She Who Shines in the Horizon – A Modern Myth

Published on: by Tawa'ubast Category:Artwork, Blog, Musings & Thoughts Comment

Some Names don’t have myths that have survived the times, or perhaps they weren’t written down.  In this instance, it is up to us to use our experiences with the Names in order to fashion the new canon and our own modern mythology.  

Bast and Mut share the epithet of “She Who Shines in the Horizon.”  I strongly associate her with the colors of royalty, purples, pinks, deep reds, and golds.  With this information, she is the Dawn and Dusk to me, the one who brings the royal colors to the sky.

After the long battle with the Uncreated One, red blood fills the sky.  Bast-Mut steps forward in procession above the horizon, painting the sky in pinks and purples to please Ra, welcoming him into a new Zep Tepi.

After the day is over, she stalks back over the horizon, painting the sky once again, following Ra into the night.

It’s this bit of beauty that brings a smile to all who see it.  When you see the purple colors, think of the joy you feel inside in appreciation of such a natural wonder.  Think of Bast-Mut stepping across the sky in her dress of glorious hues.

Bast-Mut : The Modern Canon

Published on: by Tawa'ubast Category:Blog Comment
(aka the UPG of Tawa’ubast)

Bast-Mut is Bast as Queen, the feline Mut, the Royal Cat.

She is the small cat, the black lioness, the reigning Queen upon her throne.

She rules alongside her husband, Amun-Ra, and along with their son, Khonsu.

She is motherly, affectionate, passionate, and kind.  She has warm energy, not hot, as she is Bast who has been cooled by the waters of Isheru.

However, she is still the Queen, regal, confident, and wanting nothing but joy for her children and followers.

She is fluid, occasionally slipping definition, but can be felt in a warm caress, or in times of gentle self-care.

She loves music, poetry, flowers, perfumes, tea, lotions, chocolates, and other delights of the senses.  If you are feeling joy, she is feeling it with you.

As a Queen, she has no need to act, she has others to do that for her.  She directs.  You act on her behalf.

She wants you to be gentle with yourself.  Feel her purring and know that she is there, and she is pleased that you exist.

Collections of Bast-Mut “Feels”

Published on: by Tawa'ubast Category:Blog, Musings & Thoughts Comment

I am gathering these from my Tumblr from moments where I sat and just felt Mother.

The Joy of Bast-Mut is not the same as the Joy that Hethert holds.  Hethert is dancing and music and celebration.  Extroverted Joy. (In personal experiences)

Bast-Mut’s joy is more of an Introverted Joy.  The Joy of gentle self-care, the Joy of making somebody smile, the Joy you feel when you snuggle a loved one or relax in a sunbeam.

I get the Joy of the Queen when I’m pampering myself and when I’m feeling confident and beautiful.  When I’m enjoying myself putting on makeup.  When I’m rubbing nicely scented lotions on myself, or using a facial roller or sheet mask.

But Bast-Mut also enjoys music and dancing and sistra, but only if you are enjoying yourself as well.

 

“Don’t be afraid of my love, for it is my gift to you, and joy is the means in which it takes shape.  Take that inner joy and bundle it tight and remember it when things get dark.  It glows like the SUN.  It glows like Ra breaking the clouds away.”

 

The Royal Cat embodies what it means to be the Divine Feline.  A Lioness, Queen of Cats, upon a throne of embellished gold.  Her crown shines in the light of dawn, her dress of red linen echoing the rosy hues of the morning glow.  She knows what She wants, but She is ever patient.  Her knowing gaze looks right into your very core, and you are filled with warmth and love.  She wants for you to listen to your heart, and to fill it with joy and confidence.  Love yourself.  Treasure yourself.  You too are Divine.

Trust in Your Own Experiences

Published on: by Tawa'ubast Category:Blog, Musings & Thoughts Comment

AKA Why historical attestation isn’t always the holy grail.

I have something to admit.  I’m addicted to finding anything rooted in history that may mention or give me insight into Bast-Mut.  Once I get the itch, I’ll dig into the deepest parts of Google in order to see what I can find, even if just a brief mention of “Mut-Bastet.”  I occasionally get jealous of those who have parent deities who have a long history and many records and myths.  It’s the woe of somebody who worships an “odd-god.”

To be fair, Bast isn’t particularly unknown, and neither is Mut.  The downside falls in the destruction of Per-Bast (Bubastis), so we don’t really have much to go on.  Mut is very prominent, but Bast-Mut is NOT Mut, not completely.  If there existed any record at all of Queen Bast of Bubastis, it’s gone now.  We have small hints of Mut-Bast over in Waset (Thebes), but primarily that was Sekhmet-Mut town.

When I get into my heavy “research mood,” I really have to try to remind myself of one simple thing:

Trust in my own experiences.

What am I hoping to gain by finding my Mother in historical texts?  Maybe an epithet here or there, but that is probably all I’ll possibly find.  What this research won’t tell me is how the ancients perceived Bast-Mut, nor how they experienced her.  You won’t find that stuff in any scientific material.  You have to live it.  Nothing I’ll find will replace any experience I’ve shared with Mom.

For those of you in the same shoes, it will do you well to remember this.  This is your path, and you will not find that in any Oriental Institute Publication.

Reflecting on a Name

Published on: by Tawa'ubast Category:Blog, Musings & Thoughts 1 Comment

It’s been a little over three years since my Shemsu naming.  This is a name with big shoes to fill, and I’m finally starting to grow into it and fully understand what it means to be a soldier of my Mother.

I’ve done a lot of thinking over the years regarding this name and how it reflects me and my duty to both Netjer and the community in which I took my vows.  When I was first named, I was this meek little thing flanked by three powerful and protective Names.  It is now that I’m realizing just what being a soldier of a Queen entails.

On occasion, I’ll find myself doing some research on the literal roles of soldiers in Ancient Egypt.  I like to take in all the information available and see how it applies to me.  Something I discovered kind of stuck with me; When there is no war, soldiers were often out helping the community, building, farming, and taking on other helpful tasks.  They were always taking action for the betterment of the whole.

Action.

This is a word that is increasingly important to me.

Bast-Mut, as Queen, is one to direct.  I am taking action on her behalf.  Not only am I fighting in the name of ma’at, I am also expected to work with the community and help when necessary.

As I considered that, I also realized I had already been working on helping out the community.  I was, and am, getting more involved, and it fits my role perfectly.

(In meme speak: I protecc and attacc, but most importantly I give bacc)