Lilith is a Goddess and mythological figure who is misunderstood. She is reputed to be Adam’s first wife before Eve, and she represents the first powerful and liberated female in history. Then why was she banished? Through commentary and reflection on the multifaceted aspects of Lilith, Theresa C. Dintino guides the reader on an exciting inner journey to reclaim her own repressed parts. By examining how these Lilith energies may show up in her own life, the reader is encouraged to do the work to bring them back to life. Rituals included in the book offer the opportunity to explore these powerful but often feared aspects. Reclaiming the lost fragments—her power, her anger, her shadow, her sexuality, her creativity and her deep inner truth—returns the female psyche to a state of wholeness and integration.
Theresa C. Dintino is an ancestral Strega (Italian wise woman), Earth worker, and initiated diviner.
For more than 20 years Theresa has studied and practiced an Earth-based spirituality. In 2011, she was initiated as a diviner in a West African tradition. She currently helps others reclaim their personal lineages through her divination work.
Theresa’s most recent book: Membranes of Hope: A Guide to Attending to the Spiritual Boundaries that Keep Lifesystems Healthy from the Personal to the Cosmic is now available.
Theresa is the also the author of the Tree Medicine Trilogy which includes: The Amazon Pattern: A Message from Ancient Women Diviners of Trees and Time, Notes From a Diviner in the Postmodern World: A Handbook for Spirit Workers, and Teachings from the Trees: Spiritual Mentoring from the Standing Ones.
Other books include, The Strega and the Dreamer, a work of historical fiction based in the true story of her great grandparents, Ode to Minoa and Stories They Told Me, two novels exploring the life of a snake priestess in Bronze Age Crete, and Welcoming Lilith: Awakening and Welcoming Pure Female Power.
Dintino is also co-creator of nastywomenwriters.com giving voice to women of power from all times and places
This had great reviews, so I was excited! But I found the book to be slightly reductive and over-simplified. If you're looking for some basic, female empowerment journal or ritual prompts, this is a great tool. But if you're looking for an in-depth exploration of the Lilith archetype, I would not recommend it.
I would also note that it's written from the POV of very hard gender binary - this book is written with females who menstruate in mind, not necessarily femmes or women who do not menstruate. There is also a section that urges readers to "begin by ceasing to refer to ourselves as depressed," which I find alarming from a mental health standpoint. If you live with clinical depression and are reading this book, please seek guidance from a trusted mental health professional, and do not rely on the rituals offered!
Excellent information accompanied by practical exercises. A great addition to my small library of Lilith resources. I actually came across this book by “accident” while reading a Nora Roberts series in which Lilith is the Queen of the Vampyres & the protagonist.
2.5/5 stars. There were things I liked about this book, viewing it as more of an introductory primer to many of the feminist concepts that you encounter in shadow work with Lilith (though it might feel a bit rudimentary for the emotionally mature reader). I don't think it's necessarily trying to be more than that, so while I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more of the actual goddess versus the archetype within the pages - I wasn't really displeased with that. What holds me back from considering it a more useful part of my Lilith readings is that some of the more antiquated concepts in the book. I actually thought this book was published in perhaps the 1970s or 1980s, since I didn't see the publishing date was 2014 when I read it.
As another reviewer mentioned, it's a bit reductive with its concepts of the gender binary. It puts a hard focus on menstruating AFAB individuals/the womb and ties that very innately to womanhood, women's spirituality, and growing spiritually. While I do think there's a conversation to be had in this realm, sometimes drawing such harsh lines in the sand that depict these concepts as necessary or quintessential to women (or as purely female experiences) can feel restrictive or exclusionary to many people (for example, nonbinary fems, genderqueer women, trans women, intersex women and individuals, non-menstruating women, etc.,...)
That being said, I would enjoy an updated/more elevated discussion of these topics through a queer scholarly lens, particularly in how we relate them to Lilith. Broadening the discussion to include these diverse life experiences, I find, only deepens our understanding of women and women's spirituality; it assists, rather than obfuscates, the feminist mission. And, in fact, I find that there are also many cisgender, heterosexual women who find that their experiences are more intimately and caringly addressed when we also open the door for queer perspectives. Diversity makes a space more inclusive, even to those who may already be "included". I strongly hope that more religious/spiritual books in the pagan and witchy spaces pay mind to this in the future!
This book was by far the most enlightening and empowering book I've read about Lilith. I recommend it for any woman who is trying to find her inner Goddess. This is a wonderful introduction to embracing Lilith and the rituals are very practical and doable for anyone to accomplish. I highly highly encourage this book to any female struggling with self esteem and self worth. Blessed be!
Theresa shows ways to connect with Lilith and make Her a part of your daily ritual.
She was the first feminist, standing up for Her place beside Adam, not beneath, less than, subservient to him. Work with Her to reclaim the respect that was taken from you.
I love this book! I, too, was called by Lilith many years ago. This author touches the surface of Lilith the Goddess. Another book which should be required reading for women.
This book really doesn't have much to do with Lilith. It's really more of a woman's empowerment book, which is fine, but not at all what I was looking for. Really disappointed.
I genuinely enjoyed this short book about Lilith. If you’re looking for an in-depth understanding and analysis on Lilith this isn’t the book. However, it provides amazing facts about the goddess.
A great starter and introduction to working with Lilith. I am working on incorporating her into my practice and personal life, and enjoyed Theresa's guided introduction to all that Lilith embodies.
I was so excited to see the author Theresa C. Dintino had written another book. Her another books such as "Ode to Minoa," "stories they told me" and "the Strega and the dreamer" are some of my favorite books. This book "Welcoming Lilith: is a short paged book, with just 68 pages in it. But, what a wealth of knowledge & insight concern Lilith, the first wife of Adam. In fact, Lilith is a Divine Goddess who would not submit to a male dominion over Her. She has been vilified and slandered for since recorded time. Why? Because She claims Her power & strength. We as Women hide the qualities of Lilith in ourselves. Why? Because society has told us for Women not to be angry, or jealous, and for us to hide our feelings. Would Lilith? No, and we shouldn't either. Lilith teaches us that its okay to be angry when you are abused, neglected, or treated badly by our family or friends. Society says its not "lady-like" to show those sides of ourselves. What about when we are depressed? People say "just cheer-up." We need Lilith to shake us from our non-action. To feel our pain, anger, depression and break free from their chains that hold us back from achieving our goals & dreams for our lives. This book examine the feelings that are ours. Lilith can help us work through our feelings, experiencing them and through them, be free! After each chapter, there is a short meditation with Her. These are well thought out & give the reader spiritual insights. This is a gem of a book for Women. Read this for yourself. Let Lilith show you your shadow self. It is part of you and needed for you to be complete. Lilith will help you be whole. (available through Amazon)
Whether you're a worshipper or not this is something for all women. It's not long, but it's not going to waste your time with nonsense. The messages are powerful and laid out easily readable. Any woman needs to read this. Men seeking to understand might find this helpful too. It's worth the time and helped me really begin to open up and deal with things and start to reclaim my power.