Unravelling the Ark, the Shroud and Mary

In the last few years I have researched and written on several ancient and not so ancient mysteries. I have delved into the black heart of Nazi secret societies and uncovered the existence of the present day Holy Vehm; I have sought out the secret of Solomon?s Temple and come away with sacred paths; I have even caused huge controversy in the realm of serpent lore. But, there were certain mysterious relics, existent and non-existent, that I had no intention of trying to disentangle and two of these were the Ark of the Covenant and the Shroud of Turin. Fate however often has a peculiar habit of dealing out joker cards and I pulled out a whole pack of them.

It all started in Winchester, England. I was there to give a speech. Having stayed the night before in a hotel, I awoke early and decided to take a walk around the wonderful cathedral to kill time.

I took with me my new digital camera in the hope that I might get some shots for a DVD I was working on at the time called Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon?s Temple Revealed released by Reality Entertainment. Walking around like a zombie tourist with my eyes peeled for images of the Temple, Solomon, Sheba and all-manner of esoteric devices I eventually arrived at a beautiful image of Prudence holding aloft a serpent and with two faces, one of a man and one of a woman. It was the beauty of Oneness, of the dual nature in man united by the power or energy of the inner serpent - a concept widely spoken of in literature and on the internet. This was something Gnostics and mystics have spoken of for hundreds of years. I took a few photographs and then noticed something else. To the left on the same mausoleum was a beautiful image of Moses and the Jews carrying the Ark of the Covenant across and before the Great Pyramid in Egypt. It was a wonderful picture and something inside told me that there was a secret being told, especially as this was part of the same creative work of art as the Prudence statuette. And so I walked around the whole thing and on the other side discovered another carving, this time of Jesus emerging from the tomb with his Shroud about him. At that moment all the research I had done on the ancient mysteries came together in one blinding flash of inspiration and I suddenly realised the truth of the Ark. It struck me there and then that the whole design was an esoteric work of art, revealing the Ark of the Old Testament and the one of the new. In the following months I gathered around me all the books and sources available on the Ark, the Shroud and the sacred feminine principle of Mary.

You see the Ark itself I found was derived from a much older tradition, stretching right back into Egypt and beyond and the reason for this was because it was a natural part of man himself. Solar b?arques or Arks would daily travel through the Otherworld carrying the deity and bringing him back for new life the following day. It was a re-creative process of the sun, and internally of our very selves, as we too disappear mentally in the darkness of sleep. The sun of God would travel into darkness and re-emerge with new life each day. In the same way God himself was encased in the Ark of the Covenant and would be seen as the shining light of the sun. In the same way God as Jesus was placed in the Otherworld or Underworld tomb within the Shroud, which then carried his image, placed there by light. And Mary too, was the one who would carry the divine within her womb, to bring forth the light once again.

All of this esoteric language was united in symbolism, but I wanted more. I knew that man in his various ways had always manifested the inner world in art, architecture, music and texts and so I wanted to know; had man manifested these symbolic objects such as the Ark or Shroud physically?

My research lead me through a world that many before had travelled and yet I discovered that there had been such a lot of information missed, because the links had not been understood properly. There is simply not enough space in one article to reveal all the discoveries and so I will choose one element ? the Shroud.

Ever since the carbon dating of the infamous Shroud of Turin in the 1980?s, which placed the linen cloth in the 13th/14th centuries, many had presumed that was the end of the tale. Others had stated that the image was that of Leonardo da Vinci or even that of the Grand Master of the Knights Templar. However, the evidence I discovered would throw this dating out of the window and bring it back again into the 1st century AD. It appears that following the carbon dating, many researchers had shown how the scientists themselves had not been telling the whole truth and had in fact known which of the various test linens was from the Shroud. This itself discredits the tests in many ways. However, the Shroud of Turin Research Project found that the image was in fact not made up of any physical substance such as paint or pigment. It was in fact an alteration of the surface of the linen by some effect of light or radiation, something which also makes linen turn yellow.

In a letter to the editor of Nature magazine on 16th February 1989 Dr. Thomas J. Phillips of Harvard University posited the following explanation that the body of the man in the Shroud:

"?may have radiated neutrons, which would have irradiated the Shroud and changed some of the nuclei to different isotopes by neutron capture."

In fact, what I discovered was that an altered state of consciousness brought on by beating or other forms of physical extreme could also excite the atoms within the body, stimulating heat generation. This process I discovered also aids the escape of neutrons from the atom, thus causing neutron radiation as proposed by Dr. Phillips. Add into this the embalming fluids used on the body and a process of magnification aided in the creation of the almost photographic image on the Shroud itself.

