Magdalene Mysteries

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Magdalene Mysteries - The Left Hand Path of the Feminine Christ by Seren & Azra Bertrand. Published by Bear & Co. 

Mary Magdalene, as we know from original and earliest sources was a Jewish woman who assisted Jesus and the apostles with their finances. She had seven demons driven from her by Jesus, and was at the foot of the cross when he was crucified. And she is reputed to have been the first person to see the risen Christ. Even this last point about her life is debatable. Women were not considered reliable witnesses, especially one who had been affected with 7 demons. As a Biblical persona, she has been confused with Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Egypt, hence the accusation of prostitution - a terrible slur against her name. 

This book is a NewAge/Fertility Goddess genre paperback. It’s about a pagan Mary Magdalene, coupled with assumptions and corruptions, and it’s about a different kind of Jesus to the one that is prophecies and documented in the Old & New Testaments. For 1,400 years, Mary Magdalene suffered a gross injustice, as she was accused by the Papacy of prostitution. There is nothing in the New Testament to associate her name with this way of making her money. Was Jesus a pimp living off immoral earnings? It is highly unlikely that this Mary was a prostitute, as Jewish women and the entire society were extremely sexually oppressed. At the time, with Roman soldiers in the city, disease would have been rampant amongst prostitutes and they would have been violently driven from the city. 

 But here in this book, she is a prostitute again, sexed up and sensationalised to sell a book and to improve careers as TV presenters. And in this book, Jesus is not the Jesus we have known and loved, I mean, the circumcised Jewish healer and teacher called “Rabbi”, who had a purple robe of kingship placed over his shoulders, who had a crown of thorns placed on his head, and had a sign placed above his head when crucified, inscribed with “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’! Another Jesus is described here, more imaginative - and more unlikely! Why re-write the Bible when it has been honoured for 2000 years across the world, a billion believers - and yet we have no evidence that any of it ever existed! 

This book begins with a biography. Where is the gothic cathedral she describes she found in her childhood? I find myself questioning the Mary Magdalene presented here as a pagan priestess. I am, however, enjoying the style in which it is written when Mary Magdalene is not mentioned. I like the beauty of the content. However, as I turn the pages, I make some realisations, for me, does it matter if the subject is goddess culture of the Middle East of 2000 years ago that is sold under the popular title of Mary Magdalene coupled with the “Left Hand Path”! 

This book has some modern drawings, ancient engravings, poetry, quotes, and word derivations, but most lovingly is the book’s wonderful descriptions of the divine feminine, the lost world of sacred women, and the need to resurrect what women know and are good at, and can be recognised for again in the future. There is a lot about sex! Mary Magdalene and sex always sells! In the end, I liked the content and forgave them for using this much abused woman to sell their book. There are many beautiful moments and much inspiration for empowerment of women - and for the love of men! 

Review by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk