Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married? In Rituals in Sacred Stone: Mary Magdalene's message of self empowerment you'll find the depth of love, devotion, knowledge and wisdom that made this famous couple able to work as a powerful team in a world mired in occupation and rebellion. The preserved shrunken head of an ancestor accompanies Mariam while she is educated at the mystery schools of Egypt. As a fully trained priestess, queen and wife, she performs the rituals required to apply the gifts of the Magi. Was the head of John the Baptist an oracle used as a political plot? Why did the crucifixion take place on a hollow hill called "the skull" What is the Journey of Osiris? Rituals in Sacred Stone: Mary Magdalene's message of self empowerment is a controversial interpretation of the life of Mary Magdalene and brings you to the heart-wrenching choices that her education, her ancestry, and ancient prophecies forced her to make. Rituals in Sacred Stone Yeshua and Mariam King and Queen Priest and Priestess By Wencke Johanne Braathen Balboa Press Copyright © 2013 Wencke Johanne Braathen All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4525-6133-2 Contents EXERPT From "Memories In Sacred Stone".....................................ixEXERPT From "Secrets In Sacred Stone"......................................xiiiPart ONE ALEXANDRIA........................................................1Part TWO JERUSALEM.........................................................109Part THREE GAUL............................................................279Epitaph....................................................................475 Excerpt CHAPTER 1 At The Temple In Jerusalem Her eyes held onto him as she watched him leave, his slender body evident inwhite linen as he hurried towards the gate of the Temple. The stolen momentthey had spent together made this second farewell even more demanding. She hadreconciled herself to the distance and time between them. Now, there was a new achein her body she could not define. Mariam was standing on the stone floor of the first courtyard. Only her eyesmoved as they followed his movements through the crowd. His white, long shirtwas still visible between people and against the yellow stone wall surrounding theTemple. Yeshua turned at the open gate and their eyes met. She felt a rush of air asthe contact between them found anchor in her body. A warm glow spread in herchest. She took a deep breath as she smiled at him across the noise and between thefaces of other people. In the distance she saw him put his hand on his heart andbow his head towards her. She bowed her head in return and received the blessinghe sent her. My heart is with you, as well , she thought. His rabbinic studies wouldtake him back to the temple of Onais in the desert north of Heliopolis. It wouldbe years before she'd see him again. She closed her eyes, and, when she openedthem again, he was gone. Her mother waited a moment, then called softly for her. She had been standinga little aside. We give birth to innocent children , she thought as she watched them. Dothey choose their destiny? Their mothers had wanted their betrothed son and daughter to have a memoryof each other to hold on to. Their heritage pointed to difficult paths, separately andtogether. They needed to share each other's strength. Mariam turned slowly to answer her mother. Eurochia had noticed the tear onher cheek and the shiver that went through her body as Yeshua disappeared; but,by the time she reached her mother, Mariam's back was straight, her face was dryand she answered politely to her mother's call. Eurochia didn't say anything, but offered her arm in support and admirationfor the strength already apparent in her young daughter. She patted the hand thatrested in her elbow and looked away. Hiram, Mariam's father, was waiting near the gate. He saw the two womenhe loved come towards him. Usually, the two were chattering lively with eachother, but, now, both were silent as they approached. He squinted against thepowerful sun reflected in the surrounding white stone. Herod the Great had almostoutdone Salomon when he rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem. The glittering goldornamentation was too ostentatious for Hiram's taste. He admired his daughter'ssimple beauty, so much like her mother when she was young. But she had his darkeyes, which he was reminded of every time the serious little girl had looked up athim. She had grown into a graceful young woman. Walking towards him he sawher free hand pull the black shawl closer around her head and slim shoulders. Whyare they expected to carry so much? Hiram wondered. Eurochia lifted her head and looked around to find him. Her graceful dignityguided her movements. His face lit as he smiled towards his lovely wife. Theconnection between them was steady and strong. The feverish line between hisdaughter and future son-in-law might grow into that someday. Hiram had approved of the meeting of the betroth