Goddess of the Week - The Seven Arrows of Sekhmet
msesheta
Sekhmet', which were believed to bring bad luck. Many spells and charms
were used to avert the wrath of Sekhmet and there was the 'Book of the
Last Day of the Year' which was recited over a piece of cloth worn
around the neck at the end of they year, which was considered a
dangerous period. On the first day of the new year (Wep Ronpet) People
exchanged amulets in the form of Sekhmet or Bast for appeasing them.
A litany was part of the New Years celebratory rites where Sekhmet was
called upon to keep her Seven Arrows away from the Pharoah and the
people of Egypt. *
*Invocation against the Seven Arrows of the Year*
*32. O Sekhmet, the one who presides over the country, Lady of
Vegetation, Generous One, Sekhmet who protects the Double Land! Come
toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the Double Land,
the Son of Ra, Lord of crowns, [name], the Living Image, the Living
Falcon! Save him, protect him, (and) preserve him from the First Arrow
of the year!*
*33. O Sekhmet, the Curled One, Lady of Obscurity, Wadjet the Great!
Come toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the Double
Land, the Son of Ra, Lord of crowns, [name], the Living Image, the
Living Falcon! Save him, protect him, (and) preserve him from the Second
Arrow of the year!*
*34. O Sekhmet, the one who moves in light, the one who terrifies the
gods by her massacre! Come toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the
Lord of the Double Land, the Son of Ra, Lord of crowns, [name], the
Living Image, the Living Falcon! Save him, protect him, (and) preserve
him from the Third Arrow of the year!*
*35. O Sekhmet, the one who guides mankind, Lady of the (Two) Shores,
(and Lady) of humanity! Come toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the Lord of the Double Land, the Son of Ra, Lord of crowns, [name], the
Living Image, the Living Falcon! Save him, protect him,(and) preserve
him from the Fourth Arrow of the year!*
*36. O Sekhmet, Luminous One, the Great, preeminent in the Mansion of
Fire, who terrorizes the Double Land by her fear! Come toward the King
of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the Double Land, the Son of Ra,
Lord of crowns, [name], the Living Image, the Living Falcon! Save him,
protect him, (and) preserve him from the Fifth Arrow of the year!*
*37. O Sekhmet, the one who loves Maat and who detests Evil, Lady of
rekhyt. Come toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the
Double Land, the Son of Ra, Lord of crowns, [name], the Living Image,
the Living Falcon! Save him, protect him, (and) preserve him from the
Sixth Arrow of the year!*
*38. O Sekhmet, Uraeus who opens the acacia*, Sovereign (One), the
Great! Come toward the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the
Double Land, the Son of Ra, the Lord of crowns, [name], the Living
Image, the Living Falcon! Save him, protect him, (and) preserve him from
the Seventh Arrow of the year!*
*/* Possibly in the sense of "who causes the acacia to bloom" as the
wamth of the sun brings forth the blossoms on a tree. (Translated and
adapted into English by Richard Reidy from the French text "Sekhmet Et
La Protection Du Monde" by Phillippe Germond)
/*