Madonna's divorce from Guy Ritchie will reach "ugliness of epic proportions", say her friends.

The 50-year-old singer - who announced the end of their nearly eight-year marriage last week - reportedly has no qualms about taking public jabs at her estranged spouse as she believes she has religion on her side.

Madonna consults a team of leaders from Kabbalah - a mystical off-shoot of Judaism - before making any negative remarks about Guy.

A friend said: "Expect ugliness of epic proportions. She's got Kabbalah on her side. Here's how it works - she's got a team of Kabbalah advisers who guide her through her spiritual decisions. If they say something is justified, then she feels comfortable going ahead and doing it."

Madonna even allegedly spoke to the religious elders before she began spending time with baseball player Alex Rodriguez -- known as A-Rod.

The friend added to website MSNBC: "That was the litmus test she applied to A-Rod, that's how she justifies making references to Guy at concerts. It's only going to get worse if Kabbalah green lights it."

Madonna made several thinly-veiled references to her marriage breakdown during her concert in Boston, America, last week.

Before singing "Miles Away", which was inspired by Guy, she told the crowd: "This song is for the emotionally retarded. Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. I know I do."

Despite only announcing the end of her marriage days ago, Madonna is reportedly considering having a baby with A-Rod -- who she was first linked to in the summer.

A friend said: "She thinks he's physically a great specimen. And if she is going to have another child, he would be the ideal man to bring one to her."

The 33-year-old sportsman is reportedly so committed to the pop superstar he is only "weeks" away from buying an £40 million penthouse just two blocks from her New York apartment.

A-Rod has also promised to help Madonna promote Kabbalah around the world, and is set to write a range of sports-themed books to help bring the religion's message to young boys.

Meanwhile, Madonna's estranged brother Chistopher Ciccone - who recently wrote a tell-all memoir entitled Life With My Sister Madonna in which he branded Guy a "homophobe" - has expressed his upset at news of her divorce.

He said: "I have expressed my heartfelt sadness to her and her family and offered my support should she need it."

(China Daily/Agencies October 21, 2008)