachings by his followers. Of those, Mary Magdalene alone is responsible for asking 67 questions.” On that note, I will introduce the fifth book chosen to write this course. The Gospel Of Mary Of Magdala, Jesus And The First Woman Apostle (2003) by Karen L. King comes highly recommended by me. Karen L. King is a Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University in the Divinity School. She has a feminist approach that is honest and outspoken. To quote her book, “Lost for more than fifteen hundred years, the Gospel of Mary is the only existing early Christian gospel written in the name of a woman. Karen L. King tells the story of the recovery of this remarkable gospel and offers a new translation. This brief narrative presents a radical interpretation of Jesus’ teachings as a path to inner spiritual knowledge. It rejects his suffering and death as a path to eternal life and exposes the view that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute for what it is—a piece of theological fiction. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala offers a fascinating glimpse into the conflicts and controversies that shaped earliest Christianity.” Thank you, Karen L. King. Her book focuses on the important fact that Mary Magdalene was a spiritual leader. The Gnostic Gospels (1989) by Elaine Pagels deserves reviewing as well. Elaine Pagels is a Professor of Religion at Princeton University. To quote Time magazine, “The Princeton professor Elaine Pagels won a National Book Award for her 1979 essay “The Gnostic Gospels,” which explored those alternative interpretations of the Christ story. The book of the same name was a surprise best seller, and three titles later, study groups at churches around the country are using Pagels’ works to supplement more traditional Bible studies.” The Gnostic Mary Magdalene is very important to examine and Pagels’ book The Gnostic Gospels is a way to explore the true teachings of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The Gnostic Gospels provide the proof that the four accepted Gospels of Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 3
the New Testament exclude five important Gnostic texts: The Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Peter and the Gospel of Philip. They are all missing from the Holy Bible! Now, if you are just looking at the four accepted gospels you will learn practically nothing about Mary Magdalene. On the contrary, you will be misled to believe that she was a common prostitute. The Gnostic Gospels provide the needed proof for the extended exploration into the life of Mary Magdalene and her relationship with the Savior. The discovery of these Gospels suggests that Mary Magdalene’s personal life was altered by political motives and issues, which is the core issue of her true identity. Pagels and other researchers in this field are united in speculating that the truth of Mary Magdalene’s life could have been manipulated to suit certain political/religious agendas. The Questions About Mary The recommended books in the review of literature section are all great sources of information on Mary Magdalene. Her legends, myths and stories have played out through the centuries. She is like the smile of the Mona Lisa. Perhaps Mary Magdalene has a future change‐blazing role to play, like that of the beautiful late Lady Diana who so graciously represented the sick and underprivileged. Perhaps Mary Magdalene is the spiritual diva for today, whose whispers through time have sung for a better tomorrow, a future that would embrace the once crucified King. Some say she is Jesus’ Bride, and he awaits her. The speculative theories about Mary Magdalene are growing every day. I hope that the light of truth will soon shine on this most incredible woman from the Bible. The major questions, listed from 1 to 13, represent the most important topics surrounding this amazing woman who lived 2000 years ago. It seems like she has never left our consciousness. Perhaps, with the belief of reincarnation, she never did leave us. The beauty of writing about Mary Magdalene from a metaphysical viewpoint is that you can draw on more information. The last question of this list, (Did Mary Magdalene reincarnate after being Mary Magdalene?), is answered with a currently controversial viewpoint on The Magdalene. The theme of Mary Magdalene’s re‐embodiments will flow into the discussion section. This will provide an introduction to my theories about Mary Magdalene. Let us explore the answers to these questions now. 1. Was Mary Magdalene a repentant prostitute as the Church has taught, or is there deeper significance to this aspect of her? According to Lesa Bellevie in The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005), “With all the accumulating evidence that Mary Magdalene was honored by early Christians rather than despised, it’s difficult to understand why she’s still saddled with such a bad reputation. If we can back up a little bit from her ‘bad girl’ image, we can see a pattern begin to emerge where so‐called fallen women are concerned. Mary Magdalene may have been only another example of a religious ‘type’ that was reused many times in many different ways to convey some particular spiritual meaning; in this case, the ‘fallen’ state of humankind.” She is to this day a most powerful archetype. She is the mirror for whatever mask the individual wears, according to the times. She exists in timelessness as well, and there she is peaceful and happy. The fact that religion used her to suit certain agendas was bound to happen to an archetypal Majorette like Mary Magdalene. Was she a prostitute? Mary Magdalene’s purpose as the mirror is to help us learn about ourselves and our interaction with the world. There is a famous painting of Mary Magdalene that depicts her sitting in front of a table, with a mirror and a candle on the table. The candle flame reflects in the mirror; this is powerful symbology. What