Discover Top Posts Tagged with #vesta deity

I would like to thank Vesta, during the colder months with Her presence in our homes ♡

Asexual and Aromantic Devotion

Asexual, A-spectrum, and aromantic folks are an important part of the queer community, but these identities are often left out of discussions of queer history. Well, not today! To my ace* and aro* friends: you are valid, you have a place in this community, and today we're here to talk about gods and spirits associated with your identities!

An asexual person is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. The term "asexuality" was first coined in the 1890s, but records of people we would now call asexual go back much further than that. This is different from celibacy or abstinence. While celibacy is a lifestyle choice, asexuality is a sexual orientation and is part of a person's core identity.

An aromantic person is someone who does not experience romantic attraction. Some people are both aromantic and asexual, sometimes shortened to aroace. Other people might be aromantic but experience sexual attraction, or might be asexual but experience romantic attraction. For example, someone might identify as an asexual lesbian or as an aromantic bisexual.

There are several other identities related to asexuality and/or aromanticism. Asexual author Athens Webster uses the term A-spectrum to refer to "the multitude of micro-labels that fall under the terms asexual and aromantic." For example, demisexual people (people who experience sexual attraction only to people they have an emotional connection to) and graysexual people (people who experience sexual attraction to a lesser than average degree) are considered to be on the A-spectrum. For more information about A-spectrum identities and relationships, I recommend Webster's excellent zine, Queer Platonic Relationships: A Guide to the Aro/Ace Spectrum, Friendships, Zucchinis, and Other Terms.

Below are a few of the deities and spirits that are strongly connected to A-spectrum identities. (A lot of this information comes from my upcoming book, Lavender Witchcraft, coming in August of this year from Moon Books.)

Content Warning: this post contains a brief mention of attempted sexual assault in the context of a Roman myth.

Artemis is strongly associated with sapphic identities, but there is also a case to be made for her as an asexual and/or aromantic goddess. (Remember, someone can be both sapphic and ace/aro!) Artemis notably never married and spent her time roaming the wilds with her hunters. She was considered one of the "virgin goddesses" of Hellenic (ancient Greek) religion, alongside Athena and Hestia. Many modern ace/aro pagans see their identities reflected in Artemis's mythology. Artemis's other associations include the moon, hunting, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity, and she is said to be the protector of young girls.

To connect with Artemis, consider placing an image of her in your sacred space. You can also write out her name in Ancient Greek to place in your sacred space. (Check Wikipedia to find the Ancient Greek symbols for her name.) Symbols associated with her include the deer, the snake, the bow and arrows, the crescent moon, and the spear. Like all Hellenic gods, she can be honored with offerings of fruit, flowers, incense, or honey.

Athena is another of the Hellenic virgin goddesses. Athena is a deeply queer deity in more ways than one, as we can see in stories of her birth: she was born fully grown and armored from her father, Zeus's, head. Hellenic sources describe her as being "immune to Aphrodite's charms," i.e., not feeling sexual desire or romantic love.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, strategy, weaving, and crafts. She is the patron goddess of the city of Athens and several of her temples are still standing today, most notably the Parthenon. Her role as a feminine war deity subverts Hellenic gender roles, since war was very much seen as men's work in Hellenic culture.

To connect with Athena, consider placing an image of her in your sacred space. You can also write out her name in Ancient Greek to place in your sacred space. Symbols associated with her include owls, olive trees, snakes, the helmet and spear, the Aegis (Athena's shield), and the distaff. Like all Hellenic gods, she can be honored with offerings of fruit, flowers, incense, or honey.

Vesta is the Roman goddess of the hearth and home. Like Artemis and Athena, Vesta is considered a virgin goddess, which is especially interesting because of her association with motherhood. Vesta was syncretized with the Hellenic goddess Hestia, although there are differences between the two. She was one of, if not the most widely worshiped deity in ancient Rome. Although most of her worship took place within the home, she was also considered a goddess of democracy and her priestesses, the Vestal Virgins, held a lot of political power.

One story of Vesta may be unfortunately relatable to folks on the A-spectrum who have experienced someone trying to push their boundaries or pressure them into sex. In Ovid's Fasti, the god Priapus attempted to sexually assault Vesta while she was asleep at a feast. A donkey brayed in warning, which woke Vesta up before she could be assaulted and drew the attention and anger of the other gods. This myth explains why donkeys are sacred to Vesta. On a more positive note, this story shows the other gods affirming and defending Vesta's decision not to have sex or romantic relationships.

To connect with Vesta, consider representing her in your sacred space with a candle or lamp. (Unlike other Roman deities, Vesta is typically not depicted in human form. She is usually shown in Roman art as a fire.) You can also write out her name in the ancient Latin alphabet to place in your sacred space. Symbols associated with her include fire, the hearth, donkeys, and geese. Like all Roman deities, she can be honored with offerings of fruit, honey, milk, wine, flowers, or incense. Traditionally, offerings to Vesta are burnt or thrown into a fire.

These are only a few of many, many deities and spirits associated with A-spectrum identities. If this is a topic that interests you, I strongly encourage you to do your own research. And if I missed your favorite asexual or aromantic deity, please let me know!

