Inanna, the ancient Sumerian goddess of love, revered as the ‘Queen of Heaven’, embarks on a profound journey in the poem “The Descent of Inanna” (c. 1900-1600 BCE). This myth, more than a narrative, serves as a deep allegory of the “Great Round,” mirroring our transformative quests and personal growth. This myth illustrates shadow work. Shadow work is the process of exploring and integrating the hidden or unconscious aspects of oneself, often revealing suppressed emotions, desires, and parts of our personality that we might deny or reject.

In Jungian psychology, the Great Round symbolizes a perpetual cycle of growth, blending self-discovery with self-realization, leading to the fusion of our conscious and unconscious realms. This encompasses life and death, consciousness and unconsciousness, creation and dissolution—realms that must be integrated for total self-realization.

The poem begins with Inanna’s decision to leave the ‘great above’ for the ‘great below.’ This descent is not just a physical journey but a plunge into the depths of her own psyche, symbolizing a confrontation with her ‘shadow’ self. Inanna abandons her earthly and heavenly domains, signifying a detachment from known identities and roles, a theme crucial in understanding shadow work.

“Inanna abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, to the netherworld she descended…”

Preparing for her journey, Inanna adorns herself with symbols of divine power, including a crown and a lapis lazuli necklace. Each item is not just regalia but represents aspects of her identity and power. However, as she descends through the seven gates of the underworld, she relinquishes these symbols, arriving naked. This stripping away of possessions and titles symbolizes the shedding of ego and false identities, a key step in embracing shadow work.

“The seven divine decrees she fastened at the side… All the garments of ladyship she arranged about her body” (Kramer, Sumerian Mythology, Sacred-Texts.org).

In the underworld, Inanna encounters her sister, Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld. This meeting is a pivotal moment of confronting the shadow. Ereshkigal represents Inanna’s shadow, the unacknowledged and darker aspects of herself. Their encounter is not just between two deities but a dialogue between the conscious and unconscious, the seen and unseen aspects of the Self.

Inanna’s confrontation and subsequent death in the underworld, symbolized by her being turned into a corpse, depict the death of the ego and old self. This ‘death’ is a necessary phase in the journey towards self-realization, where one’s false perceptions and fragmented views are dissolved.

“The Anunnaki, the seven judges, pronounced judgment before her… The sick woman was turned into a corpse” (Kramer, Sumerian Mythology, Sacred-Texts.org).

Ninshubur, Inanna’s messenger, seeks help, illustrating the support system we often need in our transformative journeys. Ninshubur’s pleas to Enlil, Nanna, and finally Enki reflect the external interventions sometimes required in our journey towards self-realization.

Enki, understanding the depth of Inanna’s journey, creates beings to retrieve her. This act symbolizes the intervention of higher wisdom or divine grace in our journey back from the depths of our unconscious mind.

“He brought forth dirt and fashioned the kurgarru… To the kurgarru he gave the food of life” (Kramer, Sumerian Mythology, Sacred-Texts.org).

Inanna’s resurrection and return from the underworld signify the rebirth of the Self into an enlightened state of consciousness and understanding. This resurrection is a return to life, a renewal after ego death, and a confrontation with the inner shadow.

Shadow work, as illustrated by Inanna’s journey, is a courageous descent into the shadowy underworld of our psyche. It involves stripping away the layers of our constructed identities, confronting the darkest aspects of ourselves, and emerging transformed. This process, though challenging, leads to profound personal growth and a deeper understanding of our true Self.

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