does it say to you? Each one of these symbols in the painting has something to say. 1. Was she the 13th Apostle, and did she represent The Goddess and the Archetype of The Divine Feminine? Some say she was the first apostle and some say she was the 13th. One might consider that she was probably the most important one. The historical evidence from the Lost Gospels and the Gnostic and Essene influence of Jesus’ teachings also gives evidence of the fact that Mary Magdalene was the key apostle and also spiritually bonded to Christ. The book The Gnostic Gospels (1989) by Elaine Pagels, states that, “One group of Gnostic sources claims to have received a secret tradition from Jesus through James and through Mary Magdalene. Members of this group prayed to both the divine Father and Mother: “From Thee, Father, and through Thee, Mother, the two immortal names, Parents of the divine being, and thou, dweller in heaven, humanity, of the mighty name…” I believe this quote supports the fact that our prayers can be addressed to a Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 4
combined Mother/Father divine principle, and that the Divine Feminine is equally important in this act of devotion. 2. What was Mary Magdalene’s role as an interlocutor, in regards to “Pistis Sophia,” also known as the “Books of the Savior?” What about Mary Magdalene’s role as Jesus’ closet companion? Is this true? “Pistis Sophia” is a codex made up of four different books, but three of the books are obviously a set, whereas the fourth was written much later in history. The codex contains 115 different questions posed by Jesus to his followers. Of the interpretations given by Jesus’ followers, 67 were from Mary Magdalene. The term interlocutor or questioner is given to Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was well‐versed in Gnosticism, and as such could be considered a superior apostle of Jesus. Through “The Book of Mary” and “The Gospel of Philip” there is evidence to safely assume that the Apostles envied Mary Magdalene. There is evidence through the Gnostic Gospels that Jesus refers to the consideration of Mary Magdalene as an equal with the men. Having her in the role of a sexual consort could would understandably increase the envy of her being a spiritual equal, and create much animosity. The apostles had clear motive to create their own picture of truth for the world to follow, after Jesus left, hence the beginning of the apostolic succession ritual of the Orthodox Catholic Church. In The Gnostic Gospels (1989) by Elaine Pagels, she states, “for nearly 2000 years, orthodox Christians have accepted the view that the apostles alone held definitive religious authority, and that the only legitimate heirs are priests and bishops, who trace their ordination back to that same apostolic succession.” The act of discrediting Mary Magdalene, after Jesus left the Holy Land, was bound to happen amongst the patriarchal society that existed at that time. The apostles were men in a male‐based culture. Would they have the fortitude to carry on all the work of Jesus just as humbly as Jesus did? It is not likely they had the spiritual grace to do that since it wasn’t normal for women to be considered equals in that era. That is why certain people through history had to preserve the Gnostic Gospels with their dear life. This form of preservation of truth is very limited, however. Perhaps the best tool we have now is channeled information for retrieving knowledge that was lost. As well, it would be logical to assume the fact that Mary Magdalene would have fled the Holy Land to seek refuge from this most distressing chain of circumstances, in which she lost her beloved and was not held in favor with her peers. 3. Was Mary Magdalene Jesus’ lover or his wife? If they were married, did they have children together? I have sorted through a lot of theories to answer this but the best answer that I found came from a channeled book, published in the U.K. The Council of Nine suggests that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were unmarried lovers and they belonged together, spiritually. The quote to support this theory is from the book The Only Planet Of Choice (1993) by transceiver Phyllis V. Schlemmer. The question is raised to The Council of Nine as to whether Jesus had offspring, and the answer was, “He was a man upon planet Earth, and as with nearly all men upon Planet Earth, went through sexual development, as do females, which comes from the source of soul within. From the moment of sexual exchange, it is the one moment in your physical life when you attain the oneness with your creator. It is that time and moment which is sought. This is part of the difficulty upon Planet Earth, for humankind has misunderstood the purpose of sex, and in searching for the returning to the Creator, has debased it. And because the founders of religion knew the truth of this returning, and did not wish the masses to attain it also, they forbade it, and thereby made it dominant. Part of the difficulty of male humankind moving from one woman to another in endlessness, stems from the misunderstanding and non‐development of true exchange, and the purpose of this exchange. It was necessary for the Nazarene to experience that with the Magdalene. In the exchange with the Magdalene he was able to maintain his true identity with the Creator.” In this respect, this channeled material does not discriminate against healthy sexual urge, but rather glorifies it as an act of true Unity. To quote the “Gospel of Philip,” “….the companion of the (Savior is) Mary Magdalene. (But Christ loved) her more than (all) the disciples and used to kiss her (often) on her (mouth). The rest of (the disciples were offended by it). They said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us? The Savior answered and said to them, “Why do I not love you as (I love) her?” Gospel of Philip 63.32‐64.5, in NHL 138. So if Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ lover, what is the possibility that they carried through with marriage and children? Violent reactions sprung from the movie The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988). The movie portrays Mary Magdalene as a prostitute and Christ’s lover. There is a scene relevant to Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, done in a dream sequence, that shows Paul (Saul) warning Jesus not to get married, because his Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 5
