Staff Pick — Jade, Integrated Voter Engagement Manager

Jambalaya: The Natural Women’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisa Teish

Jambalaya resonates with me because it reconnects personal healing, spirituality, culture, and self-determination. Luisah Teish reminds readers that transformation begins within and that ancestral wisdom, ritual, and self reflection are powerful tools for individual and collective liberation. The book expanded my understanding of wellness beyond physical health and helped me appreciate the importance of honoring cultural traditions and spiritual practices. 

Together, Jambalaya: The Natural Women’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Ritualsby Luisa Teish and Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde have influenced my work at Women With A Vision by reinforcing the importance of meeting people where they are, honoring their lived experiences, and creating spaces where they can reclaim their power. They have strengthened my commitment to harm reduction, civic engagement, reproductive justice, and community led solutions. Both books remind me that advocacy is not only about changing policies, it is also about healing, empowerment, and helping people recognize their own value and agency. In my work with youth, women, and historically marginalized communities, these lessons guide how I build relationships, facilitate conversations, and support people in becoming active participants in shaping their futures.

Summary

Since its original publication in 1985, Jambalaya has become a classic among Women's Spirituality Educators, practitioners of traditional Africana religions, environmental activists, and cultural creatives. A mix of memoir, spiritual teachings, and practices from Afro-American traditions such as Ifa/Orisha, and New Orleans Voudou, it offers a fascinating introduction to the world of nature-based spirituality, Goddess worship, and rituals from the African diaspora. More relevant today than it was 36 years ago, the wisdom of Jambalaya reconnects us to the natural and spiritual world, and the centuries-old traditions of African ancestors, whose voices echo through time, guiding us and blending with our own.