The Blessing Thread, Journey One:
In the Footsteps of Mary Magdalene
A Virtual Pilgrimage Through Provence
Available for streaming in Summer, 2021
A journey that invites you to discover the inner depths of your own heart as we journey in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene . Discover the ancient Forest of Artemis at the foot of La Baume and wind our way up to the caves where legends says Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life in meditative contemplation. Sigh in pleasure at the beauty of Ile Honorat (the island off of Cannes where St. Patrick became a monk), thrill to the art and music of Provence, bask in Gregorian chant and Sacred Geometry in Benedictine , Orthodox and Cistercian Abbeys -- all while finding a thread that weaves together hope and beauty throughout the centuries and awakens the fires of creativity inside of you.
Our Virtual pilgrimage will begin each day with music, an opening meditation, and a ritual of setting intentions.
A series of lectures will follow by Kayleen Asbo and guest teachers Joseph Rowe (translator of The Gospel of Mary) and Veronique Flayol ( president of the Mary Magdalene Association of the Basilica of Mary Magdalene in St Maximin La Baume, France). World musician Catherine Braslavksy will lead us in both ancient and contemporary chants to Magdalene., and you will have the opportunity to continue after each program to a "meet and greet' session where you can ask questions and share stories with your fellow pilgrims from around the world
Past participants have called this a "life changing revelation of beauty and wonder" and remarked " This was nothing short of miraculous: I really felt like I was there, and so deeply connected with my fellow pilgrims".
Day 1: Reuniting with the Root of Goodness
From Alexandria to the Mountains of Provence: Mary Magdalene and the Contemplative Life
Awakening to the Good, the True and the Beautiful-- Silence, Study and Song
Day 2: Harmony and Balance
Mysticism and Monasticism : The origins of the Celtic Christian Tradition and Monastic Spirituality
John Cassian, Lerins Abbey and Lectio Divina and The Gospel of Mary
Day 3: The Journey to Become Fully Human
Icons and Images: The alchemical art of St. Michel du Var
with special guest musician Catherine Braslavksy
From Alexandria to the Mountains of Provence: Mary Magdalene and the Contemplative Life
Awakening to the Good, the True and the Beautiful-- Silence, Study and Song
Day 2: Harmony and Balance
Mysticism and Monasticism : The origins of the Celtic Christian Tradition and Monastic Spirituality
John Cassian, Lerins Abbey and Lectio Divina and The Gospel of Mary
Day 3: The Journey to Become Fully Human
Icons and Images: The alchemical art of St. Michel du Var
with special guest musician Catherine Braslavksy
St. Michel du Var French Orthodox Monastery
The Grotto of Mary Magdalene rising above the forest of Artemis at La Sainte Baume
Lerins Abbey on Ile Honorat off of Cannes, where St . Patrick became a monk
Abbey de Lerins
:Special Guest Faculty Joining Kayleen Asbo for Journey One:
Veronique Flayolhas spent her entire life at the foot of the mountains of La Saint Baume, the caves where legends claim Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life. Deeply attached to local traditions, Veronique created an Association Santo Madaleno (from the Provençal, our local language, means Saint Mary Magdalene) to uphold the ancient traditions. Veronique is responsible for organizing every year the religious feasts of St Mary Magdalene in July at the Basilica of Mary Magdalene and has a special relationship with the Dominican Order.
A lecturer guide, Veronique is licensed by the French Ministry of Culture. and in 2008, she founded her own tour company to guide pilgrims into the sacred traditions of France . A certified aromatherapist , she delights in working with the plants and energy properties of the essential oils as a way to embody the tradition of the lineage of myrrh-bearing women of which Mary Magdalene was the leader. You can read more about this heart-centered and devoted woman here.
A lecturer guide, Veronique is licensed by the French Ministry of Culture. and in 2008, she founded her own tour company to guide pilgrims into the sacred traditions of France . A certified aromatherapist , she delights in working with the plants and energy properties of the essential oils as a way to embody the tradition of the lineage of myrrh-bearing women of which Mary Magdalene was the leader. You can read more about this heart-centered and devoted woman here.
World musician Catherine Braslavksy divides her time between Paris and the San Francisco Bay Area. Trained by the world renowned David Hykes, she travelled around the globe performing in his Harmonic Choir. Deeply steeped in the music of the Middle Ages from Christianity, Islam and Jewish sources, she has recorded eight albums of sacred music ranging from Hildegard von Bingen to Arabic chants and the Cantigas de Santa Maria. Catherine has produced seven theatrical pieces in collaboration with Joseph Rowe that have ben performed in sacred sites around the world including Thoronet Abbey and the Basilica of Mary Magdalene in Vezelay. Catherine has collaborated and performed with artists such as Alain Kremski, Steve Shehan, Marie Christine Barrault, and Yuval Ron, and has composed, produced and recorded several soundtracks for documentary films and French television. Read more and listen to her hypnotic music at http://www.naturalchant.com