spheres of light in the belly of the dragon · workshop — working with dragon fire the dragon is...

Spheres Of Light

In the Belly of the Dragon BeltaneWeekend—Nov8th-10th2019

SOL Beltane Weekend 2019 ~ In the Belly of the Dragon ~ 1

BeltaneWeekendSchedule8-10November2019

FridayPage

5:00pm–Arrival

7:00pm–Greet&Meet/Dinner

8:00pm-IntrotoWeekend

8:30pm–OpeningRitual–CallingintheDragons…………………………………………………………………………3

Relaxaroundthecampfire(nofireduetodry,windyweather&firedanger)

Saturday

8:00–MeditaJonRitual

8:30–Breakfast

9:30–DiscussiononSumeriandeityassignedtoeachpersonfortheweekend………………………….18

10:30–EnteringtheRealmofEreshkigal……………………………………………………………………………………..3

11:00–Workshop–WorkingwithDragonFire…………………………………………………………………………….7

12:00–Workshop–IntheBellyoftheDragon–TransmuJngourLimitaJons……………………………..9

1:00–Lunch

2:00–Workshop–DragonPower–WeatherMagick…………………………………………………………………11

3:00–CraY–DragonLightness&DarknessMaskMaking&DragonWandMaking……………………12

6:30–Dinner

8:30–Ritual-TiamatRiteofSelfCreaJon……………………………………………………………………………….13

Relaxaroundthecampfire(nofireduetodry,windyweather&firedanger)

Sunday

8:00am–MeditaJonRitual

8:30-Breakfast

10:00–Workshop–AlchemicalRebirthintheWatersofTiamat………………………………………………..14

11:30–CraY–MakingaSigilofTiamatforCreaJvity/FerJlity……………………………………………………16

1:00-Lunch

2:00–Ritual–AscendingtheRealmofEreshkigal–TakingbackyourPower……………………………..17

3:00–Goodbyes

NotesonSumerianDeiCes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………18


OpeningRitual—CallingintheDragonsQuartercallsandinvoca9onswerecomposedonthenight-nowri=enscript.Insteadofusingthepentagram when calling the quarters a special sigil was used and was traced in unison by allpar9cipantsaseachquartercallwasmade.

Thealtar

EnteringintotherealmofEreshkigalEreshkigal (also known as Irkalla and Allatu) is the Mesopotamian Queen of the Dead who rules theunderworld. Her name translates as 'Queen of the Great Below' or 'Lady of the Great Place.' Theword'great' should be understood as 'vast,' not 'excepJonal' and referred to the land of the deadwhichwasthoughttoliebeneaththeMountainsofSunsettothewestandwasknownasKurnugia('theLandofNoReturn'). Kurnugiawasan immense realmof gloomunder theearth,where the soulsof thedeaddrankfrommuddypuddlesandatedust.EreshkigalruledoverthesesoulsfromherpalaceGanzir,locatedattheentrancetotheunderworld,andguardedbysevengateswhichwerekeptbyherfaithfulservantNeJ.SheruledherrealmaloneunJlthewargodNergal(alsoknownasErra)becameherconsortandco-rulerforsixmonthsoftheyear.

EreshkigalinTheDescentofInanna

Although Ereshkigalwas feared, shewas also greatly respected. TheDescent of Inanna has beenwidelyinterpretedinthemoderndayasasymbolicjourneyofawomanbecomingher'trueself.'TheDescentofInanna certainly lends itself to a Jungian interpretaJon of a journey to wholeness by confronJng one'sdarkerhalf.

TheworkbeginsbystaJnghowInannachoosestotraveltotheunderworldtoahendGugulana'sfuneral-adeathshebroughtabout-anddetailshowsheistreatedwhenshearrives.EreshkigalisnothappytohearhersisterisatthegatesandinstructsNeJtomakeherremovevariousarJclesofclothingandornamentsateach of the seven gates before admiing her to the throne room. By the Jme Inanna stands beforeEreshkigal she isnaked,andaYer theAnnunaof theDeadpass judgmentagainsther,Ereshkigalkillshersisterandhangshercorpseonthewall.ItisonlythroughInanna'sclevernessinpreviouslyinstrucJngher


servantNinshuburwhattodo,andNinshubur'sabilitytopersuadethegodsinfavourofhermistress,thatInannaisresurrected.

Inanna is judged and executed for her crime, but she has obviously foreseen this possibility and leYinstrucJonswithher servantNinshubur.AYer threedaysand threenightswaiJng for Inanna,Ninshuburfollows the commands of the goddess, goes to Inanna’s father-god Enki for help, and receives two galla(androgynousdemons) tohelpher in returning Inannatotheearth.Thegallaenter theunderworld"likeflies"and, followingEnki’sspecific instrucJons,ahachthemselvescloselytoEreshkigal.TheQueenoftheDeadisseenindistress.

ThestoryconJnuestodescribethequeenexperiencingthepainsoflabour.Thegallasympathizewiththequeen’spains,andshe, ingraJtude,offers themwhatevergiY theyask for.AsorderedbyEnki, thegallarespond,"Wewishonlythecorpsethathangsfromthehookonthewall"andEreshkigalgivesittothem.ThegallareviveInannawiththefoodandwateroflife,andsherisesfromthedead.Itisatthispoint,aYerInannaleavesandisgivenbackallthatNeJtookfromheratthesevengates,thatsomeoneelsemustbefound to take Inanna's place. Her husband Dumuzi is chosen by Inanna and his sister GeshJnannavolunteerstogowithhim;Dumuziwillremain intheunderworldforsixmonthsandGeshJnannafortheothersixwhileInanna,whocausedalltheproblemsinthefirstplace,goesontodoasshepleases.

SevenarethedegreesofiniJaJon;sevenaretheclassicalplanetswemustpassthrough,sevenchakrasandsevenme'syoumustrelinquishsothatyoucanberebornanew.

Meaningoftheplanetsandalignmentwiththechakras:

• JupitercorrespondstotheCrownChakraitistheplanetofexpansion,growthandcooperaJonandbenevolence.

• MooncorrespondstotheThirdEyeandistheplanetoftheunconsciousmindandmoods.

• MercurycorrespondstotheThroatChakraandrepresentstheintellect,thelowermind,cogniJveabilityandtheabilitytocommunicatethoughtsandideasverballytoothers.

• VenuscorrespondstotheHeartChakraandrepresentsourlovenature,ourcompassionandhowwerelatetoothersininterpersonalrelaJonships.

• SuncorrespondstotheSolarPlexusandrepresentstheconsciousego,theselfanditsexpression,personal power, pride and authority, leadership qualiJes; and the principles of creaJvity,spontaneity,healthandvitality;thelifeforce.

• MarscorrespondstotheSacralChakraandrepresentsourdrive,ourneedtoassertourselves intheworld.Itisforceful,outwardlydirected,andrelatestooursexdriveaswell.Itrepresentsourabilitytoconquerthoseobstacleswhichstand inourwayof fullself-determinedacJon,butalsorepresentstheforceswhichcreateangeraswell.

• Saturn corresponds to the Base Chakra and is associated with the principles of limitaJon,restricJons, boundaries, pracJcality and reality. Saturn governs ambiJon, career, authority andhierarchy,disciplineandconformingsocialstructures.

Prior to the ritual youareasked towritedown7me's that relate to theplanetsand the correspondingchakras).Eacheachplanethasasignificancetotheme'sthathavebeenwrihendown.EachpersonhasaplanetasastarJngpointandeachplanetthereaYerrelatestotheirme'sinsequence.

Eachpointofthestarrepresentsagateandonemustmeditateonthecorrespondingmeandhowitrelatesto thatplanetand their chakra, then they release thatparJcularmebeforemovingon to thenextgate.Once the 7th gate is reached, the lastme is released and each person ismetaphorically naked andwillundertakeadeath,andwillbecomeavoid-anothingness.


AYer a periodof contemplaJon, a small pinprick of light canbe seen above the crown chakra, the lightsourcebecomes largerand largerandthenenters throughthecrownchakraandmovesdownthespinalcordtothebasechakra.Thewhitelightthenenterseachchakraopening,clearingblockagesandcleansingeachchakra.Onceallchakrashavebeenclearedandalignedaprocessofrebirthtakesplaceandhealingbegins.Eachpersonthenturnsandmovesclockwise throughthecircle receivingbackyour reengineeredme'sasyoumovedbackthroughthesevengates.Ateachgatetheywillalsoreceivehealingwhichwillbeintegratedthroughtheirbeingoverthefollowingweeks.

CastCircle

East—Inanna(nowri=enscript-quartercallswerecomposedontheday)

North—Enki

West—Tiamat

South—Enlil

Againthespecial sigilwasused insteadof thepentagramwhencallingthequarters,withallpar9cipantstracingouttheshapeintheairinunison.

EreskigalInvocaCon

Ereshkigal,youwhositenthronedintheunderworldYouwhositinjudgementYoustripusbareYoushowuswhatwetrulyareWithoutfinery,rawintheknowledgeofourselvesEreshkigal,GoddessoftheDarknessMayweeachknowourselfMayweeachseethetruthofourspiritAsyouseeitAsbeyourwill

Discussion9me,aFertheritual.


Above: AFer the ritual, showing the bowls represen9ng each planetcontainingtheme’s.

Right:Mercury,anexampleofoneofthebowlsofme’s.


Thecirclecast insidethehall remainedun0l theendof theweekend,when itwasreleased.Thefinalpartof theritual—theprocessofrebirthandtakingbacktheme’s—wasconductedattheendofthelastday.

Workshop—WorkingwithDragonFireThe dragon is a powerful Symbol of psychic transformaJon. Like the Serpent, the dragon representsprimordialconsciousness,underworldpowers,thefeminine,thewomb,theunformedPrimaMateria,andwisdomandknowledge.TheworddragoncomesfromtheGreektermdrakos,or“serpent.”

DragonPower-AreyoufaCgued?

ManywhohavefelttheoverwhelmingandecstaJcexperienceoftheDragonPowerhavewonderedhowshould this force and experience be used? When the Dragon Power flows through one’s being oneexperiencestheoutmostcontrolandpoweroverexistence.SomeJmesexperiencesbecomesoexaltedthatoneforgetstodirecttheforcetosomeparJculargoal.OnecanlosethesenseofJmeandmightforgettokeepthefocus.InthelongrunitisuselesstoonlygainquickandecstaJcsensaJonsoftheDragonPower;thepowermustbe integratedwithone’snormal lifeandbeused toenhance it. Thefirst thing thatoneshouldaccomplish is toannihilate theslothand faJguethatplaguesmost individuals inoursociety.OnecannotreachanysignificantmagicalgoalsunJlonehaslearnedhowtocontroltheseaspects.

