Eruptions of Inanna

Judy Grahn is an internationally known poet, author, mythographer, and cultural theorist. Her works include seven books of nonfiction, two book length poems, five poetry collections, a reader, and a novel. An early Gay activist who walked the first picket of the White House for Gay rights in 1965, she later founded Gay Women’s Liberation and the Women’s Press Collective. Her intention with writing is to replace obsolete philosophies with better ones. Her subjects range from LGBT history and mythology to feminist critiques of current crises, new origin theories of inclusion, what makes us human, taking racism personally in dismantling white supremacy, and stories of how to engage with creature-minds and spirit. She also writes about and teaches poetry of Sumerian goddess Inanna, and has written three books tying her to Helen of Troy, and bringing Inanna’s major stories up to date. Judy holds a Ph.D. in Integral Studies/Women’s Spirituality, from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

"In addition to her work in contemporary feminist movements, Grahn has conducted years of research on Mesopotamian literature and ancient storytelling about feminine power, focusing in particular on the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna. Her latest book Eruptions of Inanna, published this month by Nightboat Books, is anchored in the interpretation and retelling of eight stories about Inanna, which were authored by Sumerian writers and in which, Grahn writes in the intro, she sees “pre-biblical roots of justice, gender, and erotic power.” I asked her about the stories’ connection to contemporary politics, her extensive work on mythology, and finding queerness in ancient stories."—Literary Hub"In this conversation, poet, activist, teacher and scholar Judy Grahn discusses her latest book Eruptions of Inanna: Justice, Gender, and Erotic Power, published by Nightboat Books. She and Rachel—who also has lifelong connection to the stories of Inanna through her mother, Diane Wolkstein—examine the importance of these origin stories to modern-day activism and identity politics."—Commonplace Podcast"Reading Eruptions of Inanna is to be immersed in a worldview and society that celebrates all Inanna’s qualities. Grahn writes with honesty and poignancy about how Inanna and women associated with her and the power of female beauty and eroticism, including Helen of Troy and Marilyn Monroe, transformed her over decades. By the end of the book, I, too, had a visceral sense of being embraced by the spirit of Inanna so completely was she revealed and enlivened by Grahn’s detailed and spirited retelling of the stories, her in-depth analysis, and her description of ancient Sumer. In many ways, Grahn is our generation’s Enheduanna, the world’s first named poet who wrote hymns celebrating Inanna, elucidating the goddess and her meaning for our own times."—Feminism and Religion"I’m awed by the breadth of research that went into Eruptions of Inanna. The author draws links between the traditions of ancient Sumeria and its successive civilizations, down to those of the modern Abrahamic religions."—Ebisu Publications"In honor of Pride, we look at an ancient LGBTQ ritual and inclusive culture. In the first hour, guest host Christina Aanestad speaks with internationally known poet and cultural theorist, Judy Grahn, author of the new book, ‘Eruptions of Inanna: Justice Gender and Erotic Power.’ Using the ancient texts written by Enheduanna, a high priestess in prebiblical Sumerian times, Grahn poetically describes an ancient culture that included trans, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in spiritual leadership and its cosmology.  She also draws connections between Sumerian texts and stories later adapted in the bible."—KPFA