Black Cat Day is today and the Goddess Bastet’s animas is the black Cat. She was the Goddess in charge of protecting women and households, women’s secrets. Her name means “she of the ointment jar”. You may have seen her name as Bast who began being shown as a lion woman but was later changed, around 1500 bce, to the cat. She is daughter of Re, the sun God, and Isis, the Divine Mother. She had a ferocious nature. Her ferocious nature comes from being a Goddess of War, and we all know that we have little wars all the time that crop up. Another of her name meaning is “Devouring Lady”. Scary thought, but, we all have that in us in some way.
The things for us to focus on, when in need of her, are varied, and not all negative. She was Goddess of the Sun (her father, Ra), the East, the fire, love, intoxication, music, dancing, celebration, secrets, magic and joy. She is the one who protects our home from disease, negative spirited things, and the cat (remember The Plague and the rats? Well, a cat does take care of pests for sure). She became the mother of a Pharoah and made perfume to evoke her name on the lips of her followers. That was her ointment. With her connections to fire, she protects fire fighters because cats would be seen running out of burning buildings. She is the divine feminine of Ra, The Sun, and is the mother, the sister, the wife and daughter of the sun in all her symbolisms. She can give life or take it. As I said, she can be a ‘hiss and spit’ kind of woman. Some of her symbols, found on her statues and drawings, show her with two cobras surrounding her. Yes, “hiss and spit”, indeed. She could be very very vengeful. The early Egyptians made perfume bottles of alabaster to hold her perfumes.
Bastet can not be called on, she comes when she comes, in either her positive or negative form, to each of us, betimes. If we show ourselves worthy of her, through our honor of her, or if we have a cat in our home, she is more likely to come to visit. Another thing she is known for is to accompany to those walking the end of their life journey.
Do you have a signature perfume? Mine is Aromatics by Clinque. I had not seen a granddaughter for several years and when I went up to her to hug her at her wedding she said, “Oh, that smells like Grandma”. Yes, I am known for that perfume scent. I, also wear patchouli during the day. I have used that oil since the early 60s. I am not a flowery scented person. Flower perfumes smell like Raid on me. I encourage you to find a scent that fully describes you, leaves your memory when you leave. What will your children, grandchildren and their children be triggered to remember you by?
Make yourself some lotion that you add your scent/essence to. Let it permeate your skin, your environment.
DYI Essence Lotion:
· ½ cup almond oil (or jojoba oil, or any other liquid oil)
· ¼ cup coconut oil
· ¼ cup beeswax
· 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)
· 2 TBSP shea butter (or cocoa butter, optional)
· essential oils (optional)
· vanilla extract (optional)
1. Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea or cocoa butter if using, in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water.
2. Stir occasionally as the ingredients melt.
3. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the vitamin E oil if using and any essential oils or scents like vanilla.
4. Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. Small mason jars work perfectly for this. Note: This will not pump well in a lotion pump!
Use as you would regular lotion. This lotion is ultra-moisturizing and more oily than water-based lotions so you won’t need to use as much. It also has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and no water is added. Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.
A little goes a long way! This lotion is incredibly nourishing
©Carol Desjarlais 10.27.21
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