July 22 is the historical feast day of Mary Magdalene, so it’s very fitting to share this updated post from the early days of Sophia’s Children.
Not that we need confine such celebrations and honorings to one day. After all, Wisdom is timeless, yes?
Who was Mary Magdalene, really?
And why is this question important at all given that we’re talking about a woman who lived 2,000 years ago, and about whom we have only slender references?
For quite a few years now, Mary Magdalene has been re-emerging strongly (along with Lilith and other feisty Divine Feminine exiles), and that’s usually a clue to pay attention to what’s arising since Life restores bits of Wisdom when the timing is vital to Life.
Such questions seem to arise in force when the answer is important to the times, it seems. And this seems a question whose time has come, if all of the movies and books offer a clue. So let’s refresh our memories …
Mary Magdalene, or perhaps Mariamene Mara, resurfaces in our collective consciousness as part of a general reclamation of the Feminine to the Sacred Marriage altar.
Most of us grew up with the notion that Mary Magdalene was a repenting prostitute, if we heard of her at all. More recently, we’ve learned that she was a very close companion of Jesus, one of his devoted disciples, ‘the apostle of apostles’, according to gospel references.
The bible doesn’t actually say that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. So what, or whom, do we have to thank for that rather malicious defilement of the Apostle to the Apostles, Mary Magdalene’s, character and role?
A sixth century sermon by Pope Gregory ‘the Great’ (obviously not Pope Gregory the Accurate!) is often credited with perpetuating, if not starting, the ‘Magdalene’s the reformed prostitute’ rumor, though some distinguished scholars, such as Dr. James Tabor, point to earlier efforts to diminish and discredit her.
The film, The DaVinci Code, brought Mary Magdalene into even greater popular visibility, raising the possibility and stimulating debate about whether she was the wife as well as disciple of Jesus.
While this might be an interesting conversation, to me it seems a distraction from the more important question, and greater likelihood, that Mary Magdalene was a spiritual adept, early church leader, and teacher in her own right. Once-hidden and now discovered sacred texts and ‘lost gospels’, along with other emerging work, seem to suggest this.
In the preface of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves Leloup, David Tresemer, PhD, and Laura-Lee Cannon, write:
“…Mary Magdalene focuses on the inner worlds of initiation. We imagine that, not through outer pomp and pageantry, but through gnosis or direct knowing, she seeks union with the Divine. Hers is the path of the sacred marriage, accomplished within.”
They continue,
“Her path emphasizes inner preparation, introspection, and inner transformation. Perhaps, in addition, she also represents the feeling world; she carries the sensitivity of sensuality, in the truest meaning of the word, finding the divinity in the senses.”
Wisdom, Sophia, incarnate, in other words.
Mary Magdalene is also portrayed and seen, in the various gospels, as one who ‘gets it’ — one who has truly understood and experienced the teachings of the wisdom master, the rabbi Jesus. The scholar John Lamb Lash has explored this indepth in his writings on why Mary Magdalene matters in the resurgence of the Feminine.
Yet Mary Magdalene, according to the gospels and more recent scholarly writings about her, was one who, in addition to an emphasis on the inner Mysteries, engaged in the world.
She is portrayed as a teacher and adept, yes, and also as one who is devoted in action — it is she, with two other women, for example, who don’t flee the threats at the crucifixion.
They remain there, present, witnessing, and perhaps ‘holding the space’ through their attention and devotion.
It is Magdalene who goes to the tomb with the sacred oils, and it is to her that the risen Jesus first appears and gives the instruction to ‘go tell the others what you have seen’. Because Mary Magdalene is one who has seen.
Joan Chittester, OSB, in her book The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible, writes this of Magdalene:
“The Magdalene quality of friendship is what distinguishes those who walk with us through the shallows of life from those who take the soundings of our soul and follow us into the depths of them…Intimacy, the Magdalene quality, is about appreciation, affection, and warmth…it is about being deeply valued, reverently respected, lovingly tended, and warmly received.” (p. 83)
In these reflections we begin to see why the question of who Mary Magdalene really was is important — why these ways and qualities are so needed in our lives and in our world now.
We see how the path of inner transformation and devotion to wisdom enlivens these beautiful qualities of sensuality, devotion, intimacy, dignity, wisdom, and deep respect and reverence for all as Divine expressions of sacredness.
Who was Mary Magdalene, and what does she offer us now?
The explorations and deep remembering continue…seek for her in your heart; what does she whisper to you?
In the meanwhile, happy Mary Magdalene feast month and continued Inner Way explorations.
Wild & Beautiful Blessings,
Jamie
Stir Your Feminine Mojo
Explore Magdalene and other Divine Feminine historical and mythic stories, and reclaim & express your Feminine Mojo with a Sophiastrology+Intuitive consultation or a more mentorship co-creation.
