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Bastet

Bastet Info

by

Diane Neisius

Bastet (or Bast) is the cat goddess of the ancient Egypteans. She was worshipped in the city of Bubastis in lower Egypt. Many people did the pilgrimage to the city, not only in the classical period but also later in time of the Greeks and Romans.
Goddess Bastet was the Lady of art, dance and music thus in antique Bubastis large festivals were done for her. Lots of worshippers or, as we would say today, tourists were attracted by those activities.
Bastet also was Goddess of fertility and protector of pregnant women. Lots of women who wished to have children visited her shrines to ask for Bastets blessings.
She has a connection the Lion Goddess Sekhmet whose friendly and calm side side she represented.
A connection also was to Goddess Isis. The name "Isis" was written by the hieroglyph sign "st" which had the meaning 'Throne'. The name Ba-st thus could be interpreted as "Ba-soul of Isis". (For egypteans, 'Ba' represented the part of the soul which became movable after death; 'Ka' was the soul which represented all life force).

Spiritual qualitiy of Bastet is smooth, calm and friendly but she also can become 'scratchy' if she mislikes something. She loves nice things, music and sometimes pleasant fragrance. Dancers reported, often at training or dance events her awareness was felt.
She also supports healing and regeneration and likes kids. Cat Mom, sort of.

References

[1] Barbara Walker: The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. HarperCollins, New York 1983.
[2] Particia Monaghan: The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. Llewellyn Publications, 1991.