{"id":18887,"date":"2018-11-01T01:10:01","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T06:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=19494"},"modified":"2018-10-29T15:36:06","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T20:36:06","slug":"magickalarts-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2018\/11\/01\/magickalarts-48\/","title":{"rendered":"MagickalArts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><u><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">The Hall of the Goddess Hestia<\/span><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><u><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-19495\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Hestia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" \/><\/span><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">Light fills the Hall as you step through the doorway and Hestia stands centrally awaiting you. Gentle and loving eyes look upon you and although youthful in appearance, you feel the aeons of time that she has stood watch in the hearth spaces of home and community. She is radiant and filled with Light and Life and it is within her Hall that you will see the hearth flame that glows within\u2026\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">Who is Hestia?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><em><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">My hearth fires burn<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">And keep safe those<\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Blessed by my hand.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><em><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">Food lovingly prepared<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">And family\u2019s joining as one<\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">These are my gifts<\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">These are my boons.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">This Goddess of the hearth fires and home was known as Hestia in the Greek Mythos, with Latin\/Roman name of Vesta. She was considered a virgin Goddess, whose priestesses were known as the Vestals or Vestal Virgins in Ancient Rome. Hers is the domain and sanctuary found in the kitchen. The preparing of food for those loved and the warmth of sitting close together as the hearth burns in the long winter nights.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The primary focus of Hestia was that of keeping the sacred fires burning. In ancient times, this continued flame ensured fire for warmth, protection, light, cooking and more. She was Goddess of the sacrificial flame and as such received an offering share of every sacrifice to the Gods.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Hestia oversaw the cooking of every meal both in private home and communal gatherings. Her blessing was sought that the meal would nourish and sustain as well as forging the connections of sharing the meal with others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">In Myth, Hestia was the first-born of Kronos, God\/Titan of Time and the Ages and Rhea, the Great Mother of the most powerful of the Gods, the Titans. She was fertility and Motherhood. Kronos, fearful that his children would depose him as he had done to his Father, Ouranus, ate each of the children as they born. Hestia, being the first-born was also the first to be consumed and the last to be disgorged when Zeus, (who had escaped the devouring of his Father, being hidden away by his mother Rhea), forced Kronos to release his swallowed siblings. I find this to be a very interesting story surrounding Hestia and the nature of her energy as Goddess of family, home and fires.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">In <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">an <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">other tale, Hestia was pursued for marriage by Poseidon and Apollon, both of whom she refused and then asked Zeus to allow her to remain unmarried, an eternal virgin. Zeus agreed and she took her place at his Sacred Hearth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">So, how do we honor Hestia within our Hall? These are some of the thoughts and feelings I have regarding this Goddess. Consider her parentage, daughter of the Great God of time. Time is something we all wish to have more of with dear friends and families. Time is filled with joy and abundance when we spend some of that time, preparing a meal together and\/or sharing the bounties of a hearth well-tended. Hestia\u2019s mother, Rhea, was mother of the Gods, fertile and fierce in her protective nature. Motherly care speaks to the nourishment of those children tended, not only in the form of food, but also in the sustenance of mind, heart and encouragement to achieve their best possible selves. We do this for friends and all those we love as well. At times, being the Mother and at others allowing the expression of care to be given as we receive it with the innocence of the child who knows only this way of receipt.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Hestia\u2019s sacrifice of refusing the offer of Marriage, thus <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">parceling<\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"> herself to another, speaks to the passion of choice in giving what we wish of ourselves and holding some intact for ourselves so we may focus on what is needed from others. This may seem as an odd comment, but keeping those fires burning brightly, to light the way for those who are wandering in the dark, to welcome another to the table for a feast lovingly prepared or to become the flame itself as source of inspiration requires at times an attitude of self-focus and being unfettered by another\u2019s demands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Hestia chose to remain the eternal virgin. In ancient Rome and Greece the term \u201cVirgin\u201d meant not married, not belonging to a man. This was a woman who was\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><b><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201cone-in-herself<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">.\u201d The word is derived from a Latin root meaning \u201cstrength, force, skill\u201d; and was later applied to men as the term \u201cvirile\u201d. To provide for others requires that you must be strong within yourself. To offer up the bounty of food and relationship, you must know the wisdom of yourself singularly and what it is you have to offer in contribution to what is more than yourself.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Hestia maintains the inner flame that burns within each of us and the magick that we exercise is crafting the precise recipe that will produce the transformation of wheat to life-giving bread is successful to the degree that we acknowledge her presence in all of our working. Every word we speak, every action we take, every emotion expressed and every idea we share is blessed by the potential of taking a new form that will sustain, warm, and light the way for others.