One uses the Dragon Power to enable the most important part of the path of the Dragon: acJon. AmagicianwhoentersthispathmustconJnuouslyactcreaJvelyinawaythatbenefitsthemagicallifeandgoals. FaJgue is the main enemy of the magician; it should, in Jme, be completely removed by theilluminaJonofthedraconianforce,togiveroomforcreaJvityandforceofacJon.TheDragonPowercanbeusedtogetthingsdoneinthemundanelife,butaboveall it isusedtofurtherthemagicalprogression.ItgrantsthepowertobreakthosebarriersthatpreventmagicalabiliJessuchasclairvoyance,clairaudience,


astralprojecJons,etc.Thelesspoweramagicianhas,theweakerthemagicalabiliJeswillbe.Thus,itisofgreatimportanceforthemagiciantoachieve,experienceandusetheDragonPower.

TheconceptofaccessingandcontrollingtheinnerdragonisthekeytodevelopingtheDragon’sFireforthepurposeofmagicandforhealing.Youcanalsouseitforspiritualdevelopmentandpsychicexpansionandself-empowerment.TheDragon’sFireispureenergythatoriginatesfromyourdesire,passion,emoJonandfromsexualenergy.

ChakraSystem

Harnessingthispoweristhroughthecontrolofourchakrasystem.TobeeffecJveincreaJngthefireonemustlearnhowtochannelthisfireefficientlythroughourbodyandthroughourpsychiccentres.YoucanuJlisethisenergytoworkonyourownbodythatneedshealingbychannellingthefiretoaparJcularpartofyourbody.

Exercise-MeditaCon:Concentrateontheearth’senergy.Visualisetheenergyrisingupfromitscore,seeitmoving through the soles of your feet. See the energymoving up to your base chakra. See the energymovingintothebasechakraconnecJngtotheserpentcoiledinthechakra.Feelthefireinthebasechakra,nowvisualisethecoiledserpentbeingawakenedandrisingthrougheachofthechakras.Feelyourenergybecomewarmerasthedragonfiremovesuptothetopofyourhead.

ProtecCon

You can channel this energy into your aura to form a protecJve shield against unwanted influences andpsychicahack.

Exercise:PracJcemovingtheDragon’sFirethroughyouraurawiththeintentofformingaprotecJveshield.NoJcethecolourandtheexpansionofeachperson’sauraoncethedragonfirehasbeenacJvated.

Healing

YoucanstoretheDragonsFirewithinyourselftohelpyouatJmeswhenyoubecomefaJguedorjustneedaddiJonalenergy.Youcanchannelthisenergyintoanypartofyourbodyforhealingpurposes.Youchanneltheenergythroughyourdominanthand. YoucanalsouseDragonFire tohealotherpeople.Usingyourdominanthand,projectthefireintothechakrasordirectlyonthepartthatneedshealing.

Exercise: pracJce raising your energy using Dragon’s Fire and then pracJce on channelling the fire intoanother’schakrasystem.

SpellcraS

WecanusethisenergyinritualincreasingthepoweroftheritualandmanifesJnganindividual’sdesires.

Exercise:WewillworkonwaystomakeourritualandspellcraYmorepowerful.Thisisexperimentalandit’saboutplayingaroundwithDragon’sFireunJlwefindaprocessthatworks.

CasCngInstrucConstoconnecttotheDragon

Firstyouneedtomeditateandgathera lotofnatureenergy.Thenconvert it intofireenergy insideyourbody

Hereishowtodoit.

1.Gotoapeacefulplacewhereyouwon’tbedisturbed.Nextsitcalmlyandbreath5-8Jmesslowlyanddeeply.NextvisualizeastrongbeamoffierylightcomingupfromthecoreoftheEARTHenteringintoyourfeet.FeelitenteringandthesensaJonbeingproducedinyourlegsduetoit.


2.Next visualize this beamofwhite light going straight through your legs into yourheart.Nowvisualizeenergyenteringyourbodyfromallsidesi.eFromtheearth,,fromthewind,fromeverythingaroundyou,drawalotofenergyandgatheritallinyourheartsuchthatyourheartgetsfilledwithitanditstartsfillingup yourwholebody aYerfilling theheart. Keepgathering theenergyunJl it extendsoutside yourbodyaYerfillingitup.

3.Nowcompressallthisenergyfromoutsidethebodyintotheheartsuchthatyourheartgetsfilledwithcompresseddenseenergy.Nowimagineitgeinghotandfinallyturningintoflamesandfire.

4.Nowfeelyourheartpumpingallofa suddenand throwingallof thisenergy intoyourarmsand fromarmsintoyourhands.Feelitsheatasitflows.NowpointyourhandupintheskyandvisualiseadragonintheskyconnecJngtheheartenergyyouarereleasing.

5. Once you have established the connecJon you can ask your heart’s desire as a chant, mantra oraffirmaJon.

6.KeeprepeaJngthesewordsandbegintofeeltheenergyasthedragonentersintoyourbodyandgivesyoutheenergyofalltheelements.

7.OnceyouhavecompletedtheconnecJon,thankthedragonsfortheirparJcipaJon.

Workshop—IntheBellyoftheDragon—TransmuCngourLimitaConsTheDragonisabeingknownacrossmanyculturesforitsstrengthandtransformaJonalqualiJes.Becauseitisamasterofthefourelements-glidingeasilybetweenearth,wind,fireandwater- ithasbeenabletotranscend third dimensional limitaJons and reside in the fiYh dimension and beyond.We as a race ofhumansaredoingthesame:transcendingourlimitaJonsandclaimingmasteryoftheelementswithinusthroughtheprocessofrefiningandempoweringtheelementalaspectsthatexistwithinourbody.Whenweincreaseourelementalpowerbyhealingandworkingonourownmeridiansandchakrasystem,wecreateanenvironmentthatallowsustoenterhigherdimensionsofjoy,light,andmanifestaJon.

Forustobecomepowerfulmagicians,wemustlearnhowtotransmuteourlimitaJons.Weneedgodeepwithin ourselves and sort out limitaJons. Our own grid system is our energy system that allows us tochannel dragonfire, ifwe have blocks in our grid system thenour power is substanJally diminished. AsmagiciansourgridneedstobeconstantlyflowingandweneedtopayahenJontoourchakrasystemifwewanttoahainahighlevelofmastery.

The first chakra is associated almost exclusively with the external world and its ability to destroy us orprovide for us. The second chakra is also rather externally oriented, as it largely drives us to engage inrelaJonshipswithothersandtorelatewiththeworldinawaythatgivesuspleasure.TheorientaJonofthethirdchakra ismore internal,asour focusshiYs fromhowwerelatetothepeoplearoundustohowwerelatetoandunderstandourselves.

Our focus is the third chakra, the solar plexus,we begin to recognize that every choicewemake eitherenmeshesusmoredeeply inourdecepJon/addicJonor investsus in thepowerof spirit.Whatemergesthroughahealthythirdchakra,isasenseofpersonalpower,self-esteem,discipline,ambiJon,theabilityto


generateacJon,theabilitytohandleacrisis,thecouragetotakerisks,generosity,andstrengthofcharacter.Thisisthepowercoreofourpersonalityandourego.

Ourjourneyinbecomingamagicianthathastruemasteryofourselfrequiresaprocessofstagesofgrowth.Thestagesare:1. RevoluJon - oneor several acts that separate us fromgroup thought and establish our own senseofauthority.2.InvoluJon-self-examinaJonforthepurposeofunderstandingoneself,healingoldwounds,andlearningwhatservesus.3.Narcissism-anecessaryandvulnerableperiodofself-absorpJonandperhapsredefiningone’simage.4.EvoluJon-astageofinternalgrowthinwhichaperson’sspiritisallowedtobeincontrolforthehighergood.

ThisconceptisconsistentwithanancientnoJonofthefireelementastheagentoftransformaJon.Fireiscentraltoalchemy,andaremnantofthisideasJllexistsinmodernscienJficnotaJonwherethesymboloffire–anupward-poinJngtriangle,likeaflame(theGreekleherdelta)–isusedtoindicatebothheatandchange.Firegivesusthecapacitytorefinemetals,toburnawaythedebris,perhapseventoturnleadintogold.

In Vedic thought, fire is said to take things from the earthly realm to the spiritual realm.Mantras andofferingsthrownintoafirearesaidtoreachtheDivine.Andbecausethetongueisalsoassociatedwiththefireelement,whenwespeakourwordsaloud,they’resaidtopassthroughthefireandarethus imbuedwiththepotenJalfortransformaJon.

Whenwechoosetoact,thestateofourthirdchakrainfluencesthelikelihoodthatwe’llfollowthroughtocompleJonand thatour intenJonswill take root in theworld.Aweak, insecure,orcollapsedcentrehaslihle power, which canmake it overly controlling. Playing it safe but sJll wishing to exert control. It’s asimilar casewhen our personalwill is at oddswith DivineWill or thewill of our soul: ifwe succeed atiniJaJngthechangewedesire, itwilloccur through forcerather thanpower.TheEvoluJonstateofself-esteem speaks to this concept of power, and it echoes Gary Zukav’s teachings on empowerment andevoluJoninTheSeatoftheSoul.Hewrites,“Whenthepersonalitycomesfullytoservetheenergyof itssoul,thatisauthenJcempowerment.”

Howcanwemanagethispowerinareverentway?ZukavassertsthathumanshavehistoricallyapproachedevoluJonasamaherofcompeJJonforexternalpower–andthatthenextphaseofourevoluJonwillarisefromtherecogniJonofauthenJcpower.Here’sapassageonthistopicfromZukav.

All of our ins9tu9ons – social, economic, and poli9cal – reflect our understanding of power as external.Anythingwefeartolose–ahome,acar,ana=rac9vebody,anagilemind,adeepbelief–isasymbolofexternalpower.Compe99onforexternalpowerliesattheheartofallviolence.Thepercep9onofpowerasexternalsplintersthepsyche,whether it is thepsycheofthe individual, thecommunity, thena9on,ortheworld.

WearenowonajourneytowardsgainingauthenJcpower.WeareevolvingfromamagicianthatpursuesexternalpowerintoamagicianthatpursuesauthenJcpower.Ourdeeperunderstandingleadsustoakindofpowerthat loves life inevery formthat itappears,apowerthatdoesnot judgewhat itencounters,apowerthatperceivesmeaningfulnessandpurposeinthesmallestdetailsupontheEarth.ThisisauthenJcpower.Whenwealignourthoughts,emoJons,andacJonswiththehighestpartofourselves,wearefilledwithenthusiasm,purpose,andmeaning.

TobepowerfulmagiciansweneedtolookaYerourphysicalbodies.HerearesomerecommendaJonsforimprovingourhealthandassisJnginstrengtheningandbalancingthethirdchakra:


• Heal your digesJon and your relaJonship with food. Unhealthy eaJng paherns and digesJveproblemsdivertenergyfromthislevelofbeing.

• Learntomanageyourstress.Stress,throughacJvaJonofsurvivalmechanisms,scahersourpoweranddivertsenergyawayfromourcentre.

