ARTWORK CONTEMPLATION LAB, by Lady DeborahR+C, Priestess. Aug 2004
This is a fifteen-day contemplation lab designed to help you ponder the life of Mary Magdala, and give you some perspective on her life and ministry.The lab will take you through different phases of her life. You do not necessarily have to complete this in fifteen straight days; just fit it into your own schedule. For each day’s lesson, click on the picture listed, then read the description of the art work and the devotional. Record your reactions on both the art work and the devotional reading, and note the date. When you’ve completed the lab, send a report to the mystery school including that information. Here is a simple Lab Report Form you can use.
Many of the devotionals are in a questioning format. The concept is not to tell you what to think, but to encourage you to write down your own responses to the artistic renderings of the life of the Magdala. Enjoy!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Day 1: Magdala and the Holy Family
www.magdalene.org/madonna/daconegliano.htm
Art: Here we see the Magdala with the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, along with John the Baptist. Mary Magdala is often portrayed as”attending” the mother of Jesus. Her age in these various portraits varies from a young child to a young adult. Although it’s unlikely that there was such a large age difference between Yeshua and the Magdala, it is interesting to contemplate the idea that the two may have known each other as children. If they were both of the Davidic line, it’s altogether possible that they did know each other from childhood.
Devotional: Yeshua was taken for granted by many who grew up with him. His own family didn’t even believe in his mission for awhile. If Mary Magdala did know Yeshua as a child, how do you think that would have affected how she perceived him as an adult? What were the possible advantages to such a close personal tie?
Day 2: Mary Magdala with Martha Top
www.magdalene.org/martha/tintoretto.htm
Art: We believe that Mary Magdala and Mary of Bethany were the same person. Martha and the Magdala were therefore sisters. Their personalities were very different–Martha was seen as more practical, Mary more spiritual.But their bond was evidently strong, because Martha is portrayed as going with Mary to France after Yeshua’s resurrection.
Devotional: What kind of sister was Mary Magdala? How did her sisterly role change over the years? In what ways does she express her”sisterhood” to you? Meditate on the role of Mary Magdala as a type of “universalsister”. How does this change your attitude toward her?
Day 3: Raising of Lazarus Top
www.magdalene.org/lazarus/buoninsegna.htm
Art: Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary Magdala and Martha,and close friend of Yeshua, falls ill and dies. Yeshua resurrected him 4days later. This story actually confirms the idea that Yeshua and the Magdala were married, because if Mary were “sitting shiva” (Jewish mourning rites)for her brother, the only one she could have gone out to see was her husband.See John 11:28-29 for this. Note Magdala’s posture in this painting.
Devotional: Yeshua was obviously close to the Bethany family.He wept over Lazarus’ death and then brought him back to life. A pretty good friend to have! According to legend, Lazarus later accompanied the Magdalato France, and probably had a hand in helping raise Yeshua’s daughter. Do you think Yeshua knew this when he raised Lazarus from the dead? How do you think this event affected Magdala’s life?
Day 4: The Anointing Top
www.magdalene.org/annointing/rubens2.htm
Art: In the midst of the crowd, Mary Magdala anoints Yeshua.Notice the faces of the onlookers, and the faces of Yeshua and Magdala.
Devotional: What a picture of love and devotion! Mary doesn’t care what the others think; she is absorbed by her love for Yeshua. She fills the role of the anointing priestess, preparing Yeshua for his death, descent into hell and resurrection. Yeshua said her act would be remembered forever,thus drawing attention to the significance of it. [Katia inserts: There are two actions in Yeshua’s life that he says will be remembered forever. One is this anointing, the other is when at the last supperhe says, “Do this in remembrance of me,” regarding the bread and wine ofeucharist. It is fascinating that there is a sacramental action –“ritual”that can be extrapolated from each of these events. One is to bedone “in memory of her” (Yeshua’s actual words) and the other ritual,the mass, the eucharist, is done in “remembrance of” him. The mainstream Church has done anointings for centuries, but only of the sick. The anointings are not done in her memory, nor done as often as the eucharistritual is re-enacted. Both are part of the Hieros Gamos/Sacred Marriage rites of Esoteric Christianity.] What does the anointing teach you?
