Chapter 1: A temple priestess
Anouk's initiation as a temple priestess
This story is set around 5,000 years ago, in Babylonia. In pre-Christian times, just before the patriarchal Hebrews invaded places like Canaan, goddess worship was widespread and sex was connected to spirituality.
Here, in Babylonia, sex is considered a sacred act to honour fertility. All women are regarded as an embodiment of the Goddess. To serve as a temple priestess or temple priest is an honour. Our main form of worship is of Baal, the male God of War. The female divine force, and Baal's consort, is our Goddess of fertility and sensuality, Ishtar. We have heard that in other parts of the world, the Great Goddess Ishtar is honoured as Isis, Aphrodite and Venus in similar ways. In Babylonia, every woman honours Ishtar for at least one day, with sacred sex.
Through sexual union, we fuse male and female energies. Even making love with the same sex, or taking pleasure from our own body is endorsed as the sexual energy raised is in honour of Ishtar. Men and women come to the temple for sexual initiation, instruction, healing and when the desire for intimacy arises. In return, they leave an offering of money or gifts to the temple. Because of this, our duty is held in high regard.
Tonight is my initiation as a temple priestess. I have known about this initiation for at least three moon cycles, but I have been hearing exotic stories of the temple priestesses since I became a woman, blessed by moon blood. My initiation will comprise of a feast, a sexual initiation and instruction performed by the priest of my choosing, along with some later instruction in the art of sensual dancing, incense making, healing and massage.
After my sexual initiation, the band of gold I wear on my right arm just above my elbow will be moved to my left arm to symbolise my completed rite of passage. After serving thirteen men in my special service, I will receive a second band, which will mean that I am no longer a novice.
At our home, my mother prepares me for the ceremony with meticulous care. After my bath, she massages scented oil into my skin and dresses my hair. She burns herbs on spices like cinnamon and ginger on a charcoal block. I stand over the burning sensor, allowing the aromatic smoke purify my womanhood. She helps me carefully apply kohl to my eyelids, to accentuate their almond shape and provide contrast to my blue green eyes. My tanned cheeks are rouged to add colour and a berry mixture is applied to my lips to enhance their sensuality. My novice robe is blue, complementing my eyes. It is in two pieces. One piece ties around my waist, just below my navel. The other piece is like a tight, sleeveless bodice that ties at the front and lifts my breast to reveal cleavage. My mother tells me it's designed so my lover can easily undress me.
Together, we walk to the temple as the sun begins to retire in the sky. Twelve other novices will celebrate initiation tonight. At each initiation there are thirteen novices, as 13 is considered a magical number in our culture. My grandmother told me this is because there are 13 moon cycles in one year. At the feast, we will meet the priests. When we make our selection, we whisper the identity of our preference to the High Priestess. There are always more men than novices to make this selection easier.
As we enter the beautiful shrine, I am overwhelmed by the smell of exotic spices, burning in several censors. I walk to the altar where the High Priestess welcomes me and I kneel before the statue of Ishtar.
"Novice, why have you come to the temple?" the High Priestess asks.
For this rite of passage, there is only one answer.
"To serve the Goddess Ishtar." I confidently reply.
"State your name, novice," she orders me.
"Anouk. My name is Anouk." I continue, as I tremble with impatience.
"Anouk, the temple of Ishtar welcomes you."