See the Current Special Offerings
Image Credits and Links: Find Richard Stodart’s Mary Magdalene page here.
July 21, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Reblogged this on Not Just Sassy on the Inside and commented:
Jamie’s exploration of the true Mary Magdalene is thoughtful and insightful.
July 22, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Thank you for sharing the Magdalene post with your Not Just Sassy on the Inside blog circle, Leigh! And a happy Magdalene’s Feast Day to you. Blessings, Jamie
July 21, 2015 at 5:27 pm
I always love your posts, Jamie. As a devotee of the Magdalene, I love all you’ve woven together here. All these reminders and the beautiful images will inspire my own ceremonies marking her feast day. Thank you!
July 22, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Thank you, Pam, for your kind words. I greatly appreciate it. And I truly appreciate and share your devotion to the Magdalene as well (and the other great work, too). A happy Magdalene day of remembrance (and onward from this day, too). Blessings, Jamie
July 21, 2015 at 10:15 pm
Reblogged this on Laura Bruno's Blog and commented:
I love this one from Jamie! An excellent exploration of Mary Magdalene and why she matters.
July 22, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for reblogging this post and for rippling the Magdalene Love a bit further into the Field, Laura. I very much appreciate that. She’s so amazing and such a powerful consciousness! Happy Magdalene’s Day. Love, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 1:42 pm
<3
July 21, 2015 at 10:23 pm
I have a framed print of Richard Stodart’s Mary Magdalene that I would like to sell, if anyone is interested. Gorgeous! Thank you!
July 21, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Reblogged this on Tania Marie's Blog and commented:
Wonderful post by Jamie…and reblog by Laura… on Mary Magdalene and her significance.
July 22, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Thanks again for reblogging the Magdalene post, Tania Marie! Love, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 1:02 am
Jamie ~ as Tania & Laura say above, what an excellent and wonderful post!
Feel free to delete all or parts of the rest of this, as I’m needlessly running on….
Your reference to St. Gregory the Great (aka, the Non-Accurate) caught my eye, for, growing up in rural Minnesota, throughout my youth I attended St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church (where I served as an alter boy, and Lector, and played the role of Jesus in a passion play, (I had the longest hair, if not the purest heart, of the other young men at our church) and also played the role of our beloved priest in a skit for his going away party).
But what’s really worth mentioning is how the name Mary Magdalene resounds with importance every time she is mentioned. I remember very cleary, as a boy and youth, always feeling a special aura surrounding her.
And the writers of the gospels really took note of her, as demonstrated by the following factoids from Wikipedia:
Within the four Gospels she is named at least 12 times,[4] more than most of the apostles.
The Gospel of Luke says seven demons had gone out of her,[Lk. 8:2] and the longer ending of Mark says Jesus had cast seven demons out of her.[Mk. 16:9] She is most prominent in the narrative of the crucifixion of Jesus, at which she was present. She was also present two days later, immediately following the sabbath,[3] when, according to all four canonical Gospels,[Matthew 28:1–8] [Mark 16:9–10] [Luke 24:10] [John 20:18] she was either alone or as a member of a group of women the first to testify to the resurrection of Jesus.[5] John 20 and Mark 16:9 specifically name her as the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection.
In the four Gospels, Mary Magdalene is nearly always distinguished from other women named Mary by adding “the Magdalene” (ἡ Μαγδαληνή) to her name.[2] This has been interpreted to mean “the woman from Magdala”, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Luke 8:2 says that she was actually “called Magdalene”. In Hebrew מגדל Migdal means “tower”, “fortress”; in Aramaic, “Magdala” means “tower” or “elevated, great, magnificent”.[8]
It is at the time of the crucifixion and resurrection that Mary Magdalene comes to the fore in the gospels. Uniquely among the followers of Jesus, she is specified by name (though not consistently by any one gospel) as a witness to three key events: Jesus’ crucifixion, his burial, and the discovery that his tomb was empty. [add to this list of 3 a very significant 4th, as mentioned above, she was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection]
Her presence at those four key events is remarkable – so even within the “canonical gospels” she is recognized as playing a role of great significance in the life and mission of Jesus.
I am also struck by the statement that she was cleansed of 7 demons – given the great significance the number 7 plays in Judiaism and Christianty. I invite us all think upon this….
July 22, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Cnawan, thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed visiting with Magdalene a bit via this post, and I’m so delighted that you’ve shared what you did here in your comment! I was thinking of adding the number of mentions in the gospels, etc. but chose to leave the post be, so what you’ve shared completes it.
Quite something that you were so active as a boy in the church of St. Gregory the Great, yet also felt the power of the Magdalene in the mention of her name. How beautiful is that? There is something so powerful there, so alive, that it comes through the name, isn’t there?
