She is the protector of cats, women and children. The ancient Egyptians celebrated her feast on October 31st with merry making, music, dancing in the streets, and drinking with friends—the kind of holiday we’ll instantly recognize.
A wonderful week-long festival took place in the holy city of Bubastis drawing devotees from all over the country to celebrate along the river banks and through the city streets. Herodotus tells of the crowds swelling to 700,000. Sadly, Bast and its feast day are often overlooked in modern times but you could probably say that Halloween was originally celebrated as Bast’s feast
They hold the cat’s secrets in their powers – those magnetic animals with a powerful ability to fascinate or repel. Let’s face it, we’ll all admit that we either love cats or just can’t bear to see them. Historically, the cat was first granted archetypal power in Egypt where it came to be seen as a sacred animal. Because the cat recognizes Bast and is most famous for her portrayal of a woman with a cat’s head. When a cat curls up and its head touches its tail, it forms a circle, the symbol of immortality, the symbol of the Goddess in whatever shape she chooses
Bast is the goddess of the rising sun, the moon, truth, enlightenment, sensuality, fertility, reward, birth, abundance, home, music and dance. She was the beloved goddess and protector of women, young children, and domestic cats.
Bast was the owner of the Eye of Horus, the sacred yutchat. Over time, yochat became more associated with cats and often took the form of a cat. Egyptian women used these cat amulets as symbols of fertility, and they claim to have more children than cats beget cats.
Our modern cat names are derived from the word utchat: cat, chat, cattus, gatus, gatous, gato, katt, katte, kitte, kitty, etc. One variation of its name was Pasht, and from this we get the rest of the Indo-European words for cat: pasht, past, press, catch, cat
Wild cats of Egypt first lived in swamps and swamps along the Nile River. As time progressed, people began to grow grains and other food items and keep them for longer periods of time, rodents and other insects began to thrive. The wild cat was revered for its ferocity and greed, traits it used to keep innocent populations in check, traits it also shared with the lion. What a blessing the wild cat was to the Egyptians!
The domestic cats we know today are all descended from Felix Silvestris, the African wild cat and friend of the Egyptian farmer. Thus began the long process of domestication. Since the cat was identified with Bast, Bast gained immense popularity from 1000 BC onwards. The cat’s hunting instincts were honored, but the cat’s gentle side was also a warm, loving mother to her kittens.
The ancient Egyptians must have really appreciated the beauty of wild creatures, they took the fearsome aspects of animals and turned ferocity into useful protection. Their gods possessed animal traits such as the precision of a falcon and the strength of an ox. Next, we see in Bast the grace and elegance of a cat, agility, strength, speed, and deadly claws. She has the charm, patience, and affectionate nature of a house cat, as well as the ability for brute strength that a Lioness has.
She also has a knack, like all cats, for looking deep into your soul.
And it’s easy to see why Bast has been associated with fun, music and dance for thousands of years. Just think of your comfort-seeking cat who loves to be stroked and petted. Cats also love to play, with their graceful movements and purring as musical accompaniment, and the luxury of coordinating movement.
Today, the delightful ruins of Bubastis, the once proud temple are nothing but crumbling blocks. But Bastet’s name lives on. For at least 5,000 years there have been many who have paid tribute to her name. Many still do it today.
Take a moment to honor this ancient Egyptian goddess. Light a green candle, her sacred color, and be affectionate toward a cat, her dear animal. When you address a cat, remember that you are speaking to a little divinity, a lovable creature from Bastet.