Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine (an Untamed History of the Cat Archetype in Myth and Magic) by Sollee, Kristen J; , Grossman, Pam

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Occult Philosophy

Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine (an Untamed History of the Cat Archetype in Myth and Magic)

Name: Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine (an Untamed History of the Cat Archetype in Myth and Magic)
Price: 17.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (2 reviews)
Author: Sollee, Kristen J; , Grossman, Pam
ISBN: 9781578636624

Sollee, Kristen J; , Grossman, Pam

Reader rating

4.7

(1 reviews) 151 sold

$17.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unleash your inner wildcat: explore the untamed history of feline feminine power.

This insightful work delves into the multifaceted symbolism of the cat, an enduring archetype intimately linked to the feminine across cultures and eras. From ancient mythologies and magical traditions to modern pop culture and political movements, discover how the feline embodies everything from fierce independence and sensual power to domestic comfort and societal rebellion. Unpack the historical reverence and revilement of women through the lens of their feline counterparts, revealing deep insights into female identity, desire, and the often-untamed aspects of the self. Reclaim your primal, unapologetic essence.

Key themes

Reclaiming Feral Feminine Power Feline Myth & Magic Archetypes of Feminine Identity

Historical context

This work sits firmly within the realm of modern esoteric feminism and mythological studies, bridging ancient spiritual traditions with contemporary gender politics. It explores the intersection of animal symbolism and feminine identity through a magical and historical lens.

Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Weiser Books 📅 2019 📖 224 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781578636624

Fun fact

Sollee's 'Cat Call' masterfully reclaims the potent, often-misunderstood feminine power embodied by the cat. It excels at weaving myth, magic, and social commentary into an empowering narrative. While not a casual read or a spellbook, it offers profound insights for seekers of depth. This book stands as an essential, fearless contribution to modern feminist occult literature, illuminating the path for those ready to embrace their own untamed spirit.

📝 Description: Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine (an Untamed History of the Cat Archetype in Myth and Magic)

"No one writes about the subjects of sexuality, desire, the shadow, and diabolism with such relish, and when I read her words I feel both smarter and less afraid of my own 'tabooed' feelings and thoughts. Like a cat, Kristen sees in the dark, as she guides us gracefully forward with her vision of unapologetic, feminine power." --From the Foreword by Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power The cat: A sensual shapeshifter. A hearth keeper, aloof, tail aloft, stalking vermin. A satanic accomplice. A beloved familiar. A social media darling. A euphemism for reproductive parts. An epithet for the weak. A knitted--and contested--hat on millions of marchers, fists in the air, pink pointed ears poking skyward. Cats and cat references are ubiquitous in art, pop culture, politics, and the occult, and throughout history, they have most often been coded female. From the "crazy cat lady" unbowed by patriarchal prescriptions to the coveted sex kitten to the dreadful crone and her yowling compatriot, feminine feline archetypes reveal the ways in which women have been revered and reviled around the world--in Greek and Egyptian mythology, the European witch trials, Japanese folklore, and contemporary film. By combining historical research, pop culture, art analyses, and original interviews, Cat Call explores the cat and its indivisible connection to femininity and teases out how this connection can help us better understand the relationship between myth, history, magic, womanhood in the digital age, and our beloved, clawed companions.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This title serves as a vibrant celebration of feline feminine power, effectively linking ancient mythology with modern political movements. It succeeds in unpacking complex themes of identity and desire through an accessible, engaging narrative. However, readers expecting rigorous academic historiography or scientific zoology may find the approach too thematic and symbolic rather than factual. It is less suited for those who prefer dry, detached analysis over emotional, archetypal exploration. The book shines brightest for those open to mystical interpretations of history and willing to engage with the spiritual dimensions of animal symbolism in a feminist context.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a deep, intuitive connection to their own primal instincts will find this book profoundly liberating. It is ideal for those who feel drawn to the archetype of the wildcat and wish to explore the untamed aspects of their own feminine essence. By tracing the historical reverence and revilement of women through feline counterparts, it offers valuable insights into female desire, independence, and societal rebellion. Those looking to reclaim their unapologetic power and understand the multifaceted symbolism of cats in magic will gain a richer appreciation for their inner wildness and its cultural significance.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

For those intrigued by the untamed, the intuitive, and the unapologetically powerful aspects of the feminine, this book offers deep insights. Readers eager to explore the historical and magical connections between cats and women, and to reclaim their own wild spirit, will find profound resonance.

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This title serves as a vibrant celebration of feline feminine power, effectively linking ancient mythology with modern political movements. It succeeds in unpacking complex themes of identity and desire through an accessible, engaging narrative. However, readers expecting rigorous academic historiography or scientific zoology may find the approach too thematic and symbolic rather than factual. It is less suited for those who prefer dry, detached analysis over emotional, archetypal exploration. The book shines brightest for those open to mystical interpretations of history and willing to engage with the spiritual dimensions of animal symbolism in a feminist context.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While centered on the cat archetype, the book uses feline symbolism as a powerful lens to explore broader themes of female identity, power, sexuality, and society's perceptions of women throughout history and into the present.

No, it's more of a scholarly yet accessible exploration of the cat's role in magical and mythological traditions. While it touches on magical studies, it's not a practical guide for spellcasting but rather an insightful historical and cultural analysis.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Reclaiming Feral Feminine Power

Explores how the cat archetype serves as a potent symbol for women embracing their instinctual, wild, and often suppressed aspects. It challenges societal norms by highlighting the historical demonization and subsequent re-empowerment of female desire, independence, and connection to the shadow self, urging readers to unleash their own unapologetic strength.

Feline Myth & Magic

Traces the cat's profound significance in esoteric traditions and folklore across various cultures, from Egyptian deities to European witch familiars. The book uncovers how cats have been perceived as guides, protectors, and conduits of mystical energy, reflecting humanity's complex relationship with the unseen world and the animal kingdom.

Archetypes of Feminine Identity

Examines how feline imagery has been used throughout history to define, empower, or condemn women. From the "sex kitten" to the "crazy cat lady" and the "crone," this theme dissects how these archetypes reveal prevailing cultural attitudes towards female sexuality, independence, and power, offering a lens for understanding shifts in feminine identity.

💬 Quotes from the book

“To truly reclaim our power, we must first embrace the shadows within, the untamed instincts that society has long sought to domesticate or demonize.”

“The cat, in its aloof grace and fierce independence, offers a mirror to the divine feminine – revered in some eras, reviled in others, yet always unbroken.”

📜 Historical context

This work stands firmly within the tradition of feminist scholarship that re-examines historical narratives and archetypes through a liberated lens. It draws upon mythological studies, folklore, and pop culture analyses, illustrating the enduring power of feminine symbols. Integrating these fields with modern magical thought, it offers a fresh, empowering perspective on women's historical and spiritual journey.

📚 Glossary

Archetype
Feral Feminine
Familiar

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a time you felt pressured to suppress your "wild" or instinctual self. How might embracing a "feral feminine" perspective have changed that experience?
What personal qualities do you associate most strongly with the cat, and how do these qualities manifest in your own life or desires?
Reflect on a historical or mythological female figure associated with cats. How does her story resonate with your understanding of feminine power today?