Cats have always been associated with mystery, magic, and spirituality, and many pagan mythologies feature deities that are linked to these enchanting animals. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the goddess Bast, also known as Bastet, was often depicted as a lioness or a domestic cat. She was considered the goddess of home, fertility, and protection, and cats were regarded as sacred representations of her divine presence. In Norse mythology, the goddess Freyja, who was associated with love, beauty, and fertility, was also closely associated with cats. She was believed to have a chariot pulled by large cats, and it was believed that cats brought good fortune and protection to households where they were present. In Celtic mythology, the goddess Brighid was associated with healing, poetry, and wisdom, and she was often accompanied by a cat, which was believed to possess mystical and psychic abilities.
I couldn’t go into all the stories of gods and goddesses who shape-shifted into large cats, or this post would have been about a mile long. This has unfortunately excluded many stories about cat gods from Native American and other First Nations tribes, among others, and for that I apologize. I’d love to write another post about big cats and spiritual traditions if you’re interested, because the subject of jaguars, tigers, leopards and other large felids in folk traditions, religious beliefs and creation stories is definitely worth a read.
Like most creatures of Slavonic mythology, they were great until you didn t appreciate them or give them what they needed then they did things like make mischief that could have tragic results. Buddhism, in addition to importing cats as rat-eating animals and as pets, also brought various legends and superstitions related to this animal to Japan.
In Celtic mythology, the goddess Brighid was associated with healing, poetry, and wisdom, and she was often accompanied by a cat, which was believed to possess mystical and psychic abilities. The association between cats and deities in pagan mythology can be attributed to the cat's mysterious and independent nature, as well as its keen senses and hunting skills. Cats were seen as guardians and companions, bridging the gap between the physical and spiritual realms.
A List of 5 Deities Associated with Cats [With Stories]
A cat has always been considered, across all cultures, a sacred or magical animal. This is both for its physical characteristics (the cat is an incredible neuro-muscular machine with movements of refined elegance) and for its characterological aspects.
In various cultures, the cat is synonymous with freedom, autonomy, intelligence, prosperity, health, joy, luck, and with undoubted thaumaturgical powers. The cat has always symbolized women, femininity, love, fertility, passion. Let’s not forget the parallel between the bright eyes of the cat and the night sky, the moon, the lights of the stars, and constellations.
Precisely for these reasons, cats have been attributed to some goddesses in order to protect and safeguard the health and prosperity of our magical animal.
- 5 Poweful Deities That are Associated with Cats
- Bastet
- Kasha
- Sekhmet
- Artemis
- Freyja
Therefore, these feline deities were revered and honored, and their connection to cats was seen as a spiritual link to the divine..
Reviews for "Honoring the Cat: Ceremonies and Rituals in Pagan Cat Worship"
1. John Smith - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Deities linked to cats in pagan mythology". Firstly, the book lacked depth and substance. The author skimmed over the various deities without providing any significant information or analysis. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked any sort of storytelling element. It felt more like a textbook than an engaging book on mythology. Overall, I found the content to be lacking and the reading experience quite dull.
2. Emily Johnson - 1 star
I cannot recommend "Deities linked to cats in pagan mythology" to anyone interested in mythology. The book was filled with inaccuracies and seemed to be poorly researched. The author made claims without providing any evidence or references, which made it difficult to trust the information presented. Furthermore, the writing was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow the author's train of thought. It's a shame because the topic is fascinating, but this book failed to do it justice.
3. Jessica Thompson - 2.5 stars
"Deities linked to cats in pagan mythology" was a letdown for me. While the concept was intriguing, the execution fell short. The book lacked structure and organization, making it difficult to understand the connections between different deities and their link to cats. The author jumped from one deity to another without any clear transitions or explanations. I also wished for more in-depth analysis and interpretation rather than just a superficial overview. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this book.
Purrfect Spirits: Cats as Familiars in Folklore and Mythology