The Gospel of Mary Magdalene was uncovered in Egypt in 1896.
And it is the only gospel that is attributed to a woman,
If not written by a woman.
And it is considered one of the Gnostic gospels,
And Gnostic,
Or Gnosticism,
Is a word that means to know,
Or to know oneself.
So,
Sort of the process of self-knowledge.
And I really don't know how else to introduce this gospel,
So I'd like to just let it speak for itself.
And I'll just be reading a small passage from the gospel,
And it will hopefully springboard us into a meditative space.
So,
Taking a few moments,
Just getting comfortable,
Really setting yourself up,
Whether you're seated or laying down.
Taking a few moments to really optimize your physical comfort.
Drop the shoulders down towards the earth.
Come into presence in the breath.
Dropping down from the head into your body,
Into this moment.
Inviting yourself to really be open,
Be open to receiving this ancient wisdom.
Open the heart,
Move beyond the mind.
And investing into this space between each breath.
And these words from the gospel of Mary Magdalene just wash over you.
I'll read them two times.
I left the world with the aid of another world.
A design was erased by virtue of a higher design.
As forth I travel towards repose,
Where time rests into the eternity of time.
I go now into silence.
I left the world with the aid of another world.
A design was erased by virtue of a higher design.
As forth I travel towards repose,
Where time rests into the eternity of time.
I go now into silence.
In the silence and in the stillness,
Noticing the play of the mind.
Silence.
Silence.
The movements of thoughts.
Invite yourself to notice what is in the center of all the thoughts,
Of all the feelings.
Silence.
What is the design,
The foundation,
Which all thoughts circle around.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
The foundation of the ego serves you in this world.
But drop deeper.
Drop beneath the foundation.
Drop into the space beyond space.
The time beyond time.
Rest into the pause between thoughts.
Silence.
Silence.
Like the sky awareness stretches out in all directions.
The inner sky stretches into eternity.
Silence.
Thoughts like clouds move through the sky.
Silence.
Silence.
Inner silence.
Inner stillness.
Movement might still be there.
Movement of the mind,
Movement of the body.
Watching from that seat of stillness.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
The inner sanctuary.
The bridal chamber.
Your stillness moving into union.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
From this inner sanctuary,
Noticing.
Noticing movement of breath as it enters body.
Gently it departs.
As gentle as the breath moves through you.
This body temple.
When you're ready,
Slowly.
I invite you to bow.
Bow to yourself.
Bow to teachers who have come before.
Bow to God.
Perhaps taking a moment in prayer.
Asking for the grace.
To continue this thread of awareness.
The seat of stillness.
Through the movements of your day.
Amen.
