The Temple of Ishtar

Friday Worship

2009-03-27T09:02:00.005Z

Upon the turning of the wheel at the Equinox the Goddess leads forth to the God, teasing him and enticing him, leading him to his ultimate goal. From her all life will spring forth and within Mexican culture this is still a time of hope for the land.

This prayer is to the Mexican Goddess Teteo-inan, the "Mother of Gods"--also known by another name meaning "Heart of the Earth." Her chief temple was on the spot selected by the early missionaries for the "Lady of Guadaloupe" to make her appearance, and the native shrine was razed to make way for the temple of the imported cult of Christendom. Although a "mother" Goddess she was depicted as youthful representing her ties with the land in its youth.

HAIL to our Mother who makes the yellow flowers to bloom--who scatters the seeds of the maguey as she comes from the Land Divine!
Hail to our Mother who casts forth white flowers in abundance!
Hail to our Mother who shines in the thorn bush as a bright butter-fly!

Ho! She is our Mother--the woman god of the earth. In the desert she feeds the wild beasts, and gives them to live.
Thus--thus you see her ever abundant in gifts to all flesh.
And as you see the goddess of earth give to the beasts, so also she is giving to the green herbs and the fishes.
Hail to our Mother who casts forth yellow flowers to the sun from the Land Divine!

Friday Worship

2009-03-13T12:12:00.004Z

In our world of media, fame and celebrity and the created beauty of the silver screen many fall by the wayside in their attempts to fit in, to become one of the crowd. The world is full of beauty in many forms, and under each layer of clothing and on each different skin lies truths untold. The blessings of Ishtar are present in all of us.

We sacrifice ourselves to obtain love.

We sacrifice ourselves in our work hoping to rise above.

Above what? To obtain what? To become a materialistic sap.

Eventually it cathches up to us, we're overrun by emotions with tears dripping in our laps.

We sacrifice ourselves for work, our spouse, our family, friends, and children.

When and where will the love for ourselves begin?

If we cannot love ourselves, we are nothing more than an eternal echoing emptiness, just existing.

It is true peace, love, and happiness we are resisting.

It's time to stop sacrificing and discontinue our self-hatred.

We must stop this insanity. This behavior we must forbid.

We are all beautiful and have a special place on earth.

It's time we open up and realize our worth.

It is ourselves we must explore.

We must remain true to ourselves and sacrifice no more.

Being in love with ourselves is how it is meant to be.

When we can do this, we are finally free.

2009-03-05T20:01:00.007Z

Welcome to Friday Worship.
Today's worship is dedicated to the Greek Ishtar, Aphrodite and decorated with the glorious orgiastic art of Erich von Gotha

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.

Friday Worship

2009-02-19T19:50:00.006Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

Today's worship is dedicated to the awsome and terrifying power of Goddess as expressed through the great Kali.

Victory to you, O Mahakali! Victory to you, O primordial source of all beings! Victory to you, O formidable—looking goddess, who are renowned as the mother of the world!

Victory, all victory to you, O great goddess Mahakalika, of terrible and frightening aspect! Victory to you, O Moon on the locks of Shiva who are ever adored by gods, men, hermits and devotees.

Victory, all victory to you. O consort of Rudra; you are fearsome to look at and prefer a drink of hot blood; you are described as having a sword in your hallowed hand and as one who fills her cranial bowl with the blood of her victims.

Glory, glory to you, O Kali, the bearer of a cranial bowl and a sword in your hands. Victory to you, O terrible Delusion, the might of Rudra and the very death of Death.

O Mother, it is for the slaughter of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha that you appeared from the body of Hari. O Mother, your dark form radiant as the sun looks so splendidly winsome that the god of beauty himself cannot but succumb to its charm.

You are ten—faced with thirty attractive eyes, the crescent moon and a lovely coronet on your head. O Divine mother; who can describe your comeliness and your dark hair like massed clouds?

The beauty of the wreath made of your victims’ skulls looks splendid as do the weapons and missiles in all your ten hands. You carry a cranial bowl, a sword, a three—pronged trident, an axe, a club, a disc, a bow and a conch, all in their proper places.

The beautiful skirt made of he severed arms of your enemies looks so becoming like the sacred ornaments adorning every part of your body. Your ten dread feet are all smeared with blood and your long tongue sticks out, rendering your appearance frightening.

When, O Mother, you laugh aloud, the earth shivers (like one suffering from shaking chills). Blessed are you, O Primordial Energy and foster—mother of the world, you are the presiding deity of Doom (who causes universal destruction).

O Mother Kali! It is your divine feet that made Shiva’s appearance possible in the world; you have long protruding tongue and a frightening look. Blessed, all blessed are you O Mother Kali of Calcutta, who are thousand—armed and who have your abode in Shivapura.

O Kali, as Sita you were instrumental in bringing about Ravana’s destruction and Raghupati’s victory which, appearing became amorous of the Lord’s feet. You assumed manifold forms for the well being peace and happiness of the world.

You manifested yourself in the form of Krishna and let your sword be mysteriously transformed into a flute in his hand. Sometimes you take on the form of Vishnu with his four arms, at other times of one (Durga, for example) having eight arms, at still other one having ten or eighteen arms.

You sometimes appear with thirty—two arms, at other times with just the double this number, and at still others you multiply your arms into a thousand in order to slay your enemies. You are the very power of Hari invoked with prayer at midnight; you have long sharp fangs and a protruding tongue showing your blood—thirsty and fearsome nature.

You are furious combatant with a sword in your hand (you are usually shown on the battlefield or in a cremation ground where you sit on a corpse surrounded by jackals and goblins); you are at once soothing like the moon and fearsome like Rudra and the slayer of the wicked. You are a sublime as a hundred—peaked mountain and a primordial deity of black or dark complexion. You dwell amongst dark, untrodden caverns.

You are the original mother (of all beings) and at the dame time a dread deity with human heads for your garland; you are the very slayer of Kansa and subduer of ghosts and goblins; you are yourself Bhadrakali, a dweller on Kailasha and one who thirsts for the blood of the wicked.

