Mary Magdalene Revealed

Mary Magdalene Revealed is a weekend dharma talk and contemplative workshop on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, led by feminist theologian and author Meggan Watterson at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. It is open to anyone with a curious mind and an open heart, and no meditation experience is needed. The work sits within Christianity and contemplative practice, and centers on a soul-voice meditation that turns attention to the heart.

The Gospel of Mary was ordered destroyed in the fourth century. Watterson asks why, and finds the answer in what the text says: a transformational power exists within every person, no matter who they are.

What to Expect

The weekend moves through lecture, lively discussion and practice of the soul-voice meditation. You look at the secret teachings Christ gave to Mary, why she was uniquely meant to receive them, and why they remain radical today. You also read alongside other early texts labeled "apocryphal" or "of doubtful authenticity," such as The Acts of Paul and Thecla, which challenged the patriarchal structure of power in the first century by showing that women were as worthy as men to hold spiritual authority.

The meditation draws on what Mary's gospel calls "the eye of the heart," a form of spiritual perception that comes through stillness. It lets you see past the ego of your own life toward what is more real, lasting, infinite and already here, within. The aim is to go home with a personal experience of the love the gospel reveals.

The schedule has a special shape:

- Friday: check-in from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (rooms available after 5:00 p.m.), then the opening session from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday: workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: a closing session from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with check-out at 1:00 p.m.

The faculty may adjust the schedule.

About Meggan Watterson

Meggan Watterson is a feminist theologian with a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University and a master of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School. She wrote the Wall Street Journal bestselling book Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet. Her earlier book, REVEAL: A Sacred Manual For Getting Spiritually Naked, was published by Hay House in 2013, and she created The Mary Magdalene Oracle, a way to bring the teachings of Mary's gospel into daily practice.

She has spent much of her life gathering stories of the Divine Feminine, from Mary Magdalene and the Black Madonna to Kali Ma and Green Tara. Before each of her two graduate degrees she made a pilgrimage to sacred sites of the Divine Feminine in Europe, the first with a group and the second on her own.

The Setting

The workshop takes place at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. Guests who stay on campus choose from cabin rooms with a queen bed or two full beds, dorm singles with a shared hall bath, tent cabins with a nearby bathhouse, or a pre-assigned campsite. Cabin Room A options have heat, ceiling fan and air-conditioning, while tent cabins have neither heat nor air-conditioning. Accessible rooms are available on request. Those who live nearby or prefer to stay elsewhere can register as commuters.

All meals are included for both on-campus guests and commuters, along with use of the facilities and amenities: optional classes, recreation, walking trails and parking.

Before You Go

All levels of meditation experience are welcome, from beginner to expert, and the workshop is taught in English. Tuition covers the workshop and time with the faculty. Transportation to the venue is not included, and neither are the recommended books.

Watterson suggests reading these beforehand:

- Mary Magdalene Revealed by Meggan Watterson
- The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle by Karen L. King
- The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity by Cynthia Bourgeault

If you are staying in a dorm or tent cabin, bring your own sheets and towels. Tent cabin guests can also bring a sleeping bag, or rent bedding from Omega for a small fee. Campers bring their own tent and gear; stoves, campfires and recreational vehicles are not allowed on campus.