Lilith Dorsey - Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions

Praise for Orisbas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens

Lilith Dorsey writes from her heart and from the heart of her devoted service as a priestess of the divine feminine. While she encourages her readers to seek a house and trustworthy mentor with whom to seek initiation, she also gives clear instructions and suggestions for ritual practices that anyone can use to experience these beautiful African goddesses and spirits. I'm sure her words will inspire new generations of seekers and priestesses who are exploring their own paths to spirituality.

Sallie Ann Glassman, author of Vodou Visions

Lilith Dorsey opens the door and shines a light upon the world of African Traditional Religions and their magnificent deities of the divine feminine. Her exceptional storytelling, delicious recipes, offerings, and appendixes give the reader instant access for working properly and respectfully with the orishas, goddesses, and Voodoo queens who are frequently misunderstood or misinterpreted. This book is a must-have for anyone seeking practical and authentic knowledge on how to begin their journey into the multifaceted world of African Traditional Religions. I truly enjoyed it. It is a fantastic read and a book I shall return to many times. Ayibobo!

Najah Lightfoot, author of Good Juju

In Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens, Lilith Dorsey takes readers on an exploratory journey of a beautiful religious current, examining its history, evolution, and even its most complex and uncomfortable aspects, such as slavery, syncretism, and cultural prejudices. The book also includes the most curious recipes and interesting anecdotes, all summed up in one accessible read.

Elhoim Leafar, author of The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags

Applying what resonates most with self on one's spiritual journey is what has worked for me over the years. Lilith Dorsey has created a divine companion, Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens, for seekers to turn to in their practices. Dive into this treasure chest of a book and learn various gems including spells, rituals, and incantations.

Riva Nyri Prcil, artist, dancer, songstress, and
author of Analle ak Lasirn

Anyone who explores the many witch traditions has their must-have/go-to book. Well, Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens will become that book for many of you, whatever path or tradition you follow. Packed with rare insight, recipes, and extensive lore regarding each orisha and deity of the African and Caribbean paths, it discusses how they affected our lives in the past and present and how to effectively work with them. It's about darn time. Lilith Dorsey has written a must-read primer for anyone interested in learning about the many dark goddesses. You've got to read this book and learn from one of the best. This will become one of our go-to books at the academy.

Starr RavenHawk, founder of the New York City Wiccan Family
Temple, the WFT Academy of Pagan Studies, and WitchsFest USA

In Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens, Lilith Dorsey has created a long-overdue, welcome, and helpful guide for all those interested in goddess, lwa, and orisha work. Dorsey's book is a gift. It presents a concentrated dose of information on select entities, thereby instilling a deep understanding of several figures key to our spirituality. This book not only aids in the understanding of the Divine Feminine of the Motherland and African Diaspora, but it also helps us interact through herbal connections, rituals, altars, prayers and invocations, storytelling, special food recipes, and so much more. Ase!

Stephanie Rose Bird, author of Sticks, Stones, Roots, and Bones

Every now and then a book comes along that fills a much-needed void in the literature, and Lilith Dorsey's Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens does exactly that. One of scant few authors to include New Orleans Voudou in the discussion of African-derived traditions in the United States, Dorsey provides a useful guide to the spirits and queens whose stories and roles have been historically understated in these various religions. More importantly, she tackles the topic from a woman's perspective, when the current social climate is ripe for women's empowerment. This book is a practical guide for working with the energies of the divine feminine in a way that taps into an ancient well of mysteries while remaining accessible to all. I highly recommend Lilith Dorsey's Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens for anyone who is interested in the stories and backgrounds of these spirits, for anyone who wishes to work with them through ritual and divination, and for all those looking to honor and amplify the sacred and divine feminine energy within themselves.

Denise Alvarado, author of The Magic of Marie Laveau
and The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook

Emotional and inspiring. Lilith Dorsey's Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens powerfully exalts the African goddess and elevated beings, as well as illuminates the continual manifestations that grow throughout their vast Diaspora. This is sacred workto combine this with hands-on formulas for the reader to immerse themselves in is invaluable. Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens is a one-of-a-kind book and a must-have, a truly unique piece of work that has arrived at a crucial time.

Witchdoctor Utu, author of Conjuring Harriet Mama Moses
Tubman and the Spirits of the Underground Railroad

The Divine Feminine
in the African Religious Traditions

LILITH DORSEY

This edition first published in 2020 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

65 Parker Street, Suite 7

Newburyport, MA 01950

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2020 by Lilith Dorsey

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-695-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

Cover design by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Cover photograph Hero Images / Getty

Interior by Deborah Dutton

Typeset in Adobe Jensen Pro and Frutiger LT Std

Printed in Canada

MAR

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www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

To Dr. John, aka Mac Rebennack
(November 20, 1941June 6, 2019)

Many knew the musician and the legend, but Mac was more of a father to me than my own ever was. I worked with him, I danced with him, I laughed with him, I performed rituals with him, and above all I loved him. There's so much to thank Dr. John for, not least for making Voodoo bold, beautiful, and always in the rite place at the rite time. I'm sorry I couldn't get to give him one more hug, but so glad I got to tell him how much I loved him. Anywhere and everywhere you are now, Mac, I want to thank you for letting this little brown karakter walk on gilded splinters, and thank u for being you.

I love myself when I am laughing... and then again when I am looking mean and impressive.