Again and again you strike off the heads of your enemies (with your lashing sword) and fill your cranial bowl with blood (oozing from corpses). You gorge yourself on the demon host one after another and rushing on and on shed their wicked blood.

Blessed, blessed, blessed are you, O Mother Kali, who cause your enemies to lick the dust one after another.

Friday Worship

2009-02-13T11:58:00.005Z

The passion within can be both enrapturing and terrifying yet we must strive for our own truth, our own path and ultimately our own journey to Ishtar.

Todays praise poem is entitles Thank You and is written by the Druid Greywolf

Thank you for the rage and flame
Both given and withheld
For soft skin offerings through pain
For not shying from the falling rain

Thank you for the black hair shining
Scent of skin and salty sweat
Bloodied lips drawn back and smiling
Shaded by the ravens wing

Thank you for the black nights
Deep within the dark embrace
Of spirit and of tortured flesh
The shifting shadows on your face

Thank you for the warmth of words
That penetrate my silent soul
Lifting spirits high and wild
To dance in freedom on the wind

Thank you for the rivers of devotion
Flowing eastward to the sunrise
And the boundless ocean
Open to receive my sacrifice

Thank you for the corner field
Where once I knelt before you
Tasting the sweet essence
Of your nectar on my tongue

Thank you for the snake that hissed
When my mistaken human heart
Touched too close to tender bliss
A soul once bartered for a kiss

Thank you for the visions
Of the dead and of the dying
For the pain and for the blood
And for the flood of tears I’m crying

Thank you for the taste of red wine
Smeared across my lips
The tension and the passion
In the cradle of your hips

The past reborn from hollowness
The fire on which we burn
Rising on a pall of smoke
From life to life return

The teaching and the tenderness
The lessons hard to learn
The darkest secrets of the heart
The pages left unturned

The woman, priestess and the child
Hanther, witch and wife
Sane and Insane
Bold and young

Wild and tender
Bound and free
Lover, mother virgin, crone
For all you are and yet may be

I give thanks with a raging heart
And everything I am or might become
I offer to the flames of love
Devour me, devour me o Cerridwen, devour me

The taste of love be on thy tongue
The taste of blood be in thy mouth
The melting heat of sun and moon
The heat of love, sweet passion

Come o Cerridwen devour me, let every vein be torn
Come o Cerridwen devour me, that I may be reborn

Friday Worship

2009-02-05T12:23:00.008Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

Today's worship is dedicated to the most commonplace, yet most beautiful and sensual of Ishtar's gifts, the kiss. Today's poem/prayer is by Storm Faerywolf. Here is a link to his website.

The Prayer in the Kiss

kiss upon kiss,
fueling the fires of passion,
the gateway to the beloved opens,
in the surrender of the will to the body,
which is the temple of every god known
and so my prayer is made:
that we find ourselves in each other's arms,
soon.

Friday Worship

2009-01-30T15:04:00.007Z

Todays worship centres around the co-existent relationship with the feminine, she who gives birth to us and the same Goddess who also fills us with desire. Such is the paradoxical nature of the divine Goddess. The images and poem for today was provided and written by The Astral Pilgrim

Come forth to me, my child of promise
And suckle softly from the bosom of thy past
My embrace will enfold you like the infinite rapture
And you shall be as the stars for a time, as you return back to the mother

I am the creator of all, and the providor of everything
In my breast you found life and the flow of wisdom
In my arms you find peace, heaven, nirvana
In your mind you are complete

Now you are a man once more
And the bosom that once nurtured you
Now enfolds in you in all it's sexual power
What once sustained you now gives you release

Love is that in many forms
In many minds, in many souls
My love will touch all, and all love shall return to me
Come to me, and know all of me

I am mother, lover, virgin, crone
Goddess and creator
Destroyer of doubt and giver of fire
I am

Friday Worship

2009-01-23T13:50:00.005Z

Welcome to Friday Worship.
(We apologize for the slight delay in publication.)

This week's Friday Worship is dedicated to the beauty, sensuality and sexuality of the mature woman.

The Holy One stands alone in the clear sky;
On all the people of the land
The Lady looks in sweet wonder from the midst of Heaven;
The People parade before holy Inanna
The Lady of the Evening, Innana is lofty
Innana I would praise as is fitting
The Lady of the Evening is lofty on the horizon

At evening the radiant star, the great light fills the sky
The Lady of the Evening comes bravely forth from heaven
The people in all the lands lift their eyes to Her
The ox in his yoke lows for her
The sheep stir up the dust in their fold
The beasts, the many living creatures of the steppe
The four legged creatures of the high steppe
The lush gardens and orchards, the green reeds and trees
The fish of the Deep and the birds of Heaven
Inanna makes them hurry to their sleeping places

The living creatures and the people kneel before her
Chosen ones prepare great quantities of food and drink for Her
The Lady refreshes Herself in the land
The people celebrate
The young man makes love with his beloved

My lady looks on in sweet wonder from the midst of Heaven
The people parade before holy Inanna

The Lady of the Evening, Innana is lofty
Inanna I would praise as is fitting
The Lady of the Evening is lofty on the horizon

Friday Worship

2009-01-15T10:13:00.010Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

The beautiful words for today's Friday Worship come from the Alexandrian Wiccan Great Rite, as published by Janet and Stewart Farrar.

Assist me to erect the ancient altar, at which in days past all worshipped;
The great altar of all things.
For in old time, Woman was the altar.
Thus was the altar made and placed,
And the sacred place was the point within the centre of the Circle.
As we have of old been taught that the point within the centre is the origin of all things,
Therefore should we adore it;
Therefore whom we adore we also invoke.

O Circle of Stars,
Whereof our father is but the younger brother,
Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space,
Beyond whom time is ashamed, the mind bewildered, and the understanding dark,
Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love.
Therefore by seed and root, by stem and bud,
By leaf and flower and fruit do we invoke thee,
O Queen of Space, O Jewel of Light,
Continuous one of the heavens;
Let it ever be thus
That men speak not of thee as One, but as None;
And let them not speak of thee at all, since thou art continuous.
Thou art the point within the Circle, which we adore;
The point of life, without which we would not be.
And in this way truly are erected the holy twin pillars,
In beauty and in strength were they erected
To the wonder and glory of all men.

