Started the treatment tonight
I took a course of chemotherapy about 5 years ago that made me sick, aching, and debilitated in many ways, and nearly killed me. I was not receiving adequate medical care. The treatment consisted of interferon and ribavirin to get rid of my hepatitis C. These drugs are very powerful and very dire. The treatment is supposed to go for 6 months. Last time, I stopped after 4 months because the viral load was down to zero in my bloodwork, and I just could not take any more. Then the virus arose again in my liver and now my load is over ten million. It's bad. On the plus side, I'm a good responder.
This time I know I have to go the distance. This time I am going to have proper, professional medical care and we're going to get it done right. I have more trust in my doctor this time as well as the team supporting her.
I went to see her yesterday for the pre-treatment visit, to get prepared. I got so nervous that I didn't begin it yesterday. I waited until tonight.
In medical astrology, Jupiter is the planet of the liver. I wanted to bring to bear cosmic and spiritual forces to assist my healing and help me survive this ordeal. So for the beginning of treatment I chose the moment that Jupiter is rising on the eastern horizon. From the positions of the planets and the houses, I calculated that Jupiter would rise tonight at 10:41 pm EDT local time.
Wearing purple, I gathered all the appurtenances, and cast the circle a few minutes before the appointed time. Vicki sat with me in the circle. Inanna descended into the underworld, where she gave up herself, suffered, and died, before she returned to the land of the living. I'm taking her journey and ordeal as the archetype for what I am now starting to undergo. Six months in the underworld of Ereshkigal. For the application of this journey to women's integration of self, see Descent to the Goddess: A Way of Initiation for Women by Sylvia Brinton Perera. It develops Inanna's story as psychotherapy for women through feminine initiation. That was my spiritual practice around this ordeal the last time too. Hard as it was, it did open much understanding to me through paths of suffering and darkness and led me to a deeper maturity. My life has come such a long way during the past 5 years. I'm in a better place in my life now, in terms of the integration of my whole being.
I faced east as Jupiter rose on the horizon and experienced a brilliant ray of purple light (Jupiter's occult color is purple) just like the first ray of the sun at sunrise, purple healing radiance streaming into my liver. So mote it be. Then within the circle I injected my self with the first dose of interferon below my navel, and took my first pill of ribavirin. Then Vicki gave me reiki in my liver. I opened the circle and said "So it begins." Soon I began to feel kind of weird inside...
Wish me well. I want so much to be well. I'm feeling kind of scared, but also hopeful and confident.
This evening, I also noted that my name in Greek, Ioanna, and Inanna differ by only one letter. And I had to wonder if maybe in some way the name Ioanna might have some connection to Inanna through Hebrew. Anita Diamant's book The Red Tent has ancient Hebrew women invoking Inanna too.
Props to Vicki for sitting through a circle-casting ritual and all that, even though it isn't her thing. Thank you so much, angel! I believe that with your love I can pull through this and live and be healthy.
This time I know I have to go the distance. This time I am going to have proper, professional medical care and we're going to get it done right. I have more trust in my doctor this time as well as the team supporting her.
I went to see her yesterday for the pre-treatment visit, to get prepared. I got so nervous that I didn't begin it yesterday. I waited until tonight.
In medical astrology, Jupiter is the planet of the liver. I wanted to bring to bear cosmic and spiritual forces to assist my healing and help me survive this ordeal. So for the beginning of treatment I chose the moment that Jupiter is rising on the eastern horizon. From the positions of the planets and the houses, I calculated that Jupiter would rise tonight at 10:41 pm EDT local time.
Wearing purple, I gathered all the appurtenances, and cast the circle a few minutes before the appointed time. Vicki sat with me in the circle. Inanna descended into the underworld, where she gave up herself, suffered, and died, before she returned to the land of the living. I'm taking her journey and ordeal as the archetype for what I am now starting to undergo. Six months in the underworld of Ereshkigal. For the application of this journey to women's integration of self, see Descent to the Goddess: A Way of Initiation for Women by Sylvia Brinton Perera. It develops Inanna's story as psychotherapy for women through feminine initiation. That was my spiritual practice around this ordeal the last time too. Hard as it was, it did open much understanding to me through paths of suffering and darkness and led me to a deeper maturity. My life has come such a long way during the past 5 years. I'm in a better place in my life now, in terms of the integration of my whole being.
I faced east as Jupiter rose on the horizon and experienced a brilliant ray of purple light (Jupiter's occult color is purple) just like the first ray of the sun at sunrise, purple healing radiance streaming into my liver. So mote it be. Then within the circle I injected my self with the first dose of interferon below my navel, and took my first pill of ribavirin. Then Vicki gave me reiki in my liver. I opened the circle and said "So it begins." Soon I began to feel kind of weird inside...
Wish me well. I want so much to be well. I'm feeling kind of scared, but also hopeful and confident.
This evening, I also noted that my name in Greek, Ioanna, and Inanna differ by only one letter. And I had to wonder if maybe in some way the name Ioanna might have some connection to Inanna through Hebrew. Anita Diamant's book The Red Tent has ancient Hebrew women invoking Inanna too.
Props to Vicki for sitting through a circle-casting ritual and all that, even though it isn't her thing. Thank you so much, angel! I believe that with your love I can pull through this and live and be healthy.