This course is an in-depth study of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, with translation and commentary by Jean-Yves LeLoup. Each session will have required reading, lecture, meditation or creativity exercises and discussion. Course concludes with your own self-facilitated dedication ceremony. This course is fully online and done at your own pace in your own time.

Facilitated by Lauri Ann Lumby, OM, OPM, MATS

Priestess of the Magdalene and High Priestess in the Order of Melchizedek

The Gospel of Mary (Magdalene) is a third century text that lay hidden in the desert of Egypt until the appointed time in the late nineteenth century when it was re-discovered and then brought to the light after coming into the hands of biblical scholars. The content of the text is thought to have been either penned by Mary herself, or by those who had been her followers in the years after Jesus’ resurrection.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene portrays Mary in her original and authentic role as the bearer of Jesus’ secret teachings and as Apostle to the Apostles – the one sent by Jesus to continue his mission of teaching, healing, and service. Here, Mary is portrayed as teacher and as priest – the receiver, interpreter, and discriminator of Jesus’ post-resurrection teachings.

We also discover in the Gospel of Mary, the original conflict that separated the mystical teachings of Jesus from the patriarchal privilege that led to the formation of the institutional church and the rejection of women as priest.

The Gospel of Mary is a critically important text in the exploration of women’s roles in matters of spirituality and religion, but more importantly as recipients and communicators of the Divine.

Required text: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves LeLoup (Inner Traditions, 2002).

Course Outline

Session One: The Initial Separation

Session Two: Non-Duality and the Magdalene

Session Three: The Gnostic Path

Session Four: Guarding Against Attachments

Session Five: Mary the Encourager

Session Six: Mary the Intermediary

Session Seven: Kabbalah/Journey of the Soul

Session Eight: The Adversary

Session Nine: Authentic Freedom and the Gospel of Mary

Session Ten: The Bride

Session Eleven: Anthropos

After Completing the Course: Magdalene Dedication

Lauri Ann Lumby, OM, OPM, MATS is a Priestess of the Magdalene and the founder of both the Order of the Magdalene and the Temple of the Magdalene. Lauri has been a dedicated student of the Magdalene since first experiencing her portrayal in the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar in 1978. Lauri has since studied every scholarly work that has been made available on the Magdalene, and many works of fiction. Lauri has come to believe that Mary Magdalene was indeed Jesus’ closest disciple, possibly his wife, and that it was Mary who was ordained to continue Jesus’ mission of transforming the world from fear into love. Rejected by the patriarchy, the Magdalene influence has flourished in the mystical traditions of Christianity, though few would acknowledge this. The Magdalene has been a profound influence in Lauri’s own mission and has been the inspiration for Lauri’s writings, books, teachings and online courses all available through Authentic Freedom Academy.

Lauri Ann Lumby has her BBA in Marketing, a master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology and has certificates in Pastoral Ministry and Spiritual Direction. She is a Reiki Master in both the Usui and Karuna traditions and is an ordained interfaith minister.

Learn more about Lauri at www.lauriannlumby.com.