10/26/11

Goddess of the week: Bast

statue of the cat goddess Bastet in Istanbul M...Image via WikipediaLindsay would like a goddess for stress relief and general well being. I'm giving her the Egyptian moon goddess Bast.

Bast had the head of a cat the body of a woman.  She used to have the head of a lion, but she got downsized.  What she lost in strength and status, however, she made up for in the ability to dominate furniture and have mortals meet her every whim.

She had this annual festival that attracted over 700,000 people a year.  It was very "Bridesmaids," and I know how much you like that movie.  Women would eat, dance, sing and generally participate in what Wikipedia calls "feasts of drunkenness."  It was epic (which is the new awesome, by the way).

Bast would bless revelers with coupons for free massages and weekend crafting/writing retreats, but--and this is important--she never gave coupons to overachievers who were all anal about laundry and/or work.  As with most goddesses, she realized that general well being came from an internal spark, or drive, to sometimes sacrifice the annoying little responsibilities that join together to wrap around us and choke us like cobras.  Break the cords of perfectionism and do-everythingism that weigh you down, Lindsay!  Get your girlfriends and revel.  Revel that cobra right into the ground.  And when you are done, get that massage, dammit.  And tell your kids to put their damn breakfast dishes in the damn dishwasher.  You're not their servant!

Bast reminds us to give into pleasure and fun, and to remember that you can't wait around for fun to find you.  You have to make it yourself.

Channel this goddess: when you need a break, when you need to relax and have fun.  When you need to laugh.


Need a goddess: I got goddesses: Post a comment explaining your need or want.  Then check back in a few weeks and see what you got.


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18 comments:

Bec said...

just what I needed! Instead of spending the evening trying to get everything graded, I think I'll invite some girlfriends over tomorrow night for margaritas . . . .

Shell Sherree said...

Throw a good massage my way and I'm happy.

Star said...

Always have loved this goddess because she takes the form of a cat, but now I love her even more! Thanks, Margaret!

Anonymous said...

This explains so much. Why the neighborhood cat hypnotizes me into buying her fishy canned foods, even though she has a perfectly good home right across the street.

(Outrageous is the old awesome.)

claire bangasser said...

It's time to have a B(l)ast! I'm all for that! Thank you, Margaret :-)

Anonymous said...

Channel a cat when you need a break, fun, and wanna relax?? I think you got your goddesses mixed up here, MF. Take it from this canine.

Olga said...

Okay, epic in; awesome out. Got it.

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Outrageous!

Desiree said...

I borrowing/taking this one as my own.
Yeah, Bast baby!

Lindsay N. Currie said...

THAT'S FANTASTIC! You never disappoint Margaret and I've been very needy:) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU:)

Margaret said...

Lindsay: Glad you approve.

Claire: very clever word play.

Bec: I'm staring at a stack of papers myself. Hmmm....feel the pull to grade; feel the pull to do anything but grade.

Watson said...

I guess cats are fun, but kind of bossy. For a real blast, it takes a dog, especially a Lab!

Petrea Burchard said...

I never realized before that my style of housekeeping was a form of goddess worship.

Susan Campisi said...

The two Bast-like creatures in my house remind me daily that pleasure is the highest form of happiness.

Mairie said...

What a great idea - although in my house it's the dragon who seems to have everyone at his beck and call. Thanks mairie

Shanna said...

That was great as always. And quite epic !

Anonymous said...

This all sounds splendid. I need a bit of fun right now.

Unknown said...

I like this one. I would go so far as to call her "Bast in Show."