EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LILITH

EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LILITH

Lots of people are interested in Lilith, and understandably so: she’s fascinating! Unfortunately this interest often leads to a lot of cultural appropriation, misinformation, and even antisemitism, so here’s a quick (ok… medium) rundown of everybody’s favorite mythological femme fatale:

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WHO IS LILITH?

The most central and most popular story of Lilith comes from a midrash, a Jewish Rabbinical text designed to fill holes/answer questions within Jewish teachings. Lilith was the world’s first woman, created alongside Adam from the same clay. Adam insisted that Lilith must “lie beneath him” (either literally during sex or figuratively through general submissiveness, depending on your translation/interpretation) but Lilith refused, asserting they were equals. When both sides refused to relent, Lilith spoke a sacred name of Gd and took flight, choosing to leave the Garden of Eden completely rather than stay and be subjugated by Adam. Here her role shifts to something traditionally more “villainous:” she becomes the mother of demons, corrupted seductress of human men, consort to Samael, and an explanation for infant mortality. Sometimes “big” Lilith (Demon Queen, demon mother) and “little” Lilith (succubus, baby killer) are separated as two different sheydim, but usually she’s treated as just one singular figure. 

It’s easy to see why a figure like this would scare the shit out of a patriarchal society. Lilith was considered a threat to Jewish survival, killing babies, corrupting the women and emasculating the men. Her image scared people of all genders into submission. However, Lilith’s image has undergone a feminist shift in recent decades. While many Jewish communities to this day still perceive her as a totally evil active threat, she can also represent a more nuanced look at what Jewish femininity means, how a patriarchal society pushes and twists the narratives of Jewish women, standing up for ourselves even if we’re viewed as monstrous, and even bodily autonomy, sexual freedom, and abortion rights.

One thing to clear up right away- traditionally, Lilith is NOT a goddess. She is a sheyd, or a Jewish demon. While she often gets absorbed into the Wiccan goddess archetypes and conflated with other entities who ARE considered deities in their respective religions, Lilith was never considered a goddess herself in Jewish tradition. You will sometimes hear the claim that she was a Sumerian goddess that Judaism “stole” and demonized (we’ll come back to this) but the credibility of this take is….dubious, at best. Likely the class of Sumerians called the lilit/u helped influence her depictions, but there’s no evidence to suggest a singular Sumerian goddess figure named Lilith. Her stories come from texts exclusive to Judaism that are not shared with other Abrahamic religions. Her  

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

The fetishization of Judaism (and Lilith in particular) within ceremonial occultism and a new wave of New Age, goddess-focused spirituality created a perfect storm for Lilith to be picked up and flown away with. As you can imagine, Lilith is a deeply complicated figure, and most of those conversations are internal ones within the context of Judaism. Most of the time, Lilith gets reduced to nothing but a spooky sexy #BossBabe bone-thin white woman with absolutely zero nuance or self awareness. She’s the occult world’s imaginary goth girlfriend. She is declawed, forced into goddess archetypes she was never made for, nonchalantly twisted into whatever entity goyim want her to be, then passed along with ahistorical misinformation about her origins. 

This content then floods the market, making it extraordinarily difficult for Jewish people to find accurate, reliable information about figures from their own culture.

Even better, sometimes people will take the idea that Judaism “stole” Lilith to perpetuate antisemitism, talking about how Jews were/are “rabid monotheists” (a genuine quote I heard once,) how we must all just be so sexist and terrible, The Jews™ ruined Paganism, etc.

WHAT IF I WANT TO WORK WITH LILITH?

There’s definitely nothing wrong with learning ABOUT Lilith, recognizing her or believing in her, but if you want to work with her consider more open, respectful alternatives. She often gets conflated with Ishtar, Hekate, the Morrigan, Nyx. Maybe you’re a spirit worker and can look into succubi or the Sumerian liilitu. Look at WHY she interests you; have you been taken in by the goyiche allure of a declawed goth #BossBabe? Can you simply take inspiration from her stories and use it to reflect on yourself/think about it without worshipping her? If you HAVE to work with SPECIFICALLY her, why? Are you willing to go through the proper channels and convert?

As always, please feel free to ask me any questions and I’ll do what I can to help! 

FURTHER STUDY MATERIAL 

Podcast: Throwing Sheyd, better living through Jewish demonology 

Article: Origins of Lilith: Jewish or Not? by the wonderful @jewitchry

Article: Who is Lilith? (And Everything Else You’ve Ever Wanted to Ask About Lilith) by the wonderful @spiritroots

Book: Which Lilith?: Feminist Writers Re-Create the World’s First Woman (edited by Enid Dame

More Posts from Forsakensnakeskin and Others

2 years ago
Hey Fyi My Fellow Satanists, We Have Another Nazi On Our Hands.

Hey fyi my fellow satanists, we have another nazi on our hands.

Block, and report. Satanism doesnt advocate or welcome nazis into our group and never will

I can immediately tell this person probably follows JOS, a nazi cult.


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2 years ago

Speaking generally, but when it comes to witchcraft,

if you don't have the ability to analyze what gods and/or spirits tell you,

and then make your own decisions,

you should probably not be working with gods and/or spirits.

If you don't feel comfortable saying "no," you should probably not be working with gods and/or spirits.


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1 year ago

Bedridden witch: Elements edition

Bedridden Witch: Elements Edition

Little ways to connect to the elements while you’re bedridden or stuck inside.

Earth:

Keep jars of dirt from special places.

Grow cacti or succulents.

Make a mini sand garden.

Hang macrame with crystals or stones.

Keep a bouquet of flowers.

