So Belili, you come to my court asking me to spare the life of your brother Tammuz. Why should I even deem to hear your request after all the hurt and insult he has done to me? My lady, there is not a doubt that my brother has done you wrong, but cannot you forgive him for what he is? He was created to be the crop God, to provide a steady and reliable source of food for mankind. He cannot help but be sowing his seeds for he was created to do so. It is no less than asking the sun to move from west to east or the rivers to flow uphill. Belili, I do not deny that it is Tammuz's nature to be the sower of seeds. However, that does not mean he has to be spreading them behind my back. He is a force of nature, but that does not allow him to treat me with disrespect! Even nature can be tamed, but your brother showed no such inclination. But my lady, are you not the Goddess of Love? Cannot you allow yourself the ultimate act of love, to show forgiveness? Forgive him for what he was destined to be. Tammuz has well earned his destiny. Do you not remember that I risked my very existence and that of mankind to free him from the grasp of my sister Ereshkigal? Do you not think I have already shown him true love? For him I gave the ultimate sacrifice, my life. So do not talk to me of love! Yes, ok, but what of your love for all mankind, all of whom so faithfully worship you? Will you let them starve without their crop God? Belili, mankind survived for 1000s of years without crops. Let them eat nuts and fruits; let them eat the meat of animals and drink of their milk. When I alone provided food people had plenty to eat. They do not need the luxury of your brother's grains. Forgive me my lady, but before Tammuz there were no cities, no libraries, no temples where people could learn and come to worship you. Mankind's devotion for you has grown because of the gift of grain. You now have city states where people can live together to better serve you and the other Gods. Is that not worth bringing him back? Hum. That is all true Belili. But it is done. I had to give up the life of someone I loved and that had to be Tammuz. There is nothing we can do about it. My lady there is a way! Ereshkigal only wanted balance, a life for a life. Let me give her that. Each year I will give up half of my life and take my brother's place in the Underworld. During the season of growth I will remain in the dark, while he spreads his seeds upon the land. However, at the end of each season I get to return to this land of the living while he goes back to the darklands. Is that not a fair balance? Hum. That is an interesting offer. You must truly love your brother to make such a noble sacrifice. What say you Ninshubar? Is this good and will Ereshkigal accept? Ishtar, this is good. Ereshkigal will have no choice because you are strictly keeping the balance of the living and the dead. And both Belili and Tammuz meet the conditions of being sacrificed to her reasons of true love. This will work; I advise you to accept her terms and then let us then celebrate her love with life in our court. Belili, I the Goddess Ishtar do accept your sacrifice! You will spend half your year imprisoned in the dark lands so that your brother may be free to spread his seed and to feed mankind. From this gift of the Goddess - of love and forgiveness, of acceptance and sacrifice all mankind will flourish. They will grow and prosper until such time that each and every one of them can once again see my face. They will all come back to me; to forever more be embraced by me in my eternal love and to once again be touched by the divine. And this dear reader is the end of Ishtar in the Underworld. It was written on clay tablets some 5000 years before Christ and it is the basis of all resurrection stories of western civilization. It explains love and sacrifice and how each of us can be touched by the divine. Ishtar’s are the oldest written stories of mankind. Ishtar still has something to say to all of you. Look for her in the next few days.