Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens by Lilith Dorsey Summary

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens explores the divine feminine in African religious traditions, including Yoruba (Ifa), Santeria, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo. The book combines historical accounts, cultural narratives, and practical guidance for connecting with goddesses, orishas, loas, and historical Voodoo queens like Marie Laveau. It includes recipes, rituals, offerings, and altar-building instructions designed to help readers celebrate and cultivate the strengths of these powerful spiritual entities.

Lilith Dorsey, M.A., is a Voodoo Priestess and published Black author with initiations in Lucumi (Santeria), Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo since 1991. Dorsey holds academic degrees in Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film from URI, NYU, and University of London. They serve as editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly and have authored multiple books on African traditional religions, committed to providing accurate and respectful information about these sacred practices.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens is ideal for goddess worshippers, spiritual seekers interested in African traditional religions, and practitioners of Santeria, Vodoun, or Voodoo. The book serves both beginners seeking an introduction to Afro-Diaspora traditions and experienced practitioners wanting practical guidance on rituals and offerings. It's particularly valuable for women seeking empowerment through divine feminine spirituality and anyone interested in understanding the connections between different African-derived spiritual paths.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens receives generally positive reviews for its informative content, practical recipes and rituals, and the author's authentic knowledge from personal initiation and experience. Readers praise its accessibility, organization, and combination of historical context with actionable spiritual practices. Some reviewers note it can feel rushed or overwhelming for complete beginners, desiring more depth on individual deities. Overall, it's considered an excellent introduction and reference guide for African traditional religions and divine feminine spirituality.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens covers orishas from Yoruba tradition, loas from Haitian Vodoun, and historical Voodoo queens including Marie Laveau and Nanny of the Maroons. Specific entities discussed include Erzulie in her various incarnations, La Siren, Mami Wata, and other divine feminine figures from African and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions. Each deity receives descriptions of their attributes, domains, representations related to love, beauty, water, death, and other aspects of life.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens provides recipes, rituals, offerings, prayers, and shrine-building instructions specific to each deity. The book includes botanical elements, food offerings appropriate for different goddesses, and detailed guidance on how to honor and connect with these spiritual entities. Readers appreciate the actionable nature of the content, with many planning to return to the recipes and ritual instructions repeatedly. The book also features a glossary and practical combinations for spiritual work.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens can be read without initiation, though some reviewers found the ritual-heavy content overwhelming without formal training or spiritual claiming. The book is written for both uninitiated seekers wanting to learn about these traditions and initiated practitioners seeking practical guidance. Author Lilith Dorsey's own initiations lend authenticity, but the book functions as both an educational resource and a practical manual depending on the reader's spiritual journey and involvement.

Critics of Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens note the book feels rushed and could provide more depth on individual deities, particularly Erzulie's multiple incarnations and the distinctions between similar entities like La Siren and Mami Wata. Some readers wanted more thorough exploration of different lwa incarnations and clearer distinctions between various Afro-Diaspora traditions. A few found the ritual focus overwhelming without proper context or initiation, causing confusion rather than clarity for spiritual exploration.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens empowers readers by teaching them to celebrate and cultivate the traits of African goddesses and Voodoo queens, drawing upon their strengths for personal power. The book emphasizes women's empowerment, intersectionality, and reclaiming ancestral spiritual practices, particularly for women of color. By providing practical methods to connect with divine feminine forces through rituals and offerings, readers learn to invoke these powerful entities for support in various life aspects including love, protection, and transformation.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens explores Yoruba/Ifa, Santeria (La Regla Lucumi), Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo, clarifying how these Afro-Diaspora traditions interlock and differ. The book helps readers understand the connections and distinctions between various African traditional religions, from their African origins to their evolution in the Caribbean and Americas. Lilith Dorsey draws on personal initiations and extensive research to present these traditions from multiple perspectives with cultural sensitivity and accuracy.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens serves as an excellent introduction for beginners interested in African traditional religions and divine feminine spirituality, with readers praising its accessibility and organization. The book provides foundational knowledge many wished existed when they first started practicing in the 1990s. However, some complete beginners found the ritual-heavy content overwhelming without prior context or mentorship. The book works best as both an introductory text and reference guide that readers return to as their practice deepens.

Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens stands out through its specific focus on divine feminine entities across multiple African traditions, written by a Black author with authentic initiations since 1991. The book uniquely combines historical accounts of both deities and historical Voodoo queens with practical recipes and rituals. Lilith Dorsey's consideration of current politics and culture integrated with spirituality, plus their commitment to accurate, respectful information about African traditional religions, distinguishes this work from purely academic or appropriative texts.