Join us, for a lively conversation with Leilani Kahuna Birely! Leilani is a Native Hawaiian Kahuna and Dianic High Priestess who teaches ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom. She is the founder/ritual director of Daughters of the Goddess Women’s Temple in the San Francisco Bay Area. Leilani has co-authored the book: “On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands” with Luisah Teish. *Stay tuned until the end when Leilani gives us a short Spring Goddess Invocation **

Leilani chats about her early magical beginnings in Hawaii and being influenced by her grandmother's stories about Pele who is the Goddess of volcanoes and fire. As early as she can remember there was a strong connection and respect for the indigenous deities of Hawaiian culture in her family despite her Catholic upbringing. And it was these stories that kept the Hawaiian spirit alive for Leilani. The “Mana” or spiritual energy of Hawaii is very strong and carries through Leiliani’s beliefs and teachings as a Dianic Priestess and Kahuna. She felt the spiritual energy of the islands and it has always felt powerful and natural to her.

Leilani went back to get her masters degree and studied Women’s Spirituality in the SF Bay area and was taught by such legendary women as Luisah Teish and Vickie Noble. Leilani took a class in Priestessing that was taught by the legendary Z. Budapest - the founder of Dianic Wicca. This matrifocal Goddess focused spirituality felt very real to Leilani and she eventually became ordained by Z. Budapest as a Dianic Priestess. Leilani started Daughters of the Goddess in 1996.

Leilani is also an ordained Kahuna which is a Hawaiian spiritual teacher and she weaves the Hawaiian Goddesses in with her Dianic spirituality. Since she also has European ancestry, Leilani brings a multicultural energy of the Goddesses as well as Hawaiian chants, prayers, and Hula into ceremony with her Dianic circle: The Daughters of the Goddess. Leilani and Loiuisa Teish also co-wrote a book together about sacred travels, honoring the Earth, indigenous people and nature from the African and Hawaiian spiritual traditions.

Interestingly, Leilani’s and my paths crossed a few times over the years and it's such a special privilege to be able to share her magic, Aloha energy and unique spirituality on this show with my listeners! More about Leilani at: www.daughtersofthegoddess.com Tune in and be enlightened!

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Join us, for an illuminating conversation with Lorraine Monteagut! Lorraine Monteagut, Ph.D., is a queer Latine Witch and author of BRUJAS: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color. Lorraine's scholarship in occult ancestral spiritualities traces the diverse traditions of contemporary magical practices. Lorraine's second book, Modern Witchcraft for Dummies is forthcoming in April 2025. She is the creator of Witchy Heights, a community space for practical magic and spiritual activism. *Stay tuned until the end when Lorraine gives us a short sacred ancestor invocation **

Lorraine chats about her early Witchcraft beginnings and being influenced by her great grandmother who was a spirit medium in Cuba who helped people connect with their lost loved ones who passed over. Lorraine speaks as a millennial being influenced by the pop cultural moments that were available to her with such TV shows as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and movies like :”The Craft”. As a young 12 year old she identified as a Witch.

Lorraine talks about how now in the modern moment there is a reclaiming of the word : Bruja. Bruja is the Spanish word for Witch. Its an identity that continues to evolve just like the word Witch does to encompass all the new things we are doing. And with all gendered versions of the word. While reclaiming the past. She sees Brujas emerging within the intersectional feminism where Witches of color are taking the lead. And bringing their own cultural mythologies and touchstones to the larger Witchcraft movement. Brujas are also creating communities centered around activism. She sees the Bruja as a nexus of all of the new pathways away from Witchcraft that was centered around European traditions or Greco- Roman mythologies.

Learning about the folk magic , customs and the rituals of indigenous folks who lived on the land that you or your family came from in different parts of the world is valuable investigative work that can enriches you as a Bruja or Witch. In her book BRUJAS: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color she also includes cultural ancestors in addition to blood ancestors that we can incorporate into our magic.

Also Lorraine suggests we can create a personal ancestor altar that can help us speak and connect with our ancestors even if they are land spirits, community elders, spiritual teachers, or cultural icons and remind us that we are not alone.

We also chat about magical activism and creating spiritual communities that can help each other. By centering our values, lifting each other up and try to make the world a better place for all especially during the tense political landscape we are in now. We are all complex and come from different perspectives. and there is no simple narrative and Witchcraft needs to reflect this. This is the power of Brujas and the modern Witchcraft moment. To learn more about Lorraine visit: witchyheights.com. Tune in and be enlightened!

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In this short episode, I celebrate the publishing of the 75th podcast episode of the Oracle of Luna Podcast!! This is a HUGE milestone and a big deal to me as the host and producer of this podcast show. I am especially grateful to all the incredible Goddess guests that have been on my show in the last few years!!
All of these Women are elevating the divine feminine in the world and amplifying the voice of the Goddess for a planet in need of wholeness, harmony, balance, justice and peace. Thank you for your support and listening to the Oracle of Luna Podcast with Bridget Engels. Finally, if you love this podcast; please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. It means alot! Tune in and be enlightened!

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe