Cat in mythology. Mythical cats from different parts of the world

Legends about cats were composed by many peoples of Europe, Africa and Asia, only in America myths about them were almost never created, since the mustachioed-striped ones arrived there only in a limited contingent along with settlers and conquistadors. In this article, we will introduce you to the most popular myths about cats.

Slavic legends about cats

Our ancestors considered the cat to be the animal of Veles, the god of cattle, agriculture and poetry. Therefore, we all know Kot-Bayun - a huge monster that sits on an iron pole and lulls the heroes with its fairy tales, and then eats them. However, Bayun could be caught and tamed, then his tales became healing for the owner.

In addition, cats Slavic mythology have always been associated with the brownie and barn, both keepers could turn into cats or communicate with him. And they both loved milk, which cats willingly shared with them, preferring mice.

In Bazhov's tales, which have preserved for us factory Ural legends, the Earth Cat is often mentioned. In the Urals, it was believed that this beast lives underground, and only its red, fiery ears stick out above the ground. Where such ears appear, a treasure is buried there. And such a belief appeared, apparently, thanks to sulfurous lights escaping from mountain voids.

Scandinavian cat legends

According to the Scandinavian Eddas, cats are companions of the goddess Freya, the second most senior and beautiful goddess of Asgard. The beautiful Freya, the leader of the Valkyries, the patroness of fairies and elves, loved to drive around the sky in a chariot drawn by two cats. These cats looked like lynxes - large, furry and with tassels on their ears. Apparently, their descendants became the Norwegian forest cats - the national treasure of Norway.

In Iceland in the 19th century, a special legend about the terrible Yule cat appeared. This is a huge cat that lives with a cannibal who kidnaps lazy children. The Yule cat is active during Christmas time (Yule), eating anyone who has not managed to acquire a new woolen thing by this time. The legend was invented by the parents so that the children would more actively help them in working with sheep and their wool - the main source of income for the Icelanders.

Celtic cat legends

The Shea cat, which is found in Scottish and Irish legends, is a large black beast with a white spot on its chest. Apparently, the myths about him appeared thanks to the Kellas cats - semi-mythical hybrids of local forest cats and domestic cats brought to the Roman legionnaires. Shi's cat is neither evil nor kind. He can steal the souls of the dead until they are buried, or he can bless the house where he was fed milk at Samhain. According to another version, Cat Shi is a werewolf witch, she can only throw off the appearance of an animal 8 times. If he turns into a cat in the 9th, he will take this image forever. This is probably why we believe that a cat has 9 lives.

Another mythical Irish cat is Irusan, the king of cats. Irusan once encroached on a famous minstrel, but Saint Kiaran threw a red-hot rod at the cat, killed him and saved the poet.

The Welsh triads have preserved stories about Chapalu or Cat Palug, a terrible beast that, with its exorbitant claws, terrified settlements and devastated crops. This cat was born by the pig Henwen, who, frightened by his evil, threw the offspring into the sea. But Palug survived because he was picked up and left by peasants whom he ate when he grew up. Only Sir Kay, one of the Knights of the Round Table, could defeat the terrible cat.

The goddess Karidwen, the goddess of rebirth, transformation and inspiration, also lived in Wales. Karidwen served - they transmitted her orders to the ground.

The English, among whom there are so many sailors and fishermen, there was a legend about a sea cat. She absolutely had to throw part of the catch so that she would not get angry and cause a storm. A sea cat is a witch who once went on a boat with her fisherman fiancé. One of the sailors offered to throw her overboard, because a woman on a ship is not good. The witch got angry, called out a storm that swept away all the ships and killed all the fishermen, and then nevertheless jumped into the sea, but she herself and in the form of a cat.

Basque cat legends

In the north of Spain and in the south of France, the Basques and the peoples living in the neighborhood believe in the wonderful matagot cat. Matagoth is an evil creature that appears in the form of a black cat. Actually, it eats Christians, but if you catch it, you can secure a comfortable existence. You should lure the matagot with a fish or a chicken, grab it and run home without turning around. And then you need to give him the first piece of each dish and the first sip of each drink and get a gold coin a day for this. Just don't forget to let go of the matagot when you're rich enough, otherwise you'll die long and painfully until you give the creature its freedom.

By the way, it was probably the matagot who was the prototype of the famous Puss in Boots.

Greek cat legends

The supreme Greek god Zeus was very fond of women and did not miss a single skirt. One of his chosen ones was the queen Alcmene, who gave birth to the god's son - Hercules. However, Hercules was born for seven whole days, because Hera forced the midwife goddess Lucina to delay the birth of Alcmene. The jealous wife of Zeus wanted the first cousin of Hercules to be born in the Perseus dynasty, so the throne would not go to the divine bastard. But one of the servants of Alcmene, the red-haired Galanfida, told Lucina that the son of Zeus had already been born despite all her efforts to prevent this. The goddess was seduced and gave permission to Alcmene from the burden for real. In retaliation, the angry Hera turned Galanfida into a cat and sent her to the underworld to live alone. But the cats are cute, and Hecate, the patroness of witches, healers and crossroads, took pity on the former maid, so the cat joined the witchcraft. uh

The Greeks also had another cat goddess - Ailuros (Eiluros), as they called the Egyptian Bast, only identified her with the Moon, and, therefore, considered her to be the night incarnation of Artemis. In one of the myths, Artemis even turns into a cat to escape from the titan Typhon. The name of the goddess Eiluros gave the name of the fear of cats - eylurophobia.

