Your Goddess Archetype is Inanna

Goddesses and Personal Archetypes

Archetypes are inner images that embody universal characteristics and experiences. They are responsible for the persistent themes we see surfacing in our own lives. Myths and fairy tales, many artistic images, and many of the characters we encounter in our dreams are expressions of these archetypes. As inner guides that exist in your personality, the goddess archetypes influence how you behave, how you think and feel, and how you relate to others. Since the goddess stories that are passed on in the mythology of human cultures embody the expression of female character, they provide us with a rich and fascinating way to gain access to the personal archetypes that are active in our lives.

How to Use Your Personal Goddess Type:

The interpretation of your goddess quiz begins on the next page. Each section starts with a brief guide to understanding the information, followed by your personal results. Before you begin to study it, take a few minutes to review a few basic concepts that will help you use the goddess report to:

• Understand/accept yourself as the unique goddess you are meant to be.

• Learn how to use the guide on the goddess path to personal fulfillment.

The results of your goddess assessment can be used in several different ways. One is to treat your report simply as interesting reading to be enjoyed. As the 100-year-old woman answered, ‘ Sure, Sonny, I believe in horoscopes. At my age I believe in anything that makes life more interesting!’ Have fun with the report. Use it, and information available at the website, as an entrance to the fascinating world of mythology and personality type. Learn to recognize patterns of behavior among your family, friends, and coworkers while you gain a better picture of your own strengths, abilities, and vulnerabilities.

A second approach is to use your results to learn to relax and accept yourself for who you really are. Recognizing the strength and beauty of your own personal goddess type can be a deeply empowering experience. If your goddess type is not one that is valued highly by society, your sense of self-esteem will almost certainly have been threatened. Take comfort from learning about the richness of your goddess type and realize that, even if it seems you are often ‘marching to the beat of a different drummer’, you share your type with many others and don’t have to try to force yourself into the mold of a more socially acceptable type. You are not alone.

The third approach is to use the report as a guide on your path to personal growth. It can help you see and understand the underlying reasons for the patterns of your life. Each goddess type has both strengths and weaknesses. Knowing about your goddess type, you can capitalize upon those strengths (and guard against the weaknesses) while you begin to work on your underdeveloped traits. The more you function within your inherent goddess type, the stronger and more confident you will become, the more control you have over your life, and the better prepared you are to make the choices that create the life you want. You can enlist the help of other, less well-developed goddess types, thereby enlarging your repertoire of attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. You will be less rigid and more flexible, better able to meet the wide variety of challenges and demands that your life may present. Your report highlights ways you can assist this process of ‘becoming’.

Your Personal Goddess Type:

Her Story and Her Symbols

Each one of us is born with an inherent temperament that predisposes us to develop as one of a number of goddess types. These ‘goddess gifts’ reveal themselves at an early age and remain fairly constant throughout our lives. They influence how you learn and think, how you decide and act, who you select as friends and mates, even where your talents lie, in short, everything that makes you unique and guides the direction of your life. This gift, your personal goddess type, is your favored, most trusted style in dealing with the outer world.

Inanna

Queen of Heaven and Earth

The goddess Inanna of ancient Sumer was seen as the source and protector of all life. She was a fertility goddess who created the earth’s springs, rivers, and wells. In neighboring regions of Mesopotamia, she was worshipped as the goddess Ishtar. In order to nurture life, Inanna made yearly quests into the Underworld to renew her vitality. When she was called upon to surrender the parts of her self that stood in the way of her wholeness, Inanna courageously stripped down to the barest essentials, the things that really mattered. Inanna, Queen of Heaven, tricked her father Enki (the God of Wisdom) into giving her his instruments for civilizing mankind. These tools included the valuable Tablets of Destiny. Enki tried to get them back, but with no success. Inanna was now all powerful, but she felt very lonely. Soon Inanna had two suitors – a farmer named Enkidu and a shepherd named Dumuzi. They both lavished gifts upon her, but the delicate, soft woolens from Dumuzi tipped the scales in his favor. Inanna decided to visit the Underworld to see her sister Eriskegal whose husband, the God of Death, had recently abandoned her. Inanna felt for her sister’s loss, but did not look forward to the trip because the sisters had never gotten along. Inanna wisely informed her most trusted servant that if she did not return within three days, he should appeal to the highest deities to rescue her. When Inanna arrived at the first gate of the Underworld, the gatekeeper demanded her crown. At each of the six gates she reached as she descended further into the Underworld she was required to give up another piece of her attire . At the seventh gate she stood naked and vulnerable in front of her sister. Eriskegal was furious that her sister had never visited her before and impulsively killed Inanna on the spot, hanging her corpse on the wall behind her throne. When Inanna did not return, her servant appealed to Enki, who fashioned two tiny creatures from the dirt beneath his fingernails. He sent them into the Underworld carrying the Food and Water of Life. The creatures soon came upon Eriskegal, who was deep in grief, mourning the loss of her beloved husband. They were quick to acknowledge her pain and to comfort her with kind words. Eriskegal was so touched by their concern that she offered to give them anything they wanted. They asked for the corpse on the wall and soon they were feeding the lifeless Inanna the Food and Water of Life. Revitalized, Inanna requested that she be allowed to return to the world. Eriskegal consented, but only on the condition that someone return to take Inanna’s place. Inanna ascended through the seven gates, collecting all of her possessions as she went. Her crown once again upon her head, Inanna returned home to find that in her absence her beloved Dumuzi had usurped her throne. In a fit of rage, she sent him to take her place in the land of the dead. After cooling off a bit, Inanna decided perhaps she had been a bit rash and went to get him back. Since she now realized that Inanna’s visit had been to express compassion to her, Eriskegal agreed to let Dumuzi return home – but for only half of each year. Each year Inanna must descend again into the Underworld to resurrect her consort and to renew her vitality. Given new life by his consort Inanna, Dumuzi returned to earth as the God of Vegetation. Fortunately he was allowed to return to earth each spring in time to insure the fertility of the land. Inanna represents the many facets of being a woman and the myriad of roles we play. She is a powerful example of a courageous mode of being that is unafraid to face the changes that are required during the course of a woman’s life. As one who courageously traveled into the dark places of the soul, she can be our guide in times of tribulation.

Inanna’s Symbols  

 

General:

 

Ringposts, gates, planet Venus (morning and evening stars), eight-pointed star/rosette, breastplate, bundle or reeds, bow and arrow, Friday, the number 15.

 

 

Animals:

 

Sheep, lions, owls, serpents, and scorpions.

 

 

Plants:

 

Pomegranate, Tree of Life, grains, reeds and rushes, hemp, cedar, cypress, lotus blossom, monkshood, and all herbs.

 

 

Perfume/Scents:

 

Frankincense, myrrh, lotus, amber oil, cedarwood, cypress, cinnamon, and bitter orange.

