#egyptian goddess

[bossnori]

[arjengelly]

Castlevania Nocturne S2 in a nutshell

[the-mortuary-witch]

BASTET

WHO IS SHE?

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.

BASIC INFO: 

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

Culture: Egyptian 

Plants and trees: 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 

Numbers: 7 and 9

Zodiacs: Leo and Cancer

Tarot: The Chariot, Strength, and The Sun

Planets: Sun and Moon

Days: Sunday, Monday, Bubastis, and Mabon

Parents: Ra and Isis

Siblings: Horus and Anhur (half brothers)

Partner: Ptah

Children: Maahes

MISC:

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.

FACTS ABOUT 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.

HOW TO INVOKE BASTET:

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.

PRAYER FOR BASTET:

 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.

Mother of the Gods,

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.

OFFERINGS:

Perfume. 

Salves and body scrubs. 

Jewelry and other shiny precious to semi precious objects.

Gold items.

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.

Catnip and cannabis. 

Lotus flower. 

Baskets.

Crystals: cats eye aquamarine, jasper, graphite, xenotime, black tourmaline, pyrite, lapis lazuli, sunstone, moonstone, mangano calcite, tiger’s eye, morganite, and shungite.

Wind chimes.

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). 

Music.

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.

Sun catchers.

Bells.

Herbs: lemon balm, catnip, rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, and mint.

Lunar/sun images and items.

Art you’ve made of her.

Poems and literature.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

Love and respect cats, spend some quality time with them.

Protect your loved ones.

Stand up for what is right.

Explore your sexuality.

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.

Cleaning your house.

Donate to, volunteer at, or otherwise support cats at shelters.

Pray to her or write poems in her honour.

Research her.

Honour your mother or the mother figure(s) in your life.

Protect and fight for the innocent.

Dance!

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.

Take care of your home.

[hatchstrange]

Suite des mes cartouches égyptiens avec un nouveau dyptique : Thot et Sekhmet.

[goldenwolfen]

My newest original "She Who Is Powerful". This is the literal name of the goddess Sekhmet

Radiant with the heat of the sun, potent with rage and divine wrath. She brings death and retribution to those who live outside of Ma'at (balance, justice, truth, and harmony). She also brings healing to those who appease Her, for there is nothing She cannot heal. Watercolor, colored pencil, and white ink on 9 X 12 smooth Bristol board. THIS POWERFUL ORIGINAL IS FOR SALE, as are prints and tapestries. Click here to see!

[truebluelotus]

Goddess Maat - requested by @houseastra

[thesunnyowl]

Goddess of Writing, Wisdom, Knowledge, Sciences, Accounting, Architecture, Astronomy, Astrology, Building, Mathematics, and Surveying.

Divine measurer, Scribe and Record Keeper of the Pharaoh.

The Inventor of Writing.

Mistress of the House of Books.

Mistress of Builders.

[christinevioletart]

Sekhmet, Mistress of Flame, Eye of Ra ❤️‍🔥

She is the goddess of both healing and disease. Worship of Sekhmet was intended for protection against disease and appeasing her anger and destructive nature. She is depicted with the sun disk to reflect her beneficial qualities and the Uraeus to suggest the destructive proprieties of the cobra. The venom of the cobra brings death but if used correctly it can also be a medicine. Therefore, she is a symbol of transformative anger. She offers fierce compassion and encourages us to face fear with courage.

Prints are coming soon. Let me know if you want one.