mission for God depended on him remaining unmarried. Why would this be? My hypothesis is that Jesus really was not done with his mission from God after the Resurrection. I believe that certain members of the “Christ Group” escaped into India, where mystic masters in The Himalayas awaited their arrival. This would explain the end of Jesus and Mary Magdalene’s affair when he was required to move to India with the others. Perhaps the wounded lovers had to split? Even more suspicious to me is why this more plausible theory gains little attention. After all, if one discounts the Ascension, and yet does not believe that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, or that they eloped and started a bloodline, it could be very possible. What is your opinion? 4. Did anyone usurp The Holy Bloodline of Christ? Could someone have wanted you to believe Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany were the same woman? You won’t find this question amongst the popular writers of Mary Magdalene. I have a theory regarding this that is far too detailed to include in this short elective course. The Return Of The Dove (2006) by Sarah Heartsong and The Sharing Group, explains this further. In terms of today’s Christian worship of Jesus as a celibate teacher, it is considered unlikely that certain women who loved Jesus would have wanted to marry him and have his children. Under my hypothesis, Jesus fled the Holy Land, with others, after the Resurrection; with the destination of India. Perhaps Mary Magdalene and Jesus broke up at that point. Legends attest to the fact that Mary Magdalene fled to the south of France on a boat with Joseph of Arimathea, Lazarus, Martha and Mary of Bethany, her sister. Did Martha and others design a myth to claim that her sister Mary of Bethany was carrying Christ’s child? Why would she do that? Women have been known to manipulate matters of the heart. Perhaps Mary of Bethany was in love with Christ, and she envied Mary Magdalene’s relationship with Jesus. Perhaps usurpation arose through this. Many others supported the myth of a Bloodline that would have significant political implications. 5. What was her personality like? Outspoken and headstrong? Meek? A temptress? A female leader? Mary Magdalene has been portrayed as an attractive, long haired red‐head or brunette; an outspoken, strong and passionate woman, one who was subjected to the cruel judgment of her own people Perhaps she would have fit right into the women’s movement of the sixties? Whoever she was, she was born into a culture that stoned people to death. The proof of her life of prostitution does not exist, yet the motive to fabricate the myth does exist. This woman was incredible. Perhaps she was the lover and best friend of Jesus, but was marriage out of the question? Does not history prove that many of the greatest romances of all time have been between un‐wed couples, wounded by life’s circumstances. It is not likely that a woman who would be stoned by her own people would hand out wedding invitations to her accusers; thus the possibility of a secret marriage can also be considered. Considering how all these aspects reflect on her personality, wouldn’t it be likely that she would be a woman of spirit and fire, and one that Jesus would love? 6. What was Mary’s experience of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection? What does she have to say about The Ascension of our entire planet in these times? She is believed to be the first to see the risen Christ. What else did Magdalene know? Mary Magdalene was a visionary, and a strong woman. She was also, like Jesus, very human. I believe the trauma she endured from her own crucifixion, which was her stoning, took a great toll on this battered woman’s soul. She then lived on to see her beloved Jesus also endure the cruelest of all physical punishment, the crucifixion. To quote the book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005) by Lesa Bellevie, “Typically, persons sentenced to crucifixion were first scourged, or whipped, which was thought to hasten death later. Afterward, they were made to carry the crossbeam, not the entire cross, to the execution site. Their hands were then tied or nailed to the crossbeam, and they were hoisted onto the upright portion of the cross that already stood in the ground. Then their feet were tied or nailed as well. Because breathing in such a position is so difficult, the cause of death in crucifixion was usually asphyxiation, though heart failure, exposure, blood loss and shock have also been mentioned as possibilities. Occasionally, a victim’s legs would be broken to help the process along. Without the ability to push up with his feet, the person being crucified wouldn’t be able to draw a proper breath.” It is indeed distressing to read such a report, but it can reveal what it must have been like for Mary Magdalene to see her beloved crucified. She was traumatized beyond belief, no doubt. Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 6
However, what was Mary Magdalene’s experience of the Resurrection? That is ultimately the biggest celebration of all and we should focus not on Jesus’ suffering but on his Resurrection. Now the theories of how the resurrection happened are varied. Some believe that Christ’s body literally rose to Heaven. Others believe that the resurrection was “a learned process” that Jesus and Mary Magdalene might have been trained in. Obviously The Christ Group, (the believed group of beings on Earth and in Heaven that were responsible to oversee the mission of Jesus Christ) would have made plans regarding what to do if Jesus got arrested. The Romans weren’t going to let him get too popular with the people. That would explain the Mary Magdalene connection to the Goddess Isis, who was trained in resurrection through Osiris. If The Christ Group knew of the probability that Jesus might be accused of overthrowing the Roman government they would probably have a plan to recover his life, if need be. The extreme faith that Mary Magdalene had to have through this painful ordeal, must have been amazing. The glory of Christ’s Ascension into Eternal Life proved that the grace of God is Real! Although we do have “The Book of Mary,” I suspect that Mary Magdalene never wrote down a complete accounting of her experience of the Ascension. I feel she has more to tell us. The Second Coming has been theorized to mean that every human has the potential to rise to the next dimension of consciousness when the Mother Earth herself goes into labor, so to speak. The birth of the planet into the next dimension of consciousness will be inevitable, and unstoppable, like birth. Now I believe that Mary Magdalene wants us to focus on the process of Ascension and how that relates to us. No one is to be crucified here. Perhaps, we are going to rise into a higher earth life, one that will be built on love, peace, faith and all the ways of The Light. Perhaps The Magdalene cries out, “be ready to Ascend with the Mother Earth.” And the wind cries Mary! (Jimi Hendrix) 7. What was her upbringing like? Did she come from a poor family or a rich family? Where did she live? This is an important question and yet nothing is really known about her upbringing. The fact that Mary’s name is Mary of Magdala, and this was an actual fishing village in Palestine 2000 years ago, is probably why she was known as Mary Magdalene. The town is also known as Migdal. The fourth century Emperor Constantine’s mother, Queen Helena, is said to have found the Mary Magdalene house in Magdala. The author Margaret Starbird, in trying to prove a speculative theory regarding the marriage and offspring of Mary of Bethany and Jesus, wants to believe that the two women, Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany, were the same woman. I don’t find any corroborative sources for that possibility, but the best source to illustrate notions about Mary Magdalene’s family and upbringing came from an intuitive pick of mine from the Bodhi Tree Metaphysical Bookstore in Hollywood in 1984. I found a book that contained Edgar Cayce channelings. As described in the book, a woman getting a past‐life reading from Edgar Cayce started to recall being Mary Magdalene’s mother. In the reading, she was speaking about her daughter Mary Magdalene and her daughter’s troubled relationship with her father. The mother of Mary Magdalene was expressing her emotions about her husband feeling that their daughter was evil. The mother rejects this with an intuitive feeling that her daughter would someday become very close to the prophesized Coming Messiah. The mother of Mary Magdalene clearly states that her husband judges his own daughter unfairly. This was an incredible find, and definitively a piece of the missing puzzle about her family life. Insofar as it is channeled material, Edgar Cayce’s channelings have been regarded as highly accurate. Some believe his channelings were 99.9% accurate. 8. What is the “Black Madonna” or “Black Virgin” and what does it mean in regards to The Magdalene? The Black Madonna refers to the many statues of southern France, usually black in color, to signify the dark aspect of the soul reaching toward The Light through worship of a particular Christian Saint. Many Black Madonnas were shown with a child, and for some, this symbolized The Virgin Mary and The Christ Child. Some say they were images of the Goddess, blackened in name and status. In this case, Mary Magdalene fits the symbolism of the blackened and demonized goddess woman. The “sin” word would have you believe that “The Black Madonna” is in some way “evil.” The term black, I feel, only mirrors the blindness of those who judge before examining the “light” of Truth. As the Gnostics teach, life is an illusion and a creation of your own mind’s potential to love, honor and respect all life Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 7
9.
Was the Book of Mary Mary Magdalene’s lost gospel? What meanings does it give us that we can use in our modern day? The Book of Mary was discovered in Nag Hammandi, Egypt in 1945. This gospel of Mary Magdalene is part of the “Lost Gospels” that include 5 books that presumably did not make it through the editing process of the Bible. To quote The Gospel Of Mary Of Magdala: Jesus And The First Woman Apostle (2003) by Karen L. King, “The story of the ‘Gospel of Mary’ is a simple one. Since the first six pages are lost, the gospel opens in the middle of a scene portraying a discussion between the Savior and his disciples set after the resurrection. The Savior is answering their questions about the end of the material world and the nature of sin. He teaches them that at present all things, whether material or spiritual, are interwoven with each other. In the end, that will not be so. Each nature will return to its own root, its own original state and destiny.” The Celtic People believed that we were woven together in fate, as reflected by the Celtic knot‐work of their culture. Spiritual truths were reflected in the art and culture of the Celtic people. King continues, “But meanwhile, the nature of sin is tied to the nature of life in this mixed up world. People sin because they do not recognize their own spiritual nature and, instead, love the lower nature that deceives them and leads to disease and death. Salvation is achieved by discovering within oneself the true spiritual nature of humanity and overcoming the deceptive entrapments of the bodily passions and the world. The Savior concludes this teaching with a warning against those who would delude the disciples into following some heroic leader or a set of rules and laws.” This interpretation of the Gnostic “Book of Mary” is by Karen L. King, a professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University in the Divinity School. The Book of Mary and the other Gnostic gospels give us something to examine, today, that helps complete the sketchy picture of early Christianity. 