Shamanic Cat

Sabertooth's Pride

The concept of the animal within is no longer farfetched. All mammals share much of the same genome and humans are closer to cats than was formerly thought. Can we tap into it? The cat? The lion? Can we shift? Can we call upon the tiger totem? Just where do we merge into the cat?

We of The Pride are part of Arkadia: where the wild things are. If part of you is some sort of cat, then this is your territory to explore.

The Beast Within

     Humanity has a long history of identification with the animal. The evidence for such identification has been found on cave walls where human figures were depicted with animal heads. Much of this has to do with hunting magick: we basically drew pictures of numerous plump animals we hoped to kill and eat. Most of the cave paintings are of bison, horses, deer, mammoths, and other herd beasts that our ancestors relied on for food. Still other animals were used as totems of strength and skill. Cave lions, wolves, and bears were also rendered as either petroglyphs or carvings.
     Going from prehistorical times into recorded history, animals appear consistantly as totems and gods. Magicians and witches are able to shift into a variety of beasts. The gods also punish mortals by giving them animal form.
     In Greek mythology alone, Artemis transforms the man who witnessed her bathing into a stag and he is torn apart by his own hunting hounds. Zeus punishes Lyceon (who served a cannibalistic feast) by transforming him into a wolf. Io, Zeus' lover, becomes a white heifer and is chased all the way to Egypt by Hera's gadflies. And still others are punished by being transformed into wolves, lions, or serpents.
     In the Bible, the serpent originally walks upright. After interfering with Adam and Eve, the serpent is punished by being forced to move on his belly and eat dust.
     In Native American mythologies, there is a reoccurring theme of strange warriors taking brides of the local tribe. Usually this bride discovers that her husband is actually an eagle, buffalo, feathered serpent, or some other creature with incredible powers. This marriage into the tribe by the shapeshifter celebrates the tribe's totem animal and honors the pact between hunter and prey. The union of human and animal is at the heart of these myths. That the tribe could not see the stranger's "otherness" is a testimony to how intergrated the stranger is with his beast nature. His beast nature is only discovered by a very intimate relationship with his bride. How she reacts to this revelation varies from tribe to tribe.
     Virtually all cultures start out with a shamanic aspect. We lived close to nature - at its mercy - and the shaman could use the natural forces to benefit the tribe. This entailed getting into the skin of the animals as well as attuning one's self to the earth, tides, and moon. Animals were the psychopomps into the dream realms, leading the shaman into visions of hope or impending doom. It was only by emergence into the animal state that the shaman could tap into the primordeal powers. To lose the human aspect blocking this access, shamans would fast, inflict pain upon themselves, or consume mind-altering substances. Once such a rapport was established, a shaman would never be just another tribe member again. The experience would have made the shaman more than human, both beast and man, touched by the gods, and walker in dreams.
     Animal metaphors - the strong bear, the majestic lion, the fleet stag - have become part of our psyche in how we perceive these creatures today. We describe ourselves with animal metaphors to take on the aspect of a particular animal. Is it any wonder that so many heroes from mythology to modern times have identified themselves with animals? ( I did an article on Lion Warriors some months ago and discovered that I had only scratched the surface of that particular identification.) Many sports teams choose animal names and logos, but the animal identification is usually that of a powerful animal or city bird. You most likely won't see the Jersey City Gerbils or Buffalo Bunnies any time soon.
     Many people today say casually "I'm a cat person" or "I'm a dog person." On the surface, these people are merely stating their preferred pet. Actually, these are also the animals to which there is a sense of kinship. Socially, the human feels more comfortable with a certain species of pet. Having said that, we go a step further. The pet becomes the "baby" of the household and all sorts of attention is lavished upon the pet. In many households, the pet is the center of attention. In the USA alone, we spend more on pet food and pet products than on items for our children! There's an old joke that pets look like their owners or visa versa. While these enthusiastic pet-owners are not weres by any stretch of the imagination, I've seen folk take on behaviors from their pets, often reflecting the same temperments or grooming habits!

CAT SHAMANISM

Throughout history feline icons have inspired us. The earliest therianthropic cave art depicts a cat-headed shaman. Cats have been our hunters, our pets, our gods, our demons, our adversaries, and our beloved companions. Cats are a study of extremes as well. They are viewed as both cool and calculating as well as wild and passionate, playful and cuddly as well as vicious and aloof. Few people are neutral about cats; they usually love 'em or hate 'em.

How we view felines and what they suggest to our unconscious is a major factor for the therianthrope or the shaman. The physical animal may not possess all the qualities we attribute to it, yet this is the iconic beast we identify with and merge into. In this aspect, the cat is our altered state. The shift from human to feline varies with individuals, but the feeling that something wild lurks just under the surface is universal for the members of Sabertooth's Pride.

Many heroes and leaders throughout history have used a feline (often a lion) as their totemic animal or symbol.

Yule and The Lynx Shaman

The lynx is an ancient totem of the northern, forested climes. Like the bobcat, the lynx are listeners. Unlike the bobcat, they won't go out of their way to get information. Also, the intelligence they gather isn't necessarily of our world. Lynx possess a great store of occult knowledge which they acquire quite naturally. They slink easily from the physical world into the Shadow World without any fuss about it. Lynxes are used to ghosts, spirits, and elementals as a matter of course. They could be deep in thought or maybe in communication with something Unseen. Lynx are often taken into confidence for they can be trusted with secrets.