Altar of mysteries manifold,
The sacred Circle's secret point -
Thus do I sign thee as of old,
With kisses of my lips anoint.
Open for me the secret way,
The pathway of intelligence,
Beyond the gates of night and day,
Beyond the bounds of time and sense.
Behold the mystery aright -
The five true points of fellowship.

Here where the Lance and Grail unite,
And feet, and knees and breast, and lip.

In the name and love of Ishtar,
Blessèd Be!

Praise to Ishtar

2009-01-14T07:42:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2009-01-12T07:37:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2009-01-08T19:55:00.006Z

Welcome to Friday Worship.

Today's prayer to Ishtar comes from Assyria by W.H. Boulton.

Unto the queen of the gods,
into whose hands are committed the behest of the great gods,
unto the lady of Nineveh,the queen of the gods,
the exhalted one,unto the daughter of the moon-god,
the twin sister of the sun god, unto her who ruleth all kingdoms,
unto the goddess of the world who deetermineth decrees,
unto the Lady of heaven and earth who recieveth supplication,
unto the merciful goddess who hearkeneth unto entreaty,
who recieveth prayer, who loveth righteousness,

I make my prayer unto Ishtar
to whom all confusion is a cause of grief.
The sorrows which I see I lament before thee.
Incline thine ear unto my words of lamentation
and let thine heart be opened unto my sorrowful speech.

Turn thy face unto me,
O Lady, so that by reason thereof
the heart of thy servant may be made strong!

I, Ashur-nasir-pal, the sorrowful one, am thy humble servant;
I, who am beloved of thee, make offerings unto thee and adore thy divinity
. . . . I was born in the mountains which no man knoweth;
I was without understanding and I prayed not of thy majesty.
Moreover the people of Assyria did not recognise and did not accept thy divinity.

But thou, O Ishtar, thou mighty Queen of the gods,
by the lifting up of thine eyes did teach me,
for thou didst desire my rule.
Thou didst take me from the mountains,
and didst make me the Door of my peoples
. . . and thou, O Ishtar, didst make great my name!
As concerning that for which thou are wrath with me,
grant me forgiveness.
Let thine anger be appeased,
and let thine heart be mercifully inclined towards me.

Praise to Ishtar

2009-01-07T07:43:00.001Z

Praise to Ishtar

2009-01-05T05:42:00.002Z

Friday Worship

2009-01-01T17:46:00.008Z

Welcome to Friday Worship
Today's worship is dedicated to those beautiful souls who are so full with the gifts of Ishtar that one sexual partner at a time is never enough. The prayer comes from the Songs of Bilitis "translated" by Pierre Louys (Paris 1894)

HYMN TO ASTARTE

Mother inexhaustible and incorruptible, creatures, born the first, engendered by thyself and by thyself conceived, issue of thyself alone and seeking joy within thyself, Astarte!

Oh! perpetually fertilized, virgin and nurse of all that is, chaste and lascivious, pure and revelling, ineffable,

nocturnal, sweet, breather of fire, foam of the sea!

Thou who accordest grace in secret, thou who unitest, thou who lovest, thou who seizest with furious desire the multiplied races of savage beasts and couplest the sexes in the wood.

Oh, irresistible Astarte! hear me, take me, possess me, oh, Moon! and thirteen times each year draw from my womb the sweet libation of my blood!

If you would like to suggest a theme, dedication or poem for Friday Worship please doget in touch. We will be very pleased to hear from you.

We exist to serve love.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-31T11:26:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-29T09:51:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2008-12-25T19:10:00.006Z

Welcome to Friday Worship
For many the most sensual and sexual of experiences is the feeling of fresh air on the skin. Today's Friday Worship is, therefore dedicated to the sexual nudist and their pleasures.

The Holy Priestess of Heaven

I say, "Hail!" to the Holy One who appears in the heavens!
I say, "Hail!" to the Holy Priestess of Heaven!
I say, "Hail!" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven! Holy Torch!
You fill the sky with light! You brighten the day at dawn!
I say, "Hail!" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven!

Awesome Lady of the Annuna Gods!
Crowned with great horns,
You fill the heavens and earth with light! I say,
"Hail!" to Inanna, First Daughter of the Moon!

Mighty, majestic, and radiant,
You shine brilliantly in the evening,
You brighten the day at dawn,
You stand in the heavens like the sun and the moon,
Your wonders are known both above and below,
To the greatness of the Holy Priestess of Heaven,
To you, Inanna, I sing!

Would you like to take part in Friday Worship? If there is a poem or prayer you would like to see featured, or pictorial theme you would enjoy, please let us know.
We exist to serve love!

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-24T10:57:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-22T09:37:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2008-12-18T14:05:00.007Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

Today's Friday Worship has a sad theme. Last week saw the death of a great lady and true avatar of Ishtar, Miss Bettie Page. Bettie brought beauty, elegance and a truly innocent sexiness to America in the 1950's at a time when they needed it most. Her image and legacy have become iconic.

Rest in peace, Bettie.

You alter the Fates, and an ill event becomes good;
I have sought you amongst the gods; supplications are offered to you;
To you amongst the goddesses I have turned, with intent to make entreaty,
Before you is a (protecting) shedu[a genie], behind you a (protecting) lamassu [another type of genie],
At your right is Justice, at your left Goodness,
Fixed on your head are Audience, Favour, Peace,
Your sides are encompassed with Life and Well-being;

How good it is to pray to you, how blessed to be heard by you!

Your glance is Audience, your utterance is the Light.
Have pity on me, O Ishtar! Order my prospering!
Glance on me in affirmation! Accept my litany!

