Processing Trauma Through Mythology: Inanna's Journey Through The Underworld

Modern psychiatry often treats trauma as an illness or injury to be corrected.  In this episode, Sybil Jo and Elly Arrow will explore an alternate view, through the ancient Sumarian myth of Inanna.  The Queen of Heaven and Earth loses everything, including her Self as she knows it, to travel to the World of the Dead.  She returns transformed, with other-worldly Strength and Wisdom.  

What if “trauma” isn’t an illness to be cured, but a journey of initiation?  What can those who have walked hand-in-hand with Death bring back with them? And how can our movement utilize these gifts in our fight against exploitation?

Sources

“Inanna’s Descent to the Netherworld” The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature – https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr141.htm

“Journey to the Dark Goddess” by Jane Meredith – https://www.overdrive.com/media/1081803/journey-to-the-dark-goddess

“Inanna’s descent to the Underworld” Podcast by Catherine Svehla - https://mythicmojo.com/inannas-descent-to-the-underworld-part-3-of-4-in-the-series/

“Greater Mysteries” Album by Kelli Scarr – https://kelliscarr.bandcamp.com/album/greater-mysteries