I am ice - locked in cold clear stasis. I contemplate the Isa (ice) rune of the Northmen as I watch from my diamond hard surroundings, aware but not participating. So simple to carve that rune with a single claw mark! Are my surroundings a prison or a haven? What is around me? I look at the world moving in the darkest part of the year. Yet it is the world beyond and within that has my attention.

Yule is a time of ghosts. They spread like smoke against the grey sky. They visit hearths and the hearts of the living, coming to mind more and more as families gather for their celebrations. They are remembered; often, they are missed. For the departed spirits, the cold December becomes a little bit warmer.

Elemental spirits skate along the surfaces of frozen lakes and howl in the cold winter wind, or lie dormant in the trees and earth as they wait for the sun. In this dark and haunted time of year, ice holds sway. Only one element challenges its sovereignty: Fire.

Fire is life. It's the blaze of the fireplace, the electric lights gleaming in the darkness, the heat of our cooking, and the bundled up warmth of humans as they brave the cold. Fire is the passion in the night, defying cold and sleep for joyous expressions of love and lust. Fire competes with ice. As long as there is life left, fire wins. The alternative is freezing to death or being locked in mute inaction forever. How boring!

The rune Sowelu (the sun) springs to mind. Sowelu represents wholeness, self-knowledge, and re-newal. The solstice marks the day of least sun, when the night and cold have sway over our land and hearts. Yet much of the world celebrates with light and warmth for the return of the sun. Fire melts ice.

That's it. One day. One day that is the darkest day of the year, then the wheel turns and each day after it gets brighter until the summer solstice. All this change in one day.

Abandoning Isa, I look within and face my inner darkness with a welcoming growl. New self-awareness assures me that I can defeat any of my personal demons and conquer new vistas. I break my stillness and plunge over the snowy ground, my paws like snow-shoes. As I race through the cold with the wind in my fur, I feel the inner fires kicking in. I was the night; I am the sun; I was ice; I am fire. I am woman and I am lynx, racing as one beneath the moon of the darkest night of the year. We don't care.

We can see in the dark.

Barbarian Werecat Wicca

We live in a magickal world with supernatural creatures as well as actual. How we interact with the paranormal, whether we are blind to the paranormal or seek it out, shapes who and what we are. As werecats we are part of this oft-invisible world and as barbarians we will not fear to explore it!

We are all animals and dependent on other animals for our lives. Whenever we feast on meat, we give thanks to the animal, which provided it. When we hunt, we do so only for need and never for sport. If we wear fur, we think of the animal that provided the fur with reverence. We will never be cruel to animals for the sake of cruelty.

Barbarians are polite. In ancient days, one observed politeness and the laws of hospitality or you had your head put on a pike. Unless some dolt demands our wrath, we are courteous. However, we will never turn the other cheek if attacked or our loved ones threatened. Any pissing contest instigated will end badly for the challenger.

Magick is a tool but not a crutch. Barbarian WereCat Wicca is a philosophy and lifestyle more than a do-it-yourself magic book. When we tap into the magickal aspects of this world and bend it to our will, it is part of our nature as magickal beings. Magick should never be depended upon as your sole means to an end.

Family – either actual or the people who we hold close – are vital parts of our existence, who we are, and our motivators for where we are going. We cherish our loved ones both corporeal and those who have gone before us. What we do today should be the stuff of legends for the next generation.

Mates are for life. Your mate should be your best friend, your passionate lover, and the one you wish to share your entire life. In Barbarian Werecat Wicca, we hold our mates dear and are always considerate of each other’s needs. If you aren’t ready to commit to a monogamous, loving relationship then you apparently haven’t found your mate.

Heroic icons and totems can inspire us to greatness. We will explore what is heroic and iconic in us and use it for our betterment. At the same time, we will explore those darker paths within and exorcise whatever demons hold us back. We will face our inner demons fearlessly, with a fighting snarl on our lips!

We will not waste our time with psychic vampires, defeatists, and downright stupid people. And unless they push it, we will leave them behind us without using the energy of hating them. Some folk are not worth it.

We don’t discriminate for gender, sexual preference, or race. We are unimpressed by suits and dress codes. Individuals are judged by their merits and our gut reaction. If we like you, we like you. If we think you’re a jerk, then you’re a jerk. Very simple. As individuals we have our own preferences and that’s a matter of taste. If your pheromones suck, too bad. We refuse to be politically correct about anything and that’s our right as Barbarians. Deal with it.

Your word is your bond. Be honorable in all things with your friends and families or people you wish to deal honorably with you.

Cats are the finest creatures on the planet. We are one with the Cat. Our tribal identity, our totems, is feline totems. When I look within, the eyes of a cat look back at me.

No one can tame us, no one can dominate us, and nobody can make us feel less than we are unless we allow it. We will be slaves to nobody. Our wills are strong and made stronger with purpose.

We will protect children from harm and take care of our elderly.

We will be proud of our accomplishments and learn from our defeats.

We will be tolerant of other belief systems as a matter of courtesy. Once they start ranking on us, they’re fair game. According to Thaar, our religion is the only true religion and the others are poor deluded fools anyway...

Do you dream of stalking on four legs? Can you feel the wind in your fur and the panic of some herbivore as you pounce upon it? Or do you lazily muse about how nice it would be to find a soft cushion by the fire? What is your connection to your inner cat? Take some time to see if you are a Primordial, a Roar, or a Purr!

All text content and research on Sabertooth's Pride and the SP linked sites were created by Muninn of Hercules Invictus unless otherwise credited.

Larger Than Life Living in the World Today
(c) 2007 Hercules Invictus