Hang herbs from your walls/ceiling.

Get a little plant starter kit, keep seedlings by your window.

Keep some books on plants and geology around.

Watch nature documentaries.

Keep pebbles and crystals under your pillow.

Make a miniature garden/landscape using fake or real plants!

Reach down and feel the energy of the earth below you. Sometimes this is easier on the floor.

Burn candles that smell like the earth/forest/your favorite place.

Drink herbal tea.

Water:

Get a mini waterfall or fountain.

Keep plants that grow in water.

Get a water essential oil diffuser.

Make a spray from infused water.

Open windows when it rains.

Set up a bird fountain outside.

Fully savor your next glass of water.

Keep blues and sea green colors around.

Watch videos or documentaries on aquatic/marine life.

Watch the raindrops or condensation on your window.

Keep a bowl of water around. 

Listen to water/rain ambiance.

Burn candles that smell like the ocean or the rain.

Use a washcloth to wipe down your face/body.

Keep jars of water from your favorite places.

Air:

Open your window.

Use room spray/mist.

Burn candles that smell like the wind.

Hang wind chimes.

Listen to air/wind ambiance.

Get a small fan for some air flow.

Burn incense and watch the smoke move through the air.

Use your breath.

Hang feathers in your room.

Hang scarves and cloths around your room, watch the breeze sway them around.

Get some air plants.

Use an app that lets you see the sky/night sky.

Watch the clouds from your window.

Meditate, allow your senses to explore the air around you.

Fire:

Burn candles/incense.

Hang red or orange curtains.

Get a Himalayan salt lamp.

Use a wax melter.

Get an electric candle.

Use a heating pad or electric blanket.

Listen to fire ambiance. 

Use the heat of your body.

Watch gifs/videos of fire.

Keep a lighter nearby when you need a little flame. 

Place a little tealight in a fireproof vessel near your bed.

Feel the warmth and strength of the sun.

Build up energy with your hands, imagine it’s fire.

Drink tea with warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, etc.)

Click here for my other posts in this series!

Thanks to @healing-water-witch for giving me the idea and contributing!


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7 months ago

My Original Posts

Death Work Tips

Spirit Work, Tarot, Devotional Journal Tip

Sulfur and Satan

Venus and Satan

Some Reasons that I like Satanism

Azazel Overview

Acts of Devotion for Azazel

Birds and Azazel

Floral Devil Lore

Prayers and Poems

Luciferian prayer, based on the lord's prayer

Rebel Angel ... Lawless One

The True Savior

Blender of Eyeshadow

The Adversary

Rebel Angel... Angel of Darkness


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1 year ago

would you have any tips for being a respectful theistic satanist? i am aware that satanism is often used as an antisemitic dogwhistle as well as of the antisemitism that often presents within the field, and i do my best to recognize and combat these things and listen to jewish voices, but is there anything in particular you would recommend avoiding? i am asking in terms of actions or practices, not organizations, btw

Unfortunately, that's not really my call to make. I encourage you to bring the question to a jewish practitioner, so im gonna throw the question over to @will-o-the-witch


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1 year ago

Different types of water & their magickal uses

Creeks & streams: Purification, harmony, cleansing

Dew: General health, eyesight, beauty. powertul if gathered at dawn on Beltane.

Ice: Transformations, balance, creativity

Lake water: Peace, contentment, relaxation, self-reflection.

River water: Cleansing, moving forward, protection

Snow: Transformations, balance

Spring water: Growth, holy water, cleansing, protection, prosperity

Swamp & waste water: Banishing, binding

Waterfalls: Power, energy, success

Well water: Healing, wishes, intuition

Beaches: Rituals, spells, fascinations, meditations

Rain water: Energy, protection, cleansing.

{The first rain of May is considered sacred}


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2 years ago

An icon

In a witch trial from 1673 in the province of Hälsingland, the maid Giölug Olufsdotter seems to have openly and without coercion confessed to having intimate relations with Satan (Court records 1673). She even claimed that she perceived her relationship with him as beautiful. The court complains that she denied or regretted nothing, showed no desire to repent; and that she claimed to drink, dance, and sleep with the 'worst Devil', i.e., Satan himself, while she was at Blåkulla, the location of the Swedish Witches' Sabbath. As if it did not suffice to proclaim herself a satanic witch, Giölung confronted the court and authorities with utter disdain, reviling the priesthood, the mayor, the court assessors and the police officers with perverse and blasphemous comments.

'It is better to believe in the Devil': Conceptions of Satanists and Sympathies for the Devil in Early Modern Sweden written by Mikael Häll in The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity edited by Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Peterson.


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3 years ago

does anyone know where i can find a witchy book pdf list that works? i've searched tumblr & haven't yet found any pdfs that i can access! if anyone would be willing to help me out, i'd be extremely grateful! 🥰


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1 year ago

Yes, Vepar, the goetic demon of the sea, is among other things connected to sickness. But that power means she is also able to heal and soothe. She is actually happy to show her more gentle side to those who approach her with respect and kindness instead of treating her as a malicious monster, or worse, a tool to bind and control.

Source: my experience with her.

Thank you, Vepar, for being there! Your help is so very appreciated.


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forsakensnakeskin - Liberation
Liberation

Salem. Agenderflux. Mix of all pronouns and terms. Sapphic aroace and polyam. Poet, horror fan, hermit. Satanist and eclectic polytheist. Azazel. Main blog is thirstyvampyre {I do NOT support racism, Nazis, cultural appropriation, terfs, queerphobia, fascism, or sexism. If I reblog anything that condones any of the above, please let me know. I do not want it on my blog.}

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