"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance;
the wise grows it
under his feet."
- James Oppenheim
Bast
With origins hazy at best, Bast is regarded as one of the oldest Egyptian Gods and may predate Egypt all-together. In Her earliest representation, She was Pasht/Mafdet, a feline Goddess who killed a demon with Her claws. Somewhere later on She was split into gentle Bast and fearsome Sekhmet (Her sister). It was believed this was done so the Pharohs would feel less "manly" for calling upon such a powerful Goddess...and She was powerful. She was Ra's avenger, sent to uphold His will and extract His vengence. She was one of the "Eyes of Ra" and a protector of the Pharohs.
It was not until 1000 BCE that She was represented as the domestic cat, and since then has never been represented in totally human form. She still retains the fierce desert cat form and is shown as the lion on the imperial scepter. She is the Goddess of music, joy, dance, sex, the moon, fertility and revilry; and has been associated with the Greek Goddess Artemis. She presides over healing and magick and can protect Her followers from evil enchantments. Her sacred city was Bubastis, and housed the greatest Egyptian temple. On Her holy days, there were the greatest festivities in Egypt.
Bast is usually shown as the seated house cat, but wearing golden earrings and other jewelery. In Her half-human form, she carries the Utchat (the all-seeing eye) and the Ankh or a papyrus wand. She is also shown carrying a sistrum and having kittens playing at Her feet. Cats, women and children are sacred to Her.
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Brightest of Blessings