Day 5: On the way to Calvary Top
www.magdalene.org/road/giotto.htm
Art: Magdala looks angry and upset. The man beside her appears to be holding her back. In other paintings of this subject, Mary appears to be keening and grieving. Note the colors in the painting.
Devotional: How would you react if your beloved spouse werefalsely accused of sedition and immediately executed? Would you be temptedto try to rescue him/her? Think of Mary’s position here. Grief, fear, andloss are almost overwhelming her. If she knows she’s pregnant, she also hasfear for her child’s future. She might be remembering Yeshua’s predictionsof his death. Was she also remembering his promise of resurrection? Did heranointing of him, which was to prepare him for his death, “seal the deal”?Does she feel guilty? Or determined to continue his mission? Such a tangleof emotions on her face!
Day 6: Crucifixion Top
www.magdalene.org/cross/giotto.htm
Art: Another Giotto fresco. In most depictions of Calvary, Magdalais kneeling near the cross, sometimes comforting the mother of Yeshua, sometimes(as here) kneeling at Yeshua’s feet. Note the colors, MM’s hair, the skull
Devotional: Those feet! The same ones she anointed just awhilebefore. A cruel death, designed for traitors to Rome, not for innocent teachers.His life slips away. Can she draw strength from him in any way? How can shego on without her beloved?
Day 7: Deposition (taking Yeshua from the cross) Top
www.magdalene.org/deposition/david.htm
Art: Magdala appears to be ready to anoint Yeshua again, withthe jar in her hand, poised over his feet. Note that her hair is bound, butnot covered.
Devotional: Yeshua is dead. No rescue was possible. Local Jewishleaders had taunted him while he was dying. Did Magdala hear their jests?Did some doubt start to creep in here? Often we see saints as always believing.But if she was human, there had to be some doubt. Is faith always constant,or is it stronger when tested? What good could possibly come of Yeshua’sdeath?
Day 8: Lamentation (mourning over Christ’s body) Top
www.magdalene.org/lamentation/brescia.htm
Art: Mary Magdala is shown here with the Mary, the Mother ofYeshua, and John the apostle, mourning over Yeshua’s body after it was takendown from the cross. Note her hair, her body language.
Devotional: The Bride looks lost. But could she have any hope?After all, her brother was resurrected by Yeshua. Could that same power workon Yeshua’s behalf? On her behalf? We know now that her grieving was brief,but she had no way to know that for sure at that moment. Is it okay to grieve?Should there be a time limit?
Day 9: Preparing the body (taking myrrh tothe tomb) Top
www.magdalene.org/myrrh/bassa.htm
Art: Mary Magdala and two other women (traditionally Mary, themother of Yeshua, and Mary Salome, her sister and Yeshua’s aunt) take myrrhand other herbs to the tomb to prepare his body. Since the crucifixion occuredduring Passover, they had to rush through the preparations in order to returnhome before sunset. When Passover was completed, they went back to the tombto finish. Ironic that Yeshua received myrrh at his birth, and then theywere planning to use myrrh to anoint his body for burial. Note the colorsused here, and the angel.
Devotional: He’s gone! Where could he be? Surely Magdala hadheard the rumors. The leaders of the Jews were saying that Yeshua’s followerswould take his body and claim he had resurrected. So the Romans set a sealon the grave, along with a huge gravestone. Now his body is gone. Where ishe? Did he resurrect, as he predicted? Oh, that’s too good to be true! Oris it?
Day 10: Don’t cling to me Top
www.magdalene.org/nolimetangere9.htm
Art: Yeshua holds off Mary’s embrace because he hasn’t yet ascendedto the Father. Note the pennant, Yeshua’s clothing, Mary’s clothing andexpression. [Katia inserts: Keep in mind that the word “cling” is thebest translation of the original Greek word. It should NOT be translatedas “don’t touch me,” but as “don’t cling to me,” because she was probablyhugging him and wouldn’t let go. (Can’t blame her for that!).]
