I awake in wonderment, excited to hear what is next in store for Inanna. I’m taken by the story of such an empowered woman shaping her life the way she wants it.

The stage is set for Part 2 and Madarava opens the story playing a kalimba. Inanna has her throne and crown. She is delighted, she is the morning star. Exuberant and young she rejoices in her womanhood.

She makes plans to visit Enki – the God of all things, the God of Wisdom and she sets out by herself.

Enki welcomes Inanna and offerings are brought out to her. He treats her respectfully. They eat and drink together. Swaying with drink, he offers her priesthood, kingship and truth. 14 times he offers his cup and gifts her with ‘me‘ – forthright speech, art of the hero, a piercing ear, kindness, making decisions and more.

She sets sail back to her land with all her ‘me‘.

Enki awakens, sober calls upon his servant, “Where is all the me?”  “The king has given them to his daughter,” replies the servant Isimud. “Go get them back,” says the king.

Isimud calls Innana to return the holy ‘me‘. Innana cries, “My father has changed his word, violated his pledge, broken his promise.” She calls upon her servant Ninshubur to protect her.

A battle ensues.

Mandarava leads us into a meditation getting us to reflect on the arising emotions from the story – just observing, just noticing.

In the afternoon we discuss the feelings relating to the story. The types of gifts Inanna receives – gifts so interesting – gifts of decision making and the art of listening fascinated us all. We also discuss the giving and the taking away of gifts and that of broken promises.

Lotus in the group is angry and relays strong feelings about being given things and then having them taken away. There is pain in her voice. We are given crafts to make things this week to express ourselves creatively and she has made a child puppet. “There is no child in this story,” she exclaims, “why not?”

The afternoon we take part in a walking meditation, connecting us to nature, this time taking us outside of ourselves, with the awareness of being connected to the whole. I take in the sounds. Nature is a like an anti-depressant to me, it seems to bring me to ease. In our circle we bow to each other, then we turn and bow towards nature.

There’s a message for you on the noticeboard someone points out to me, I unpin it and open it, “Do you fancy going for a walk sometime?” signed Helen.