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 counselling qualifications. She is a mental health first aider and has completed diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding courses. Paula also has a certificate in Mindfulness.

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; From 1998 to the present, Paula has been running a  dance business. She has presented dance in therapeutic, community, 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, Europe, and America. 

Previous Clients; Paula has delivered sessions and courses to many organizations, including Women's Aid and 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 in contemporary dance, contact improvisation, Ball Room, Flamenco, and Indian classical dance. 

Her primary 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 various international journals about dance and spirituality. Including Spirit and Destiny, Kindred Spirit, and Archeology Review. Her courses on The Psychology of Self,Sociology, Shamanism, and The Divine Feminine, have been published by an 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 with 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. Paula is interested in the research and application of ecopsychology.

Family and cultural background

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