You must know Darkness to love the Light. May you always Walk in the Light!

All my life I’ve loved lions. Despite being a woman of exceedingly generous proportions, I’ve always characterised myself as very animalistic in nature, and feline in particular. As a child I frequently pretended to be a lion, luxuriating in the sensuality I didn’t comprehend at that age, but craved atavistically.

At university, I was involved with the technical side of theatre. It was the practice to ‘sign’ any sets you painted with a personalised symbol. I chose a stylised lion, but had no idea why – I just knew it symbolised the real me.

My Totem, which was revealed in a vivid Medicine Dream, is a white cougar. The cougar is native to the land of my birth, and unlike the African lioness is a solitary hunter. She raises her cubs alone, and they leave her when old enough to be solitary as well. I also have always preferred my company to that of others, frequently feeling the demands of companionship were an unwelcome intrusion.

By 1998, I had been seriously trying to find my own Pagan Path for over six years through books and some very ill advised ‘New-Age’ weekend retreats. As soon as they were over I couldn’t wait to see the back of the lot of them, and like the cougar, went back to my solitary search for the Goddess.

Suddenly, as soon as I started working with Sekhmet, I began to feel stirrings – urgings – to be with others of like mind and spirit. In a way, I wanted a pride of my own.

It took over two years (and a couple of false starts along the way) but becoming a Priestess of Sekhmet has brought me, like a lioness, into a pride which will support and nurture me, and expect that from me in return.

Yes, through the Summer heat-haze, a sensual figure comes striding - a woman with the head of a lioness…yet She has a mane. Sekhmet! Lioness-headed figures are amongst the most ancient ever found, and they have been discovered all over the world.

She’s one of the most popular of all Goddesses today. And She was hugely popular with the Egyptians as well. Seti I built an avenue of Sekhmets – one for every day of the year!

In the biblical accounts of the time of Moses, there were droughts and plagues that we can now attribute to a huge volcanic eruption. This blotted out the sun for months. Akenatun had hundreds and hundreds of Sekhmet statues built to Her so that She would call back the sun. There were so many that modern archaeologists used the as ship’s ballast when bringing other artefacts to Europe, dumping them overboard along the way. Local legend has it that there is even one in the Thames.

As a Solar Goddess, Sekhmet always has a Sun Disc surrounding Her head, and the uraeus (a cobra) on Her forehead. Generally speaking, when She is shown standing She’s holding a lotus staff, and when sitting holds an ankh. My own statue of Her shows Her sitting and holding a lotus. Remember the statue is Her house, and the Spirit of the Goddess should be invited to dwell within.
Healing is a very big part of Sekhmet’s energy, particularly bones. She also heals animals. Her fiery arrows shoot to the specific place that needs healing. She is the Mistress of Medicine. Call upon Her energy to send fiery arrows to heal your body or your soul at this time when the Sun it is at its zenith.

Remember, a Goddess with fiery arrows can kill or cure - associated therefore with both healing and cursing. Just like with any lioness, tread gently!

Fiery, hot colours are best now, and if you decide to work with Sekhmet, place some Sunflowers on your Shrine for Her. Use a sistrum in any Ceremony to Her. Some of the other days to honour Her are 7 January, 11 September and 31 December.

ELEMENTAL CHARGE OF SEKHMET
Seek my cool lair in the sparse savannah shade. I am the Spirit of Sekhmet in the North and the earth throbs beneath my feet as I dance the mystery of life at its zenith.

Hear my roar in the sweltering breeze of a Summer’s noon. I am the Spirit of Sekhmet in the East and the hot breath of life wafts all around me.

Feel my heart beat with the heat of a Summer bushfire. I am the Spirit of Sekhmet in the South and the heat of passion is one of my gifts.

Find the Centre of my being, placid like a sacred desert spring. I am the Spirit of Sekhmet in the West and I am the hidden pool that sustains.

Celebrate the Noon! I am Sekhmet and all nature vibrates with my energy and the earth is bathed with light and warmth and strength!

I am the Lady of the Sun! I am the Lady of the Flaming Arrows! I am Sekhmet, Goddess of the Fiery Sun.

I will help to attune to the positive, warm and healing energies of the Sun at Midday.

As the lioness hunts to sustain herself and her pride so do I offer sustenance for your immortal Soul. I am Great Sekhmet, Goddess of the Red Linen!

Now is the time for the purification of heat – the fire that burns away all the unwanted and unneeded cares and worries – a cleansing inferno to remove old grudges and imagined slights.

As the new growth springs sweet after a wildfire, may you find through me a renewal and growth to your Spirit!

I am MommaWhiteCougar, Shaman and Priestess of Sekhmet, Elen and Hecate. Devotee of Lord Ganesha. I am an Advocate of all women in their Time of the Crone...

Desert Winds blow desert sands around a gnarled old tree.
Although the air is stifling hot, it thrives as all can see.
How can this ancient withered thing have leaves on twig and bough?
And how can it somehow survive where nothing should grow now?

I know that if a thing’s unseen does not mean it’s not there.
And many things may come to pass to those who trust and dare.
Beneath the sand is water sweet but none above can know
This water kisses thirsty roots which causes sap to flow.

How like that tree can be a Crone –
Her life was shaped by care.
Inside still beats a youthful heart –
Take time to look – it’s there.

Her hair is grey, her face is lined
Her step has slowed its pace.
But ancient wisdom fills her now.
She blooms with love and grace.



If you like what I write, please consider buying my new book: THE SHAMAN'S DRUM. If not, that's OK too! Buy buy it on Amazon.co.uk where there is a synopsis and it is at a reduced price! Or buy directly from the publisher

My only hero is Charlie Dimmock. She went on televison with no makeup, no bra and sweated and lifted rocks and dug with the guys. She showed there is nothing wrong with a woman being strong, getting dirty, but still being a WOMAN. I like pizza, occasionally maintaining my website, www.turningthewheel.ws, pizza, alternative Spiritual Paths, pizza, writing poetry and prose, pizza, going to the country and seaside of Britian for chilling and communing with the Divine, pizza and did I mention that I like pizza? My only real dislike is (or should it be are?) Intolerant people. Everything else has a place on the Wheel, whether I can see it or not.

WITCHY'S WIKKED GRAPHIXBlessed be and may you always Walk in the Light!