| SISTERS IN FREYA'S MOON PRESENTS THE GODDESS HATHOR (Het-Hert) BY FOX KENNEDY |
| Hathor ©Fox Kennedy |
“Hathor the Goddess of land and air, the cow and cat. She was worshiped before the
dynasties and transformed herself to out live them. Goddess of dance and song she
brought relief to the sick and life to the new born.” ©Fox Kennedy
Hathor was worshiped by the pre-dynastic people of upper Egypt were her cult still can be
found today. A month out of the calendar year is dedicated to her worship, “from September
17 until October 16, Hathor reigned in Egypt.” (Telesco, 365 Goddess) During this time
people created rituals encompassing dance, music, and song for a number of reasons. A
bountiful harvest was key for survival and trade and to bring romance into their lives they
would offer her beautiful flowers.
During the dynasties she was transformed into the symbol of the Queen and Horus the
King. Protectress of woman and all encompassing light to banish evil her symbols are
numerous, but all tie together as distinctly Hathor. As the progression of time changed and
people’s views on the world, so did their image of Hathor. Originally she was depicted as a
cow with horns, later a woman with a cow head and finally a woman with horns. In latter
years she was called by a different name and became know as Isis the Mother of Heaven.
Many different myths of the Egyptian Gods have some element with her in it, but only one
shows her darkness and the power over life and death she held. I found this myth when I
was in grade school and it still makes me think.
Hathor as Sekmet
The people of the earth were numerous and plentiful, their belief in Ra was hanging by a
thread. One day a village decided not to worship although instructed by the priestess to do
so. When nothing out of the ordinary happed they decided to cut back on worshiping Ra
and after a couple generation they stopped all together. Now Ra seeing that the people of
the earth were numerous and plentiful was happy at first that all the Gods labour for
humanity had worked so well, but as time progressed he also saw that they stopped
worshiping him. Fearing the people he used to love Ra sent he daughter Hathor to wipe out
the human race. Hathor could not bring herself to kill the people she watched over an finally
turned herself into the goddess Sekmet the great lioness. Now Sekmet thirsty for blood
started to devourer the human race. Ra at first happy to see the people praying to him for
help, became enraged at Sekmet and changing his mind told her to stop the destruction.
Finally after much damage Ra had to spill blood coloured wine over the earth so she would
drink it and in drinking became dunk falling fast asleep. Upon waking Sekmet was once
again Hathor and peace began to reign.
This story shows the changing belief systems at the time. I also found it interesting that the
people changed Hathor’s appearance to explain why she would hurt a human, making her
truly beloved. Different goddesses over time were beloved in this manner and given the title
of Great Goddess. “Europa is the manifestation of the Great Goddess as the mother of an
entire continent…like the Egyptian Hathor and the Greek Hera.” (Gadon, The Once and
Future Goddess.)
Fun Facts of Hathor
(Conway, Animal Magick)
Foods: Bean or Rice dishes
Colours: Gold and Black
Element: Fire
Season: Fall (September 17- October 16)
Aspects: Mother Hood, sexual peak
Animals: Cow, Cat, Frog, Vulture, Sphinx, Lioness
Stone: Black Onyx
Planet: Desert Rose
Region: Upper Egypt, Crown chakra
Symbols: Mirrors or Sistrum
dynasties and transformed herself to out live them. Goddess of dance and song she
brought relief to the sick and life to the new born.” ©Fox Kennedy
Hathor was worshiped by the pre-dynastic people of upper Egypt were her cult still can be
found today. A month out of the calendar year is dedicated to her worship, “from September
17 until October 16, Hathor reigned in Egypt.” (Telesco, 365 Goddess) During this time
people created rituals encompassing dance, music, and song for a number of reasons. A
bountiful harvest was key for survival and trade and to bring romance into their lives they
would offer her beautiful flowers.
During the dynasties she was transformed into the symbol of the Queen and Horus the
King. Protectress of woman and all encompassing light to banish evil her symbols are
numerous, but all tie together as distinctly Hathor. As the progression of time changed and
people’s views on the world, so did their image of Hathor. Originally she was depicted as a
cow with horns, later a woman with a cow head and finally a woman with horns. In latter
years she was called by a different name and became know as Isis the Mother of Heaven.
Many different myths of the Egyptian Gods have some element with her in it, but only one
shows her darkness and the power over life and death she held. I found this myth when I
was in grade school and it still makes me think.
Hathor as Sekmet
The people of the earth were numerous and plentiful, their belief in Ra was hanging by a
thread. One day a village decided not to worship although instructed by the priestess to do
so. When nothing out of the ordinary happed they decided to cut back on worshiping Ra
and after a couple generation they stopped all together. Now Ra seeing that the people of
the earth were numerous and plentiful was happy at first that all the Gods labour for
humanity had worked so well, but as time progressed he also saw that they stopped
worshiping him. Fearing the people he used to love Ra sent he daughter Hathor to wipe out
the human race. Hathor could not bring herself to kill the people she watched over an finally
turned herself into the goddess Sekmet the great lioness. Now Sekmet thirsty for blood
started to devourer the human race. Ra at first happy to see the people praying to him for
help, became enraged at Sekmet and changing his mind told her to stop the destruction.