• If youhaveadrenal faJgue, rehabilitateyourself. This requires refraining fromusingmoreenergythanyouhave;goingtobedbeforereachingexhausJon;avoidingstressorsandsJmulants;geingdeep,resxulsleep;andeaJngwhole,nourishingfoods.

• Strengthenyourcorethroughexercise.• Challengeyourselftotakerisks(ifthisissomethingthat’sdifficultforyou).• PracJce following throughonwhat you start.Don’t begin anything youdon’t honestly intend to

finish.• CulJvateself-discipline.• Unearthandhealyourshame.

Finally,whenyoufeelanurgetoactandyou’reuncertainaboutit,tryaskingyourself,“Whowantsthis?”or“Whereisthiscomingfrom?”Seeifyoucanquietyourmindandallowananswertocome.Isitanurgeofyourpersonality,anurgefuelledbyadesireforapproval,security,orcontrol?Ordoesitarisefromadeeperpartofyou?Wishingyouself-reflecJon,healing,andempowerment.

MeditaCon-InnerFire

Exercise–IncreasingyourcorestrengthPullinguptheenergyfromtheearthcoreintoyoursolarplexus.PullingyourstomachinJghtandholdingyourbreathforthecountof10.Exhalealloftheairandthenrepeat6Jmes.

Workshop-DragonPower-WeatherMagickWeatherisamajoraspectofnature,andwitchesarenaturalbeings,ahuningtheirlivestotheJdesofthemoon,melding their paherns to the turning of the year. InWeatherWitchery part of claiming our owninherentpowerincludesworkingwiththenaturalelementsofEarth,Air,Fire,andWater.Thereisverylihleaboutweatherthatisnotanelementalexperience,someJmestotheextreme.

WeathermagickisnotaboutexerJngcontrolovertheelements,butconnecJngtotheflowofenergyandmovingwiththecurrentstomanifestyourwill.Wedonothavepowerovertheelementsratherweworkinpartnershipwith the elements. Thosewho know the secrets ofweathermagick have a responsibility asgreatastheirpowertoprotecttheland.

WhenweworkwithDragons,wemustberespecxulandthankfulforanythingthattheygrantus.DragonsaretheRulersovertheElements.TobeeffecJvewithweathermagickyouhavetoworkwiththedragonsforawhiletogaintheirrespect.Whentheyareconfidentthatyouareworthy,theywillworkwithyou,butdonotthinkthatyouhavepoweroverthemorthattheywillalwaysassistyouinyourrequests.

Ethicsofweatherwitcheryarehotlydebated.Ibelievethatweshouldbehaveresponsiblywithourmagick.Theproblemwithethicsisthateveryonehastheirownguidelines.

WeathermagickexistsinallculturesandcommuniJesinsomeformoranother.Thewayitisworkedvariesdependingonthemagicalpathyouworkin.WewillbeconducJngaweatherritualtobringabouttheendofthedrought.


DragonofLightness&DarknessMaskMaking


Themaskswemade.

Ritual—TiamatRiteofSelfCreaCon

TheaimofthisRiteofSelf-CreaJonistoallowyoutoevolve,mutateandbecomesomethingbeher.InthisritualyouwillmeetTiamatatthegatewaytoherabyssandshewillbeinherprimaldraconianform.Shewillinviteyouintotheabyssandyouneedtoletgoofyourfearsandyouwilldancethedanceofdeathandlife.YouwillbedancingtofindyourcreaJvespiritbylookingintothefaceofdeath.

CastCircle&QuarterCalls—noneedtocallquartersasthecirclehasremainedfromthepreviousritual.

InvocaContoTiamat

OhGreatGoddessTiamat,sJrandarise,awakeinthedarkness,awakeintheabyssShewhoisterribletoface,whodevoursandswallowsuplifeShewhobringslifetothosewhofaceher.SheisthebegeherofdragonsSJrupODragonGoddess,Isummonthee

Wewillnowdrinkoftheprimalwaters,theabyssicdarkness.Drinkfromthechaliceandvisualizeyourspirittransformingintotheimageofadragon.

MeditaCononTiamat

DanceintoyourselfcreaJon,asyoudancevisualisewhatyouwanttomoveinto.Danceyourselfintoself–creaJon.


AltarforTiamatritual

Closing

DevocaContoTiamat

OhGreatGoddessTiamat,thankyouforarisingandawakeninginthedarknessandtheabyssThankyouforassisJnginourself-creaJon.OfTiamatGoddessofdragonsHailandFarewell.

AlchemicalRebirthintheWatersofTiamatAlchemy is an accelerated pathway to self-mastery, to self-realizaJon, to self actualizaJon. It is analternaJve, pre-scienJfic spiritual and philosophical interpretaJon of life, encompassing its physical,emoJonalandmentalaspects.ThealchemististhecatalyJcagentofthisspiritualchemistry.TheAlchemistundergoes anevoluJonary processof change,moving throughvarious stagesof refinement from thelowerself(basemetal)tothehigherself(thegold).

Alchemy is theGreatWork, a process of separaJon, transformaJonand integraJon. Themindbody is acrucible for refining the vehicles of consciousness. By altering your own consciousness, you alter yourrelaJontotheuniverse,andthischangesyourworld.

TherearemanywaystoarJculatethedynamicprocess.Processisawayofdoing,notwhatisbeingdone.Alchemy is a process-oriented path, emphasizing awareness of internal experience over external striving


and emphasizing a connecJon with the sacred. It demands self-honesty, self-responsibility and anoverarchingdesiretolivelifeasaspiritualpath.Morethansimplydevelopingself,thealchemisttransformschaostoCosmos.

Tounderstandtheconceptofalchemicalrebirthwewilljourneybacktotheprimordialwomb,toconnecttotheDragonGoddess Tiamat. Thedragon is themost powerful imageof theprimamateria (which is theprimiJveformlessbaseofallmahersimilartochaos,thequintessenceoraether).ThedragonisanimageoftheimmenseandunrecognizedpowerofinsJnct,whichulJmatelyisthecreaJveanddestrucJvepoweroflifeitself—thepowerthatlivesinandthroughallofus.AswiththemanyancienttradiJons,theartofthealchemistwastoassistinbringingthisapparentlychaoJcandoverwhelmingpowertoafullyawakenedstate.Paradoxically,thedragonisboththegreatestdangertousandourgreatesttreasure,thegoldthatistheoutcomeofthealchemicalGreatWork.

It is said that Tiamat is the primordial wombwhich contains all potenJaliJes: all four elements and allpotenJal life. It is thematrixof all creaJon. Inpsychological sense, theprimordialwomb represents thecollecJveunconscious.PurificaJonanddisJllaJonofthefleshandthespiritintheblackwatersofTiamatbring the pracJJoner to the focus on transcendent consciousness and the principle of alchemicalcoagulaJon-selfre-creaJon.

Wewill be experiencing this sense of self-creaJon through themeditaJon of Rebirth. Take note of anysymbolsthatyouseeinthemeditaJonasyoucanincorporatethemintoaasigilofTiamatforCreaJvity/FerJlity

MeditaCon

SitinacomfortableposiJon.Closeyoureyes.Breathedeeplyinasteadyrhythm.Witheachbreath,starttorelaxand,asyouenterthetrance,beginthevisualizaJon:

Envision yourself standing on the shore of a black sea at night. The sea is calm, and you can sense thewaterybreezeonyourface.Therearecloudsintheskycoveringthemoon,butthestarsarevisible.Disrobeandenterthewater.Slowlystartwalkingdeeperanddeeperintothesea.Immerseyourselfinthewatersothat itcoversyoucompletely.Envisionblackwateryserpentsswimmingaroundyouandglidingoveryourskin.Startbreathingunderthewaterandfeelhowyourbodyisbeinginfusedwiththesaltcontainedinthesea.Feelhowthesaltentersthroughyourskinandthroughbreathingintoyourlungs.Feelhowitspreadsoveryourwholebody.Thisfeelspainfulatfirst,butatthesameJme,youexperiencethepleasureofbeingunitedwith the Primordial Darkness. Feel how your flesh is being dissolved in thewaterywomb of theGoddessTiamat.Thewatersaroundyoubecomeblackandallyoucanseeisdarkness.Youaredissolvinginthisdarkness,yourbodyslowlybecomestheblackliquidwhichmergeswiththeblackwaterthatsurroundsyou. You feel how your consciousness merges with the universe, before your eyes appear images andvisionsofallaspectsofhuman lifeanddeath.At thesameJme,youare transforming,andyouundergopurificaJon.All thatwasweakand imperfect inyou isnowdissolved in thewaters,andwhat remains isyourcore,immortalessence,thesparkofDivinity.

Visualizenowthatyouareswimminguptothesurfaceoftheseaandthen,floaJngonthewaters,asifyouwerelyingonyourbackandlookingattheskyaboveyou.Thecloudsmoveawayandthefullfaceofthemoonappearsinthesky.Youfeelpurifiedandverylight,bathinginthesilverenergyofthemoon.Theskybecomesbrighterandbrighter,anditisdawning.Themoondisappearsandthesunrisesatthehorizon.Anewdaybegins.Feelnowhowyourdivinesparkrisesfromwithinandturnsintoaflame.Theflamewithinyouisgeingbiggerandwarmer,increasingwiththepassageofthesunoverthehorizon.Thesunwarmsthe waters of the sea and you feel how the enormous heat spreads from the base of your spine andconsumesyourwholebodyintonguesofredfire.Asthesunreaches itspeakatnoon,youarethe livingflame,theessenceoffire,floaJngupabovethewaters-onceblack,nowclearandshiningwiththegoldenreflecJonofthesun.ThefeelingisecstaJcandyouburnwithdelightandsensaJonoftotalpower.


Asthesunsetsdownandslowlydescendstowardsthehorizon,youfeelhowthefirewithinyoubecomescrystallized intoflesh.Your formerbodythatwasdissolved intheblackwaters isgone,andanewone isbeingcreated.Feelandseehow it isbeingbuiltandhowthefire is transformed intoflesh.Youarenowagain inyourphysicalbody,buttheflameandthefeelingofpowerwithinyousJll remainandbindyourspiritandyourfleshtogether.Whenthesundisappearsbehindthehorizonandthenightstartsagain,youswim towards the shore and emerge out of the sea-strengthened and rejuvenated: reborn in the darkwatersofTiamat.YouralchemicaltransformaJoniscompleteandyoufeeltheunityofforceswithinyourbodyandyoursoul.Youareaunifiedconsciousness,anisolatedanduniquebeinginthewholeuniverse,yetconnectedwiththecosmicawareness.Meditateuponthisfeelingforawhile,thenreturnfullyinyourbody.

Standupandstretchandmovethedragonfireupthroughyourbodyfromthecoreoftheearth.

MakingaSigilofTiamatforCreaCvity/FerClity

Thesigilswemade.


