Though I have had an inexplicable and strong magnetic attachment to Mary Magdalene my entire life, after visiting Provence I am certain that it is not to validate, or even investigate her marriage to Jesus or authenticate their children’s bloodline. Validating any “relationship” is not my primary or spiritual interest. I do not care if Black Sarah of Saintes Maries de la Mer is her daughter, if thousands of devotees were murdered over the centuries to erase her legacy or if she was the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
All of these inquiries, while historic, academic and intriguing, are merely architectural components to building a community, a theology and, ultimately, a church albeit an alternative church to the Vatican variety. Even if it is matriarchal and establishes a bona fide bloodline to Joshua ben David, whom many believe to be exclusively divine; it still is not my pursuit or desired outcome.
Frankly put, even the titles of widow, wife, mother, aunt or “Apostle” are entirely relativistic and bear no possibility unless you are a widow, wife, or apostle to one who is established as, at the least, superior or, at most, divine.
In my recent journey to “re-step” Magdalene’s trail in France, it was the cave that spoke to me. It was not her being discarded, de-famed or newly discovered that is my listing mast. It is her practice; her 30 years in Ste Baume that is my oceanic interest. In Provence, she was not sitting at the feet of a master or documenting the life of another. She was not building a following for her deceased husband. She was not building a building at all. She was a mystic practicing self-discovery.
There many legends, dozens of churches, countless paintings and statues of Mary Magdalene/Madalene. There are images of a boat with no oars and debatable passengers. There are ideas about where she landed, did she teach, did she travel but I am not Mary Magdalene and, more personally important, she is not me.
Susan Haskins, China Galland, Margaret Starbird have written brilliant books about her. Holy Blood, Holy Grail is an astute book about the blood line of Jesus. Dan Brown entertained everyone on the subject. But until women stand unattached in their own enlightenment there will always be an association pressing in on them; either taking credit for their advancement or diminishing her importance.
At one of the many magnificent churches we visited some angelic Dominican nuns were singing. Mass was being held and one of the sisters was directing the congregation but it was the pure voices of the women in the sacristy that filled the dome to the door. Then when the real action began, consecrating the eucharist, a priest stood and officiated at the altar, (notice it is clear that priest = man). That will be the case until women are their own salvation, ranking below no one or, may I say, without rank.
Since myth making about Magdalene seems to be open for one and all, I choose to make my own. That is not to say that the unpeeling of Mary Magdalene serves no purpose or isn’t exciting. I am suggesting that as it becomes more and more irrefutably clear, to the point of being obvious, that union is sacred, Jesus and Mary were partners and they had at least one child; people will become loosed to question papal succession, infallibility, and a celibate male-only priesthood.
I believe, I will continue, I will press to dispense with all of that entirely. A woman does not have to be the brave sacrificing partner, thinking only of her man to be worthy of reverence. Furthermore, I would contend that the path unfolds even further ~ through the practice of meditation and self-discovery.
To me, the interesting thing is that once consciously afoot on the path of self-discovery; there are no relative ideas or positions. Each person is their own master. Each person is without rank. Each person sits under the tree, crosses a river or retreats to a cave. Metaphor, myth or real is completely irrelevant.
To read about the whole trip - visit Two Pilgrims
Zoe, this is so beautiful – the last paragraph a perfect glimpse of the ultimate brilliant experience of mind beyond self. How profound that “until women stand unattached in their own enlightenment there will always be an association pressing in on them”. Thus, so it is
Posted by: diane | October 03, 2008 at 11:23 AM