Finally after much damage Ra had to spill blood coloured wine over the earth so she would
drink it and in drinking became dunk falling fast asleep. Upon waking Sekmet was once
again Hathor and peace began to reign.
This story shows the changing belief systems at the time. I also found it interesting that the
people changed Hathor’s appearance to explain why she would hurt a human, making her
truly beloved. Different goddesses over time were beloved in this manner and given the title
of Great Goddess. “Europa is the manifestation of the Great Goddess as the mother of an
entire continent…like the Egyptian Hathor and the Greek Hera.” (Gadon, The Once and
Future Goddess.)
Fun Facts of Hathor
(Conway, Animal Magick)
Foods: Bean or Rice dishes
Colours: Gold and Black
Element: Fire
Season: Fall (September 17- October 16)
Aspects: Mother Hood, sexual peak
Animals: Cow, Cat, Frog, Vulture, Sphinx, Lioness
Stone: Black Onyx
Planet: Desert Rose
Region: Upper Egypt, Crown chakra
Symbols: Mirrors or Sistrum
| Hathor as Sekmet ©Fox Kennedy |
Ritual Of Hathor
By: Fox Kennedy
Purpose: To bring Creativity/to relieve creative block
Time: Full Moon, in Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Materials:
Four gold candles
One black candle
Fresh salt and water
One round or oval gold coloured disk.
Paint Brush or Pen (the object for bring out the creativity onto a surface.)
Bathe and dress, set alter and prepare space by placing the fresh water and salt on alter.
Cast circle and when calling the four corners place one gold candle for each direction.
Chant to each direction.
North: To Hathor I call
East: Bring creativity
South: Encompass my space
West: Hear my plight.
Walk the circle three times with the brush/pen in power hand, drawing up the energy. Next
pick up the disk and place it in the north. Sit comfortably and place hands palm up over the
disk drawing down the moon energy. Place the brush or pen onto the disk and place hand
palm down onto the objects. Take time to tell Hathor of your creative block and picture her
golden light filling the brush/pen.
Light the black candle and drip three drops onto the objects chanting:
Goddess of sand and time
Hear me, humbled before you,
I come creatively blocked
I am.
Snuff out the black candle and pick up the brush/pen, chant loudly:
Hathor of Sun divine
I am a child of creative expression.
Immune with your insight my (Brush/Pen)
Put aside my fear and let my imagination clear!
After the energy subsides give thanks to Hathor for her help and sprinkle the water and
salt onto your circle closing it. Next take the object of creative expression and go to work
without any blockage.
By: Fox Kennedy
Purpose: To bring Creativity/to relieve creative block
Time: Full Moon, in Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Materials:
Four gold candles
One black candle
Fresh salt and water
One round or oval gold coloured disk.
Paint Brush or Pen (the object for bring out the creativity onto a surface.)
Bathe and dress, set alter and prepare space by placing the fresh water and salt on alter.
Cast circle and when calling the four corners place one gold candle for each direction.
Chant to each direction.
North: To Hathor I call
East: Bring creativity
South: Encompass my space
West: Hear my plight.
Walk the circle three times with the brush/pen in power hand, drawing up the energy. Next
pick up the disk and place it in the north. Sit comfortably and place hands palm up over the
disk drawing down the moon energy. Place the brush or pen onto the disk and place hand
palm down onto the objects. Take time to tell Hathor of your creative block and picture her
golden light filling the brush/pen.
Light the black candle and drip three drops onto the objects chanting:
Goddess of sand and time
Hear me, humbled before you,
I come creatively blocked
I am.
Snuff out the black candle and pick up the brush/pen, chant loudly:
Hathor of Sun divine
I am a child of creative expression.
Immune with your insight my (Brush/Pen)
Put aside my fear and let my imagination clear!
After the energy subsides give thanks to Hathor for her help and sprinkle the water and
salt onto your circle closing it. Next take the object of creative expression and go to work
without any blockage.
Bibliography
The once and Future Goddess by
Elinor W. Gadon
© 1989 HarperCollins Publisher, Inc.
Animal Magick by D.J. Conway
© 1995 Llewellyn Publications
365 goddess by Patricia Telesco
© 1998 HarperCollins Publisher, Inc.
The once and Future Goddess by
Elinor W. Gadon
© 1989 HarperCollins Publisher, Inc.
Animal Magick by D.J. Conway
© 1995 Llewellyn Publications
365 goddess by Patricia Telesco
© 1998 HarperCollins Publisher, Inc.
| Copyright ©Fox Kennedy,2005 |