Mary Magdalene Bride In Exile [Paperback]

 

 

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Based on historical, symbolical, and mythological records and interpretations, Margaret Starbird examines evidence from the Judeo-Christian scriptures and other early writings that supports the claim that Jesus was an essential partner of a time-honoured sacred relationship that was at the heart of his spiritual message. She argues from both a logical and intuitive perspective that the sacred union of Jesus and his bride was the very cornerstone of early Christianity, and the key ingredient for solving many of the ills still faced by Church and Society today.

The significance of understanding and applying the integrated objectives and values of these teachings to both personal and societal practices and pursuits, while maintaining the necessary balance between the two gender-related components, was subsequently lost and distorted by the unbalanced perspective of the male-dominated Church leaders who sought to institutionalize and control the traditions and teachings for almost two millennia. In the wake of this continuous domination, the voice, role and perspectives of women in the Church have become severely curtailed. The Church became the powerful, dominating Bachelor served by the humble, intimidated Maid, rather than a sacred, balanced union of the Groom and Bride in equal partnership. As a result, balance shifted, strict incomplete and distorted interpretations and practices were imposed, and dissent became punishable by imprisonment or death.

Through a careful examination of the disregarded evidence concerning the exiled bride Mary Magdalene and the feminine archetype, Margaret Starbird elevates the reader back to a conscious awareness of what the Church taught in the very beginning - the Sacred Union, and the intimate partnership of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, reflecting the principles of union and love which are necessary to begin the eventual achievement of all levels of personal and societal advancement.

Margaret Starbird's research traces the esoteric origin and development of the Sacred Union or Hieros Gamos wisdom; how it was reflected in the Old and New Testaments; how it went underground for almost two millennia following the patriarchal impositions; how it survived as an underground stream of esoteric wisdom expressed through art, philosophy, literature and religion; and how it continues to struggle into conscious awareness today, as an important archetypal principle, filling and healing the many forgotten voids left in Church and society alike.

Margaret Starbird skillfully brings the principle of the lost feminine archetype back to awareness, restoring Mary Magdalene to the preeminent and intimate position that she once held as the favoured companion of Jesus. She thereby resasserts the forgotten, balanced view of Christianity based on the sacred union as taught by Jesus and expressed in the Gospels. It makes little sense that any responsible rabbi would not teach what he himself did not fully embrace.

For anyone who feels affronted by the continuing reluctance of top male-dominated Church leaders to once again embrace the feminine principle and change the unbalanced, distorted and disrespectful gender attitudes and influences implicit in the administration of many of the institutionalized Christian Churches, and who seeks a healthier, balanced and respectful understanding of the earliest Christian teachings, this well-written and thought-provoking book is one of the most encouraging and sensible on the subject that I have encountered.

The book is written in a style that can be easily understood and appreciated by a man or woman, regardless of the amount of his or her biblical background. It contains 24 colourful, informative plates of Mary Magdalene-related artwork throughout the centuries, a chronology of key events, an index, and a CD which contains an inspirational one hour talk by Margaret Starbird, elaborating on some of the important parts that were raised in the book.

After reading this book, the reader will be inclined to agree with Margaret Starbird that even if Jesus and Mary Magdalene were not intimate partners of a sacred marriage, then in order for the Christian message to be complete and understandable, they should have been.

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