The Truth Sings in Circles: The Trail of the Black Madonna

Once we understand that the truth cannot be fathomed by the rational mind alone, we are ready to follow an intuitive 'circular path of knowledge', discovered by the author in this instructive and thought-provoking book. We are invited to contemplate the meaning of the ancient statues of the 'Black Madonna', still found in a number of European churches. We continue to sense their mystery, but what exactly do they represent and is it possible to decipher their message? In her search, the author traces the history of the 'Black Madonna' to the mysteries of Isis, the Dark Goddess, and the eternal cycles of death and rebirth that are part of every spiritual tradition. Then, in an impressive reworking of the myth of Perceval's quest for the Holy Grail, the stages of the Underworld Initiation are rediscovered, together with the meaning of the Grail and the ways that the spiritual powers of the four Elements (air, water, fire, earth) shape the continuity of human experience. The energies of the four Elements provide the mechanism of spiritual alchemy in the circular fusion of masculine and feminine powers, which are fundamental to all creative manifestation. When the qualities of the four Elements are related to Jungian psychotherapy, these archetypal powers can be used to merge the mundane with the sacred in every situation of learning, change and rebirth - the secret message of the 'Black Madonna'. Mano Warren has been researching the mystery traditions of the world for many years with the aim of recovering their ancient knowledge. She now lives in Glastonbury, England, working as a healer and past life regression therapist.