Overview: Queen María Lionza is a central and revered figure in the diverse landscape of Venezuelan spirituality, often regarded as a foundational figure for many spiritist practitioners.

Her recognition as a spiritual deity may vary across different belief systems, particularly among some Catholic and Evangelical communities with differing perspectives.

However, María Lionza, alongside El Negro Felipe (the Black Phillip) and Cacique Guaicaipuro (Chief Guaicaipuro), completes a significant trilogy within Venezuelan spiritism.

This trilogy, deeply embedded in the Venezuelan cultural consciousness, carries the weight of tradition, and its influence has been felt across generations.

Verdict: Trust me when I say that there is so much more about Maria Lionza than what you most likely have mustered yourself to learn along the way of your life - if indeed, you have ever even heard of her - and thus this new prose entitled Pagan Portals - Maria Lionza: Folklore & Rituals of the Queen of Witches, Faeries, and Animals by Elholm Leafar is not only the one true place to start your knowledgable journey, but to my mind it is the only place.

The way I was taught about her myself was this: Born in the 15th or 16th century in the Yaracuy region, Yara was the daughter of an indigenous chief. Legend says she was born with striking green eyes, which her village’s shaman believed would bring disaster or required a sacrifice to the water spirits. Her father couldn’t kill her and instead hid her away in the Sorte mountain guarded by warriors.

One day, Yara wandered to a river where a giant anaconda fell in love with her and devoured her. Trapped inside, she begged the mountain for help. The mountain agreed, and Yara merged with the landscape, becoming the spirit queen who commands the flora, fauna, and waters.

I know right! But there’s more for during the Spanish colonial era, local Catholic influence led some to call her Santa María de la Onza (Saint Mary of the Ounce/Lynx/Tapir), which eventually morphed into María Lionza. Her spiritual significance is that she is viewed as the mother of all Venezuelan spirits and a powerful symbol of nature and harmony. Indeed, every year thousands of devotees visit the Montaña del Sorte in Yaracuy to perform healing and cleansing rituals.

And so what we get here in this incredibly dutiful, resoundingly accomplished new book is so much more than just a simple introduction to Maria’s living essence. Moreover, it is a work of literary art that has been lovingly brought together within an act of wholly directed devotion, by an author where you can, quite literally at times, feel his genuine, perhaps even unmatched love for this revered figure within such a diverse landscape in his every word.

About the Author - Elhoim Leafar is a professional dowser, tarot reader, writer, full-time brujo, and the organizer of Our Sorcery Hour, a virtual annual gathering focused on BIPOC & LGBTQ witches. Elhoim is also the author of The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags, Manifestation Magic and Dream Witchery. He lives in New York, US.

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