Wahya Circle
Tuesday Travels

Deities of Earth 101
Inanna

As we retrace our steps through the Middle East of our Journey, we look at the Inanna, we will examine some of her aspects of recognition. Recall, Inanna is the ancient Mesopotamian Goddess of Beauty, Divine Law, Fertility, Political Power, Sex/Coitus, and War. Originally it appears She was worshiped regularly in Sumer, and that She was known by the Akkadian Empire, Babylonians, and Assyrians as Ishtar. Occasionally, She was also recognized as the logogram* 𒁯.
*a sign or character representing a word or phrase.


FORMING VIEWS OF FEMALE
Humankind has held the belief of the Divine Spirit to be “feminine” energy for millions of years. We simply looked at the life around us and saw it was the “female” of many species that gave energy to all creatures. Plant and Animal alike. Yes, there are even a few species that can change physiological sex, or that are asexual, or life that has the “masculine” care for its offspring. On a whole, the world of plant and animal alike are given life by the female of their respective species. They are fed by the female on milk that she produces. Most young stay with the females of their species until a certain age, or amount of time has elapsed, typically two years for most mammals. (This by no means diminishes the role of “masculine”, or “male” in the keeping of life, or Caregiver role.)

As this seeming bipolar way was seen by ancient human, they went with what it meant to them, Divine Female and Divine Male. They saw a “binary” all around them as they did not yet fully understand the spectrum of human identity that was coming. It was the beginning of innocent sentient thought and an attempt at understanding “who we are” as a species. There was something special about the life giving quality of “female” that was revered, honored, and cherished for quite some time in humanity. Without “female” there would be little to no life on our planet. As such, ancient human began to view the Spirit of Earth as Divine Feminine —as it continued to give life and sustenance to all who resided upon Her. The belief in Her divinity continued to grow as did the “lascivious” nature of creation, or Matter. Matter was overtaking the value of Spirit on this plane. Derogatory labels were being formed by the minds of those who could no longer, or chose to no longer, see the truly pure and unconditional nature of Spirit.

ANCIENT HISTORY
As we entered this time around an ice age, about 24,000 years ago, one of the oldest artifacts we have found to date was crafted.

Found on the banks of the Danube river in Austria during 1908, the artifact known as the Venus of Willendorf was discovered. The Venus of Willendorf is a perfect example of Divine Feminine. Josef Szombathy, an Austro-Hungarian archaeologist, discovered this work outside the small Austrian village of Willendorf. Although generally projected in art history classrooms to be several feet tall, this limestone figurine is petite in size at only 4.5 inches, or just shy of 12 centimeters. (Divine Feminine, and 12. Hmmm. Nothing is coincidence to Reverend Richoz!)

It dates to between 24,000 and 22,000 BCE, making it one of the oldest and most famous surviving works of divinity from that time. That artifact was interestingly joined 100 years later, in 2008, by Venus of Schelklingen. A unique item of prehistoric sculpture created during the Aurignacian culture of the Upper Paleolithic (Last Stone Age), the small ivory carving of a female figure known as The Venus of Hohle Fels (also called the Venus of Schelklingen) was unearthed during excavations in 2008 at Hohle Fels Cave in the Swabian Jura of southwestern Germany by Professor Nicholas Conard. This statuette was dated to much further back at around 42,000 years ago by several dating methods, and was carved from the tusk of a mammoth.

We know mammoth spread across the world and had many habitats. The woolly mammoth even has a territory that is known as "mammoth steppe" or "tundra steppe". This environment stretched across northern Asia, many parts of Europe, and the northern part of North America during the last ice age. Remains of our mammoth friends are found ALL THE TIME.

Regardless, humankind seemed to be on the same spiritual page as a species during that era. It was a planet of hunter-gatherers and continued to be so for millenia. But, as they say, the curtain falls and time passes.

RECENT FEMININE HISTORY
About 3 thousand years before the ancient Greek astronomers, the more ancient Sumerian astronomers existed and flourished. They even wrote about our solar system and documented it on clay tablets with cuneiform writing and drawings — before the Greeks did. “To the victor go the spoils.” We gotta change that. Especially when taken by force or nefarious means.

Of great importance to the ancient Sumerians was their Goddess, Inanna. Inanna is an ancient Mesopotamian Goddess associated with love, beauty, sex, war, justice, political prowess (beginning control over others, ruling), and various other powers that are often given to Anima Mundi, or World Spirit. Inanna, known as the "Queen of Heaven", was the Patron Goddess of the Eanna Temple, or “House of Heaven”, located at the city of Uruk. This was Her main Spirit center at the time. Eanna Temple was also home to many of the Priestesses and Priests who followed Her. These included both physiological male and female practitioners taking on female roles, names, and dances. These practitioners were not bound by patriarchal driven chastity and often had many lovers and consorts while in practice for Inanna.

Ereshkigal, the underworld counterpart of Inanna in the Babylonian pantheon, was also established around this time.

All of the elements of Spirit you have learned about and are learning about, such as Inanna, are connected to many. As viewed, they are presented as each of these is interpreted by the individual’s perception at the time and their understanding of the Universe around them. Calling this the Venus Cosmongeny may be more apropos when connecting Goddesses to their origin points. Many of which ARE in fact, planet Venus.

