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| Inanna by John Singer Sargent |
She of all knowing, dark
wisdom....She of the deep abyss, snake’s descent, owl’s knowing...woman of the
dark, the light: We praise you, we stand in awe
marveling at the myriad surprises you hold in store for us. Your power,
your mystery.
Lilith-Ishtar-Shekhinah, we
worship you, in all your aspects; we sing your name.
Walk with us as we yearn to
understand you... Never let us forget your presence in, around and through us,
as we seek to proclaim and praise you in every corner of the world, in your
many guises, by every name.
Walk with us as we love you,
when we are angered by you, when we fail to comprehend you and when we renew
our resolve to serve...
Be patient with us as we must be
with ourselves, and each other... holding your presence even when we doubt or
despair. Let us continue to walk in this
new millennium as healers, casting new roles for ourselves and others, weaving
new threads of oneness and wonder Ishtar-Lilith-Shekhinah, keeper
of the mystery:
Be with us through ecstasy and
harmony through death and destruction
And You, Inanna, who were given
the setting up of lamentations, the care of children, the rejoicing of the heart, the giving of judgments, the stirring of sexuality, the making of decisions.
In the eye of this wisdom,
rising forth from the power of your being, your foresight, your intent...how is
it we ever got lost, taken over, subsumed?
How did we ever become convinced
we were not worthy to serve you, that you were the god/not the goddess? How did
you, or we, allow ourselves to be
sidetracked
sidetracked
trampled
silenced
and burned?
As we build a new world, allow
us always to remember our inner strengths, to come from a place of
understanding and compassion. Yet let us not be swayed from our goals, and never let our kindness become
weakness. Help us to remember the
lessons of our strongest foremothers and so defend ourselves when necessary,
without apology,
speak for what we believe in,
take unpopular action,
take what is rightfully ours
with or without “permission.”
Work with us, inspire us, protect us as we weave your work - our work.
Help us, sweet dark lady of the
night, holy winged figure of the light—rageful, wise judge, warmest heart,
soulful visionary... highest priestess of the Temples to whom every knee must
bend and every tongue give homage.
It is your word we write now
upon the doorpost of our house and upon our gates…
Your word, acts, images and
thoughts we share, rage at, weep with and learn from.
For It is You who makes rise our greatest laughter and love, happiness and
peace, passion, tenderness and compassion.
You who sees and
gives us our greatest anger and storm, temper and venom, jealousy and
vengefulness; You from whom and with
whom we learn to combine these things in the best ways possible... as we embody and become You, in Our divine
selves.
Sweet, dark Goddess/es of the
earth and sky, river and mountain, night and day, Heaven and Hell.
We seek to
embody your passion, your wisdom, your strength.
Be with us
now.
D’vorah bat Rita 2008
(Adapted from a liturgy
written in 1999)
