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

“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 worlds 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: Mojos, Rites, & Practices for the Magical Soul

“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.

“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: An Encounter with Divine Mystery.

“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-day and how to effectively work with them. It's about darn time; this is much needed. 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 of 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 key figures to our spirituality. This book not only aids in the understanding of the Divinely 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<.b>, author of Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs

“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 Précil, artist, dancer, songstress, and author of Anaëlle ak Lasirèn.

Every now and then a book comes along that fills a much-needed void in the literature and Lilith Dorsey’s book Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions 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. Orishas, Goddesses and Voodoo Queens 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 illuminating the continual manifestations that grow throughout their vast Diaspora. In many ways, Lilith Dorsey is freeing the African feminine powers from the many confines that have been placed upon them. This is sacred work, to combine this with hands-on formulas for the reader to immerse themselves among 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.

An inspiring exploration of the goddesses of the West African spiritual traditions and their role in shaping Yoruba (Ifa), Santeria, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo.

Throughout Africa and beyond in the diaspora caused by the slave trade, the divine feminine was revered in the forms of goddesses like the ancient Nana Buluku, water spirits like Yemaya, Oshun, and Mami Wata, and the warrior Oya. The power of these goddesses and spirit beings has taken root in the West. New Orleans, for example, is the home of Marie Laveau, who used her magical powers to become the “Voodoo Queen” of New Orleans.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens shows you how to celebrate and cultivate the traits of these goddesses, drawing upon their strengths to empower your own life. In addition to offering a guided tour of the key goddesses of the African religious traditions, the book offers magical spells, rituals, potions, astrological correspondences, sacred offerings, and much more to help guide you on your own transformational journey.

Lilith Dorsey, MA is a magical practitioner/voodoo priestess with training in several traditions, including Celtic, Afro-Caribbean (Santeria and Vodun), and Native American spiritualties. Her traditional education focused on plant science, anthropology, and film. She owns her own magickal consulting business, Branwen’s Pantry, and is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly. She is also the author of Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism and The African-American Ritual Cookbook. She has a degree in anthropology from the University of Rhode Island and an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.