This weekend is also the weekend of the Winter Solstice and Sunday is Global Orgasm Day.
So, along with the beautiful Bettie herself, we would like to wish all our friends and lovers a loving, lustful and joyous holiday.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-17T09:18:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-15T08:07:00.002Z

Friday Worship

2008-12-10T18:58:00.007Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

May Ishtar spread her hands across you and bring you the greatest of joy.

FROM A HYMN TO INANNA

My father gave me the heavens, gave me the earth,

I am Inanna!
Kingship he gave me,
queenship he gave me,
waging of battle he gave me, the attack he gave me,
the flo

odstorm he gave me, the hurricane he gave me!

The heavens he set as a crown on my head,
the earth he set as sandals on my feet,
a holy robe he wrapped around my body,
a holy sceptre he placed in my hand.

The gods are sparrows -- I am a falcon;

the Anunnaki trundle along -- I am a splendid wild cow;
I am father Enlil's splendid wild cow,
his splendid wild cow leading the way!

If you would like to request a theme for Friday Worship we will be pleased to hear from you.

We exist to serve love.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-10T08:20:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-08T07:44:00.002Z

Friday Worship

2008-12-04T13:31:00.008Z

Welcome to Friday Worship.

Ishtar is not simply a Goddess of love and sexual pleasure, she is also a Goddess of fertility. Thusly for many the greatest avatar of Ishtar, and a sight most beautiful to behold, is a pregnant woman.

THE POWER OF INANNA

Wake up to the power of Inanna
Whose name was first read in the form of a Knot
...known as the Knot of Inanna
For it is She who is...
the Great Goddess of Sumer

the Goddess of love, fertility and war
the Mother of all life
the Queen of Heaven, the Earth
...from which was given to Her by Her Father
the Queen of the Underworld
...from which She earned from descending thru the 7 gates
and then ascending back up to rightly place in Heaven
For it is She who is 1 with many names...
Nin-me-sar-ra, the Lady of Myriad Offices
or Queen of all the Me
Ninsianna, the personification of the planet Venus
Nin.an.na, queen of the sky
Nu-ugiganna, Hierodule of Heaven

Usunzianna, Exalted Cow of Heaven

For it is She who wears the crown of the crescent moon
and 8-pointed star and who is bejeweled with beautiful
lapis lazuli flecked with gold
and...
Whose Holy body is wrapped in the Pala robe of heaven

With eyes that call all to her
and...
Breasts that call all to them to drink from them
the elixic milk of life
As She stands on the great lion while holding lotuses
that she so generously bestows upon her true devotees

For it is She, Inanna, whom we worship

Worship in our great temples that we erected for Her, our Goddess...
where we can worship Her thru drumming, dancing and singing

For it is in these temples that we ritually seek
to become 1 with our Great Goddess Inanna
and it is...
With flour, that is ground from Her body, that we shall make
sacred cakes for Her, that will be placed at Her altar

in this temple of Hers

As it is She that the 4 elements unfold out of -
Air, Fire, Earth, Water
and...
it is She who contains all knowledge
Including the divine knowledge of music that She transmitted to us humans
Thru Her priestesses who divined down this knowledge from
Her divine realms above into the human

realms below

For it is from the mouth of Her buru that all water comes from
For it is Her water that comes from rain that turns into blood
which turns into milk
Milk that nourishes all life

All life that grows from the rain that She gives
For it is She who is the source of life and for all life, like the

waters of life that pour out from Her womb

Her waters of life that teared from her eyes
Teared for the great Huluppa tree
Oh how she wept
She wept because the Anzu-bird had set his young in
the Huluppa trees branches
And the dark maid, Lilith, built her home in the trunk
but all was not lost because soon...
Her throne would be carved from the trunk of the Huluppa tree
by the sons of Uruk
Her bed would be carved from the trunk of the Huluppa tree

by the daughters of Uruk
and...
From the roots of the Huluppa tree She would fashion a pukka
for her brother
From the crown of the Huluppa tree she would fashion a mikku
for Enki, the Wise Father
and...
Ninshubur, who was her faithful companion, would become closer
than a sister
For it was she who went down after 3 days missing Inanna,
and aided her ascent back up to Heaven

For it is Inanna
Inanna who is the instigator of creation, the Goddess who
manifested in us sexual desire and union
It is She who "caused the created to reproduce" and
whose planet is Venus
and...
It is She who is our lovely evening star who shines brightly
in the night's sky

For it is She, Inanna, who maintains the world's order
The world's order that is birthed out of holy union

Holy union of Inanna and Dumuzi
The Holy union that on New Year's day,
is celebrated as hieros gamos
The celebration of their sexual union
The holy union of Inanna and Dumuzi
Dumuzi, who is Her consort
Dumuzi, who is the God of vegetation
Dumuzi, He who surely pleases Her
but before consummation She praises him...
He caressed my loins with His fair hands
He poured milk and cream onto Me
He stroked My pubic hair
He irrigated My womb

He lay His hands upon My holy vulva
He nourished My black boat with His cream
He ripened My narrow boat with His milk
He caressed Me on the bed
Now I'll caress Him on the bed

Then I'll make love to my faithful Dumuzi
For it is their sexual union that will make the world live again

For their union will ensure abundance and plenty for all for the year to come
and...
The rest of the years to come that will cycle around
Cycle around the power of the Great Goddess Inanna

As she enters and exits the 7 gates of her descent and ascent
That takes her from the underworld of deprivation and then
back up to her rightly place as Queen of Heaven

This exceptional poem was written by Savannah Skye. If you would like to submit a poem or request a theme for Friday Worship, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

May Her blessings be with you always.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-03T08:53:00.001Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-12-01T07:34:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2008-11-27T10:05:00.010Z

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

2008-11-26T07:35:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-11-24T08:13:00.002Z

Friday Worship

2008-11-19T18:11:00.006Z

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

(The poem is taken from This site.)

