(Writer of paranormal) Deborah Blake - The little book of cat magic : spells, charms & tales

About the Author

Deborah Blake is the award-winning author of The Goddess is in the Details , Everyday Witchcraft , and numerous other books from Llewellyn, along with her Everyday Witch Tarot kit. She has published articles in Llewellyn annuals, and her ongoing column, Everyday Witchcraft, is featured in Witches & Pagans .

When not writing, Deborah runs the Artisans Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend in 1999, and also works as a jewelry maker, tarot reader, and energy healer. She lives in a 130-year-old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with various cats who supervise all her activities, magickal and mundane. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, and www.deborahblakeauthor.com .

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

The Little Book of Cat Magic: Spells, Charms & Tales 2018 by Deborah Blake .

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition 2018

E-book ISBN: 9780738755724

Cover illustration by Lisa Parker

Interior illustrations by Alice Rosen

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is pending.

ISBN 978-0-7387-5323-2

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

Contents

: the magical cat

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To all my cats, past and present. Thank you for sharing my life with meI cant imagine living it without you. Most of all, to Magic the Cat (Queen of the Universe) who inspired every witchy book, especially this one. I miss you (and your brother Mystic) with every atom of my being. Thank you for being my friend and my familiar. I know your mother Minerva is happy to have you both back by her side again. Have fun bossing everyone around in the Summerlands.

And to the woman most likely to be nominated a cat, my wonderful editor Elysia Gallo. Thanks as always for your helpful suggestions and your patience with my occasional bouts of twitching. Just remembermy writing this book was your idea. You have no one to blame but yourself!

introduction

The Magical Cat

If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend, but never your slave.

theophile gautier

If you have ever had a cat (I wont say owned, because no one ever really owns a cat), you already know they have a special magic. Not that all animals arent special, but cats are even more special than the rest. If you dont believe me, just ask one.

Witches and cats have had a close connection down through the centuries, and cats have been associated with magic and spiritual matters in many different cultures. Theres a good reason for this. Cats are mysterious; they seem to know things they shouldnt possibly be able to know. They are uncanny at times, with eyes that glow, finding their way in the dark and into places it seems they shouldnt be able to fit. They disappear and reappear at will, and only come when called if they are in the mood.

And a cats mood can be as changeable as the moon. One minute theyre giving you the cold shoulder for some unforgivable offense and the next minute theyre cuddled up on your lap, purring as if someone had turned on a motor. That purr is magical too, able to soothe and calm and comfort the lucky human who hears it.

Kittens are probably one of the cutest sights on earth. Their big eyes and wide yawns amuse us as they tumble over their own feet and climb up the curtains. But even adult cats can be adorable and playfulwhen theyre not napping, eating, or being sophisticated and magical.

Cats are more than simply decorative and entertaining. They have long coexisted with humans as pest control specialists (try to find a farm that doesnt have at least a few to keep the mice and rat population in check), early morning alarm clocks, and food tasters. And all joking aside, they are faithful, loving companions, snugglers extraordinaire, and, on occasion, familiars.

I have had cats since I was a child, and I cant imagine my life without them. Since I came to my practice as a Witch, they have taken on an even greater role, if that is possible. Not all cats are familiars (only one of mine, the aptly named Magic the Cat, Queen of the Universe, has been a true familiar), but many times they have shown interest in my magical work or displayed that special intuition cats seem to have.

This book is for all those who love and are loved by cats, especially those who have a magical bent. It will give you tools to help your feline companions, useful spells for many cat-centric issues, and tips for both living with and practicing magic with your cats. Scattered throughout the book will also be quotes and poems and sage advice from my own Magic the Cat. (She insisted, and if you have ever tried arguing with a cat, you know there is simply no point.)

We both hope you will find some fun ideas, helpful suggestions, and amusing tidbits within its pages. Try not to chew on them.

A Note About Using Cat Components

Some of the spells in this book call for a bit of your cats fur, claws, or whiskers. Obviously, these should not be taken off the cat in any way that would harm it. Cats naturally shed their claw sheaths and their whiskers, and oh, boy, do they shed their fur. You can sweep that up and use it, or brush your cat (which he or she will undoubtedly appreciate) if you want fur that is cleaner.

Never pull out a cats whiskers or clip an entire claw, although you can use the tiny tips you get when you trim a cats nails. If you cant safely get these components, you can always substitute a picture of your cat instead.

Most Commonly Used Spell Ingredients in This Book