The Gnostic Salome:
Woman in the Shadow
A discussion with Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D.
Thursday, September 24th
6-7:30pm PDT
Event will be hosted online.
This salon originally aired Thursday, September 24th. For a limited time you can register below to receive a recording of this previously live event.
The Gnostic Salome
The first in a series on the histories and fictions of SALOME, this evening salon with scholar Kayleen Asbo will explore the story of the only Salome named in the Bible, an early follower of Jesus.
In the Gospel of Mark, Salome is noted as “the third Mary,” present at both the crucifixion and one of the myrrh bearers who comes to the tomb: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him" (Mark 16:1 KJV).
Who is this enigmatic woman hidden in the shadows of Christianity and often mixed-up with Herodias's dancing daughter?
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Salome is a saint who is both an aunt of Jesus as well as mother to two of his twelve disciples, John and James. She is a wise woman connected to midwifery.
Early Christian writings describe Salome as a priestess of heresy whose followers venerated both the teachings of Jesus and the wisdom teachings of the Ancient Greek traditions of Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates.
In the Gnostic texts recovered in Egypt during the 20th century, however, Salome is revealed as a disciple of Jesus's inner circle who is featured by name in the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of the Egyptians and the Pistis Sophia. All of these texts connect her with the themes of integration, spiritual enlightenment, and wholeness.
In this salon, we will explore the tantalizing question of the woman who has been even more feared and marginalized than Mary Magdalene—a woman who was intimately connected with the Eleusinian Mysteries and embodiment, and whose teachings may shed light on many of the central issues of our time, such as the alchemical integration of opposites and the reclamation of the feminine.
Join Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D and Satya Doyle Byock, MA in conversation as they explore this Salome, a "woman of the shadows" and how this untold history of Christian Gnosticism relates to the pivotal figure captured in Jung’s Red Book.
About Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D.
Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D is a faculty member of the Pacifica Graduate Institute and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and teaches regularly for the Osher Life Long Learning Institutes at UC Berkeley, Sonoma State University and Dominican University. Kayleen wrote her dissertation on Passion and Paradox: The Myths of Mary Magdalene in Music, Art and Culture. In addition, she holds three master's degrees: one in music (piano performance), mythology, and psychology. Kayleen has been a guest presenter and lecturer on the intersection of history, mythology, psychology and the arts at Oxford University in England, the Assisi Institute of Depth Psychology Conference in Italy, the Houston Jung Institute, Chartres Cathedral in France, Grace Cathedral and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. A faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for nineteen years, she is a pre-concert lecturer with the San Francisco Opera and the music historian in residence for the Santa Rosa Symphony. The Creative Director and Resident Mythologist for Mythica, Kayleen leads workshops and retreats throughout the country and offers pilgrimages to sacred sites in Europe every year.
Register:
Scholarships: If finances would prevent you from joining us, please send an email with a short note. No questions asked. We would love for you to be able to join.
Online Attendance: A Zoom link for this salon will be emailed to all registrants within 24 hours of the event. Household members are welcome to join for the single login. This event previously aired on 9/24/2020.
Recordings: Recordings of events will be password protected and emailed to all registrants within 24hours of event. Recording access will expire one month following the salon.