Bastet, also called Bast, Ubasti, and Bubastis, is a goddess often represented as a lioness or a cat. She was a protective goddess associated with home, domesticity, women’s secrets, cats, fertility, childbirth, marriage, music, magic, sex, prosperity, joy, dance, healing, and pleasure. She is often invoked for protection against evil and misfortune. Bastet was also known as a goddess of joy, music, dance, and perfume, and is often depicted holding or playing musical instruments, such as the sistrum and the lute. She is also closely associated with the goddesses Sekhmet and Mut, which both of whom are depicted as lionesses.
Appearance: Bastet is often depicted as a woman with the head of a cat or a lioness, sometimes holding a sistrum or a basket of perfumes. Her body is typically portrayed as being covered in spots, like a leopard. She is often depicted wearing a wig adorned with a vulture headdress and a necklace with a golden pendant. In some depictions, she is also shown riding in a chariot pulled by lions, and in others, she was shown as a mother nursing her kittens.
Personality: she is known as a kind and gentle goddess who was particularly devoted to her followers and their well-being. She was seen as a protective deity who watched over homes and families, and was often invoked to protect against evil and misfortune. She was also known as a goddess of joyous celebration and music, and was often invoked to bring happiness and prosperity to her devotees. She was often depicted as a protector of women and children, and was known to be a motherly and nurturing goddess.
Symbols: basket, Ankh, the Sun and Moon, perfume jar, sistrum ointment, solar disk, cats, and lions
Goddess of: home, domesticity, women’s secrets, cats, fertility, childbirth, marriage, music, magic, sex, prosperity, joy, dance, healing, and pleasure
Plants: catnip, vervain, cannabis, lotus flower, cinnamon, mint, and sandalwood
Crystals: cats eye aquamarine, jasper, graphite, xenotime, black tourmaline, pyrite, lapis lazuli, sunstone, moonstone, mangano calcite, tiger’s eye, morganite, and shungite
Animals: cats, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and other felines
Incense: kyphi, rose, cinnamon, mint, and sandalwood
Practices: home protection, feline magick, fertility, sex magick, healing, love magick, personal growth, dance magick, pregnancy rituals, and music magick
Colours: malachite green, black, red, bronze, pink, turquoise, and gold
Tarot: The Chariot, Strength, and The Sun
Days: Sunday, Monday, Bubastis, and Mabon
Siblings: Horus and Anhur (half brothers)
Cats: they were believed to be the embodiment of the goddess Bastet, and as such, were considered to be holy creatures. Cats were also seen as symbols of grace, elegance, and fertility, all of which were qualities associated with Bastet. Additionally, cats were also seen as protectors of homes and families, which was one of Bastet's main roles as a protective deity.
Sun and moon: Bastet was sometimes associated with the sun and the moon because she was believed to have a connection to the heavens and the celestial bodies. She was considered a protector of the sun, and was believed to accompany Ra, the god of the sun, on his journey across the sky each day. She was also closely associated with the goddess Isis, who was often depicted holding a sistrum or a lunar disc, symbolizing the moon. Additionally, she was also sometimes depicted as the protector of the nighttime, and was thought to be responsible for bringing light into the darkness.
Ankh: the ankh, which is a hieroglyphic symbol that represents life, was often depicted in association with the goddess Bastet because she was considered a protector of life and fertility. The ankh was believed to have powers that could bestow life and fertility upon those who wore it or had it in their possession. It was also said to protect the wearer from death and evil. As a deity associated with these qualities, Bastet was often depicted with the ankh as a symbol of her protective powers and association with life and fertility.
Basket: she is often depicted holding a basket, which is believed to represent her role as a protective deity. The basket was used to carry items that were believed to have protective properties, such as sacred oils or other sacred items. The basket was also seen as a receptacle for offerings and gifts to the goddess, and was believed to represent the abundance and prosperity that she brought to her followers. In some depictions, the basket is also shown as overflowing with grain, representing her association with fertility and plenty.
Cannabis: in some interpretations, cannabis is seen as having a connection to the goddess Bastet because of its association with female fertility and goddess worship. Cannabis has been associated with many goddesses throughout history, as it was believed to be a sacred plant with spiritual and medicinal properties. Some believe that Bastet was associated with cannabis as a symbol of her protection and power over fertility and abundance, and as a means of connecting with the divine feminine. Other interpretations suggest that cannabis may have been used in ancient rituals and ceremonies dedicated to Bastet as a means of enhancing spiritual connection and achieving altered states of consciousness.
Perfume jar: Bastet was often depicted holding a perfume jar or a container of perfumed oil, which is believed to represent her association with perfumes and fragrances. The scent of fragrances was believed to have powerful properties that could purify the air and drive away evil spirits. The perfumes associated with Bastet were often said to have a floral, musky, or sweet scent, and were believed to have regenerative and protective properties. In addition to their protective qualities, perfumes were also seen as symbols of luxury and wealth, which may explain why they were often associated with the goddess Bastet.