10. Was Original Sin a political concept that the Church invented and used to demonize The Goddess and the Sacred Feminine? Who gave Eve the bad rap? To quote Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code (1997), “The Grail is literally the ancient symbol for womanhood, and the Holy Grail represents the sacred feminine and the goddess, which of course has now been lost, virtually eliminated by the Church. The power of the female and her ability to produce life was once very sacred, but it posed a threat to the rise of the predominantly male Church, and so the sacred feminine was demonized and called unclean. It was man, not God, who created the concept of “original sin,” whereby Eve tasted of the apple and caused the downfall of the human race. Woman, once the sacred giver of life, was now the enemy.” This refreshing statement tells me that Dan Brown may be more than just a Bloodline Theory Sensationalist. It becomes evident to me that the Catholic Church had a good motive to manipulate the role of women for its survival. 11. How do we devote ourselves to her? What is Mary Magdalene’s feast day? What prayers can you share with us? Following will be suggestions to celebrate Mary Magdalene through creation of a special altar, and prayers of devotion. In this respect, her journey can be considered as a ship or a tiny boat on a stormy, turbulent, dark sea – awaiting the calm morning with undying faith, only to be rewarded by the morning’s Great Light! I see Mary of Magdala as The Tower, a tower that was once fallen, but with faith she rebuilds herself to reflect the Divine Mother & Divine Father that is God in all of us. Perhaps “The Tower,” Mary Magdalene is coming back with Christ. Devote to Mary Magdalene your undying Faith and remember that with “Faith Wisdom,” you will be brought Home to God. God loves you and your opening to joy is at hand. You will receive blessings that will be beyond words to describe. Know that in celebrating Mary Magdalene, you are celebrating the true Christ, whose message was that Ascension into Eternal Life is for every human! Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 8
Prayer Poem from Saint Mary Magdalene Forgive, Release, Transmute, all past traumas and dramas. Know you are worthy to receive God’s Great Gifts. Become the child, Laughing with wild abandonment, and playing in ecstasy. The Veils between Worlds are lifting and our loved ones are landing within the hearts of those ready to leap forth. This quickening, and opening to wonder, is here, so have no fear when we come near. Embrace Us and know that Mother Earth and Father Sky, are joining to embrace you, The Christ Children, and The Reunited Twin Flames are standing like strong pillars. God’s Great Sea of Love is ready to break the Illusionary Dam of Damnation, thus insuring our Salvation, and entrance into Eternal life. The Brides and the Bridegrooms, Are joining in rapturous reunion. And the waves of Father’s Love, are washing over us, so long no more, Now Love may pour, And heal and cleanse, And feed and nourish. May Utopia start. And beating as one heart, may we celebrate The Promise of God, Fulfilled, Resurrection into Eternal Life, on an Ascended Planet Earth. Mary Magdalene Feast Day is celebrated on July 22nd. The holiday celebrates Mary Magdalene with fun festivities. The different ways to celebrate her should be personal to you. Some may choose a study group to be involved in. Others may enjoy quiet introspection and meditation to honor her. Remember that Mary Magdalene was a strong woman who triumphed against the odds. Celebrate her strength and her wild and free nature. As far as devotional components for a special altar, I prefer Mary Magdalene’s recipe for her Masada Perfume, (an essential oil blend of five equal parts of Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Goldenseal, and Rose Oil) to celebrate her sensual love for Christ. This magical perfume for Healing & Heightened Sensitivity To Divine Presence will exude its essence over your altar. In addition I like flowers, candles and other various gifts from the Goddess for my Magdalene altar. The silk painting by Sheranda Tay, titled Trinity Mary Masters of Compassion is one of the art images that I have placed on my altar. I personally believe that no Magdalene altar is complete without an image of Jesus Christ. I am presently looking for a painting that could capture the passionate nature of Lord Sananda (Jesus) that I once saw rendered. The beauty of celebrating Mary Magdalene is that she has appeal to both Christians who are interested in her, as well as New Age adherents. Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 9