 

 

Gems and Metals:

 

 

Silver, carnelian, obsidian, lapis lazuli, moonstone, and copper.

 

Colors:

 

 

Silver, gold, black, blood red, and green.

The Inanna Archetype

Every woman’s personality is actually influenced by numerous different goddesses (traits that exist in her personality, or roles that function in her life). One goddess, however, predominates. It is this goddess, your personal goddess type, that is detailed in this report because she represents the core part of your personality that establishes your identity and most influences how you express it to the outer world. Think of it as your own personal ‘comfort zone’ your personal goddess type represents your basic, in-born core, the way you ‘really’ are. When you are functioning within the boundaries of your goddess type, you feel ‘at home with yourself’. Anxieties will be dissolved, priorities clearer, and you will feel energized, resilient, and capable. If your circumstances are well matched to your goddess type, your normal coping mechanisms will work well, and you will feel a sense of control over your destiny.

Inanna Characteristics

An Inanna woman may present a tranquil, pleasant face to the world, but she is anything but distant. Just as her legend portrays, she is one of the most passionate of the goddesses, willing to go to the ends of the earth because she cares so deeply and intensely about a very special person or cause. Inannas have a strong drive to find meaning in their lives. Her values and her actions must be congruent for her to feel comfortable with herself. An Inanna is highly idealistic. She has a great sense of honor that is based on a deeply felt sense of internal values and is willing to make unusual sacrifices for those people or causes she truly believes in.

An Inanna’s deep commitment to her beliefs, to causes she feels are right, can make her deeply sensitive to the issues of both good and evil. Like the goddess, some Inanna’s are fascinated with the subject of evil, with her striving toward purity and unity on one hand but also being somewhat entranced by the darker side of life. Being so self-contained she usually doesn’t feel particularly compelled to make public any of her own transgressions, but may instead feel the necessity to quietly undertake acts of self-sacrifice as a form of atoning. Sometimes this may even take the form of unconsciously developing stress-related illnesses or pain syndromes, or even of becoming accident-prone. Because of her strong sense of values, she may guard herself against having positive experiences (e.g. success, relaxation, enjoyment), afraid that it will exact too great a punishment.

An Inanna woman has a rich inner life. She enjoys her imagination and fantasy world and is able to switch back and forth between it and reality. But since she tends to be reserved and spends so much of her time ‘inside her own head’ she may be hard to get to know. Sometimes this characteristic may leave her feeling isolated from others.

An Inanna is usually very modest, can see the good in everybody, and is an excellent team player. Not particularly interested in being a leader, she gets and gives cooperation largely because she is low-key but determined. She is an excellent facilitator who is interested both in people and ideas, can see many sides to the same issue, and makes an excellent mediator. Inannas are highly adaptable and tend to be compliant in most everyday matters, perfectly satisfied to let others make the decisions. But if one of the values that she holds sacred is threatened, she will dig in and refuse to budge-an Inanna knows her bottom line and steadfastly refuses to betray it!

An Inanna is often very emotional, reacting strongly to events and shifting rapidly from one mood to another. But Inannas rarely demonstrate their emotions, which are usually intense, for others in the outside world to see. An Inanna is not quick to share her innermost thoughts and feelings with others, except for a selective few who she knows well and trusts. She is not a social butterfly and tends to look for a few close friends who understand and appreciate her special nature. These deep friendships are very important to her even though she may not disclose much about herself. Usually it is only with her close friends that her ‘silly side’ comes out, letting her enjoy joking and teasing others playfully. She is a good listener and stays in touch with her friends, consistently sharing what is happening in their lives. She often serves as a caring counselor, providing sympathy and encouragement. An Inanna is patient, always prepared to listen and for as long as it takes for others to feel better.

Inannas are very peace loving, sometimes going to great lengths to avoid conflict. They tend to not show aggression, but usually take a neutral position in any conflict. They do, however, make good mediators, helping others find a common ground.

Inannas are very empathic, having an almost psychic awareness of the emotions and intentions of others, sometimes even before the other person is conscious of their feelings themselves. Because of the extreme sensitivity resulting from this unusual ability to take in the feelings of others, Inannas can be hurt rather easily. Additionally she may tend to idealize people or relationships and experience acute disappointment when the ‘real’ picture emerges. By nature an Inanna wishes to love and be loved, is deeply caring, but may not always be able to express her affection openly.

Consistent with her empathic and spiritual nature, an Inanna has incredibly well developed senses of intuition and feeling. Her attention is not focused or goal-directed; rather it is impressionistic and diffuse. She often has a gift for story telling since the use of symbols and metaphors comes naturally to her. Many an Inanna becomes a novelist or actress because, more than any other goddess type, she is able to efface her own personality and experience that of another.

If you dress like most Inannas, you probably have a rather elegant appearance since your good sense of harmony allows you to successfully combine clothes and accessories.

Often your ‘style’ is very unusual or original. Inannas often find it hard to say no to their own whimsical desires and consequently sometimes find themselves in financial difficulty, having to borrow money from family and friends.

Not bound by convention, Inannas don’t always ‘fit in’ easily with others. They usually are very open-minded and tolerant of others, but have interests that may seem a little ‘bizarre’ to other people (e.g., the supernatural or occult, the metaphysical, and spiritual). Like your Inanna sisters, you probably have an interesting, unusual, perhaps even eccentric, lifestyle that is somewhat idiosyncratic. In short, you ‘march to the beat of a different drummer’!

Inannas have a natural facility for communication and a fluency in languages, including foreign language. An Inanna is naturally adept at language and imagery and may be attracted to writing. Her deep sensitivity combined with her vivid imagination leads to her highly personalized creativity. She enjoys small talk and usually has an extensive repertoire of interesting anecdotes and stories. When asked a question Inannas often delay in responding, even when they’ve already formulated their answer in their minds. Often an Inanna has a tendency to maintain close eye contact during conversations and to touch the hand of the person they are speaking with.

Inannas usually do well in school because they are curious, creative, and talented at abstract thinking, diligent workers, and eager to please. They do not bother overly much with logic, usually preferring to utilize their highly developed impressions as the base for their decision-making. Because of her global, diffuse way of experiencing reality, an Inanna may misunderstand a situation because she did not both to pay attention to the details. Similarly, in her daily life an Inanna may encounter problems because she is so ‘in her head’ that she fails to notice some important detail such as ‘It’s Friday morning so I must set the trash out’.

Inannas often choose occupations that involve working with people on a one-to-one basis, but also make valuable employee in an organizational setting. They have a capacity for working in positions that require solitude and intense concentration, but also excel when in contact with people, especially if the contact is not too routine or superficial in nature. More than anything else, it is critical that the Inanna’s work be consistent with her internal values . . . that she be able to derive a sense of mission in her work. An Inanna usually enjoys problem solving and develops innovative solutions. She is a loyal employee and diligent worker who is always generous with praise and recognition for her coworkers and the employees that she supervises.

