Fierce Feminine Divinities of Eurasia and Latin America : Baba Yaga, Kālī, Pombagira, and Santa Muerte

In this provocative book, Małgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines untamed feminine divinities from around the world. Although distant geographically, these divine figures are surprisingly similar-representing concepts of liminality, outsiderhood, and structural inferiority, embodied in the divine feminine. These strong, independent, unrestrained figures are connected to the periphery and to magical powers, including power over sexuality, transformation, and death. Oleszkiewicz-Peralba offers a study of the origin and worship of four feminine deities across cultures and continents: the Slavic Baba Yaga, the Hindu Kālī, the Brazilian Pombagira, and the Mexican Santa Muerte. Although these divinities have often been marginalized through dismissal, demonization, and dulcification, they continue to be extremely attractive, as they empower their devotees confronting them with the ultimate reality of transience and death. Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines how these sacred icons have been adapted and transformed across time and place Review: "A scholarly classic in the new paradigm of truth-telling and genuine democracy that includes everybody and their beliefs - from academia to politics!" Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum, Professor Emerita, California Institute of Integral Studies, USA and author of Black Madonnas: Feminism, Religion and Politics in Italy and The Future has an Ancient Heart: Legacy of Caring, Sharing, Healing, and Vision from the Primordial African Mediterranean to Occupy Everywhere "In what is truly a cross-cultural and transdisciplinary perspective, Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines four female divinities from all over the globe who personify not only fierceness, but occupy shadow worlds where spiritual power, wildness, sexuality, rage, blood, and death coexist. Lavishly and informatively illustrated (the photo of the Lowrider trunk altar to Santa Muerte is alone worth the price of admission), Oleszkiewicz-Peralba's study of fierce deities combines the rigor of a true scholar with the sass, wit, and charm of Pombagira" - Alan West-Duran, Northeastern University, USA and editor-in-chief of Cuba (two volumes), and author of Afro-Caribbeans and Tropics of History In this provocative book, Małgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines untamed feminine divinities from around the world. Although distant geographically, these divine figures are surprisingly similar-representing concepts of liminality, outsiderhood, and structural inferiority, embodied in the divine feminine. These strong, independent, unrestrained figures are connected to the periphery and to magical powers, including power over sexuality, transformation, and death. Oleszkiewicz-Peralba offers a study of the origin and worship of four feminine deities across cultures and continents: the Slavic Baba Yaga, the Hindu Kālī, the Brazilian Pombagira, and the Mexican Santa Muerte. Although these divinities have often been marginalized through dismissal, demonization, and dulcification, they continue to be extremely attractive, as they empower their devotees confronting them with the ultimate reality of transience and death. Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines how these sacred icons have been adapted and transformed across time and place "Contrary to the image of peaceful, maternal divine figures such as the Virgin Mary, there exists a gamut of fierce female divinities. Although distant geographically, these divine figures are surprisingly similar-representing concepts of liminality, outsiderhood, and structural inferiority, embodied in the divine feminine. These strong, independent, unrestrained figures are commonly and full of magical powers, including power over sexuality, transformation, and death. Małgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba offers a study of the origin and worship of four feminine deities across cultures and continents: the Slavic Baba Yaga, the Hindu goddess Kālī, the Brazilian Pombagira, and the Mexican Santa Muerte. Responding to a growing interest in fierce feminine archetypes and syncretic religions, Oleszkiewicz-Peralba examines how sacred icons have been adapted and transformed across time and place"-- Provided by publisher "This provocative book examines untamed feminine divinities that are powerful, fiercely independent, courageous, and wise. They traverse time and national boundaries, appearing under different names all over the world. Although they have often been domesticated, maligned, and marginalized, they continue to be extremely attractive, as they empower their devotees confronting them with the ultimate reality of impermanence and death"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-11 Front Matter....Pages 12-12 Baba Yaga, the Witch from Slavic Fairy Tales....Pages 15-52 Kālī, the Ultimate Fierce Feminine....Pages 53-66 Front Matter....Pages 67-67 Pombagira, the Holy Streetwalker....Pages 69-101 Santa Muerte, Death the Protector....Pages 103-135 Conclusion....Pages 137-142 Back Matter....Pages 143-188 Responding to a growing interest in fierce feminine archetypes and syncretic religions, Malgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba offers a study of the origin and worship of four feminine deities across cultures and continents: the Slavic Baba Yaga, the Hindu goddess Kali, the Brazilian Pombagira, and the Mexican Santa Muerte