Cat Magick: Harness the Powers of Felines through History, Behaviors, and Familiars

by Rieka Moonsong

Explore the magical qualities of our feline friends through history, folklore, and myths with Cat Magick .

Follow along with practicing witch Rieka Moonsong as she instructs you on how to attract and identify a familiar. With two feline familiars of her own, Rieka delves
 
Cat Magick dives into the history of cats, myths, and folklore, specifically some of the myths surrounding black cats. With special features that are distinct to each type of cat, this helpful guide   provides a new set of rituals and spells! Discover magick work for shorthair, purebred cats, and big cats like tigers, lions, panthers! Some of the spells and rituals  
 
Find and connect with your feline familiar through spells and rituals guided by a seasoned practitioner. 

Genres: Cats, Animals, Witchcraft, Spirituality, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

Published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Cat Magick is a fun, informative and beautifully illustrated book perfect for anyone interested in magic and cats especially. I found so much of this book interesting and couldn't get enough of the artwork! It's truly stunning throughout! The book starts out explaining how humans began worshipping and loving cats and how God's and goddesses in cat form were brought to be. The book helps you channel your felines and magic within your life and in such a fun and beautiful way. This would make such a gorgeous present for any cat lover! Definitely worth a read.

[Shel Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a joy to read! Lots of good information, guidance and beautifully illustrated.

[Dorian Jandreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaip neperskaityti knygos apie kates kai jas taip myliu. Ši knyga yra magiją ir darbą su katėmis. Ne tik mūsų mažosiomis, kurios gyvena namuose, bet ir didžiosiomis katėmis. Knygoje gausu ritualų ir burtų susijusių su tavo kate.

Autorė papasakoja apie dievybes susijusias su katėmis. Kai kurių tikrai nežinojau, tad pasisėmiau žinių iš šios knygos. Taip pat knygoje pateikiamas folkloras ir net prietarai susiję su katėmis bei papasakojama trumpai apie kačių persekiojimą tais laikais, kai degino raganas....

Daugiausia knygos užima apie kates kaip raganų familiarus ir sielos gidus. Rašoma apie tai, kad familiaras gali būti tiek fizine būtybe, tiek dvasia. Ir nors knygoje sakoma, kad familiaras būna tik vienas, aš tuo netikiu. Turiu dvi kates, kurios abi yra mano familiarai. Autorė net papasakoja apie savo familiaro reinkarnacijos istoriją. Mano katės taip pat reinkarnavosi ir atpažino savo daiktus, žaislus, loveles, net ėda tą patį maistą.

Toliau autorė pasakoja apie didžiąsias kates ir kaip dirbti su jų energija. O gale knygos pateikiamos correspondences. Ir net ką reiškia katės kailiuko spalva ir kaip panaudoti katės kailį, nagus, dantis ir net ūsus magijoje. Žinoma negalima imti jų tiesiai nuo katės, galima naudoti tik radus pamestus kur nors kambaryje. Taip pat knygoje pasakojama apie kates ir jų gydymo galias.

Knyga man iš tikrųjų patiko, ji buvo informatyvi, o informacija pateikta glaustai ir paprastai. Nežinau, kodėl žmonės Goodreads vertina ją blogai. Tai tikrai gera knyga pradėti dirbti su kačių energija.

[samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for cat lovers and witches alike!
In Cat Magick we learn about the history of human's love and worship for cats, different cat goddess's and gods, and how to incorporate feline magic into your life.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as someone who loves cats and has one who she considers her partner in crime, I recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel even more in touch with themselves and their furry friend.
And I can't forget to mention the wonderful artwork displayed throughout this book, it's enchanting and beautiful.

[S.J. Reisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing about this ebook is it's beautifully formatted. The second thing is not only is the cover spectacular, but the artwork is a true joy to look at. The third is that it is a wonderful read. As a witch, and cat lover, this book spoke to me on many levels. I loved the invocation to the goddess Bastet and the invocation to Freya's battle cats. While the artwork alone is reason to get this book, the invocations and rituals are sound and charming. The book also contains a great deal of solid information on the history of cats in spirituality. While I'm glad to have experienced the ebook, this is definitely one you might want in paperback or hardcover, and it would make a great coffee table book as well and a great gift for the cat-loving witches (or even the spiritually open-minded cat lovers) in your life. . It has enough information to help beginners, and enough information to delight the more experienced witch, as well. Overall, just a fun and insightful book in how to incorporate your feline friends into your everyday magickal life.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! This was a fun and whimsical book about how to tap into feline energy. As a cat mom and a lover of big cats since childhood, this book was right up my alley. I used to pretend to be a black panther as a child, acting like a cat all through my teenage years. So this book truly resonated with my soul. It was beautifully written and the imagery was out of this world. The spells were excellent and I've already begun to utilize some of them. I highly recommend this book! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Drue McKelvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels so forced and it barely scratches the surface of the topic. It reads like a high school essay. This book is very repetitive and could have been condensed down to an average length blog post. It feels like the author briefly googled a handful of things relating to the topic and jotted down her interpretation of what she read. Does not feel well-researched and is not written with much sophistication. Needs a lot of improvement. You’re better off researching the topics of this book on your own.

