The Secret Teachings of Mary Magdalene: Including the Lost Verses of The Gospel of Mary, Revealed and Published for the First Time

by Claire Nahmad, Margaret Bailey

Discovered in fragments in Egypt in 1945, The Gospel of Mary remains one of the most controversial texts of early Christianity. This translation of Mary’s teachings, from the original Greek and Coptic, offers a unique new authors Claire Nahmad and Margaret Bailey utilized "inner listening" to uncover lost material, and they present Mary’s ideas in the form of a dialogue between the (risen) Savior and His disciples. Most importantly, the volume includes a description by Mary of special revelations given to her by Jesus. Nahmad and Bailey argues that Mary was not just the consort of Christ but the feminine Christ herself, and in their view, the partnership between Jesus and Mary exemplifies the crucial balance of male and female in spiritual and corporeal life. It’s an interpretation that uncovers a rich subtext in Mary's words offering wisdom on an extraordinary range of concerns, from the origins of the human race to the pathway to Christlike consciousness.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, History

314 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2006

About the author

Claire Nahmad is descended from a long line of herbalists and wise women, and has spent her life learning the ancient arts and attuning herself to the life of the spirit. She has published eight books on new age themes. She lives in a remote part of South Yorkshire where she is studying the local lore and legends.

- description from cover jacket of the 1998 edition of Fairy Spells

Reviews

[John]

To begin with, one should be aware that this is not a strict historical account. It does not claim to be, though it presents the material as though it were historical. However, it states from the beginning that much of the book is inspired through meditation and intuition. No punches pulled here.

It does not surprise me that this book be met with some nay saying as our male centered society maintains that it is taboo to promote an equality between God the Father and Goddess the Mother. In the same vein, it is a masculine trait that our society demand that everything be documented or better yet scientifically proven. Intuition here represents a dirty word. This is the very imbalance that this book is meant to heal.

The authors utilize an intuitive interpretation of the roles of the three Mary's in Jesus's life; incarnating as the triple Goddess. While Mary Magdalene's role is most heavily emphasized, as she is seen as the feminine aspect of the Christ light. The book finishes with an account of Mary's (intuited) gospel and this is perfectly brilliant and is on par with any sacred poetry the world over.

Whether or not one accepts this book as fact is of less importance because the value here is in establishing a male/ female balance in our spiritual understanding.
I found this a highly enjoyable read.

[Dawn]

Disappointing due to a disproportionate volume of material supplied by a method that can't in any way be verified.

I think I could buy into the author's having intuited a missing word or phrase based upon context on an intuitive level (i.e. "inner listening", meditation) but entire paragraphs of text? Sorry. Not buying it.

As I was most concerned with reading the translation of the actual fragments of texts discovered, and they were present, I was satisfied in that aspect.

[Simmie]

My eyes were opened up to a whole other world.

[Joellen Koerner]

Illuminating and Healing

This inspired read creates clarity regarding the greatest spiritual story ever told. This offers a Cora path forward, filled with Hope and faith during this dark period in human history. It is a blessing

[Ryan]

Profound

[Manne Mo]

profoundly beautiful

[Sarah]

Utterly Mind blowing

[Indira]

Love this approach to Mary Magdalene. It rings true, especially across spiritual traditions. Seminal interpretation of Mary. Hunger for more Gnosticism.

[Claire]

It lost me at "we have also had conversations with Mary Magdalene through meditation"... I think the Karen King version would be more acurate, and less cooky.

[Pete daPixie]

Not secret any more thanks to the spiritual contact between the authors and Ms Magdalene. Couldn't finish this.

[Aaron]

This has almost nothing to do with the developement of Christianity, Mary Magdalene or Christian Theology. It's a piece of New Age drivel.

[Holly Stephey]

LOVED!