The Medicine of Sacred Union
Posted by Joan Norton at 5/10/2009 6:14 AM 
Categories: The Magdalene Rosary
Tags: Mary Magdalene 14 Steps To Awaken the Sacred Feminine Women in the Circle of Mary Magdalene
Categories: The Magdalene Rosary
Tags: Mary Magdalene 14 Steps To Awaken the Sacred Feminine Women in the Circle of Mary Magdalene
I'm reading a book called How God Changes Your Brain, by Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Waldman and it's satisfying my curiosity about why it feels so darn good to be involved with Mary Magdalene's Sacred Union spirituality. I've felt compelled in the happiest way towards MORE of it, and I've become more light hearted along the way. Burdens lifted. Apparently my physical brain loves spirituality and becomes healthier through spiritual practices like praying and pondering on the deeper meanings and mysteries. The authors are neuroscience researchers so the book is full of interesting experimental data.... which I can't articulate well. But I can tell you that their conclusion is that "Spiritual practices, even when stripped of religious beliefs, enhance neural functioning of the brain in ways that improve physical and emotional health." Apparently the only type of spiritual beliefs that don't improve your health are ones that activate your anger and judgment. I bet we already knew that, didn't we?
I heard a long time ago from the prophecy community of channelers that it would be science which "proved" God to non-believers. Another of the book's eye-openers for me is that , speaking neurologically, it doesn't matter what a person's definition of God is for it to provide better health and well-being by practicing contemplation of "it".
I think one reason for my increased health and happiness by my practice of Mary Magdalene's Sacred Union spirituality is because she's a She and I'm a she and all her imagery is beautifully feminine. And yes, she's got a fantastic Sacred Partner who is a masculine ideal. I hope you're not offended if I call him dreamy.
So when I hold my Magdalene Rosary in my hand and "turn my thoughts toward the Good", I'm creating a permanent change to the structure of the parts of my brain which control my moods, give shape to my self esteem, and create my perceptions of the physical world around me.
If it makes no difference to my brain's health whether I'm contemplating the Sacred Feminine as Athena or as Mary Magdalene,so I think I'll choose the spiritual story which is all around me. My Magdalene and my Sacred Union with Jesus . When I look at their stained glass windows I am slowing down the aging process of my brain. It's not that I'm trying to live longer, it's just that I want to stay out of the health care system. What a wonderful accidental by-product of loving Mary Magdalene and Jesus as the Way of the heart.
Sometimes when I pick up my rosary my mind won't settle down to contemplate or focus on praying. I might only be able to "do gratefuls" and pass my fingers along the beads. How soothing that is, how helpful it is to feel the steady count of 7's. This practice is as old as time, of course. But with our new "religion" of science, I now know that it's improving my physical health.
My eyes just now fell upon this one her rosary prayers ... "Mary's boat with no oars is swept ashore in Gaul." This is one of my favorites to contemplate in Magdalene Circle because we can make an altar with a little oblong basket turned over to be the boat and we talk about what it's like to be in a time of life with no clear direction.
She's escaped from the shores of Palestine with her family and legend says she is guided by the hand of God as the oars of her boat. She is betwixt and between; her old life evaporated in danger and death, her new life unknown. She has her daughter and she has her ability to tell people about the Way of the heart..... all else is Mystery at this point in her story.
We can all feel the truth of this piece of story in our own lives, can't we? It can be this way once in a while.... lack of clarity and direction, with faith as our only reliable companion. In a boat with no oars. She makes it across the sea, though, and arrives at a new life with new purpose and new direction....this we know.
Mary Magdalene, Sacred Vessel, Holy Grail, Show us the Way of the heart.
Hi Joan,
thank you so much for the "positive" reminder of how spirituality can nourish our entire being: mind, spirit, and body. Knowledge of Mary Magdelene's presence in our lives physically makes our recovery from trauma or stress a lot faster. Just recently "out" of the healthcare system, (shopping at Walmart three days after back surgery!)I can personally attest to the benefits of what prayer, positive energy, and receptiveness to 'the way of the heart" can contribute to one's life. Science sounds like have finally gotten it!
blessings...sheila...: )
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Hi Sheila,
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Joan: You are going to make me cry! I always find great joy in reading your words. I also find personal meaning for myself as well. I find great comfort and strength from women such as yourself who are as personal companions and champions of the Magdalene. Whether you know it or not, you are a Priestess, a woman of great wisdom, and I am honored to know you!