With love from,
The Temple of Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

2008-11-19T08:26:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-11-17T07:51:00.003Z

Friday Worship

2008-11-13T20:09:00.007Z

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

2008-11-12T08:33:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-11-10T07:17:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2008-11-06T20:14:00.009Z

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

2008-11-05T07:49:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-11-03T07:43:00.002Z

Friday Worship at Samhain

2008-10-30T18:39:00.011Z

Welcome to Friday Worship

Today is the Feast of Samhain, known as Halloween and in honour of such an auspicious date we are dedicating today's Friday Worship to Witchcraft, both in images and in words. The beautiful words are, in fact, the Charge of the Goddess as used by Gardnerian Covens all over the world.

Now listen to the words of the Great Mother,
who was of old also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names. At her altars, the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.

Whenever ye have need of any thing,
once in the month,
and better it be when the moon is full,
then shall ye assemble in some secret place, and adore the spirit of me,
who am Queen of all witches.

There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,
yet have not won its deepest secrets;
to these will I teach things that are as yet unknown.

And ye shall be free from slavery;
and as a sign that ye be really free,
ye shall be naked in your rites;
and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise.
For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,
and mine also is joy on earth;
for my law is love unto all beings.

Keep pure your highest ideal;
strive ever towards it, let naught stop you or turn you aside;
for mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of youth,
and mine is the cup of wine of life,
and the cauldron of Cerridwen,
which is the Holy Grail of immortality.

I am the gracious Goddess,
who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.
Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal;
and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom,
and reunion with those who have gone before.

Nor do I demand sacrifice;
for behold, I am the Mother of all living,
and my love is poured out upon the earth.

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess;
she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
whose body encircles the universe.

I who am the beauty
of the green earth and the white moon upon
the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature
that gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed and unto me
they must return.
Let My worship be in the
heart that rejoices, for behold,
all acts of love and pleasure
are My rituals.

Let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion,
honor and humility,
mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know me,
know that the seeking and yearning
will avail you not,
unless you know the Mystery:
for if that which you seek,
you find not within yourself,
you will never find it without.

For behold,
I have been with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is attained
at the end of desire.

If you would like a particular theme or poem for Friday Worship, please feel free to ask. We exist to serve love, joy and Ishtar.

Happy Samhain!

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-29T08:08:00.002Z

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-27T07:36:00.001Z

Friday Worship

2008-10-23T18:56:00.005+01:00

Welcome to Friday Worship

As Ishtar is present in the body of all women thus the love of one woman for another can be considered the worship of Ishtar by Herself. The following poem expresses this beautifully.

At the risk of being considered Philistines we have modernised the poem's language to a small extent. We believe that in so doing we have made the poem's beauty and sensuality more accessible and comprehensible to a modern audience. To any who believe that in so doing we have destroyed its purity we can only apologise.

SAPHO TO PHILÆNIS

Where is that holy fire, which Verse is said
To have? Is that enchanting force decayed?
Verse that draws Nature’s works from Nature’s law,
You, her best work, to her work cannot draw.
Have my tears quenched my old Poetic fire;
Why quenched they not as well, that of desire?
Thoughts, my mind’s creatures, often are with thee,
But I, their maker, want their liberty.
Only your image, in my heart, does sit,
But that is wax, and fires environ it.
My fires have driven, yours have drawn it hence;
And I am robbed of Picture, Heart, and Sense.
Dwells with me still my irksome Memory,
Which, both to keep, and lose, grieves equally.
That tells me how fair you are: You are so fair,
As gods, when gods to you I do compare,
Are graced thereby; And to make blind men see,
What things gods are, I say they are like to thee.
For, if we justly call each silly man
A little world, what shall we call you then?
You art not soft, and clear, and straight, and fair,
As Down, as Stars, Cedars, and Lilies are,
But your right hand, and cheek, and eye, only
Are like your other hand, and cheek, and eye.
Such was my Phao a while, but shall be never,
As you were, are, and oh, may be ever.
Here lovers swear in their Idolatry,
That I am such; but Grief discolours me.
And yet I grieve the less, lest Grief remove
My beauty, and make me unworthy of your love.
Plays some soft boy with you, oh there wants yet
A mutual feeling which should sweeten it.
His chin, a thorny hairy unevenness
Does threaten, and some daily change possess.
Your body is a natural Paradise,
In whose self, unmannered, all pleasure lies,
Nor needs perfection; why should you then
Admit the tillage of a harsh rough man?
Men leave behind them that which their sin shows,
And are as thieves traced, which rob when it snows.
But of our dalliance no more signs there are,
Than fishes leave in streams, or Birds in air.
And between us all sweetness may be had;
All, all that Nature yields, or Art can add.
My two lips, eyes, thighs, differ from thy two,
But so, as yours from one another do;
And, oh, no more; the likeness being such,
Why should they not alike in all parts touch?
Hand to strange hand, lip to lip none denies;
Why should they breast to breast, or thighs to thighs?
Likeness begets such strange self flattery,
That touching my self, all seems done to thee.
My self I embrace, and my own hands I kiss,
And amorously thank myself for this.
Me, in my glass, I call you; But alas,
When I would kiss, tears dim my eyes, and glass.
O cure this loving madness, and restore
Me to me; you, my half, my all, my more.
So may your cheeks red outwear scarlet dye,
And their white, whiteness of the Galaxy,
So may your mighty, amazing beauty move
Envy in all women, and in all men, love,
And so be change, and sickness, far from thee,
As you by coming near, keep them from me.

John Donne (London, 1572 - 1631)

The illustrations are by the Parisian artist Suzanne Ballivet (1904 - 1985). The poem was sent to us by our friend, Trey.

If you would like to suggest a theme or a praise poem for Friday Worship, please do get in touch.

With Love.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-22T08:11:00.002+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-20T08:19:00.004+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-10-16T18:50:00.012+01:00

Welcome to Friday Worship.

For many Ishtar is represented, as are all Goddesses, by the human female body - making not only the act of sexual pleasure, but the body itself divine. Please enjoy the following Praise Poem, entitled "To Thee".