This neutron radiation would in fact have ruined any possible chance of dating the Shroud correctly and now places it back again in the 1st century as I reveal in the book.

I was now coming to some peculiar conclusions. Could it be, I wondered, that the image on the Shroud was that of an adept who had been in a state of ecstasy and who had emitted radiation?

The man in the Shroud had been beaten to a pulp, nailed to a cross and was surely near death.

There is little wonder that the Ark, the Shroud and indeed even the God-bearer herself ? Mary ? were all depicted in art as emitting light ? for they all carried the symbol of the sun - the light. They were all esoteric devices of a truly human experience that has been misinterpreted for hundreds of years because of our own perceptions. Linked with the life giving rays of our own solar power the union of these devices is one of the most profound stories on planet earth and it is the subject of the journey to discover them that is in the forthcoming Book and DVD The Ark, The Shroud and Mary.

Note
None of the research carried out for this book would have been possible without the great works of many authors, past and present. There is not a book written, nor a theory come to that does not owe thanks to those who went before - whether a friend in the pub who passes on shamanic words of wisdom, a previous co-author, a book you once read, a film, a club, a church visited or even some subliminal memory of something or somebody forgotten. I have been able to personally thank most of them, but for those I cannot get to or who died out many years ago then I offer my thanks now. The people who helped with this book are credited in the book, and below:

My good friend Crichton Miller, Graham Phillips, Graham Hancock, Stuart Munro-Hay, the modern mystic and writer Gary Osborn who virtually re-wrote The Shining Ones last year into a modern mystics classic, Gopi Krishna, Ian Wilson, Warren Croyle, Eliphas Levi, Paracelsus, Hugh Schonfield, David Rohl, Alan Alford, Dr John Jay Harper, my great Sufi friend who is both the most marvellous man and incredible mind I have ever come across and many more. If I have missed anybody, please let me know immediately, never done intentionally.

The DVD is released by Reality Films, part of Reality Entertainment and along with the book will be available across the internet stores and distributed throughout Barnes and Noble with front of store placement.

The DVD is available here or call 866 585 1355 toll free or email books@reality-entertainment.com
Or get the book signed here (anywhere in the world) by visiting www.gardinersworld.com

Here's a couple of reviews:
Last I knew, the Ark was in Ethiopia where Graham Hancock had tracked it down to. Man was I wrong. This DVD (and the book) completely blew all that away and so much more. In fact, it really did make the other theories look almost mad. Gardiner has a way of making things that are incredibly profound appear so logical - because they are. The truth of all this has almost been right in front of our eyes and yet we all missed it. Brilliant DVD that I could watch again and again - come to think of it, I will right now.
Robert Kintrade, Edinburgh, 32rd degree

Just when you think that Gardiner couldn't come up with anymore secrets he does it again with this beautiful DVD. Not only is it profoundly insightful and full of revelations that made me personally sit bolt upright, but it is also full of fantastic music and incredible imagery. Once again we follow Gardiner on his global treck as he traverse Egypt, Ethiopia, India and
Europe to evaporate one theory after another and bring to us some remarkable and brand new insights. I will never read the Bible or see the Shroud in the same way again - simply mind blowing.
Rev. John Sinclair, Prague

Ark, Shroud and Mary

With the forthcoming book and DVD - The Ark, The Shroud and Mary, I thought I'd pop some links and acknowledgments on for people to do their own research!

Firstly I'd like to acknowledge the great many people who helped me write the book and make the DVD. Graham Phillips was very kind and allowed me to use material he had found in his book The Templars and the Ark of the Covenant - thanks Graham! Gary Osborn (co-author on Serpent Grail and Shining Ones will forever be one who influenced me and opened my eyes more to the metaphysical elements of specifically the hypnagogic and his work deserves full credit (which for my fault entirely I missed in The US version of Gnosis and has been prepared for future runs - sorry again! The kundalini aspect is Gary's concept fullstop). Graham Hancock - for the marvellous work he did in The Sign and the Seal. Stuart Munro-Hay - thanks to your spirit! My Sufi friend and Brother Juan - whatever your real name may be. To Dr John Jay Harper for his further deep insights into the Shaman of our past and clarification on all things kundalini. Warren Croyle - my friend and guide in many things. Michael Bourne - for being a brick! Steve, Julie and Mike of Soul Path for creating enchanting music from the heart of the universe. The great Ian Wilson and his books on the Shroud. Crichton Miller for his insights into the ancient mind. Hamish Miller for making contact with Mother Earth! My friends at the university for helping with the electrical elements and my psychologist friend for the insight into the physical brain and mind. Astrid my wonderful editor, Michael and Laurie of New Page - consumate professionals. And to all those numerous people who have spoken kind words and helped me along the way.

