Sekhmet is an Egyptian Goddess with a woman’s body and a lioness head and depicted frequently with the sun disc on her head. Ra, the Sun God, is her Father and is called the Eye of Ra. Her name is derived from the Egyptian word “Sekhem” which means Power or Might. Sekhmet represents the searing heat of the mid-day sun and one of her names is Nesert, the Flame. Her breath is the desert wind and she is said to have created the deserts themselves.
She is a primordial Goddess of healing, war, pestilence, creation, and destruction. Sekhmet is duality in Goddess form and sometimes the gentle Goddess Bast is referred to as her sister. She is known by many names and they reflect her duality: “The Mistress and Lady of the Tomb”, “The Powerful One”, “The Gracious One”, “The Destroyer of Rebellion”, and “The Mighty One of Enchantments” (here is a list of 100 names of Sekhmet). As a warrior Goddess, she protected the pharaohs when they went to war and sacrifices and celebrations in her honor were common after victories in war.
Masters has 31 books on Goodreads with 5289 ratings. Masters’s most popular book is Aghora II: Kundalini. Home; My Books. The Goddess Sekhmet: Psycho-Spiritual Exercises of the Fifth Way.
Sekhmet expresses the universal principle of Detachment. She is the consort of Ptah, the Creator god of Memphis. Together with their sun, Nefertum (the God of perfumes and aromatherapy), they form the Memphis Triad of healing, protection and the manifestation of creation. She is the potent force of the female creative principle, behind (but not subservient to) the male. from Astrologer and Egyptologist, Mary Lomando
As the Protector of Ma’at (Justice), Sekhmet is known as “The one who loves Ma’at and detests evil.” One of her stories is about Rage and how she almost destroyed the world. Her Father, Ra, became angry that the people were not upholding and honoring Ma’at. Ra sent Sekhmet to punish humanity. Sekhmet went on a rampage of destruction – killing all those in her path and reveling in the bloodbath she had created. Ra was horrified by the destruction and consulted with the other Gods on how to stop Sekhmet’s blind rage. They prepared beer stained with pomegranate juice so that it looked like blood and when she drank it, Sekhmet fell into a three day sleep. Upon awaking, her rage had dissipated and humanity was saved.
Balancing her potential for Rage and Destruction, Sekhmet is also known for her healing attributes. She is the “Lady of Pestilence”, meaning that she can send plagues upon her enemies, but she also protects from plagues and pestilence. Because of her association with healing, Sekhmet is the patron Goddess of physicians and veterinarians – her Priests were even referred to as doctors in some instances. She is also know as “One of Great Magic” and invoked for magical rituals and sorcery.
Her “power” color is Red and she was known to wear it and was known as “The Scarlet Lady”. Women would adorn themselves in red henna (or Egyptian privet) in tribute to the blood of the Mother and Sekhmet. Her Feast Day is January 7 and she may be honored by imbibing the concoction of beer and pomegranate juice. Lion is her primary animal (especially the Lioness) but she is also associated with cats, cobras and sometimes hawks. Spicy offerings are pleasing to Sekhmet – think cinnamon, red curry, dragon’s blood. Crystals that correspond to Sekhmet energy are carnelian, bloodstone, sunstone, red jasper, ruby, and garnet.
For those who are called to her, Sekhmet is the most tender of Mothers. Approach her with respect and with Ma’at and she will respond.
excerpt from 52 Goddesses by Kimberly Moore
Sekhmet Resources:
In the Lap of the Lioness: Sekhmet Activation Course with Anne Key on Mystery School of the Goddess
Sekhmet Goddess Mist from Red Wholistic
Sekhmet Goddess Kit from Red Wholistic
Sekhmet Crystal Grid from Red Wholistic
Dendera Collection – Statues & Ritual Items from Egypt by Mary Lomando on MH Goddess Shop
Feasts of Light Review by Nicki Scully
In the Belly of the Goddess – Transformation with the Goddess Sekhmet by Nicki Scully
Sekhmet Books:
Desert Priestess: A Memoir by Anne Key (about her time as a Priestess at the Sekhmet Temple)
Heart of the Sun: An Anthology in Exaltation of Sekhmet edited by Anne Key and Candace C. Kant
The Goddess Sekhmet: Psycho-Spiritual Exercises of the Fifth Way by Robert Masters
When the Lion Roars: A Devotional to the Egyptian Goddess Sekhmetby Galina Krasskova
Feasts of Light by Normandi Ellis
The Great Goddesses of Egypt by Barbara S. Lesko
Egyptian Mythologyby Geraldine Pinch
One Hundred Names and Epithets of the Goddess Sekhmet
(from The Goddess Sekhmet by Robert Masters)
Read now, slowly, the Names of the Goddess,
allowing time for each Name
to pass through your conscious mind
and into your unconscious, there taking root.