[Mau Coco · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good book and my opinion of the author went downhill after finding out that she allows rampant racism and Islamophobia in her social media accounts despite having been tagged and dm’d about it. Instead of taking them down, she blocked the ppl tagging and dming her so that shows me that she agreed with them. That’s fine, she showed how low vibrational she is and that no one should be taking her advice on anything spiritual.

[Trauermaerchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's start by saying that my cat hates this book. Do with that information what you will.

Let's start with some positive aspects – I appreciated the historical aspects this talked about, I actually found those very interesting. It talks about a couple of different cultures and time periods which I enjoyed. I was surprised that the author actually acknowledges that the concept of "magic" she uses is not primarily a Western one / doesn't try to take credit for them. Within the book, at least. In the author description she calls herself a shaman which for a white western woman ...

I also appreciated the craftsmanship of this book – the illustrations are very pretty.

Now, the religious aspects for this I personally didn't care for – I wouldn't have picked this up if it hadn't been a gift but that's not the fault of the book. If you personally believe in it or just find it interesting, I'm sure you could find some value in this. I may be a tarot girly™ (emotionally) but I don't think I'll ever be a spells and prayers one.

My main issue with this book is that while I don't think it was done intentionally, it quickly fell back into bioessentialism and gender binary. It does break some stuff up towards the end but "divine male energy" and "divine female energy" gave me a massive ick because it heavily leans into right wing talking points. Again, I do think this tried to go for a feminist lense but the execution was not it. (I'm not accusing the author of being a TERF because she doesn't talk about it at all but the way she talks about gender... eh. At the very least it's a very unreflected perspective.)

Lastly, I looked through her sources and they were very mixed in validity. Again, do with that what you will. The actually historical aspects seemed to have decent sources just based on one look though.

[Malin ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

❥ 4 stars ☆

❝If this book has found its way to you, there may be a feline familiar that is working on your behalf. Perhaps you have been curious about what kind of magick a cat can bring into your life.❞

I’m a cat lover and a cat mama of my silver shaded Persian cat Pika, who is also interested in magic and witchcraft, and that’s why I wanted to read this book.

This book is worth reading if you love cats, even if you are not interested in magic and witchcraft. It tells you the history of cats, along with folklore and myths about them.

I learned some new things that I have written down to save, even if I also knew a lot of the info about cats and witchcraft that was shared. I ignored most of the rituals since they weren’t relevant to me.

You will see many cute illustrated cats throughout the book, and it has a ‘witchy’ look to it. It would definitely be a cute gift for someone who loves cats, witchcraft and/or magic!

❝While it might be said that we domesticated cats, make no mistake, they choose to work alongside us and allow us into their lives.❞

❝According to the Egyptian culture, a cat represents Ra, the Sun god, and the benefits of the Sun for life on Earth. Bast or Bastet is one of the most widely known Egyptian cat deities, and was the goddess of cats themselves, and later took the form of a smaller cat. Domestic cats are seen as a living incarnation of the goddess. She protects the home, women, and children, and ensures that the mice and rats stay away. Mafdet, Sekhmet are two other cat deities.❞

❝India and China also have feline fertility goddesses. In India there is Shashti, and in China there is Li Shou. According to the Chinese creation myth cats were appointed by the gods to oversee everything, ensuring that all things went smoothly.❞

❝There are too many myths, legends, and folklore about felines across the globe to count. The most prevalent include “touch not the cat”. It was believed that misfortune would befall anyone who deliberately harmed a cat. Many folklore stories attribute luck and good fortune to cats.❞

Cats have been linked to gods and goddesses in different cultures for centuries.

