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.
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
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
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 Sekhmet by Galina Krasskova
Feasts of Light by Normandi Ellis
The Great Goddesses of Egypt by Barbara S. Lesko
Egyptian Mythology by Geraldine Pinch