Inviting Hestia Into Your Heart and Home

The Hestia Tapestry "Hestia full of Blessings"

Photo: From 1945 book Documents of Dying Paganism

There are many, many domestic deities from which to choose from when looking for one to invite into your home.  From well known Greek Goddesses to little know Chinese oven Gods to animistic gods of ancient Rome.  One of the most well known and popular is Hestia, Greek Goddess of the hearth, home and domestic duties.

Background and History:
Hestia is daughter to Ronos and Rhea, sister to Poseiden, Hades, Zeus, Demeter and Hera.  Courted by both Apollo and her brother Poseidon, Hestia took a vow to never marry, but to instead chose to remaine chaste and dedicate herself to service to others and to her community. One of only three goddesses immune to the powers of Aphrodite, Hestia could not be influenced to fall in love.  One of the most honored goddesses in ancient Greece, hearth fires were kept constantly burning in Hestia's honor.  Rituals were required to both put out or light the hearth fire. Hestia herself kept the hearth fires burning on Mt. Olympus. Though few stories or images of Hestia remain, she is often portrayed in modest dress and often wearing a veil.

Correspondences of the Goddess Hestia:

• Goddess of : hearth, home life, domestic duites, security, altars, town hall, home improvements, abundance, 
• Sacred animals: donkey, pig
• Colors: lavender, gold, rose, silver, black
• Aromatic scents: lavender, angelica, peony, chamomile, iris
• Gems and stones: gold, silver, brass, garnet, amethyst
• Plants: hollyhock, goldenrod, poppy, purple cone flower, yarrow
• Symbols: circle, flame, hearth, home, bowls, veils, pantry, keys
• Herbs: basil, bay, oregano, marjoram, mint, sage, spearmint, rosemary, thyme, savory, fennel, coriander, parsley, dill, anise, hyssop, 
• Sacred foods: bread or any of the herbs listed above
• Roman equivalent: Vesta

Ways to invite Hestia into your life, or to honor her:

• Create an altar to Hestia near your fireplace, in your kitchen, or where ever you consider the "heart" of your home. Items that could be included on a Hestia altar are keys, one of her sacred stones,  incense in one of her sacred aromas, a donkey or pig statue, a candle in one of her sacred colors or scents,  an altar cloth in one of her colors, a small plant or pot of herbs,  a veil, a statue or picture of Hestia, representations of your family members and/or an offering bowl.
• Hestia is traditionally given the first and last bites of food from the family meal.  Keep an offering bowl in your kitchen and put a bit of food in before you serve the meal. Add another offering when you clear your plate from the table.
• Light a candle to Hestia before you light your stove or oven to cook. 
• Say a prayer before you cook.  This can be something as simple as repeating, as you light your cooking fire, "I light this fire in honor of Hestia" or elaborate as repeating a Homeric Hymn or something you've written yourself.
• Start your day by lighting a candle and saying a short prayer to Hestia.
• Wear a piece of jewelry made from one of her sacred metals or stones.
• Carry one of her sacred stones with you.
• Make a Hestia mojo bag to carry with you or put on your altar.  Include a silver coin or key, stones and/or herbs associated with the goddess, and something that represents yourself as a domestic witch.
• Grow one of her sacred plants:  small potted plant in your kitchen window sill, a pot of an herb by your front door or  a full Hestia herb garden.
• Hang dried herbs around your house.
• Wear a small key on a chain or on a charm bracelet.
• Honor your family in some way.  Start a scrapbook of your life, create a family altar, create a new tradition of telling them daily what you love about them or why you are grateful for having them in your life. Find a way to make them feel special on a daily basis.
• Hestia devoted herself to her community.  Find a way to volunteer in your community that is comfortable for you.  Regularly donate to a shelter or food bank.  Volunteer to serve food.  Sew blankets for children that are ill.  Help your elderly neighbors with yard work or housecleaning. Help deliver food to the housebound.
• Keep your home as tidy as possible, but not at the expense of taking time away from your family.
• Honor yourself.  Hestia was a strong individual that stood up for the things that she wanted and believed in. Taking time for yourself honors not only you, but gives you the patience, strength and ability to care for others.

Simple prayers to Hestia:

• Hestia, as I travel through my day, help me to keep my home peaceful and serene. 
• Hestia, help me to be inviting and show hospitality to those visiting me today.
• Help me to be centered and caring with all that I do today.
• Hestia,  I am feeling overwhelmed with all the things I need to accomplish today.  Please help me to take each small step towards getting them all done and to remain full of joy knowing that I do them for my family.
• Help me, Hestia, to fill all the commitments of today with love in my heart.
• Hestia, help me set aside time today in our busy schedules to create family time today.
• Help me today, Goddess Hestia, to remember to see the beauty of all the small joys in my life.
• Today as I do my daily household chores, Hestia please help me to fill my home with warmth and love.

Homeric Hymns to Hestia:

• Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.
• Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, -- where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last.
• Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.

Though some might consider honoring Hestia as your household's domestic deity to be almost a cliche, there are few deities from any pantheon who embody the spirit of the domestic witch quite as well as Hestia.  If she speaks to you personally, there are innumerable ways in which to honor and invoke her. 

 As when working with any deity, make sure to do your research first to make sure that this is the deity for you, and that you know the best way to work with her.

Sources of history and background information:

Classical mythology: a guide to the mythical world of the Greeks and Romans By William Hansen

Holland's Grimoire of Magickal Correspondences: A Ritual Handbook

 By Eileen Holland

The friendly guide to mythology: a mortal's companion to the fantastical

By Nancy Hathaway


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