[bolszaja-miedwedica]

before i started my deity work with Aphrodite i prayed to her to make me look like my best self and the day after that my hair started to curl randomly (i have no one in the family with curly hair) and i came out as genderfluid and i still was skeptical

then she gave me so many signs

i literally smelled apple chupa chups when i fell asleep (i didnt have anything apple scented in my room and the window was closed)

i was getting angel numbers constantly

i found a literal shell necklace when i went to throw the trash out

and i was still like "nah cus what if its a misunderstanding"

my soulmate was like "bitch youre so oblivious shes literally calling to you about your cars extended warranty"

and so i asked "if Aphrodite is reaching out to me please show me yourself in my dreams"

AND GUESS WHAT

i dreamed about watching a youtube video called "working with Aphrodite: deity work 101" and there was such a beautiful woman in the video she had a dark skin and long black wavy hair and very thick eyebrows and plump lips and i woke up and i was like "wow she was so pretty" and i was STILL skeptical cus i was like "nah maybe its just because i was thinking about her so much" and my soulmate was FED UP with my dumb bitch shit

and so it was time to do a deity spread because you know maybe its okay and if not then well

and i found a deity spread (i now make my own)

i pulled the card

it was nine of pentacles

i checked the deities associated with the card

"oh, thats random"

another deity spread

the strenght

"oh its the same deity"

ok i think somethings not adding up

and then i researched Bastet

"hmm cats yes, oh dancing,hmmm yeah okay"

and i looked at past me crying randomly because i got the urge to get a cat

and i looked at past me smelling incense randomly

and i looked at past me getting literal signs from her for as long as i could and i was like

"oh my god im so sorry i didnt know"

and so i started my deity work with both of them the same night

past me is stupid, oblivious and made mistakes but past me got me to now where i have a happy established relationship with my goddesses and im forever thankful for that

their altars at first were just sitting on my plant shelf

it was messy

Bastet only had my old silver cat statue, my cat tarot deck (which btw shows her character perfectly) and some tigers eye and tourmaline

Aphrodite only had some rose quartz a drawing of her that i made and a pale pink candle

now we're here and their altars are always full of food offerings to the point i had to upgrade their space to the shelf above

they still share an altar but theyre both okay with it

so uh yeah

just wanted to share this weird story of how i started

(then Aphrodite invited Apollo to my space who helped me a lot with my trauma, then i reached out to Dionysus and Marzanna and now we're here 5 ancient gods sitting in my room watching me read gay fanfiction at night)

[zolimarts]

Hathor and Horus, reunion at dawn

When the stars dare to love the daylight sky, no force in the universe can keep them apart as dawn breaks. After all, what is an artist without their most beautiful muse?

A fun fact about my interpretation of Hathor and Horus is that they have a considerable age difference. Hathor is older than Horus. They're about 15 years apart. Since this Horus is Horus the younger (I have another design for Horus the Elder, and yes he looks more mature lol). also this Horus have the same eyes of Osiris :3

The not-funny part of making this illustration is that I had to redraw it about 3 times, as I couldn't find the right pose for the characters and the right render for this occasion. The best part was listening ''BAILE INoLVIDABLE by Bad Bunny'' in loop and after that everyting just flow correctly to finish it.

⛅ Inprnt | VGen Comm | more of my art

[akhret]

Bastet

Offerings

Water, milk, teas, coffee, beer, wine, gin, tequila, vodka, fruity drinks

Meat, bread, fruits and vegetables, spices (saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, pepper), onions, grains, lettuce, chocolate, cakes and pastries. Any healing herbs and plants, or those used in medicines, would be acceptable like aloe vera, lavender, garlic, echinacea, chamomile, and ashwagandha.

Any perfume would be acceptable to her, but kyphi, frankincense and myrrh, dragonsblood, sandalwood, vanilla, cedar and catnip are all great incense, candles, or essential oils. The fire itself can also be an offering to her.

Cat toys, treats, and herbs that are safe for your cat that get them riled up like catnip. While she's not going to eat your cat treats (lets make that clear), the act of treasuring your fur baby is enough for her.

Crystals and stones like carnelian, sunstone, fire quartz, citrine, garnet, jasper, rubies, rhodonite, black tourmaline, onyx, obsidian, malachite. Any jewelry is acceptable, too.

Red linen or the color red.

