May 2019 brings quite a few astrological events in the sign of Taurus (New Moon, Mercury, and Venus) connecting us to our bodies and the gloriousness of self care. This month, we find our passion and our happiness in the glory of the Goddess Hathor.
Hathor (aka Het-Heru) is the Egyptian Goddess of Love, Beauty, Pleasure, and Music. Her worship can be traced to pre-dynastic histories, and it is thought that many Middle Eastern (Astarte, Ishtar) and Egyptian (Isis, Bast, and Sekhmet) Goddesses were forms of Hathor. The darker side of her personality is generally seen as the goddess Sekhmet, aka the “Eye of Ra”; when displeased with humanity or spiritual circumstances, Hathor’s anger transforms her into the lion-headed deity.
She is a deity and patron of women, ruling anything having to do with the female gender, including the yoni and the feminine energy of love (some refer to this as yin energy). She is a benevolent and personable goddess, associated with happiness and warmth, and is said to be one of the most amiable Goddesses to invoke and receive blessings from.
As a Goddess of love and devotion, Hathor rules familial love and friendships, though her main area of expertise is romantic relationships, sensuality, and infatuation leading to true, lasting love. She strengthens the bonds of communication between family members and friends, reminding of the love that formed the foundation of the relationship. Her goal is happiness, bringing together people and lives that will bring the most joy. As such, whether you seek a brief affair or a lasting marriage, Hathor is an ideal energy to work with.
Hathor is also a Goddess of self love and self care, softly but sternly guiding you to honor your own beauty, light, and wellbeing. She encourages physical adornment, healing indulges like spa treatments and massages, and mental/spiritual retreats in order to recharge yourself. Under Her grace you can release the negative thought patterns and behavior which cause self-doubt and depression.
Though often compared to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, Hathor offers a kinder, gentler approach to love, commitment, and joy. The magick of Hathor influences all earthly realms of serenity and affection, up to and including the areas of life where finding happiness can be difficult. When we go through troubled times, it is Hathor that reminds us though the situation may be difficult, within it we are still experiencing the joy of life. We learn to see beyond the pain to the bliss that lies ahead.
Hathor is generally depicted as a beautiful woman with cow’s ears and horns, a sun disk between the two points. She often is seen wearing a menit, carrying a sistrum in one hand, and a mirror in the other. Some ancient images depict Her as a winged cow giving birth to the Universe, and She has also been worshiped in feline form, similar to Bast and Sekhmet.
MAY 4th, 2019: NEW MOON IN TAURUS (May the 4th be with you!)
This week, we’re tempering the Bull-headed vibration of this New Moon with the Cow energy of Hathor. Because this Dark Moon will be testing you!
New Moon needs you to exercise patience this month, with yourself and the blessings you’re seeking. There are a few energetic challenges arising when it comes to focus and manifestation. Everything is still flowing, but there may be a few twists and turns along its way into your loving arms. Your money may start acting funny, your coworkers may try and sneak their work onto your desk, the opportunity that seemed too good to be true may turn out to be exactly that.
But don’t despair! Remember, things usually go to shit right before the breakthrough. My mother says it’s the Devil trying to break your faith to cancel out your upcoming blessing… I say it’s a backlash of negative energy in response to all the positive you’re about to create.
It boils down to the same thing: some-body or some-thing is trying to steal your joy.
So our affirmation this lunar phase is Not Today, Satan! Or try: I bind you, Taurus Dark Moon, from doing harm - harm against other people, and harm against myself.
Seriously though, during this New Moon do your best to keep your mind calm, your heart light, and in all your dealings try to be as rational and discerning as possible. Instead of stamping your feet and pointing your horns, ground and center into your body and just breathe. Stretch yourself to remember the joy, the pleasure, the woot woot! of life, and cling to it. Celebrate it. Be it.
And luckily, you’ve got Hathor to help with that!
