“Inanna’s Return: Re-Embodying Menstrual Sacrality in ‘The Descent of Inanna’ “

with Dr. Annalisa Derr

Thursday,  August 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time  

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Despite decades of effort cultivating menstrual equity, activism, and sacrality, a 2023 Thinx report found that up to 60% of adult women in the US still feel embarrassed by their periods. It is not surprising when dominant Western cultural menstrual narratives and practices continue to reinforce shame, secrecy, and fear about our periods. For example, the menstrual suppression movement increasingly equates women’s empowerment with liberation from one’s own menstruating body. These misguided cultural narratives perpetuate a long history in which the devaluation and control of women’s bodies has been used to justify our marginalization. A building body of research indicates the vital role the menstrual cycle plays in a woman’s overall well-being, revealing that these approaches are not only flawed and potentially harmful, but ultimately reinforce menstrual stigma and sexism.

Creating affirming menstrual narratives grounded in empowering goddess archetypes is an antidote to this cultural void. The Sumerian goddess Inanna is one such goddess who can help women cultivate menstrual reverence. While Inanna is most recognized as a goddess of erotic love and war that inspires women to embody sexual agency and ferocious strength, She is also a living goddess—an indwelling presence within the female body. Her myths can help women awaken to the deep feminine power latent in their bodies, especially the menstrual cycle.

In this presentation, Annalisa will illustrate how she re-imagines “The Descent of Inanna” as a sacred menstrual narrative, offering a framework for contemporary women’s empowerment. She envisions Inanna as a myth model who guides women to shed internalized sexism and menstrual stigma; cultivate sacred menstrual stories, symbols, and practices; and ultimately experience the goddess’ erotic aliveness as the vital feminine force coursing through the menstrual cycle.

Annalisa Derr, Ph.D., is an independent goddess scholar, sacred feminine embodiment facilitator, and ritual theatre creatrix. She earned her doctorate in Mythological Studies with Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and holds a BA in theater, with specialized training in international masked and physical performance.  Seeking embodied approaches to her research, Annalisa created “She Bleeds the World into Existence,” a site-specific, goddess-centered, menstrual art performance series. Her forthcoming book with Inner Traditions reimagines the Sumerian myth, “The Descent of Inanna,” as an affirming sacred menstrual narrative—offering a transformative lens to liberate women from internalized menstrual stigma and reawaken them to their deep feminine power. Annalisa also hosts “Journey to the Goddess TV” on YouTube, where she interviews experts in goddess scholarship and sacred feminine spirituality.

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Upcoming Scholar Salons (at  3pm Eastern Time )

September 4, 2025: “The Tlacuache (Opossum), a protector and guardian of humankind”  with Verónica Iglesias

September 18, 2025: “Tanit: her mother- and sister- lines. A foray into the mythological and linguistic relations of the Phoenician-Carthaginian goddess” with Dr. Miriam Robbins Dexter

This Salon recording will also be available to members when processed after the event.