Lady Bast was first seen as a lioness goddess, so figurines of lions would be acceptable, as well as figurines of cats (she became associated with cats later on). She was also associated with the ichneumon, the vultures, and the ureaus (based in epithets) so you can offer her items like these, too. Along with statues and figurines of her, the sistrum, the menat, ankh, or maat.

Devotional acts

Singing and dancing! Lady Bast has epithets that associate her with joy, drumming, and she can often be seen holding the sistrum. You can play the sistrum for her, or play other musical instruments. You may even start learning how to play one, if you don’t know how to already.

Running. Lady Bast is known as ‘the swift one,’ so running is a great devotional act. As the Eye of Re, she’s a protective deity, so exercising in general would be great.

As the Mistress of jewelry, you could take up the craft of jewelry making. Or you can learn about how to make perfumes, too and/or make them yourself.

While it wouldn’t translate this way back then, she’s known as ‘the one with many faces’ or ‘the one with many forms,’ which, historically, would translate to the ways she could be perceived- whether taking on another goddesses name as an epithet, or changing into different forms (cat, lioness, human, etc.),- nowadays, though, you could translate this to acting. This could be done by being an actual actor, voice acting, cosplaying, etc.

It’s believed that her name may mean ‘she of the ointment jar,’ though this is only speculated and the actual translation is still unknown, but you could learn about medicine, healing, or even go the route of helping others in this domain. As an enforcer of the laws of maat, taking the route of law and justice- or learning about it- could be a great devotional act, too.

Signs

Signs of Bast could include seeing her scared animals of symbols like cats, lionesses, vultures, ichneumon, cobras, the menat necklace, the sistrum, or items of royalty. She’s known to be a part of the ‘cat distribution system,’ so she may even start sending you stray cats.

You may start hearing music with a really good beat that you cannot help but sing along with and tap your foot to.

You may have better intuition about people. Cats are very intuitive, watchful, and she’s also loosely connected to water (inundation), so you may start catching on how people act around you. She’s a protective deity, as well, so those who need to be out of your life are going to see their way out if they’re not good for you.

Cats are really good at setting boundaries, too (they will bite you to let you know to leave them alone!), so you may notice you’re becoming better at setting boundaries.

[nickysfacts]

Remember to wear plenty of makeup everyday so that you may receive the protections of the divine feminine goddess Hather!𓊯

[teatrtenei]

Raet-Tawy By at least the 5th dynasty a female counterpart had been assigned to Re, the sun god, and the simple name of the goddess - the feminie form of the name Re - indicates that she was created to complement the sun god rather than having been a deity with an independent prior existence. In the Pyramid Texts the goddess is called Raet and though a fuller variant of her name was Raettawy, "Raet of the Two Lands", it is uncertain at what point this form was first used. In later times she was addressed by the expanded titles "Raet of the Two Lands, the lady of heaven, mistress of the gods", parallel to the superlative titles of her husband. Nevertheless, the goddess played a lesser role in Egyptian mythology than Hathor who was also viewed as the wife or daughter of Re. Raet is therefore not frequently represented pictorially and is usually depicted in a Hathor-like form as a woman wearing a solar disk with horns and a uraeus, sometimes with the addition of two feathers above the disk. A festival of Raet was held in in the fourth month of the harvest season, and she was venerated, along with Montu and Harpocrates, in the Graeco-Roman of Medamud.

[enchantedbook]

'Coronation of Isis' Artwork by Stuart Littlejohn

[hatchstrange]

[Projet Cartouches "Egyptian Gods"] Petit projet terminé (à moins que j'ai d'autres idées pour d'autres dieux et déesses ~) avec six cartouches qui donneront des visuels pour des stickers avant d'être simplifié pour de possibles pin's.

[goldenwolfen]

"Bastet" Watercolor and colored pencil. Circa 2016.

Prints and other merch available: https://goldenwolfart.etsy.com