Queen of the Great Below

Ereshkigal she is the Goddess of the Underworld, dark and frightening, people often times shun her or refuse to work with her. Not much is known about the is Sumerian Goddess save for a two frightening stories which make her seem menacing and evil.

Gugalanna her first husband perishes fighting against the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh. He died defending Inanna’s honor. Inanna is the sister of Erishkigal. Whenh Inanna goes to visit her sister who is in morning. Namtar , Erishkigal’s vizier, makes Inanna take off an article of clothing before descending each of the seven gates of death. Finally, Inanna stands before her sister naked and in a wrath filled rage is slain by her sister and hung up on a hook like a rotting piece of flesh. The Gods eventually send two a sexual being to rescue her.

The second story involves an invitation to the Heavens. Since she is Queen of the Underworld, the Queen of the Great Below, she is unable to attend the feast. Namtar her servant is sent up to retrieve her food. All the rise except for one Nergal, the Sumerian God of War. Upon hearing this Ereshkigal is enraged. She threatens to let loose the dead. Nergal then sojourns in the Great below for six days. There is passionate love but Nergal leaves before the seventh day. Ereshkigal is enraged once again the boundaries are about to burst. Finally Nergal return and becomes her husbabnd.

Ereshkigal ruler of the Underworld is not the evil Goddess many believe her to be. She is a teacher, a tough teacher. Her method is not of softness but sometimes her ways are harsh. Ereshkigal is the Goddess who tells you to deal with your shit, she is the one who maintains the boundaries. In a word she is the Goddess of No. The Goddess of No is the Goddess who makes you defend your boundaries, a warrior.

Death is transition it is change. Ereshkigal is a Goddess who makes you give up the excess baggage you do not need. She is a Goddess who perfects you by challenging you and giving you challenges.

Janet Munin has compiled a set of writings that will open your eyes about the ways of this Goddess. There as stories of experiences some of them close to tragic as people loose things they no longer need. There are stories about ordeals and pain in order to bring about perfection. Some of the writers have contributed prayers and meditations. This is not a comprehensive book that will tell you how to work with the Goddess it is a book that will open the door. To work with this Goddess you will have to use your intuition, Ereshkigal does not spoon feed.