Ritual—AscendingtheRealmofEreshkigal—TakingbackyourpowerThecon0nua0onandcomple0onofSaturdaymorning’sritual…AYeraperiodofcontemplaJon,asmallpinprickoflightcanbeseenabovethecrownchakra,thelightsourcebecomeslargerandlargerandthenentersthroughthecrownchakraandmovesdownthespinalcordtothebasechakra.Thewhitelightthenenters each chakra opening, clearing blockages and cleansing each chakra. Once all chakras have beenclearedandalignedaprocessofrebirthtakesplaceandhealingbegins.Eachpersonthenturnsandmovesclockwisethroughthecirclereceivingbackyourreengineeredme'sasyoumovedbackthroughthesevengates. At each gate theywill also receive healing whichwill be integrated through their being over thefollowingweeks.

EreshkigalEreshkigal,youwhositenthronedintheunderworldYouwhositinjudgementThankyouforshowinguswhowetrulyareEreshkigal,GoddessoftheDarknessMayweeachseethetruthofourspiritAsyouseeitAsbeyourwill

South—Enlil(nowri=enscript-quartercalls&farewellswerecomposedontheday)West—TiamatNorth—EnkiEast—Inanna


NotesonSumerianDeiCes

An—Heather

Babzu—Allison

Enki—Jenny

Enlil—Simon

Ereshkigal—Janine

Gilgamesh—Wade

Gula—Nic

Inanna—Jane

Marduk—Von

Nergal—Logan

NeC—Bev

Ninhursag—Lisa

Ninurta—Beau

Tiamat—Sam

Utu—Peter

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An—AlsoknownasAnintheSumerianpantheon,hewasthe sky god and Lord of theHeavens in taleswrihen before2500BCE.His consortwasAntuand, from theirunion,wereborn the Annunaki, the judges of the dead. The Sumerianword`An'istranslatedas`heaven'andhewasassociatedwiththunder rolling across the skies. During storms he wasimagined as a great bull roaring above the clouds. Anubecame,inJme,thesupremelordwhowasthepowerbehindthat of all the other deiJes.Only his son Enlil had access tohimandpeoplewouldpraytothelessergodswhowouldpasstheirrequestupthechaintoEnlil.AnuisthefirsttoholdtheTabletsofDesJnybeforepassingthemontoEnlil.hhps://www.ancient.eu/arJcle/221/the-mesopotamian-pantheon/

Babzu — Babzu (also Apsu, Absu, Abzu) is a primevalSumero-AkkadiandeityandpartoftheSumerianpantheon.

At first, he was perceived as a feminine enJty, but he laterbecame a god, the consort or husband of the primordialgoddess Tiamat and the father of the first deiJes, whichincludedtwinsLahmuandLahamu,An,Kiandvariousothers.

BabzuwasthepersonificaJonandrulerofallfreshwater.Heis depicted as more ethereal than physical and is thereforerarely described, although he is someJmes depicted incarvingsasaserpent,adragonorawingedman.

According to the Enuma Elish, (BabylonianMyth of CreaJonwhich over Jme has become the most widely recognizedversionofBabzu’sstory)inthebeginning,therewasnoearthorsky,onlythewasteandconfusionoftheprimordialoceans.Babzuwas the sweetwater that encircled the earth, and hefusedwithTiamat, thepersonificaJonofsaltwater.ThiswasthebeginningofcreaJon.

Whensweetandbi=ermingledtogether,Noreedwasplaited,norushesmuddiedthewater.Thegodswerenameless,natureless,futureless.FromApsuandTiamat,inthewatersgodswerecreated,inthewaterssiltprecipitated.

--EnumaElish

AsthechildrenofBabzuandTiamatflourished,theirnumbersincreased, and they ahempted to make order from theprimordialchaos.

Stonecarvingdepic9onofBabzu/Apsuinhiswingedmanform

Insomeaccounts,BabzuandTiamatcouldnotbearthenoiseanduproarcausedbytheyoungergods,andsoBabzuplannedto eliminate them. Other versions claimed that therebelliousness of the new deiJes angered Babzu and hiswife,orthatBabzuoverheardhischildrenploingtokillhim.

Whatever the cause forhis alarm,Babzudecided to stophischildren, and he and his wife called upon the GodMummu(ApsuandTiamat’svizier,alsosomeJmesreferredtoastheirson)forassistance.Tiamat,despiteheranger,declinedtokillherdescendantswhenMummuandBabzujoinedforces.


https://www.ancient.eu/article/221/the-mesopotamian-pantheon/

Thus,thestrugglebetweentheold,primordialdeiJesandtheneworderbegan.

ThestruggleendedwiththegodEnki(someJmesdepictedasthesonofBabzuandTiamat)defeaJngBabzu.He thenbuilthishome insideBabzu’s corpse,wherehe livedwithhiswife(known by many names including Ninhursag, Ninmah,DamgalnunaandDamkina).

Pulleddownthebarandpostedguards.HesquaredApsu'squarter,theabodeofNudimmud,AsthelordmeasuredthedimensionsofApsu.TheGreatAbode,itslikeness,hefixedasEsharra,TheGreatAbode,Esharra,whichhemadeasthefirmament.Anu,Enlil,andEahemadeoccupytheirplaces.

--EnumaElish

Babzu’sdeathcausedhiswifeTiamattorevolt.Shegavebirthtomanydragonsandmonsters,whichshefilledwith“venominstead of blood”, and together they avenged her spouse'sdeath. However, Tiamat was also defeated, this Jme by thegodMarduk (who is, according to some sources, the son ofEnkiandhiswife).

OtherversionsahributetherestructuringofBabzutoMardukinstead of Enki, who kept Babzu at his foot aYerdefeaJngTiamatinbahle.

ApsuasaSacredPlace

TheEnumaElishistheonlyCreaJonMythtorecognizeBabzuasasadeity.Theword 'apsu'otherwise referred toa sacredplace in thewatery depths,where Apsu the dragon dwelledandlaterthegodEnkiresided.

As a place name, apsu was used to refer to the extensivesweet waters that produced the southern Mesopotamianmarshlands when it became the home to the wisegodEnkiandthebirthplaceofthegodMarduk.

In one Sumerian myth, apsu was a river or sea fromwhichEnkigatheredclayandshapedthedeiJes;inanother,itwas where the goddesss Nammu formed the first humanbeingfromclay.

ThecityofBabylonwassaidtohavebeenbuiltontheapsu.

Enki— Enki (later known as Ea in Babylonianmythology)was the Sumerian god of wisdom, fresh water, intelligence,trickery and mischief, craYs, magic, exorcism, healing,creaJon,virility,ferJlity,andart.Iconographydepictshimasabearded man wearing a horned cap and long robes as heascendstheMountainoftheSunrise;flowingstreamsofwaterrun fromhis shoulders,emphasizinghisassociaJonwith life-giving water, while trees represenJng the male and femaleprinciplestandinthebackground.

His name translates as "Lord of the Earth" but there aretheories that this name has another origin. The later nameEa, in Sumerian, means "the house of water”. Enki/Ea wassomeJmesdepictedasamancoveredwiththeskinofafish,and this representaJon points decidedly to his originalcharacterasagodofthewaters.Hissymbolsarethefishandthe goat, both representaJons of ferJlity, which later

combinedintoasinglebeastwhichbecamethezodiacsymbolof Capricorn. In Sumerian astronomy he represented theplanetMercury.

In Sumerianmythology Enkiwas the son of Anu/An and thegoddessNammu.InBabyloniantextshewastheoldestsonofthefirst gods -Apsu, themaleprinciplepersonifiedby freshwaterandTiamat,thefemaleprincipledefinedbysaltwater.Enki's wife was Ninhursag and one of their many sonswas Marduk. Enki is also oYen depicted as the fatherof Inanna. In later Mesopotamian religion, Enki/Ea becamepartofaprimary triadofdeiJesconsisJngofhis fatherAnu(deepheaven),hisolderhalf-brotherEnlil(skyandearth),andhimself(waters).

Enki/Ea

IntheBabylonianEnumaElish(c.1100BCE)ApsuandTiamatgavebirthtotheyoungergods,includingEnki.Theirconstantnoise distracted Apsu and interrupted his sleep and so hedecidedtokillthem.TiamatfoundoutandtoldEnkiwhothenputhisfatherApsuintoadeepsleepandthenmurderedhimtostophimfromkillingalltheyoungergods.TiamatwasnotexpecJng this outcome so she disowned her son Enki alongwith the rest of his siblings. She raised an army led by herconsortQuingu(Kingu)whichdefeatedEnkiandtheyoungergods. At this point Enki's sonMarduk stepped forthwith anoffer: if the godswouldmake him their king, hewould leadthem to victory. Once Marduk was elected king, he metQuingu in single combat and defeated him and then shotTiamat with an arrow so great it split her in two. From hereyes ran the tears which would become the Tigris andEuphratesriversandherbodywasusedbyMarduktofashionthe earth. Quingu, and other gods who had encouragedTiamat's war, were executed and Quingu's body used tocreatehumanbeings.MardukconsultedwithEnkionallthesechoicesandsoEnkiisoYencreditedasco-creatoroftheworldandlife.


The Akkadian/Babylonian story of The Atrahasis (c. 17thcenturyBCE)givesanotherversionofthecreaJonwhereEnkiplays apivotal role. In this story, theelder gods live a lifeofleisure while making the younger gods do all the work inmaintaining creaJon. Enki proposes that they create lesserbeings who will be co-workers with them. One of the godsvolunteers himself as a sacrifice and is killed so his flesh,blood, and intelligence can be kneaded into clay by themothergoddessNinhursagfromwhichshecreatessevenmaleand seven female human beings. The populaJon grows veryquicklyandsoontheconstantnoiseof thesepeopledisturbsthesleepofEnlil,kingofthegods,sohesetsouttoeliminatehumanity by sending drought, pesJlence, then famine butEnki thwarts his half-brother's plans by teaching the peoplehowtocountereachofthesethreats.

Enlil isenragedandconvincestheothergodstoallowhimtounleash a great flood which will destroy humanity. Enkirecognizes the cruelty and injusJce of this plan but cannotdeterEnlil sohegoes toEarthandwhispers toamancalledAtrahasistobuildanarkandenteritwithtwoofeverykindofanimal. Atrahasis completes his mission just as the floodbegins.