Given her ability to tolerate and enjoy solitude, many Inannas choose to be homemakers. But however an Inanna chooses to commit her talents, she will usually be successful. After all, she has great personal warmth, enthusiasm, insight, flexibility, originality, and a sense of idealism and caring that is unique.

Your Personal Characteristics

Inannas tend to be quiet, low-key, and often disengaged from the social ‘flurries’ that go on in the world around you. You prefer the company of a few close friends or an intimate to a loud and lively party or to interacting with a wide circle of friends. It’s not necessarily that you’re unfriendly or shy; you simply need less social stimulation than other types. You generally prefer to be alone because you find yourself easily overwhelmed by large or noisy crowds, your energy being depleted by such social situations. Although some may mistake your independence and reserve as aloofness, you actually need time on your own to recharge your emotional ‘batteries’ and to restore your energy.

Like the Inanna that you are, you tend to be quiet, low-key, and often disengaged from the social ‘flurries’ that go
on in the world around you. Somewhat introverted, you prefer the company of a few close friends or an intimate to a
loud and lively party or to interacting with a wide circle of friends. It’s not necessarily that you’re unfriendly
or shy; you simply need less social stimulation than other types. You generally prefer to be alone because you find
yourself easily overwhelmed by large or noisy crowds, your energy being depleted by such social situations. Although
some may mistake your independence and reserve as aloofness, you actually need time on your own to recharge your
emotional ‘batteries’ and to restore your energy.

Like the typical Inanna, you are not very gregarious. You frequently find that the hustle and bustle of crowds and
the company of others drain your naturally energy and leaves you feeling unpleasantly over-stimulated. You need more
privacy and time to yourself than other types do.

Like your goddess Inanna, you have a rather unconventional soul. Although at times you may seesaw between adhering to
the traditional and the unorthodox, the practical and the idealistic, you are by nature imaginative, creative, and
somewhat individualistic.

Tolerant and broadminded, you have considerable impact on the people you encounter, even though you seldom may
recognize it. Your tendency to be freedom loving and somewhat independent leads you to insist upon living your own
life as you see fit, even if that means ignoring convention.

You, unlike Inanna, are not likely to be seen as someone who ‘keeps her feelings to herself’, for you have good
access to your feelings and find it relatively easy to express them openly Sometimes you do so even though it would
be wiser not to. Though it may leave you vulnerable at times, wearing your heart on your sleeve usually makes others
feel comfortable in talking to you about their feelings and in sharing confidences with you

Unlike Inanna, your needs are fairly simple, and you are not usually difficult to please. You have a strong desire
for stability and peace. Although you may enjoy occasional travel or the adventure of new experiences, you do not
require them to feel fulfilled like Inanna did. Instead, you are comfortable with familiarity and routine and do not
find them intrinsically boring. . . consequently you are not compelled to seek thrills or adventure at every turn.
On the other hand, you may find that change and disruption are particularly stressful to you and that you resist
change even when it might be beneficial.

Unlike Inanna, your level of excitement seeking is low, indicating that you are not likely to become bored in
situations that do not offer high levels of stimulation. You are unlikely to be a risk-taker or thrill-seeker and
are probably easily overwhelmed by noise and commotion.

Like the goddess Inanna, you show a readiness to question or challenge convention, authority, and traditional
values. Like her, you have an ability to tolerate (or even enjoy) a level of ambiguity, chaos, and disorder that
many others would find uncomfortable. Her myths portrayed her as a goddess who was somewhat unconventional, ready to
question traditional values and, when need be, to challenge authority.

Many of the legends of Inanna recount stories that demonstrate her ability to act quickly and spontaneously, if not
impulsively. Most Inanna women prefer to remain somewhat flexible and spontaneous in their general approach to life.

The advantages of this approach are readily apparent-not being rigidly ‘bound’ by schedules, planners, and a wide
variety of other organizational aids gives one a freedom to ‘seize the moment’, to make a snap decision, and to act
on her first impulse. At play this spontaneity and impulsivity can be exciting and great fun. Others usually see
spontaneous people as colorful, wacky, and fun to be with. The accompanying tendency to put off unpleasant tasks
until the absolute last minute may not win her many awards, but at least she doesn’t have to worry about becoming a
serious ‘workaholic’ who leaves her friends and family in a state of serious neglect.

Planning, on the other hand, leads to consistent success in projects that require organized efforts during stages in
a sequence. Without it her accomplishments will likely be rather small, scattered, or inconsistent. However much she
may be criticized for unreliability, lack or ambition, or failure to ‘stay within the lines’, one thing she’ll never
be called is stuffy!

In her myths the young Inanna is usually depicted as someone who is confident of her ability to accomplish her
goals, someone who believe she has the common sense, the drive, and the self-control to overcome the obstacles in
her path. Your level of confidence in your ability to succeed is average, neither low nor high like hers.

You are well organized and like to live according to routines and schedules, your attention keenly focused on what
you have to accomplish. But shorter of spontaneity than Inanna was, sometimes you may be so bound up in your lists
of ‘Things To Do’ that you overlook valuable opportunities to enrich your life.

Inanna was not widely known for having a strong sense of duty and moral obligation. Unlike her, your sense of
obligation is average. You usually honor your commitments and seldom find contracts, rules and regulations overly
confining.

The young goddess Inanna was somewhat impulsive. Like her, your level of impulsiveness is somewhat high. You may tend to say or do the first thing that comes to mind without considering your alternatives or the probable consequences of your acts. Impulses are not inherently bad; acting on our impulses can be an effective response in situations requiring snap decisions. Additionally, acting spontaneously and impulsively makes play possible. People who are impulsive are often seen as being colorful, exciting, and fun. Nonetheless, excessive impulsivity can lead to trouble – examples include using illicit drugs that eventually destroy one’s health, responding with an insult during an argument leading to the destruction of an important relationship, or excessive socializing that results in being fired from one’s job. Inanna seldom thought things through carefully before she sprang into action. She was seldom deliberate and cautious when making decisions. Like Inanna, you frequently don’t take your time before deciding and sometimes do or say the first thing that comes to mind without deliberating your alternatives and their probable consequences.

How An Inanna’s Mind Works

Your goddess type is largely determined by the neurological hard-wiring you received at birth. It governs the way you think and learn. Unfortunately, most of us have been exposed to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ educational system that fails to take into account that not everyone has the same style of learning. Understanding how you think and learn best can help you be more productive at work or in school.

An Inanna thinks in broad terms, is forward-looking, and progressive. They have a natural facility for thinking in symbols and abstractions and may greatly be moved by music and the visual and performing arts as well as the raw beauty of nature. Undisturbed by complexity, ambiguity, or subtlety, they tend to enjoy novelty, variety, and change. They usually have several different “projects” underway at the same time, though you may leave some of them incomplete when they abandon them for newer interests.

