Inanna is the first Goddess to have claimed me. I have worked with many different Goddesses over the years, and still do work with a few others. However, Inanna, and her counterpart Ereshkigal, hold a large part of my devotion.
Being claimed by Inanna has a price, though. There’s a theme that runs through many of the myths we have about Inanna. She knows what she wants, and she does what it takes to get it. She’s also rarely satisfied. She has a burning curiosity, a need, a drive to do more, to learn more, to experience more, to have more.
We see this drive most in the myth of Enki and the me (the gifts of civilization).
Inanna wants the me for the people of her city. Really, she wants them for herself. However, they are kept safe by Enki, the God of the Rivers and of Wisdom. Inanna visits Enki, and flatters him. She begs him to drink with her and tell her stories, laughing at his jokes, praising his strength, admiring his ingenuity. All the while, she keeps plying him with beer, while maintaining her sobriety. And her wits. When Enki finally passes out, Inanna steals the me and takes them back to her temple in her royal city.
Inanna is the Goddess who wants it ALL. RIGHT NOW!
And that’s her curse. I want to know all the things, and do all the things, and experience all the things, and have… well, maybe not all, but a lot of the things! I have a hard time being lazy, or even relaxed.
For example, right now I have several guided meditations in various stages of recording and editing. I have over 50 face masks in various stages of completion. (And of course, they are not the simple sew at home masks that so many people are making. No, I’m making masks with multiple pieces and darts, and wire…) I have way more orders for said face masks than I expected! I have at least 3 books on the go. Oh, and I am still working full time, and teaching, and this body needs sleep once in a while!
Still, even with the internal drive pushing me to do and learn more and more, and sometimes feeling like there is not enough time to do it all, I wouldn’t trade it. It forces me to discern what is most important to me.
Enough writing – there’s so much to learn and do!
Blessings,
Mary
PS. If you want to connect more with Inanna, here’s the Walk with Inanna Guided Meditation.