The Gospel of Mary

The Gospel of Mary! We do not know which ‘Mary’ this refers to, maybe the mother of Jesus or Mary Magdalene, but many give Mary Magdalene the credit. The Gospel of Mary is considered ‘apocryphal’ that is, it is not accepted by the established Roman Catholic Church. It consists of two small manuscripts from a much larger missing document, one in Greek from the third century, the other in a Coptic translation from the fourth. We have some sayings reputed to be from Jesus, and teaching about the nature of sin, evil and wrongdoing which relates to our physicality. 

22nd July Feast Day

Today, 22nd July, is the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene. It was in very recent years (2016) that she has she been made into a 'saint' by the Vatican, as previously, she was only commemorated because since the early days of Roman Catholicism, she was regarded as a prostitute, a person extremely reviled in her time. 

Now the Vatican have realised - after 1,700 years - that the woman described in the gospels as having seven devils cast out of her by Jesus, two important things, firstly that prostitution might have had nothing to do with '7 devils', and also that this woman gave her money to support Jesus and his disciples in his 3 year ministry. So did the Church think that Jesus was living off immoral earnings! 

Healing & wellbeing with Tarot

Since the dawn of recorded history, healing has been considered a magical art. Healing was a secret  known by shamans, medicine women and men, priestesses and priests, and the wise people whose knowledge was handed down the generations. Many people went on pilgrimages and learnt about the plants that grew by the wayside, how to cure a fever, attend to cuts, blisters, etc., and how to care for the animals that accompanied them on their journey. We know from ancient texts that the Egyptians knew many remedies for illnesses. Originally Egypt was called the Land of Khem, because they knew how to create and use chemicals. To gain more knowledge about their use, the alchemists of the Middle Ages were prepared to risk their own lives. 

Today, we know a great deal about health care; we are told daily to cut salt, sugar and fat from our diet, take exercise, avoid over indulgence in alcohol, and long term stresses. Regular daily mindfulness and meditation are shown to provide increased concentration and greater relaxation. They can also help to deal with the difficulties that present themselves to us through bereavement, disappointments, poor health and relationship breakdowns. 

The Magdalene’s Story

We don’t know very much about the Magdalene. She is mentioned 12 times in the New Testament - the earliest of Christian writings. At no time is there ever any suggestion of her age, though she is usually shown as a young woman, equally, she could have been very old. She is one of several female followers of Jesus who assisted him financially when he was teaching and healing from Galilee to Jerusalem. As she ministered to Jesus and the disciples from her own resources, it can be assumed she had an independent source of wealth. She is not named after a father or a husband, but after a word meaning 'tower'. This could be a place name, or a name of distinction relating to her ability and kindness. Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, Chumash, and Suzanna and many others also provided Jesus with resources, therefore they were vital to his ministry. 

The gospels tell us that Jesus healed her of seven demons. We do not know what these demons involved, perhaps illness or distress. Did she come from Migdal, a town in Galilee? It is not thought so, as there was no town of this name in the first century. 

 

Anti-Social Personality Disorder

 What is “an Anti-Social Personality Disorder? 

Traits: Those with ASPD have little regard for norms, standards, boundaries and issues of right and wrong and therefore have little regard for the wellbeing of other people. They will frequently antagonise, manipulate, exploit and demand, and suffer no guilt or remorse due to a lack of ability to reflect on their destructive behaviour. They often violate the law by behaving impulsively and recklessly, lying and cheating, and can act with great irritability and hostility due to lack of impulse control, and major addictions to drugs or alcohol. They can display charming behaviour when they want something and are consummate actors. But the charm belies a cynical and highly opinionated interior. 

The Great Bell Chant

For peace, truth, justice, kindness, compassion, and all spiritual values

The Lady in the Forest - A Legend

The Legend of the Lady in the Forest by Jo Gregory

Deep in a woodland glade, sunbeams filtered through the branches of the ancient oak, ash and thorn. A path woven by deer was well worn and threaded through the undergrowth. The only clue that someone lived there was the small curl of wood smoke and the tip of a small chimney within the leaves. It was an ancient dwelling with worn walls, clambering roses and small windows under ragged thatch and ivy. The roof gave a haven to many creatures including sickled swallows diving for insects to feed their young.

No one came here. Legends and folklore passed across generations had warned of a woman, elusive and strange sometimes seen wandering the woods with a basket and muttering. In local hostels word would pass of her ability to vanish with a swirl of her old cloak.

The girl was desperate. Her chest heaved and her breath was ragged. Her dress was torn through running in blackthorn thickets and brambles, her hair tangled in a halo around her head. She had run like the wind from the village, morning dew soaking her clothes. Her face showed her determination as she paused and then opened the old gate to the cottage beyond. Eyes fixed on the door to calm he nerves she knocked and waited. No sound came from within but the door eased open slowly and after a moment she crossed the threshold.

Judgments!

Pray! Don’t find fault with the man who limps, or stumbles along life’s road. Unless you have the shoes he wears, or struggle beneath his load. There may be nails in his shoes that hurt - though hidden from your view, Or the burden he bears, placed upon your back may cause you to stumble too. 

Don’t be harsh with the man who sins or pelt him with words or stones, unless you are sure, yea! doubly sure, that you have no sins of your own. For you know, perhaps, if the tempter’s voice should whisper as soft to you, as it did to him when he went astray, it may cause you to stagger too. 

Don’t sneer at the man who is down, unless you have felt the blow, that caused his fall, or felt his shame  - as only the fallen know. You might feel strong, but remember those blows, if dealt to you, in the self same way, and at the self same time, it could cause you to fall too!  

The Green Knight

 The film above is set in the 14th century when this story was originally written. 

King Arthur sits with this Queen and his retinue in his Christmas court in Camelot. His nephew, the gallant Sir Gawain is also in attendance. An enormous noise occurs at the entrance of the baronial hall and a green giant makes a dynamic entrance on a horse. The giant offers his axe and makes a wager with King Arthur. He says that whoever cuts him will face the same cut a year and a day from that date. Sir Gawain steps forward. He has waited a life time to prove he is the most loyal protector to his uncle, King Arthur. Immediately, Gawain strikes the green giant across the neck, slicing off his head. Red blood flows over green cloth! This story is about life and death. How easy it is to behead someone with such a sharp sword! But the green giant is not killed. He picks up his head and rides out of the baronial hall, out of Camelot, and into the far distance! 

What do you make of this part of the story? The green giant is similar to tree pollarding and if you chop its head off, another grows! Green is related to nature and nature’s ability to recover after perceived death in winter. Humans are not able to recover from death, so the story is about the vulnerability of Sir Gawain, who was after all, only human. The story might be related to the advantages of agriculture and what can be achieved with knowledge of plant husbandry. Green was related to plant life so it is likely the contest with the Green Man was a contest with the harsh and chaotic realities of nature, of the need to survive the harshest of times. 

Psychic Discovery - Free YouTube Video

Find out if you are clairvoyant, clairaudient or clairsentient by listening to this video. 
Do not drive or operate machinery. You might experience relaxation and a light trance state.  Make yourself comfortable. Ensure you will not be interrupted for 15 minutes. This is your time to relax and enjoy the inner world of spirit. Written by Wendy Stokes, presented by Dawn Ramsey of The Shakra Centre.