✨ISHTAR✨
THE GODDESS PROJECT: Made in Her Image
“Queen of Heaven, Goddess of the Universe,
The One who walked in terrible chaos and brought life by
the law of love,
and out of chaos brought us harmony,
and from chaos She has led us by the hand.”
-POEM TO ISHTAR
When you find yourself in some sort of battle or chaos in your life, it is Ishtar that is their to protect you. When there is destruction or death there is also rebirth and new beginnings. Ishtar is called the protector Goddess, light bringer, Babylonian High-Mother-Goddess. Some sources say She is the Goddess of fertility, love, sex and war but She was actually fiercely protective and called upon during battle for safety. She is the fertility Goddess therefore naturally connected with passion, sexual union and then the agricultural harvest. She was worshipped by men for Her beauty.
“Her lips are sweet,
Life is in Her mouth.
When She appears, we are filled with rejoicing.
She is glorious beneath Her robes.
Her body is complete beauty.
Her eyes are total brilliance
Who could be equal to Her greatness,
for Her decrees are strong, exalted, perfect.”
-MESOPOTAMIAN TEXT, C. 1600 B.C.E.
Her stories and myths merged with other cultures after the demise of Babylon and She was called by many names. Tricia McCannon in her recent book “Return of the Divine Sophia” says that Ishtar was the daughter of Asherah (also known as Hera, Anath, Mari and Miriam) the Mother of all of the Goddesses and Gods of the Great Pantheon. Some say She was married, some say She had no consort but gave birth to the world and remained a virgin. Her symbols are the morning star, the evening star, Venus, blue lapis and the crescent moon. (As the “bread of life” crescent shaped rolls or “crescents” were made in honor of Her.) “She appeared in person wearing a zodiac belt together with hunting dogs like Diana or riding on a lion, her holy animal.” –https://inanna.virtualave.net/ishtar.html
“Babylonian scriptures called her the “Light of the World, Leader of Hosts,
Opener of the Womb, Righteous Judge, Lawgiver,
Goddess of Goddesses, Bestower of Strength,
Framer of All decress, Lady of Victory,
Forgiver of Sins, Torch of Heaven and Earth”
Call upon Ishtar when you feel you need protection or when you’re not feeling attractive or when you are ready for a new harmonious beginning. Our brilliant and beautiful Ishtar model is Erin, one of the most compassionate, nurturing souls I’ve ever met, she truly is a Goddess. Her eyes will melt any heart and she is also one of the smartest people I’ve ever known (she was valedictorian!) Erin says: “Devotion to the Divine Mother runs in my family. I still have my Memaw’s statue of the Virgin Mary and my mom’s rosary. Though not a complete picture of the Divine Feminine, Mary served as a valuable female role model for me in a largely patriarchal tradition. As I grew, researched, explored, found yoga, and then began to teach it, I realized that the Goddess has many faces. I love how starkly contrast shows up in Ishtar, sex and war, creation and destruction, softness and strength. As I learn to embrace all of these qualities, even the shadows, I learn to embrace all of myself.”
The goddess – with her there is counsel.
The fate of everything she holds in her hand.
At her glance there is created joy,
Power, magnificence, the protecting deity and guardian spirit.
ISHTAR POEM https://inanna.virtualave.net/ishtarshrine.html
(from an Akkadian hymn to Ishtar, translated by Ferris J. Stephens: Man, Myth and Magic. Vol.13.) It was written in the latter part of the First Dynasty of Babylon, approximately 1600 BC.
Special thanks again to David Clanton of davidclanton.com for being the Goddess Project: Made in Her Image, photographer and graphics magician. To see more go to https://plus.google.com/u/0/107287050579003737566 ,freesophia.com or the Free Sophia Facebook page!
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