AYer the sevendaydeluge thefloodwaters subside, thearkcomes to rest, and Enki whispers to Atrahasis that the Jmehascomeforhimtoopentheshipandmakesacrificestothegods. Enlil looks down from heaven, furious to see thatsomeonehassurvived,andinstantlyknowsEnkiisbehindthis.EnkiexplainshimselfanddirectstheahenJonofalltheothergods to the sacrifice. They are all pleased and descend toEarthtoeatthesacrificeandthenEnkiproposesanewplantoinsJtutemeasurestoensurethathumanitydoesnotbecometoopopulous in the future. The gods agree to this proposal;Atrahasis,the lastofhiskind, isspiritedawaytothe landsoftheblessedandNinhursagcreatesthenewcreatures.In bothof these stories, Enki acts in thebest interest of thecommunity even if that community cannot appreciate it. IntheEnumaElish he defies hismother's hopes in killingApsubutmustdosoforthegreatergoodand,inTheAtrahasis,hesavesonegoodmantoinspireEnliltogivehumanityasecondchancetolive.Inmostoftheotherstoriesheisshowninthissameway.In The Marriage of Ereshkigal and Nergal, for example, hearrangeseventssothatNergal,godofwar,willbeheldintheunderworld for six months out of the year, thusprevenJngwarfareandstrifeduringthatJme.InTheDescentof Inanna he contrives for his daughter's rescue from theunderworld aYer she is killed by her sister Ereshkigal bysending two clever demons to trick the Queen of the DeadintogivingthemInanna'scorpse.There aremany other storieswhere, as a trickster god, Enkireveals his wisdom - and so enlightens others - throughacJonswhichmaynotmakesenseonthesurface.Whengivenachoicebetweenservingthewillofthegodsorthe needs of the people, Enki always chose human interestsandalwaysthepathofcompassion,forgiveness,andwisdom.hhps://www.ancient.eu/Enki/hhps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enkihhps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Enki

Enlil— The Sumerian god of the air whose namemeans`Lord of the Air andWind' but far more powerful than anymere elemental deity. His consort was Ninlil. Enlil, Anu, andEnki made up a triad which ruled Heaven, Earth, and theUnderworldor,alternately,theheavens,skyandatmosphere,andearth.

Enlil

Enlil was an important weather god oYen prayed to andworshipped in hopes of fair weather for a good harvest.Holder of The Tablets of DesJny, he was the Lord of theSumerian pantheon aYer 2500 BCE and worshipped by theAkkadiansc.2334-c.2083BCE.HewaslaterabsorbedintothegodMardukduringthereignofHammurabi(1792-1750BCE).Enlilisfeaturedinanumberofmythsasasupremedeityandking of the gods. Although his cult centerwas at Nippur, hewaswidelyveneratedthroughoutMesopotamia.

hhps://www.ancient.eu/arJcle/221/the-mesopotamian-pantheon/

Ereshkigal—(seepage3)

Gilgamesh — Gilgamesh was a historical king of theSumeriancity-stateofUruk,laterelevatedtogodhood.

Tales of Gilgamesh's legendary exploits are narrated in fivesurviving Sumerian poems. The earliest of these isprobably Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld, in whichGilgameshcomestotheaidofthegoddessInannaanddrivesaway thecreatures infesJngherhulupputree.Shegiveshimtwo unknown objects called a mikku and a pikku, which heloses. AYer Enkidu's death, his shade tells Gilgamesh aboutthebleakcondiJonsintheUnderworld.ThepoemGilgameshand Agga describes Gilgamesh's revolt against hisoverlordKingAgga.OtherSumerianpoemsrelateGilgamesh'sdefeatoftheogreHuwawaandtheBullofHeavenandafiYh,poorly preserved one apparently describes his death andfuneral.

TheEpicofGilgameshseemstobemostoftheexisJngstorieslightly edited into a single narraJve. Elements of the Epicappearinlaterworks,suchTheIlliadand,mostcontroversially,theHebrewBibleasthetaleofGilgameshhasanepisodewithagreatflood.Butthereareotherelementscopied,too.


https://www.ancient.eu/Enki/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enki

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Enki


Gilgamesh

(I've noJcedGilgamesh is good at losing things - he lost themagicplantUtnapashJmgavehim,healsolostthemikkuandpikkuthatInannagavehim.)The moJf of the quest for the meaning of life is first fullyexplored in Gilgamesh as the hero-king leaves his kingdomfollowing the death of his best friend, Enkidu, to find themysJcalfigureUtnapishJmandgaineternal life.Gilgamesh'sfear of death is actually a fear of meaninglessness and,althoughhefailstowin immortality,thequest itselfgiveshislife meaning. This theme has been explored by writers andphilosophersfromanJquityuptothepresentday.Throughhisstruggletofindmeaninginlife,Gilgameshdefieddeath and, in doing so, becomes thefirst epic hero inworldliterature.

HisfatherwasthePriest-KingLugalbandaHismotherwasthegoddessNinsunorNinsumunTheSumerianKingListsayshelivedfor126yearsHeiswidelyacceptedatthe5thUrukkingwholivedbetween2700and2600BCE.Stories:

• Inannaandthetree.

• She plants a tree but it becomes infested withsnakes,ademon(Lilith!)andanAnzubird

• Sheappeals toherbrotherUtu tohelp removethepestsbutherefuses

• Gligameshoverhearsandcomestokillthesnakeanddriveoffthedemonandbird

• Enkiduthewildman

• Gilgamesh isseenastooproudandarrogantsothesendhimawildmantohumblehim

• Theybahlebutareevenlymatched,unJlEnkidugivesinandthetwobecomefriends

• ThekillHumbaba,demonofthecedarforest

• Inanna(akaIshtar)comestoseducehimbutherejectsher

• This enrages her and she sends the bull ofheaven tokillhim,butEnkidudefendshimanddefeatsthebull

• ThismeansEnkidu is sentenced todeathwhichdevastatesGilgamesh

• Failingtodefeatdeath

• Utnapishim offers him two chances atimmortality:stayawakefor6daysand6nights,orprotectamagicplant

• Gilgameshfailsatboth!

• Urshanabitakeshimbacktotheworld

Gilgamesh isthefirstepichero in literatureandeventhoughhe failed to achieve immortality, his journey into grief is astory that echoes with every human. His stories have thusgivenhimadifferentkindofimmortality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgameshhttps://www.ancient.eu/gilgamesh/

Gula—


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgamesh

https://www.ancient.eu/gilgamesh/

Typically encountered inmedical incantaJons asbēletbalāJ,"Lady of Health", Gula/Ninkarrak was also known astheazugallatu the"greathealer",anepithetshesharedwithhersonDamu.Otherepithets,suchasthe"greathealeroftheland" and "great healer of the black-headed ones", point toherwide-reaching 'naJonal' significance. Gula/Ninkarrakwasalso credited as an "herb grower", "the ladywhomakes thebroken up whole again", and "creates life in the land",indicaJve of an aspect as a vegetaJon/ferJlity goddesswithregeneraJve powers. At least in the Neo-Babylonian period,shealsoseemstohavehadadream-likequality,beingsoughtin incubaJon dreams (dream incubaJon is simply focusingahenJon on a specific issue when going to sleep) andappearinginnocturnalvisions.

Gula/Ninkarrak also had a violent side as the "queenwhose'tempest', like a raging storm, makes heaven [tremble (?)],makes earth quake" (Avalos 1995: 106-7). The goddess andherdogswerefrequentlymenJonedincurseformulae.

Gulawithhersacredanimal,thedog

Indeed…Thegoddessisalmostasfrequentlyinvokedincursesassheisin healing. Shewas thought to be able to bring earthquakesandstormswhenshewasangered,andamongherepithetsis'Queen of the Tempest' and 'She Who Makes HeavenTremble.' A tablet from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I(1125-1104BCE)invokesGulaasaprotectressforamemorial.It was customary, whenever a king erected amonument, toaddacursetotheinscripJononanyonewhowoulddefaceorremoveit,callinguponthegodstopunishthetransgressorinall kinds of ways. The inscripJon on Nebuchadnezzar I'smemorial reads in part how, if anyone should deface orremove it, "MayNinurta, the king of heaven and earth, andGula,thebrideofE-Sharra,destroyhislandmarkandblotouthisseed".

ButWhoIsShe?ThegoddessGula(whosenamemeans“great”)wasahealinggoddesswho understood disease and became the patronessof doctors. She was worshiped in different areas underdifferentnamessuchasNinJnuga,Ninkarrak,Meme,andthebestknownofall,Ninisinaor“theladyofIsin.”Thesewerealloriginally the names of other goddesses. She had manytemples with the biggest one at Nippur. She was either thewifeofNinurta,thegodofwar,orAbu,thegodofplants.Gula gave birth to the healing god Damu, and to the godNinazu (alsoassociatedwithhealing).Her sacredanimalwasthedog,andsmallmodeldogswerededicatedtoherbyherfollowers. Her son, Damu, was known for driving awaydemonsandwasespeciallyhonoredat Isin, Larsa,andUr. InSumerian poetry, Damu is someJmes described as thedaughterofNinisina.

Inanna—SheisagoddessinSumerianmythology.Sheisregarded as one of the most important deiJes of theMesopotamianpantheonandisprimarilyknownasagoddessofsexuallove,thoughsheisalsoknownasagoddessofwar.Sheissaidtopossessahributesthatseemtocontradicteachother.Inannaisthegoddessofthemorningandeveningstaraswellasthemoon.Herimageryincludesthelunarstar,therosehe,whichrepresentstheplanetVenus.Herheadgearconsistsofa


http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/damu/index.html

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/bibliography/index.html#avalos_1995

horned crown enclosing a cone, which is symbolic for thesacredmountain.

SheisoYendepictedwithwingsandaserpententwinedstaff.This imagery tells of her roots as an ancient bird and snakegoddess, thecreatrixof theupperand lowerwatersand thegoddessoflife,deathandrenewal.

Inher life-givingaspect Inanna’sbirds includethe lunardoveand the swallow. In her death-bringer she is associatedwiththeviperandthescorpion,butalsotheowl.

Shehasmanynames,someofwhichare:

• Queenofheavenandearth

• Priestessofheaven

• Lightoftheworld

Goddess of life and death, however in later mythology herdarker aspect passes to her sister Ereshkigal. In her capacityas,life-givingGoddesssheisallaboutferJlityandabundance.

As Queen of earth she is the goddess of grain, vine, date,palms,cedar,thesycamorefig,theoliveandtheappletree.

AncientAkkadiancylindersealdepic9ngInannares9ngherfootonthebackofalion.

The most famous story is of Inanna’s descent into theunderworld to reunite with her sister Ereshkigal. It is verymuch a lunar myth of the dark moon. On the way Inannaencounters the seven gates – the number of days of thewaningmoon–whereshemustgiveup theseven regaliaofHer office. When she finally meets her sister, she dies andmusthangonahookforthreedays–thenumberofthedarkmoon.Eventuallyshereturnstotheworldabove,butonlyonthecondiJonthatshefindareplacementforherself.

Thisstoryisetchedonastoneandisamongtheworld’soldestpoemswith415lines.

Her strength is as a rulerwhoothers fear to crosswhileherweaknessisthatsheisfickle,alwaysahracJngnewloversandgeingboredwiththem.