Roman cat legends

The cat, which walks by itself, became the companion of the goddess of freedom - Libertas among the Romans. Libertas was worshiped by freedmen, former slaves, and therefore the cat also flaunted on the banner of Spartacus' troops.

Egyptian cat legends

Today it is known for certain that cats were tamed not in Egypt, but a little to the east - on the territory of the Fertile Crescent (from Mesopotamia to Anatolia). But only in the country of the pyramids did these cutest animals gain such impressive popularity. Of course, the main cat deity in Egypt was Bast, the patroness of women and the hearth. In addition, Bast was responsible for fertility and childbirth, since cats have always been famous for their fertility and developed maternal instinct.

Also, the god Ra had a cat that helped him in the fight against the serpent-Apop, so the cat in Egypt was associated with the sun, and her eyes, adjusting to the light, often served as a sundial.

Jewish cat legends

The Jews are a nomadic pastoral people, so they did not often meet with cats. But among the Sephardic Jews there was a legend that Lilith (Adam's first wife) turned into a demon cat El-Brusha, who killed babies by drinking their blood.

Persian cat legends

In Persia (Iran) there are two legends about the origin of cats. The first is related to the saying "The lion sneezed and a cat was born." One of the Persian historians wrote that the Creator, when creating the earth, forgot about cats, but did not forget about mice. The problem of lack of balance was clearly manifested in Noah's ark: during the journey, the mice multiplied and began to threaten the reserves designed for everyone. Then Noah asked the lion to sneeze, he obeyed and sneezed out the cat. Stocks have been salvaged.

Another Persian myth about cats is more ancient. Once the hero Rustam, the hero of the epic Shahnameh, saved the magician from the bandits. The magician, in gratitude, invited the hero to his tent and asked what to give him. Rustam was modest and said that he already had everything: the warmth of a fire, nice smell smoke and starry sky overhead. Then the magician mixed smoke, fire and stars and handed Rustam a warm smoky kitten whose eyes shone like stars. Probably, it was the ancestor of the famous Persian breed.

Indian cat legends

The Indian goddess of childbirth and protector of children, Shashthi, was often depicted with the head of a cat or riding a cat. Initially, Shashkhti was an evil demon that sent diseases to newborns and women in childbirth, but later it was from her that women began to ask for protection and pregnancy.

The main god of the Indian pantheon, the Thunderer Indra was no less loving than Zeus, and therefore he came to his mistresses in the form of a cat to deceive their husbands and admirers.

Chinese cat legends

China had its own wild cats, and it seems they were domesticated there almost earlier than in Ancient Egypt. Therefore, the Chinese shared the domestic cat Mao and the forest cat Li.

The word "mao" consists of three characters that mean field, grass and monster, which is true, because the cat protected the rice fields from mice and was a real monster for them. And “mao” is consonant with the Chinese word for “eighty”, which is why cats often show off on greeting cards. According to one of the legends, Mao was bought by the sorcerer Miau-Kuau, who could resurrect the dead and heal people, so the cat became his companion. Also, the Chinese, like the Egyptians, determined the time by the cat's eyes.

Li was associated with the goddess Li Shou. When the gods created the earth, Li Shou volunteered to look after their creation. However, she wanted to sleep under a cherry tree or play with flower petals more than to watch what was happening. Then Lee Shou refused both the position and the ability to speak, and offered to appoint a person in charge. However, man did not understand the gods, so Li Shou became the liaison between him and the creators.

There was also a goddess of cats in China, Yifan Zhen, the leader of a legion of cats. However, in addition to these data, only the fact that she and her legion fought for one of the ancient Chinese dynasties is known about her.

Japanese cat legends

The Japanese endowed many animals with magical abilities, and the cat did not escape this fate - it became a bakeneko werewolf. Bakeneko can become any cat any cat if it fulfills one of the following conditions: it will weigh 1 kan (3.75 kg), it will have long tail or live to 13 years of age. Moreover, in long-tailed cats, the tail forked, and they turned into "forked cats" - nekomata, a special separate type of bakeneko. According to legends, werecats could eat their owner and take on his appearance or revive the dead by jumping over him. Bakeneko were also able to create ghostly fireballs and walk on two legs. Most often, the spirits of dead women who want to take revenge on their husbands are infused in cats. This is probably why Japanese bobtails appeared in the Land of the Rising Sun - cats graceful physique, with short tails, almost incapable of becoming bakeneko.

But there is also a happy cat in Japan - maneki-neko. The traditional maneki-neko is a figurine of a white cat with or without red and black spots, which holds one or two paws raised in an inviting gesture (summons money, clients, good luck). Sometimes in the lowered paw of the talisman lies a gold coin of 10 million ryo, even more often it is decorated with a breastplate, similar to the breastplate of Buddha-Jizo, the patron saint of children and travelers. There are three versions of the appearance of maneki-neko. In the first, the cat began to invite guests to an abandoned monastery, and thanks to her the monastery flourished again; in the second, a cat rescued a highly skilled prostitute from a snake; in the third, she appeared in a dream to a poor housewife, who kicked her out, and advised her to sculpt cats out of clay, which provided the old woman with a comfortable old age. And the maneki-neko took the coin from the legend about the cat who stole two gold coins from his rich owner for his sick poor neighbor who fed the cat with fish.