❝Cats became linked with witches around the time of the Middle Ages.❞

❝With the sleek and cunning nature of the cat, their ancient connection to goddess energy, the moon, and magick, their ability to peer beyond the veil and be keenly aware of their environment, it is no wonder they became tied to witches and witchcraft.❞

❝The cat is unapologetically independent. Domestic cats are small, yet fierce. They represent curiosity, which was frowned upon during the rise of Christianity.❞

❝There are also significant writings and superstitions stating that witches shape-shift into cats. One such belief says that the reason a cat has nine lives is because of the witch’s ability to turn into a cat eight times but on the ninth, the witch will remain a cat for the duration of her life.❞

❝Cats are a symbol of the wild feminine/Divine Feminine through their association with goddess energy.❞

❝Whether a messenger, guide, or familiar, if a cat graces us with their presence, we should indeed feel honoured and pay close attention to what they have to say.❞

❝Thousands of people across the globe have witnessed their cat get up randomly and stare at nothing. Why is this? Simply put, they are beings that can peer beyond the veil and into other realms. While other animals have the ability to see and feel energies, they do not compare to the cat.❞

❝Our familiars teach us to believe in ourselves, our power, our intuition, and our ability to send and receive messages.❞

❝A feline familiar will also help you (their witch) keep your (their) energetic field clear.❞

❝Cats take protecting their territory seriously, so they do a wonderful job of keeping dark entities or negative spirits away from the home.❞

❝If you are lucky enough to find shed items from your cat, be sure to keep them, as they hold powerful magick.❞

Cats have also been linked to witches, witchcraft and magic for many centuries.

❝Our feline familiars teach us about boundaries, how to set them and how to maintain them. If a cat does not want to be touched, they will let you know. If you continue to try to push their boundaries, they will attack. They teach us that independence is important but that it is also okay to be taken care of and to receive love. Your cat will show you that there is a time for play, a time to hunt, and a need to rest and that a catnap is never a bad thing!❞

Boundaries and consent are so important for cats and for humans! When someone says they don’t like cats... Consider this and what they may actually be telling you.

🐈‍⬛ Black cats: The color black typically corresponds to protection, the night, the occult, and magick. Black cats excel at protection and keeping negative entities and energies away. These cats are known for being “witch cats.” They are powerhouses when it comes to lending energy as a familiar. Because of their black fur, they are masters at blending into the shadows.

🐈 Red/Orange/Yellow Cats: These colors represent vitality and correspond to Sun and Mars energy. Regardless of the sex of the feline, they might exude a more masculine energy because their colouring aligns with the Divine Masculine.

🐈‍⬛ Blue Gray/Smoky Cats: Gray is a variance of silver and, as such, corresponds to the Divine Feminine and goddess energy. Because this color is a mixture, the cats hold the energy of balance. It is also a shadow color and represents the “in between.”

🐈 White Cats: White is the color of healing and a feline of this color excels at it. It also represents purity. White aligns with lunar energies. White cats have long symbolized spiritual enlightenment or rebirth.

🐈‍⬛ Brown Cats: Solid brown cats are more rare than other colourings. Brown represents Earth energy.

🐈 Color Point (Siamese) Cats: These cats are considered “royal cats” by many. They represent luxury (wealth and prosperity), power, and wise leadership.

🐈‍⬛ Persian Cats: Like Siamese cats, Persian cats represent wealth and prosperity. They also hold the energy of comfort, good luck, and good fortune. They have been known to be popular cats around business for this reason.

🐈 Calico (Tricolor) Cats: The traditional colouring of white, red, and black represents the three aspects of the goddess: the maiden (white), the mother (red for blood), and the crone (black for wisdom and magick). These cats hold the energy of all three colors. They are known to be powerful and highly intuitive. They make excellent messengers of the goddess.

🐈‍⬛ Two-Tone or Tuxedo Cats: This cat color is all about balance, as it holds both black and white cat energies. These cats also carry a little bit of mischief, urging us to keep the work/play balance in our lives.

🐈 Tortoiseshell Cats: Because this color pattern is (almost) only inherited by females, tortoiseshell cats are all about women’s magick. They are the goddess, the Divine Feminine. They are highly clairvoyant and are protectors of children.

🐈‍⬛ Tabby Cats: These cats tend to be social and adventurous. Indigenous Peoples believe that tabby cats are the keepers of the Universe’s secrets and hold great wisdom. They also hold the energy of change and transformation.

It’s very fun to know about different cats’ colours and breeds, and what they can mean and represent. I already knew some of this, for example about Persians since I have one myself.

Persians are also seen as royal cats and French royals had Persians back in the day because it was their favourite cat, and it later also became popular for the British royal family. It’s no surprise to me why they would be seen as royal cats as Persians have a very special look, and they have a very calm temperament so it would suit them to lounge around in a palace all day and they wouldn’t make a mess anywhere.