Bastet was worshiped in Bubastis in the Nile River delta and Memphis. Large cemeteries of mummified cats and bronze statuettes of Bastet were created at these sites.
Her name was originally B'sst, which later became Ubaste, then Bast, and finally Bastet. The meaning of her name is not known for certain, but some claim it means "She of the Ointment Jar".
According to Egyptian mythology, the circumstances of Bastet's death are a mystery, but many scholars believe she died while protecting her family.
Many Egyptians saw her feline attributes as all-powerful, with the ability to protect their homes from evil spirits and disease, much in the way cats could ward off vermin.
She works as a psychopomp, a person who leads the deceased to the next life.
Bastet, who was in charge of looking after the dead and the spirit world, was also in charge of destroying the bodies of the deceased who managed to escape from Ma’at’s judgment chamber. In addition, she directed the spirits to the afterlife World. She cared for the deceased and prevented them from fleeing their punishment.
Anyone who damages, kills, or is cruel to cats will suffer the wrath of Bastet and her devotees. Egyptians were so devoted to Bastet and their pet cats that when one died, the cats were also mummified and joined Bastet in The After World.
Light a candle and place it in front of an image or statue of Bastet, offerings of fresh flowers, especially lotus and roses, and which are associated with Bastet, burn incense, such as kyphi, rose, cinnamon, mint, or sandalwood, which are believed to be scents that Bastet enjoys, speak prayers or affirmations to Bastet, asking for her guidance and protection, and create a small shrine or altar dedicated to Bastet, with items that symbolize her qualities of protection and fertility.
Mother of the Gods, the One, the Only,
Mistress of the Crowns, You rule all.
Bastet, Beloved, when Your people call
Daughter of the Sun, with flame and fury,
Flashing from the prow upon the foe;
Safely sails the boat with Your protection
Passing scatheless where Your fires glow.
Daughter of the Sun, the burial chamber
Lies in the darkness ‘til Your light appears.
From Your Throne of Silence send us comfort,
Bastet, beloved, banish all our fears.
No gods existed ‘til You came there and gave them life.
Trampling down all evil and all strife.
Mother of the Gods, the Great, the Loved One,
Winged and Mighty, unto You we call,
Naming You the Comforter, the Ruler,
Bastet, beloved, Mother of us all.
SIGNS THAT BASTET IS CALLING YOU:
The presence of cats, seeing them in pictures, on television, being followed by cats, and even hearing meowing can be signs.
Seeing images or visions of her in your dreams or while meditating.
Feeling a sense of protection or comfort in her presence.
You experience a sudden or unusual interest in ancient Egyptian mythology or spirituality.
Feeling a sense of joy or celebration when thinking about or engaging in activities associated with her.
A strong connection to the themes of protection, fertility, and abundance in your life, or experience a sudden increase in energy or creativity. It's important to pay attention to your own intuition and feelings when interpreting these signs and signals.
Finding small items associated with the goddess in unexpected places or experiencing a sense of connection to the moon or the night.
Feeling a sudden or unusual attraction to the colour gold.
Experiencing a sudden or unusual interest in perfume or scents.
You begin to experience an increase in your creativity and artistic abilities.
A sudden or unusual urge to protect or care for others.
You experience a sudden or unusual attraction to the arts, music, or other forms of self-expression.
Jewelry and other shiny precious to semi precious objects.
Food and drinks: chocolate, sugar water, pastries, beer, garlic, onions, meat (especially chicken and fish), honey, soda, milk, bread, tea, water, fruit/fruit juices, red wine, grains, and lettuce.
Crystals: cats eye aquamarine, jasper, graphite, xenotime, black tourmaline, pyrite, lapis lazuli, sunstone, moonstone, mangano calcite, tiger’s eye, morganite, and shungite.
Cat hair, claws, teeth, whiskers (please don’t cut a kitty’s precious whiskers, wait for them to shed naturally - look for them mostly during summer and on the places your cats spend most of their time).
Bird feathers (especially peacock).
Instruments, songs, music players, cds, and anything relating to music.
Dance related objects and imagery.
Incense: myrrh, jasmine, lavender, cannabis, and frankincense.
Herbs: catnip, lemon balm, catnip, rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, cannabis, and mint.
Lunar/sun images and items.
Love and respect cats, spend some quality time with them.
Stand up for what is right.
Do what you love, and love what you do.
Spend some time with your family, whether it be biological or chosen.
Include cats and cat effigies in your practice.
Use a cauldron to burn herbs as incense.
Learn more about Her, and her history.
Donate to, volunteer at, or otherwise support cats at shelters.
Pray to her or write poems in her honour.
Honour your mother or the mother figure(s) in your life.
Protect and fight for the innocent.
Play music or create a playlist in honour of her
Learn about perfume and scented oils and how they were used and made in Ancient Egypt.