If you enjoyed this post and would like to dive deeper, please consider preordering my upcoming book on queer magical practice!

Kitchen & Mealtime Prayers to Hestia

Prayer for Kitchen Tools* Hestia, bless these tools that they may guide me in making food that is good for the mind, body, and soul.

Prayer for the Stove

I pray you bless the warmth and food made here. Though the flame be a mere representation of your hearth light, your presence is felt here. May you accept the sweet scents and rising vapors as an offering, Beloved Hestia, and may you bless the stove that feeds us.

Prayers Before Eating** (can use just one for short or all together for a longer prayer)

I set a place at my table for the gods, and invite you, glorious Hestia, to join us. My home and heart are open to you. As we eat, may we feel nourished by your love.

From farm to table, this meal was the work of many hands, may gratitude reach them all. Hestia, we offer you a share. May you accept this gift and may you grant blessings upon our hearth.

Beloved Hestia may you watch over us and bless us as we eat. Bless this food, this bounty of Earth, we thank you.

Prayer For Cleaning Up*** (light a candle when using)

Hestia, bless this little kitchen. I love its every nook. And bless me as I do my work, wash pots and pans, and cook. May the soap cleanse our dishes so we may start anew, as we honor you again with every meal and brew.

A Hymn of Remembrance for European Pagan Memory Day

I wrote the following hymn in commemoration of European Pagan Memory Day. Feel free to use it in your own rituals. On 24 February 391 ce Theodosius, then co-emperor of Rome, issued an edict which condemned all Pagan practices and extinguished the sacred fire of the goddess Vesta, which had been burning continuously in her temple.

On this day long ago Vesta’s sacred temple flames Were extinguished forever. The Gods were silenced, Their temples desecrated, Their followers killed or coerced into conversion. Intolerance reigned supreme. Difference was to be destroyed, Uniformity was to be venerated. An abundant plurality cut down to a stifling singular. An inclusive “Us” subsumed by a tyrannical “I”.

Erebus descended, Darkening the world With the cloak Nyx wears. Wisdom was admonished, Ignorance exalted, The ruins of Alexandria left in scorching wake, Athena weeping at the gate.

But Ever so slowly, Slow as Gaia rebirths her forests, From the smoldering embers left by the burning rage of hate, New flames begin to blaze Against the shadows, Shedding light on a past long forgotten. New voices ring sharp and clear Through the silence, Crying out that The Gods are not dead.

They are here, They have always been here. They have merely been waiting, Waiting for our return.

And so on this day of remembrance We light candles to dispel the darkness of a history bathed in bloodshed and tears.

We remember who we are, What we are made of, And who we come from.

We remember our Ancestors, Martyrs of a totalitarian state.

But most of all We remember the Gods That never left us, Though we had to leave Them. And we pour libations in thanks For Their never-ending faithfulness In our fragile humanity That They cherish so much.

For more information on European Pagan Memory Day: https://www.giornopaganomemoria.it/indexeng.html

For more on the persecution of Pagan under Theodosius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_pagans_under_Theodosius_I

Photo of the hearth at Vesta's temple in Rome by Frank C. Jones (2012). Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

#european pagan memory day #helpol #theodosius #pagan persecution #pagan prayer #pagan hymn #vesta deity #hestia deity

Trying to look up Janus and Vesta’s color associations so I can make bracelets for them but I can’t find much sources on it :/

#roman polytheist #janus deity #vesta deity

I've been neglecting Hestia and Hekate because of mental health and my twin sister moving back in (we absolutely do not get on).

Today I started devotions again, and planning tattoos as an alternative to veiling. I wrote them a letter in my Grimoire, and literally five minutes after I finished writing, all my appointments that I've been waiting 4+ years for are NEXT WEEK and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth landed on my flowers, and my pendulum board that I thought I'd lost appeared again.

I think they forgive me and like the tattoo idea 😂😂

#hellenic gods #hellenic witch #greek gods #greek mythology #hestia deity #hellenic pagan #hellenic polytheism #hestia #vesta deity #witch #fire witch #death witch #water witch #storm witch

O kind and gracious Vesta of the pyre. Bestower of hearth, primordial fire of creation. Daughter of Saturn, first and last of the gods. Enlighten us in the warmth of safety provided in our homes. You ever-eternal, many-formed rich in blessings is thine. Torchbearer of peace, we ask for your blessing.

I'm still very new to Roman polytheism and definitely still learning (which is why I don't post about it here very often) but right now I'm really resonating with Vesta as the goddess of "someone still has to do the dishes."

Yes, our democracy is on fire. Yes, we're all justifiably scared for the future. Yes, things are going to get worse before they get better. And someone still has to do the dishes.

Someone still has to do the dishes. Someone still needs to wash the laundry. Someone still needs to cook so we all have food to eat. Someone has to keep the lights on and keep the household running. And I associate Vesta so strongly with that work, with rolling up your sleeves and getting it done even when you feel terrible, because the work still needs doing. Because care -- of self and community -- is work and that work isn't going anywhere.

May Vesta give us the strength to keep the lights on, even when the world is chaotic and scary. 🔥