What else can I offer Bast?

[Miwu]

http://absurdism.org/kemet/cats/5.html

I found that site, but all I have is a sheer headscarf type thing, a couple tumbled pieces of hematite, and of course jewelry.

Is there anything else? I'm getting a statue soon, but until then...

I'd love to offer her a drawing of a cat, but I can't draw.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I think Bast is an easy goddess to make offerings and dedications to. Over the years I have looked at hundreds of items that depict her but in all that time I have only been moved once to buy something. That item being a decorated canoptic jar that sits on a shelf with other statues.

I find that Bast likes honey and milk. I use them as normal offerings and honorings to her. I also tend to write things and use them as offerings to her. I tend to use edged weapons as tools when I work with Bast as well since she is an elder war goddess. I suppose spending 23 years in the military was also a means of offering to her.

[Miwu]

I think Bast is an easy goddess to make offerings and dedications to. Over the years I have looked at hundreds of items that depict her but in all that time I have only been moved once to buy something. That item being a decorated canoptic jar that sits on a shelf with other statues.

I find that Bast likes honey and milk. I use them as normal offerings and honorings to her. I also tend to write things and use them as offerings to her. I tend to use edged weapons as tools when I work with Bast as well since she is an elder war goddess. I suppose spending 23 years in the military was also a means of offering to her.

I heard milk and honey were good, and I have a cat that can use the milk. I like writing idea, I'm a writer myself. Maybe blades, I don't know. Thanks!

[moon81goddess]

In my experience, Bast does like blades (though, for me, She likes smaller blades, like short swords and daggers). From me, She also enjoys Chai, incense (especially vanilla, sandalwood, or cinnamon), "sweet" spices (like cinnamon, vanilla, chives, etc.), very shiny (like new) pennies... oh, and I can't forget those Oatmeal Creme Pie cookie things. She adores those! Music is also a good offering: anything you like, She will like (if it gives you happiness, it will please Her).

(She loves watching me and what I do in my daily life: I have statues of Her around my house so She can enjoy "the colorful pictures in the box" (computer monitor and TV), amongst other things.)

[HetHert]

I second milk and honey. I would also add an onion. There was a day of eating onions for Bast so one could prepare a meal as an offering involving onions like an onion soup. I would place a bunch of green onions or the a yellow, white, purple onion on the altar. I'll expound a bit more when I can get to my computer.

All other suggestions are great.

I would suggest that you look at the natures of the goddess that stand out to you and go from there. She's a warrior, protector, mother, fertile, solar and lunar goddess just to name a few qualities.... Which ones are you aligned with?

[moon81goddess]

I would also add an onion. There was a day of eating onions for Bast so one could prepare a meal as an offering involving onions like an onion soup. I would place a bunch of green onions or the a yellow, white, purple onion on the altar.
:thumbsup: :uhhuhuh: :crown:

[moon81goddess]

solar and lunar goddess
Because I didn't want to combine two posts... I somewhat have to nitpick on this (sorry!)..

Bast, as a deity of Kemet, was/is a completely Solar deity. She is an Eye of Ra (a Daughter of Ra; Ra, very simply put, being the Solar God). She picked up Her "lunar" tendencies from Artemis, Whom the Greek's combining Her with (Artemis is the virgin huntress moon Goddess, in the Greek pantheon).

Now, I'm am NOT saying you can't worship Her as a lunar deity... She comes to a person however is appropriate for that person. I'm just trying to point out that, in Ancient Egypt (pre-Greek influence), Bast was all solar.

[Miwu]

thanks everyone for your suggestions! They are great!

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Bast, as a deity of Kemet, was/is a completely Solar deity. She is an Eye of Ra (a Daughter of Ra; Ra, very simply put, being the Solar God). She picked up Her "lunar" tendencies from Artemis, Whom the Greek's combining Her with (Artemis is the virgin huntress moon Goddess, in the Greek pantheon).



Ah that is not an accurate statement.

Bast was a war goddess for the Southern Kingdom, her counterpart in the Northern Kingdom was Sehkment. When the Northern Kindgom rose to power and ruled over all of Egypt Bast was reduced to a lunar goddess. A change that occured before the Greek influence was noted in Egypt. Part of her change was due to the notion that she was a lessor war goddess as her kingdom had been defeated by Sehkmet.

It followed the older notion that which ever one won was the stronger and the weaker would be re-formated. Hence one of the reason Bast lost her Lion persona and was given that of a wild cat and shifted from protecter and defender to more of a passive role as her lunar persona. Though statuary for a time continued to show Bast as both Lion headed and Cat Headed.

The Greeks who were brough in at a later date equated Bast to Artemis but had nothing to do with either her role as Virgin Huntress. She was more seen in the light of the Artemis of Orthia who was a warrior goddess persona that was located in both Sparta and up near the Black Sea. The area where this band of Greeks originated from. This Artemis is also the one associated with the blood rites and bear dancers. The virgin huntress is associated with the Arcadian Artemis.

A second wave of Greek's would be located around the area of the Middle Kingdom and would equate Pahket to Artemis in her warrior role as well. Pahket's temple being build in the Grotto of Artemis and also home to a funery of cat mummies. Of interest Pahket is also beleived to be an elder War Goddess that some think is probally a better representation of what Bast and Sehkmet were actually like before one dominated the other.

