Hathor

The Goddess of Beauty, Music, and The Golden Cow

By Kahina

The Goddess Hathor was celebrated in Egypt during The New Kingdom (1570-1070 B.C.) and is known as The  Goddess of Beauty, Dance, Life, Birth, and Fertility. Other Goddesses associated with her are Sekhmet, Isis,and  Nekhbet. The Name Hathor is the Greek version of the name Het-Heru (House of Horus) Items Sacred to Hathor: The menat, a necklace with a special counterweight, is not actually jewelry - it is a musical instrument. A sistrum, an  ancient musical instrument played by the priestesses. All green stones and Malachite, which is a banded light and  dark green semi-precious stone that was ground up and mixed with eye make up. Turquoise, she is also know as  "The Lady of Turquoise."

Egyptians considered Hathor a cow-goddess personifying the Milky Way as the Celestial Cow because of her  association with Horus the Sky oriented Hawk Deity. Hathor was sometimes referred to as the wife or daughter of Ra  and mother of Horus depending upon the traditions. Known by many names ,the most common used besides Hathor  is Sekhmet- known as "the powerful one", a dreadful Goddess that cast fear into the hearts of her people. The photo  below is  one of the many versions that you will see of a lion with the sun and horns on her head. The story began from this inscription on Seti I tomb that tells of Ra and his people that are in a rebellion. He sends  his Eye (Sekhmet) forth to stop them. She instead becomes so consumed with blood lust they can only think of one  way to stop her,that is to  pour red ale over the land, make her think it is blood.

The Sun rises she sees the red blood over the land and drinks it, thinking it is blood and becoming so drunk she  forgets about destroying the people. Calmed by the beer she transforms back to Hathor, "The Beautiful One"!

MANY NAMES                   I light a candle in the darkness and lean against the wall.  The cool plaster against my back helps take away the  numbness I have felt. It has been a difficult day and I must speak to Hathor and ask for her guidance, peace, and  wisdom to deal with this sometimes cruel and ugly world.      Ancient Mother I hear you calling      Ancient Mother I hear your song      Ancient Mother I hear your laughter      Ancient Mother I taste your tears. I sing this song over and over until it feels as if I am no longer in my own home. There are  stone walls with carvings around and blazing torches with Golden Cows surrounding me. I am no longer  wearing the jeans and T-shirt I put on this morning. A beautiful white dress clings to my body while my neck and  wrists are covered in Turquoise.

Wild Goddess, Snake Goddess, Cow of Gold, Sekhemet, The Eye of Ra, Lady of Turquoise, The Beautiful One... I  have many names and have taken various forms, but I am Hathor, Goddess of the Dance, Goddess of Birth, Death,  Beauty, Music and The Sun! I am standing in Dendara with my menet necklace and sistrum. The Sun fills me with its energy while I watch my  sisters dance. I feel the heat of their bodies as they sway slowly and chant.. "Lady of the Sun, Goddess of the Snake, Sekhemet -The Powerful One, Turquoise Lady, Wild Goddess Fill us with  your love and Power" Slowly I turn to see symbols that decorate various walls  dedicated to me. In some paintings I am speaking to  Pharaohs and Queens, I am Sitting between Mekaura and Hatshepsut, larger than both of them I appear to be. Cows  with a Golden Sun and Horns on its head, A fierce Lioness is making others cower in fear of destruction... The undulations are becoming faster, the clapping of the sistrums and chanting has become deafening. There are  women dancing with snakes while some place pieces of turquoise and wine as offerings on the altar. Fiery dancing  has spiraled into a frenzy of complete love and abandonment of any cares. "Surrender to the joy of the rhythms and  Beauty Through Me".

A scarab beetle has been placed on the altar to symbolize the Erotic Power of the Rising Sun The Chanting has stopped and some red liquid is being poured on the ground as offerings to Sekhemet, they say this  is  to keep me calm and pacified so I will not show vengeance.. The smoke of the torches and incense begin to overpower the temple room..Dendara is slowly fading from sight...The  chanting is getting harder to hear...I can't feel the stone under my feet.. I am suddenly back in my room with my altar in front of me, I place my head to the floor to ground my energy and as I  slowly raise up something gold catches my eyes. Next to me is a piece of turquoise, a sistrum and the sun is shining  in on my coffee brown skin to warm me. Blessings Hathor,you are always with me

Ritual for Hathor On your altar have a white candle and turquoise candle (or blue). Incense of frankincense, myrrh, sage, or cinnamon  may be used. Place of bowl of milk to represent the cow goddess or a cup of wine drink (wine, juice, ale..) for Sekhmet, Various  jewels or something you feel is special for Hathor because she loves beauty. If you have Malachite or Turquoise  stones add those as well. Light the candles, cleanse yourself, open circle. State your intent: Remember The Goddess Hathor has many attributes and speak directly to her and ask for  assistance such as: (dealing with anger without destroying all of those around you..)

Chant: Hathor, Lady of Amentet, the Dweller in the Great Land, the Lady of Ta-Tchesert, the Eye of Ra, the Beautiful  Face in the Boat of Millions of Years, the Seat of Peace of the doer of truth, Dweller in the Boat of the favoured  ones..... I come to you for blessings. Chant: Fire Blaze, Inspiration Bright, Cleansing, Changing, Hear Me, Move Me..(continue this chant) (Rise the Power with the chant. Feel Hathor coming to you) See Hathor come to you in her golden light as it circles  around you. When you feel the energy and its peak hold it.  If sitting place forehead to floor and ground yourself when  you feel ready. If standing place feet firmly on ground and if possible palms of your hands. Feel the energy sink into  Mother Earth. Sit back in silence. What did she say? Did she answer your call? Where your intentions direct ? Thank Hathor for joining you Close Circle, put out flames and pour your offerings under a special tree or space in yard. ORIGINAL ART As I sat down to paint I had no idea what I was going to make, but I thought of Hathor and what she represents to me.   This is a work of Love and Peace and she fills me with joy each time I think of her. Thank you, Hathor

Resources: Hathor Rising, The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt, by  Allison Roberts Mysteries of the Snake Goddess, by Kenneth Lapatin Photo of Hathor Dancing-Delilah Flynn of Seattle,WA http://www.visionarydance.com/ The Chapter of Praise of Hathor, Lady of Amenty, The Book of the Dead, by Caroline Seawright http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/egypt_bookdead.html                                          Please visit Kahina's website for more information:                               http://kahina1.webs.com/

Back to Goddess Gallery

Home