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by sare2121

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to announce my brand new chapbook with Bottlecap Press! I’ve been working very hard on this for the past few months and it’s finally here to share with you all! This chapbook is about my spiritual journey as a Kemetic (Egyptian) Pagan, and the journey i have taken. I have learned so much along the way and I’m excited to share this journey with you all!These things are near and dear to my heart, and if you have an open and seeking mind and heart also, youll enjoy this read. I’m so proud of this work and I’m so proud to share it with you all. You can purchase it today at the below link!

#bottlecappress #amwriting #book #books #instapoets #writing #smallpress #chapbook #chapbooks #writersofinstagram #writersofig #independent #diy #zine #zines #bookstagram #books #poetrycommunity #poem #poems #poetrygram #poetrycollection #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #poemsofinstagram #poetsofinstagram #newbooks #bookclub #kemetic #kemeticspirituality

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hopping on the trend wagon!!! featuring miles putting his suit on normally as opposed to whatever the heck he's doing in that official art (he got nervous)

moment of silence for eustace winner and eddie fender

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After struggling in meditation, really having a hard time discerning what were my thoughts and what were the netjeru (specifically in this case Nebet-Het/Nephthys), I asked Her to write through me. This poem is one of the results:

Walking the Silent Path: A Love Dialogue of Nebet-Het

Do I honor you Nebet-Het?

“Yes you do, my son.”

She who speaks through silence.

She who speaks through love.

She who loves with a hurricane of empathy.

Nebet-Het, do I honor you?

“You will even further my daughter. You who walks in grief of what is to come; those who dwell in me know peace. I am you who walks with clamor; I am you who walks in silence. Rise up my child, like the Sun at dawn, like the winds of change. This is your lifeline.”

I am yours Nebet-Het, Goddess of mystery, lady of time and passing. What will you have me do? “Breathe, my child. Breathe. You know me as others have, and yet as others have not. Nun bequeaths your creation, and I create and recreate you in My image.”

Lady of fire, Lady of truth, I beseech you in the Dark, I beseech you in my heart. Lady, blessed lady, what shall you have me be?

“You will see; all has been laid for you. Path after path, what is, is undone, and my guidance is your way.”

Blessed are you my Goddess.

Blessed is the Moon and Sun in your visage.

Blessed is the womb of Heru.

Blessed is the womb of Anpu.

Blessed is the flame of life and destruction.

Blessed is the love of Nebet-Het.

And blessed are we who call Her.

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Bast Deity Guide

Who is Bast?

The Egyptian goddess is known by many as Bastet, her name is transliterated as b-ꜣ-s-t-t and is pronounced as “Bast”. The Hieroglyphs for her name look something like this: 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 or 𓎯𓏏𓏏

She is most notably a goddess of domesticity, the home, cats, and women. Bast was among the most popular Egyptian deities and her cult ran as far as Rome.

Originally she was depicted as a goddess with a lioness’ head instead of a cat, and she was closely related to Sekhmet, the warrior goddess. Bast’s role was that of protector and avenger of Ra Over time Bast’s depiction softened and she became a goddess related to domesticity and the home. However, she kept the ferocious side of her, only ever using it when needed. She was known to be loving and nurturing but also she was a force to be reckoned with. Bastet used this fury to avenge those who have been wronged, carried on through her son, Maahes, the protector of the innocent.

Due to her association as the Eye of Ra, Bast was more of a solar deity before she became conflated with the Greek Artemis.

Parents and Siblings

Ra (father)

Isis (mother, later in antiquity)

Horus (brother, twin brother later in antiquity)

Anhur (brother

Lovers or Partners

Ptah

Children

Maahes (son)

Nefertum (son, sometimes)

Epithets

Beautiful sistrum (rattle) player

The Golden One/The Beautiful One

The Lady of Dread

The Lady of Slaughter

The Eye of Ra - a title held by a group of deities.

Lady of the Ointments

Lady of the East

Goddess of the Rising Sun

Sacred and All Seeing Eye

Notes

Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset

Though sometimes synchronized with Mut, the goddess Bast was never depicted as fully human. She was always depicted as either a cat or a woman with the head of a cat, lion, or desert cat.

In Ancient Greece, she was known as Ailuros (”cat”) and she was likened to Artemis. Because of this association, she was given a twin brother just like Artemis has: Horus became her twin brother and since Horus is Isis’ son, Bast became Isis’ daughter.

Bast was also synchronized with Sekhmet, Hathor, and Isis and picked up some of their associations throughout time.

The meaning of her name is uncertain though it’s possible that her name meant She of the Ointment Jar (Ubaste). This would also point to her relation to perfume.

The central city of her cult was Bubastis. People would travel to this city to have the bodies of their pet cats who have passed buried.

It’s common for people to view Bast as a sexual deity or a goddess of lust, but she tends to lean more toward domesticity and protection. This misunderstanding likely came from her later conflation with Hathor as well as one account from Herodotus who had observed the festival in Bubastis in honor of Bast.

An annual festival was held at Bubastis where supposedly all constraints on women were released and they would celebrate “by drinking, dancing, making music, and displaying their genitals" (Gerald Pincher, quoting Herodotus). This display depicted the fertility aspect of the goddess as well as being a sign of freedom from societal constraints.

Bast has been depicted holding a sistrum, a musical instrument similar to a rattle.

Bast is one of many gods who are referred to as the “Eye of Ra”, a title that belongs to deities that are protectors or avengers.

She has been known as the protector of the dead as well.

As cats were sacred to this goddess, to harm one was seen as a slight to Bast.

Mummified cats were often delivered to Bast’s temple as an offering.

Modern Deity Work

These are modern correspondences, anything with historical or traditional backing will be marked with a (T).

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Gold (T) - Cats of royalty were sometimes known to don gold jewelry

Tiger’s eye

Cat’s eye

Bronze (T) - Bronze statues were used as votive offerings for Bast

Herbs/Plants

Ivy

Catnip

Rosemary

Mint (catnip is in the mint family also)

Animals

Cat, namely housecats but all cats could qualify

Symbols

Sistrum (rattle) (T)

Cat (T)

Eye of Ra (T)

Offerings

Cat imagery

Whiskers, claws, and teeth of cats (only if sourced ethically!)

Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Emerald, Carnelian, Quartz, Malachite, and Galena were used in Ancient Egypt for jewelry or various cosmetics and could be offered. (The Structure of Crystals. Early historical notes)

Perfume or scented oils

Alcohol (such as wine or beer)

Fruit

Grains

Honey

Incenses or resins (T)

Jewelry

Acts of Devotion

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

Pray to her or write poems in her honor

Research her

Honor your mother or the mother figure(s) in your life

Protect and fight for the innocent

Dance!

Play music or curate a playlist in honor of her

Learn about perfume and scented oils and how they were used and made in Ancient Egypt

Take care of your home

Of course, these are only suggestions based on my research but when making offerings to deities it's always best to do what feels right to you. You can also reach out to the deity and ask them yourself if you feel comfortable doing so.

References and Further Reading

Bast - eqyptianmuseum.org

Bastet - Britannica

Bastet - World History

Bastet - ARCE

Per-bast.org (The whole website is informational but this link will send you to their sources page!)

Offerings for Bast - The Gourmet Witch (blog)

Kemetic Offering Guide - The Twisted Rope (blog)

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Today’s the day

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Happy Halloween

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I've rarely seen a more validating sentence in my entire life.

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I've rarely seen a more validating sentence in my entire life.

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W fart free water

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moon studies 🌙

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absolutely stole this idea here is the original comic by silkentine!!