Pre-orders of the Mysteries of the Red Madonna, Mary Magdalene tarot deck
Pre-orders open on the website hergracesacredart.com
on Thursday 12 December 2024
You can read the ful reveal on the free feed of my Patreon/WalkingwithMary
I created the first elements of the Mysteries of Mary Magdalene, in early 2020 with the Swan Mysteries of Venus and Mary Magdalene and this was the first altar!
Four and a half years later I can finally offer you the deck! It is a true labour of devotion, bhaky and great passion.
This journey started with the Mysteries of Mary and us releasing Her from the strangling vines of dogma and patriarchal religion; we followed the sacred Path of the Distaff and Needles deeper into the darkest, wildest forests. And then with the Black Madonna as our secret Blessing Doll we travelled under the protection of the Red Cloak and came face to face with Black Mary. And nothing would seem the same ever again.
The dreams started and unfolded over a few nights and then she appeared to me, the Red Madonna of Alchemy. She appeared as a red lion dressed as the Madonna with cloak and crown. She handed me a red bejewelled egg that opened to reveal a golden chalice inner, a fish and a black stone.
The red lion is also another name for the Philosopher’s Stone, which is required to transform base metal into gold. The chemicals mercury (quicksilver) (the god Hermes/Mercury) and sulfur, both highly revered for their alchemical properties, turn into a vermilion red compound when combined into mercuric sulfide. Many alchemists considered this red chemical the key to the Magnum Opus, the creation of the Philosopher’s Stone from raw materials.
The process of the Magnum Opus begins with the blackening (nigredo) and goes through the whitening (albedo) and yellowing (citrinitas) before ending with the reddening (rubedo). Many writers after the 15th century combined the yellowing with the reddening to make just three steps — black, white and red
Mary Magdalene is first referred to by name in Chapter 15 of St Mark's gospel, in the Bible, towards the end of his account of Jesus's crucifixion on Golgotha, 'the place of the skull', the Hebrew name for Calvary, just outside Jerusalem. Among the women who stayed after the men had fled were 'Mary Magdalene' and 'Mary'. These women had followed Christ in Galilee and had ministered unto him.
Our Lady of the Red Cloak started the dance of the Muse of Love slowly in 2020. She took mantel after mantel off, setting the scene to share Her deepest and most hidden heresies. With the Red Madonna the themes that were showcased in the first two decks will now be cleaved open to the bone and we will travel deep behind the Red Veil. In this deck I am sharing the incredible shamanic nature of Christianity in Mary Magdalene's story and that of Jesus, Her Beloved.
I cannot share the actual cards with you yet, so these are the pre-printing proofs - cards will be corner rounded and cut to the same size as the other two Mysteries decks.
Themes of the Deck
There are a number of major themes in this deck. The various historical and mythical stories and devotion to Mary Magdalene is one of them. I include some of the Cathar history; Sophian Gnosticism; the traditions that are particular to the South of France, to name a few. Evolutionary astrology and speficically the movement and myth of the asteroids play a big role; the shamanic journey of Venus-Inanna-Magdalene in evolutionary astrology is integral to the deck as well.
This deck is rooted in the Sacred Bridal Chamber tradition of esoteric Gnosticism and the Tantric practises of the East.
The four suits reflect the major themes. I will discuss these in more detail below.
Title Card
The four suits are :
The suit of Chalices, the element of water (Cups in the RWS) - the theme of Mary Magdalene as Vessel for the Church of Love and all the ways in which this is celebrated in both myth and culture
The suit of Myrrh, the element of Fire, (Wands in RWS) - the theme of anointing, the holy oil, flower essences, entheogenics and the states of ecstasy that is available to the human being through the chrism and kundalini
The suit of Doves, the element of Air (Swords in RWS) - this is the theme of Visions. Each suit is based on a particular vision that I had received and experienced in imaginal realms. This suit focuses on the role of the dove in the stories and in particular the Temple of Doves and Mary as 'the Dove'
The suit of Swans, the element of Earth (Pentacles in RWS) - the Swan plays such an important role in the Mysteries. In the suit of earth, the Swan represents embodied spirituality as opposed to transcendence; it is the power of spiritual practise and growth and the sacred marriage between body and spirit. The swan is the feathered serpent and the winged dragon.
The Court cards are :
Hearthkeeper, Flamekeeper, Temple and Tower
The deck is being printed on exactly the same cardstock as both the new editions of the Mysteries of Mary and the Black Madonna; the same size; uv varnish coated; deep red metallic edges, with a beautiful handcrafted pouch AND a beautiful printed storage box with lid; as always, each set will arrive with a red rosary and red mini Mary figurine. And a substantial paperback guidebook in the same style as the previous two books
Shipping with express courier delivery worldwide
The price includes international delivery worldwide with DHL Express Courier; delivered within 7 days of shipping.
Shipping is expected to start during March 2025; if the decks arrive earlier, I will share that with you and you will receive your deck sooner.
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