Sekhmet

Culture: Ancient Egyptian   Domain: War, plague and its cure, fierce protection

Sekhmet is a lioness-headed goddess of war and destruction, sent by Ra to punish humanity for rebellion so fiercely that only trickery (flooding the land with beer dyed red to resemble blood, which she drank and grew drunk and calm) stopped her; she is paradoxically also a goddess of healing, since the same fierce power that causes plague was believed able to cure it.

Associations

Fierce protective anger, plague and its cure, righteous destruction, the power to heal what harms.

Ways people honor her (modern)

• Channel righteous anger into protective, constructive action
• Support public health and healing work
• Reflect on power that can both harm and heal, depending on how it's directed
• Read the myth of the "Destruction of Mankind" for her full, striking story

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.