In her presentation, Veronica will refer to both published works and her own experiences of Mary Magdalene. Her explorations into who MM is, and perhaps is not, reveal a complex picture of both an individual historical human being, maligned for centuries by the orthodox Christian church (with exceptions), and an archetypal symbolic presence with an expansive mythic background, that has seized the imagination of many people in contemporary times in interesting and various ways.  These range from ‘historical’ and academic contributions to art work, creative novels and films, and almost everything in-between!  What we make of all of this, in the end, is up to each one of us – and that will be true also of her presentation.

Veronica Goodchild, PhD, is Professor Emerita at Pacifica Graduate Institute and an Affiliate Member of the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. Led by dreams and pursuing her long interest in the spirit-matter connection and the subtle realm, she has explored sacred sites in England, France, Greece, Peru, and Egypt. Walking solo on one of the Camino paths in France initiated by a dream and her concerns about our environmental crises, inspired her to create her own pilgrimage journeys, combining visits to sacred sites with the mythic and ancient stories that underlie many temples, shrines, and oracular portals. These journeys have included the Magdalene Mysteries in France, the Bee priestess Oracular tradition in Crete and mainland Greece, and the Grail and Celtic legends in the UK. Veronica has had a long-term interest in the crop circle formation phenomena, and most recently has explored them as oracular portals. A recent trip to Egypt has rekindled an abiding interest in our relationship to the stars and our cosmic origins.