Links
See www.gardinersworld.com front page for links

Temple's location found?

Has the Temple of Solomon finally been found? This latest news article claims that "the" Temple is found, but not necessarily the Temple of Solomon. The Temple was without doubt built, but the Temple of Jerusalem. To attribute this to Solomon himself (if he existed in reality) is stretching it too far. Pinpointing the new location here shown for the Temple is however a great step forward if this new discovery is confirmed. For more on the Temple see my book Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed

Study of ancient cisterns pinpoints sacred site,
? Muslim Dome of the Rock outside confines
Posted: February 11, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Using maps created in 1866 by a British explorer and passages from the Jewish Mishnah, an Israeli archaeologist and professor at Hebrew University says he has pinpointed the location of the sacred Jewish Temple, twice built and twice destroyed in ancient times.

While popular consensus places the Temple, built by King Solomon in the 10th century B.C. and rebuilt by Jews who returned from Babylon in the 5th century B.C., on the site of the present Muslim Dome of the Rock, Prof. Joseph Patrich says archaeological remains show its exact location ? and the consensus is wrong.

According to Patrich, the Temple, its corresponding courtyards, chambers and gates were oriented in a more southeasterly direction, sitting diagonally on what is the modern Temple Mount. The difference in orientation and the placement further eastward varies from the east-facing orientation of other scholars who believe the Temple was closer to today's Western Wall.

However, that difference is why, Patrich says, the Temple did not sit over the rock believed by Jews to be the site where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac and where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven.

Patrich's siting of the Temple is derived from information collected by British engineer Sir Charles Wilson in 1866 on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Wilson mapped a series of ancient cisterns below the present Temple Mount platform. One of those, Patrich says, preserves a vestige of the Temple that stood until it was destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70.

The cistern mapped by Wilson, approximately 15 feet wide, 170 feet long and 45 feet deep, was located near the Temple Mount's southeast corner. It was oriented in a southeasterly direction with branches extending north and south.


Patrich's reconstruction of Temple in 1st century A.D., facing northeast. Courtesy Hebrew University. (Drawing by Leen Ritmeyer)

"Until now no one has ever thought that the location of the cistern on the Temple Mount and its unique shape were derived from the shape and location of the altar and sanctuary," Patrich told YNetNews.

According to the archaeologist, this cistern is the only one found on the Temple Mount that corresponds to descriptions in the Jewish Mishnah ? the rabbinic oral tradition compiled in the 3rd century A.D. ? of daily purification and sacrificial duties carried out by the priests on the altar in the Temple courtyard.

The Mishnah says water was drawn by a waterwheel mechanism from a cistern and held in a large basin, or laver, for daily purification by the Temple's priests before they ascended the nearby ramp to the altar to offer sacrifices.

Patrich's reconstruction of Temple in 1st century A.D. overlaid on modern Temple Mount. Octagonal feature is Dome of the Rock. Diagram is oriented east up. Courtesy Hebrew University. (Drawing by Leen Ritmeyer)

Patrich believes the placement of the waterwheel and laver can be reconstructed from Wilson's map of the giant southeast-trending cistern and from that, the location of the altar and the Temple itself.

Patrich's siting has the Temple further east and south of locations proposed by other scholars and diagonal, rather than perpendicular to the Temple Mount's eastern and western walls. It also leaves the rock in the Dome of the Rock outside of the confines of the Temple itself.

Patrich said his research on the Temple's location is strictly academic, and political connotations should not be attributed to it.

The fact is that there is no evidence whatsoever proving this to be THE Solomon's Temple, but instead all the evidence suggests that it is the Jerusalem Temple - something I pointed out in the book Gnosis.

Ark, Shroud and Mary

The build up to the publicity for the new Book and DVD has begun in earnest I am told by Michael (www.real2can.com) who has been doing some pre-launch work. Several BBC radio stations in the UK have booked, nettalkradio, Gnostic radio, Kala Spirit talk in the US and a major UK television production company have started talks about a broadcast documentary. All good stuff (so I'm told!). Really looking forward to the challenge of this because the book and DVD are so very different and quite at a tangent to what has previously been stated by just about everybody. I went through a lot to get this project done - including meeting up with some very secretive people in Europe who wanted to let me know a few things. I wasn't prepared for what they had to say I can tell you and it led me down a path I was simply not expecting to go.

If any press/radio etc want to get a press pack then they can email michael@real2can.com . Same goes for anybody who wants first edition prints or DVD's.