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The Madonna Secret

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The Madonna Secret

By: Sophie Strand
Narrated by: Sophie Strand
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About this listen

• Reroots Mary Magdalene and Jesus in the lush ecology and complex spiritual culture of Second Temple Period Judea and Galilee under Roman rule

• Rewilds the Gospels with the forgotten voices of defiant and oppressed women, the nature-based storytelling of oral communities, and the embodied eroticism of a lovable rabbi with appetites and desires, doubts and shame, and a playful sense of humor

• Retells a familiar narrative informed by extensive research in botany and ecology, scriptural analysis, feminist studies, and the mythic traditions of the Mediterranean

When Leukas, a Christian convert, ventures into the wilds of Gaul to receive the hidden teachings from Mary Magdalene before she dies, he discovers that hidden within the Gospels he thinks he knows is an epic love story—between an educated Jewish woman overwhelmed by her mysterious spiritual powers and a sensual magician devoted to the wisdom of the earth. The secrets she will reveal are both more shocking and more tragic than anything listeners have encountered before.

Beginning with Miriam’s childhood as a member of a wealthy Jewish family living outside of Bethany, we see her struggles as a young woman with spiritual curiosity and intellectual aspirations that drive her to combat the violence of Empire and the sexism of her own culture. Propelled by mystic visions, Miriam is finally drawn into the wilds of Galilee, where her destiny collides with a mischievous rabbi who will change her and the world forever. Trapped in a mythic story unfolding in events around them, the lovers strive not to repeat a tragedy older than the pyramids.

In The Madonna Secret, Sophie Strand resurrects a richly textured world where complex characters reveal the lived reality of scripture and open familiar sayings to radical new meanings and possibilities.

©2023 Sophie Strand. All Rights Reserved (P)2023 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.
Ancient Metaphysical & Visionary Witty
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What listeners say about The Madonna Secret

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An important, soulful and enrapturing book

It felt like reading incredible fan fiction because and seeing the other sides of the characters you know from other versions of the gospels, but told from an ecologically minded, feminist standpoint and hopefully closer to the truth. Wonderful, spiritual, emotional. I’m sad it’s over and can’t wait for her next epic.

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Beautiful

I loved this book from start to end such a journey you don’t just read it you live it with her the sights the smells the emotions the tears the peace and the love

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Fascinating

I love her concept of the story of Miriam - such a generally neglected story - it feels very right. In general I really enjoyed listening to a woman’s version from a woman’s point of view of the story we all know so well.
The length was a little too long & could have been a little edited in my opinion. Also it would have been greatly enhanced to have other people speaking for the other characters. 🙏🏼💖

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This is beautiful from beginning to end

Didn’t want this to end. Thank you it’s so beautiful. The story is like you are there experiencing it with the people within the book.

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Absolutely beautiful piece of writing + Performance

Loved the content of this book and version of the story, so beautifully narrated, easy to listen to, spiritually inspiring healing and activating

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Beautifully written piece of work. Absolutely loved it, thank you 🙏

Highly recommend this book, with all its devine feminine wisdom and insight. What a joy 💗

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My entire body was listening

Finally a story that speaks to the deepest part of me. My entire body enlivened and opening with every word. Tears signalling and awakening truth, pain and so much beauty. Thank you

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Magic

I dont think I will ever get over the magic of this book. the feeling in my chest, in my guts. the depth of breathe. I am deeply in gratitude for your research and your words. I hope we can learn more about the sources you drew from and those 300 pages that were cut. I have listened to this a second time in only a couple of months. and this winter I will go to Mary magdalene grotto with my mother, a place that our different spirituality meet. I am in debt to you dear friend. with love x

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Exquisite!

Courageous, deeply tender, heartbreaking, soul-mending, sweeping epic so beautifully wrought in a sumptuos feast of language.

I disappeared utterly and completely into Miriam's universe; her joys were my joys, her pain was my pain - I loved with her, laughed with her, grieved with her and know I will miss her for daaaaaays since parting ways with her last page.

Cue my biggest book hangover so far this year, in the best possible way!

Sophie Strand also brings her novel vividly to life with superb narration.

Highly recommend!







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An easy and well flowing storyline.

Love the way the story is told from the female perspective. For me a story that I can well relate to.

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