Week 25

The Descent of Inanna

This is the story of the Sumerian Goddess Inanna who was a Goddess of love, war, and fertility. Her story has been told in many ways over many years, and this is one more version that I wrote to accompany an Ostara ritual for a group of Pagan inmates serving time in a state prison.

 

 

The Goddess Inanna lived in a world of riches and wore only the most beautiful clothing of vibrant silks and sparkling gems. Her wealthy and powerful followers brought her gifts of beauty in exchange for her blessings, which she gave with little thought. Her life was easy and simple and she liked it that way. Her lover told her how beautiful she was and enjoyed being next to her side at the lavish parties that were thrown in Inanna’s honor. But all of this wasn’t enough.

One spring, a feeling of discontent began slowly to fill Inanna. She felt as if her life was not complete, and although she was still surrounded by praise and pretty things, she felt lonely and longed for something more in her life. Not knowing what to do with this new feeling Inanna decided to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, whom she had not seen since she had become queen of the underworld many years before. Excited to be on her way Inanna bid goodbye to her faithful friend and confidant Ninshabur and asked her to watch over her lands while she was away.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, after time lost all meaning, Inanna reached an archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to her crown. Looking behind herself, Inanna realized that the path behind her had disappeared and only a wall of rock remained. Reluctantly she passed her golden crown, the symbol of her power as queen. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down, down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, after beginning to lose hope, Inanna reached another archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to the large jeweled ring on her hand. Reluctantly she passed her ring, a gift to symbolize the eternal devotion of her lover. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, after hunger twisted Inanna’s stomach, she reached a third archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to her staff. Reluctantly she passed the staff she used to control the growth of the natural world. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, as tears streaked down Inanna’s dirty face, she reached a fourth archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to her sturdy leather boots. Reluctantly she passed over the boots that had worn into many battles as a warrior queen. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, as Inanna’s mind became confused and clouded and she could badly remember where she was journeying to, she reached an archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to her silken gown. Reluctantly she stripped off her dress, the symbol of her beauty and passed it to the figure. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, after the soles of Inanna’s feet bled from walking on the rocks, she reached an archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld,” the figure said motioning to her cotton undergarments. Reluctantly she stripped off the last of her clothing, the symbol of her modesty and sexuality. Not knowing what else to do she continued to walk.

Down down she went, deep into the earth. Through the dark and muck, past shadows and walls of rock. Finally, after Inanna that that she could go no further, she reached archway where a person dressed in a dark robe stopped her. “You cannot pass without making an offering to the Queen of the Underworld the figure said motioning to her long golden brown hair with an outstretched hand holding a knife. Aghast at losing the symbol of her womanhood Inanna used the knife to cut off the hair that had once been so admired.

Now stripped of everything Inanna held dear she stumbled towards a river of dark murky water. A small boat waited on the shore. Inanna climbed into the boat and it moved silently down the river. When it stopped at she found herself in a cavern filled with more robed people and her sister at the center. Queen Ereshikgal, who had always been envious of her sister’s easy life in the upper world, began a trial. “Inanna we find you guilty of vanity, selfishness, laziness. You do not share your wealth and gifts with those who need it most. For this, we are sentencing you to eternity in the underworld.” Broken hearted that her sister would reject her this way, and ashamed that at least some of what she had said was correct, Inanna allowed herself to be drug away to a small chamber where she lay down in the dirt and slowly lost the will to live.

Above ground the world was in chaos. Without Inanna, the crops weren’t growing when they should, and wars were raging violently out of control. Love seemed to be forgotten and families turned against themselves. Her lover had already moved on to a new woman, but her friend Ninshabur was concerned. She waited several days and nights for Inanna to return and when she didn’t she decided to travel to the God Enki to beg for help. Looking out at the state of the world Enki agreed that Inanna must return, and gave Ninshabur the sacred food and water of life and sent her straight to Inanna, bypassing the tunnels and protectors of the underworld.

Ninshabur found Inanna unresponsive and gently feed her the water and food of life which brought Inanna back to life immediately. Together they climbed up through a small opening in the earth. As Inanna climbed mud covered her body forming a new earth brown dress of velvet and silk. Roots from the trees above wound themselves through her now short hair making her a solid crown. Bits of mica painted her body making her glow a warm shimmering bronze color. Water trickled past and cleansed the wounds on her feet, transforming them into the sturdy feet of a warrior that do not need protection from shoes. Gemstones clung to her hands and neck, as she felt the strength of the earth nourishing her muscles and making her strong again.

Inanna emerged into the light of the day as a new Goddess. One fierce and, but also attuned to the suffering of the world. Her lover came back and begged for forgiveness for being unfaithful, but when Inanna looked into her lovers heart she saw that her lover only wanted her power as a Goddess Queen and not as a soul mate, so she sends her now ex-lover to replace her in the underworld. Smiling at her friend Ninshabur, Inanna praised her for her steadfast friendship and loyalty by making her the highest advisor in the land.

From then on Inanna ruled over the world with both the heart of a great lover and a warrior's keen mind. She used her power to watch over the weak and reward the generous. She rejected the comforts of society and instead became a woman of the woods, a witch, a hag, a wizened crone. Those who wanted her blessing had to journey through the woods to find her. If they made the journey, and proved themselves to be brave and generous, she would grant them their hearts desire.