“Ishtara” Babylonian Massage Training.

Ishtara massage originated in ancient times in the mythical city of Babylon in Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq. This civilization, which gave birth to writing and astronomy among other things, presents many similarities with Egyptian culture. The Mesopotamian people possessed libraries as early as 1700 BC, and the cuneiform texts unearthed during archaeological excavations have revealed that a class of physicians already flourished there. They were generally part of the priestly class, although some writings mention the presence of some practitioners quite far removed from the religious world; however, the existence of a social class of civilian doctors is not proven at present. Babylonian physicians were, above all, what we would call magicians today, and their power resided primarily in the trust placed in them. But to understand Babylonian medicinal sciences, one must place oneself in the historical context, because even today this region is considered the land par excellence of occult arts. This land is believed to be the location of the legendary Garden of Eden, where Satan is said to have corrupted Eve and Adam, leading to their fall from earthly paradise. In the past, people believed they were surrounded by a multitude of good and bad spirits, so the struggle between good and evil was incessant, and all diseases were blamed on them. There was a belief that demons each had their own spheres of harmful influence and preferentially attacked certain areas of the body. Thus, evil was also considered to be synonymous with its agent. Professor Lenormand (1757-1840) quotes in his writings a formula that confirms this state of affairs; "The bad Utug acts on the forehead of man, the bad Alal on the chest, the bad Gigim on his entrails..." A cuneiform text on a brick shard dating from the period of the illustrious King Ashurbanipal, recounts in a medical report the course of a patient's manual examination. Thus, in order to treat their patients, doctors had to practice incantations, administer medicinal preparations, stimulate certain areas of the body manually and work by laying on of hands in the manner of healers to drive away evil spirits. But in this daily struggle, the gods were also involved; some, like Namtar or Idpa, were the authors of the most deadly and feared diseases. The goddess Ishtar The great goddess Ishtar is the ancestor of the Roman goddess Venus Vitrix and the Greek goddess Aphrodite. She is also the Sumerian Inanna and the Phoenician Astarte. Her cult can be defined as an esoteric mystery cult with a significant cosmogony and a complex theosophy. Its meaning, rich in symbols and metaphors, was revealed only to initiates. Benefits It helps to strengthen the body and fight against minor ailments; the body, thus protected from disease, is less afflicted and less sensitive to its environment. This massage allows for a great letting go and frees the mind from worries and emotional stress. The numerous manipulations of the legs finally allow for the restoration of great joint flexibility. The techniques of this massage are thus imbued with powerful symbols that reflect the many facets of Ishtar's life. This express massage was originally used to ward off evil spirits; it is now primarily used to combat everyday ailments such as stress, muscle pain, and intense fatigue.