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">This month is a wonderful time to come to know this Goddess. We have celebrated the First Harvest (Northern Hemisphere) or the First Sowing and Planting of Seeds that will require sun and care. Hestia\u2019s fires call us to our dinner tables as friends and family gather round. And, as we offer up our thanks for her bounty and night draws near, the oil of her lamp will carry us into the cradle of gentle sleep.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i><span style=\"font-family: Times, serif;\">Spend some time with Hestia. Think on how you connect with her as you move through your day. Light a candle or prepare a meal and feel her presence guiding and watching over.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a name=\"_GoBack\"><\/a> <span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Excerpted from: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Cornerstones of Magick<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/2015\/09\/07\/cofmagick2-the-hall-of-the-goddesshestia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/2015\/09\/07\/cofmagick2-the-hall-of-the-goddesshestia\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Cornerstones of Magick: Lesson Index<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/cornerstoneslesson-index\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/cornerstoneslesson-index\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Image Credit:<\/b> Howard David Johnson<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>***<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong><span style=\"color: #26282a;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">About the Author:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #26282a;\"><b>Robin Fennelly<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #26282a;\">\u00a0is a Wiccan High Priestess, teacher, poet and author. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">She is the author of (click on book titles for more information):<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1105418758%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1105418758%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D28090de6df07d4807eb3c1f25ca87719&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Inner Chamber Volume One<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">It\u2019s Written in the Stars<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Astrology<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Inner Chamber, Vol. Two<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1300414189%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1300414189%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3Dd2b3ab3ec49a516560fd1330d0b34766&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">poetry of the Spheres (Volume 2)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Qabalah<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Inner Chamber, Vol. Three<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1304046273%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1304046273%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D037997f3eeca32a4678cc0b96c71f53a&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Awakening the Paths<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Qabalah<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1365683702%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1365683702%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D02e5f0a904066cd113a633e4d9fe32ca&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>A Year With Gaia<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The Eternal Cord<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1329850815%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1329850815%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D915955808e2674e2355949548bd7cd7a&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>Temple of the Sun and Moon<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Luminous Devotions<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1304046311%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1304046311%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3Decfa3daeee61ad17f29bbfe402db7973&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Magickal Pen Volume One (Volume 1)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">A Collection of Esoteric Writings<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F130049963X%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D130049963X%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3Db254f53c57a3d2e318721eccaac04846&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Elemental Year<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Aligning the Parts of SELF <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1300712511%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1300712511%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D5df5dc9d4f105f8ac5c371460779d879&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>The Enchanted Gate<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Musings on the Magick of the Natural World<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1312817623%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1312817623%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3D307dc71ec6c71b5e7619ffaae8188da2&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>Sleeping with the Goddess<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Nights of Devotion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/buy.geni.us\/Proxy.ashx?TSID=4632&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1105414205%2Fref%3Das_li_tl%3Fie%3DUTF8%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325%26creativeASIN%3D1105414205%26linkCode%3Das2%26tag%3Dpaganpages-20%26linkId%3Debd94106942c56c00d3df4c02e9f28f3&amp;dtb=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>A Weekly Reflection<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Musings for the Year<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Her books are available on\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Amazon<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>or on this <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.robinfennelly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #b96d00;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>website<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>and her\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.robinfennelly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #b96d00;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Blogs<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>can be found at<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.robinfennelly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #b96d00;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Robin Fennelly<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><b>Follow Robin<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0on Instagram &amp; Facebook.