Keep up the good work!Joan wrote: "She has her daughter and she has her ability to tell people about the Way of the heart..... all else is Mystery at this point in her story.
We can all feel the truth of this piece of story in our own lives, can't we? It can be this way once in a while.... lack of clarity and direction, with faith as our only reliable companion. In a boat with no oars.
She makes it across the sea, though, and arrives at a new life with new purpose and new direction....this we know."
I definately feel as if I have lack of clarity and vision in my own life...as if I am in a boat with no oars and no direction in life. But at 40 I am ready for a new life!
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Hi C.A., Thank you for your warm words and encouragement. I just love knowing you "through the airwaves" and I feel us to be a part of the greater Magdalene Circle, which will surely grow and grow. I also resonate especially with the Boat with No Oars story....I bet alot of women do. Age 40 is a great time for "new stuff" to develop, it will be wonderful to watch that happen for you. Keep the faith, Joan
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You've done it again, Joan, with these luminous, gorgeous images of Her, of our inner beautiful, wondrous living-giving Divine Feminine! And your words are wise and welcoming of us all, encouraging us to find the image of Her that opens us to our divinity and allows for Sacred Union -- inner and outer (if a difference exists between the two any longer!) Thank you and love, love, love!
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Hi Sandra, The images of Her that I find on the internet in "all the usual places" are really satisfying for me. Must be soemthing about us all becoming more right-brained... love to you, Joan
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Hi Joan,
I so enjoyed reading this. I'm always one that finds my left and right brain in battle between what we can see and prove versus what my heart tells me. Having Goddess in my life has certainly added such dimension and richness I cannot deny, even if intellectualism suggests to have such belief makes me one of the crazies. I think this just validates for me I can continue being who I am, in the arms of Goddess, without feeling like a deluded fool.
Sorry I didn't make the party Saturday. We were up at the house buying a beautiful tree we're planting very soon in our garden. Hope it was wonderful. I'm sure it was!
Looking forward to a lunch date!
Hugs,
Karen
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Hi Karen, Yes, at last we have scientific "proofiness" that we're not crazy! But we never were. It's an exciting time to live in when the inner world is finally being quantified and experimented with...and then valued and validated ! Lucky us. I think you'd like the book I mentioned. Hurray for planting a tree and getting away for the weekend...much needed I know. The party was good, many copies of the Magdalene Circle book walked out the door and I hope grow into circles of their own. The gems and jewelry spoke to everyone, Sally's jewelry makes me feel like a queen. Would it be too much if we all wore crowns? No. See you soon for lunch. xoJoan
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Hi Joan,
Just reading online and discovered the death recently, I think in April, of John Michell.. his work contributed to the best medicine for the soul,, sacred geometry, diagraphms and drawings of famous subjects in the bible, (the net from Jesus's parable, subjects in Revelation, Ezekial, etc.), May he see the paradise he so frequently wrote about.
blessings...sheila..: )
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Hi Shiela, Yes, I heard that John Michell passed on. Margaret sent a note around and told us he had died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him. That feels good to know. It was John Michell who said to Margaret that it was she who needed to do the gematria work on Mary Magdalene, which she did in Magdalene's Lost Legacy, Symbolic Numbers and the Sacred Union in Christianity. You've probably read it, but for others, this is the book in which we learn that the title "the Magdalene" has a gematria of 153 which is the number symbolic of Goddess, the Sacred Feminine . This was eye opening for me to realize that when the Gospels were written down they were coded with layers of symbolic meaning through which we can see that Jesus knew full well who he was marrying. The Sacred Geometry meaning of 153 is beyond my explaining right now, but we covered it in 14 Steps To Awaken the Sacred Feminine: Women in the Circle of Mary Magdalene in a way that's understandable.
Did you have a chance to see his book called Crooked Soley: A Crop Circle Revelation ? It's about a crop circle a few years ago which he described as "a design with certain numerical symbols that are esoterically known as the 'Keys to Creation'. They are also keys to that universal science associated with the Holy Grail." He also has a new book out with Inner Traditions, who published our book.
Anyway, it's so sad he's gone. What an incredible mind and incredible contributions. xoJoan
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I missed the one about the crop circle, but will be ordering it soon from amazon. and of course his new book from Inner Traditions..Bless you and Margaret for educating us with "sacred cosmology"!!
sheila....: )
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