Another Japanese belief says that a white cat with a spot on its back is a transmigrating human soul, because such spots look like a kimono.

Thai cat legends

According to Thai beliefs, the souls of the dead moved into cats, so they were buried in crypts along with their owners, but in such a way that the animals could get out. For the same reason, cats were often present at the coronations of the kings of Siam and the burial ceremonies of Buddhist teachers.

Thai and Siamese cats often have knots on their tails, this is now considered a tribal marriage caused by inbreeding, but in the past such cats were called "royal". The fact is that there is a legend about royal daughters who strung their rings on the tails of their favorite pets while bathing. So that these rings do not fall, the cats “grow” knots.

In Thailand, about 20 cat breeds were known, a book of poems was even written about them, and therefore legends here were composed not only about the well-known Siamese and Thais, but also about others - for example, about Korats. Korats in their region of origin regularly participate in rituals to bring rain and are considered a good gift for a wedding, because they contribute to fertility.

American cat legends

As already mentioned, domestic cats came to America late, but there were always wild cougars, jaguars, lynxes, etc., and therefore part of the beliefs about them passed to cats. So, in Northern Mexico and Arizona there is a legend about a cactus cat covered with thorns and making vodka-bulk. Such a cat, if he makes pulque and gets drunk, will bring a lot of trouble to those who fall under his paw.

But in Nevada, a cat was once tried for killing a baby, this lawsuit was associated with a legend brought by settlers from England - cats take the breath away from children. But most likely, big cats and, however, could crush weak children during a joint sleep.

At the end of the 20th century in the United States, thanks to the psychologist Paul Dam, William Briton and Dr. Wallace Syfe, a legend arose that cats, after death, end up on the magical Rainbow Bridge, where they live in warmth and care, waiting to meet their owners when they come. term.

The Argentines have their own legend, they believe that the mysterious Ombre Gatto (Shadow Cat) or Catman, a werewolf cat who is not averse to attacking a person, roams the streets of cities.

Legends about cats are numerous and varied, but they all agree on one thing: cats are amazing creatures, our guides to the other world.

All superstitions have their origin in myths. There are such types of mythical cats: “demon cat”; "cat-brownie"; "cat Baiyun"; "guide cat" and others.

The cat is a demon

In mythology, the cat acts as the embodiment or helper of the devil and evil spirits. There is a belief about a special feline devil, an evil spirit from which sorcerers borrow their power.

In some cases, the cat acts as a witch. In Slavic folk culture result of action black cat most often becomes a disease, damage, evil eye, death.

Often in folklore one can find the motif of the transformation of a cat into a person and the reverse transformation of a person into a cat, as well as its consequence - the presence of forms that combine elements of a cat and a person. The elusiveness of the boundaries between the feline and the human partly makes it possible to explain the origin of folklore names such as Kot Kotofeich, Kotofey Ivanovich, and others.

Cat - conductor

Often a cat plays the role of a conductor between the world of people and the other world. The cat is both a link between the worlds, and at the same time a victim. It is believed that all blindly born animals see the evil spirit. The cat certainly belongs to this category.

Cat - brownie

In Rus', the cat has long been revered as the keeper of the hearth, a symbol of comfort. It is no coincidence that in many countries there was a sign: before entering a new home, you must let the “hostess” - the cat - in front of you. It will provide prosperity. Where she lay down, they put a bed.

In the Vladimir region, this rite has long been invested with another meaning: the one who crosses the threshold of a new house first, he is the first to die. And since a cat has nine lives, and not one, like a person, it was allowed in the first place - it will be reborn to life again. The cat is so connected with its owner that she can perform some of his duties, namely: to play the role of the patron of the house and livestock. Cats are the main guardians of houses. They protect our homes from the invasion of evil, from " uninvited guests which are very difficult for a human to see. All cats, regardless of breed, have an amazing ability. They can redistribute and generate negative energy by processing it into a lighter one. Probably, if you have a pet, then you noticed that if you have something sick, then a friend on four legs is already right there. Cats always feel where their care is needed.

Cat Baiyun

Cat Bayun - Russian character fairy tales. This cat tells fairy tales sitting on a pole, but at the same time it induces sleep and "beats all the people." The word "bayun", according to Dahl's explanatory dictionary, comes from "bayat" or "bait".

This means “to speak, to tell”, but Bayun himself, respectively, “talker and storyteller”. In the image of the cat Bayun, the features of a fairy-tale monster and a bird with a magical voice are combined. The fairy tales say that Bayun sits on a high iron pole. He weakens everyone who tries to approach him with the help of songs and spells. The most striking example of the dual nature of a fairy-tale cat is the image of Baba Yaga's cat from the fairy tale "Baba Yaga".

fiery earth cat

In the Urals, there were legends about the Earth cat. This huge cat walks underground and guards treasures, and only its fiery ears are visible on the surface. According to the legends, wolves are afraid of her fiery ears, and for a person, the Earth cat does not pose any threat, and can even become an unexpected savior. Cats in the Ural and Siberian mythology act as assistants to the Mistress of the Copper Mountain.

In a cat, I see a woman with an ever-changing sensitive soul... (Giacomo Casanova)

http://blackwarlock.mirbb.net

The feline family is gorgeous and amazing. From time immemorial, its representatives were worshiped, surrounded by mysteries, attributed to mysterious mystical features. Since ancient times, the cat has been associated with witchcraft more strongly than any other animal. In this chapter, we will look at the legendary magical abilities famous cat goddesses, we will list their invariable attributes - colors, stones, crystals, herbs, we will give other information. And of course, each goddess mentioned here is addressed with a special cat spell according to their witch specialty.