Correspondences

Zodiac–Gemini,Leo,Virgo,

Solarsystems–Earth,Uranus

CelebraJons–Imbolic,Lughnasadh,Mabon,Samhain

Plants–Fir,datepalms,grain,reed

Animal–Dove,Swallow,Owl,Cahle,Jackal,Lion,Moonsnail

Issues, IntenJons and powers – abundance, ambiJon,agriculture,asserJveness,bahle/war,courage,death,desJny,determinaJon,divinaJon,endurance,energy,enmity,ferJlity,freedom, guardian, guidance, healing, increase, knowledge,light, love, moon sex, marriage, opportuniJes, theotherworld/underworld, power, problems, prophecy,prosperity,purificaJon,quests,rebirth/renewal,responsibility,sensuality,weather,well-being.

THEDESCENTOFINANNA(Wolkstein-Kramer)

FROMTHEGREATABOVETOTHEGREATBELOW

FromtheGreatAbovesheopenedhereartotheGreatBelow.FromtheGreatAbovethegoddessopenedhereartotheGreatBelow.FromtheGreatAboveInannaopenedhereartotheGreatBelow.MyLadyabandonedheavenandearthtodescendtotheunderworld.Inannaabandonedheavenandearthtodescendtotheunderworld.Sheabandonedherofficeofholypriestesstodescendtotheunderworld.

InUruksheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InBadJbirasheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InZabalamsheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InAdabsheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InNippursheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InKishsheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.InAkkadsheabandonedhertempletodescendtotheunderworld.Shegatheredtogetherthesevenme.Shetookthemintoherhands.

Withthemeinherpossession,shepreparedherself:Sheplacedtheshugurra,thecrownofthesteppe,onherhead.Shearrangedthedarklocksofhairacrossherforehead.SheJedthesmalllapisbeadsaroundherneck,Letthedoublestrandofbeadsfalltoherbreast,Andwrappedtheroyalrobearoundherbody.Shedaubedhereyeswithointmentcalled"Lethimcome,lethimcome,"

Boundthebreastplatecalled"Come,man,come!"aroundherchest,Slippedthegoldringoverherwrist,Andtookthelapismeasuringrodandlineinherhand.Inannasetoutfortheunderworld.

Ninshubur,herfaithfulservant,wentwithher.Inannaspoketoher,saying:"Ninshubur,myconstantsupport,Mysukkalwhogivesmewiseadvice,Mywarriorwhorightsbymyside,Iamdescendingtothekur,totheunderworld.

IfIdonotreturn,Setupalamentformebytheruins.Beatthedrumformeintheassemblyplaces.Circlethehousesofthegods.Tearatyoureyes,atyourmouth,atyourthighs.Dressyourselfinasinglegarmentlikeabeggar.GotoNippur,tothetempleofEnlil.Whenyouenterhisholyshrine,cryout:'OFatherEnlil,donotletyourdaughterBeputtodeathintheunderworld.DonotletyourbrightsilverBecoveredwiththedustoftheunderworld.DonotletyourpreciouslapisBebrokenintostoneforthestoneworker.DonotletyourfragrantboxwoodBecutintowoodforthewoodworker.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkadian_Empire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_seal

DonotlettheholypriestessofheavenBeputtodeathintheunderworld.'

IfEnlilwillnothelpyou,GotoUr,tothetempleofNanna.WeepbeforeFatherNanna.IfNannawillnothelpyou,GotoEridu,tothetempleofEnki.WeepbeforeFatherEnki.

FatherEnki,theGodofWisdom,knowsthefoodoflife,Heknowsthewateroflife;Heknowsthesecrets.Surelyhewillnotletmedie."

InannaconJnuedonherwaytotheunderworld.Thenshestoppedandsaid:"Gonow,Ninshubur—DonotforgetthewordsIhavecommandedyou."

WhenInannaarrivedattheoutergatesoftheunderworld,Sheknockedloudly.Shecriedoutinafiercevoice:"Openthedoor,gatekeeper!Openthedoor,NeJ!Ialonewouldenter!"

NeJ,thechiefgatekeeperofthekur,asked:"Whoareyou?"Sheanswered:"IamInanna,QueenofHeaven,OnmywaytotheEast."NeJsaid:"IfyouaretrulyInanna,QueenofHeaven,OnyourwaytotheEast,WhyhasyourheartledyouontheroadFromwhichnotravelerreturns?"Inannaanswered:"Because...ofmyoldersister,Ereshkigal,Herhusband,Gugalanna,theBullofHeaven,hasdied.Ihavecometowitnessthefuneralrites.Letthebeerofhisfuneralritesbepouredintothecup.Letitbedone."NeJspoke:"Stayhere,Inanna,Iwillspeaktomyqueen.Iwillgiveheryourmessage."NeJ,thechiefgatekeeperofthekur,EnteredthepalaceofEreshkigal,theQueenoftheUnderworldandsaid:"Myqueen,amaidAstallasheaven,Aswideastheearth,AsstrongasthefoundaJonsofthecitywall,Waitsoutsidethepalacegates.Shehasgatheredtogetherthesevenme.Shehastakenthemintoherhands.Withthemeinherpossession,shehaspreparedherself:Onherheadshewearstheshugurra,thecrownofthesteppe.Acrossherforeheadherdarklocksofhairarecarefullyarranged.Aroundherneckshewearsthesmalllapisbeads.Atherbreastshewearsthedoublestrandofbeads.Herbodyiswrappedwiththeroyalrobe.Hereyesaredaubedwiththeointmentcalled,'Lethimcome,lethimcome.'Aroundherchestshewearsthebreastplatecalled'Come,man,come!'Onherwristshewearsthegoldring.Inherhandshecarriesthelapismeasuringrodandline.WhenEreshkigalheardthis,Sheslappedherthighandbitherlip.Shetookthemaherintoherheartanddweltonit.Thenshespoke:"Come,NeJ,mychiefgatekeeperofthekur,Heedmywords:Boltthesevengatesoftheunderworld.Then,onebyone,openeachgateacrack.LetInannaenter.Assheenters,removeherroyalgarments.Lettheholypriestessofheavenenterbowedlow."NeJheededthewordsofhisqueen.Heboltedthesevengatesoftheunderworld.

Thenheopenedtheoutergate.Hesaidtothemaid:"Come,Inanna,enter."

Whensheenteredthefirstgate,Fromherhead,theshugurra,thecrownofthesteppe,wasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Whensheenteredthesecondgate,Fromherneckthesmalllapisbeadswereremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Whensheenteredthethirdgate,Fromherbreastthedoublestrandofbeadswasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Whensheenteredthefourthgate,Fromherchestthebreastplatecalled"Come,man,come!"wasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

WhensheenteredthefiShgate,Fromherwristthegoldringwasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Whensheenteredthesixthgate,Fromherhandthelapismeasuringrodandlinewasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Whensheenteredtheseventhgate,Fromherbodytheroyalrobewasremoved.Inannaasked:"Whatisthis?"Shewastold:"Quiet,Inanna,thewaysoftheunderworldareperfect.TheymaynotbequesJoned."

Nakedandbowedlow,Inannaenteredthethroneroom.Ereshkigalrosefromherthrone.Inannastartedtowardthethrone.TheAnnuna,thejudgesoftheunderworld,surroundedher.Theypassedjudgmentagainsther.

ThenEreshkigalfastenedonInannatheeyeofdeath.Shespokeagainstherthewordofwrath.Sheuheredagainstherthecryofguilt.Shestruckher.Inannawasturnedintoacorpse,Apieceofroingmeat,Andwashungfromahookonthewall.

When,aSerthreedaysandthreenights,Inannahadnotreturned,Ninshubursetupalamentforherbytheruins.Shebeatthedrumforherintheassemblyplaces.Shecircledthehousesofthegods.Shetoreathereyes;shetoreathermouth;shetoreatherthighs.Shedressedherselfinasinglegarmentlikeabeggar.


Alone,shesetoutforNippurandthetempleofEnlil.Whensheenteredtheholyshrine,Shecriedout:"OFatherEnlil,donotletyourdaughterBeputtodeathintheunderworld.DonotletyourbrightsilverBecoveredwiththedustoftheunderworld.DonotletyourpreciouslapisBebrokenintostoneforthestoneworker.DonotletyourfragrantboxwoodBecutintowoodforthewoodworker.DonotlettheholypriestessofheavenBeputtodeathintheunderworld."

FatherEnlilansweredangrily:"MydaughtercravedtheGreatAbove.InannacravedtheGreatBelow.Shewhoreceivesthemeoftheunderworlddoesnotreturn.ShewhogoestotheDarkCitystaysthere."FatherEnlilwouldnothelp.

NinshuburwenttoUrandthetempleofNanna.Whensheenteredtheholyshrine,Shecriedout:"OFatherNanna,donotletyourdaughterBeputtodeathintheunderworld.DonotletyourbrightsilverBecoveredwiththedustoftheunderworld.DonotletyourpreciouslapisBebrokenintostoneforthestoneworker.DonotletyourfragrantboxwoodBecutintowoodforthewoodworker.Donotlettheholypriestessofheaven.Beputtodeathintheunderworld."

FatherNannaansweredangrily:"MydaughtercravedtheGreatAbove.InannacravedtheGreatBelow.Shewhoreceivesthemeoftheunderworlddoesnotreturn.ShewhogoestotheDarkCitystaysthere.FatherNannawouldnothelp.

NinshuburwenttoEriduandthetempleofEnki.Whensheenteredtheholyshrine,Shecriedout:"OFatherEnki,donotletyourdaughterBeputtodeathintheunderworld.DonotletyourbrightsilverBecoveredwiththedustoftheunderworld.DonotletyourpreciouslapisBebrokenintostoneforthestoneworker.DonotletyourfragrantboxwoodBecutintowoodforthewoodworker.DonotlettheholypriestessofheavenBeputtodeathintheunderworld."

FatherEnkisaid:"Whathashappened?Whathasmydaughterdone?Inanna,QueenofAlltheLands!HolyPriestessofHeaven!Whathashappened?Iamtroubled.Iamgrieved."

FromunderhisfingernailFatherEnkibroughtforthdirt.Hefashionedthedirtintoakurgarra,acreatureneithermalenorfemale.Fromunderthefingernailofhisotherhandhebroughtforthdirt.Hefashionedthedirtintoagalatur,acreatureneithermalenorfemale.

Hegavethefoodoflifetothekurgarra.Hegavethewateroflifetothegalatur.Enkispoketothekurgarraandgalatur,saying:"Gototheunderworld,Enterthedoorlikeflies.Ereshkigal,theQueenoftheUnderworld,ismoaningWiththecriesofawomanabouttogivebirth.Nolinenisspreadoverherbody.Herbreastsareuncovered.Herhairswirlsaboutherheadlikeleeks.

Whenshecries,'Oh!Oh!Myinside!'Cryalso,'Oh!Oh!Yourinside!'

Whenshecries,'Oh!Oh!Myoutside!'Cryalso,'Oh!Oh!Youroutside!'Thequeenwillbepleased.

ShewillofferyouagiY.Askheronlyforthecorpsethathangsfromthehookonthewall.Oneofyouwillsprinklethefoodoflifeonit.Theotherwillsprinklethewateroflife.Inannawillarise."