Devotional: Yeshua seems reluctant to leave his bride. She mustbe filled with tremendous emotion–joy, love, relief, awe. But she hearswhat he says and backs away. Now what? Do they resume their life together?How will things change now? For now however, she must fulfill her missionto tell the other apostles.
Day 11: Giving the news Top
www.printeryhouse.org/mall/icons/passion_res/c11.asp
Art: A woman with such news! Look at the body language of theapostles, huddled together in fear, questioning this woman whom Yeshua loved.Mary appears confident.
Devotional: Only one of these men, the youngest, was at thecross as Yeshua died. The other ten went into hiding. The women wentout to tend to Yeshua’s body, despite the danger of being associated witha convicted and executed criminal. [Katia inserts: We shouldn’tbe too harsh and think the male disciples were cowards. Remember thatmost of them later showed they were the complete opposite of cowards, dyinghorrible deaths while teaching in faraway lands. Once they realized he reallyhad risen, no power on earth could keep their mouths shut. Oneor more of the twelve getting arrested and killed alongside Yeshua wouldnot have helped complete the work, would have done nothing to spread thehealing ministry or to get out Yeshua’s radical, liberating teachings. Yeshua allowed himself to be arrested and executed in order to savehis family, friends, and vast numbers of students and followers from a Romanmassacre — the common way of dealing with dissidents. Joseph of Arimetheahelped with the body of Yeshua, too. But since he was a politicianand an old man, he was not in danger of arrest like the apostles were. Still, it was a thoroughly sexist world, a man’s world, and women’stestimonies were not even considered in most courts. So the questionsthat follow should be considered with that sexism in mind. Hopefullysince Yeshua had taught them for three years, most of the male students werenot sexists, just perhaps occasionally stuck in a sexist mindset.] DidMary fear telling these men what had happened? Did she wonder if shewould be believed or not? How did she feel when they doubted her? After all, Yeshua raised her brother from the dead; how could resurrectionbe impossible?
Day 12: Exile Top
www.womenpriests.org/magdala/day9.htm
Art: Note the harbor, a depiction of Mary Magdala’s voyage toFrance after Yeshua’s resurrection. Note the people listening, the colorsused.
Devotional: A woman preaching? Who would bother to listen? Ifit was Mary Magdala, evidently quite a few would listen. Can you imaginewhat she might have said to these folks? Were they Christians or not? Howwould she have related to the women, to the men? Would she have altered hermessage for either group, to make her words acceptible to men?
Day 13: The grotto Top
Art: These grotto scenes, supposedly from the legends of MaryMagdala’s spending her later years in seclusion in the caves of Provence,France, often show Magdala partly or fully disrobed, and also often readinga book. Note her hair, the colors used. [Katia inserts: This secludedcave-dwelling Mary may not be Mary Magdalene at all, but Mary of Egypt oranother Mary saint who later got confused with the Magdalene.]
Devotional: Did Mary Magdala really sin? And if she did, canGod forgive them or not? Why would she have to spend so many years repenting?
Do you think Magdala could read? Some women in higher classes did learn toread, especially if they were needed to help with the family business. Howdoes this possibilty distinguish Mary from other women of her time? Doesit affect how you see her?
Day 14: Assumption Top
www.magdalene.org/assumption/giotto.htm
Art: Mary was said to have been taken up into heaven on a dailybasis during her years of seclusion. Here we see her talking with some angels.Note her attire (or lack thereof!), her hair.
