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.