ThekurgarraandthegalaturheededEnki'swords.Theysetoutfortheunderworld.Likeflies,theyslippedthroughthecracksofthegates.TheyenteredthethroneroomoftheQueenoftheUnderworld.Nolinenwasspreadoverherbody.Herbreastswereuncovered.Herhairswirledaroundherheadlikeleeks.

Ereshkigalwasmoaning:"Oh!Oh!Myinside!"Theymoaned:"Oh!Oh!Yourinside!"Shemoaned:"Ohhhh!Oh!Myoutside!"Theymoaned:"Ohhhh!Oh!Youroutside!"Shegroaned:"Oh!Oh!Mybelly!"Theygroaned:"Oh!Oh!Yourbelly!"Shegroaned:"Oh!Ohhhh!Myback!!"Theygroaned:"Oh!Ohhhh!Yourback!!"Shesighed:Ah!Ah!Myheart!"Theysighed:Ah!Ah!Yourheart!"Shesighed:Ah!Ahhhh!Myliver!"Theysighed:Ah!Ahhhh!Yourliver!"

Ereshkigalstopped.Shelookedatthem.Sheasked:"Whoareyou,Moaning—groaning—sighingwithme?

Ifyouaregods,Iwillblessyou.Ifyouaremortals,IwillgiveyouagiY.Iwillgiveyouthewater-giY,theriverinitsfullness."

Thekurgarraandgalaturanswered:"Wedonotwishit."

Ereshkigalsaid:“Iwillgiveyouthegrain-giY,thefieldsinharvest.”

Thekurgarraandgalatursaid:"Wedonotwishit."

Ereshkigalsaid:"Speakthen!Whatdoyouwish?"Theyanswered:“Wewishonlythecorpsethathangsfromthehookonthewall."

Ereshkigalsaid:"ThecorpsebelongstoInanna."Theysaid:"Whetheritbelongstoourqueen,Whetheritbelongstoourking,Thatiswhatwewish."

Thecorpsewasgiventothem.Thekurgarrasprinkledthefoodoflifeonthecorpse.Thegalatursprinkledthewateroflifeonthecorpse.Inannaarose....

InannawasabouttoascendfromtheunderworldWhentheAnnuna,thejudgesoftheunderworld,seizedher.


Theysaid:"Nooneascendsfromtheunderworldunmarked.IfInannawishestoreturnfromtheunderworld,Shemustprovidesomeoneinherplace."

AsInannaascendedfromtheunderworld,Thegalla,thedemonsoftheunderworld,clungtoherside.Thegallaweredemonswhoknownofood,whoknownodrink,Whoeatnoofferings,whodrinknolibaJons,WhoacceptnogiYs.Theyenjoynolovemaking.Theyhavenosweetchildrentokiss.

Theytearthewifefromthehusband'sarms,Theytearthechildfromthefather'sknees,Theystealthebridefromhermarriagehome.ThedemonsclungtoInanna.

ThesmallgallawhoaccompaniedInannaWerelikereedsthesizeoflowpicketfences.ThelargegallawhoaccompaniedInannaWerelikereedsthesizeofhighpicketfences.

TheonewhowalkedinfrontofInannawasnotaminister,Yethecarriedasceptre.Theonewhowalkedbehindherwasnotawarrior,Yethecarriedamace.

Ninshubur,dressedinasoiledsackcloth,Waitedoutsidethepalacegates.WhenshesawInannaSurroundedbythegalla,ShethrewherselfinthedustatInanna'sfeet.

Thegallasaid:"Walkon,Inanna,WewilltakeNinshuburinyourplace."Inannacried:"No!Ninshuburismyconstantsupport.Sheismysukkalwhogivesmewiseadvice.Sheismywarriorwhofightsbymyside.Shedidnotforgetmywords.Shesetupalamentformebytheruins.Shebeatthedrumformeattheassemblyplaces.Shecircledthehousesofthegods.Shetoreathereyes,athermouth,atherthighs.Shedressedherselfinasinglegarmentlikeabeggar.Alone,shesetoutforNippurandthetempleofEnlil.ShewenttoUrandthetempleofNanna.ShewenttoEriduandthetempleofEnki.Becauseofher,mylifewassaved.IwillnevergiveNinshuburtoyou."

Thegallasaid:"Walkon,Inanna,WewillaccompanyyoutoUmma."

InUmma,attheholyshrine,Shara,thesonofInanna,wasdressedinasoiledsackclothWhenhesawInannaSurroundedbythegalla.Hethrewhimselfinthedustatherfeet.

Thegallasaid:"Walkontoyourcity,Inanna,WewilltakeSharainyourplace.Inannacried:No!NotShara!Heismysonwhosingshymnstome.Heismysonwhocutsmynailsandsmoothsmyhair.IwillnevergiveSharatoyou.

Thegallasaid:"Walkon,Inanna,WewillaccompanyyoutoBadJbira.”InBadJbira,attheholyshnne.LulalthesonofInanna,wasdressedinsoiledsackcloth.WhenhesawInannaSurroundedbythegallaHethrewhimselfinthedustatherfeet.

Thegallasaid:“WalkomInanna,WewilltakeLulalinyourplace.”Inannacried:"NotLulal!Heismyson.Heisaleaderamongmen.Heismyrightarm.HeismyleYarm.IwillnevergiveLulaltoyou."

Thegallasaid:"Walkontoyourcity,Inanna.WewillgowithyoutothebigappletreeinUruk."InUruk,bythebigappletree,Dumuzi,thehusbandofInanna,wasdressedinhisshiningmegarments.Hesatonhismagnificentthrone;(hedidnotmove).

Thegallaseizedhimbyhisthighs.Theypouredmilkoutofhissevenchurns.Theybrokethereedpipewhichtheshepherdwasplaying.

InannafastenedonDumuzitheeyeofdeath.Shespokeagainsthimthewordofwrath.Sheuheredagainsthimthecryofguilt:"Takehim!TakeDumuziaway!"

Thegalla,whoknownofood,whoknownodrink,Whoeatnoofferings,whodrinknolibaJons,WhoacceptnogiYs,seizedDumuzi.Theymadehimstandup;theymadehimsitdown.TheybeatthehusbandofInanna.Theygashedhimwithaxes.

Dumuziletoutawail.HeraisedhishandstoheaventoUtu,theGodofJusJce,andbeseechedhim:"OUtu,youaremybrother-in-law,Iamthehusbandofyoursister.Ibroughtcreamtoyourmother'shouse,IbroughtmilktoNingal'shouse.Iamtheonewhocarriedfoodtotheholyshrine.IamtheonewhobroughtweddinggiYstoUruk.Iamtheonewhodancedontheholyknees,thekneesofInanna.Utu,youwhoareajustgod,amercifulgod,Changemyhandsintothehandsofasnake.Changemyfeetintothefeetofasnake.Letmeescapefrommydemons;Donotletthemholdme."ThemercifulUtuacceptedDumuzi'stears.HechangedthehandsofDumuziintosnakehands.HechangedthefeetofDumuziintosnakefeet.Dumuziescapedfromhisdemons.Theycouldnotholdhim....

Marduk—TheBabylonianKingoftheGods,thehero-godwho defeated Tiamat and the forces of chaos and broughtorder to the universe which the gods and humans worktogether to maintain. He is the god of healing, jusJce,compassion,regeneraJon,magicandfairness.Hewasknownas the peacekeeper among the gods andwas referred to, inthis regard, as `Shepherd of the Gods'. In the Epic of Irra,MardukleavesthecityofBabyloninthehandsofNergal(Irra,Erra)whodestroys it ina rage.Mardukwasoneof themostpopularandenduringgodsofMesopotamiaandwasadoptedbytheAssyriansassonoftheirsupremegodAssur.




Nergal—NergalisaMesopotamianwargodandrulestheUnderworldandsharesmanysimilariJeswithdeiJessuchasHades, Seth, Typhon and Ahriman etc. He rules the ShadowKingdomwithhis consort Ereshkigal.Nergal rulesovermany‘evil’ spirits and predatory demons called the udug-hul (alsoknown as utukku and gidim-hul). These are some of thedarkest and most dangerous ancient powers of ancientMesopotamia.

NergalGodofwar,plague,death,anddisease

Nergalisawargod-likeGreco/romanmyths,Nergal’splanetis Mars and he wields a magical mace that can fly andcommunicatewithNergal-similartoMjölnirandThor.

Nergal is cloaked in black radiance known as melamu - acommon trait of darker deiJes of this area. Wars betweenSumerians, Akkadians and other Mesopotamian ‘city states’cemented the blending of cultures that lead Nergal to hisposiJons.

Rites to Nergl would be performed during Jmes of war tostrengthenresolve,howeverifyourwillfailedaYerwardsthenNergalwouldcurseyou.

Along with Mars, other correspondences are Saturn, thenumber14andtheNovembertoDecemberperiodwherehewouldventurefromtheunderworldandspreadplagues.

NeC— In Sumerian,Babylonian, andAkkadianmythology,NeJ is a minor god of the Underworld. He is the chiefgatekeeperoftheNetherworldandscribe,andtheservantofthe goddess Ereshkigal. He is described as having a lion’shead,bird’sfeetandhumanhands.

NeJ features prominently in the epic legend of "Inanna'sDescentintotheUnderworld,"whenheopensthesevengates

of therealmandadmits thegoddess, removingoneemblemof her power at the threshold of each gate unJl she isulJmatelyleYnakedandpowerless.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease

ThisseemstoendtheinteracJonbetweenNeJandInanna.

hhps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InannaSumerianMythologybySamuelNoahKramerhhps://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2004/4/18/inannas-journey-an-ancient-sumerian-mythhhps://www.ancient.eu/arJcle/221/the-mesopotamian-pantheon/hhps://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchin/mesopotamian_gods.htmhhps://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ancient_Mesopotamian_underworldhhp://www.atkinslightquest.com/Documents/Religion/Legends-Folklore/Sumerian-and-Akkadian-DeiJes.htm

Ninhursag—TheSumerianMotherGoddess,goddessofferJlity,natureandlifeonearth.Hernametranslatesas`Ladyof theMountainSide'andshewasknownas the `MotheroftheGods'. Sheoriginallywasaverypopulargoddesswhoseahributes were later taken on by other deiJes. She is alsoknown as Belet-Ili, Damgalnunna, Ki, Nintu, Nintur, Aruru,Ninmah,MamiandMama.Ninhursagfeaturesinmanyofthemost popular Mesopotamian myths where she is always

associatedwith life, ferJlity,growth,andtransformaJon.Herprimary duty was care for women and children, especiallypregnant women and young children. She watched over achild from concepJon, through gestaJon, and aYer birthprovidedthechildwithfood.AswithallofthefemaledeiJesinMesopotamia,Ninhursagsufferedalossinstatusduringthereign of Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE) and waseventuallyreplacedasasupremepowerbymalegods.


