Egyptian Pantheon: Bastet

Bastet (pronounced BAH-stet or BAS-tet), also called Bast, is the Egyptian Goddess of Protection, Pleasure, and the Hearth, beloved for her graceful balance of feline ferocity and maternal warmth. She is the Guardian of Women, Children, and Domestic Harmony, as well as a goddess of sensuality, fertility, and music.

With the head of a cat or lioness, Bastet embodies both the gentle warmth of the sun and the sharp vigilance of the moon—a divine huntress who fiercely defends those she loves while nurturing joy, laughter, and companionship. She is the very essence of sacred femininity: independent, sensual, intuitive, and protective.

Mythology & Lore

Bastet’s origins reach deep into Egypt’s earliest dynasties. In her earliest forms, she was depicted as a lion-headed warrior goddess, a solar deity of fierce heat and battle, closely linked with Sekhmet, her more warlike sister or counterpart. Over time, Bastet’s energy softened as she evolved into the graceful cat-headed goddess—protector of the home, bringer of music, dance, and fertility.

Despite her gentler modern image, Bastet retained her edge; she remained a guardian against chaos, evil spirits, and illness, especially those that preyed on women and children. Cats were sacred to her because of their ability to protect grain from vermin and homes from snakes—both literal and symbolic threats to well-being.

Her great temple in Bubastis (Per-Bast) was one of the most celebrated centers of devotion in ancient Egypt. Her festivals, held along the Nile, were joyful and raucous affairs filled with music, perfume, dance, and celebration—a reminder that joy itself is sacred, and pleasure a path to the divine.

Bastet was also associated with the Moon, particularly in later periods, where she ruled over intuition, dreamwork, and cycles of feminine power.

Symbols & Colors

• Colors: Gold (sunlight, divinity), black (mystery, protection), green (fertility, renewal), turquoise (joy, healing), red (passion, vitality)

• Symbols: Cat, lioness, sistrum (sacred rattle), mirror, ointment jar, crescent moon, ankh

• Animals: Cat (domestic and wild), lioness, cobra

• Plants/Herbs: Catnip, frankincense, myrrh, lotus, cinnamon, cedar, jasmine

• Sacred Associations: The home, hearth, moon, pleasure, dance, perfume, fertility, divine femininity, and protection

Crystals & Stones

Bastet’s crystalline correspondences enhance protection, sensuality, and psychic balance:

• Tiger’s Eye – confidence, grounding, protection

• Carnelian – passion, fertility, empowerment

• Tourmaline – psychic shielding, strength, protection

• Lapis Lazuli – intuition, communication, royal presence

• Rose Quartz – affection, trust, gentle love

• Onyx – personal power, focus, protection against negativity

• Cat's Eye - luck, protection, spiritual awareness

Rituals & Offerings

• Home Blessing Rituals: Burn frankincense or cinnamon incense, light a candle, and invite Bastet’s energy to fill your space with warmth and safety.

• Full Moon Ceremonies: Honor her during the full moon with music or dance, aligning with her lunar aspects of intuition and rhythm.

• Feline Connection: Spend time with cats, offering them affection and care in her name—cats are her sacred messengers.

• Offerings: Milk, honey, wine, fragrant oils, catnip, myrrh incense, or small figurines of cats.

• Ritual Acts: Place a cat carving or image on your altar for protection. Anoint yourself with perfume before rituals of sensual or creative power.

Metaphysical Work with Bastet

• Protection & Boundaries: Bastet wards off negativity and psychic attack, guarding both the physical and spiritual home.

• Joy & Pleasure: She reminds us that laughter, love, and sensual delight are divine gifts.

• Feminine Empowerment: Bastet encourages confidence, grace, and independence—especially for women reclaiming their voice and autonomy.

• Healing & Comfort: As a mother goddess, she soothes anxiety and restores peace to the heart and home.

• Psychic Awareness: Her lunar aspects enhance intuition, dreamwork, and subtle awareness.

• Creativity & Celebration: Invoke her before music, dance, or art to awaken passion and playfulness.

Invocation Example

"Bastet, Lady of the Moon and Flame,
Guardian of hearth and sacred name,
Bless my home with your gentle might,
And keep my spirit safe through the night."

Modern Worship & Practice

Modern devotees of Bastet celebrate her through music, self-care, and acts of joy.

• Altars: Adorned with candles, cat figurines, mirrors, perfumes, and fresh flowers.

• Daily Devotion: Lighting incense or offering milk or water in gratitude.

• Chant: “Dua Bastet!” — “Hail Bastet!”

• Meditation: Visualize yourself surrounded by her golden aura—calm, watchful, and radiant with feline grace.

In today’s spiritual communities, Bastet is revered as a protector of empaths, witches, and creatives, balancing fierce independence with deep affection. She teaches that boundaries and tenderness are not opposites—they are the same expression of self-love.