Using Images To Represent Inanna/inanna, ancient or modern Options

I was wondeirng if instead of using say the ancent Images of Inanna/Ishtar,if a person did not feel that an anceint Image of the Great Goddess conected them to Her,
would it be acceptable in the Nec Tradition to use oh say a pic of oh say a modern female model to place on your altar,if a certian one hit you as being the image you "envision" Inanna/Ishtar as looking like?

thanks

Xenos

I was wondeirng if instead of using say the ancent Images of Inanna/Ishtar,if a person did not feel that an anceint Image of the Great Goddess conected them to Her,
would it be acceptable in the Nec Tradition to use oh say a pic of oh say a modern female model to place on your altar,if a certian one hit you as being the image you "envision" Inanna/Ishtar as looking like?

thanks

Xenos

Consider that the ancient depictions of inanna or ishtar where not photo-realistic images of beautiful women. This is not because artists didn't start getting good at that until recently. It is because the symbolism around the icon of the goddess is more important than her physical appearance. Also, you will not find a picture of a modern model who would not be offensive to the goddess. I mean seriously, this obsession with skinny is very new, very unhealthy, and represents a severe lack of respect for the female form in our culture. The bone structure alone indicates that our concept of 'ideal' is well outside how the female body was meant to develop. That and every picture you will find has been photoshopped to death - it is literally the industry standard, only grungy amateur photographers don't do it and even then it's usually that they don't retouch on purpose to make a point. Most of them retouch just to make the photo look more pleasing. If you were a force of nature and evolution, what would you think?

Stick to meaningful symbolic icons, and learn to connect to the underlying forces represented by them. They will take you to a more meaningful place and you will be less distracted by the illusions of the World. Inanna's 'sex appeal' doesn't come from her 'physical form' - it comes from the fact that she is a fount of creation, birthing existence perpetually in a state of divine eternal ecstasis. Connect with that.

peace

Consider that the ancient depictions of inanna or ishtar where not photo-realistic images of beautiful women. This is not because artists didn't start getting good at that until recently. It is because the symbolism around the icon of the goddess is more important than her physical appearance. Also, you will not find a picture of a modern model who would not be offensive to the goddess. I mean seriously, this obsession with skinny is very new, very unhealthy, and represents a severe lack of respect for the female form in our culture. The bone structure alone indicates that our concept of 'ideal' is well outside how the female body was meant to develop. That and every picture you will find has been photoshopped to death - it is literally the industry standard, only grungy amateur photographers don't do it and even then it's usually that they don't retouch on purpose to make a point. Most of them retouch just to make the photo look more pleasing. If you were a force of nature and evolution, what would you think?

Stick to meaningful symbolic icons, and learn to connect to the underlying forces represented by them. They will take you to a more meaningful place and you will be less distracted by the illusions of the World. Inanna's 'sex appeal' doesn't come from her 'physical form' - it comes from the fact that she is a fount of creation, birthing existence perpetually in a state of divine eternal ecstasis. Connect with that.

peace

Thanks for the advice.

I set up an altar using 2 cinderblocks one on top of the other,put the photo on it with a candle on each side and one in front of it with 2 copper pennies on the altar seeing as they are made of her metal.

then I asked her to bless the altar,and said the following prayer I had found on line:

Prayer to Inanna


The pure torch that flares in the sky,

The heavenly light shining bright like the day

The Great Queen of Heaven, Inanna, I will hail...

Of Her majesty, of Her greatness, of her exceeding dignity

Of Her brilliant coming forth in the evening sky,

Of Her flaring in the sky - a pure torch -

Of Her standing in the sky like the sun and moon,

Known by all lands from the south and north

Of the greatness of the holy heaven

To the Lady I will sing.



then I set there and just talked to her like she was right there in the room, and I felt like an energy not only radiated from the altar but filled the air around it,an energy that was peaceful,relaxing,happy and loving. Thats the only way I can explain it.


Thanks

Xenos