Ninurta—AncientMesopotamiangodassociatedwithfarming,healing,hunJng,law,scribesandwar.Intheearliestrecordshereleaseshumansfromsicknessandthepowerofdemons.HelaterpickedupthewarriordeityJtle.

Planet-SaturnSymbol-plowandperchedbirdMount-heridesamanJcore-likecreature(bodyofalionandtailofascorpion).

Lugal-e(Sumerianpoem)ThedemonAsaghadbeen causing illness andpoisoning therivers with encouragement from his talking mace Sharur.Ninurta slaysAsagandhis armies.He thenuses stones fromthe warriors he has defeated to build mountains, which hedesignedtoallowstreamsandriverstoflowintolargerriversfor agriculture and irrigaJon. This myth combines Ninurta'sroleasawarriordeitywithhisroleasanagriculturaldeity.

AnzuMythBabylonian Ninurta is called upon to slay Anzu, a giantmonstrous bird who steals the Tablet of DesJnies— this inturncauses rivers todryupandgods tobe strippedof theirpowers.NinurtatriestoshootAnzuwitharrowsbuttheTabletturns backJme andbreaks the arrows into the componentstheyoriginallywere.NinurtathencallsontheSouthwindthatrips off Anzu’s wings. Ninurta slits his throat and takes backtheTablet.

NinurtapursuingAnzu

NinurtaandtheTurtleAYerslayingAnzuandbringingbackachicklet,Enki(Sumeriangodofwater,knowledge,mischief,craYsandcreaJon)praisesNinurta.Powerhungry,Ninurtadecidestoconquertheworld.Enki, to stop him, creates a giant turtle, releases it behindNinurtaand itbiteshisankle.The turtle thendigsapitwithhisclawsandbothfallin.Therestofthestoryislost.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inanna

https://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2004/4/18/inannas-journey-an-ancient-sumerian-myth

https://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2004/4/18/inannas-journey-an-ancient-sumerian-myth


https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchin/mesopotamian_gods.htm

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ancient_Mesopotamian_underworld

http://www.atkinslightquest.com/Documents/Religion/Legends-Folklore/Sumerian-and-Akkadian-Deities.htm

http://www.atkinslightquest.com/Documents/Religion/Legends-Folklore/Sumerian-and-Akkadian-Deities.htm


Tiamat— Tiamat is the Sumero-BabylonianMother andChaosGoddess. She is the Ladyof primeval chaos and greatmother of the deiJes of Babylon. She is the elementalpowerful force of chaos, theMother of Everything, the self-procreaJngwomb,thesourceofalllifeandallmanifestaJon.Sheisalsoknownasthecosmicdragonorworlddragon.Sheis normally said to be a fierce Dragoness, or serpent like, inform,andthepersonificaJonoftheuntamed,PrimevalForcesof the Universe before established order and primordialwaters fromwhich all lifewas formed. Tiamat originallywasthe primal goddess of the saltwater seas, or the goddess oftheprimevaloceans,but latershepersonifiedthesaltwater.Shewas also called the Dragon of the Deep or the Spirit ofChaos.

Tiamat’sthemesarehistory,change,spirituality,ferJlity,birthand creaJvity. Her symbols are repJles and seawater. ThepersonificaJon of creaJve, ferJle forces in BabyloniantradiJons, she is the invenJve power of chaos, whose ever-changingenergyhonesthehumansoulandcreatesunendingpossibiliJesforitsenlightenment.

TiamatexistedbeforeanyoftheotherdeiJes,asshewastheprimordial chaos that contained the abstract, formlesselements of the universe. In earlier manifestaJons, she wasconceivedastheuniversalmotherfromwhomallthingscame,but in later myths, such as the Babylonian creaJon epicEnumaElish,Tiamatwasadragon-likedemonormonsterthatchallengedtheneworderoftheworldasitformed.

Tiamatwas variouslydescribedas anenormouswater snakeoradragon,oratleastvisualizedasadragon.SomeJmesshewastheseven-headedserpentoftheAkkadiansthatbeatthewaves of the sea. Although shewas also depicted awingedseven-headed dragon with scales all over her body andterrible claws. Later Babylonian depicJons displayed Tiamatwiththeheadofalion,aforkedserpent'stongue,thelegsofaneagle,featheredwings,andscalesacrossherbody.BythisJme, the lion was a symbol of royal power, and Marduk'ssymbolwasthedragon.

Earlier presentaJons depicted Marduk walking over theserpenJnebodyofTiamat,andintheEnumaElish,shehadavast, serpenJne body, a long tale, two forelegs, and hugehorns upon her head. In thisway, shewas nearly invincible.Shewas said tobe483 km longwith a 30m circumference,andherbodywas impenetrable,eitherbecauseofherscalesorthethicknessofherhide.Hermouthwaseither3mwideor11kmwide.TiamatwassoenormousthatshemovedwithundulaJonsover9kmhigh.

Crystalconnec0ons(Greenstones)

TocallonthecreaJvepowerofTiamat,useAmazonite.Itisabrightgreenorblue-greengemstonethatinspirescreaJvity.Italsosymbolizesnewbeginningsbringingyouthepowertofindnewpathsinyourlife.

Call upon Tiamat to help you in dealing with difficulty. UseEmeraldorothergemstonesmadeofBeryltobringTiamattoyoursideasyoufightthroughmentalandphysicaldifficulJes.

THEENUMAELISH:THESEVENTABLETSOFCREATION

Enuma Elish is the Babylonian creaJon story, predaJng andinfluencing early Judeo-ChrisJan texts. Comprised of 1000lines etched on seven clay tablets, the Enuma Elish is theprimary source for Mesopotamian cosmology and tells thestory of how order was shaped out of swirling chaos. Theshaper is Tiamat, goddessof thedeep saltwaters,whowithhermate Apsu, god of fresh, cleanwater, gives birth to the


firstgeneraJonofdeiJes.TheopeningpassagesetsforthhowrawandunformedtheworldwaspriortoTiamat’sefforts.

Before the world as we know it was created, said theBabylonians, there was only Tiamat, the shining dragongoddessofsaltwatersandHerconsortApsu,godofthefreshsweetwater.Both represent the ideaof chaos thatprecedesform and order, which are the foundaJon upon whichcivilizaJon rests. Tiamat and Apsu are the parents of all theGreatGodsandGoddessesofBabylon,whocameforthfromTiamat´salmightywomb.

The Babylonian cosmogony, as outlined in the Enuma Elishand elsewhere, begins in the formless primordial chaos thatpredated the phenomenal world. In this void, two primevalprinciples met and intermingled: Tiamat, the "shining"personificaJonofsaltwater,andApsu,themaledeityoffreshwater.ThisprocessisdescribedpoeJcallyintheEnumaElish:

Whenintheheightheavenwasnotnamed,Andtheearthbeneathdidnotyetbearaname,AndtheprimevalApsu,whobegatthem,Andchaos,Tiamut,themotherofthembothTheirwatersweremingledtogether,Andnofieldwasformed,nomarshwastobeseen;Whenofthegodsnonehadbeencalledintobeing,Andnoneboreaname,andnodesJnieswereordained;Thenwerecreatedthegodsinthemidstofheaven

AsHeryoungoffspringofgodsandgoddessesgrewup, theybecamesonoisytotheextentthattheirFatherApsucouldnotfindrestatnight.ApsucametoTiamattocomplainabouttheclamouroftheyounggods,butfirstTiamatpaidnoahenJontoApsu´sconcernsasatthisstageshewastolerantandgiving.It is said that Apsu wanted Tiamat to kill their children,howeverTiamatrefused.DuringthisfirststageofthecreaJonstory, Tiamat is depicted as the epitome of beauty and thefeminine. She is personified as the Mother Goddess whocreatedasacredbondwithApsutobirthtothecosmosanditssuccessivegeneraJons.

ThelaherpartofthetaleseesTiamatastheantagonist;sheisolder more asserJve and independent. The Enuma Elishdescribes the younger generaJon of gods, in their zeal tocelebrate their material existence, throwing an elaborateparty, replete with dancing, laughter, andmusic. This racketaggravatedApsu,whodecidedthathecouldnotabidebythenoiseand chaosof theseyouthfuldeiJesanddecided to killthem.Hearingaboutthisvillainousplan,Enki(GodofMagick,SweetWaters of the Deep and patron of all arts and craYs)ensorcelled the divine patriarch and slew him in his sleep(some sources say itwas Ea).WhenTiamatwas informedofherconsort'smurder,sheflewintoarageanddecidedtofightagainst her own offspring. In her rage, the elder goddessdecided to use her generaJve power to spawn a legion ofmonstrosiJes to destroy the young gods. She not only tooktheformofaferociousdragon,butcreatedthefirstbatchofmonsters and ‘poison-filled’ dragons. Tiamat was too strongandsoMardok(Ea’sson)waschampionedfortheroleofhero.Inthebahle,Tiamatopenedhermouthtoswallowhimasheapproachedherbuthethrewastormintohermouth.Mardukthen killed her by shooJng an arrow into her belly (othersourcessayherheartwascutinto)andproceededtocutherbody into pieces. The parts of Tiamat´s body created theuniverse,construcJngbothheavenandearthasweknowit.

References:hhps://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/goddess-Jamat/hhp://www.blackdrago.com/fame/Jamat.htmhhp s : / /www. an c i e n t - o r i g i n s . n e t /my t h s - l e gend s - a s i a / J ama t -mesopotamia-0010565hhps://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Tiamathhps://www.gaia.com/arJcle/Jamat-planet-goddess-creatorhhps://www.crystalvaults.com/goddess-Jamat

Utu— Utu (Shamash). 5500-2000 years ago. God of sun.Kindandgenerous.Portrayedasoldmanwithabeard.Giverof life. Causes plants to growwhich gives us all life. Utu iseverywhere.

Spendsnights intheunderworld.Shines light intoeveryone'sheartssoweknowtomakegooddecisions.

GodofjusJce.Knowsallthingssojudgesrightly.Judgeinthisworld and the underworld. SomeJmes shownwith a doubleedge pruning saw with which he lops offending heads orhands.

Usually granted requests, but NOT always. Protectedtravellers, resurrected the dead, killed demons, helpedwomenconceive.....

PoliJcal. Gave law to kings (so that kings didn't just inventlaws).Blessedkingssotheirverdictswouldbecorrect.

Sacrifice.FoodandclothinggiventopriestsofUtu'stempleasasacrifice.

Utudescibedasprincecometoearth.Aboveall -KINDANDGENEROUS.


https://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/goddess-tiamat/

http://www.blackdrago.com/fame/tiamat.htm

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-asia/tiamat-mesopotamia-0010565

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-asia/tiamat-mesopotamia-0010565

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Tiamat

https://www.gaia.com/article/tiamat-planet-goddess-creator

https://www.crystalvaults.com/goddess-tiamat