Inanna is the Sumerian Goddess of love, fertility, abundance and war. She is a very powerful Goddess and is known for her independence, power, dual aspects of male and female traits and sensual figure.

Connected to the morning and evening star, Venus, Inanna is also known as the ‘Queen of Heaven’. This associates her with the Goddess Ishtar as she was also known by this name and was also a Goddess of love and war.

Mostly depicted as a young girl, Inanna is a Maiden Goddess mostly as she has the traits of youth. Bold and powerful, fought for injustice and equality. A Goddess of war, she would march into battle with courage and take charge. She is also sensual and stands in her power as a woman. Loving herself and showing women how to love themselves and accept who they are. The powerful creatures they are and not to be ashamed.

Although Inanna is more of a Maiden Goddess, she has associations with the Underworld and could be classed as having Crone aspects. She gained a great lot of wisdom and healing by facing her fears going into the Underworld to visit her sister Ereshkigal.

Inanna’s descent to the Underworld

Inanna was worried about her as her husband had just left her and so wanted to check on her even though she dreaded the trip. They had not got along. Facing her fears, she went to see her sister. She passed through seven gates and was stripped of her power and her material objects at each gate along the way. When she finally arrived to her sister, she was naked and vulnerable. Ereshkigal was angry with her for not visiting her before now and felt Inanna was not supportive enough. She fell into a rage and killed her on the spot.

Inanna had the foresight to know something might happen and so told her servant, if she didn’t come back to send out a rescue team. The servant did just that, he went to her father Enki and told him what might have happened. So her father created two creatures to go with the servant to the Underworld, who carried the food and water of life. When the servant arrived he asked for Inanna’s body and the two creatures fed her the food and water of life. She magically came back to life and asked her sister if she could leave in which she consented with the agreement that Inanna must come back once a year to renew her vitality to help restore the fertility of the Earth. On her way out through the seven gates, she was given back her power and objects and was once again Queen of Heaven.

Inanna’s Lesson

Going into the Underworld, knowing she would be stripped of everything, Inanna faced her fears. Standing before her sister naked and vulnerable she was cleansed and renewed. Ereshkigal symbolizes Inanna’s hopes and dreams which have been ignored or forgotten. When Ereshkigal flies into a rage she awakens Inanna’s memories. To help her claim the forgotten fragments of her very  being and for Inanna to mourn, grieve and let go of her old habits and behaviors that has kept her from her true self. Dying a shamanic death, in letting go of what no longer serves her and being reborn a new.

Just like Inanna, we can face our fears and let go of the things that no longer serve us. To go deep within and find the parts of our true self that have been forgotten or lost. Sometimes we get so bogged down with every day life and stresses, we forget who we are. Our true selves, our essence and our life path. This in turn makes us unhappy or not fulfilled. But we can go within, cleanse and heal ourselves just like Inanna if we want to enough and face our fears. Letting go of the attachments of the outer world, our face we show the world and dive within and spend time healing the parts we need to. Becoming reborn again, refreshed, energized and with a new look of life. Letting go of the old and making room for the new.

Inanna’s Correspondences

Colors

Red, Blue, Green, Black, Silver, White

Symbols

Lion, Naked Goddess figures, Wool, Grain, Store House, Venus, Thunder, Lighting, Sky, Eight pointed star/Rosette, Knot of Inanna, Crown, Dove, Snake, Butterfly, Bat, Fire

Crystals

Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, Ruby, Obsidian, Moonstone, Apache Tear, Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz

Oils/Herbs

Apples, Lilly, Sprouts of new growth, Myrtle, Lilac, Lotus, Cypress, Cedarwood, Ginger, Bergamot, Orange, Rosemary, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Clove, Rose

Meditation to connect with Inanna

Find a quiet place, put on some incense/oils, relax and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. Hold your intention in connecting to Inanna. You could say this in your head three times, ‘My intention is to connect with Inanna.’

Imagine you are standing in front of a large Oak tree with a opening inside. You walk into the Oak tree and there is a path spiraling down deep into the Earth. Deeper and deeper you go and the darker it gets.

You then arrive at an opening in the path and there are three doors. Choosing a door, you open it and walk inside.

You enter a room and there before you is Inanna. She sees you and says ‘Welcome Dear one, I have been expecting you.’ You walk towards her and greet her. She asks you if you are ready to face your fears and let go of the things that no longer serve you. If you are ready, then say yes. If you are not, you can say no and ask her to give you a message.

After you have said yes, Inanna takes you by the hand and leads you to a cauldron. She tells you to look inside and asks you what you see. Describe what you see to her.

She then leads you to a fire and asks you to look into it. To watch the flames. What do you see?

Inanna then turns you around and places her hand on your heart and gives you healing. This healing will cleanse you of all negativity and help you release things that no longer serve you. But only if you are truly ready.  She then places her hand on your third eye and does the same thing. Set your intent to really let go of these things that are holding you back, tell your self, ‘I let go. I let go. I let go.’ Helping you to release it all and feel free.

She then places an eight pointed start on your forehead and kisses you there for a blessing. She asks you if you have any questions and how you feel. Talk to Inanna for as long as you wish.

After you have had your conversation and you are ready to go, thank Inanna for all she has done. She tells you that you can connect to her any time and she will be here to help you. She then gives you a gift and says goodbye.

You leave the way you came through the door and back up the spiraling path, up into the Oak tree.

When you are ready, take three deep breaths and come back to the room.

Write down your experience. What did the door look like? Did it have a color? What did the room look like? What did Inanna look like? How did the energy feel in the room and when she was giving you healing? What did you see in the cauldron and the fire? Do you feel somewhat lighter, like you have cleared some of the things you needed to clear? What message did she have for you? What was your gift?

How to connect with Inanna

Meditation

Using the meditation above or one you have found that you are drawn to, you can connect with Inanna. Alternatively you could just sit, close your eyes, relax and ask Inanna to connect with you and see what happens. You may have to practice a few times, but the more you practice the more you will start to connect.

Create a Sacred Space

Create some space when you can honor Inanna and connect with her. Decorate a space with things that you associate with her and connect with her daily.

Shadow Work

If you are interested in shadow work and feel ready, then connecting with Inanna may help you with this. There are different methods on how to shadow work, which I will not go into here as it requires quite a bit of explaining and understanding and sometimes help, especially if its your first time. But if you wish to start this, then research about shadow work first and then try to connect with Inanna through meditation or journey to help you.

Offering

Give and offering in Inanna’s name.

How Inanna will help you

Inanna is a powerful, magical Goddess. She will help you with loving yourself more, help you to take the time to give yourself care so you can achieve the things in your life that you wish to achieve, but most importantly to help rejuvenate you so you don’t run out of fuel. You may be wanting to help others, such as family etc. but you need to help yourself also in order to help them.

She will help you take control and have strength and courage in all situations and help you face your fears. Help you clear your energy and find the parts of you that you may have forgotten about. Helping you find your true self and if you wish and are ready, to let go of the things that no longer serve you and be reborn again a new.

Inanna will help you fully awaken the Goddess within you and become attuned to your desires and needs, helping you to be who you truly are and not hide away anymore.

Click here to read Inanna’s message

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Continued Reading and Resources

Goddesses for Every Season by Nancy Blair 

https://mythology.net/others/gods/inanna/

http://”https://historyten.com/mesopotamia/ancient-mesopotamia-goddess-inanna-facts/

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