❝Our little balls of fur have plenty of medicine to offer all on their own. They are the ultimate Zen masters. They live utterly in the moment, eating when they’re hungry, sleeping when they’re tired, and playing whenever the urge arises.❞

❝Cats know when their human needs healing. How often have you had a rough day at work and once you’re home, your cat is winding around your leg and acting extra needy? They are acknowledging that they feel your stress. This simple touch is the cat sharing their auric field with you. Once you sit down and try to relax, they climb onto your chest and start to purr. They are now sharing the stress-relieving and healing vibrations that a cat’s purr holds.❞

❝A cat’s purr ranges from 25 to 150 Hertz, a frequency range that has been shown to improve bone density, promote muscle and tissue health, and boost overall healing. This frequency is also known to help heal broken bones, improve joint health, and facilitate wound healing. If you experience dyspnoea or shortness of breath, a cat’s purr may help with this.❞

❝Studies also show that a cat’s purr effectively reduce blood pressure and stress. Because the healing frequency can help repair tissue damage and lower blood pressure, otherwise healthy cat adoptees have a 40 percent less risk of heart attack than those without a cat.❞
[ scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-cats-purr ]

❝The cat’s purr is a natural anti-anxiety pill.❞

❝The simple act of petting a cat releases oxytocin, which is the “feel good” hormone. The release of oxytocin reduces stress and anxiety.❞

Cats are such beautiful and wonderful creatures, and as if they aren’t already amazing enough, they are also so healthy for us! 🥹💖

Excuse all quotes, I included all the quotes I want to remember and save.

💌 Thank you to NetGalley + Quarto Publishing Group for a digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━

[AquaMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooh! I am 100% "Wish-Listing" this one!!

First of all, it's an absolutely gorgeous book, cover to cover. The full-page, full-color illustrations, as well as the smaller ones scattered throughout, make this one very aesthetically pleasing indeed. And, admittedly, what drew me in when I previewed it on Amazon. As you know, I'm a sucker for a pretty book

But it's not all show and no substance. Included within are stories, folklore, and history...all about our feline friends and familiars. And of course there are the Magical bits too: Spells and rituals you can do with your cats (All are animal-friendly, to be sure). This book reminded me a bit of The Little Book of Cat Magic: Spells, Charms & Tales, except it's a bit more toward the Whimsy-Goth end of the spectrum (the other, I'd say, is more Cottagecore).

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Quite a bit. And, having given it a thorough preview thanks to my Local Public Library, I will definitely be purchasing myself a copy at some point in the (ideally) not-so-distant future. Because every good Crazy Cat Witch needs a book like this one!


p.s Did you see what I did there at the end? Gave some props to my Local Public Library? 😉

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet's website on 08/30/2023.

Am I smitten? Smitten. Enchanted? Enchanted. Delighted? Delighted. I’m just overwhelmed with joyfulness from reading “Cat Magick: Harness the Powers of Felines through History, Behaviors, and Familiars” by Rieka Moonsong.

Cats have a long history, and Moonsong does a terrific job of outlining everything from Li Shou (a key cat player in China’s creation mythology), all the Egyptian feline deities and their worship, their role as persecuted creatures, and more. “Cat Magick” examines felines from domestic to big cat, with my favorite chapter being “Big Cat Energy” because I still use the phrase “Big Dick Energy” when someone has got balls, or “Big Stick Energy” when my dog won’t let go of a felled tree branch. Also, I love cheetahs.

Amongst all the cat history and folklore and adorable cat illustrations you’ll find loads of actual cat magic. Obviously, there is space dedicated to cat familiars and guides, but there are also many accessible cat spells and rituals. They are all easy to understand and fairly light on the need for supplies and tools.

“Cat Magick” by Rieka Moonsong is just as enticing as the animal it is based on. It is a wonderful read for anyone who loves cats (obviously), but it is also a solid magical resource.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift as wasn't sure what to expect at first. Granted, I'm the token 'crazy cat lady' fan, but being more Druid-less-witchy and not a huge worker of daily magick, I wasn't sure how applicable I'd find this.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was presented in a way that presents the history and cultural associations of cats (both big and small) and the differences associated with colors, species, etc. It also covers how to differentiate messengers, guides, and familiars from one another, which I think is great since I'm pretty sure that everyone reading this book will want to assume that their favorite is a familiar. There were lots of references in the book as well, which is great for those of us who like to read the source material!

Aside from history and thorough explanations, there are lots of rituals and spells related to the content of the chapters. As I noted before, I don't work a lot of magick, but was intrigued enough by some of these that I may give them a go! An easy and interesting read, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves cats and the metaphysical!

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for a temporary digital review copy of ‘Cat Magick’ by Rieka Moonsong.

The subtitle of this book is: ‘Harness the Powers of Felines through History, Behaviors, and Familiars’. It is aimed at readers with an interest in performing spells and rituals focused on cats.