To thee, oh queen of the burning passion
All praise and glory be sent forth from thy bosom
Hold all deep within your sensual touch
Awaken yourself in our hearts and as we make love in thy name

Lady of the heavens and sister of the raging fire
Show us your ways and lead us to that ultimate release
The culmination of all and nothing, the cosmic decree
For all of creation must fall unto your order

We worship thee in the temple, in the bedroom
In the woods and in the cities, in the brothels and in ourselves
Passion is perfection and in perfection lies the pathway to you
And so ever we seek passion, ever we seek you.

And ever we bask in that infinite rapture

By Daniel Yates

This week's theme was suggested, and the poem and pictures provided, by our friend, Daniel (Astral Pilgrim).
If you wish to suggest a pictorial theme or a praise poem for Friday Worship we would be very glad to oblige.

We exist to serve love.
The Temple of Ishtar.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-15T08:06:00.002+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-13T09:48:00.002+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-10-09T15:29:00.009+01:00

Welcome to Friday Worship.

Although sexual pleasure is the primary method of worshipping Ishtar, there are other ways. Chief amongst these is dance, particularly the sensual and beautiful art of bellydance. Please enjoy in Ishtar's name

Dancer’s Prayer

Incense smoke drifts, fragrant, curling tendrils of blue

The ney sounds, haunting melody lifting, twining with the smoke

Tabla beats, quiet, steady, slow

Emerging now, slowly swaying, She comes forth

Step, step-step

The earth trembles

Quivering beneath Her feet

Step, step-step

A lover’s skin awaiting soft caress

Expectant, longing

Arms rise and fall in opposition

Undulating slowly, sinuously

Fingers extended, beckoning

Eyes flick

Wrist turns, withholding

Hips twist

Each step shatters civilisations

Each step builds them anew

Rainbows fly from her spinning veils

The winds are born of Her flying hair

Step, step-step

Increasing tempo

Step-step, step

Hypnotic beat

Step-step, step

She charges forth,

Eyes ablaze

All fall back in awe before Her

She turns, sways back, arms raised, abdomen undulating

A turn of the head,

Step

A flick of the eyes

Step

Lowering arms, palms open

A gift,

This dance

For you

Step, step-step

How can I not dance with You

You who gave the Dance to me?

How can I hold back from You

Who gave the world to me?

Each step creating, destroying and renewing again

When I dance I honour You

When I dance, I dance for You

When I dance, they see You in me

Step, step-step

To the sound of ney and drum

By Sara Fitton

This week's praise poem and pictures were both suggested and provided by our friend Jessie Belle. If you would like to suggest a theme, prayer or poem for Friday worship please feel free to ask. We would be glad to hear from you.

We serve Ishtar and, through Ishtar, love.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-08T10:52:00.002+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-06T07:46:00.002+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-10-02T07:43:00.010+01:00

Welcome to Friday Worship

Unto the queen of the gods,
into whose hands are committed the behest of the great gods,
unto the lady of Nineveh,the queen of the gods,
the exalted one,unto the daughter of the moon-god,
the twin sister of the sun god, unto her who ruleth all kingdoms,
unto the goddess of the world who determineth decrees,
unto the Lady of heaven and earth who receiveth supplication,
unto the merciful goddess who hearkeneth unto entreaty,
who receiveth prayer, who loveth righteousness,

I make my prayer unto Ishtar
to whom all confusion is a cause of grief.
The sorrows which I see I lament before thee.

Incline thine ear unto my words of lamentation

and let thine heart be opened unto my sorrowful speech.

Turn thy face unto me,

O Lady, so that by reason thereof
the heart of thy servant may be made strong!

I, Ashur-nasir-pal, the sorrowful one, am thy humble servant;
I, who am beloved of thee, make offerings unto thee and adore thy divinity
. . . . I was born in the mountains which no man knoweth;

I was without understanding and I prayed not of thy majesty.

Moreover the people of Assyria did not recognise and did not accept thy divinity.

But thou, O Ishtar, thou mighty Queen of the gods, by the lifting up of thine eyes did teach me, for thou didst desire my rule. Thou didst take me from the mountains, and didst make me the Door of my peoples

. . . and thou, O Ishtar, didst make great my name! As concerning that for which thou are wrath with me, grant me forgiveness. Let thine anger be appeased, and let thine heart be mercifully inclined towards me.

The pictorial theme for today's Friday Worship was suggested by our friend ~Thumbelina~. If you would like a particular prayer or pictures, please ask.

May the blessings of Ishtar bring you love, joy and sexual pleasure.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-10-01T11:36:00.002+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-29T07:43:00.003+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-09-25T12:17:00.014+01:00

Welcome to Friday Worship.

The Nature of Ishtar remains the same wherever she may be, but her name changes according to culture. Here for Friday Worship is a modern and very beautiful Thelemite hymn by the little-known and underrated poet, "Simon Moon".

A Few of the Things I Know About Her

I know that She forever grows more lovable as I understand Her better; and that She forever grows more understandable as I love Her better.

I know that She is incarnate, a living presence, Anna Livia Plurabella, in every living creature of us, including the people I can't stand - which shows Her incredible humility and Her fantastic sense of humor.

I know that She has time and time again ravished me entirely with Her beauty, so She is the supreme artist; and I know that She forever transcends my understanding, so She is the supreme intelligence; but She is more than beauty and intelligence.

I know that She inspires the Bard who sings to me, and that he is Her priest; and that I am only the local transmitter through which he broadcasts his eternal adoration for Her.

And I know that I adore Her, my Babalon! I adore Her, my dark-eyed Nu!

And I know that it is the supreme glory of my life that She has manifested Herself to me, sometimes for hours on end, once even for two weeks; but She has manifested Herself most truly in those brief moments when I have been annihilated entirely in Her.

I know that I can love Her best through one woman; but this is my nature, as a Capricorn, and there are other paths for other lovers of Her.

I know that, although She seems fickle and arbitrary at times, She is only so in my narrow egotistic view of things at the moment; and that I have understood Her, and love Her, best in those moments when I accepted Her total perfection without question.

I know that She is my complement, my other Self; and that She is all the fiery intoxication that draws me out of my narrow self into eternal striving toward Her perfection.

