Celebrate Life with Luisah Teish

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In this 1994 archive edition Luisah Teish, a priestess of Osun discusses the universal themes in seasonal celebrations and rites of passage. She emphasizes the importance of community and kinship, sharing her experiences growing up in New Orleans and the significance of communal activities like cooking festivals. Teish advocates for positive tribalism, respecting cultural diversity, and integrating practices from various cultures. She recounts her personal rituals, including a firewalking experience, and stresses the need for understanding and preserving cultural heritage without appropriation. Teish's work aims to foster a sense of global village and shared humanity. (hosted by Justine Willis Toms)

Bio

Luisah Teish (hon Ph.D.) is a New Orleans–born writer, ritualist, and priestess of Oshun in the Yoruba Lucumí tradition. She’s a writer and performer of African and African-diaspora sacred myth and folklore. She is known as a ritualist, keynote speaker, and spiritual advisor on a global scale. As an Oshun priestess, Teish continues to officiate over spiritual retreats, rituals, and workshops in a practice that spans over forty years. She represents the African diaspora as a grandmother member of the Mother Earth Delegation of Indigenous Nations. 

Luisah Teish is the author of many books including:

• Jambalaya: The Natural Women’s Book for Personal Charms and Practical Rituals (HarperOne 1988)
• Carnival of the Spirit (Apocryphile Press2014)
• A Calabash of Cowries: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times (University of New Orleans Press 2023)

To learn more about the work of Luisah Teish go to www.yeyeluisahteish.com

 Topics explored in this dialogue include:

• How to transform everyday life into a sacred and joyful celebration
•  What was Teish’s early life in New Orleans
• What is the importance of kinship and community beyond blood relations
•  What is the significance of cooking festivals
•  What is the significance of positive tribalism and cultural responsibility
•  What is the omni-centric approach to culture that integrates the gifts of various cultures
• What are examples of season celebrations and their universal themes
• What is the firewalking ritual
• What is the importance of preserving one’s ancestral heritage
•  What are the cautions involving cultural appropriation
•  What is the significance of Kwanzaa
• What is the poem “I Am the Mother of the Night” that celebrates the divine feminine

Host: Justine Willis Toms    Interview Date: 12/15/1994   Program Number: 2507