The Vestalia!

(ClipArt Etc.)

Comes Vesta,

To live in this beautiful home!

Come with warm feelings of friendship.

Bring Your intelligence,

Your energy and Your passion

To join us with Your goodwill.

Burn brightly at my hearth.

Burn always in my soul.

You are welcome here.

I remember You!

( Hymn to Vesta - unsure of source)

I am in the midst of my annual Vestalia celebration. The hearth has been cleaned physically and spiritually, and will be re-consecrated tomorrow evening. As for our stove, it has been scoured within an inch of its life; the oven burns away - self-cleaning! The ashes will be strewn in the wind during Friday night's ritual and re-consecration will follow. The altar also has received its share of dusting, rearrangement, additions of new items and removal of others. Each goddess statue has been bathed physically with a special brew, the base of which is rosewater followed by spiritual cleansing; re-consecration will take place during tomorrow's ritual as well. 

Why this celebration? The hearth and stove really are the heart's flame of the home, any home and especially mine. The stove is where I prepare our food, to nourish and nurture, many tinctures, infusions and decoctions are prepared there along with other magickal brews as well as baked offerings. The hearth brings warmth of heart, contentment and it is a place of many magickal workings as well. It is also the center of our home. Sacred flames are lit there many times during the week and my daily devotions are performed there. Naturally, I will honor one of the goddesses who is keeper of this place; the other being Hestia.

I have prepared my version of the mola salsa and will use it as an offering tomorrow night as well as a dusting for the pork roast that will be prepared, offered and eaten over the weekend.

(Priestess of Vesta, Lord Leighton)

I also honor, at this celebration, the Vestals themselves, who kept the flame alive and the temple sacred. They gave a great deal of their lives and incredible dedication, so I include those priestesses of long ago in my veneration.

May Vesta's flame burn brightly in your heart and keep your home alive with love and warmth, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Blessings nine!