The Descent of Inanna
When I work with mothers in pregnancy, I often share stories that help illuminate the deep inner work of preparing for birth. One of the most powerful is The Descent of Inanna, retold by Pam England in her book Ancient Map for Modern Birth. Inanna’s journey into the underworld echoes what so many mothers experience: letting go of expectations, facing transformation, and entering the unknown. Each time I share it, something different resonates — for some, it’s the surrender of releasing a carefully crafted birth plan; for others, it’s the courage to step into a process that will change them forever. That’s the beauty of story: we see ourselves reflected in the characters, even when their path looks very different from ours.
As you read Pam England’s version of The Descent of Inanna, I invite you to notice what stands out to you, and what echoes in your own journey.
Additionally, if you’d like to listen to me tell this story in my own voice, press play below before you begin reading.
If you choose to listen to the recording, I invite you to scroll down past the written story, for a few gentle reflection questions waiting at the end of this post.
Inanna was a woman of power—a warrior, a queen, a poet, and the priestess of seven temples. Inanna heard her Call from the Great Below. She knew that answering it would disrupt her life's rhythms and relationships and bring uncertainty. Like hearing a drum beating in the distance, it's possible to ignore such a Call for a while, but they persist until answered. When Inanna's heart was ready, she accepted her Call. From that moment on, there was no turning back. With her whole body and mind, she began preparing for her inner journey.
Inanna was the priestess of seven temples, a time-consuming vocation as Sumerian temples were bustling community centers with markets, gardens, social gatherings, and ceremonies. To free up time to retreat from her ordinary life, Inanna's first task was to abandon her seven temples.
Her next task was gathering seven royal articles imbued with power that would offer her protection as she journeyed through the unknown. Inanna dressed for her rite of passage in her finest royal warrior clothes, arranged her hair, and donned her crown. Around her neck, she tied a lapis necklace and blessing beads. To protect her heart, she tied on her warrior breastplate. Over her hand, she slipped a gold bracelet. Around her shoulders, she wrapped a royal robe. Lastly, she took up her lapis measuring rod and ring.
Inanna called on her trusted advisor, Ninshubur, Queen of the East, to help her prepare for her descent into a place from which no one returns unchanged. All the while, Ninshubur fretted. If anything went wrong, or if Inanna suffered too much during her descent, Ninshubur would feel responsible for not having dissuaded her queen from taking the risk. She also worried that Inanna's powerful transformation might change their friendship. So she tried to talk Inanna out of answering her Call, but Inanna would not be deterred.
Although Ninshubur and Inanna had fought side by side in other battles, Inanna knew she had to fight this one alone. She also knew she could trust her faithful advisor, Ninshubur, above all others with the task of ensuring her safe return. She said, “My dearest friend and advisor, if I do not return in three days by my own efforts, go to the three wise elders and ask them to help me complete my return. Do not abandon me in the underworld.”
Having completed her Tasks of Preparation, Inanna walked away from the comforts of her ordinary life. In due time, she arrived at the first gate of the underworld (Laborland).
Bidu, the Gatekeeper, whose name meant “to open”, demanded,
“Who are you?”
“I am Inanna,” she answered, “queen of heaven and earth. I am a poet, warrior, priestess, and wife. I have learned the body ways of birth, yoga, herbs, dances, and breathing, and I have my birth plan right here in my lapis measuring rod. Let me enter.”
Bidu asked, “Why has your heart led you here, to a place from which no one returns unchanged or unscathed?”
Inanna gave her reasons and demanded to be let in.
“Come,” he said, “you may enter.”
As Inanna crossed the first threshold, Bidu took her crown. Inanna protested, to which Bidu explained,
“The ways of the underworld are ancient and proven. Its ways may not be bargained away or questioned.”
Inanna continued her descent through the labyrinthine passage. Gate after gate, Inanna encountered Bidu, the Gatekeeper. Each time Bidu asked Inanna, “Who are you? Why has your heart led you to this place, a place from which you will not return unchanged?”
Each time Inanna passed through a gate, Bidu took something of value, something she had brought or worn for protection, comfort or a sign to let others know she was special. At the Second Gate Bidu took her lapis necklace and blessing beads. At the Third Gate, he took her breastplate. At the Fourth Gate, he took her royal robe, leaving her cold and exposed. At the Fifth Gate, he removed her gold bracelet. At the Sixth Gate, he took her shoes. And at the Seventh Gate he took from her hands the lapis measuring rod and ring.
With each small loss, the queen protested, “It isn’t fair! Give it back ! I didn’t agree to this!”
Bidu reminded Inanna, “The ways of the underworld are ancient and may not be questioned. Keep going, Inanna. Find out who you really are.”
Gate by gate, Inanna descended deeper and deeper into the underworld. The underworld was an unfamiliar place. She did not know her way. Only her resolve lit the path through the dark and twisting labyrinth, across thresholds of mercy, terror and doubt.
Naked, humble, sweaty and exhausted, Inanna crawled on her hands and knees towards the last threshold. She had given her all. Finally, she arrived at the Seventh Gate. By now the Gatekeeper had seized everything except the one thing he could not take: Inanna’s determination to do what needed to be done next.
Reaching deep inside herself, she mustered up a great push, and then another and another until the Gatekeeper opened the last gate.
And there, in the deepest, most sacred place of all, she saw the one who had been calling her and who was still calling to her (her newborn baby). In this transformative moment, the person Inanna had died. In the next breath, she was reborn (as a Mother).
Three days and three nights passed. Inanna was suspended between two worlds. She could not make it home. Three days is a long time to wait while someone you love is out of reach in the underworld. Ninshubur went to the elders. The first two would not help, blaming Inanna for her predicament. The third elder listened carefully and came up with a plan. Of the three, only he knew the way out because he had gone to the underworld and returned. He created two allies and gave them the Water of Life and the Food of Life, and instructed them to take these to Inanna.
Once she had gathered her strength, Inanna began to hear another Call, this time from the Great Above, to return to her life. She began her slow ascent.
At each gate on her return, Bidu asked, “Who are you? What do you know now that you did not know before you made this descent?”
At each gate, the Gatekeeper took from Inanna something that belonged to the underworld. At the First Gate, he took self-absorption from her and gave her gratitude. At the Second Gate, he took worry from her and gave her relief. At the Third Gate, he took sleep from her and gave her stamina. At the Fourth Gate, he took old relationship dynamics and gave her renewal. At the Fifth Gate he took the weight of blame of self and others and gave her understanding. At the Sixth Gate, he stopped her mind from spinning. At the Seventh Gate he took pride and gave her humility. At the Eighth Gate, Bidu took her gathering basket and turned her attention inward. At the Ninth Gate, he lifted the weight of the whole story and gave her wisdom.
The warrior-priestess who had left on this journey was surely not the one returned, for the descent and return had transformed Inanna’s mind, body and heart.
Ancient map from modern birth – Pam England
As you read this story, I encourage you to pause and notice what themes speak to you. You may even want to journal or reflect on questions like:
What have I been asked to let go of as I prepare for birth or motherhood?
Where do I feel fear around transformation or the unknown?
What inner strength do I carry that will guide me through?
These are the kinds of reflections I hold space for in sessions — both through massage therapy and in Birth Story Listening. Whether you’re preparing for birth or integrating your postpartum experience, stories like Inanna’s can become touchstones, reminding you that you are not alone in this journey.