Sometimes Inannas form an opinion of a person or situation without much factual knowledge, and their intuition is often correct. It may be hard to explain to others but intangible forces seem just as real to them as anything in the concrete world. They are quick to sense the possibilities in any given situation and are more likely to focus on them that on any of the specific details of “what-actually-is” that others observe. They tend to have restless minds and a thirst for mental stimulation, preferring to see the “big picture” and what it might mean rather than discovering how all the little pieces fit together. This “broad-stroke” approach can become a bit sloppy at times, so in some situations it’s a good idea to have a co-worker one can rely upon to handle any details that require technical precision.

Your level of creativity and imagination is fairly high. Like Inanna you are blessed with the capacity to imagine
the possibilities and to envision a richer, more interesting world than other individuals who are more conventional
and down-to-earth can.

Your goddess Inanna was known for her open-mindedness to new and unusual ideas. Your scores indicate that you too
may enjoy purely intellectual exercises or games, though your level of interest and comfort in thinking abstractly
is average rather than high like hers.

Like Inanna, whose self-discipline or will power was not a notable feature of her personality, your level of
self-discipline is moderate. You are often able to overcome any reluctance to begin a task (even a disagreeable one)
and to stay on track despite distractions, but you frequently find it very difficult to persist, seeing them through
to completion.

Inanna women are motivated by self-actualization and have a strong tendency to focus on the personal and subjective.
The humanities are naturally of great interest to them. Relationships and interactions with others, as well as
exploration of the self, are the major focus of their lives. Seeking to promote human potential and growth, they
strive for ideal interpersonal relationships and excellent communication skills. Inannas thrive on personal
attention, so it is not surprising that they learn best when the learning environment is both personal and friendly.

An Inanna does well in a classroom setting that is democratic, providing considerable opportunity for group
participation and interest. She learns best from the discussion method, small group projects, and teaching
techniques that allow her to exercise her imagination, e.g. role-playing, analysis of fiction and poetry, dramatic
presentations. Harmonious personal relationships with her teachers and classmates also enhance her learning
experience.

Positive feedback from her instructor is a powerful motivator for her classroom performance, allowing her to perform
quite well in areas such as business and science that often do not focus on the insightful or imaginative topics
that naturally attract her. She will, however, not flourish in learning environments in which she is subject to much
criticism, for she will tend to become somewhat confused, unmotivated, and even uncooperative. A democratic,
cooperative environment offers an Inanna the opportunity for personal involvement that she needs to excel.

Inanna At Work

Just as your inborn goddess type impacts the way you think and learn, it also greatly influences your life at work.
When your goddess-given strengths and patterns of behavior have become habitual, certain jobs or careers will be
more ‘natural’ for you. When your job allows you to capitalize on your goddess type, it is interesting and
energizing, almost fun. So if you’re about to enter the job market, use you knowledge of your goddess type as a
guide to selecting an ideal position that is a good match for your goddess type.

None of this means you can’t be happy in other fields. Lots of other factors influence job satisfaction, your boss
and coworkers, the pay, the dress code, for example. Most people manage to adapt, to develop and strengthen their
less developed skills and interests when working in a job, unless other factors introduce too many problems in the
setting.

Finally, if you aren’t satisfied at work or don’t feel you’re very effective, you can use what you learn about your
goddess’ strengths to examine the match between your goddess type and your current job and career.

The goddess Inanna had little need for achievement in the outer world. Your quest for achievement is somewhat
higher. Those with a drive to be recognized as successful often have a strong sense of direction in their lives and
strive hard to achieve excellence in their chosen pursuits. Taken to the extremes, high achievement-seeking may
result in an individual who is too single-minded and obsessed with her work-or at the other extreme, an individual
content to get by with only a minimal amount of work, even if it means being seen by others as lazy. Your level of
achievement striving is average.

 

 

Inanna at work tends to be:

 

Creative

Nonconformist

Curious

Peace-loving

Dedicated

Perceptive

Flexible

Philosophical

Idealistic

Reserved

Imaginative

Sensitive

Kind, Caring

Quiet

Like Inanna, you are usually attracted to what is new and different. The fact that something is unproven isn’t likely to put you off. Simply taking someone else’s good idea and making it work isn’t your style. You’d rather do the creating and leave the mundane chore of working out the details (or following the procedures manual) to someone else. As an Inanna your interest dissipates once a task becomes repetitive or routine . . . after all, Inanna was a curious soul!

You are an innovator in your approach. Your strength lies in the very way you can make intuitive leaps, instinctively sensing what might work best in a given situation. You may sometimes err when success depends on detailed factual data or on accuracy. For you, by nature, are seeing the ‘big picture’, not the little details.

Your warm, friendly approach and sensitivity to the feelings of others often inspires others to look to you for guidance and support. You often engage in small talk and tend to be very diplomatic, although not very assertive. Others may think your ‘welcome mat’ is always out and sometimes distract you from completing important tasks.

An Inanna does not flourish in a work environment that is full of conflict, arguments, and confrontation. It is important to your job satisfaction that your work be personally meaningful for you, allowing you to help others in an environment of cooperation and support. Inanna women do have a tendency to change jobs frequently, and you may have several different jobs, or even careers, over your lifetime.

You don’t mind working at a rapid pace, moving quickly from one task to another. Your ideal job would give you ample privacy and ‘quiet time’ to think things through.

Having to talk a lot, to explain your ideas to others before you’ve had a chance to carefully think them out is not a comfortable thing for an Inanna like you. You would prefer to work at a steady pace, not being interrupted by having to switch back and forth between tasks.

An Inanna woman is likely to function best in a job that allows you to be your casual and spontaneous self, able to just ‘go with the flow’, jumping from one task to another with great aplomb. After all, for an Inanna, reaching the goal is not always as important as enjoying the process of getting there! Although you occasionally lash out and invest in a calendar, date books, and other aids to help you get organized, you usually find that choosing an elaborate system is a lot more satisfying than using one; and abandoning it as soon as the novelty wears off. Instead of discarding paperwork or promptly filing it away, it tends to build up on your less-than-tidy desk. (Although you may have an almost uncanny ability to find your ‘stuff’, your co-workers aren’t likely to view you as well organized!)

As an Inanna, you don’t like to be pressured into making decisions until you feel you’ve amassed enough information . . . after all, Inanna wanted to keep her options open! Besides your great strength is your adaptability. This can, at times, lead to procrastination and missed deadlines. At other times this willingness to leave things unresolved for the time being is an advantage. It makes it easier for you to quickly change tack, diverting your efforts into new directions that are more likely to succeed.

