The Lady of the House of Jubilation arrives in our lives amidst a flurry of dancers, enchanting music, and sweet perfumes. The Egyptian Goddess Hathor, the Golden One, reminds us to take time for joy, beauty, and self care!
Hathor is one of the most ancient Egyptian Goddesses and a very popular one, even in modern practice. Some ancient images depict Her as a winged cow giving birth to the Universe. Her celebrations and special days included music, feasting, dancing, all expressions of joy.
Reading the epithets of the Goddess Hathor gives us insight as to Her Goddess powers and role for Her devotees:
Lady of the House of Jubilation, Lady of the Stars, Sovereign of Stars, Sky Cow, The One who Fills the Sanctuary with Joy, Mistress of the Offering, One who Creates All Nourishment, Lady of the Vulva, Mistress of Heaven, Lady of the Sycamore Tree.
The sistrum is Her instrument and the sounds of the sistrum shaking filled Her temples of which Dendera Temple was primary. Horus – son of the Goddess Isis – is considered to be Her consort and Her hieroglyph represents a house with a falcon enclosed. This is symbolic of the soul’s embodiment.
As the Seven Hathors, She is a Goddess of fate and would foretell a child’s destiny at birth.
Hathor, Lady of Iunet,
Your beautiful face is pleased by the King of Upper and Lower Egypt.
The South, the North, the West, and the East pay You homage,
and they make adorations to You.
You illuminate the Two Lands with the rays of Your Eye.
The Gods rejoice for You when You appear.
Thoth satisfies You with His glorifications and He raises His arms to
You, carrying the sistrum.
Your Father Ra adores You,
His face rejoices in hearing Your Name.
The Goddesses come to You bowing Their heads….
~ from Her Sanctuary at Iunet/Dendera (Dendera I-80; cfr.S.Cauville)
CORRESPONDENCES
- Love
- Passion and Pleasure
- Sexuality
- Fertility and Childbirth
- Music and Dance
- Intoxication (energetic and physical)
- Joy and Bliss
- Fate and Destiny
- Adornment – jewelry and cosmetics
- Plants for Perfumes and Salves
- Jubilation and Celebration
Temple Sites/Abodes
Her main temple complex is at Dendera and is built near the ancient town of Ta-ynt-netert, which means ‘She of the Divine Pillar.’ Hathor also has a small temple at Philae, at the temple of her sister Isis, and Isis has a small temple located in Dendera as well. The photo above is at Dendera and we see who She of the Divine Pillar might be.
Colors: red, blue, green, gold
Symbols/Tools: Sistrum, musical instruments, mirror, blue lotus
Plants and Flowers: blue lotus, chamomile, cinnamon, cypress, frankincense, heliotrope, jasmine, myrrh (one of her favorites), oliban, rose (wild rose), sage, sandalwood, sycamore tree, violet, wild flowers
Animal Allies: cat, cow, doves, falcon. goose, hawk, hippo, lion, serpent, vulture
Crystals and minerals: bronze, copper, gold, carnelian, copper, emerald, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, malacholla, turquoise
Foods and Offerings: alcohol (wine), cosmetics, dates, figs, jewelry, milk, music and instruments, perfume and ornamental perfume bottles, rattles, sistrums, tattoos
WAYS TO CONNECT WITH HATHOR
Hathor’s name derives from Het-hor – The House of the Exalted One. Take a day of self care!You are the Exalted One and indulgence in some sumptuous self care will help to calm your mind and refresh you for the tasks required in your week.
One of Hathor’s symbols is a mirror; take a peek in the mirror and ask yourself, what do I need to do to take care of my body this week? What makes me feel beautiful?
The ancient scribes wrote: “How happy is s/he who contemplates Hathor”. Open to the beauty, the sensuality, the happiness that Hathor is bestowing upon you!
Adorn yourself, nourish your body, and then dance in gratitude to the Goddess Hathor!
The Priestesses of Hathor are known to be amazing Astrologers (like our own Mary Lomando) – spend some time studying your astrological chart or schedule a reading with an Astrologer.
As the Goddess of Gems, we find some interesting epithets as well:
Lady of the Deepest Earth, Mistress of Turquoise, Lady of Malachite, Lady of Lapis Lazuli, Mistress of the Desert
And, of course, her sacred stones are lapis lazuli, malachite, and turquoise.
RESOURCES FOR HATHOR
All articles on HATHOR on MotherHouse
Online Courses:
Temple Beautiful Free Community with Mary Lomando
Adore: The Joy of Hathor with Brandi Auset
Books:
Feasts of Light by Normandi Ellis
The Great Goddesses of Egypt by Barbara Lesko
Becoming Hathor: A Rite of Passage into the Mysteries of Het-Her by Naomi Ozaniec
Dancing for Hathor: Women in Ancient Egypt by Carolyn Graves-Brown
Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch
Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt by Alison Roberts
Sounding the Sistrum by deTraci Regula
Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood by Merlin Stone
Other Resources:
GODDESS VENDORS WE LOVE!
- DaughtersOfIsis.com with Gwen Barry – Magical Essential Oil Blends & Incense
- GailJessenDesigns.com with Gail Jessen – Sacred Jewelry Design
- MurphysEssentials.com with Kim Murphy – Healing & Magical Essential Oil Blends & CBD
- Red Priestess with Brandi Auset – Goddess Sprays and Crystals
- SacredWell.com with Yeshe Matthews – Crystal and Treasure Shop
GODDESS SPIRITUALITY RESOURCES
MOTHERHOUSE GODDESS TEMPLE – Goddess Calendar & Free Community Events
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