12. Did Mary Magdalene reincarnate, after being Mary Magdalene? Insofar as channeled material would illustrate, I believe that the answer is positive in this regard. The channel Elizabeth Claire Prophet (see bibliography) channeled in 1983 that Mary Magdalene was incarnated as the faith healer Sister Aimee Semple McPherson, born in Ontario Canada, in 1890. Her mother in that life was one of the founders of the Salvation Army. Sister Aimee was raised Pentecostal, and amongst gospel singers. The darkness of the reign of Hitler was approaching and Sister Aimee was consecrated by God to become a faith healer. Jesus, from the other side of “The Veil,” connected with his Beloved Magdalene, now reborn as Sister Aimee, to heal thousands of people at tent revivals and Church services. Sister Aimee built and dedicated the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles in 1923. Millions of people attended services there. The life of Sister Aimee Semple McPherson is well documented. Thus, the Faith Healer Sister Aimee healed people just as Jesus did! The healing rituals used by Sister Aimee reflect the same tradition of baptism into the Holy Spirit, taught by John The Baptist. My biggest question is, why are all of today’s most popular writers on the subject of Mary Magdalene completely ignoring this? My opinion is that they just cannot get over the fact that a reincarnated Mary Magdalene would be involved in an evangelistic style of Christianity. Sister Aimee developed a church that was, “Trinitarian,” and this does fit in with the rituals of the true Jesus. I highly recommend that you read the book Sister Aimee (1994), a biography by Daniel Mark Epstein to learn about Sister Aimee. Also go to the internet and look up http://www.ascendedmasters.ac/magda.html. Some argue that Sister Aimee never claimed to be the reincarnated Mary Magdalene in that life as Sister Aimee. Discussion Over the course of twenty‐two years, I have found a very limited amount of channeled information to help me discern truth from fiction about Mary Magdalene. The aforementioned book in the Literature Review is a new source of channeled material about Mary Magdalene from the channel Sarah Heartsong, which will be available this Spring in book form (see bibliography). For this metaphysically open‐minded course, I did find four channeled information sources worthy of recognizing. I will quote from two books and one website that contain channeled information that support the theory that Mary Magdalene was not married to Jesus in a traditional way, and yet they were lovers. In The Crystal Stair, A Guide To The Ascension (1990) by Eric Klein, Jesus himself states that he was not married formally in that life. In the second source, The Council of Nine suggests that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were unmarried lovers and they belonged together, spiritually. The quote to support this is from the book The Only Planet Of Choice (1993) by transceiver Phyllis V. Schlemmer. The question is raised to The Council of Nine as to whether Jesus had offspring (see question 4 in the findings section for this quote). It is unclear from this answer if Jesus actually had children, but it appears that he did not, from another question that was asked to the Council of Nine. So there may be a contradiction within this source, but according to it, he did have sexual relations with Mary Magdalene. The third source is a channeled message of Mary Magdalene through the messenger, Elizabeth Claire Prophet. (See question 13, web address of the channeling in bibliography). This channeled message has not gained much popularity among the writers of today who are married to the idea that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had children to carry on a physical Bloodline of Christ. In this channeled Mary Magdalene message, Mary Magdalene states that she bore a certain “karma,” but she really doesn’t go into what that “karma” was about. It was not about being a prostitute, or she would have said something to that effect. I believe that she was not ready at that time to reveal her full story. I have been graced to receive a sneak preview into a seventy‐six page channeling session between Mary Magdalene and a channel named Sarah Heartsong. I have drawn much of this discussion section on the knowledge I gained from the new channeled information that is currently making its way to the printing presses. The strangest New Age channeling book I found about Mary Magdalene was I Remember Union: The Story Of Mary Magdalena (1992) by Flo Calhaun. This book created the illusion that Mary Magdalene was a lesbian. This demonstrates well how the mirror and the mask principle works. The book created an angry reaction from a woman reviewing it on amazon.com. Although the book may not be a clear channeling of Mary Magdalene, certain parts of the book are simply beautiful. This deserves quoting: the Spiritual Hierarchy is giving Mary Magdalene & Jesus both a gift, and Mary Magdalene tells the tale… “My gift was a headdress of crystal starlight, woven into the strands Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 10
of my hair, overlaying my third eye in the center of my forehead, giving me continued vision, bathed in rainbows of light. They called it Hope as they placed it gently on my head. The gift they gave to Jesus was a matrix of pure gold, a scepter which they placed within his heart, the symbol of Christ. They called it Love.” The many reflections of Mary Magdalene have been explored in this course. How these reflections mirror the human psyche says a lot about people. When an individual holds a certain belief about an archetypal being, that reflection usually fits their image of themselves. Perhaps the guilty would believe Mary Magdalene was a reformed prostitute, because they have given over a lot of their power to their church to decide whether they are worthy of salvation. Sin (error) has much less of a hold on someone whom does not feel guilty about making an error. The emphasis on “sin” by The Catholic Church goes hand in hand with the metaphor of the repentant prostitute theory of Mary Magdalene. Perhaps this metaphor is really the myth. The Catholic Church exemplifies suffering and repentance as a way of life. If you study early Christianity, you may learn that the actual proof that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute does not exist. So the intent to manipulate the truth worked hand in hand with their Female Saint of Repentance, i.e. obedience. Get the drift here? The intention to build Mary Magdalene