In this way, you will begin to experience much more fully
the powerful Reality that is Sekhmet.
And, as you do that, frequently let your eyes
rest on the image of Sekhmet
on the page containing the Names of Sekhmet.
That will further the same purpose as savoring the Names--
the Goddess will become active within you,
and you will become one born of Sekhmet,
the Great Mother.
You can begin to experience the trances
that will lead you towards The Way of the Five Bodies.
Intend to go deeper into trance, into the Mystery,
and you will go deeper as you contemplate the Names,
as you contemplate the images.
allowing time for each Name
to pass through your conscious mind
and into your unconscious, there taking root.
In this way, you will begin to experience much more fully
the powerful Reality that is Sekhmet.
And, as you do that, frequently let your eyes
rest on the image of Sekhmet
on the page containing the Names of Sekhmet.
That will further the same purpose as savoring the Names--
the Goddess will become active within you,
and you will become one born of Sekhmet,
the Great Mother.
You can begin to experience the trances
that will lead you towards The Way of the Five Bodies.
Intend to go deeper into trance, into the Mystery,
and you will go deeper as you contemplate the Names,
as you contemplate the images.
SEKHMET, GREAT ONE OF MAGIC
MOTHER OF THE GODS
ONE WHO WAS BEFORE THE GODS WERE
LADY OF THE PLACE OF THE BEGINNING OF TIME
BELOVED OF RA, HER FATHER
BELOVED OF BAST, HER SISTER
BELOVED OF PTAH, HER HUSBAND-BROTHER
AT WHOSE WISH THE ARTS WERE BORN
BEAUTIFUL EYE WHICH GIVETH LIFE TO THE TWO LANDS
BEAUTIFUL FACE, IMAGE MOST BELOVED BY ART
MOTHER OF THE GODS
ONE WHO WAS BEFORE THE GODS WERE
LADY OF THE PLACE OF THE BEGINNING OF TIME
BELOVED OF RA, HER FATHER
BELOVED OF BAST, HER SISTER
BELOVED OF PTAH, HER HUSBAND-BROTHER
AT WHOSE WISH THE ARTS WERE BORN
BEAUTIFUL EYE WHICH GIVETH LIFE TO THE TWO LANDS
BEAUTIFUL FACE, IMAGE MOST BELOVED BY ART
FLAMING ONE
SOVEREIGN OF RA, HER FATHER
PROTECTRESS OF THE GODS
LADY OF THE SCARLET-COLORED GARMENT
PURE ONE
DESTROYER OF REBELLIONS
EYE OF RA
EYE OF HORUS
PRE-EMINENT ONE IN THE BOAT OF THE MILLIONS OF YEARS
ROAMER OF DESERTS
SOVEREIGN OF RA, HER FATHER
PROTECTRESS OF THE GODS
LADY OF THE SCARLET-COLORED GARMENT
PURE ONE
DESTROYER OF REBELLIONS
EYE OF RA
EYE OF HORUS
PRE-EMINENT ONE IN THE BOAT OF THE MILLIONS OF YEARS
ROAMER OF DESERTS
WANDERER IN THE WASTES
SELF-CONTAINED
ONLY ONE
AWAKENER
LADY OF ENCHANTMENTS
OPENER OF WAYS
LADY OF TRANSFORMATIONS
LADY OF THE MANY FACES
ENRAPTURING ONE
GIVER OF ECSTASIES
SELF-CONTAINED
ONLY ONE
AWAKENER
LADY OF ENCHANTMENTS
OPENER OF WAYS
LADY OF TRANSFORMATIONS
LADY OF THE MANY FACES
ENRAPTURING ONE
GIVER OF ECSTASIES
SATISFIER OF DESIRES
INSPIRER OF MALES
VICTORIOUS ONE IN BATTLES
OVERCOMER OF ALL ENEMIES
RULER OF THE DESERT
RULER OF SERPENTS AND OF DRAGONS
RULER OF LIONS
COMPLETE ONE
SUBLIME ONE
ENLIGHTENER
EMPOWERER
SPARKLING ONE
GREAT ONE OF HEKAU
LADY OF THE MAGIC LAMP
MOTHER OF THE DEAD
INSPIRER OF MALES
VICTORIOUS ONE IN BATTLES
OVERCOMER OF ALL ENEMIES
RULER OF THE DESERT
