The Celestial Journey of the Soul: Zodiacal Themes in the Gospel of Mark

The Celestial Journey of the Soul explores the astrological dimension of the Gospel of Mark. According to the author, the Gospel of Mark is structured on the zodiac, and each of the zodiacal sections of the Gospel contains profound teachings on the nature of the spiritual life. The book outlines these teachings and explores their contemporary significance. Darlison argues that the Gospel was not originally intended to be read as a historical text, but as a description of the stages through which every person must pass on the his or her way to self-transformation. Each chapter is prefaced by the author's own translation of a relevant passage from the Gospel and by a story which reinforces the spiritual lesson. This radical interpretation of the Jesus story is based on the author's controversial book, The Gospel and the Zodiac, which was published in 2007 by Duckworth/Overlook. Bill Darlison is Minister Emeritus of Dublin Unitarian Church