into their role model for repentance is quite repulsive to some feminists. However, the unconditional love of Mary Magdalene would advocate forgiveness, not dissension. The Brotherhood and Sisterhood of man depends on our unity. The falling away of petty judgments about each other takes effort, but the reward for that is peace on Earth. The whole world is searching for new answers to fill in the blanks. The youth of today are like mystery masters, far out into the next era of Matrix‐Magdalene‐Mania! In addition, they are re‐mixing Mary Magdalene. Perhaps our youth are the ones likely to embrace the radical Jesus, who once warned us about the pitfalls of too many laws, or artifices. The Radical Warrior of Light Savior figure takes us to the integration of reality and fantasy. In the movie The Matrix, Neo’s life theme of sacrifice, death, resurrection and his divine calling as being “The One” proves to be parallel to the role of Jesus as the Messiah. In relation to The Magdalene in the Christ Story, you have Trinity in Neo’s story being the strong female companion and equal, standing behind her man. The Magdalene, with the same qualities, worked with her man to conquer evil. This is a common theme in almost every movie, to some extent or another. How does the Holy Land compare with the ‘mind control’ of Neo’s Matrix world, that he must overthrow for goodness to prevail? Could there have been an “underground Zion” so to speak, full of an entire entourage of ancient mystics that were fulfilling a mission planned by the Spiritual Hierarchy? It is certainly true that behind every conspiracy theory, there lies truths untold, ready to be revealed. The new “Da Vinci Enigmatic Tarot,” by Caitlin Matthews, states that we are living our individual microcosmic world, and our personal world uses the same set of archetypal beings of the Major Arcane, to interact with. This also relates to the workings of the world scene, our macrocosmic world. We are all looking for heroes to identify with and The Magdalene of the future reveals a woman whom we would aspire to be. She is strong, determined and focused on saving us all as she works with a much larger team of enlightened beings. This premise works for the youth of today. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. That really proves that Mary Magdalene will live into the future as a hero rather than a shamed sinner, pleading for forgiveness. These are important questions that should be asked about the mission Mary Magdalene was involved in. Whether or not she was married to Jesus, many scholars and feminists believe that her role was significantly important. She was the one who first spoke of seeing Christ after the Resurrection. The political implication here is that she probably was Jesus’ closest companion and confidant. The trite label that religion assigned her no longer works for the new generation. We seem to need Mary Magdalene today more than ever before. The provocative novel, The Da Vinci Code (1997) by Dan Brown reflects a new breed of “closet mystics.” The intrigues of the “Holy Grail” are drawing people in like moths to a flame. The solving of the mysteries surrounding The Holy Grail and The Magdalene takes a person through his or her own personal journey and the amazing world of archetypes. Jung spoke of this in relation to the collective unconscious. The Major Arcane of the Tarot deck contains the entire group of universal archetypes. Mary Magdalene is the archetype of the Divine Feminine, and of The Sophia, (a female wisdom deity) which is a very powerful Archetype of Enigma. The Mona Lisa is smiling for the same reason as The Magdalene does: she is the holder of hidden truths. The same type of smile reflects the “Good News” of our coming salvation/redemption from this world. Mary Magdalene as the underdog seeks to rise above the illusion of suffering. She seeks to set us free with her inner knowing and unshakeable faith. We prepare for our own ascension by her example. The Holy Spirit lives in the Faith Wisdom, which we hold onto in our hearts. The literal translation of the Greek words “pistis sophia” is “faith‐wisdom.” Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 11
Conclusion To teach others about Mary Magdalene with a totally unbiased viewpoint is hard. I myself want to express to you my revelations about her. However, the reading audience must be prepared to appreciate what I believe to be true. I would hope that the truths that I believe, expressed here, will gain a wide audience. My intention is to express what could very well be the truth, with my selected sources of reference. This course only touches briefly on a huge topic. You might have taken this course because you wanted to know why there is, all of a sudden, so much hubbub about Mary Magdalene in books and movies. I think the whole topic of Mary Magdalene will reveal more and more about our souls and our destiny as time goes by. Some say she is the twin soul of Jesus. Do you feel that Mary Magdalene and Jesus had a deeply spiritual bond? What is twin soul love? The Magdalene whispers sweetly about that too! Mary Magdalene is bigger than life because she represents life, with all of its long‐suffering, torture through emotional trauma and eventual renewal through Rebirth. The medicine she gives us is the medicine of hope through faith and wisdom. The lesson she teaches is that of embracing the dark‐side of oneself to bring Light into the damaged emotional body, therefore burning a path to Heaven’s Salvation. You won’t find an expensive pilgrimage in the South of France or Britain that will replace the hard work of introspection for emotional healing. If you need Saint Mary Magdalene, go deep within and dig into the darkness to rescue the Divine Child who is curled up in the corner. She is the forgotten one because you chose to deny her. She needs your love. She also is the Goddess in every woman that would like the opportunity