Friday Worship

Welcome to Friday Worship

Many see Ishtar in the young and beautiful, others see her in the faces and bodies of age and experience. Today's Friday Worship is dedicated to the joining of these two opposites

Praise to Ishtar

(from an Akkadian hymn to Ishtar, translated by Ferris J. Stephens)

She is clothed with pleasure and love.
She is laden with vitality, charm,
and voluptuousness.
Ishtar is clothed with pleasure and love.
She is laden with vitality, charm,
and voluptuousness.
In lips she is sweet; life is in her mouth.
At her appearance rejoicing becomes full.

She is glorious; veils are thrown over her head.
Her figure is beautiful; her eyes are brilliant.
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.
She dwells in, she pays heed to compassion and
friendliness.

Besides, agreeableness she truly possesses.

Be it slave, unattached girl, or mother, she

preserves (her).
One calls on her; among women one names her name.
Who - to her greatness who can be equal?
Strong, exalted, splendid are her decrees.
Ishtar - to her greatness who can be equal?

Strong, exalted, splendid are her decrees.

She is sought after among the gods;
extraordinary is her station.
Respected is her word; it is supreme over them.

Ishtar among the gods, extraordinary is her station.
Respected is her word; it is supreme over them.

Today's theme was suggested by our friend, Rosemarie. If you would like a particular theme or poem for Friday Worship please let us know.

As Ishtar is love and we exist to serve Her, so we exist to serve love.

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

Welcome to Friday Worship

Ishtar takes many names and forms according to the culture in which she appears. Here, for Friday Worship, is a prayer to the Greek "Ishtar", Aphrodite.

For Aphrodite

Glorious Aphrodite, my praise I offer you.
O mighty one, your irresistible power
overwhelms us mortals; helpless we obey you
and follow desire's demands despite all good sense.
Through you, O goddess, do we see with lovers' eyes
your own beauty reflected in our beloved.
Through you do new lovers welcome one another,
and old loves find their passion ever rekindled.
Aphrodite, whose gifts to humankind are great;
who nurtures growing love in the harshest of soils;
who so quickly impassions unsuspecting hearts;
Aphrodite--kind one, fierce one--I honor you

(The poem is taken from This site.)

With love from,
The Temple of Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

Welcome to Friday Worship!

The Lady of the Morning

Honoured Counselor, Ornament of Heaven, Joy of An!

When sweet sleep has ended in the bedchamber,

You appear like bright daylight.

When all the lands and the people of Sumer assemble,

Those sleeping on the roofs and those sleeping by the walls,

When they sing your praises, bringing their concerns to you,

You study their words.

You render cruel judgment against the evildoer;

You destroy the wicked.

You look with kindly eyes on the straightforward;

You give that one your blessing.

My Lady looks in sweet wonder from heaven.

The people of Sumer parade before the holy Inanna.

Inanna, the Lady of the Morning, is radiant.

I sing your praises, holy Inanna.

The Lady of the Morning is radiant on the horizon.

We hope you enjoy Friday Worship. We are always open to suggestions and new ideas, so if you would like a particular theme please ask. We will be very glad to hear from you.

With love.

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

Welcome to Friday Worship

The Worship of Ishtar is for all who choose it. The last few Friday Worships have mostly consisted of images of women. In the spirit of balance, today's images are of solo men enjoying Ishtar's greatest gift: sexual pleasure.

The pure torch that flares in the sky,

The heavenly light shining bright like the day

The Great Queen of Heaven, Inanna, I will hail...

Of Her majesty, of Her greatness, of her exceeding dignity

Of Her brilliant coming forth in the evening sky,

Of Her flaring in the sky - a pure torch -

Of Her standing in the sky like the sun and moon,

Known by all lands from the south and north

Of the greatness of the holy heaven

To the Lady I will sing

If you would like to suggest a theme, prayer or poem for Friday Worship, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available here, at the above address or on our profiles on MySpace and Facebook.

May the gifts of Ishtar be yours.

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar