Raising Our Voices for the Goddess - Join Me at Ishtarfest 2026!

I can't believe Ishtarfest is only a few days away!

This year I am hosting a guided discussion around the High Priestess Enheduanna's famous work "The Exaltation of Inanna." The discussion will focus on how this text may relate to our modern devotional practices, service to the gods, and sacred community.

This session will take place at 3pm EST on Saturday

Raising Our Voices for the Goddess

This session is part literary discussion, part sacred community building. We will begin by reading the well-loved hymn “The Exaltation of Inanna” by the high priestess Enheduanna, on which we will center a guided conversation discussing our personal spiritual practices and relationship with Inanna, ancient and modern traditions, and pagan community.

Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and practices as we read the hymn, then share their thoughts with the group during a guided discussion. Some topics to consider include: How do you personally relate this hymn to your spiritual practice and relationship with Inanna, your daily life, and/or current world events? Does your spiritual practice affect how you show up in your community? What does the text say about spiritual devotion, community, and resilience?

This session is your opportunity to be seen and heard authentically in a safe and welcoming environment, learn from others’ diverse experiences and perspectives, and build connections to foster a supportive and resilient community.

For those unfamiliar with Ishtarfest, here are the details:

Ishtarfest 2026 — Where Inanna Walks: Memory, Justice, and Sacred Community

Step into the radiance of the Fertile Crescent and rediscover the ancient wisdom that shaped civilization itself. Ishtarfest is a vibrant, community-centered festival dedicated to the Goddess Inanna/Ishtar—Queen of Heaven and Earth, Lady of Love and War, and one of the earliest champions of justice, sovereignty, and sacred order.

Ishtarfest 2026 artwork by Damara Carpenter

For thousands of years, the people of Sumer looked to Inanna for guidance in ethics, leadership, and right relationship. From the first cities—where priests, queens, artisans, and everyday people built orderly, thriving communities—we inherited powerful lessons:

 Honor the gods. Honor each other. Seek justice and balance. Cultivate beauty, joy, and connection.

At Ishtarfest, we celebrate these ancient roots while bringing their meaning forward into the modern world. Through workshops, rituals, music, storytelling, and hands-on learning, we explore the gifts of the Fertile Crescent: early moral codes, community responsibility, and the divine spark of innovation that helped humanity flourish.

Inanna herself stands at the heart of this festival—not only as a goddess of love and celebration, but as a warrior of truth and cosmic justice. Her dance between chaos and order reminds us that growth requires both courage and compassion. Myths teach us that progress can sometimes bring backlash, but the power of community and devotion endures.

Ishtarfest invites you to:

• Celebrate the stories and mysteries of Inanna/Ishtar

• Explore ancient Sumerian culture, ethics, and spirituality

• Reconnect with the shared pagan roots that nourish us all

• Build community through joy, learning, and ritual

• Embrace the timeless lessons of order, justice, and divine reciprocity

  
  

Come join us as we weave ancient wisdom into a living, thriving present.Together, we honor the gods. We honor each other. We remember where we came from—and create where we’re going.

Registration Open – Registration will be $27 per household. Limited scholarships available. Please contact us at the following link for questions or alternate payment info: ishtarfest@handsofchange.org. Scroll below this form for the payment link.

Vendor and Attendee Registration:

https://sites.google.com/view/ishtarfest/home