The Two Faces of Bastet: Sun and Shadow
In the golden sands of ancient Egypt, where the Nile winds like a living spell and the temples shimmer beneath the desert sun, there purrs a presence both graceful and fierce. She slips between shadow and light, protector of the hearth, enchantress of the sun, and the divine mother of cats.
She is Bastet — goddess of music, dance, protection, and pleasure. And oh, how she dances! With a gaze sharp as obsidian and paws soft as silk, she watches over homes, blesses women and children, and keeps evil at bay with a flick of her tail.
In the oldest myths, Bastet began as a lioness goddess of the blazing sun, a fearsome warrior who roared beside Ra and protected the pharaoh. She was known as Sekhmet’s sister, and in some tales, they were twin aspects of the same divine flame — Sekhmet, the fiery rage; Bastet, the warm hearth.
As time passed, Bastet’s energy softened into something no less powerful, but more nurturing. She became known for her feline grace, her love of music and joy, her role as guardian of homes and mothers. She was still a fierce protector, but now she prowled more quietly — the shield instead of the sword.
Bastet’s sacred animal, the domestic cat, became beloved across Egypt. To harm a cat was to insult the goddess herself. Cats lived in temples, homes, and palaces, purring under her divine favor. When one passed on, they were often mummified — wrapped in linen and buried with prayers and honor.
Symbols and Sacred Offerings
Cats – Her living familiars, sacred and magical
Perfume and Oils – Especially myrrh and frankincense
Sistrum – A jingling musical instrument she adored
Sun Discs – She was a daughter of Ra, after all
Bastet’s Colors – Gold, black, turquoise, and deep green
Crystals – Tiger’s eye, carnelian, obsidian, and lapis lazuli
Her festivals were filled with music, feasting, and joyful abandon. The Feast of Bubastis, held in her sacred city, was said to be one of the grandest in all of Egypt — thousands arrived by boat, singing, dancing, and honoring the goddess of joy and feline grace.
A Whimsical Legend: The Night Bastet Saved the Stars
Once, long ago, the stars above Egypt began to fade. Each night, fewer shone until the heavens were bare — a dark sky with no moon, no light, and no dreams. The people grew fearful. Even Ra, mighty sun god, could not explain it.
But Bastet, with her sleek paws and curious spirit, climbed into the sky on a beam of moonlight. She sniffed the wind, flicked her tail, and followed the scent of stolen light to a secret cavern behind the northern winds.
There, she found Apep, the great chaos serpent, coiled in the darkness, hoarding the stars in his belly.
Without a roar or battle cry, Bastet leapt and danced, spinning like a flame, singing a soft song with her sistrum in hand. The music was so lovely, so enchanting, that Apep opened his great mouth just a bit — and the stars slipped free like fireflies. With a final leap, Bastet clawed the moon from Apep’s grasp and carried it home in her teeth.
From that night on, the stars sparkled again, and the moon glowed with a silver shine. Ra honored Bastet with a golden amulet, and the people thanked her with feasts, songs, and temples filled with cats and sweet-smelling oils.
How Bastet Lives On
Bastet is still near whenever a cat curls at your feet, whenever music stirs your soul, whenever you guard your sacred space. She’s there in laughter that chases fear away, in the warmth of a home well-tended, in the moonlight that slips between your curtains.
Call on her when:
You need protection with gentle strength
You're reclaiming joy after darkness
You're creating a home full of love, safety, and magic
You're honoring the divine feminine within
Final Blessing from Bastet
“I walk in shadow and sun.
I guard what is soft with claws that gleam.
I am the purr before the storm,
The curl of warmth at your door,
The joy that never asks permission.”