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Hall of the Goddess Hestia Light fills the Hall as you step through the doorway and Hestia stands centrally awaiting you. Gentle and loving eyes look upon you and although youthful in appearance, you feel the aeons of time that she has stood watch in the hearth spaces of home and community. She is radiant and filled with Light and Life and it is within her Hall that you will see the hearth flame that glows within\u2026\u2026 Who is Hestia? My hearth fires burn And keep safe those Blessed by my hand. Food lovingly prepared And family\u2019s joining as one These are my gifts These are my boons. This Goddess of the hearth fires and home was known as Hestia in the Greek Mythos, with Latin\/Roman name of Vesta. She was considered a virgin Goddess, whose priestesses were known as the Vestals or Vestal Virgins in Ancient Rome. Hers is the domain and sanctuary found in the kitchen. The preparing of food for those loved and the warmth of sitting close together as the hearth burns in the long winter nights. The primary focus of Hestia was that of keeping the sacred fires burning. In ancient times, this continued flame ensured fire for warmth, protection, light, cooking and more. She was Goddess of the sacrificial flame and as such received an offering share of every sacrifice to the Gods. Hestia oversaw the cooking of every meal both in private home and communal gatherings. Her blessing was sought that the meal would nourish and sustain as well as forging the connections of sharing the meal with others. In Myth, Hestia was the first-born of Kronos, God\/Titan of Time and the Ages and Rhea, the Great Mother of the most powerful of the Gods, the Titans. She was fertility and Motherhood. Kronos, fearful that his children would depose him as he had done to his Father, Ouranus, ate each of the children as they born. Hestia, being the first-born was also the first to be consumed and the last to be disgorged when Zeus, (who had escaped the devouring of his Father, being hidden away by his mother Rhea), forced Kronos to release his swallowed siblings. I find this to be a very interesting story surrounding Hestia and the nature of her energy as Goddess of family, home and fires. In an other tale, Hestia was pursued for marriage by Poseidon and Apollon, both of whom she refused and then asked Zeus to allow her to remain unmarried, an eternal virgin. Zeus agreed and she took her place at his Sacred Hearth. So, how do we honor Hestia within our Hall? These are some of the thoughts and feelings I have regarding this Goddess. Consider her parentage, daughter of the Great God of time. Time is something we all wish to have more of with dear friends and families. Time is filled with joy and abundance when we spend some of that time, preparing a meal together and\/or sharing the bounties of a hearth well-tended. Hestia\u2019s mother, Rhea, was mother of the Gods, fertile and fierce in her protective nature. Motherly care speaks to the nourishment of those children tended, not only in the form of food, but also in the sustenance of mind, heart and encouragement to achieve their best possible selves. We do this for friends and all those we love as well. At times, being the Mother and at others allowing the expression of care to be given as we receive it with the innocence of the child who knows only this way of receipt. Hestia\u2019s sacrifice of refusing the offer of Marriage, thus parceling herself to another, speaks to the passion of choice in giving what we wish of ourselves and holding some intact for ourselves so we may focus on what is needed from others. This may seem as an odd comment, but keeping those fires burning brightly, to light the way for those who are wandering in the dark, to welcome another to the table for a feast lovingly prepared or to become the flame itself as source of inspiration requires at times an attitude of self-focus and being unfettered by another\u2019s demands. Hestia chose to remain the eternal virgin. In ancient Rome and Greece the term \u201cVirgin\u201d meant not married, not belonging to a man. This was a woman who was\u00a0\u201cone-in-herself.\u201d The word is derived from a Latin root meaning \u201cstrength, force, skill\u201d; and was later applied to men as the term \u201cvirile\u201d. To provide for others requires that you must be strong within yourself. To offer up the bounty of food and relationship, you must know the wisdom of yourself singularly and what it is you have to offer in contribution to what is more than yourself. Hestia maintains the inner flame that burns within each of us and the magick that we exercise is crafting the precise recipe that will produce the transformation of wheat to life-giving bread is successful to the degree that we acknowledge her presence in all of our working. Every word we speak, every action we take, every emotion expressed and every idea we share is blessed by the potential of taking a new form that will sustain, warm, and light the way for others. This month is a wonderful time to come to know this Goddess. We have celebrated the First Harvest (Northern Hemisphere) or the First Sowing and Planting of Seeds that will require sun and care. Hestia\u2019s fires call us to our dinner tables as friends and family gather round. And, as we offer up our thanks for her bounty and night draws near, the oil of her lamp will carry us into the cradle of gentle sleep. Spend some time with Hestia. Think on how you connect with her as you move through your day. Light a candle or prepare a meal and feel her presence guiding and watching over. Excerpted from: Cornerstones of Magick https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/2015\/09\/07\/cofmagick2-the-hall-of-the-goddesshestia\/ Cornerstones of Magick: Lesson Index https:\/\/awitchssacredjourney.com\/cornerstoneslesson-index\/ Image Credit: Howard David Johnson *** About the Author: Robin Fennelly\u00a0is a Wiccan High Priestess, teacher, poet and author. She is the author of (click on book titles for more information): &nbsp; The Inner Chamber Volume One It\u2019s Written in the Stars Astrology \u00a0 The Inner Chamber, Vol. Two poetry of the Spheres (Volume 2) Qabalah \u00a0 The Inner Chamber, Vol. Three Awakening the Paths Qabalah &nbsp; A Year With Gaia The Eternal Cord &nbsp; Temple of the Sun and Moon Luminous Devotions &nbsp; The Magickal Pen Volume One (Volume 1) A Collection of Esoteric Writings &nbsp; The Elemental Year Aligning the Parts of SELF &nbsp; The Enchanted Gate Musings on the Magick of the Natural World &nbsp; Sleeping with the Goddess Nights of Devotion &nbsp; A Weekly Reflection Musings for the Year \u00a0 Her books are available on\u00a0Amazon\u00a0or on this website\u00a0and her\u00a0Blogs\u00a0can be found at:\u00a0Robin Fennelly\u00a0 \u00a0 Follow Robin\u00a0on Instagram &amp; Facebook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":6,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18887\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}