Welcome back to Everyday Tarot! Season 16 is devoted to queer deities, and today, we turn to Ishtar—Babylonian goddess of love, war, and desire, the Queen of Heaven, the Holy Whore.

What we explore in this episode:

• The myth of Ishtar

• Ishtar as a queer deity

• Tarot cards resonant with Ishtar: The High Priestess, The Star

The Myth of IshtarIshtar—also known as Inanna or Astarte—was worshiped as the Queen of Heaven, ruler of fertility, desire, and the cycles of life and death. She appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh as a radiant goddess of both love and warfare, capable of granting abundance or unleashing chaos.

In one of her most famous myths, Ishtar descends into the Underworld to rescue her lover Tammuz. Her absence halts all fertility on earth until her return—symbolizing death, renewal, and the turning of seasons. She is at once celestial and chthonic, embodying the paradox that creation and destruction are twin flames of the same divine force.

Ishtar as a Queer Deity

Ishtar collapses every boundary: between male and female, sacred and profane, mortal and divine. Her temples honored gala and kurgarru—queer, trans, and intersex priests who embodied her power to blur and transcend gender. Ancient hymns describe her as one who “turns a man into a woman and a woman into a man,” sanctifying transition itself as holy. Depicted with wings, a lion, and sometimes even a beard, Ishtar personifies sovereignty through multiplicity. She blesses sex workers, warriors, and mystics alike—those who live beyond societal constraints.

If you haven't listened to my other seasons yet, go check them out!

💭 Today's Tarot Pull:

From Norse Goddess Rune Oracle by Rebecca Joy Stark and illustrated by Sharon McLeod, I pulled the Seed of Life Fertility, Creation, New Beginnings

This rune speaks of growth born in darkness. Like Ishtar’s descent, it reminds us that the void is not emptiness but potential—the womb of transformation. Tend your seeds with patience; what you plant in shadow will soon seek the light.

Reflective prompts on this card:

• What creative seed is quietly germinating within me?

• Where can I surrender control and allow transformation to unfold?

• How do I honor both destruction and creation as sacred parts of my path?

Ways to Connect & Support

• Spooky Halloween! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab my Queer Coven Spooky 6-card spread here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Check out my episode of Kayla Moore’s Connected Pleasure podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Living by the Body, Dreaming of Land, and Weaving the Future⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Kayla here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Be Our Guest! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out my form to Be a Guest on my Podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Learn how to create your own Tarot Cards with collage!  No art skills? No worries! Get my workshop including the hour- long recording with my step by step method, examples of the tarot cards I’ve created, journaling questions, and PDF to walk you through it for just $33.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Click here to purchase now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Tarot for Transformation Workshops kick off starting January 2026. We will deep dive the first 12 of the Major Arcana to Discover Our Best Selves and Create a Life Worth Living.⁠⁠ Get more information⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠
• Book a Consultation: I’m a sex & relationships therapist and coach working virtually from my home office. Let’s see if we’re a fit:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ camilleasaunders.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with your thoughts, questions, and more