Reviews

Book Review-Pagan Portals: Maman Brigitte: Dark Goddess of Africa and Ireland by Pauline Breen

Book Review

Pagan Portals: Maman Brigitte: Dark Goddess of Africa and Ireland

By Pauline Breen

Publisher: Moon Books

104 page E-Book

Release Date: December 1st, 2024

Pagan Portals: Maman Brigitte is a fascinating exploration of an oft-misunderstood goddess within the Vodou traditions of Haiti and Louisiana. Breen makes clear that she has no “in” with these cultures that have been the subject of centuries of exploitation, from slavery to the appropriation of their beliefs. I appreciate the author’s intent to avoid an attempt at appropriation, but rather the exploration of the Goddess, in this case, Brigid, as she evolved to meet the needs of peoples who had been exploited and sold into slavery in the new world. Irish folks surprisingly also were put into these tortuous conditions along with Africans, and migration to parts of the new world brought with it a blending of diverse and varying cultures and traditions. Maman Brigitte is one such result of this blending and syncretization of cultures, religions and traditions, blending the Irish Celtic Brigid with various Yoruba deities and beliefs.

I chose this book because I have long had a fascination with the Vodou tradition in Louisiana, having been taught some of the practices and mysteries myself by a member of that community earlier in my magickal education. These practices, spirits and deities still influence my Craft to this day, and the New Orleans Hoodoo/Vodou practices, beliefs and magics that I’ve been taught and have learned over the years have influenced my workings as a witch and sorcerer as well. I have a keen interest in mythology, and the Vodou deities are no different. I knew little to nothing about Maman Brigitte, as she’s typically been silent when I’ve asked for the Gede Lwa to enter my space. Breen not only discusses the history of how these traditions and deities came to be in their modern incarnations in Louisiana, but also traces the roots of these practices and beliefs to Haiti, and explores the arduous and horrendous history Haiti faced during the slave trade era.

This is a deity, and tradition, that needs to be handled with care, so as to avoid appropriation, and I think that Pauline Breen has handled that issue as carefully as one could ask for. Being a practitioner of the New Orleans Vodou and Hoodoo traditions, I myself must walk that line carefully, even despite certain ancestral connections within this tradition. I am still a white male, and these practices trace their roots to oppressed Africans brought to the States. To this day, I still do not claim these practices to be exclusively my own, and I certainly venerate the Vodou deities and spirits separately, as accurately as I can according to the traditions I was taught. The lwa choose who they choose, I suppose, but that doesn’t come without the utmost responsibility to honor not only their spirits, but the spirits of those who died in oppression, as well as fighting for continued equal rights and social justice, something that I’ve taken as a mandate from the lwa, as a sort of “offering” to them. In addition, I also choose not to write on, teach or share my knowledge in this tradition, as it is a closed practice. This is my way of honoring the closed practices I’ve been taught and have learned over my years of exploration, practice and veneration within this tradition, as well as the cultures these beautiful traditions come from.

Personal thesis aside, I applaud Breen’s ability to cover Brigitte in her entirety, relating her not only to other Vodou deities such as Oya, as well as Brigitte’s counterpart, Baron Samedi, but also to Brigid, the Celtic deity, making Maman Brigitte more relatable. One issue that I have with this book, is that Breen makes attempts to state that Brigitte is an extension of the Irish Celtic Brigid, with inclusions of other deities from the Yoruba traditions. I personally disagree, and this is a potential point of debate within various communities. Brigitte is her own being in my experience, just as Brigid is. To me, as a hard polytheist, this is difficult to agree with, but given the cultural syncretization that took place, looking at this complex deity through the various historical and cultural lenses she came from only makes sense. Breen chose a difficult and (potentially) dangerous topic to write on, especially in our current social climate.

I’m certain some will have issue with my thoughts and opinions on both the author of this book having appropriate place to write this, as well as my practices with Vodou and Hoodoo; say what you will about that, it is my belief that in the end, only we can decide what is right or wrong for us as individuals. Speaking for solely myself, I make every effort to practice the tradition as authentically as possible, even dedicating a separate altar to my chosen lwa allies. Not that I feel the need to defend this part of myself and my spiritual path, which has shown me light and hope during my darkest times, but for those with doubts, perhaps the explanation and disclosure throughout my review of this book eases any doubts you have.

Brigitte is a dark goddess we must embrace, not fear; especially as the world and us as humans push into our next stages of growth and transformation. Part of my work with her throughout reading and reviewing this book has been the simple devotionary act of publicly announcing my experience and practice in the Vodou tradition as I’ve learned it. This is the first step in that effort and act of devotion. Maman Brigitte’s silence speaks volumes; we only need to make space to listen. I give Pagan Portals: Maman Brigitte a 4/5 star rating; despite Breen’s lack of affiliation with these traditions, she delicately handled a concise exploration of the topic, and deity. I only wish that she would have not made attempts to assert that the Vodou Maman Brigitte is simply an extension or cultural iteration of the Celtic Brigid, despite their similar origins. I feel that’s a bit of a disservice, even if this is the result of the author’s personal journey, research and gnosis. My two cents, of course; the book is still an excellent read for anyone interested in the Vodou traditions or Maman Brigitte. Those with an interest in the African Diaspora traditions will find valuable information within its pages too. Despite personal differences of opinion, the book is well-researched and well written on a difficult and murky subject area.

Pauline Breen is a Priestess of Brigid. She is the author of This is Brigid: Goddess & Saint of Ireland. She lives in Ireland.

 

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Author Bio:

The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. He is a Priest of Hecate, Diana, Hades, Lilith and Persephone. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has also been investigating the paranormal for over 10 years and has a keen interest in researching various mythologies, cosmologies and folklore from around the world. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and he has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!