--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From the ancient Inanna forcing herself…" description: "\"“From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal— passing through the seven gates of the underworld and then ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg" --- # From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld… ![“From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal— passing through the seven gates of the underworld and then being hung on a hook, rotting— where she had to look at her sister, and her sister had to look at her. Both needed to see inside themselves, to see…” quote by Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg) > ““From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal— passing through the seven gates of the underworld and then being hung on a hook, rotting— where she had to look at her sister, and her sister had to look at her. Both needed to see inside themselves, to see inside their own shadows. To come to terms with who they really were, not who they thought they were.”” [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The story illustrates confronting inner darkness through mutual reflection, leading to authentic self‑recognition. **In simple terms:** Facing inner shadows reveals true self. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑reflection to grow. Themes self‑discovery myth psychology Mood introspective serious Type mythological inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - creative writing - personal development - spiritual practice Key Concepts shadow work archetype transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can you create a safe space for confronting your shadow? - What does your “underworld” look like? A Different Perspective Mutual reflection may be limited without safe space. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inanna-2238690/) [Inanna Forcing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inanna-forcing-2238691/) [Look Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-sister-576862/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) [Sister Ereshkigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister-ereshkigal-2238689/) [Sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisters/) ## Related quotes > [Never look down on a sister except to pick her up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-look-down-on-a-sister-except-to-pick-her-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not great to look up and your sister is down 3-0. But you have to look; it's my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/it-s-not-great-to-look-up-and-your-sister-is-down-3-0-but-you-have-to/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [“She used to believe that we had each other's voices. That God had made it so I could look after my sister in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryn-ditchburn/she-used-to-believe-that-we-had-each-other-s-voices-that-god-had-made/) [Bryn Ditchburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryn-ditchburn/) > [Look sister is any of this filterin through that little blue bonnet of yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/look-sister-is-any-of-this-filterin-through-that-little-blue-bonnet/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [Everybody thinks that I would go to Miley and my dad for advice, and I get that they're very successful and very big in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cyrus/everybody-thinks-that-i-would-go-to-miley-and-my-dad-for-advice-and-i/) [Noah Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cyrus/) > [Hahahah look what my sister made for mme :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach/hahahah-look-what-my-sister-made-for-mme/) [Zach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach/) > [Here on the pulse of this new day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/here-on-the-pulse-of-this-new-day-you-may-have-the-grace-to-look-up/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [As a younger brother, you look up to your sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy-jr/as-a-younger-brother-you-look-up-to-your-sister/) [John F. Kennedy Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy-jr/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I had two sisters, and we would love to get dressed up and pretend that we were chic, sophisticated ladies. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/i-had-two-sisters-and-we-would-love-to-get-dressed-up-and-pretend/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [It's just special to have a twin sister on the Tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/it-s-just-special-to-have-a-twin-sister-on-the-tour/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm the daughter of a sister whose the mother of a brother who's the brother of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-sister-whose-the-mother-of-a-brother-who-s-the/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [“I envied my uncritical, unthinking sisters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-envied-my-uncritical-unthinking-sisters/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [I realized my father's sister Joanne, who died at 19 had instilled her spirit in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-realized-my-father-s-sister-joanne-who-died-at-19-had-instilled-her/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tori Amos > [My childhood was extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/my-childhood-was-extreme/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [The truth lies in between the 1st and the 40th drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/the-truth-lies-in-between-the-1st-and-the-40th-drink/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“Sometimes I fantasize backstage about how people do their laundry. Woolite? Mixed-color loads? Do they fold? Do they press? Do they Shout it out?