to be fully expressed and respected. Women and men have been brutally battered by centuries of imbalance. The “Battle of the Sexes” has been the cornerstone for the dark agendas of anti‐evolutionary forces. Blame and hatred toward the enemy is not going to heal emotional damage. Through forgiveness and understanding healing will happen. I believe that Mary Magdalene stands united with other goddess figures. The trio of Mary Goddesses is Mother Mary, Quan Yin and Isis (an embodiment of Mary Magdalene). Sarah Heartsong and The Sharing Group say in The Return Of The Dove (2006), “Perhaps Jesus seeded the women’s movement through his Beloved Mary Magdalene. Perhaps he gave her something that would be eternally more valuable than a husband in that life, which was the faith to hold strong and have courage beyond belief. How else could she help him in transforming this broken world? That is some very potent food for thought, regarding Mary Magdalene. What do you feel? Meditate or pray on these thoughts. Your answers lie within.” A quote from The Return Of The Dove (2006): Mary Magdalene says, “When I first held Jesus, the newborn, I was only four years old… and in my innocence I could feel the deeply fulfilling presence of God through my Beloved. I welcome you to read my messages. I am Mary Magdalene and I wish to tell you about my romantic, enigmatic journey, evolving with my twin soul, Jesus, and with all of humanity. Above all, I want you to know that the Gifts of Eternal Life in an Ascended World are very real and upon us now! God Loves You.” Suggested Writing Exercise For Yourself How has this course affected your views on Mary Magdalene? Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 12
Bibliography Baigent, Michael, Leigh, Richard & Lincoln Henry 1982 Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Dell Publishing; New York, NY Bellevie, Lesa 2005 The Complete Idiotʹs Guide to Mary Magdalene. Alpha Books, Penguin Group; New York, NY Brown, Dan 1997 The Da Vinci Code. Doubleday; New York, NY Epstein, Daniel Mark 1994 Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple. McPherson, Harcourt Brace; New York, NY Haskins, Susan 1993 Mary Magdalen, Myth and Metaphor. Harper Collins; New York, NY King, Karen L. 2003 The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Polebridge Press; Santa Rosa, CA Klein, Eric 1990 The Crystal Stair, A Guide to The Ascension. Oughten House; Livermore, CA Matthews, Caitlin 2005 Da Vinci Code Enigmatic Tarot. St. Martinʹs Press; New York, NY Meyer, Marvin 2004 The Gospels of Mary: The Secret Tradition Of Mary Magdalene The Companion Of Jesus. Harper; San Francisco, CA Pagels, Elaine 1989 The Gnostic Gospels. Vintage Books; New York, NY Schlemmer, Phyllis V. 1993 The Only Planet of Choice. Gateway Books; United Kingdom Starbird, Margaret 1993 The Woman with The Albaster Jar. Bear & Company; Rochester, New York Kenyon, Tom 2006 The Magdalen Manuscript. Sounds True; Louisville, Colorado Suggested Reading: Mary Magdalen, Myth And Metaphor (1993), by Susan Haskins The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005), by Lesa Bellevie The Gospels Of Mary: The Secret Tradition Of Mary Magdalene The Companion Of Jesus (2004), by Marvin Meyer The Gospel Of Mary Of Magdala, Jesus And The First Woman Apostle (2003), by Karen L. King The Woman With The Alabaster Jar (1993), by Margaret Starbird Metaphysical Resources: The Crystal Stair, A Guide To The Ascension (1990), by Eric Klein The Only Planet Of Choice (1993), by transceiver Phyllis V. Schlemmer The Elizabeth Clare Prophet Channeling Of Mary Magdalene from 1983, http://www.ascendedmasters.ac/magda.html Other Books & Resources Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982) by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln The Gnostic Gospels (1989) by Elaine Pagels The Da Vinci Code (1997) by Dan Brown Da Vinci Enigmatic Tarot (2005) by Caitlin Matthews Sister Aimee (1994) Daniel Mark Epstein
The Return of The Dove, the motion picture The Return Of The Dove, The Channeled Messages From Saint Mary Magdalene (2006), by Sarah Heartsong & The Sharing Group Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 13
Mary Magdalene Exam Questions Name ___________________________________________________ Phone # ___________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________ (Please supply name, phone #, and address as identifying factors for giving credit properly) 1. Mary Magdalene may have been the partner of . A. St. Paul B. Jesus C. St. John D. Jesus’ brother James 2. According to the internet poll in this course only 6% of the participants believe Mary Magdalene was probably a . A. reformed prostitute B. enlightened saint C. myth D. Neither A, B or C 3. According to Lesa Bellevie in The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Mary Magdalene (2005) “…Mary Magdalene was honored by early Christians…” A. hated B. worshipped as a Goddess C. honored D. looked down upon 4. The Pistis Sophia is a codex made up of questions posed by Jesus to his followers. T F 5. According to this paper, the proof of Mary Magdalene’s life of prostitution . A. is a fact B. is probably true C. does not exist D. Neither A, B or C 6. St. Paul is believed to be the first to see the risen Christ. T F 7. In this paper it is described that The Second Coming has been theorized to mean that every human has the potential to rise to the next dimension of consciousness. T F 8. The Black Madonna refers to a secret society during the time of Mary Magdalene. T F 9. According to Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code (1997), “The Grail is literally the ancient symbol for .” A. eternal Life B. wine C. the flower of life D. womanhood 10. Sister Aimee is believed by some to have been the reincarnation of Mary Magdalene. T F 11. There is very limited channeled information about Mary Magdalene. T F Mary Magdalene ©2005 University Of Metaphysical Sciences 14