The Art of Unbecoming: Stories of Death & Rebirth
Stories of Change from Maori, Sumeria, Native American traditions, and Japan
What if the path forward isn't about becoming more, but about unraveling who you thought you were?
2024 stripped away everything—ego, ambition, certainty—until I stood naked before truth. Like Inanna's descent into the underworld, this journey broke me open to reveal something far more precious than success: it led to the well of power.
This isn't just my story. It's an ancient path walked by people of every culture throughout all of time. Whether you're facing your own descent or sensing the call to shed what no longer serves you, may these stories offer guidance through this sacred territory of transformation.
May these stories offer guidance as you reflect on 2024:
—> What stories of yours are ready to end?
—> At the bottom of this post are all kinds treats.
The Myth of Inanna's Descent
The Call to the Underworld: Inanna, driven by curiosity, ambition, or a need to expand her power, descended into the underworld, the domain of her sister Ereshkigal, the goddess of death. Before leaving, she announced her intention to the gods and left instructions for her faithful servant, Ninshubur, to seek help if she did not return.
Stripped of What She Is: Upon reaching the underworld, Inanna is met with resistance from Ereshkigal's gatekeeper. She is allowed entry but must pass through seven gates. At each gate, she is required to remove an item of clothing or jewelry, symbolic of her power and identity. By the time she reaches Ereshkigal, she stands naked and powerless.
Surrender: Her sister, Ereshkigal, enraged by Inanna's presence, condemns her. Inanna is struck down and hung on a hook like a piece of meat, signifying her death and complete submission to the underworld's power.
Resurrection: Following Inanna's instructions, Ninshubur appeals to the gods for help. The god Enki creates two mourners from the dirt beneath his fingernails and sends them to the underworld with life-giving food and water. They comfort Ereshkigal, who grants them Inanna's body. Through Enki’s intervention, Inanna is resurrected.
The Price of Return: Inanna’s return to the living world is not without cost. To leave the underworld, a substitute must take her place. Inanna finds her husband, Dumuzi, sitting comfortably on her throne, showing no signs of mourning her absence. In anger, she chooses him as her replacement, though later myths describe Dumuzi’s partial return, symbolizing the agricultural cycle of death and rebirth.
INQUIRY:
Each story will speak differently to the reader based on where we are in our lives, what we have experienced, and what we are ready to receive. I suggest beginning with your own open inquiry: what comes alive in you as you receive this story? What do you hear, notice, and think of in your own life?
I’ll offer a few additional questions to inspire your reflection and inquiry:
What guides are you entrusting with the care of your soul?
Who is tracking you as you journey past the place of your own knowing?
What are you being asked to surrender or being stripped of as part of your journey through the descent?
The Maori Tell the Story of Hine-nui-te-pō
Hine-nui-te-pō's journey begins as Hine-tītama, the Dawn Maiden, the daughter of Tāne Mahuta, the god of forests, and a mortal woman. She is known for embodying the life-giving energy of dawn.
Hine-tītama becomes the god of the forest Tāne’s wife—without knowing that he is her father.
When Hine-tītama learns that Tāne is her father, she is overcome with shame and grief. Unable to reconcile this revelation, she decides to leave the world of the living.
Hine-tītama descends into the underworld, becoming Hine-nui-te-pō, the Great Woman of Night. She takes on the role of guardian of the dead, welcoming spirits into her realm and ensuring the balance between life and death. Her transition symbolizes the movement from innocence to wisdom, from light to shadow.
INQUIRY:
What is your relationship with shame—and confronting things you did not know about yourself?
Is there a part of you that is unable to return to who you once were?
What do you embody if so?
This story does not pretend we all make it through the journey of descent, and it explores the transformational power that can come when one fully embraces the next chapter of one’s life.
The Story of Sita’s Trial by Fire
The Rescue of Sita: After Rama defeats Ravana and rescues Sita, public and personal doubts about her fidelity begin to surface. Ravana had abducted her, and though Sita had resisted his advances and remained steadfast, the societal stigma of a woman living under another man's roof casts a shadow.
Rama’s Request: Rama, though he deeply loves Sita, asks her to prove her purity to reassure both himself and his subjects.
Sita’s Response: Sita agrees to the trial. She walks into a blazing fire, invoking the fire god Agni to protect her if she has remained pure in heart and deed.
Agni’s Testimony: As Sita stands in the flames, Agni himself emerges and declares her untouched by any sin or impurity. She emerges unscathed, proving her virtue and divine character.
INQUIRY:
Who do you call upon for support when tested?
How do you face injustice?
What is your relationship with facing and standing in the fire of transformation?
These stories of descent are not easy.
Many of them warn that not everyone makes it home, such as in Japanese mythology: when Izanami dies and descends to Yomi (the land of the dead), Izanagi attempts to retrieve her. His failure and her transformation into a vengeful goddess reflect themes of separation.
These stories of descent: are not easy.
Many of them warn that not everyone makes it home, such as in Japanese Mythology:
When Izanami dies and descends to Yomi (the land of the dead), Izanagi attempts to retrieve her. His failure and her transformation into a vengeful goddess reflect themes of separation.
The Corn Mother is a central figure in many Native American mythologies, especially among the agricultural tribes of North America, such as the Hopi, Cherokee, and Iroquois. Her myths are deeply symbolic, representing the cycles of life, death, and rebirth inherent in nature and agricultural practices. The Descent of the Corn Mother often illustrates her ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of humanity, reflecting themes of transformation, regeneration, and the sacredness of sustenance.
The Myth of the Corn Mother
The Myth of the Corn Mother
There are many versions of this story. They share a common theme: the Corn Mother is depicted as an old woman who succors a hungry tribe and often adopts an orphan as a foster child or marries a man.
She secretly produces grains of corn by rubbing her body. When people discover this, they are disgusted.
In each story, she dies, either through murder or her own will and desire to return to earth. In all of these stories, she provides careful instructions on how to treat her corpse—and corn sprouts from where she died or was buried.
These are all summaries of powerful myths to wet your whistle. If one story really grabs you: you may want to find a few versions and read them.
INQUIRY:
What is your relationship to generosity, judgment, and condemnation?
Do you have gifts that are not understood?
What are you willing to give or sacrifice in offering to the next seven generations?
These are all summaries of powerful myths to wet your whistle. If one story really grabs you, you may want to find a few versions and read them.
May you have great stories that guide you through your next year.
May you have great guides to lead you through your cycles of life.
OPENINGS FOR NEW CLIENTS
Through my own descent and emergence in 2024, I've mapped the territory of deep transformation. For those feeling the pull toward their own rebirth, I offer experienced guidance through these sacred passages. Together, we'll turn your challenges into initiations and create space to harvest the gifts and revelations in your journey so that you return with wisdom.
I'm opening a few spots for private clients in 2025, offering 4 and 6-month coaching packages. These are designed for individuals ready to birth creative initiatives and navigate meaningful change. If you're standing at the threshold, seeking a guide who has crossed these waters and brought visions to life, let's explore working together.
You're an ideal fit if you are:
Committed to gaining momentum on your visions while honoring the depths of your journey
Developing a specific project, creative work, or personal narrative that seeks expression
Ready for structured support and accountability to amplify your authentic voice
Navigating transformation and building your offering, seeking guidance from someone who understands both the creative process and personal evolution
Schedule a discovery session here.
"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
— Patrick Overton
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