And I know that I adore Her, my Babalon! I adore Her, my lion-loined Nu!

I know that I only know a few things about Her now, but I am lucky beyond belief, for once I knew nothing about Her.

I know that She loves me with as fierce a passion as I love Her; but She is promiscuous and loves all Her lovers that way.

I know that She is in the stars and between them; and in every sentient mind.

I know that all Her lovers go mad, by the judgement of this world; but this is false, for it is the world that is mad, and deranged, and besotted in grief - because it does not know Her.

And I know that I adore Her, my Babalon! I adore Her, my mother Nu!

I know that She is beyond metaphor, beyond speech, beyond thought; but She is radiantly sane and simple in Her heart.

I know that She is happiest of all, because She loves All; and She is wisest, because She is drunken in Her ecstasy of creation.

I know that She is in the dance, because She is dance; but She is in the movements of the stars and in the astronomer's equations, for She is the Mother, not the Daughter of Order.

I know that She is feared and comes as the nightmare into the minds of those who are without love; but She is forever gracious to those who sing to Her, and cry out to Her, and moan to Her, and repeat endlessly in their hearts:

I know that I adore Her, my Babalon! I adore Her, my soft-fleshed Nu!

I know that even though my heart may sing with the ecstasy of Her, and my brain whirl with the mystery of Her, one part of me will live in misery forever, until I am entirely lost in Her.

I know that even though my heart may sink with despair, and my brain stop with confusion, one part of me will be joyfully understanding forever, because I am not truly separate from Her.

I know that She is beyond intelligence, beyond emotion, beyond intuition; I know that She is drawing me beyond intelligence, beyond emotion, beyond intuition.

I know that I am enslaved and entraptured and destroyed by Her again and again and again until my words die in my throat and I can only moan as I try to repeat:

I adore Her my Babalon! I adore Her, my hot-tongued Nu!

The pictures for today's Friday Worship were suggested by our friend, Seán. Should you wish to suggest a prayer or a particular sexual theme for the pictorial element of Friday worship, please ask.

We exist to serve love as we exist to serve Ishtar.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-24T07:41:00.000+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-22T07:48:00.001+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-09-19T09:36:00.000+01:00

Welcome to our Friday Worship

Since Ishtar takes Her greatest joy in the sexual pleasures of her worshippers, and since there are so many varieties of consensual sexual pleasure, we are considering posting future pictures of worshippers according to a varying theme. This theme might be cunnilingus, male masturbation or vanilla sex, for instance.
If you would like a particular prayer or theme for the pictorial element of Friday Worship, please ask. As Ishtar serves love and we serve Ishtar, we serve love.

Meanwhile please enjoy Friday Worship.

The people of Sumer parade before you.
They play in the street ala-drums before you.
The people of Sumer parade before you.

I say, " Hail !" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven!

They beat the holy drum and timpani before you.

The people of Sumer parade before you.

I say, " Hail !" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven!

They play the holy harp and timpani before you.

The people of Sumer parade before you.

I say, " Hail !" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven!

The male prostitutes comb their hair before you.

They decorate the napes of their necks with colored scarves,

They drape the cloak of the gods about their shoulders.

The righteous man and woman walk before you.

They hold the soothing harp by their sides.

Those who follow wear the sword belt.

They grasp the spear in their hands.

The people of Sumer parade before you.

The women adorn their right side with men's clothing.

The people of Sumer parade before you.

I say, " Hail !" to Inanna, Great Lady of Heaven!

The men adorn their left side with women's clothing.

The people of Sumer parade before you.

I say, " Hail !" to Inanna, First Daughter of the Moon!

The young men, who carry hoops, sing to you.

The maidens and coiffured priestesses walk before you,

They carry the sword and double-edged ax.

The ascending kurgarra priests raise their swords before you.

The priest, who covers his sword with blood, sprinkles blood,

He sprinkles blood over the throne of the court chamber.

The tigi-drum, the sem-drum, and the ala-tambourine resound !

In the heavens the Holy One appears alone.

My Lady looks in sweet wonder from heaven.

She looks in sweet wonder on all the lands

And on the people of Sumer as numerous as sheep.

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-17T10:00:00.001+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-15T08:00:00.001+01:00

Friday Worship

2008-09-12T11:25:00.000+01:00

Friday is the day sacred to Ishtar and thus to her we offer worship in the form of a traditional prayer and pictures loving people indulging in her rites.

Praise to Ishtar!

The Lady of the Evening

At the end of the day, the Radiant Star, the Great Light that fills the sky,

The Lady of the Evening appears in the heavens.

The people in all the lands lift their eyes to her.

The men purify themselves; the women cleanse themselves.

The ox in his yoke lows to her.

The sheep stir up the dust in their fold.

All the living creatures of the steppe,

The four-footed creatures of the high steppe,

The lush gardens and orchards, the green reeds and trees,

The fish of the deep and the birds in the heavens -

My Lady makes them all hurry to their sleeping places.

The living creatures and the numerous people of Sumer kneel before her,

Those chosen by the old women prepare great platters of food and drink for her.

The Lady refreshes herself in the land.

There is great joy in Sumer.

The young man makes love with his beloved.

My Lady looks in sweet wonder from heaven.

The people of Sumer parade before the holy Inanna.

Inanna, the Lady of the Evening, is radiant.

I sing your praises, holy Inanna.

The Lady of the Evening is radiant on the horizon.

With love from:
The Temple of Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-11T10:48:00.001+01:00

Praise to Ishtar

2008-09-10T13:16:00.000+01:00

The Temple of Ishtar

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Friday Worship

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

I make my prayer unto Ishtarto whom all confusion is a cause of grief.The sorrows which I see I lament before thee.Incline thine ear unto my words of lamentationand let thine heart be opened unto my sorrowful speech.

Turn thy face unto me,O Lady, so that by reason thereofthe heart of thy servant may be made strong!

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

HYMN TO ASTARTE

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

How good it is to pray to you, how blessed to be heard by you!

