Drawing on Celtic Christianity, the ancient Nag Hammadi discoveries and contemporary spiritual insight – particularly the work of Rudolf Steiner – Danielle van Dijk retraces the footsteps of Mary Magdalene across ancient Palestine, France, England, Italy and Spain. Visiting places where the Magdalene has been memorialized, she reveals a hidden geography woven through sacred landscapes and forgotten histories. Along the way, van Dijk uncovers veiled layers of Gnosis – the Wisdom of the Heart – embedded in Gothic cathedrals, Templar legends, Cathar strongholds, the Black Madonna and the ancient pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.

In this finely crafted study, Mary Magdalene steps out of the shadows and into the spiritual foreground. She is reclaimed as a woman, a teacher and an initiate – an equal among the great figures of sacred history. Drawing on esoteric Christian philosophies, the author traces the living legacy of the Magdalene as the beloved companion of Christ and the ‘apostle of the apostles’.

Richly illustrated with dozens of paintings and photographs, this book is a guide for a humanity still learning what true partnership between the masculine and the feminine can mean – both in the world and within the soul. It reveals subtle symbols of the Magdalene encoded by Renaissance masters and other artists, inviting readers into a visual meditation on love, equality and the archetypal feminine. Clear, accessible reflections, along with contemplative exercises and meditations, support readers in rediscovering the feminine face of the divine within their inner lives.

‘A beautifully illustrated book about an intriguing search for a legendary yet misunderstood woman.’ – Jacob Slavenburg, historian and author

‘Mary Magdalene is the mother of esoteric Christianity. Therefore, it is high time to bring to light the many secrets surrounding her and her life. And that is precisely what Danielle van Dijk does in this remarkable book.’ – Hans Stolp, author and pastor

DANIELLE VAN DIJK, MA (1953) has been studying esoteric ideas for over fifty years, with the Gnosis, the Nag Hammadi manuscripts and anthroposophy as her main sources of inspiration. She taught Dutch and World literature, Philosophy and Ethics at the Waldorf secondary school in Zeist, the Netherlands, where she was also a member of the management team. She is the author of seven books, including Christ Consciousness (Temple Lodge 2010).

For further information see: www.danielle-vandijk.nl