Also called Hethert, Het-Heru, Lady of the West, the Golden One.
Their story
In the Book of the Heavenly Cow, Ra sent his Eye as Hathor to punish rebellious people, and she became Sekhmet in her rage. Ra had beer dyed red poured over the fields, and she drank it and returned as the gentle Hathor. Each year her image travelled by river from Dendera to Edfu to be with Horus.
Their day
Friday. In modern practice, Friday is chosen for her through Venus, because the Greeks identified her with Aphrodite.
Best times to give to them
- the Beautiful Festival of the Valley
- the Festival of the Beautiful Reunion
- the Festival of Drunkenness
What they like being given
- music and dance
- beer, or a red drink such as pomegranate juice
- myrrh
- flowers
- a mirror or turquoise
How to honour them
- Sing, dance or play music for her.
- Place a mirror on your altar and look at yourself with kindness.
- Share a meal with friends and count the joy as an offering.
- Wear something beautiful in her honour.
How they can help you
- love
- joy and pleasure
- self-worth
- motherhood
- comfort for the dead and grieving
Symbols
- the cow
- the sistrum
- the menat necklace
- the mirror
- turquoise
Festivals
- Opet festival In the second month of the flood season (Paopi); its length grew from about 11 to 27 days over the New Kingdom. Modern dates depend on the Kemetic calendar used; this is a typical one
Herbs linked with them
- Myrrh Commiphora myrrha
More Egyptian goddesses
- Isis Great of Magic, mother of Horus
- Bastet Protector of the home, lady of joy
- Sekhmet The Powerful One, healer and protector
- Maat Truth, balance and right order
- Nephthys Lady of the House, comforter of the grieving
- Taweret The Great One, guardian of mothers
- Amunet The hidden goddess of the primordial eight
- Mut The great mother and queen of Thebes