Goddess Hathor will help you move through this moon phase as comfortably as possible, by guiding you to keep focus on your commitment to joy. Seek the beauty and simple pleasures of life and the world around you. Go for a walk and notice all the new colors of spring. Dress in soft, luscious, comfortable fabrics and designs. Get a mani pedi. Eat the gelato. Play that song and dance, sing it to the top of your lungs. And ooh, morning sex!
In short, be joy-filled. And supply yourself with whatever you need this week to be feel secure, loved, and jubilant. These are Hathor’s gifts to you.
MAY 18th, 2019: FULL MOON IN SCORPIO
This Full Moon will be an emotionally intense one (we all know how Scorpios can be!), but its also a powerhouse of magickal energy. Now’s the time to break out those candles and herbs for those prosperity, abundance, and sensuality spells! However, be aware there’s a need to prioritize our lives this lunar phase, which can lead to yet another round of clearing out and re-establishing boundaries.
It’s time for a check in, using your emotions as a guide. The people, hobbies, and interests you once held most dear may no longer hold your interest, and that’s okay. Don’t be cruel to yourself about these feelings. They are simply a sign that you are ready to expand, to grow, and to focus your attention on new desires and relationships.
The Full Moon asks you to make the moves and transitions necessary in order to live your highest truth, and express your most loving heart. The Goddess Hathor lends Her wisdom and energy to this process, by helping you to identify your passions. What, and who, makes you feel loved? Are you around that energy often enough?
Your heart glows where your money flows – what do you spend your money on? What are your essentials? What do you wish you could be spending your money on?
When our desires and our emotions are ignored, they often translate into physical aches, pains, and ailments. How is your body feeling this lunar phase? What are those muscle twinges trying to tell you?
The Goddess Hathor rules over the physical, and you may find that specifically working on your body with Her can lead to greater healing and ease. Help your body, heart, and spirit process through this lunar phase by treating yourself to a massage, by dancing, by taking that extra yoga class. Dry brushing is also a fantastic idea to gently cleanse your physical and emotional self of residue.
The main thing to consider this Full Moon is if you are investing your time, energy, and love into things that make you happy. If you’re not, the Scorpio Moon makes you feel some kind of way about it – but try to respond peacefully, calmly, joyfully. You want to listen to your emotions, but not become overwhelmed by them. Talk to your body, your heart, your spirit. Let these pieces of you know that you are listening, and working towards moving yourself into bliss.
Hathor Correspondences
Metaphysical properties/rules over: romantic love, familial love, friendships, beauty, pleasure, artistic and creative endeavors, music, dance, song, sensuality, sexuality, infatuation, flirting, intoxication (both physical and spiritual), new beginnings, childbirth, women’s health, joy, festivals, the body, abundance, adornment, cosmetics, perfumes, festivals, celebrations of all kinds
Colors: green, gold, silver, copper, blue, red, pink, milk white
Crystals and minerals: turquoise, amazonite, pink aura quartz, gold, copper, bronze, malachite, lapis lazuli, garnet, ruby, kyanite, green aventurine, peacock ore, pink calcite, carnelian, chrysocolla, malacholla, clear quartz, jade, golden calcite, honey calcite, green fluorite, tangerine quartz
Fragrance: myrrh, frankincense, lotus, cedarwood, jasmine, rose, benzoin, amber, blue lotus, patchouli, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, bergamot, rose geranium, almond, milk, fig, sycamore, cypress, baby powder
Symbols and Offerings: jewelry, perfume (specifically myrrh), cosmetics, figs, sycamore tree, cows, mirrors, milk, musical instruments (specifically the sistrum and rattles), song, dance, sweat, anything that brings you joy, anything you find beautiful
Totems: cows, felines
Resources
Adore: The Joy of Hathor an online workshop with Priestess Brandi Auset
HATHOR Perfume Oil (limit quantities, available only during May 2019)
The Goddess Guide by Priestess Brandi Auset
Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead by Normandi Ellis
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
Feasts of Light: Celebrations for the Seasons of Life based on the Egyptian Goddess Mysteries by Normandi Ellis
Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt by Alison Roberts
Sounding the Sistrum by deTraci Regula