Priestesses Pythonesses Sibyls: The Sacred Voices of Women Who Speak With and For The Gods

by Sorita d'Este (Editor), Janet Farrar (Contributor), Kim Huggens (Contributor)

Priestesses, Pythonesses & Sibyls The Sacred Voices of Women who speak with and for the Gods Priestesses Pythonesses Sibyls lifts a veil to reveal the mystery of trance as experienced by female magickal practitioners today. Through happiness and sorrow, myth and legend, art and poetry, through ritual and dance each woman expresses her own unique and personal transformative experiences of trance. Whether through trance possession, mediumship, Drawing Down the Moon, oracular or mantic states, dance, dreams or formal ceremony the experiences and knowledge gained during trance states can bring dramatic changes to one's life. The practices represented in this volume are drawn from the experiences and research of more than twenty women from around the world, each providing a unique vision of their own experiences of the Divine. The book begins with "Ecstatic Histories" a section of three scholarly essays. The first, Mantic Voices by Sorita d'Este provides an overview of the role of mantic priestesses in the major oracles of the ancient world, with a consideration of the resurgence of the role of the priestess in the modern Western magickal traditions. This is followed by Caroline Tully's The Pythia exploring the history and role of the Oracle at Delphi and Kim Huggens' Silent Priestesses which looks at female priests and prophetesses in early Christianity. Then in "Sacred Utterances", the second part of this anthology, eighteen modern day Priestesses, Pythonesses and Sibyls share their own personal experiences, wisdom and research on the practice of trance. These women come from a wide spectrum of magickal and pagan traditions, including Goddess Spirituality, the Western Mystery Tradition, Thelema, Wicca, Candomble, Voudou and Seidr. Sharing, sometimes for the first time, deep spiritual experiences and insights gained through the work they have performed as Priestesses serving in their own unique way, they provide the reader with insights into their practices which could not be found anywhere else. This section includes essays by authors such as Janet Farrar, Naomi Ozaniec and Vivienne O'Regan, Wiccan Priestesses Galatea, Diane Champigny, Yvonne Aburrow, Emily Ounsted and Sorrell Cochrane, and Priestess of Avalon Jacqui Woodward-Smith. It also includes Seidr practitioner Katie Gerrard, Priestess of Apollo Bolina Oceanus, Cathryn Orchard a Priestess of the Gnostic Catholic Church, Voudou hounsi bossal Sophia Fisher, Orixa devotee Andrea Salgado-Reyes, Teacher and Priestess Connia Silver, and dancers Mariëlle Holman and Nina Falaise. Unique, powerful and insightful, this book expresses the liminal world of trance in an accessible way for the first time.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Goddess, Spirituality, Paganism, History, Occult

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2008

About the author

Sorita d’Este is an author, researcher and priestess who has devoted her life to the Mysteries. She is the author of around 20 books exploring subjects related to the practice and history of magic, mythology, religion, folklore and witchcraft. Her previous books include titles such as Hekate Liminal Rites, Practical Elemental Magick, Visions of the Cailleach, Wicca: Magickal Beginnings and The Isles of the Many Gods. Her latest release is Circle For Hekate: Vol I. She lives on a hill in Glastonbury (Somerset, UK) from where she works as a publisher and writer. She is frequently distracted from her work by her love of gardening, exciting visitors and the promise of interesting esoteric knowledge.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection of essays by priestesses and "oracles." Uneven quality and confusing organization with no editor introduction pulling the threads together or turning this into a cohesive whole, rather than a disjointed collection of essays around a similar theme. Many would have benefitted from some introductory/explanatory material, rather than a sudden launch into the topic.

[Stella Abol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the most amazing books I have read, this book represents the magical journeys and experiences of modern priesteses who work with the Goddess, God and with all kinds of different techniques and systems of magick. For me this book is one I will keep going back to and is a book which should be highly recommended to everyone, men and women. It is especially useful to those of us who have not got access to teachers and people from whom to learn on an ongoing basis. The wealth of experience is amazing. This is a truly amazing experience for anyone following the path of modern priesthood.

[Kecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than another collection, "Horns of Power," that D'este edited, but that's not saying a whole lot. This is the last D'este I will buy, even if free on Kindle. I gave it three stars, because that's about how many of the essays were worth reading.

In person, these writers are probably knowledgeable and interesting people and probably quite capable authors, but this format of brief and off-the-cuff essays collected as if in a loose-leaf notebook with no purpose or thought other than scrap-booking...is not useful or even enjoyable.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I contributed to this collection of essays on invitation from the editor. When I received my copy it as interesting to read through the other contributions and examine the differences and similarities between our spiritual paths.

[NormaCenva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, lot's of diverse stories included.

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ancient times women had a much bigger part to play in religious affairs then they do now in the current monotheistic mode. Not only were they priestesses serving alongside the priest conducting rites to
The gods as they were in Egypt but they were also seers and oracles. In communication with the Gods they would deliver the divine message to the supplicant who came asking for their future or an augury. Sometimes it would be a priest or a female helper who would help interpret the message.

Sorita d'Este compiled a collection of essays and edited them. The essays give a broad over view of the practice and gives a sampling of broad and basic techniques. It can get you started and it can give you an overview if your interest is academic. However , if you wish to be an oracle or pursue these spiritual practices you will have to do further research or maybe find a group that will help you grow , fortunately in the back of the book there are more resources listed in a very thorough bibliography,

Author's like Katie Gerard and Janet Farrar who I
Am more then a little familiar with have made their contributions to this work, many others who I am not so familiar with made their contribution as well.

The essays cover a wide gambit of territory. There are contributions from Wiccan priestesses, Norse Shaman, Voudou practitioner, Egyptoan Priestesses and some historical Christianity.

Stories range from experiences all the way to historical research on the role of women prophets in early Christianity.

Techniques seem to by large fall I to the general category of ecstatic dancing leading roman exhausted trance state and sitting in a high chair listening to music in order to achieve trance.

The book is well worth the read . It would mark the first step of your journey . Enjoy and happy trails.

[Isis Rea-rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a star find and I am sure, if you share an interest in trance and / or modern pagan and magical spirituality you will agree. The wonderful thing about the anthologies Sorita d'Este has put together is how she manages to find people with different perspectives from one another and manages to get them all share on the same platform. Through doing this she shows the differences, diversities and also of course the similarities between different people. This makes for a wonderful read, each chapter offering something truly unique, especially when its filled with essays such as this. I enjoyed the scholarly essays at the start, especially that of Caroline Tully and I loved the essays by the different priestesses, for me it was the essays by Jacqueline Woodward Smith and Diane Champigny which stood out, together with the brutal honesty of the essay by Galatea. But each essay stands its ground. There is something to be learned from each one in turn.

Highly recommended to students of trance mediumship, oracular work etc.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I could not put this down. The myriad of traditions amd practices that are represented in this collection are vast. I greatly enjoyed the historical basis first and then modern personal experiences. Highly recommended.

[Woman Inside Water · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information on the historical roles of women in the Western Mystery Tradition - the whole book is comprised of personal essays by women who have been initiated and seek direct knowledge of the divine feminine.

[Spider Goddess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book. The authors' accounts are very enjoyable and informative. I will say, however, that I did find myself bored of thus personal accounts toward the end.