 

Inanna Women Often Find Careers in These Fields Rewarding:

Artist

Minister/priest/rabbi

College teacher: humanities

Missionary

Counselor

Occupational therapist

Editor/art director

Organizational development

Entertainer

Physical therapist

Fashion designer

Psychiatrist

Graphic designer

Psychologist

Holistic health practitioner

Researcher

Human resource specialist

Researcher

Journalist

Social Scientist

Librarian

Social worker

Massage therapist 

Translator/Interpreter

Mediator

Writer/poet/novelist

 

Inanna’s Relationships

When we encounter people whose god or goddess type matches our own, people who have similar traits, we are usually attracted to them and often make them a part of our social circle. This is not surprising for they tend to think like you, have similar interests, treat you as you treat others, and are easy for you to communicate with. You feel comfortable and energized when you are with them. When you spend much time with someone of an opposite type, you may feel drained of energy if it becomes a struggle to find common ground. Other types truly see the world through different eyes and approach life from a very different perspective. Depending on the situation in which you find yourselves, you may be able to recognize your differences and essentially ‘agree to disagree’.

Try to learn more and use your understanding about different god and goddess types, remembering that even though they differ, each type has its unique strengths and beauty. After all, it is the incredible diversity that makes life so colorful!

The natural expression of a spirit of cooperation and friendship is your goddess gift. Like the goddess Inanna, you are a natural diplomat-you are reasonable, tolerant, and fair. Willing to listen to everyone’s viewpoints, you are always ready to see their side. Harmony in your social relationships is important to you, so you generally go out of your way to be considerate, friendly, generous, and helpful. Endowed with an optimistic view of human nature, you tend to believe that others are basically honest, decent, and trustworthy.

At times your generosity can seem excessive and may cause you problems. You may need to set limits on your giving nature and learn not to trust others so readily. Because of your strong desire to be liked, and your need for acceptance and approval, you can easily be influenced by the opinions and desires of others-and suppress your own needs and values in order to please them.

You usually take a friendly, cooperative approach rather than a forceful ‘we-should-do-it-like this’ position.
You’re more likely to use your charm in an understated, non-combative fashion to try to reach your objectives. But
if all else fails (or if the stakes are high or you’ve just been pushed-too-far) you are perfectly capable of being
assertive since your quiz reveals that your assertiveness level is neither high nor low, but within the average
range.

You approach your relationships as if they were an art form, and like Inanna, are very skilled in this area since you
possess both a high sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others as well as a genuine concern for their well
being. Others see you as an agreeable, cooperative, and nice person for this is the face you choose to show to the
world. . . even though there is much more to you than this. Because of your harmonious disposition you usually get
along easily with others and have a pleasant, agreeable manner that most find appealing.

Your level of altruism is average. While you sometimes find helping other people genuinely rewarding, you do not
always feel compelled to sacrifice your own goals and interests to assist others with their problems.

Your ability to tolerate confrontations is average. You are usually cooperative, but you will not easily abandon
your own needs and interests just to avoid a confrontation In other words, you are not a ‘push-over’.

Tenderhearted and compassionate, like your personal goddess type Inanna, you can easily feel the pain and neediness
of others and are easily moved to pity. Strongly affected by human suffering, sometimes you may lose your
objectivity and impartiality.

Inanna As a Child

What you were like as a child and the messages you received from your parents have undoubtedly influenced your development, for better or worse. Lucky for you if your family enjoyed and encouraged you to develop naturally as the Inanna that you are. Chances are you felt good about yourself and got a big head start in developing all your Inanna strengths.

Sometimes, however, having ‘too much’ family support can cause a problem. When parents give their little goddess unlimited approval for the traits of her natural goddess type to the exclusion of helping her develop the helpful traits of the other goddesses that exist as potential in her personality, she can grow up too one-sided. Take, for example, the young Artemis who is a natural athlete and fierce competitor. While her parents are busy applauding her for all her trophies and carting her to competitions, they may forget to similarly encourage her to keep up with her assignments and she fails to sufficiently develop her intellectual skills.

Also unfortunate is the girl whose goddess type meets with her parents’ disapproval. Their opposition won’t change her inborn type; it just leaves her feeling bad about herself for being who she is, feeling inauthentic if she tries to conform to their expectations by pretending to be ‘the other girl’ that she sensed they would have preferred, or even making her rebellious.

Your Inanna qualities were probably apparent at an early age-cuddly and cute as an infant, and compliant and eager to please as a toddler, your parents’ probably hardly noticed when you went through the ‘terrible twos’!

As an Inanna child you were gentle, loyal, and caring. Even as a young child you were very observant and sensitive to everything that went on around you. Your feelings could easily be hurt, although you often found it very difficult to express your emotions openly. You cared a great deal about others and were eager to please them, so you were undoubtedly a very compliant child. You could also be somewhat impulsive at times, failing to see the implications of your actions or unwisely following the leadership of your friends. More than any other type, little Inannas seek ‘unconditional love’. Hopefully your parents reciprocated the love and trust that you placed in them.

It’s likely that you were a bit of a ‘momma’s girl’. Like all little girls you wanted to please you mother, to be a ‘good girl’, but in the daughter whose Inanna archetype is strong this can easily lead to a relationship in which the girl becomes overly compliant, non-assertive, and fearful of taking risks. If this was the case in your childhood, and especially if an over-attachment occurred with your mother attempting (usually on an unconscious level) to live vicariously through you, the task of developing your own separate identity during your teen years and young adulthood may have been very difficult for you. Some Inanna maidens find themselves forcing the issue, often in a somewhat passive-aggressive manner, as Inanna herself did when she ‘accidentally’ ate the pomegranate seeds, thereby insuring she wouldn’t remain constantly under her loving mother’s wing. Just like in the myths of the goddess Inanna, a mother’s protectiveness may push a young Inanna to ‘wander off’ in search of something that’s missing in her life (her separate identity), leaving her rather vulnerable to those who might exploit her youthful desirability and her eager desire to please. It is a fortunate young Inanna whose parents help her successfully navigate the transition from maiden to woman.

Remember that your parents, like most, probably assumed that you, their child, were pretty much like them. All parents have a different view of the ‘right way’ to rear a child, one that reflects their own god or goddess type.

Inanna As a Parent

Armed with your new understanding of how the goddess types work, you will not be surprised to hear that one other factor, the goddess or god-type of your child, will play a big part in how well you will fare in your role as a parent. Bear in mind that, whichever little gods or goddesses reside in your pantheon, the wise goddess avoids trying to reshape them and allows them to grow into their true goddess-given selves with her understanding and support.

An Inanna mother is a devoted, sympathetic and adaptable parent. She is often so sensitive she is able to perceive their needs and desires before they are even aware of them. She is supportive, kind, and warm, willing to listen to their problems and provide comfort as only she can.

Since an Inanna needs a lot of time alone, she may find the mothering of infants and toddlers who constantly demand her attention the most trying stage of motherhood.

Inannas will help their children develop sound values and will share their sense of wonder in the world. As a parent, an Inanna will be generous, a good friend, and a source of great warmth and fun to her children. Although she is always dedicated and loyal, she often finds it hard to discipline and is sometimes overly permissive and nondirective.

An Inanna’s children will shine brightly as she focuses her caring attention on them, making them feel incredibly loved and special.

