As I was wrestling with Lilith, wondering what She wanted from me and where else the Sacred Feminine lived within Judaism, I was inspired to write my first piece of liturgy. I have updated it a bit but my kavanah, my intention remains the same.

Invocation to Inanna-Ishtar / Lilith / Shekhinah…

She of all knowing, dark wisdom… She of the deep abyss, snake’s descent, owl’s knowing…woman of the dark, the light.

We praise you, we stand in awe marveling at the myriad surprises you hold in store for us

always respectful of your power, your M/mystery.

Shekhinah-Lilith-Ishtar, we worship you, in all your aspects; we sing your name.

Walk with us as we yearn to see you, to feel you, to exchange the divine sparks we both need to live… Never let us forget your P/presence in, around and through us, as we seek to proclaim and praise you in every corner of the world, in your many guises, by every name.

Walk with us as we love you, when we are angered by you, when we fail to comprehend you and when we renew our resolve to serve…

Be patient with us as we must be with ourselves, each other… holding your Presence even when we are in doubt or despair.

Let us walk into this new millennium as a time of healing, of casting new roles for ourselves and others, weaving new threads of oneness and wonder

Inanna-Ishtar, Lilith, Shekhinah, keeper of the Mystery

Be with us through ecstasy and harmony
through death and destruction

through reawakenings and rebirths

You who were given the setting up of lamentations, the care of children,

the rejoicing of the heart, the giving of judgments, the stirring of sexuality,

the making of decisions.

In the eye of this wisdom, rising forth from the power of your being, your foresight, your intent…how is it we ever got lost, taken over, subsumed?

Allow us always to remember our inner strengths, to come from a place of understanding our own power, to feed and celebrate our ruach, our neshama/soul, our lifeforce.
Let us not be swayed from our goals.
Work with us, inspire us, protect us as we weave your work – our work.

Help us, sweet dark lady of the night, holy winged figure of the light—rageful, wise judge, warmest heart, soulful visionary, YOU who dwell within each of us, YOU who holds the key to our heart, our mafteyach ha-lev …highest priestess of the Temples, and the Cosmos, to whom every knee must bend and every tongue give homage.

For it is your word we write now upon the doorpost of our house and upon our gates,
Your word, acts, images and thoughts we share, grow mad at, rejoice and weep with, from which we seek to learn.

It is you who makes rise our greatest laughter, happiness, peace and compassion, and you who also sees and gives us our greatest anger and storm, temper and venom…

Holy Mother, Source of All, Goddess of earth and sky, rivers and mountains, night and day, highest and lowest planes of our existence, and beyond,

We seek to embody your sacred passion, your wisdom, your strength.

Be with us now. – D’vorah J. Grenn, 1999

A newer version of this liturgy appeared on ritualwell.org READ HERE