Inanna's Ascent: Reclaiming Female Power

by Trista Hendren, Tamara Albanna (Editor), Pat Daly (Editor)

When we think of Inanna, she is usually envisioned as the descending Goddess—and often, it is her time spent in the Underworld that most alluded to. While the Underworld, or the “shadow” is vital, it is equally important to remember what happens after the time spent in the darkness, the void, or the long dark tunnel. We descend our entire lives it seems—only coming up for brief moments of respite. Patriarchy pushes us down repeatedly—and sometimes, we just stay there.

Inanna's Ascent examines how females can rise from the underworld and reclaim their power, sovereignly expressed through poetry, prose and visual art. All contributors are extraordinary women in their own right, who have been through some difficult life lessons—and are brave enough to share their stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Feminism

294 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2018

About the author

Trista Hendren founded Girl God Books in 2011 to support a necessary unraveling of the patriarchal world view of divinity. Her first book—The Girl God, a children's picture book—was a response to her own daughter's inability to see herself reflected in God. Since then, she has published more than 40 books by a dozen women from across the globe. You can read more about her projects at www.thegirlgod.com.

Reviews

[S Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Inanna's Ascent" provides a new insight into the Sumerian Goddess Inanna and her ultimate ascent back from the underworld. As Inanna ascended from dark depths, so too have the more than forty contributors to this anthology of essays, art, and poetry. These women from diverse cultures and different countries bravely share personal experiences and awakenings encountered during their individual journeys and how they connected to Inanna.

Despite female divinity and power having been overwhelmingly subjugated to masculine divinity and power, SHE was not completely gone and forgotten; there has been a rebirth of interest in HER. Readers will learn how aspects of the goddess Inanna were reworked by men centuries ago and then interwoven in stories and belief systems. Find out the connection between Inanna and Salome's seven veils, about the goddess's days in the underworld, and how she and the contributors regained their sovereignty. Through dark, often soul wrenching times and ascent into better, lighter times, the authors and artists have been accompanied by and found an ever present Goddess energy.

This anthology is good for anyone looking for a deeper connection to the Goddess. I learned new-to-me facts about Inanna and the journeys of these courageous women caused introspection. Inanna is a Goddess you should get to know. And, this is a book you will cherish.

[𝕳]

A great compilation of women's writings on their spiritual descent and ascent in relation to one of the oldest stories on Earth. It's a sacred mission to elevate the figure of the Mother/Goddess, as a creator of equal status to the patriarchal creator Father/God.
"The dark night of the soul is a profound gift... if you have the courage to die to who you thought you were... and surrender to being reborn into who you were created to truly be."

[Kristy Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is made up of wonderful and powerful stories of women and their dissent into darkness and the ascent from it. Stories connecting back to Inanna and how she has helped these women rise again.