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/sometimes-i-fantasize-backstage-about-how-people-do-their-laundry/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I don't feel I'm as good a mum as my mum was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-don-t-feel-i-m-as-good-a-mum-as-my-mum-was/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I'm obsessed with crocodiles and getting eaten by one. When I hear that someone's been eaten by a crocodile or shark, I just get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-obsessed-with-crocodiles-and-getting-eaten-by-one-when-i-hear/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/being-stylish-is-about-enjoying-your-life-and-expressing-yourself-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [There certainly are situations where I feel not empowered or uninspired. Particularly when the person's agenda is to intimidate through abusing their position or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/there-certainly-are-situations-where-i-feel-not-empowered-or/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When I play live, it's a conversation that we're all having with the song, and the audience... their response and relationship with the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/when-i-play-live-it-s-a-conversation-that-we-re-all-having-with-the/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Parenting is not for everybody. It changes your life. Especially when they're little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/parenting-is-not-for-everybody-it-changes-your-life-especially-when/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Pretty is never beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/pretty-is-never-beautiful/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/though-i-can-t-change-what-happened-i-can-choose-how-to-react-and-i/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When you don't have people in your life pushing you, can you push yourself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/when-you-don-t-have-people-in-your-life-pushing-you-can-you-push/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Boys are cute, but food is cuter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/boys-are-cute-but-food-is-cuter/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [My mother says I was two-and-a-half when I started playing. My father was a minister, and when he went to church in the morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/my-mother-says-i-was-two-and-a-half-when-i-started-playing-my-father/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [A lot of the carols were not as you hear them now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/a-lot-of-the-carols-were-not-as-you-hear-them-now/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) [Explore all 413 Tori Amos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) ## More Sister quotes > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [I'm quite close with my family, especially my twin sister, and it's always hard to leave her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-scanlen/i-m-quite-close-with-my-family-especially-my-twin-sister-and-it-s/) [Eliza Scanlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-scanlen/) > [Silly sis!!! love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gold/silly-sis-love-you/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gold/) > [“My sister Laura's bigger than me And lifts me up quite easily. I can't lift her, I've tried and tried; She must have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/my-sister-laura-s-bigger-than-me-and-lifts-me-up-quite-easily-i-can-t/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [I realized my father's sister Joanne, who died at 19 had instilled her spirit in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-realized-my-father-s-sister-joanne-who-died-at-19-had-instilled-her/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I envied my uncritical, unthinking sisters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-envied-my-uncritical-unthinking-sisters/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [I'm the daughter of a sister whose the mother of a brother who's the brother of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-sister-whose-the-mother-of-a-brother-who-s-the/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/) [Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/) > [Just spent 6 hours in the hospital with my 4 year old baby sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/just-spent-6-hours-in-the-hospital-with-my-4-year-old-baby-sister/) [Fading\_scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fading-scars/) > [She knows not loves that kissed her She knows not where. Art thou the ghost, my sister, White sister there, Am I the ghost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/she-knows-not-loves-that-kissed-her-she-knows-not-where-art-thou-the/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [It's just special to have a twin sister on the Tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/it-s-just-special-to-have-a-twin-sister-on-the-tour/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I had two sisters, and we would love to get dressed up and pretend that we were chic, sophisticated ladies. And I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/i-had-two-sisters-and-we-would-love-to-get-dressed-up-and-pretend/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [“You know, my sister and I can’t understand what Dawson sees in you. You’re just a silly little human.” His arm shot out so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/you-know-my-sister-and-i-can-t-understand-what-dawson-sees-in-you-you/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Browse all 2,794 Sister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal— passing through the seven gates of the underworld and then being hung on a hook, rotting— where she had to look at her sister, and her sister had to look at her. Both needed to see inside themselves, to see inside their own shadows. To come to terms with who they really were, not who they thought they were.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tori Amos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself-to-the-underworld-to-visit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Sister" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself-to-the-underworld-to-visit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d9/tori-amos-679_sister_from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself_1016446.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From the ancient Inanna forcing herself to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal— passing through…” — Tori Amos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tori Amos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“From the ancient Inanna forcing herself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself-to-the-underworld-to-visit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/from-the-ancient-inanna-forcing-herself-to-the-underworld-to-visit/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```