Publisher's Synopsis
During the time of Jesus, there was every reason to believe that, according to his teachings and within his own inner circle, women were uniquely empowered as fully equal. It was not until the fourth century that the church was on its way to understanding itself in opposition to women. The early image of Mary Magdalene as a trusted apostle of Jesus proved to be a major obstacle to establishing male dominance. As a result, she was simply recast, courtesy of Pope Gregory in 591 AD, as the repentant sinner, the prostitute, the whore, the harlot, wherein the emphasis on sexuality, as the root of all evil, further served to subordinate all women; an ingenious idea, an even more lucrative plan. Based on the inner reflection of this inquisitive author, Mary Magdalene: A Personal Connection reminds one that we are a composite of both feminine and masculine; our true, pure, essential selves. In accordance with the mystical traditions that came to be known as alchemy, many have looked at these processes as being about converting the physical metal of lead into gold, but the key message in all of this was the transformation of the individual and thereby discovering what it means to be spirit residing within a human (physical) body. In order to become truly spiritual beings, we must accept ourselves as we are, and also as we are becoming, for therein lies the truth behind the alchemical marriage between the enlightened heart (feminine) and the illumined mind (masculine); the result of which is, none other than, the Philosopher's Stone.