Inanna and Her Mates

Is there one perfect match for your goddess type? Some types may be naturally better suited than others. After all, the more similar two types are, the more they understand each other for the more values and interests they have in common, the easier they can communicate, and the less work they have to do to get along. They may, however, have to make an extra effort to stay interesting to each other.

But what about opposites? Opposites may attract, but too often they don’t manage to stay together. When a person from a very different type comes into a romantic relationship with you, you may find yourself drawn to them because you are intrigued by their difference. (Sometimes this may be a sign that they have a quality or strength you admire that isn’t a part of your goddess type and that you need to develop in your self.) Too soon the magical courtship stage is over and you begin to notice that the differences between you are less appealing, maybe even a source of annoyance and conflict. Perhaps you start seeing signs that there isn’t good chemistry between you, or that you need to pull back and not invest so much of yourself. If you think there is enough positive about the relationship and can thoughtfully examine the differences objectively, you may decide to live with the differences between you. Sometimes, though, the differences are just too great to overcome or do not justify the amount of energy it takes to maintain the relationship. If you choose not to deal with the differences, it is wise to move on and find other mates who are more compatible with your goddess type.

But if you’re already deeply invested in such a relationship, or if you simply like a challenge, much can be gained in a mating of opposites. Rather than unintentionally turning your differences into a source of frustration and dissatisfaction, you can learn to celebrate them. Unfortunately, the tendency is to instinctively follow the path of the Pygmalion archetype. In this legend the sculptor Pygmalion, unable to love any of the women he met, carved a statue . . . a perfect and beautiful image of his ‘ideal woman’. Over the course of his labors he grew madly in love with her, but fell into despair because, as a lifeless statue, she could not love him in return.

Like Pygmalion, we (in ways subtle, and not so subtle) try to make our partners change, to become more like us. Chipping away at our loves and marriages with constant tension, criticism, and complaints, we try to pull our partners out of their own god- or goddess- types. Such efforts are destined to fail. Even if it could be successful, it would extinguish their personality, leaving them as lifeless and cold as a statue. Although Aphrodite took pity on the poor sculptor and brought his statue to life in the legend, we must make our own miracles . . . by understanding our differences and seeing them not as problems but as incredible opportunities to breathe life into our own relationships.

This section will guide you to a general understanding of how your goddess archetype exerts a profound influence on the course of your love life. Perhaps the most important aspect of this report is the recognition that the very same differences that attract a woman and her mate to each other can also be the cause of most of the conflict between them, and that it is how these differences are handled that really matters.

Inannas long to be in a committed relationship. Inannas seek a spiritual union, a merger with their partners, and to be swept away into a new life. You are serious about love and really desire a deep, genuine, lasting love. You are old-fashioned about courtship and love, and will remain faithful to your loved one in good times and in bad.

Being eager to please, and very nonjudgmental and accepting, makes an Inanna very attractive to men-her attention makes them feel strong and special. Learning how to reject the advances of those responding to her well-meaning interest, and how to dampen the ardor of those who have misread her intentions, is an important undertaking for many Inanna women. Inanna types are especially attracted to unconventional partners, especially men who are complex, creative, and moody.

Once an Inanna falls in love and manages (or imagines) that merger, it is hard for her to separate, even in the face of evidence that the relationship has serious flaws. Her love affair can continue for years beyond their natural stopping point. Then she finds herself captured in the memories of the past relationship and unable to move on to develop new ones.

An Inanna is a woman of action, not words. When she is alone with her feelings, they seem quite clear and intense but when she attempts to express them to her partner, she can have a hard time finding the right words. She will usually express her affection in nonverbal ways since her feelings surface more easily if they don’t have to be spoken.

Usually easy going by nature, an Inanna can become quite stubborn when she feels she is being criticized or blamed, and will obstinately insist on getting her way, sometimes by creating a dramatic, emotional scene. Also, rather than confront her partner about behaviors that have been irritating her, many Inannas will often accumulate their complaints, allowing resentment to build until it has to boil over. These outbursts are usually rare and blow over quickly without major consequences.

Inannas often manage to keep from having to attend to their feelings, or to discuss relationship issues, by becoming preoccupied with their own personal projects or thoughts (Can’t talk now, have to finish this quilt before Saturday!). Because she has little patience for, and doesn’t really feel comfortable with lengthy soul-baring conversations (especially if it means she might have to reciprocate), an Inanna often tends to keep communication on a rather superficial level that can prevent her partner from feeling that she truly cares and understands. Often an Inanna finds it easier to be responsive to her mate’s physical needs than the emotional ones.

An Inanna’s dislike of confrontation can present problems. Sometimes it leads her to avoid conflict at any cost, even the healthy discuss of problems with her mate. She hopes any problem will simply go away if she ignores it long enough. Because she may not verbalize her negative feelings, it may be hard for her partner to know that something is wrong. In addition, when an Inanna becomes angry she is likely to start feeling guilty about her anger and blames herself rather than her partner.

Inannas are nurturing, supportive partners who are quick to sense their partner’s needs and often place them above their own. They struggle mightily when they feel anger or resentment. The very characteristic that makes them such effective peacemakers, their reluctance to engage in confrontation, makes it difficult for them to communicate about problems in ways that promote their relationship. They deserve to be listened to carefully and to feel appreciated for their kind thoughtfulness and willingness to help their partners, family and friends.

Visit the reference section at www.goddessgift.com to find valuable resources that will help you ‘love the one you’re with’, getting past the ancient conflicts and behavior patterns that have the power to destroy relationships. Learn to appreciate, even honor, each other’s complementary, but differing, ways of being. By developing insight into the ways the god and goddess archetypes interact, you can learn how to make your differences complement one another as intensely as they might otherwise clash.

Inanna Under Stress

Your goddess type impacts every aspect of your life, including your health and sense of well-being. In fact, recent research suggests a direct link between personality and illness. Your goddess type represents the orderly arrangement of your personality that helps you deal with life. If your life is highly compatible with your goddess type, all is well. If, however, your circumstances force you to function largely outside your personal type, you will view your life from a negative perspective and experience stress and emotional discomfort. Our thoughts and emotions are deeply intertwined. Negative thoughts provoke negative feelings that rob the body of the energy it needs to remain in healthy balance, leaving us susceptible to illness.

Consider this example: Amy’s goddess type is one that finds it very difficult to say ‘no’ to anyone. Consequently, she is always trying to do too much and is frequently behind schedule. Missing deadlines and being late for appointments causes her to feel guilty, so every time she is late creates additional stress for her. That stress results in a negative chemical reaction in her body, which, if continued over a long period of time, can ‘wear down’ her body’s natural defenses, leaving her accident prone and vulnerable to infections and a number of other stress-related illnesses.

Another body of fascinating research suggests that each personality type is linked to its own specific areas of vulnerability, or ‘weak sites’, within the body . . . an Achilles’ heel, so to speak. It is thought that these particular areas may be more sensitive to stress-related chemical imbalance.

