#bast devotee

I often feel compelled to thank and credit my deities for many of the positive things that happen in my life.

While I do believe my gods assist me in many ways, Bast spoke with me today about how this behaviour at a more constant level or frequency can make oneself forget their own sovereignty or forget to acknowledge themselves.

These are some of the things she said that I wish to share with you. This can all be considered UPG!

"You may consider this a gift from me, not because I am the reason why you have this, but because in your devotion to me, you have realised how worthy you are of holding this gift."

"Do not discount all of your achievements to divine intervention. We can watch over you without all the good deeds of your life being ours."

"I enjoy seeing you succeed. You work hard to get to where you are."

"A 'thank you' is enough. There's no need to grovel at my feet in feverous gratitude. Stand, give your thanks, and then celebrate. Your celebration is worth more - to see your care for what has come of your work and the blessings you have received. An emphasis on your subordination to me is not useful or desired. Your joy... is."

"Your achievements are not my achievements. They are yours alone."

"Give to your deities as they give to you, but honour yourself, too, in all the ways you exist."

"There is beauty in how the human spirit shines through, when you are determined, or desire an outcome more than anything. Some of that is divine, and some of that is you."

"Have your first instinct be to sit in what has happened."

"You are more afraid of taking credit for your own achievements and gifts than seeming like you have not thanked us enough. You are using thanks to hide from yourself."

devotional bast stimboard!! <3 ☀️🐈‍⬛

Bast Shrine

Hey! What’s up? Today’s drawing is BAST MUT for @obsydian

Today I got notice I succeed on a difficult exam I had, thank you all for your prayers!

Enjoy the drawing! :)

!

I do sketches for $USD

Ask for 1 god/character/person doing whatever you want, I will practice anatomy while working on your drawing. Buy 3 and the 4th is free.

Wearing a dedicated perfume for her (whether that's daily or like a certain day of the week)

Making a playlist for her or even to embody a certain feeling that reminds you of her (joy, the feeling of dancing, feeling protected etc.)

Making jewellery for her or wearing devotional jewellery

Karaoke, whether that's between you and her or with a group of friends!

Protection workings for your home + other rituals with her

Tending to a shrine for her (refreshing offerings, cleaning it every so often, maybe keeping fresh flowers for her, praying at the shrine)

Making infused oils for ritual (or other purposes like scented oils to smell nice or food safe infused oils for food offerings - like a rosemary infused olive oil might be nice)

Lighting a candle for her

Doing things with her like inviting her along when you're going somewhere cool or interesting

Making your space smell nice (keeping it clean and using something like a reed diffuser or incense or scented candle or wax melts)

If you do any studies, projects, hobbies or jobs related to her domains then you can dedicate them as a big devotionoal act

Embracing your sense of joy and whimsy

Acknowledging her in the morning or at sunrise if that's something you can do

Learning a percussion instrument (related to the sistrum and how it was played for protection and because it was pleasant, so I think there's a connection!)

Or just playing the sistrum for her if you have one

Listening to music with her (even if its not a dedicated playlist)

Donating to causes related to her domains (women's and children's charities and foundations, home related fundraisers, cat shelters)

Researching to learn more about her

I relate an improved sense of self worth is connected with Bast too so dressing or accessorising in a way that feels good to you or treating yourself well (including making those small everyday decisions that mean a lot to you - like giving yourself a reward for good work or letting yourself receive compliments)

Making or obtaining art for her - in general, getting creative

Taking care of cats (including your own if you have one)

Talking about her with others, like sharing your experiences or new learnings

Writing prayers to her (you can write prayers to use again, or to share, or for situation if it were to come up etc.)

So I've been having dreams about Lady Bast where I am a Priestess. One day last week my dad randomly presented me with a statue of her that he bought for me because he just thought I would like it. He has no idea about my devotion to her. This definitely brought up some feels because Bast hasn't been super present in my life since (UPG) she introduced me to Aphrodite and Aphrodite reintroduced me to the Hellenic Pantheon. Although I love her very much, and I've never broken my promises to her I have been very much focused on the Theoi lately.

I feel like this recent visitation from her is a reminder that I can always count on her to be there, she is always a home I can come back to.

In light of this, I took the statue of her to my office and made a little shrine. My office also doubles as "the cat room" where we keep the huge cat tree for the cats to climb on and sleep in and we also feed them in there. The cats always hang out with me in there and I jokingly call them my "business associates" or refer to us hanging out as "having a meeting". So I feel like this is the perfect spot for her.

Bast will always have a special place in my heart, and I think she is now trying to reassure me that she's not going anywhere. So I better start paying her more respect! ;)