About Ishtar

About Paula Ishtar Biography

Current roles; Director of Earthmover (www. earthmoves.org). Gardening , events, workshop leader

Paula  Ishtar  Biography


Qualifications:

Paula has an MSc in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology (from Middlesex University) and a B.A in Psychology and Women’s Studies (from Liverpool John Moores University). 


She also has professional qualifications in teaching adults and in Holistic Therapies. She has stress management and counseling qualification and has completed courses in diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding.


Past Roles;


Psychology Tutor for Liverpool City Council for twelve years. Also sessional  work  teaching Psychology for Sefton Council and other educational institutions


Dance work; Since 1998 to the present Paula has been running a  dance business. She has presented dance in therapeutic, entertainment, educational and team-building contexts. 


National and International Pilgrimages, to a variety of Neolithic and other sacred sites.  Paula has run many Women's empowerment workshops and retreats in the UK and Europe. She has spoken at many events in the UK and abroad, on the subjects of Feminine Spirituality, Embodiment and Middle Eastern Dance, performing all over the UK and in Europe, and America. 


Other Clients; Paula has delivered sessions and courses to many organizations, including Women's Aid,  various corporate, charitable and community organizations. Paula has had many clients, including Homotopia; Gay Pride, various schools, and colleges; Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival, Cosmopolitan Magazine', ITV; BBC 3,' Glastonbury Goddess Conference, The Green Gathering, The Greenbank Project, The RSPCA, Age UK, Wirral Multi-Cultural Organisation, Wirral Change, Granby Children's Centre, Conscious Camp, Indian British association, BBC Online, Zoe's Place and many more.


Dance Background; Paula has attended many dance classes and workshops with international teachers over the years, in contemporary dance, contact improvisation, Ball Room, Flamenco and Indian classical dance. 

Her main training, focus, performance and teaching work has been in Oriental (Middle Eastern) dance. 

She has been a Yoga and meditation practitioner for 25 years. 


Writing; Paula has been published in a variety of international journals, writing about dance and spirituality. Including Spirit and Destiny, Kindred Spirit and Archeology Review. Her courses on The Psychology of Self, SociologyShamanism and The Divine Feminine, have been published by international correspondence school; ‘The British School of Yoga’. In the early years was a former columnist for Kerrang magazine.

  

Show Creator; Paula is the creator of 'Club Orientation' a vaudeville, cabaret. The show features themes of Divine Feminine, Queer values, and diverse community performances. This has been in operation successfully for fifteen years, running out of various venues and consists of around twenty performers and technicians.


Horticulture /Permaculture One of Paula Ishtar's most enduring hobbies is horticulture and she has created several gardens. She enjoys growing plants for food that also have an aesthetic value. Paula is learning about permaculture and is an advocate of this holistic and ethical approach to gardening and growing food.


Family and cultural background

Paula Ishtar's paternal grandparents were professional, international dancers and had their own dance school in Liverpool. Ishtar's father also taught dance on cruise ships and practiced fine art.