This section will help you identify:

• Typical ways your type functions under stress

• Characteristic negative thoughts (fears and anxieties) that produce stress

• Vulnerable areas of the body and major health issues for your goddess type

• Behavior patterns that may put you ‘at risk of developing a specific health problem

When an Inanna woman finds herself in a situation where her inner code of principles conflicts with her relationships with others, she experiences considerable stress. Her strong ability to identify with others (even to ‘feel’ their pain) along with her desire to please often creates an inner turmoil. Most Inannas have a tendency to avoid conflict at any cost, even it requires suppressing their own needs and feelings.

At such times you experience inner turmoil, feeling depersonalized and ‘not quite myself’ or as if ‘something is missing’. Normally a quiet, somewhat introspective person, you may find yourself withdrawing even further into yourself asking, ‘Who am I, really?’ (Remember how the goddess had to divest herself of her superficial identity (the masks she wore to present herself to others) and descend to find her real and true self.)

Sometimes you may allow your emotions to overwhelm you and indulge in fantasies (which are often wildly inaccurate) about yourself or your relationships. When stressed, she often struggles with self-pity, self-doubt, or even self-condemnation. To interrupt the vicious cycle, an Inanna can consciously refrain from indulging in fantasy and start examining herself more objectively during times when her life is particularly stressful.

A major source of stress in an Inanna’s life is her ongoing struggle with her fear that she may be unlovable and the resulting willingness to accept responsibility for the faults and problems of others. An Inanna woman can lose her objectivity if she gets too emotionally involved with others, especially those ‘needy’ types who take advantage of her. Deeply fearful of being unworthy or unlovable, she is very aware that others can use these vulnerabilities against her. In a state of inner confusion, she may redouble her efforts to obtain the reassurance or approval of others to alleviate these feelings. Sometimes this only perpetuates her feelings of personal inadequacy by casting her into codependent relationships.

Finding it difficult to balance her need to be able to depend upon others while taking full responsibility for her own choices, an Inanna may find herself nurturing negative feelings (including jealousy) about others. Feelings of powerlessness may leave her depressed.

When stress levels remain high for too long, some Inanna women become somewhat ‘lost’, disconnected from their usual sense of self and usual ‘place’ in life. When this occurs, an Inanna woman begins to focus even more on the abstract and/or symbolic meanings of events. Those close to an Inanna may find her reaction to stress quite baffling, especially if they expect fairly direct communication.

The most vulnerable areas of an Inanna’s body include her respiratory system, neck, chest shoulders, and upper back. Muscular tension, headaches, asthma and bronchitis, allergies, hormonal imbalances and eating disorders are health issues commonly affecting women who are Inanna types.

Situations most likely to trigger an Inanna’s level of stress are those that evoke:

• the fear others will recognize and use her vulnerabilities against them

• fear of not being loved or lovable

• resentment from holding onto past hurts and angers

• frustration over finding it hard to face important issues and make decisions.

Major stressors that arise in the lives of an Inanna are often related to her:

• suppressing her own feelings and not be able to express them

• willingness to accept the responsibility and blame herself for everything that occurs, and

• tendency to be single-minded and focused on her relationships while questioning whether or not she is worthy of being loved.

Inanna’s Personal Goddess Path

While your goddess type is the strongest, most developed, preferred, and ‘natural’ to you, you potentially have aspects (or traits) of all the goddesses in your personality. They are willing to come to your rescue if needed. As your life unfolds over time, you will be presented with different challenges that are not in your goddess’ ‘area of expertise’, challenges that another goddess would be better equipped to handle. You can recognize when this occurs because you may feel drained of energy, ‘mentally fuzzy’, and less sure of your ability to cope. Your life may feel out of control, or you may even have a strong sense of being ‘numbed’ or detached from what is going on around you. Here is where those other goddesses can come to your rescue.

Inanna’s Allies

The goddesses Artemis and Hera are your allies. Already present in your personality, they can be called into play to help you adapt and grow. Which goddess is active at any given time depends on a combination of factors that interact-how many (and which) goddesses are in your repertoire and your predisposition to use them. The situation you find yourself coping with and the roles it calls forth in you, even your hormones, and your stage of life are also important factors.

Think of your life as an improvisational play with several actresses in the cast, each with a different role. One actress (your personal goddess type) will play the lead and be on-stage most of the time since she is your strongest, most experienced performer. However, the others will be called on-stage occasionally when the play takes a direction that calls for their ‘special’ skills or attributes.

You can also activate a goddess archetype intentionally, by consciously focusing on her (through study, meditations, rituals) or by ‘doing’ those activities with which she is associated, such as taking a college course to ‘activate’ the logical Athena. All you need do is honor her and consciously invite her presence – a process called ‘invoking’ a goddess. This section identifies the other goddesses in your makeup and some of the ways you can summon, or invoke, these goddesses in your life-to solicit their aid during times of crisis or to strengthen their impact and increase your psychological flexibility.

In her desire to please others, an Inanna is seldom willing to express any negative feelings she might have if doing so might hurt someone else’s feelings or cause conflict. She finds it difficult to reject anyone and is exceptionally trusting . . . and therefore can be rather naive and vulnerable at times. Once the presence of the Artemis archetype is activated, an Inanna can ‘toughen up’ a bit so that she doesn’t get her feelings hurt as often.

An Inanna rarely confronts those who hurt her and is more likely to hold their feelings in and allow the resentment to fester unless the Hera archetype is well-developed in her personality. When she experiences conflict with someone she cares a great deal about, an Inanna tends to withdraw and process her feelings privately, but the tension that develops tends to take its toll on the relationship. Once Hera’s presence is activated, an Inanna feels more certain about her own worth and finds it easier to communicate openly, expressing her hopes and expectations .In such a fashion, Hera motivates her to become more expressive of her own opinions and emotions and more assertive, willing to occasionally place her own interests first while still allowing her to reestablish the harmony that she so greatly desires.

To develop a healthy balance you need to integrate characteristics of each of the goddesses into your life. By so doing, you can recognize needs you’ve left unfulfilled. Then by attending to those needs, you can become happier and more self-confident. Visit the website again (www.goddessgift.com) to learn more about the different goddesses and to learn specific ways to strengthen their presence in your life.

Recognizing Your ‘Missing Goddess’

Just as your goddess type is dominant in your makeup, there is also one specific goddess that will be the weakest in you. Arachne is your missing goddess. Recognizing this goddess, and honoring her presence, is critical to your well-being because, if she remains neglected, she is apt to appear at the most unexpected time to create havoc in your life.

Most of us have witnessed, at one time or another, an acquaintance who, in the face of some seemingly trivial irritation, explodes into a tirade, ready to ‘take the skin off’ the offender. Normally a sweet-natured, compliant and somewhat self-effacing type, she pays for ignoring her missing goddess (in this case one who is more demanding or judgmental than her own goddess type). Had she acknowledged these needs within herself and developed a few simple assertiveness skills, she would have been spared this embarrassment.