RULER OF SERPENTS AND OF DRAGONS
RULER OF LIONS
COMPLETE ONE
SUBLIME ONE
ENLIGHTENER
EMPOWERER
SPARKLING ONE
GREAT ONE OF HEKAU
LADY OF THE MAGIC LAMP
MOTHER OF THE DEAD
LADY OF THE BLOODBATH
DESTROYER BY PLAGUES
GREAT ONE OF HEALING
DESTROYER BY FIRE
LADY OF THE WATERS OF LIFE
MISTRESS AND LADY OF THE TOMB
GREAT ONE IN THE PLACES OF JUDGMENT AND EXECUTION
GUIDE AND PROTECTRESS FROM THE PERILS OF THE UNDERWORLD
DESTROYER BY PLAGUES
GREAT ONE OF HEALING
DESTROYER BY FIRE
LADY OF THE WATERS OF LIFE
MISTRESS AND LADY OF THE TOMB
GREAT ONE IN THE PLACES OF JUDGMENT AND EXECUTION
GUIDE AND PROTECTRESS FROM THE PERILS OF THE UNDERWORLD
GREAT ONE OF THE PLACE OF APPEARANCES IN SILENCE
LADY OF THE WAY OF THE FIVE BODIES
UNRIVALED AND INVINCIBLE ONE
RULER OF THE CHAMBER OF FLAMES
THE SOURCE
SHE WHOSE OPPORTUNITY ESCAPETH HER NOT
WINGED ONE
LADY OF THE WAY OF THE FIVE BODIES
UNRIVALED AND INVINCIBLE ONE
RULER OF THE CHAMBER OF FLAMES
THE SOURCE
SHE WHOSE OPPORTUNITY ESCAPETH HER NOT
WINGED ONE
POWERFUL OF HEART
THE AWARE
THE GLEAMING ONE
SEKHMET, WHO REDUCETH TO SILENCE
SEKHMET, WHO ROUSETH THE PEOPLE
LADY OF JUBILATION
ADORABLE ONE
SHINING OF COUNTENANCE
MOTHER OF IMAGES
INCOMPARABLE ONE
LADY OF INTOXICATIONS
MIGHTIER THAN THE GODS
MOST BEAUTIFUL
MOST STRONG
THE AWARE
THE GLEAMING ONE
SEKHMET, WHO REDUCETH TO SILENCE
SEKHMET, WHO ROUSETH THE PEOPLE
LADY OF JUBILATION
ADORABLE ONE
SHINING OF COUNTENANCE
MOTHER OF IMAGES
INCOMPARABLE ONE
LADY OF INTOXICATIONS
MIGHTIER THAN THE GODS
MOST BEAUTIFUL
MOST STRONG
GREAT ONE OF LAWS
PROTECTRESS OF THE DIVINE ORDER
THE ONE WHO HOLDS BACK DARKNESS
THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT
WARRIOR GODDESS
GODDESS OF LOVE
GREAT ONE IN HEAVEN
GREAT SERPENT ON THE HEAD OF HER FATHER
GREAT ONE OF THE INCENSE OF THE ENNEAD
GREAT LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LIFE
QUEEN OF THE VENERABLE ONES
LADY OF THE HOUSE OF BOOKS
DEVOURING ONE
PROTECTRESS OF THE DIVINE ORDER
THE ONE WHO HOLDS BACK DARKNESS
THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHT
WARRIOR GODDESS
GODDESS OF LOVE
GREAT ONE IN HEAVEN
GREAT SERPENT ON THE HEAD OF HER FATHER
GREAT ONE OF THE INCENSE OF THE ENNEAD
GREAT LADY OF THE HOUSE OF LIFE
QUEEN OF THE VENERABLE ONES
LADY OF THE HOUSE OF BOOKS
DEVOURING ONE
SEKHMET OF THE KNIVES
BURNER OF EVILDOERS
ONE BEFORE WHOM EVIL TREMBLES
TERRIBLE ONE
LADY OF ALL POWERS
ETERNAL AS HER FATHER
LADY OF THE MANIFOLD ADORNMENTS
MOST BEAUTIFUL AMONG THE GODS
BOUNTIFUL ONE
BURNER OF EVILDOERS
ONE BEFORE WHOM EVIL TREMBLES
TERRIBLE ONE
LADY OF ALL POWERS
ETERNAL AS HER FATHER
LADY OF THE MANIFOLD ADORNMENTS
MOST BEAUTIFUL AMONG THE GODS
BOUNTIFUL ONE
SEKHMET, WHO GIVES JOYS
UNWAVERING LOYAL ONE
BELOVED TEACHER
BELOVED SEKHMET
UNWAVERING LOYAL ONE
BELOVED TEACHER
BELOVED SEKHMET
Robert Masters, The Goddess Sekhmet: Pyschospiritual Exercises of the Fifth Way(St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1991, pp. 57-67. For more information about the author, visit Robert Masters.
See also Internalizing the Image of the Goddess Sekhmet.
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