Travis Simpkins: Laurence Gardner

Showing posts with label Laurence Gardner. Show all posts

Monday, April 3, 2023

The Magdalene Legacy. Laurence Gardner. Mary Magdalene. Jesus Christ. Holy Grail

I'm enjoying "The Magdalene Legacy" by Laurence Gardner. His analysis/interpretations of various artistic depictions of the Magdalene are particularly interesting.

The Jesus and Mary Bloodline Conspiracy - Revelations Beyond The Da Vinci Code From the bestselling author of Bloodline of the Holy Grail comes an explosive historical detective story. Essential reading for all fans of Dan Brown's novels, Gardner presents secret archives on the true identity of Mary Magdalene, the hidden lineage of Jesus and Mary, and the 2,000-year-old conspiracy that forms the basis of Christianity itself. Laurence Gardner's impeccable research takes us on an exciting detective trail to piece together the true, controversial significance of the Magdalene. • Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as Jesus' close companion and a woman that he loved. And yet, the Church teaches that she was a prostitute who, at some stage, became repentant. Why the discrepancy between scripture and dogma? • Why does Mary appeal so romantically to artists, who have painted her throughout the centuries as something much more significant than the Church traditionally portrays? • What is the secret of Mary Magdalene and how much do we really know about her relationship with Jesus? Were they married? Did they have children, and if so, who makes up the messianic lineage? The book includes exclusive insights into: - the Da Vinci connection: The real meaning behind Leonardo da Vinci's paintings and why the Renaissance Church censored portrayals of the Magdalene - the sacred marriage of Jesus and Mary - the truth about the enigmatic Templar society called The Priory of Sion and the underground stream that protected the sacred heritage of the messianic descendants - the truth behind the Knights Templar - who they were and what their role was - the hidden gospel of the Magdalene, excluded from the New Testament canon - Mary Magdalene - goddess or prostitute? Her life and exile in France - the forbidden tomb: the secret resting place of Mary Magdalene.

Monday, October 17, 2022

The Shadow of Solomon. The Lost Secret of Freemasonry Revealed. Laurence Gardner

I'm reading "The Shadow of Solomon" by Laurence Gardner with an open mind. Gardner's views and books are controversial, but he was a Freemason and member under the United Grand Lodge of England for 20 years, so I'm curious about what points he decides to address.

What ancient mystery lies behind the creation of Freemasonry a lost secret so powerful that the Brotherhood itself has been on a quest to find it for three hundred years? For those of us lacking the resources to excavate occult secrets hidden beneath the Louvre or the Rosslyn Chapel, or within CIA Headquarters, The Shadow of Solomon is the next best thing. These pages reveal the true secrets of Solomon, from masonry to magic. Laurence Gardner's personal experience as both a Templar and a mason makes this fascinating journey through the history of the Bible, Knights Templar, Freemasons, and everything that followed all the more striking and immediate. Is it an accident that the world's attention should be turned to these men and their strange lexicon of symbols and secrets RIGHT NOW? What will happen when we understand that there is something we all have in common that is greater than nation or religion? Freemasons are often said to be the world's most influential secret society, yet the story of this enigmatic fraternity is wrapped in mystery and intrigue. Their involvement in shaping political world events has stretched over centuries, even to the extent that masonic principles lie beneath the establishment of the United States and its Constitution. The Shadow of Solomon is the definitive insider's account of the startling truth behind masonic history and the centurieslong search that the fraternity has undertaken to find its own lost secrets.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

"Bloodline of the Holy Grail" by Laurence Gardner

Bloodline of the Holy Grail

The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed

by Laurence Gardner

Barnes & Noble Books, 1997

Notes by Travis Simpkins

In the opening pages of Bloodline of the Holy Grail by Laurence Gardner, the author lays out a very specific premise, "During the course of this book, we shall study the compelling story of this sovereign lineage by unfolding a detailed genealogical account of the Messianic Blood Royal (the Sangreal) in direct descent from Jesus and his brother James." He then gets much more cryptic in saying, "these pages hold the key to the essential Grail Code- the key not only to a historical mystery but to a way of life." He goes on to discuss various aspects of the Grail Code: "In esoteric Grail lore, the chalice and vine support the ideal of service, whereas the blood and wine correspond to the eternal spirit of fulfillment. The spiritual Quest of the Grail is , therefore, a desire for fulfillment through giving and receiving service. That which is called the 'Grail Code' is itself a parable for the human condition, in that it is the quest of us all to serve and, by serving, to achieve." The remainder of the 350-page text explores all these ideas in depth and really should be experienced firsthand. Mary Magdalene is featured just as prominently within the text as Jesus. Suffice to say, some parts can seem a bit implausible or obtuse, and many sections are slow-going, but the open-minded reader will be rewarded with some valuable insights along the way.