I had a beautiful and potent dream-vision earlier this year of that meeting between Magdalene and Jesus just ‘risen’… a vivid visual and felt sense of that moment that said so much more than words or even the most exquisite painting could say. The sense of it, and the clear visual, is as potent right now, as such things are (timeless).
And you raise another powerful insight about the ‘seven demons’ and the significance of the number 7 in the wisdom and esoteric traditions. Is there a particular bit of relevance or meaning that came to you immediately? Likely multi-layered, as these very alive teachings tend to be. 🙂
Blessings to you, and thank you again for all that you’ve shared.
Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Jamie, I’m relieved that you appreciated the long comment, as one doesn’t want to hijack, or detract from, another’s lovely post! Your statement, “There is something so powerful there, so alive, that it comes through the name, isn’t there?” – so very, very true! And one can imagine the intense energy of that encounter between Jesus and Mary at that moment, what a blessing for you to experience that.
About the number 7 – I haven’t yet considered it in light of esoteric traditions, but in the context of the Judeo-Christian tradition, what immediately came to mind was: 1) The 7 days of creation – she had cleansing / opening of energy channels (chakras?) for each of those aspects of creation within herself, and 2) similarly she was cleansed of blocks to her relation to those aspects of creation 3) also in regard to the 7 days of creation – as she was healed/cleansed, so too was the creation healed/cleansed. 4) 7 deadly sins – she was “healed” of the psychological structures that dispose one to engage in those unevolved, egoic activities. I think there was something else….. But what are your thoughts?
July 23, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Thank you, Cnawan, and yes, absolutely … I enjoy the rich conversation and contributions that these posts sometimes stir up. So beautiful! 🙂
Thanks, too, for sharing your sense of and what arises with what you’ve shared about the number 7 and the references to Magdalene and the connection to what I’ll call her initiation path to becoming an adept, a telestai (the link in the post to John Lash’s article on this, and Magdalene’s connection to telestai (wise, adeptii) is important).
Seven, like 40, is such a potent and much-referenced number in the sacred texts (in more than one tradition, since some likely have more ancient shared taproot), so to me there are many layers and levels of meaning to it, as what you’ve shared also suggests. But it seems a dynamic number (e.g. in Tarot, the 7 is often related to change (The Chariot) but that which comes from the still center (the image by Lady Frieda Harris for the Crowley Thoth deck shows this beautifully). And the seven main energy centers (chakras) of the body that are part of the central channel that connects us to Earth and Cosmos/Heaven and unites within us as embodiments of that alchemy … bringing Heaven to Earth and expressing the Heaven IN Earth.
These are just a couple of things that arise as I reflect on what you’ve shared and asked. What else gets stirred?
Blessings,
Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 3:48 pm
A couple of things – too much to share here – so I’ll send you an email. 🙂
July 23, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Perfect, 🙂
July 23, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Sent. 🙂
July 22, 2015 at 4:18 am
Reblogged this on Reiki Dawn and commented:
Thank you Laura Bruno and Tannia Marie for reblogging this wonderful post by Jaimie at Sophia’s Children
July 22, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Thank you, Dawn, for reblogging and sharing the Magdalene Love even further into the collective field. I appreciate that you enjoyed and passed it along as well. Blessings, Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 3:21 am
My pleasure Kamie❤️
July 23, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Thank you, Dawn. 🙂 See my other note (in response to your followup comment) for why ‘Kamie’ made me smile. xoxo Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 3:22 am
Jamie. Lol. My auto correct made you Kamie.
July 23, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Thank you, Dawn. I’m always amazed (and sometimes annoyed) at my auto-correct’s ‘corrections’ (and my having to re-do it, cuz we mean what we mean!). 🙂 But interestingly, and old and dear Greek friend called me ‘Kemie’, from some older linguistic connection. So your ‘Kamie’ made me smile, like a little ‘hello’ through the ethers. 🙂 xoxo Love, Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm
That makes me smile now. Lol
July 23, 2015 at 2:37 pm
🙂
July 22, 2015 at 9:56 am
Thank you for this wonderful post. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been intrigued by Mary Magdalene and appreciate learning about her life… following the gnostic path to Divine union.
July 22, 2015 at 1:26 pm
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, Diana. Thank you for visiting Sophia’s Children and sharing your comment. It’s something that Magdalene called to you even as a little girl, isn’t it? I had that sense too in church, that there was something more … 🙂 Blessings to you. Love, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 9:59 am
Reblogged this on gail007.
July 22, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Thanks again for reblogging this post, Gail! Blessings, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 6:07 pm
I love that you posted about Mary Magdalene, who has been and continues to be very important to me spiritually. FutureChurch, one of the church reform organizations to which I belong, has, for quite a few years, sponsored women-led prayer services for the feast of Mary Magdalene.