Devotional: Was this idea of the Magdala’s assumption necessaryfor her legend to continue? Does this idea bother you or intrigue you? Andhow does it affect the Magdala’s example as a woman who had a unique relationshipwith God? Does it make her more or less accessible to everyday folks? [Katia’stwo cents worth: There are several paintings showing Mary Magdalene’sassumption up to heaven after her physical death. I prefer to thinkof her as partner to Yeshua in all things, including their joint mission. This might require them both to ascend (rather than an assumption)up to heaven and “sit”. Then again, since Yeshua is a male and malegods are associated with heaven and the sky, perhaps only he ascended andshe remained as female deities are often associated with the earth. Onegnostic teaching has Yeshua remaining with her (and their students) afterthe Resurrection for eleven years. I like to think of them both ascendingafter getting their child/children safely raised and housed. Of coursethis conflicts somewhat with another attractive theory in which Magdaleneremains among us, born generation after generation into some female. Sophiais also said to be among us in this fashion, was probably in Simon Magus’Helen. Even more attractive is the idea that Sophia is “every woman.” Each female might be a manifestation Sophia, Magdalene or simply a”Goddess” manifestation. So all women are able to access and actualize Her.The opposite might be true of males, they are each a manifestation of themasculine Divine, be it Creator or Redeemer. When the ego falselyidentifies with Goddess or God is when you get megolomania and “messiah complex.” It is the spirit, not the personality or ego, that is a manifestationof the Divine.]
Day 15: Icon, 11th Century, from Museo Civico,Cividale di Friouli Top
www.celtoslavica.de/imago/_Cividale.html(also shown above)
Art: Mary Magdalene is here connected to Sophia, the goddessof wisdom, and her daughters (from left to right) Faith, Hope and Love. Notethe fleur-de-lis design over the top. [Katia inserts: And notice those redX’s on their gowns! The Red X, and sometimes a plain X, was used asa code for the Grail Heresy and Esoteric Christianity. MM and Sophiahave X’s and O’s on their gowns. The daughters have no O’s,only the red X pattern. Little Faith has the X pattern on her gown,while Hope has it most visible on her cloak. Love’s gown is unique in thatthe bodice is different from the skirt. Her skirt has red X’s but herbodice has three white star-like X’s, perhaps indicating the three kindsof love, eros, philos and agape. SeeWhat is Love?for more on those three kinds. Note that Faith is the smallest daughter becauseone only needs “a little faith,” no bigger than a mustard seed will do. And Love is the biggest because the New Testament verse which liststhese daughters 1 Cor. 13:13 ends with, “…but the greatest of these isLove.” Sophia, Love, Hope and Faith are all holding sheaves of grain,while Mary Magdalene blesses us with both hands. 1 Cor. 13 is a great chapterto read and contains many famous phrases such as “when I was a child, I spakeas a child,” and “see thru a glass darkly,” and “speak with the tongues ofmen and angels.”
Devotional: Mary is often shown in paintings with saints ofall different time periods. Her example extends all the way to us today.What does this teach us? It’s not such a bad thing to be “just a woman” ifwomen can receive and teach spiritual truth just like men do. Do you thinkthese paintings lend credence to the legends concerning Mary the Magdala? [Katia inserts: Most Magdalene scholars/believers feel that MaryMagdalene is an actual incarnation of Sophia. This icon is interesting becauseit connects these two Judeo-Christian “Goddesses”, but since it shows themas separate entities, the interpretation is still up to the viewer! Itmust be one of those “veiled” enigmas of the Mary Magdalene story. Thenature of Christ was debated for so long it became the science of Christologyand so we have Magdalenology now I suppose, which still a nascent sciencemeans the jury is still out on most of the enigmas / mysteries attached toher. Personally, I like the idea of MM having three daughters– Yeshua must be the father of Faith, Hope and Love (Charity). That makessense, actually.]
LAB REPORT FORM Top
Contemplation Lab exercise: Contemplate one of the 15 pictureseach day for 15 days.
Record your impressions for each day using the Lab sheet below (and if youwant, put them in your journal).
Cut and paste the following Lab Sheet into an email, add your results, andsend to the AbbeyCouncil.
For each of the following days record your impressions of the work of artincluded. How did it “speak” to you. Did it appeal to you? Andthe reading selection–briefly report any conclusions or realizations thatcame to you after reading this day’s selection and pondering the facts /ideas there. Give the Date you performed each day’s contemplation. (They don’t have to be consecutive, your schedule may not permit that).
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Day 15
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