GLOBAL INTERPRETATIONS OF INANNA
One interpretations of the Goddess Inanna is that She was transformed into the Goddess Ishtar on an Akkadian Empire seal. The Akkadian, an ancient people that overtook the Sumerian civilization, rose around 2350–2150 BCE. The Greeks assimilated the Akkadian. Then we of course have the Roman Empire assimilating the Greeks and so on through history. In this representation, She is equipped with weapons on Her back. She also has a horned helmet, and is trampling a lion held on a leash. (How interesting! And we have tarot creations showing Strength as a Female with a Lion.) Much has been speculated about the symbology found amongst artifacts from this time as well as the Jungian psychology behind Her meanings. (We get into Jungian aspects with this as it is a representative of Divine Female Shadow, and we have yet to heal all of that.)

This is where and when many believe Ego began to grip civilizations throughout Earth as well. Accumulations of wealth around the world began to be exhibited in forms such as taking of lapis lazuli in Mesopotamia —to the confiscation of jade in Asia. Various Experiences of Life were being had throughout all of Matter. This also went as far as a change in the climate of Earth allowing an increase of success in agriculture, hence more harvest. Remember “nothing is coincidence”? Do you think we were “supposed to” Experience all of this? Or, was it something else? All of this has a piece of Spirit to hold accountable for the Experiences to be had by Matter at these times. Balance was shifting. Because Earth had warmed enough by this point, an inter-glacial period,  human travel took place more easily around the globe fueling this accumulation of Matter… and our ability to better traverse the planet.

Cultures began to expand.

This was around the shift of thought to “humans as Divine” (Very Ego oriented perspective) with this new found success and power versus the traditional thought of humans being a part of their perception of Divinity, the Cosmos, or Earth.

Matter overtook Spirit.

DESCENT OF INANNA
One of the most famous stories of Inanna/Ishtar's myth is the story of Her descent into and return from Kur, the Ancient Mesopotamian Underworld. In this myth, She attempts to conquer the domain of what is now thought of as Her older sister’s, Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld. Instead She is deemed guilty of hubris by the Seven Judges of the Underworld and Inanna was ultimately killed, only to be resurrected by Her father Enki three days later. Sound familiar?

The “Descent of Inanna” is a very intriguing story. Another story we have regarding Inanna is the “Epic of Gilgamesh”. This epic poem has been carbon dated to somewhere between 3500 and 1900 BCE, still before a “big book” dogma took hold. The Epic is considered one of the world’s oldest poems by many Practitioners, long before the rise of the patriarchy we have today. There is great conversation about the “newness” of so much Divine meeting of Spirit and Matter through sexual activity on this Path. It can be found in a large amount of Mesopotamian writings.

As you read and continue your studies of deities from around the world, see it for what it is. Remember, time has changed mindsets. Spirit that has entered into Matter. The Matter, all beings, us, are the many avatars of that Great Energy in the belief of many. Most Practitioners cannot fathom the immeasurable energy that they are a part of and can learn from. This is one of our beginnings as Practitioners.

She, Divine Feminine Energy of Matter, has not revealed to those of us from “modern time” that which will alter all that we currently know forever. Keep an open mind as this happens through your life, and let us keep walking as Practitioners of Spirit.

The climate of Earth is changing again and much will be revealed to the people by Spirit in the days and years to come.

INANNA SYMBOLOGY
The symbology found with Inanna is found on many Paths. Often, the symbols have the same meaning, just as that which you see in other Creation Stories from around the world. Sexuality is a large portion of our human symbology. Without it, none of us would be here Experiencing the fullness of this life, our Manifestation in Matter.

SYMBOLS
Here are a few of those we find with Inanna:

8 pointed star: Heavens, Venus

Sacred Service: Service oriented sexual activity. In this act, the High Priestess of Inanna would have intercourse with either the High Priest or the king of the city. Through the sexual act, divine fertile energy was released on the land ensuring good crops and productive herds. In today’s patriarchal dogmas, this is viewed as “immoral” and our animal base and Spirit are punished, not revered and Experienced wholly. Reverence in equal power is off kilter right now. Remember, in energetic spirituality, the only Experience that comes close to the feelings produced by contact of Spirit energy is that of the sexual energy of that Matter, us, Experienced through us. Some feel that because we devalued the beauty of sexuality between consenting partners, that Life itself began to be devalued. Most of those amongst us who suffer from the fallout of dogma from the Patriarchal religions and faiths, do not even speak to our children about sexuality when they start engaging in it and become irate when someone becomes “accidentally” pregnant.

We as females, cannot “accidentally” conceive. Even if you are told, “you will never have children”, you can. If you have the parts, there is a way. If you do not have physical parts, there is still a way in Spirit.* We know how life is made, consenting or non-consenting. We are wise to start simple. Telling the old Tales and Myths. As you see natural curiosity grow, you explore stories and concepts with your child. Answering their questions ON THEIR LEVEL. (There are books to help too.) This is fallout from devaluing the Feminine.

Knot Reeds: Representative of a Store House in “spiritual” or “matter”, fertility

Rosettes: Divine Feminine

Lions: Inanna is one of the great shapeshifters. She also often accompanied by lions. Power. Justice. Strength. Loyalty.

Doves: Again, Inanna is a Divine shapeshifter. Doves are often representative of love, peace, and show how Her path leads to being connected with Venus.


*when you do deep Shadow Work with your Soul Retrieval through Time, you can encounter others that you have birthed through Time. When you are nearing the “end” of your Experience in Matter, Death Magick, and Work becme easier. Soul Retrieval has a piece that includes this.

Practitioner Altars

All altars pictured below are from previous Practitioners. You may create a similar altar for this time.

Tuesday WO1

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