July 23, 2015 at 12:16 am
The theme for this year’s Mary Magdalene celebration for FutureChurch is combating human trafficking. More information here: https://futurechurch.org/human-trafficking-more-information
July 23, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Thank you for sharing that, Joanne. One of my early clients, an amazing woman, trail-blazed in this work (the late Norma Hotaling, who founded SAGE (Standing Against Global Exploitation)). I’m so glad so many are continuing to keep the momentum of her work and others alive and moving strongly forward towards sanity and a restoration of humanity in these areas! Blessings, Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Thank you, Joanne. Her energy and the remembering of Her, the Magdalene, is so powerful — important for me as well. I’m always so glad to know of the ways she’s still working in and through us! Thanks for sharing the link and mention of FutureChurch and this year’s Magdalene Feast Day theme (may we continue to embody and strengthen in her spirit and Way well beyond the Feast Day!). Blessings, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 7:09 pm
What a beautiful post honoring the significance that Mary Magdalene
brings to enrich our understanding of the Divine feminine. Thank you, Jamie.
July 23, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Thank you, Anna Lin. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for visiting and posting, as ever! Blessings, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 9:42 pm
Reblogged this on Aphrodite's Musings and commented:
Found this fantastic post and blog through another wonderful blogger I follow…Yogaleigh over at Not Just Sassy on the Inside. Thanks both!
July 23, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for rippling this post and Magdalene juju out further into the shared consciousness-pool, Aphrodite. xoxo Love, Jamie
July 23, 2015 at 1:16 am
A beautiful post, Jamie. One does sense an intimacy and a presence just saying the name of Mary… Perhaps it is an appropriate day to share that in the Dialogues of A Course of Love, Jesus talks about the “Way of Jesus” and the “Way of Mary”, and how they are unique “ways” of embodying Christ Consciousness. Here are two quotes you may enjoy…
“Thus we enter the ending stage of what can be realized through fulfillment of the way of Jesus and the beginning of the fulfillment of the way of Mary. This ending stage of the fulfillment of the way of Jesus is the stage of interaction with the world, the time of miracles, the death of the old way and the birth of the new.”
“By living as who you are in the world, you create change in the
world. You create change in the world through relationship. All live and create in relationship. Those called to the way of Mary, however, are called to the creation and anchoring of the new relationship in the new world. Their relationship of union, upon which their contentment is based, is the birthplace, the womb of the new. Their expression is expression of this union.”
Happy Feast Day!
Michael
July 23, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Thank you, Michael, for sharing these. “…we are called to the creation and anchoring of the new relationship in the world.” Beautiful, isn’t it? We know that call when we read such things and feel them stir the very roots and depths within us, yes? 🙂 Blessings, Jamie
July 24, 2015 at 12:56 am
Yes! We know, because we feel that we are called… All of us…
July 25, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Thanks for sharing this Jamie and giving me a greater knowledge and understanding of Mary Magdalene.
July 29, 2015 at 3:05 pm
You’re most welcome, Andrea. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and I appreciate your visit and comment (as I always do!). Blessings, Jamie
July 26, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Reblogged this on Traces of the Soul and commented:
What a great post and finally more clear concise information about Mary Magdalene . It is interesting that as a youth growing up in a French Catholic church the reference was insinuated often about her sins but I (and surely many) saw this as hope for anyone who has “sinned” whatever that sin may be. In the past decade we are hearing more “truths”; thank you for such an extensive post …I look forward to reading more and checking out Jean LeLoup.
July 29, 2015 at 3:03 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Oliana, and I’m so glad to have shared word of Jean LeLoup’s book and work, too. Thank you for visiting and for sharing the post via your blog, too. Blessings, Jamie
July 27, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Informative and most excellent post. I enjoyed all the comments too! And a timely one, as always, Jamie.
xxoo Dayna
July 29, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Thank you, Dayna. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and the conversation in the comment section; and I’m glad it was timely, too (though we’ll agree that Magdalene is always timely!). 🙂 xoxo Jamie
July 31, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Yes, how true, Magdalene is always timely. Maybe more the part about calling out some 6th century rumormongering. That felt pretty timely. 🙂 Well done. xxo Dayna
July 29, 2015 at 4:35 pm
It’s me Oliana (pen name) aka Cheryl-Lynn, just want to say again how much I enjoyed reading this post!
July 16, 2017 at 11:49 pm
Reblogged this on dreamweaver333.
July 19, 2017 at 12:44 am
Thank you for the reblog & rippling this Magdalene musing out to your blog-circle Violet. xoxo Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Thank you, Carla Dawn, for reblogging The Inner Way of Mary Magdalene (and happy Magdalene’s Day to all of you, too!). Blessings, Jamie
July 29, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Thanks so much for the mention in your wonderful post! I look forward to perusing the other sites and posts you’ve shared. Blessings, Jamie