Bastet

Offering candles to Bastet: Egyptian goddess of the home, fertility, childbirth, women's secrets, protector of cats. She is often depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness or domestic cat. Bastet was highly revered in ancient Egypt and was associated with protection, fertility, music, dance, and joy. She was widely seen as the embodiment of the sun’s nurturing, life-giving force and was even referred to as “the Eye of Ra who protects her father Ra.” Her annual festival, held in Bubastis, was the most celebrated in all of Egypt—an ancient forerunner to Mardi Gras. It was infamous for its wild indulgences: music, revelry, dancing, and wine. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that more wine flowed during Bastet’s festival than throughout the rest of the year combined, with crowds swelling to around 700,000. Though many aspects of the celebration have been lost to time, it was believed to have honored the raw forces of feminine sexuality and creative power.   Bastet is