If you now ask why this chapter is dedicated only to goddesses, the answer is obvious.
The sorceress cat is mysterious in a feminine way. It all started many thousands of years ago with deification in the Nile Valley Bast and others Egyptian cats. It is impossible to talk about divine cats without first remembering Ancient Egypt. In the Egyptian kingdom, cats were sacred temple animals, beloved pets. ordinary people and pharaohs. Many Egyptian deities - the goddess of fertility and the symbol of femininity Isis, the sky goddess Hathor, the avenger Mafdet, the lady Mut, the god of hunting Horus, the sun god Ra, the goddess of war and the scorching sun Sekhmet, the god of the desert and the personification of evil Set - are associated with wild and domestic cats.

Apparently, most Egyptian cats were reddish, brownish, golden. On the steppes of the tombs of the pharaohs, brownish cats are depicted with the same pattern as the modern tabby.

Stately arrogant cats sit under the pharaoh's throne, enjoy the royal life. Egyptian cats guarded grain warehouses from snakes, rodents, and in homes they occupied a place of honor by the hearth.

The Egyptians believed that the cat has a huge magic power and intuition, the Law forbade intentionally harming them. Fools who transgressed it were subjected to severe punishment up to and including the death penalty.

However, the ancient Egyptians saw in the cat a symbol of the highly revered goddess Bast with a cat's head, who, two thousand years before the birth of Christ, was very popular in Egyptian mythology and today remains a traditional goddess for loving cats witches. Therefore, let's start with the myths about this charming goddess, who is called the "mother of cats."

BAST, FOREMOTHER OF CATS
Thousands of years ago, cats were deified.
They don't forget about it.(Famous expression)

Bast is the goddess of fertility, motherhood, sexuality, love, music. She is most often depicted as a woman with a cat's head in a long tight green dress, with a basket in her hands or a sistrum - a musical instrument.

Sometimes she can be seen with kittens playing under her feet - a symbol of motherhood. The goddess Bast is dedicated to a black cat, with the head of which she is usually depicted.

In some myths, Bast is called the daughter of the sun god Ra and the goddess of magic Isis, in others it is called the firstborn daughter of the sun god Amon. She became the wife of Ptah, the god of the city of Memphis, personifying the soft light of the rising sun, for which she was nicknamed the "sun eye". At first, Bast was a solar goddess, later she began to symbolize the moon - growing and waning. It is also called Bastet, Ubastet and Pasht.

The sacred city of the cat goddess was Bubastis. In her temple, built, according to rumors, of red granite, there was a luxurious niche, densely overgrown with greenery, in which Bast's tomb was located. In the temple in Bubastis, many cats lived, which were groomed and cherished in every possible way, as a living personification of the goddess.

The sanctuary served not only as the main center for the deification of sacred temple cats, but also as a burial place for thousands of dead domestic animals. The Egyptians believed that beloved animals resting in a sacred place would carry their prayers to the gods. In 1887, the French archaeologist Edouard Naville discovered during excavations the main temple of Bubastis, cellars with mummies of cats and several royal tombs, having received evidence of the worship of the goddess Bast by the Egyptian pharaohs.

Perhaps at first, Bast had a lion's head, like her evil sister Sekhmet, the goddess of war. But over time, Bast turned into a more meek feline, more like a beloved domestic cat. This is an affectionate, loving goddess, however, jealously protecting her children, from whom it is not easy to drive her away.

The terrible hypostasis of Bast is called Pasht. Imagine a lioness protecting cubs.

Interestingly, Pasht is sometimes depicted with wings. Some myths associate her with the falcon-god Horus. You can see Pasht in the form of a falcon with a cat's head or a royal cat with outstretched wings.

In mid-April, beloved by the Egyptians, spring holiday in honor of Bast. According to some reports, thousands of Egyptians marched in parade formation, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments. Does it really look like a carnival party? Talking about this festival, the ancient historian Herodotus mentions with slight indignation that women, in front of passers-by, lifted their skirts over their heads. The admirers of Bast had a good time at the festival.

If you decide to cast a spell addressed to Bast, try asking her for fertility, facilitating pregnancy, and increasing sexuality.

Spell to Bast

Bast's magical attributes are simple and obvious. All cats and kittens of any breed and color are dedicated to her. Her color is green color fertility. The list is completed by a simple wicker basket, musical instrument sistrum and associated with the goddess of the planet - the Sun and the Moon.

Try to cast a spell on Sunday (when the solar influence is especially strong) or on Monday (with an increased magical influence of the Loupe).

Ladies, don't forget to line your eyes. I'm not kidding at all. Ancient Egyptian women are invariably depicted with heavily lined eyes in imitation of the huge beautiful almond eyes goddess Bast. If you want to conjure, resort to magical cosmetics. Take a bold charcoal-black pencil and clearly outline the eyes above and below lower eyelashes. Wishing to gain more strength, draw the bottom line away.

Sometimes a small spark is enough to bring passion and joy into a relationship. Try to carve out a romantic moment between family and work exclusively for yourself and your loved one. Try to get his attention. The rest is up to both of you.

