The Descent of Ishtar

    Every fourth year of our lunar calendar, there are thirteen moons. (The next year is 2012). Each one of these moons is positioned at a different point around the moon
phase cycle. Six moons are above the horizon line and represent the upperworld and our conscious selves. They are the seed moon (waxing phase), the hare moon (waxing phase), the dyad moon (gibbous phase), the mead moon (full phase), the wort moon (waning full phase), and the barley moon (disseminating phase). Representing the underworld and our unconscious are the seven moons below the horizon line. They are the wine moon (waning phase), the blood moon (balsamic phase), the snow moon (waning balsamic phase), the oak moon (new phase), the wolf moon (waxing new phase), the storm moon (waxing new phase), and the chaste moon (crescent phase).
    This shapeshifting transformation performed by the moon as she travels through the upper and under worlds of our lunar calendar is a symbolic representation of our own transformation. We are now journeying through the underworld along with the her. Studying the stories of mythology sheds light on this journey and therefore on our own process of change.
    A few gods, goddesses and even some mortals from mythology have traveled through the underworld as we are now doing. Orpheus went in search of his wife, Eurydice. Demeter sought her daughter, Persephone. And Odysseus went to find and consult the seer, Tiresias. Like our conscious selves seeking to connect with our unconscious and to integrate its contents, these individuals sought to be united with their "other halves" and to obtain knowledge.
    Particularly relevant to illuminating the mystery of our underworld journey is the story of the Descent of Ishtar. On her way to see her sister, Ereshkigal, Ishtar passed through seven gates. These seven gates correspond to the seven underworld moons of the lunar calendar and to our internal process of change represented by them.






Full Moon Schedule

2010
Nov. 21  Snow Moon
Dec. 21  Oak Moon

2011
Jan. 19    Wolf Moon
Feb. 18   Chaste Moon
Mar. 19   Seed Moon
Apr. 17    Hare Moon
May 17    Dyad Moon
June 15   Mead Moon
July 15    Wort Moon
Aug. 13   Barley Moon
Sept. 12  Wine Moon
Oct. 11    Blood Moon
Nov. 10   Snow Moon
Dec. 10   Oak Moon