In its pages Moonsong presents a wealth of information about the history, myths, and folklore of cats, including those surrounding black cats. Aside from domestic cats she also suggests how to undertake magical work with big cats, such as tigers, lions, and leopards.

The spells and rituals included are well presented in terms of equipment and the use of actions and words to achieve the intended result.

Rieka Moonsong’s words are accompanied by stunning cat illustrations by award winning artist Maggie Vandewalle. I especially enjoyed her depictions of winged black cats.

Overall, I found ‘Cat Magick’ an informative guide to the lore and magic of our feline companions.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, I loved this book. From the moment I picked it up I fell in love with the artwork and how well written the book is. If I could give it more stars I would have.

If you love cats then this book is for you, even if you aren't as interested in the Magick, its full of the history of cats with lots of fokelore and myths. Some I had heard of before but lots of it was new to me.

The book has so much packed into it. Its easy to read and not full of mumbo jumbo like some magick books. I read it quite quickly so its not a heavy read. I would love to get it in hardback instead of as a digital copy as the artwork is outstanding.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quatro Publishing for the ARC Copy. This review is my own opinion.

[JadersCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc netgalley review

All the stars and more! The book of my little cat whisper witch heart could ask for. This book was scram packed with old things I knew and new thing I didn’t, which was so refreshing. The author also held her own with shouldn’t life experience as well research references of her own. Easy to follow for almost anyone, I would even recommend it for young teens. The art work was breathe taking for a book in this genre.
This is an instant buy if you see it on the shelves!
I can’t wait to get my hand on this book!

[Bananari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estoy feliz de haberme comprado este libro y tenerlo en físico porque tiene unas ilustraciones preciosas, está editado de una manera muy linda, literalmente casi que en cada página hay un dibujo de un gatito.

El contenido del libro es más que todo informativo, me hubiese gustado que incluyera más historia en si del origen de la magia de los gatos, pero entiendo que es un librito más orientado a los practicantes de esta energía así, so it's okay, a mi me gustó mucho y siento que se lee fácil y rápido.

[LaBibliodeCaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cat lover, I always enjoy reading about the magic and spirituality that surround them. This book is an interesting piece written by a Wiccan high priestess. It's filled with tons of informations, beautiful illustrations, and incantations/spells, knowledge about nature, stones, candles etc. if that's what you're into. Even if you aren't interested in practising magic, I found this book fascinating when it comes to learning how to better nurture our relationships with our feline companions.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but I was ultimately quite disappointed in the references provided (using Wikipedia as a source for Ancient Egypt shows a lack of deep dive digging, when there are numerous scholarly articles available that discusses cats in the ancient world). As such, this is a shallow or introduction, to cat lore rather than something more detailed. However, the artwork throughout is absolutely stunning.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats and magic, what's not to love! Definitely one to buy as a real book though as I don't think a kindle edition does justice to the beautiful artwork and illustrations. I really enjoyed reading this book - thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es muy lindo el libro, aunque un poco corto, si eres principiante en acercarte a magia con gatos te será útil, aunque ya debes tener cierta experiencia en la práctica mágica. El único detalle que le encuentro es que tiene información como muy general y poco detallada, eso puede hacer que no obtengas un conocimiento profundo sobre el tema que se esté leyendo.

[Mugwump Jism · Rating 1 out of 5]

Glib and toothless as a museum tour; thin quirk, wikipedia mythology, and boomer Karen's cat stereotypes serve little to animate the magic inside the twisting and luxuriant hunter-killer in the bay window. Couldn't break a spell faster than suggesting totem worship by way of "donating to your local charity". Dollarstore witchcraft does disservice both to magic, and to cats.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for Maggie Vandewalle, the illustrator of Cat Magic, and the reason I imagine most people purchase the book.

Check out Maggie's Instagram and Etsy for more gorgeous cat art. She is an incredible talent.

The book itself felt like it was written by AI.

[Danielle Woolard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful and so comfortable in my hands, it's immediately a comfort book. I'm new to living with cats and wanted to read a book to get a better feel for who they are, spiritually, vibrationally.. and I think this book delivers. It's definitely fanciful, but I like that.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a guide to cat familiars, the history of the practice and how to connect with your familiar. It also provides a history of cats, the myths revolving around these and the folklore, especially that involving black cats.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a cat lover, so this book obviously calls to me. It is a very informative book. I love the backstories about cats but I am not too sure about the spells, etc.

[MKF]

DNF.

Today is not a good day to finish a cat book.

[KotKulturowa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koty
Wiedźmy

No inaczej niż 5🌟 nie mogę dać