CAT HISTORY


For thousands of years, cats have been regarded as mysterious creatures with 
supernatural powers. These beliefs certainly did not disappear during the 
European witch-craze. The witch trials started in the 13th century. People began 
to believe that witches had the ability to turn into an animal, usually a hare 
or a cat, in order to transport themselves to a sabbat (a midnight meeting) 
presided over by the Devil. The idea of familiar spirits soon developed. These 
were imps or minor demons who took the form of any small animal, from a hedgehog 
to a toad. A familiar acted as an intermediary for the witch, carrying out her 
orders so that she wouldn't have to be at the scene of the crime when the evil 
deed was done. A witch's cat came to be called a "grimalkin". The Scottish 
goddess of witches was called "Mither o' the Mawkins", a mawkin or malkin being 
either a cat or a hare. Originally a gremalkin was a gray cat. Later the term 
came to refer to the "pussies" or "catkins" on a pussy willow, as well as to the 
witch's cat. * Some of the above info from John Richard Stephens, author of "The 
Enchanted Cat"

Cat Folklore and Magic

Cats have been sacred to more than one religion, and at different times and 
places have been considered both good and bad luck-bringers. The Egyptian 
goddess Bast was both lion-headed and cat-headed and attended by cats and 
therefore cats were sacred and revered in Egypt; killing one was a heinous 
crime, and when a household cat died mourning rites were performed for it. 
Cats were often found in temples and were ritually fed; stray cats were treated 
with honor and fed, and the household cat was allowed to share the family's 
food. Cat amulets were produced and elaborate cat-sized sarcophagi crafted for 
cats who had died, who were often embalmed ashumans were. Followers of the 
goddess Diana also considered the cat sacred because she once assumed the form 
of a cat, and cats were under her special protection. In Scandinavia, Freya's 
chariot was drawn by cats. The Celtic goddess Cerridwen was also attended by 
white cats, who carried out her orders on earth.

Cat Dream Interpretations

To dream of a black cat is lucky.
To dream of a tortoiseshell cat means luck in love.
To dream of a ginger cat means luck in money and business.
To dream of a white cat means luck in, spiritual matters, divination and spell-
craft.
To dream of a black-and-white cat means luck with children; or the birth of a 
child.
To dream of a tabby cat means luck for the home and all who live there.
To dream of a gray cat means to be guided by your dreams.
To dream of a calico or multi-colored cat means luck with new friends and old 
ones.
A dream of two cats fighting means illness or a quarrel.

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Cat Blessing
You will need :
Gold candle(For the God/dess)
A cat figure candle for each cat ( or just a white one)
Catnip Toy (homemade is best)
Incense/smudge and,
of course, your cat.

Light the incense/smudge and place the candles in the center of the altar. Cast 
your circle. Light the gold candle and invoke the Horned God:

"O Great Horned God, keeper of all things wild, I invoke thee, and invite thee, 
into this circle."

Light the cat / white candle and then, holding your cat, kneel before the altar 
and recite the following prayer:

"O Great Horned God,
Father of the woodlands
And loving lord of all creatures
That walk crawl, swim and fly
A threefold blessing I humbly ask
Of thee on this special day:
May this cat's life be a long
Happy and healthy one.
May she/he always receive
Your divine protection.
And when our incarnations
In this world cease to be
May we forever be reunited
In the great Pagan otherworld
Known as the Summerland.
Blessed be!"

After the blessing has been recited, gaze into the flame of the gold candle and 
chant three times the name of your cat with the words "Blessed Be". End with the 
burning of a sweet incense like Sweetgrass to please the spirits. You can also 
cleanse & consecrate a collar for your cat, if you would like him/her cat to 
wear one, you can add a pentacle as well.

Kiss your kitty and set him/her down, present your cat with the Catnip toy, you 
can make one easily by adding drip Catnip to an old stocking and tying off. This 
Catnip offering will create a psychic bond between you & your cat. You can also 
burn some Catnip and watch how CRAZY your cat gets (good crazy). Give thanks to 
the Horned God in your own way and close the circle.


(((WHAT SHOULD I NAME THE BABY???)))
http://www.4link.net/~ingram/magicat.htm
A Guide to Unique Names for Your Mysterious Feline Friend, Collected
from the Mythologies of Various World Cultures