Descent and Rising: The Embodiment of Inanna – An Interview with Carly Mountain

Listen to the show:

Today on the A Pinch of Magick podcast I’m joined by Carly Mountain author of Descent & Rising: Women’s Stories & the Embodiment of the Inanna Myth

And we embark on a captivating journey, unpacking the myth of Inanna and the timeless wisdom it offers.

Settle in and let’s get started!

Today, we dive deep into the ancient story of Inanna and explore how this myth can serve as a powerful guide to navigate the complexities of life. Carly shares her own experience of finding a myth that mirrored her life and provided a map for her journey.

We delve into the profound narrative of Inanna, from the goddess’s initiation and descent, to her triumphant rise – a testament to the resilience and power of the feminine.

Every journey needs witnesses, and Carly underlines the significance of having people to share and affirm our experiences. We explore the concept of ‘rising rooted in our darkness’ and the transformative power of choice.

Life is an ever-changing landscape, and returning to ‘normal’ after significant change or loss can be challenging. Carly sheds light on how to navigate this process, shedding ideals that no longer serve you and making peace with changes in relationships as you evolve.

Throughout our conversation, we address important themes such as truth-telling (especially to ourselves), the power of grieving in company, and understanding who we are beneath societal roles and expectations.

Carly encourages us to remember that our bodies are keepers of memories and shares her insights on ‘descent’ as a form of initiation into self-discovery. We explore the Inanna myth as an ancient map of trauma healing and initiation as a homecoming, a return to our bodies.

The conversation evolves to discuss recognising our natural limits, reframing notions of ‘should’, and acknowledging shame. Carly shares practical advice on how to determine when to seek help and how to undertake the process of rewilding yourself.

We delve into changing our relationships with ‘sky gods’ and ideas of power, navigating the delicate balance between authenticity and overexposure, and the importance of self-care and saying ‘no’.

The episode is rife with gems of wisdom, like the power of saying ‘Can I get back to you?’ and the liberating realisation that often when you think you’re being ‘selfish’, you actually need to become more so.

We conclude our conversation by exploring the patterns playing out in your life, the courage of questioning your fears, and the art of increasing your capacity for pleasure.

So, are you ready to join us on this enchanting journey? Find your most comfortable spot, brew a cup of your favourite tea, and let’s discover the magick within the myth of Inanna.

xo Rebecca

About Carly Mountain

Carly Mountain is a psychotherapist, a psychosexual somatic therapist, breathworker and writer.

Her work seeks to uncover what has been exiled or hidden within, that is longing to be remembered and reconnected with. Her new book Descent & Rising: Women’s Stories & the Embodiment of the Inanna Myth explores women’s real lived experiences of the heroine’s journey and familiarises us with a process of female psycho-spiritual growth often overlooked in patriarchal culture.

Carly stumbled across the Inanna story during her own descent to the underworld and was astonished by the symmetry it held with her experience.

Since then she has devoted to working with the myth and specialises in beholding others as they traverse the depths of initiation; both in therapy, breathwork and within courses that support women’s awakening and unfolding.
She lives in Sheffield, England with her husband and two daughters.

Connect with Carly

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