ACCESSORIES
. A couple of fresh catnip leaves (for beauty, happiness, love, cat magic)
. Black eyeliner (optional)
. green candle for Bast
. Candlestick
. Lighter, matches
. Table, shelf for candles

INSTRUCTIONS
Line your eyes like the beautiful Bast. This ritual is best done in the bedroom. Place a leaf of catnip under the candle in the candle holder. Give the other leaf to the cats as a token of the Bast offering. They will be delighted and will not climb to the candle. Remember that Bast is the goddess of sexuality and fertility, be sure to protect yourself accordingly. Light a candle and repeat the following spell three times:

In the name of Bast, the cat-goddess of love and passion, I conjure my beloved to inflame, give me happiness.
May he and I always have fun together, And a fulfilled desire will not harm anyone.

LIONESS SEKHMET
Everything around changes at the birth of awesome beauty.("Yates")

Sekhmet is the exact opposite of Bast. Bast personifies luxury, sensuality, femininity, and Sekhmet intimidates.

Sekhmet is associated with Upper Egypt, Bast with Lower.

The militant Sekhmet is called the "mighty", "terrible eye of Ra." This goddess with the head of a lioness is the arbiter of human destinies. She is usually depicted with a sun disk above her head and with a cobra. She has black skin, a beautiful lion's head, burning red eyes. It is naturally associated with the color red, the symbol of the sun and the blood shed in battle.

Sekhmet is a powerful solar goddess of the war of destruction. Warriors often prayed to her for victory over the enemy. Excited, Sekhmet craves blood, but she also has virtues. Sometimes she is cruel, but remember that this goddess resolves dangerous unhealthy situations. The old or the bad must give way to the new. Basically, every end is a beginning.

Sekhmet is always ready for defense, senses danger, and is extraordinarily smart. Turn to the magnificent cat goddess if you need to save your home, family, lifestyle. If you feel for yourself bad influence, if you are under a psychic attack, Sekhmet will rush to help, provided you honor her power.

Magic attributes of Sekhmet
Lions, cobras, the scorching sun, fire, scarlet and black are associated with Sekhmet. Get a figurine or a painted image of a lioness. Speak to Sekhmet on Sunday with increased solar power or on Tuesday - the day of martial Mars. It is best to cast the spell at noon, when the sun is directly overhead, and during the waning lunar phase. Especially favorable are hot summer days with record high temperatures.
Call on the help of the lioness-goddess not in case of any external danger, but only in need of mental and personal protection.

ACCESSORIES
. Red candle for Sekhmet
. Black candle (to get rid of negative impacts)
. Two candlesticks
. Two pebbles tiger eye(for protection, courage, cat magic) Own photo
. Image of Sekhmet (a small drawing of a goddess or lioness is fine)
. Lighter, matches
. Table, shelf for candles

INSTRUCTIONS
Place candles in candlesticks on the table, red on the left and black on the right. Place rocks nearby. Put your photo on the side. When spelled, it must be between the candlesticks. Prepare an image of Sekhmet in a frame. (After the session, there will be a desire to hang it on the wall in a conspicuous place.) You can draw it yourself or search on the Internet.

First of all, imagine how the lioness-goddess prowls around the house, looking for danger, makes a rack, growling at everything and everyone who, out of stupidity or carelessness, gives you trouble. Then he stops at the front door and sits regally on the threshold, silent and motionless, like a statue. Take a deep breath, sit on the floor, focus, light the candles and say:

Here I stand before you in the circle of light.
(put your photo between the candles)
From now on, Sekhmet, guard this place.
(wrap the image of Sekhmet around the candles and your photo, then put it on top of your photo)
Save me, save me like my own child, Everywhere, every minute of the night and day.
(imagine Sekhmet coming up and covering you from behind)
As soon as the prayer candle goes out, Bless me with a lion's growl and the brightness of a sunbeam.

Let the candles burn out. Be sure that Sekhmet is looking after you and protecting you. Put the stones in your pocket and carry them with you for a couple of weeks. If desired, to enhance the spell, you can hang an image of Sekhmet on the wall next to the front door, which symbolically means that you and your house have been taken under the protection of the goddess with the head of a lioness.

Egyptian days
According to legend, three days a year are called "Egyptian". Astrologers in ancient Egypt attached great importance to them. These lunar days fall on the last Monday in April, the second Monday in August and the third Monday in December.

Monday, the mysterious day of the week, is associated with the Moon and moon magic. What is even more interesting is that these "Egyptian days" coincide quite accurately with ritual magical Celtic holidays marking the beginning of summer, autumn and winter.

On any "Egyptian day" you can refer to the cat goddesses Bast and Sekhmet. In these three for, every cat spell given here will be successfully justified. Conclude them with the following words and see what happens.

Lady of the cats, hear me
Fulfill the prayer in honor of the Egyptian day.

DIANA, DIAN AND ARADIA

As the ancient Greeks and Romans became familiar with Egyptian culture, the Roman moon goddess Diana and the Greek Artemis became close to Bast.

Bast was considered the main obstetrician, the patroness of women, and Diana was present at every birth. It is not difficult to understand why they merged together. In the Middle Ages, Diana was called the "queen of witches", so cats began to be associated with the witchcraft of the goddess, witchcraft, and the occult.

However, the history of the moon goddess Diana is much richer. There is also the Italian Diana - not one of the twelve Olympian gods, but the goddess of creativity, the mother of Aradia. The legends of the Italic Diana, queen of the witches, differ from the well-known classical Roman and Greek myths.

