Lilith: Dark Goddess of Feminine Power & Protector of Pregnancy | 10/11/24
Lilith, a dark goddess, is my patron saint. She embodies untamed power, autonomy, and sacred feminine energy that refuses to be controlled. Revered in Jewish mysticism, Lilith holds a special place in my heart, since I’m a Jewish woman. It can be extra powerful to work with deities of one’s own bloodline. As a mutt and someone who’s family has been in the US for many generations (aka very removed from our original homeland), I love that I at least have a visceral, spiritual link with Lilith. She represents a fierce, uncompromising force, and her story resonates deeply with me.
You may know her as Adam's first wife—yes, before Eve. Lilith was created as Adam’s equal, but he demanded subservience from her. He wanted her to lie beneath him, both literally and figuratively. Lilith refused to be dominated. So, they got divorced, and she left the Garden of Eden. She goes on to marry Satan, who never represses her sexual expression.
Meanwhile, God creates Eve from Adam’s rib, creating her from a piece of him, to ensure she’s subservient - the compliant partner he desired, to lie beneath him.
Lilith was the world's first feminist, standing for equality and bodily autonomy. She would not stay in missionary. She wanted to be on top - both sexually and figuratively. Not pinning her back to the ground. Lilith needs to be able to fuck.
She has been demonized throughout history, much like society demonizes sexually liberated women today. Her dedication to herself, her willingness to stand for her values and expression, and her courage to interact with the darkness are many of the reasons I admire her.
Sexual Energy as Power
When we discuss fertility and creativity, it's important to recognize the role of sexual energy. Sexual liberation, far from being shameful, can enhance pleasure, increase life force, and spark the energy needed for creation. Sexual energy is a powerful source of vitality, creativity, and fertility. This is precisely why many systems of control have sought to repress it—to keep us subservient, and unfortunately, now, less than fertile. When we are disconnected from our Eros, we are easier to be silenced. Eros connects us to ourselves, our bodies, and to God directly. Something Lilith knew and teaches us.
Lilith refused to be tamed, and for her defiance, she was vilified. Over time, she became a scapegoat in folklore, blamed for everything from infant mortality to pregnancy loss. These myths are often grounded in the fear of female power, but they also reflect deeper societal wounds. The trauma carried by women, through generations of violence and repression, manifests in many ways, including the loss of life—whether through infertility, pregnancy loss, or the death of infants. This trauma is not just individual; it is ancestral, carried in the bloodlines of women who have suffered for centuries.
While some myths blame Lilith for death, calling her a demon, I see it differently. When I first read this article about her (published in 1972!) I had an immediate knowing - she is not to blame. We, society, are to blame. Because we reject Lilith. Because Adam rejected her. Because we continue to reject her, we suffer. And, because of this suffering, the collective experiences death. Dark karma on dark karma, poison moving through women’s bodies and wombs. Causing excessive loss of pregnancies, infants, and children’s lives.
As my teacher says - believe what you will. This is what Lilith said to me.
Lilith’s Return
I believe that when Lilith is allowed to rise once more—when she is honored, and her story is widely known—the world will begin to heal. She is already being spoken of more and more. Just like Mary Magdalene is rising, so is Lilith. And it musn’t just be a recognition of her - it must also be an acceptance of who she is within us. Who she is to us. Who she is to me, to we.
Side note - you have Lilith in your birth chart. Check to see where your Lilith moon is to give an idea of how Lilith expresses in you. Mine is in Cancer - the sign of water, emotion, the mother, and family.
When we allow Lilith to be (both collectively and within ourselves) perhaps we will see fewer instances of infant death and pregnancy loss. While that may seem speculative, it is clear that the liberation of women and the remembrance of powerful feminine archetypes are crucial to collective healing. Lilith, as an archetype, is a reminder of the strength, resilience, equality, and sexual power that women have always embodied.
Working with Lilith to protect pregnancy
One ancient ritual in Jewish culture is designed to ward off pregnancy loss. It involves using a clay or earthenware bowl, upon which a symbol of Lilith is painted, and inscribed with protective prayers. Then, the bowl is buried upside down in front of the front door of the house, to protect the pregnancy and baby. This ritual may be extra powerful for you if you have Jewish lineage, because you’re tapping into the rituals of your ancestors. Traditionally, this ritual was said to keep Lilith away, to protect against her dark influence. But I see it as a prayer for protection.
Who better to guard a child than the goddess who knows the depths of darkness and refuses to bow to fear? The goddess aligned with the screech owl, lions, and the snake? Lilith, unafraid of shadows, is the one I want with me during the vulnerable times of pregnancy and birth. The one I want protecting the eaves, shadows, openings, and doors. The gargoyle guarding the castle. A woman gargoyle, nonetheless. She is the fierce, primal protector, guiding us through the dark into the light of new life.
Image credits:
Lilith poster, TeePublic
Megan Fox on IG, caption: “lilith rising”
The Burney Relief of Lilith (also known as the Queen of the Night relief), 19th-18th century BCE. Made in Babylonia. Present location: Room 56, British Museum, London
Lilith Prayer Bowl, Esther Elia