Your glance is Audience, your utterance is the Light.Have pity on me, O Ishtar! Order my prospering!Glance on me in affirmation! Accept my litany!

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

FROM A HYMN TO INANNA

My father gave me the heavens, gave me the earth,

I am Inanna!Kingship he gave me,queenship he gave me,waging of battle he gave me, the attack he gave me,the flo

odstorm he gave me, the hurricane he gave me!

The heavens he set as a crown on my head,the earth he set as sandals on my feet,a holy robe he wrapped around my body,a holy sceptre he placed in my hand.

The gods are sparrows -- I am a falcon;

the Anunnaki trundle along -- I am a splendid wild cow;I am father Enlil's splendid wild cow,his splendid wild cow leading the way!

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

Friday Worship

THE POWER OF INANNA

Wake up to the power of InannaWhose name was first read in the form of a Knot...known as the Knot of InannaFor it is She who is...the Great Goddess of Sumer

Usunzianna, Exalted Cow of Heaven

For it is She who wears the crown of the crescent moonand 8-pointed star and who is bejeweled with beautifullapis lazuli flecked with goldand...Whose Holy body is wrapped in the Pala robe of heaven

With eyes that call all to herand...Breasts that call all to them to drink from themthe elixic milk of lifeAs She stands on the great lion while holding lotusesthat she so generously bestows upon her true devotees

For it is She, Inanna, whom we worship

Worship in our great temples that we erected for Her, our Goddess...where we can worship Her thru drumming, dancing and singing

For it is in these temples that we ritually seekto become 1 with our Great Goddess Inannaand it is...With flour, that is ground from Her body, that we shall makesacred cakes for Her, that will be placed at Her altar

in this temple of Hers

As it is She that the 4 elements unfold out of - Air, Fire, Earth, Waterand...it is She who contains all knowledgeIncluding the divine knowledge of music that She transmitted to us humansThru Her priestesses who divined down this knowledge fromHer divine realms above into the human

realms below

For it is from the mouth of Her buru that all water comes fromFor it is Her water that comes from rain that turns into bloodwhich turns into milkMilk that nourishes all life

All life that grows from the rain that She givesFor it is She who is the source of life and for all life, like the

waters of life that pour out from Her womb

He lay His hands upon My holy vulvaHe nourished My black boat with His creamHe ripened My narrow boat with His milkHe caressed Me on the bedNow I'll caress Him on the bed

Then I'll make love to my faithful DumuziFor it is their sexual union that will make the world live again

For their union will ensure abundance and plenty for all for the year to comeand...The rest of the years to come that will cycle aroundCycle around the power of the Great Goddess Inanna

As she enters and exits the 7 gates of her descent and ascentThat takes her from the underworld of deprivation and thenback up to her rightly place as Queen of Heaven

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

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 andfriendliness.

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.

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

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

Praise to Ishtar

Praise to Ishtar

I make my prayer unto Ishtar
to whom all confusion is a cause of grief.
The sorrows which I see I lament before thee.
Incline thine ear unto my words of lamentation
and let thine heart be opened unto my sorrowful speech.

Turn thy face unto me,
O Lady, so that by reason thereof
the heart of thy servant may be made strong!

Your glance is Audience, your utterance is the Light.
Have pity on me, O Ishtar! Order my prospering!
Glance on me in affirmation! Accept my litany!

I am Inanna!
Kingship he gave me,
queenship he gave me,
waging of battle he gave me, the attack he gave me,
the flo

The heavens he set as a crown on my head,
the earth he set as sandals on my feet,
a holy robe he wrapped around my body,
a holy sceptre he placed in my hand.

the Anunnaki trundle along -- I am a splendid wild cow;
I am father Enlil's splendid wild cow,
his splendid wild cow leading the way!

Wake up to the power of Inanna
Whose name was first read in the form of a Knot
...known as the Knot of Inanna
For it is She who is...
the Great Goddess of Sumer

For it is She who wears the crown of the crescent moon
and 8-pointed star and who is bejeweled with beautiful
lapis lazuli flecked with gold
and...
Whose Holy body is wrapped in the Pala robe of heaven

With eyes that call all to her
and...
Breasts that call all to them to drink from them
the elixic milk of life
As She stands on the great lion while holding lotuses
that she so generously bestows upon her true devotees

Worship in our great temples that we erected for Her, our Goddess...
where we can worship Her thru drumming, dancing and singing

For it is in these temples that we ritually seek
to become 1 with our Great Goddess Inanna
and it is...
With flour, that is ground from Her body, that we shall make
sacred cakes for Her, that will be placed at Her altar

As it is She that the 4 elements unfold out of -
Air, Fire, Earth, Water
and...
it is She who contains all knowledge
Including the divine knowledge of music that She transmitted to us humans
Thru Her priestesses who divined down this knowledge from
Her divine realms above into the human

For it is from the mouth of Her buru that all water comes from
For it is Her water that comes from rain that turns into blood
which turns into milk
Milk that nourishes all life

All life that grows from the rain that She gives
For it is She who is the source of life and for all life, like the

He lay His hands upon My holy vulva
He nourished My black boat with His cream
He ripened My narrow boat with His milk
He caressed Me on the bed
Now I'll caress Him on the bed

Then I'll make love to my faithful Dumuzi
For it is their sexual union that will make the world live again

For their union will ensure abundance and plenty for all for the year to come
and...
The rest of the years to come that will cycle around
Cycle around the power of the Great Goddess Inanna

As she enters and exits the 7 gates of her descent and ascent
That takes her from the underworld of deprivation and then
back up to her rightly place as Queen of Heaven

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.

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.

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?

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.

I make my prayer unto Ishtar
to whom all confusion is a cause of grief.
The sorrows which I see I lament before thee.

O Lady, so that by reason thereof
the heart of thy servant may be made strong!

I, Ashur-nasir-pal, the sorrowful one, am thy humble servant;
I, who am beloved of thee, make offerings unto thee and adore thy divinity
. . . . I was born in the mountains which no man knoweth;