Mary Magdalene Study Circle
Facilitator: Dr Annie Southern
Kia ora dear friends, you are invited to join us for an exploration of something that has been shrouded in secrecy for a very, very long time...
In this three month study circle we will be looking at the Gospel of Mary as well as the wider story of Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala.
The Gospel of Mary (or the Gospel of Mary Magdalene) is a writing discovered in 1896 in Egypt. Scholars date the original composition of this work to the early second century. Two other copies have been found from earlier centuries. It was first made public in 1955.
Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala was a key figure in the Jesus/Yeshua Movement and one of its main funders as well as one of the closest people to Jesus/Yeshua.
~Was she a Vestal Virgin prior to joining the movement or did she study with Essenes who accepted women which not all did?
~Or had she studied in Egypt and learned the Isis tradition as well as the tradition of the Myrrhophores who used sacred oils for healing and spiritual transcendence?
~Was she possessed by demons and healed by Jesus/Yeshua or is this a misinterpretation?
~Was she the thirteenth Apostle?
~Was she the main teacher after Jesus/Yeshua’s death?
We will be examining:
Why the Gospel of Mary was left out of the canonical New Testament of 27 books and how it fits with the other apocryphal texts that also are outside of the current Bible such as those of the Gnostic tradition (eg, Nag Hamadi texts) and the Qumran Caves Scrolls (Essene texts)
What the teaching of the Gospel is when it comes to higher realms
The soul work we are meant to undertake in our lives according to the Gospel
What Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala’s story teaches us about the sacred ‘secretion/oil’ of the Chrism and its role in our accessing of our higher selves (this will involve learning about our sun sign in relation to the lunar cycle and our chakras and physical anatomy’s roles in the rising of the Chrism)
The wider stories about Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala including her connections with Egypt and France
Why images of Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala often depict her with an alabaster jar, a skull, and/or an egg
Why Mary Magdalene/Mariamne of Magdala was devalued and discarded by Christianity for over a thousand and a half years.
How understanding the Gospel of Mary’s significance can re-invision Christianity and provide us with a possibility of a deeply personal and spiritual ‘Christian’ experience that we may have always longed for.
Your facilitator
Dr Annie Southern
PhD, Health Science | Spiritual Wisdom Workshop Facilitator | Magdalene Way Guide | Lived Experience Leader
Dr Annie Southern is a spiritual facilitator, educator, and guide who holds space for deep soul remembrance and healing. With a PhD in Health Science and a background in trauma-informed practice, Annie bridges the worlds of scholarship, service development leadership in the mental health and addictions space, and mystical tradition.
Her Mary Magdalene-focused workshops invite participants into the heart of the Magdalene path — a journey of inner knowing, embodied presence, and radical compassion. Annie honours Mary Magdalene as a spiritual teacher, a symbol of spiritual resilience and devotion, and a guide to the healing of wounds carried across lifetimes, lineages, and collective memory.
Drawing on her lived experience, academic depth, and connection to the several spiritual traditions, Annie creates spaces where participants can safely explore themes such as spiritual awakening, soul sovereignty, multiplicity of self, and sacred union. Her work blends teaching, ritual, contemplative practice, trauma-aware facilitation, and the wisdom of ancient lineages.
Annie is dedicated to supporting people to reclaim their spiritual identity, reconnect with the sacred within, and walk the Magdalene path of love, truth, and liberation.
All are welcome to attend these events.
This will not be a traditional Red Tent circle, this is a community circle so we invite (encourage) men to attend.
14th Sep
12th Oct
9th Nov
From 3-6pm
You will need to attend all 3 circles to gain the knowledge.
FAQs:
How much does it cost to attend?
$120 for current Red Tent Aotearoa Members and Repeat Community Circle attendees
$150 for Non-Members
Is this price for all three circles?
Yes, we are keeping the price reasonable to invite many people to attend.
What do I bring?
Please bring a snack to share, and a journal to capture aha moments and your water bottle.
Bring an open heart and a longing for connection.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No, we will have a list of attendees and will have already made space for you in our hearts.
What time do I arrive?
Please arrive at 2:45 pm to be settled, with your cuppa by 3 pm. We will close the circle at 6pm but you are invited to stay and chat until 6:15pm.
See you at:
The Quaker Centre
217 Ferry Road, Waltham.
Questions?
email Jill:
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You may also like the following events from Red Tent Aotearoa:
- This Sunday, 27th July, 05:00 am, The Power of Understanding The Feminine Value in Christchurch
- Next month, 10th August, 05:00 am, Boundaries, Triggers & Truthbombs in Christchurch
- This September, 5th September, 11:00 pm, Medicine Drum Emergence- with Rachelle Charman in Christchurch
Also check out other
Health & Wellness events in Christchurch,
Workshops in Christchurch,
Arts events in Christchurch.