You’ve probably encountered the motif of the ‘uninvited guest’ that appears in many fairy tales and legends. Usually the story begins with a celebration to which everyone in the kingdom is invited, everyone that is except for one certain person (often a witch or a troll who is disliked because they seem ugly or evil). This uninvited guest, understandably miffed at having been excluded, invariably shows up anyway and places a terrible curse on the hosts, the infant who is being christened, or even on the entire kingdom! The terms ‘uninvited guest’ or ‘missing goddess’ refer to the neglected or rejected side of our selves we’ve forced out of our conscious awareness. In Jungian psychology, these disowned aspects of the self, forced to reside in the darkness of the unconscious mind, are called the ‘shadow’. It is the part of our self that we feel least comfortable with and have rejected as not being a part of ‘who we really are’.

An Inanna can find it hard to think logically about her life and, particularly her relationships. She tends to idealize relationships, especially romantic ones . . . to blind herself to the warning signs of potential problems. She avoids bringing problems out in the open to deal with, since to do so might stir up conflict. Arachne can help you relinquish the expectation of a magical, complete, and perfect union with another and prevent the inevitable ‘broken heart’ when others may take advantage of your trusting nonjudgmental nature.

Approaching the Triple Goddess

Before the Titans and the Olympians (the gods and goddesses with their very human-like traits and personalities) appeared in Greek mythology, and long before the 5,000 year reign of male deities, people recognized a Triple Goddess who symbolized the three faces of the original Great Goddess. Often depicted in association with the changing phases of the moon, the Triple Goddess moves between her many roles with the changing seasons of her life. In Greek mythology her three faces are described as the:

Maiden/Virgin            Skilled,self-defining, achieving, and focused

Mother/Matriarch       Relationship-oriented,nurturing, loving, generous

Wisewoman/Crone     Contemplative, spiritual, compassionate, able to laugh, an agent of transformative change in society

In Native American mythology the Triple Goddess was represented by the benevolent Changing Woman who could change back and forth from an infant to a young or old woman at will. She reminds us that a full life is rooted in our own nature as well as the seasons of our particular stage of life. Although recent social changes such as our ability to control the timing of childbearing have loosened the ties of the various stages to a woman’s chronological age, it is still common for most women to develop psychologically following this age-old sequence.

The major developmental task of the young woman, in her maiden stage, typically is to claim and embrace her own personal goddess and to fully develop and strengthen the character of her personal goddess type. Having done so, at mid-life (the phase of the mother/matron), her personal growth is enhanced by nurturing the presence and the strengths of the other goddesses who have remained less developed in her personality. With her primary goddess now strong and experienced, she can now afford to attend to the areas of her life she has heretofore neglected. And in the third phase of her life, generally occurring when she is postmenopausal, she reaches the stage of the wisewoman or crone. Her task at this stage is to pull back some from the more external and active involvement of her earlier years, to integrate all that she has learned, and to draw inward, finding her own voice and purpose. She emerges more spontaneous and less restrained by convention, more contemplative, more compassionate and self-accepting. She can be quite outspoken, in touch with her anger on behalf of herself and others. She is fully capable of forcing social changes that are needed. Using the wisdom she has gained, she now is able to weave her unique perspective into a tapestry that is a full expression of the sacred feminine.

Ways to Grow

As an Inanna it is likely that you have developed the side of you that is tender and oriented toward relationships at some sacrifice of the goal-oriented and independent qualities. Your journey toward completeness will center on the need to develop your potential in these areas that you may have neglected.

Recommendations:

• Commit yourself to productive, meaningful activities that will create an opportunity for you to discover yourself and your talents. Don’t put off doing things until you’re in the right mood. Inannas are actually happiest when they are working, testing their potential, and realizing their strengths. . . so it is important that they not wait for inspiration, but get out in the real world to “find themselves”.

• Developing self-discipline is important for Inannas and can take many forms–getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and adopting a routine have strengthening effects. Obviously excessive alcohol, drugs, sleep, and sexual experiences are not healthy means of coping with stress.

• Getting in touch with her own feelings is not always an easy thing for an Inanna, because she tends to be so receptive that she “absorbs” the feelings of those around her and does not always experience her own emotions. It is important for you to be aware of your feelings, especially any that you may find uncomfortable, including sexual and aggressive ones. You might find it helpful to keep a journal. Or group work might be beneficial since it can both to help develop your emotional side and learn that others will not think less of you for having needs and limitations like the rest of the human race.

• Situations filled with conflict are very difficult for women with the Inanna archetype. It is important to recognize that you, like all other humans, have anger, anxiety, and other negative feelings that you must manage. Negative emotions affect you physically and emotionally, whether or not you recognize them. In addition, they are often expressed unintentionally (or unconsciously), disrupting relationships and depriving you of the peace and harmony that you yearn for. Becoming aware of these feelings, getting them out in the open, and learning about conflict management are critical for the growth of many Inanna women.

• Desiring to be accepted by others, some Inannas adapt themselves so much to the expectations of others that they lose touch with what they are really feeling in a situation. It is important that you resist being a “people pleaser” at the expense of discovering your own core beliefs and values.

• Similarly, it is worthwhile to examine your tendency to go along with others, trying to keep the peace by acquiescing to their wishes. Ask yourself if this kind of relationship will really be satisfying.

• Some Inannas spend a lot of time fantasizing and miss out on a lot of valuable opportunities.  If you are a daydreamer, force yourself to pay attention to what is going on around you. Don’t drift off and tune the world out. Work on focusing your attention and becoming an active participant.

Closing the Circle: Finding Completion on the Goddess Path

Even before the appearance of the Triple Goddess, humankind recognized the existence of a ‘Oneness’, a creator, a ‘giver of life’, a spiritual presence who was complete, in and of herself. She was known by many names, among them the Great Goddess, Ishtar, Gaia (Mother Earth). All powerful, she was life energy itself, and a goddess unafraid to venture into the underworld, the symbol for the soul. She reminds us that we must ground ourselves in the reality of our nature and incorporate all sides of ourselves, whether they be light and pleasant or dark and wrathful. She demanded that we connect to the inner wisdom inside our selves and that we manifest that wisdom in the world.

A Final Note

Although in contemporary times we are more likely to speak of mental health, self-actualization, or even spiritual enlightenment, the quest remains the same – growth that leads to personal authenticity. Recognizing and nurturing your goddesses within is a good beginning. As you continue on the goddess path in your quest for a meaningful life, we at Goddessgift wish you good luck and . . . well, Goddess-speed!

We wish to gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Dr. John A. Johnson for allowing the use of comments he authored concerning the description of personality traits measured by the IPIP items contained in the goddess quiz, and to Steven E. Brenner who authored the original IPIP analysis program on which our program is based..