The Woman with the Alabaster Jar by Margaret Starbird

The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail is the book that inspired me and many other people to learn more about Mary Magdalene. As an artist, and lover of Medieval art and culture, I was fascinated by the author’s exploration of symbols in art, the tarot, the Unicorn, fairy tales, history and of course, the Holy Grail. At the time, I had just painted some artwork about birth and motherhood, so I was also very attracted to the idea of Mary Magdalene as the the Bride of Christ and mother of Sarah. In her book, Margaret Starbird provides rich details and information that enrich and fascinate the reader’s imagination.

The book was written in 1993, an it tells the story about the marriage of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, concluding that Mary Magdalene was the Holy Grail. In addition, the author makes a connection with the cult of Saint Sarah at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in France and how Mary Magdalene arrived pregnant with the child of the "sang réal", the blood royal of the King of the Jews.

I became interested in learning more about Mary Magdalene after reading the 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. After reading the book, I found Margaret Starbird’s book next to it in the bookstore and bought it. As someone who was open to reading any interpretations or stories, it does not bother me that the book has been criticized for containing theories based on medieval lore and art, rather than on literal Bible passages. In fact, it made me want to learn more about what the Bible actually said about Mary Magdalene.

For those who are interested in the symbols and stories that help explore the role of Mary Magdalene in Christian mythology, this book is a wonderful place to start. It is a rich source of stories, symbols, connections and inspiration that guides the reader to open their mind to how Christian thought blended with Medieval European folclore. In the process, we learn about the story of Mary Magdalene and how she may have been so much more than just a follower of Jesus Christ.

Today’s drawing of Mary Magdalene. It’s still in progress. I will finish it tomorrow.