Diana was created by the very first living being. Having separated darkness from light in herself, she became darkness, and her other half - her twin and spiritual spouse - became light. The light bore the name Diap - luminiferous. Seeing his beauty, the enchanted Diana desired to unite with him, striving with all her might to again contain the light so that he became one with the darkness.

However, Dian did not want this. Proud of his splendor, he turned away from Diana, descended into the real world in the guise of an earthly mortal man. Diana went to the forefathers and foremothers of all things, asking how to reunite with Dian, and heard in response that she herself must descend to earth, accepting the fate of death. Passionately loving Diana, she did just that.

Diana had a beloved cat who, according to legend, slept in his bed every night. He did not even know about her witchcraft abilities. Diana begged the animal to give her a seat and, turning into a cat, lay down with Diana. After waiting for him to fall asleep, she transformed into a woman and made passionate love with him, conceiving Aradia.

In the morning, Dian realized with chagrin that the darkness had conquered the light. Diana's trick outraged him, but she pacified her beloved by singing magic spell. Then she sat down at the spinning wheel and began to spin the thread of life (I wonder if there is an analogy with the period of pregnancy?), Leaving Diana to spin the wheel.

The names Diana and Diana are often associated with witchcraft, with the "old faith" as they say in Italy. Dian is the god of nature, flora and fauna, fertility, and Diana, sometimes called Fauna, is the creator and goddess of magic.

In the end, Diana ordered her daughter Aradia to stay on Earth, teaching people the divine providence. Lradia, who is considered the first sorceress, was called the beautiful messenger. On Earth, she had many adherents, men and women. She taught them traditional magic, full moon worship of her mother Diana, encouraged them to free themselves from slavery and oppression.

Aradia was the spiritual leader of her time, an energetic amazing woman and a powerful sorceress, who encouraged ordinary people - peasants, if you like - to be proud of themselves, to look for spiritual and spiritual strength in themselves, turning to mother Diana.

Today, Diana's magical attributes include wax paper and the full moon, silver, white, black candles, silver, onyx, Moonstone, quartz crystals.

Plants such as white rose, kaloniktion and wormwood are dedicated to her. Cats of all colors and fairies are also associated with Diana, helping her conceive Aradia. You can contact Diana at any time, but for success it is better on a full moon or on Mondays (lunar days).

Diana will help you strengthen your relationship with your pets and reconnect with the ancient goddess of the moon, a powerful deity known as the “queen of the witches.”

Appeal to Diana with a request for the blessing of cat charms

ACCESSORIES
. you and your cat
. White Rose in a vase
. A simple candle in a jar
. Lighter

Aradia taught her followers to address Diana when full moon, so it's best to cast the spell on a full moon night. The spell is short so that the cat sits still. Say it when she is asleep. Do not force it under any circumstances. Pick up quietly, stand or sit under the rising moon. If the cat will rush to the street, leave the house; if not, go to a window with a view of the moon.

INSTRUCTIONS
Light a candle, put it next to you. Put the rose in a vase of water. This flower is a gift to Diana. Handle the cat carefully. Sit on the ground, on the floor, or just stand up, gently stroking the cat. Try to focus, immerse yourself in the moonlight. Then quietly turn to Diana:

Queen of witches, Diana, I call on you today,
In the bright moon, I call you, I beg you,
Bless me and the enchantress cat
Keep us forever, give us a little mind.

Blow the moon a kiss, come home with the cat. If you did not leave the house, greet the moon, let the cat go, let him run about his business. End the spell with these words:

Let the full moon be my request
imprinted forever, No harm in the world.

Take a rose into your room, look at it and rejoice until it withers. Leave the candle in the jar to burn for another hour, then blow it out until the next session. When the rose begins to crumble, gather and dry the petals. Impregnated with moonlight, they will still be useful to you for cat magic.

FREYA, LADY OF CATS

The Scandinavian goddess Freya is the leader of the Valkyries, the goddess of love, beauty, magic, and transformation. It is customary to portray her as a full-bodied stately blue-eyed blonde in clothes made of falcon feathers, with the help of which she is transformed. Wearing a gold necklace called Brisiigamei, Freya rushes through the sky in a wagon drawn by two large, like a lynx, cats. She is also called the "mistress of cats." Cats are companions and favorite animals dedicated to this goddess.

According to legend, Freya blesses and endows love power peasants putting out bowls of milk for homeless cats. In Norse mythology, she has a genuine talent for witchcraft, having taught other gods how to cook love spells and potions.

Freya is associated with the full moon, elves, fairies, childbearing, fertility, magical cat charms, psychic powers, the gift of divination.

For modern sorceresses, this is a goddess women's secrets, intuition, clairvoyance, charm. It is very curious that many cat goddesses have a similar almost feline instinct.

To appeal to Freya, golden colors, golden jewelry, ambergris, strawberries, primrose, the number thirteen, wild and domestic cats are required, the day of the week dedicated to her is Friday.

Here a spell to this goddess about insight into the future. It should be pronounced on Friday. Friday - in English "fridee", in German "freytag" - Freya's day

If you are thinking about choosing a future life path, trying to get out of a puzzling situation, try asking the goddess for insight and strengthening "of your own intuition.

The next spell with the participation of your witch cat will help you join Freya's visual and elegant magic, sharpen your sensitivity and receptivity.

Goddess Freya's Thanksgiving Spell

ACCESSORIES
A few scraps of cat hair or a fallen mustache.

