A mystical insight into the cat as a power animal.
A mystical insight into the cat as a power animal.
Paganism & neo-paganism, Witchcraft
There is no middle ground with cats – we either love them or loathe them – but the cat adopted as a power animal represents independence, cunning, dexterity, agility, sensuality, inscrutability and ferocity. And whether the great wild hunter of forests, deserts or grasslands, or an ordinary domestic tabby, they are beautiful creatures. Some would dismiss them as merely killing machines, but we only have to look at the history of their evolution alongside mankind to realise there is nothing on this planet quite like them.
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This book examines the uneasy relationship we have with cats, which people either love or hate. It begins with the primeval ancestors of the modern domestic cat 11 million years ago and the magical lore of the 'big cats' such as lions, tigers, panthers, pumas and lynx. Other chapters deal with the sacred cat cult of Ancient Egypt, the domestic moggie, feline superstitions and the astrological significance of cats. ~ BM Cauldron, BM Cauldron
This is a great book for witches wanting to explore using cat power in their workings and it will also appeal to those with an interest in history, folklore and symbolism. We are taken on a journey through the cat's long history from Egypt and Persia through the witchcraft trails to present day. It is easy to see why the cat has always had strong links with witchcraft and magic. Martha Gray goes into great detail with not only the domestic feline but also the big cats like lions, tigers, and lynx. Providing the reader with their history, mythology and magical associations. There are also plenty of practical exercises within the book to help connect with these magical feline energies. ~ Sunchylde DryadMoon, Kitchen Witch School of Witchcraft
Witches and cats go together like fish and chips, don't they? Mind you, whenever I have fish and chips my cats do their best to not only separate the fish from the chips, but me from my supper too! But that's digressing. The typical image most people have of a witch is a woman - probably dressed in black - with a cat - probably also black. A new book called Pagan Portals - Grimalkyn, The Witch's Cat: Power Animals in Traditional Magicby Martha Gray looks at the historical and magical connections between witches and their feline friends and familiars. Grimalkyn: The Witch's Cat is a mine of information about cats. It goes into detail about superstitions and folklore, the nature of different breeds, the background of the domesticated animal's long relationship with humans and the magical association between witches and cats. The book also includes a selection of cat-related spells, including herbal recipes that use plants associated with them such as tiger lily, catnip and cat's tail. ~ Lucya, http://www.badwitch.co.uk/
According to Wikipedia, a power animal is a broadly animistic and shamanic concept that has entered the English language from anthropology, ethnography and sociology; and generally refers to a tutelary spirit guide that helps or protects individuals or groups. Traditional witchcraft tends to have its roots in both shamanic practice and the animistic belief that everything possesses a spirit-energy than connects us to the Divine Spirit. In this context, a power (or totem) animal acts as an individual’s guide and/or guardian for both the spiritual and temporal worlds; in some cases it may also impart the animal attributes of its species to a person under its protection. In many cases, we tend to think of the power animal as a creature of the wild and as a result, often tend to overlook those animals that live in close proximity to us and often share our lives – our pets who already provide us with physical and emotional benefits. Cats are now the most popular of domestic pets and yet even the most placid and complacent family tabby is only a whisker away from the wild; a genetic study concluding that domestic cats are descended from African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) from around c.8000 BC. In Grimalkyn: The Witch’s Cat, Martha Gray has charted this progress in magical and mystical terms and reveals how we are able to draw upon this power and enhance our magical workings by harnessing this elusive feline energy. By understanding the evolution of the cat family, she shows how we can utilise the level of ‘cat power’ needed to cure a headache, or walk the death-path having been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The cat adopted as a power-animal represents independence, cunning, dexterity, agility, sensuality, inscrutability and ferocity – energies that can be extremely useful within the magic circle. ~ Carys Llewellyn, amazon
