My impressions
She has been with me always, in a way. For most of my life, I considered myself atheist, for reasons I couldn't quite grasp - in retrospect, I think it was because the Christian world around me focused on a "male" divinity, and that didn't sit well with me. (It wasn't until I got involved with paganism a in 2004 that I realized that a female presence was what I needed, or had - Wiccan duality didn't fit either.)
Through-out my childhood, my imaginary guardian and friend was a feline creature - a mix between a lioness and a woman, but not in a traditional kemetic way. She was a comfort, and I frequently drew Her, or saw Her rush through the woods by our car. Today, I think I know Who it was. ;)
It was my firm belief that Bast was the one Who brought me to paganism and then kemetism, and finally the House of Netjer. I was, however, terribly afraid Her mission ended there, and that She would not step up and claim me as Hers. I was quite terrified of the thought that, as previously mentioned, I'd be the daughter of a male netjer (which I felt awkward about) or dual-parented by both a netjer and a netjert (didn't work either).
It was a big relief to hear that She was, indeed, my Mother. In the words of Banu, She is a velvet paw upon my ka. I feel Her as a quiet and stealthy presence - always around, but not very chatty. And I don't mind that - She knows that's what I enjoy. I think a more in-your-face Name would be a terrible clash with my whole person.
But She is also joy - laughter, the sound of rustling leaves or wind chimes, the rhythm of music, the scent of flowers, the feeling of a soft cat against your skin, the beauty of a quiet evening or day curled up in daydreams.
I'm not a person who gets magnificent visions or revelations - rather, little feelings and subtle hints are what make me think Netjer wants something. Thus, I've never had Bast "appear" to me, but I imagine Her to be that peculiar mix of human and feline, specifically a woman with fur covering Her body, with a tail and pointy cat ears (Her fur is mainly grey, with some white and black). Her eyes are the eyes of a cat, big and light green or pale yellow, and She dresses in long, flowing gowns of sheer white fabrics with hints of pale green, and She wears copper rings, bracelets and necklaces. Sometimes I can "see" a small black cat (think Egyptian Mau) run past just outside my range of vision, and when I was younger, I imagined Her cat-humanoid form to have lion-ish fur rather than grey.
I imagine She would appreciate devotional acts such as working at animal shelters (especially with cats), doing jury duty, and supporting causes relating to women and children, along with smaller things such as dancing and singing more, even if it's just in private.
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