Use only naturally combed wool when caring for animals, in no case do not pluck the hair and mustache of the animal. Remember the main rule - not harm anyone. If you want to achieve a specific result, treat cats gently, affectionately. Recognize them as partners and friends, giving them the same respect you would give to your work colleagues.

Golden candle (in honor of Freya)
. Pink candle or aqua (in honor of Friday)
. Candlesticks
. Amber scented incense
. Ladanka
. Table, shelf for candles
. Lighter, matches
. combed out cat hair or a dropped mustache
. Tarot cards or runes (letters of the ancient Scandinavian alphabet carved into wood) at your discretion

INSTRUCTIONS

Call the cat to you and lightly pet it. Ask if she agrees to conjure with you. Let her sit where she likes - on your lap, in any other place, on the carpet, in an armchair, watching what is happening. For safety's sake, I keep cats out of the scene. I advise you to keep curious animals away from burning candles and amulets.

As soon as the cat sits down, take a piece of wool and stick it under the golden candle. Set fire to the incense, lightly disperse the smoke around the room. Sit on the floor, focus, light a candle - golden, pink or aqua. Repeat the next spell, then look at the cards or runes.

Beauty Freya, mistress of cats,
hear my prayer
Flying in a chariot across a blue or black sky.
A golden candle is lit for you, and a pink one
in honor of Friday.
Show me what's in my way.
current magical night endow me with a sensitive force,
Insight, wisdom, here, now, at the same moment.

Consider tarot cards or runes. You can ask that the answer to the questions appear in a dream. Or just sit, trying not to think about anything, waiting for Freya's response. At the end, thank her with these words:

Thank you Valkyrie Freya for saying yes to me. May my spell harm no one.

Rearrange the candles and the incense safe place and let it burn to the end.

Egypt. The history of Egyptian cats dates back to the second millennium BC: the oldest image of domestic cats that was found dates back to this time. The reason why these unique animals have taken such important place in the history of Egypt, is simple: this state has been agrarian from time immemorial, and it was cats that could save its crops from rodents.

However, cats in the history of Egypt were not only "guardians" of grain, but also hunters: they were specially trained so that they could hunt game birds, and in addition, these animals successfully hunted small rodents, moles, and sometimes even hares.

But in general, cats were considered the "good geniuses" of any Egyptian dwelling and the true keepers of the hearth, and when a cat died a natural death, mourning was declared in the house, and all its inhabitants cut off their hair and eyebrows. Cats were buried only in special cemeteries and with special honors - the mummies of these animals were also found in some tombs of the pharaohs.

Egyptian cat worship. At the same time, the Egyptians throughout their history not only exploited cats, but also worshiped them. In Lower Egypt, the oldest burial place of cats was found - Babustis, where the cult of these animals was widespread. In its center is the Egyptian goddess Bast (Bastet), who was depicted with a cat's head. Also, not only Bast, the goddess symbolizing love, happiness and childbearing, is associated with the cult of cats in Egypt, but also the great sun god Ra himself, who was often depicted in the form of a red cat.

At the same time, cats in Egypt never lived where they had to. A special temple was created for them (in its center, again, the goddess of cats in Egypt), and caring for these animals was considered one of the most honorable services in the state, so only priests could most often look after cats, and this great mission was proud passed down from father to son.

However, the worship of the Egyptians to cats did not always bring them only joy. In 525 BC, Cambyses, the Persian king, who conquered the country with the help of cats, insidiously played on Egypt's love for these animals. He simply ordered to distribute to each warrior one cat, which was tied to shields, and as a result, the Egyptians surrendered virtually without a fight, because they could not fight the enemy, on whose shield the unfortunate cat wriggled. In Egypt itself, cats were protected at the level of the law, and their importance was so great that for the deliberate killing of an animal, the culprit was subject to the death penalty, and for unintentional killing - huge fines.

Ancient Rome. It is believed that the Romans learned about cats from the Egyptians, but cats remained in Ancient Rome rather rare domestic animals and were valued primarily as mouse catchers. Subsequently, the Romans spread cats throughout Europe. But it is possible that even before the advent of the Roman Empire, cats were already known in Europe. There is some evidence that cats existed in the British Isles as early as the end of the Iron Age, and it is possible that they were brought there on the ships of ancient sailors.

Middle Ages. For the Vikings, the cat was a sacred animal and the personification of the goddess of love and fertility, Freya. In Snorri Sturluson's Edda Minor, Freya travels in a chariot drawn by two cats.

In medieval Europe attitude towards cats was different. In the Catholic countries of Europe, the cat was considered a companion of witches and the personification of evil spirits. In England, cats were considered companions of the fairy queen Mab. Because of this, cats (especially black ones) were burned alive at the stake or thrown from bell towers. The extermination of cats in the Middle Ages indirectly caused plague epidemics, since there was almost no one to exterminate rats and other rodents that carry the plague.

Cats from good old England

. In the nineteenth century, when England came Victorian era, interest in purebred cats has increased dramatically. At the same time, cats began to be imported to Britain from the Middle East, including from Persia. As a result, the pets of good old England added to their advantages the dense silk skin of Persian cats. The consolidation of the name of the breed occurred in 1871, it was then that the British Shorthair appeared as the official breed at the first cat show at the Palace.

