Maiden
What you need to sow
Begin at home. Make one room somewhere you actually want to be.
Ancient Egypt
Bastet
Lady of Bubastis, Protector of the House
Egypt, Old Kingdom through Roman period
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Her story
Historical context
goddess · Egypt, Old Kingdom through Roman period
Bastet began as a lioness of royal protection and softened into the cat goddess of Bubastis, guarding houses, mothers and children from snakes and sickness. Herodotus called her festival the largest and most joyful in Egypt.
Mythology & traditions
Hundreds of thousands of mummified cats were buried in her cemeteries — a whole economy of affection and offering. She is the rare great deity whose domain is domestic happiness: the safe doorway, the fed household, the room where music is playing and nothing bad is happening.
Domains
- Home
- Cats
- Joy
- Protection
- Music and festival
Symbols
- Cat
- Sistrum
- Perfume jar
- Kittens
- Papyrus
In the oracle
Her guidance
Mother
What you need to grow
Nurture pleasure and safety together. A guarded house should also be a warm one.
Crone
What you need to know
Comfort is not frivolous. You have been treating your own ease as optional.