Meryw nyw Bast

Join with Bast.
Remember your roots and share her fearless joy.

Come with Bast.
Inhabit your body and savor her secret grace.

Dance with Bast and live.
©Copyright 1998 Melissa Oringer.

©Copyright 1999 Leslie Orchard for the Temple of Bast Image.

The group "officially" formed in 2000. The script has evolved and changed, as have some of its members, but the overall premise of the group remains true when it originally formed: to celebrate Bast and to give back to the commnity by helping Bast's children by collecting money to donate to cat rescue organizations in the Bay Area.

Meryw nyw Bast has helped raised over $1500 for various local cat organizations in the Bay Area during it's eight year run at PantheaCon.

• February 2006—raises $284.00 for Nike Animal Rescue Foundation
• February 2005—raises $175.00 for Cat Animal Rescue
• FFebruary 2004—we take a break from doing the Bast Ritual
• February 2003—we raise about $250.00 at PantheaCon
• February 2002—we raise about $175.00
• February 2001—raises $250.00 for local cat rescue organizations.
• August 2000—Meryw nwy Bast performs at MUSE Camp 200, and was able to raise $75.00 for The Mountain Lion Foundation
• February 2000—our second ritual raises about $200.00
• February 1999—our first ritual raises about $120 for Island Cat Rescue.

Ancient Egyptian (Kemetic) rites are combined with modern neo-pagan practices to bring a joyful ritual to the public with dance, music, in order to celebrate Bast.

• Mery means Beloved
• -w is the plural
• nyw means the plural form of "of"



• Bast is a Netjer whose progeny were cats. She is much more than just a goddess of cats, being also protector to women and children, and fierce protector of the Pharoah himself. She was feared. In later periods, she was associated with Hathor/HwtHrw who softened this wildcat's image to a more domesticated feline. As such, Bast is also associated with music and dance.