London 1871 Crystal Palace cat show

With the advent of the golden age, which was replaced by the era of dandyism, new breeds of cats gained popularity among the British. So interest in the classic British did not return soon - only after the Second World War. This came in the wake of post-war patriotism, when British breeders called for more careful selection of this island native breed. By that time, their place on the streets began to be replaced by the most ordinary yard cats. The modern breed standards were approved in 1980, after numerous disputes between the American and British associations. Differences exist to this day: for example, the British from the Isle of Man are not recognized by felinologists in the United States, as well as color point cats.

In the Orthodox countries of Europe attitude towards cats was almost the opposite. The cat is the only animal that can visit Orthodox church(except for the altar).

In Slavic mythology the cat is a favorite character of folk tales, proverbs and superstitions. In Rus' domestic cat was expensive and could serve as a valuable gift, since it guaranteed the protection of the crop from rodents. She was also a symbol of peace and prosperity in the house, protecting the house from evil spirits. It was also believed that cats could penetrate the other world and communicate with spirits.

In Russian folklore an extensive layer is made up of folk tales, proverbs and beliefs associated with cats and cats. The character of such fairy tales was, for example, the cat Bayun.
Vladimir Gilyarovsky says that until the 20th century, the custom was preserved among merchants to compete, whose cat is fatter and fatter. V. I. Dal in 1853 published the two-volume Proverbs of the Russian People, where about 75 proverbs about cats are found in different sections.

Russian monarchs also valued cats, cats always lived in the royal palace. The father of Peter I, Alexei Mikhailovich, had a beloved cat, whose portrait is depicted on the engraving. And already Peter the Great issued a decree, according to which in every household it was necessary "to have cats at the barns, to protect them, and intimidate mice and rats." Peter himself was also often satirically portrayed as a cat, as evidenced by the numerous popular prints with inscriptions that have survived to this day: “Kazan cat, Astrakhan mind, Siberian mind.”

Asia. Cats were brought to Japan in the 6th century and served as the highest award that the emperor could give to his entourage. There are several versions of the legend about a cat helping its mistress or owner. Porcelain or faience figurine of a tortoiseshell cat with a paw raised to the right ear - Maneki-neko, is still considered attractive money luck. Until now, an ancient cult has been preserved in Japan, according to which the souls of deceased ancestors move into piebald cats. There is a Maneki-neko Museum in Seto. Short-tailed cats are especially valued in Japan, images of which can be seen on numerous medieval engravings.

In India there was the goddess of motherhood Sashti (otherwise Sasti), who was depicted as a woman with a child in her arms and was considered the guardian of the hearth. Her wahana was a cat. In Bengal and Western India, there is a legend about a black cat, which is also associated with the goddess Sashti.

The Persian historian At-Tabari recorded a legend according to which the Creator, when creating the Universe, created rats, but forgot to create cats. But he had to fix it when, during the Flood, rats began to gnaw a hole in the bottom. noah's ark. Noah stroked the lion's back, the lion sneezed, and a couple of cats popped out of his nostrils. This legend was widespread in the region. There is a Persian proverb that says: "The lion sneezed and the cat appeared." A similar legend also explains the origin of the Van cat and the Van color in cats.

Islam. In Islam, there are many traditions that are associated with cats. Some of them were included in the collections of hadiths. According to one of them, cats are highly revered in Islam, since the cat of his companion Abu Hurairah (his name literally translates as “Father of Cats”) saved the main Muslim prophet Muhammad from a snake bite. In Islam, it is considered praiseworthy to give milk to cats. According to one of the legends, the Prophet Muhammad had a odd-eyed white cat. Another legend tells that once the Prophet Muhammad, after the end of the prayer, found that his beloved cat Moussa (Muetsa) fell asleep on the sleeve of a robe folded next to him. Muhammad chose to cut off a piece from his sleeve so as not to disturb Musa's sleep. In other cases, if the cat slept on the clothes, Muhammad would choose something else from his wardrobe. Cats are the only animals allowed to enter the mosque.

Veles is one of the central deities in Slavic mythology. A faithful companion of Veles, his sacred animal is a furry cat. It is believed that cat - Zver Velesov. In the mythology of Ancient Rus', the cat acted both as a creator and as a destroyer. One of the main directions of its activity is the preservation of the hearth. But that's not all - the Russian cat is also a guide to the other world.

In Russian fairy tales, largely derived from Old Slavonic myths, a cat is one of the main characters, and perhaps the most intelligent animal. The well-known himself composed fairy tales, had a unique voice (heard for seven miles), could with his songs both enchant to death and cure diseases. Although Pushkin Cat Scientist walks left and right, in Russian mythology he walks up and down. And not on wood, but on an iron pole. Until now, the Scientific Cat can be seen in various parts of Russia. In Kungur, for example, it is made of wood, like the chain on which it walks.

In Slavic mythology (or Underground Cat) guards treasures. Bazhov's tales tell about the beliefs of the Ural gold miners, in which the Earth Cat guards underground riches - ores and minerals. A cat lives underground, sometimes you can only notice its ears ... In the book by V.I. Dahl "Proverbs of the Russian people", published in 1853, there are more than 70 proverbs about cats.

And in more later times cats were not forgotten by the people. One of the most popular heroes of the Russian popular print was the Cat of Kazan. In the collections of many museums, popular prints have been preserved, which depict a strange cat with large ears and bulging eyes, signed as Kazan cat. There are many interpretations of the plot of the popular print about the Cat of Kazan, according to some versions, Peter I himself plays the role of the cat. In Kazan, a monument was erected to the famous cat.