On September 18th this year I was interviewed by Karen Tate on her blog talk radio show "Voices of the Sacred Feminine". http://www.blogtalkradio.com/voicesofthesacredfeminine It became a comfortable one hour conversation about the research I've done over the years resulting in this book; "Rituals in Sacred Stone". We did go into some depth about the work of Yeshua and Mariam as spiritual technicians. Religion in their time was something totally different and a topic to be explored. Check it out, it gives a glimpse of the story of Mary Magdalene and her work as divine priestess. Wencke

"Wencke Braathen harvests the historical and the mythical knowledge of Mary Magdalene, and renders a story that allows us to embrace both the human and divine. "Rituals in Sacred Stone" retells the story of Mary Magdalene and Jesus in the context of a sacred culture where joining of woman and man completes and balances the energies of the universe, and where light exists beyond death. Reading this book is a healing journey for those weary of the androgen religions." Carrie Ingrisano

It started when I was fifteen.

Recently I was asked what inspired me to write "Rituals in Sacred Stone". I had to think a little to find when I first dedicated myself to Her cause. As a young student at a Lutheran high school in Norway, I listened to the morning gospel reading covering Mary Magdalene, and thought to myself; “That story is missing some details”. Being an aspiring writer, I sensed that the way it was told didn't ring true. I made a promise to myself and the universe then and there; I would write the story of Mary Magdalene. I started looking for material, but found nothing. It took years before there was any research done that would shed light on Her. I read the stories of King Arthur, I learned about Labyrinths, I read all I could find about The Knights Templar. The more I researched church history, I found Her vilified over several centuries, often used as the symbol of the penitent sinner. Guilt ridden popes built chapels in Her honor to lift their own heavy conscience for various grave sins. They pictured Her with pleading eyes begging forgiveness from a strict God. These findings made me even more determined to write Her story and show the important role She played in the life of the historical figure that shaped our culture.

Full circle.

Last night my friends and I arranged a launching party for the book. We laid out books for sale and served some food and wine. I intended to give a presentation for about fifteen minutes, and have an interesting discussion before opening up the champagne. The evening grew into something much more profound. I started telling people how I began this journey. I told the story of my own expereince with the image of the Shroud of Turin in Paris, and how it followed me to the crypt in Provence where we found her relic. I talked about the rituals she performed to send initiates on the journey of Osiris, and how she brought Jesus back after the crucifixion uniting his spirit with his body, another intimate moment between the two. People asked good questions and wanted to know more about their three children, his travels in India and where they went after the resurrection. I told them the story I found in my research, confirmed when I put my own feet down on stone in Egypt and France, and listened to the sounds of their footprints. The relic from Provence has been on tour in Chicago. I went to see it, to touch the glass case that held her bone. After I visited France in 2007, and since devoted seven years to write a book about her life, the relic of Mary Magdalene came here to visit me. In humble gratitude, Namaste. The spark of God in me recognizes the spark of God in you.

Mary Magdalene, devoted wife and priestess.

Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married? In RITUALS IN SACRED STONE you'll find the depth of love, devotion, knowledge and wisdom that made this famous couple able to work as a powerful team in a world mired in war and rebellion. The preserved shrunken head of an ancestor accompanies Mariam while she is educated at the mystery schools of Egypt. As a fully trained priestess, queen and wife, she performs the rituals required to apply the gifts of the Magi. Was the head of John the Baptist an oracle used as a political plot? Why did the crucifixion take place on a hollow hill called "the skull"? What is the journey of Osiris? RITUALS IN SACRED STONE is a controversial interpretation of the life of Mary Magdalene and brings you to the heart-wrenching choices that her education, her ancestry, and ancient prophecies forced her to make.