Dates: 24 September to 23 October

Appearance: Usually shown as human form, female, she is often seen in a kneeling position with outstretched arms/wings, wearing on her head an ostrich feather which can stand on its own instead of the full depic-tion of the goddess. The feather is also the hieroglyph of her name.

Symbols:  Feather, Winged Angel, Scales
Truth, Balance, Harmony, Justice and Moral Integrity

Principle: Order

Function: Structure, order, Harmony,
Energies: Maat powers are concerned with recognising when conditions have     been disrupted and are out of balance.  She ensures the orderly progress of all long term plans, the ordered structure of the universe and opposes the forces of chaos (otherwise known as izfet).

Maat ensures an expedient and orderly return from chaos.  And as celestial tutor, she will give assistance in the understanding of com-plex issues and ideas.  She is said to bring fair judgement in legal cases as well as new rules and ways of solving, seemingly unsolv-able situations or cases.  
        
Myth:
The neter or principle Maat can be traced back to at least the Old Kingdom (c.1886 - c.2181 BC).  She was worshipped with the gods of the Old Kingdom at Karnak and Memphis. She was said to be husband of Tehuti and daughter of Ra.  Maat was said to have been with Ra when he first emerged out of the primeval waters.  She is symbolised by the pedestal on which all creation stands, representing the order which was put in place of the chaos.  Maat is a cosmic energy of force as well as a philosophy and a spiritual symbol.

This goddess personifies all the elements of divine or cosmic harmony and bal-ance; including Truth, Mathematics, Justice and Moral Integrity.   According to Budge the name means 'straight' hence that which is unalterable and steadfast etc.   Maat is associated with astrology and divinatory arts.   Pharaohs saw Maat as their authority to govern and would stress how their reigns upheld the laws of the universe which she embodies.  Many examples exist of the kings being called 'beloved of Maat.'  In the Pyramid Texts ASR is called 'lord of Maat.'
She is the goddess or neter of justice.  Her presence is required at the Weighing of the Heart; in the 'Hall of Two Truths' where the dead person's heart is placed on a pair of scales to balance against a feather; the image of the goddess Ma'at symbolising a blameless life.  She is judge of the dead (the deities/gods of the ENEAD in their role as tribunal judges are described as the 'Council of Maat.').  The role of Ma'at was crucial to the deceased reaching Paradise. Only if the life lived is sufficiently blameless could they enter the realm of ASR.

The concept of Maat stood for the principle of the structured world, that is, for order and equilibrium, ethical values and justice, culture and creativity.  Maat was thus the opposite pole to all that was disordered, chaotic, destructive and unjust.  It was the main task of every king to guarantee maat/order, and thus maintain not only the State of Khemet but the world itself.  The world cannot maintain itself without maat; which must be renewed and preserved constantly. The neter Maat was the personification of this principle.  In continuing from Tehuti, she translates divine ideas, and was consulted as an intermediary to other gods.  

Both the legitimacy and efficacy of any pharaoh's reign was ultimately based upon the degree to which they could be viewed as having upheld maat.  Any laws laid down by a pharaoh (who was the person from whom all visible authority proceeded) had to have a close association with the principles of Justice, Truth, Reciprocity and the correct order of the universe.   Inscriptions would then be written calling such monarchs 'Beloved of Maat.'  

References were often made to 'Priests of Maat' who were probably magistrates or similar who dispensed judicial decisions on her behalf.  Thus this system and view of justice became a very strong incentive for pharaohs as well as individuals to live a righteous life as they believed that they would be answerable in the next world when they would be required to give account of their actions before gaining entrance (to Duat).  
Personality Traits
Excellent Mediator
Affable
Charming
Will insist on fair play
Good negotiator
Argumentative
Sometimes unable to compromise
Arms long and graceful like the outstretched wings of Maat
Persuasive form of expression (give/see both sides of argument
Able to argue their point
May have an eccentric streak which you either love or hate

Body parts: Maat = Kidneys [functional/metaphysical faculty = Excre-tory/Transmutation

Gemstone: Opal can be used to disperse infections, to purify the blood and the kidneys and to regulate insulin production.


Other Correspondences:
Neter                        Maat
Season                     Inundation
Month                       Payni / October
Planet                       Venus
Element                    Air
Body part                  Kidneys
Gemstone                 Opal,
Tree                          Cedar, Acacia
Food                         Sunflower seeds
Flower                       Carnation
Colour(s)                   Yellow, gold, maroon
Number(s)                 6
Inscence/Perfume      Jasmine, Rose, frankincense
Metal                        Electron
12 Tribes of Israel       Issachar
Chakra                      Heart
Suitable Occupations        Lawyer, Judge, Administrator, Negotiator.

Famous People under this sign      

Johnny Mathis(30/9),

Johnnie Cochrane (2/10),

Elijah Mohammed(7/10),   

Jessie  Jackson (8/10),

Dick Gregory 912/10)

 

Western Zodiac      Approx. Libra

12 Tribes of Israel      Issachar

Yoruba Deity      Ifa