My Lady

[qos]

In the course of a conversation on someone else's LJ, this comment was made:

Ereshkigal is Not Nice, At All.

That is, of course, the common opinion of Ereshkigal. Since I haven't talked all that much about Her in this journal, I thought it was worthwhile to post my response here:


I used to be of that opinion. Since going to to work for Her full time, my perspective has changed.

Inanna is about violating boundaries. Ereshkigal is about enforcing and defending them. Ereshkigal is also about Facing Your Shit, dealing with your shadow, facing the darkness and going through transformation so you can rise again as more than what you were. She's one of the gods who manage the spiritual forges, those who help us be healed by hardship rather than destroyed by it. She and Inanna are the opposing-but-complementary-poles on the Descent-and-Ascent path of transformation.

In my direct experience with Her, She is a tough but supportive boss who doesn't accept excuses or quibbling, but who is willing to answer questions and respond to arguments, and She is quick to give praise when it's been earned. She's not cuddly, but She is compassionate, in a tough love kind of way. She won't blink or flinch as She hangs you up on a hook, but She doesn't do it just for fun.

Do you know the musical Into the Woods? Toward the end, the Witch sings:

You're so nice
You're not good, you're not bad
You're just nice.
I'm not good, I'm not nice
I'm just right
I'm the witch
You're the world

I think they make an appropriate response to any allegation of Ereshkigal not being "nice."

Not Her job.

Comments

[erl-queen.livejournal.com]

Wonderful comments!

Inanna is about violating boundaries. Ereshkigal is about enforcing and defending them.

That's a powerful insight packed into so few words. Will have to think about that some more.

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

That part struck me as well, and has really stayed with me.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I was really excited when I made that comparison. The bit about Inanna violating boundaries was one of the big learnings from writing my MA thesis. The contrast with Ereshkigal came a couple of months ago when I was reading "The Marriage of Ereshkigal and Nergal." In both of Her primary myths, Ereshkigal upholds the law while others transgress. But She defends the lawful boundaries with such ferocity that all most people see is how dangerous and scary She is, not the righteousness of Her fury.

It's been fascinating to work with both of them this past month or so. Each has energy that is appropriate to different times and places. There is real power in having a strong relationship with each and being able to choose which energy to draw on in a given situation.

[silverhawkdruid.livejournal.com]

Who was it who said "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? It sounds to me as though this is part of Ereshkigal's job, if you will. Helping you face your shit, work through it, and come out the other side in a stronger position than when you went in.
People who use the phrase Ereshkigal is not nice are probably scared of their own dark shadows and would fear anyone who firmly insisted that they deal.
You are a stronger person for interacting with Her, I suspect, and it sounds like She is just the right Goddess for you to be walking with.
Being nice is not her job but it would seem that being firm, just, supportive and encouraging is, and in my book, that's nice! LOL

[qos.livejournal.com]

Who was it who said "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? It sounds to me as though this is part of Ereshkigal's job, if you will.

It was Nietzsche -- but the only reason I know that is that it was a comedic plot point in the movie American Dreamer (which I highly recommend, btw).

And I think you're absolutely right about it being part of Her job.

[revpanthera.livejournal.com]

Inanna is about violating boundaries.

Wow! That fills in a blank spot for me and helps explain her non-consensual possession of me during a ritual at CA WitchCamp. She wouldn't leave either when I tried to get Her out. I had to get another priestess to help.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I would be interested in hearing more about that experience.

Inanna is a very popular goddess these days (as such things go), but people get so caught up in the drama of The Descent that they ignore her other stories and the telling details in them that reveal a lot more about her personality and her place in her original pantheon.

I love her dearly -- but she's an outlaw, despite the "Queen of Heaven and Earth" title. Or rather: one of the reasons I love her is because she's an outlaw.