Pachet, one name for Bast, is believed to be an error translation of Pahket. Ubasti is also Bast but in her role as protector of the city of Bubastis in the Nile delta region.

[moon81goddess]

I'm sorry... but no.

Please see the following essay: http://www.per-bast.org/bast/historical.html

And in specific, these two pages: (regarding Bast and Sekhmet) http://www.per-bast.org/bast/essay9.html - (regarding the lunar relationship) http://www.per-bast.org/bast/essay10.html

(And if you skip it, here's the essay's page on sources: http://www.per-bast.org/bast/essay1.html )

The non-Greek, non-Artemis flavor of Bast is mythologically SOLAR. She always has been and always will be, mythologically speaking. Again, this does NOT mean She will be "all solar, all the time" for Her worshippers. It only means that, in a scholarly and mythological frame of mind, Kemetic Bast is all solar.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Just a side note that might be of interest.

Women at times would find caverns that were dedicated to Bast / Pahket for giving birth. As such a domed cavern and altar became associated with her from some of the readings I have done. Granted that is more in her persona as protectress of women and children which is another facet that she held with the Olympian Artemis.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

moon81goddess wrote: In my experience, Bast does like blades (though, for me, She likes smaller blades, like short swords and daggers).


That actually makes a lot of sense, especially from a military perspective. The typical Egyptain sword was not much more than a short bladed weapon. Almost like what one see's in the gladiator or Roman movies.

I do find that she does favor small ceremonial or ritual type blades. I also find for me that she demands they be sharpened blades and usable.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I'm sorry... but no.

I'm Sorry but historically yes



The non-Greek, non-Artemis flavor of Bast is mythologically SOLAR.


I agree until the point where the Northern Kingdom rose to power and claimed all of the Nile to include upper and lower kingdom. Once that occured Bast was changed from a Solar War Goddess to a Lunar Goddes.

Bast holds two distinct points in her development. Prior to the unification of Egypt under the Old Southern Kingdom period. Later influence under the Rule of the Upper Kindgom and change to a Lunar Goddess. Some might even speculate that their is a third period in her comparrison to Pahket in the Middle Kingdom phase.



Again, this does NOT mean She will be "all solar, all the time" for Her worshippers.


In the Old Southern Kingdom she is SOLAR all the time. After the rise of the Northern Kingdom she is LUNAR in all regards. That is historical fact.

[moon81goddess]

We'll just have to agree to disagree on what we think is proper Kemetic history for Bast. *shrug*

[MonSno_LeeDra]

We'll just have to agree to disagree on what we think is proper Kemetic history for Bast. *shrug*

I suppose so but to be honest I would rather you present your argument and supporting data. We both might be right or wrong or somewhere in between. Not trying to start a fight but I find that sometimes our Lady Bast may reveal things differently to her followers.

[moon81goddess]

I suppose so but to be honest I would rather you present your argument and supporting data.
I presented the links to an essay a good friend (and another follower of Bast) wrote, that I now host. She has scholarly and educated resources that she refers to in the essay. That essay (along with the references Ms. Cass used) are my supporting data... perhaps you could post data to support your argument?


sometimes our Lady Bast may reveal things differently to her followers.
:uhhuhuh: This is why I say that my argument is historically and mythologically correct. If our Lady Bast shows Herself to you differently, than that is between you and Her.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

moon81goddess wrote: I presented the links to an essay a good friend (and another follower of Bast) wrote, that I now host.


Oh believe me I did read the articles linked to. Actually I have read every page on the site and have found much valuable info on it. Have to admit if I link to any site on Bast that is the one I send people to.



She has scholarly and educated resources that she refers to in the essay. That essay (along with the references Ms. Cass used) are my supporting data


Some of her material is speculative but much of her speculation I do agree with. I suppose where I differ may come from the timelines I see for her history in Egypt.

I get the feel that you are refering to the Bast that is found from the pre-dynastic period to about the 5th dynasty. Coupled with a period in the Middle Kingdom when her former glory was returned to her and her City.

During that time frame she is the Fierce Solar War Goddess of Lower Egypt and defender of the pharophs. (sp).

For me I tend to view her against the totality of her influence and times. Though I do admit I do not see her in the light most often painted today, especially as the goddess of lesbians.

Much of my opinion and position I have derived from various research articles hosted on JSTOR or items that have been presented in various archeology journals coupled with some of her mythology.

Though she appeared to me in vision and dream as I was on a med float off of Egypt I must be honest and point out it was through my following of Artemis that I started to dig into her history and that of Pahket and Sekhmet.


:uhhuhuh: This is why I say that my argument is historically and mythologically correct. If our Lady Bast shows Herself to you differently, than that is between you and Her.

Oh I agree there. She will show and has done so to reveal what she desires you (collective use) to know of her and what area she wants you to focus upon.

I do prefer her Old Kingdom persona best as that matches up to the Warrior Path version of her I came to know early on. I suppose being in the military for 23 years and those values and ways of looking at things matched up and she found favor with that.