Hestia: A Quick Witch’s Guide to the Goddess of the Hearth
Hestia is the daughter of Cronus, the titan who fathered several of the Olympian gods, and Rhea. Hestia means hearth or fireplace
Hestia, along with four of her five siblings, was devoured by her own father Cronus as an infant because he was afraid of being overthrown by one of his offspring. He only didn’t consumed his favorite child, Zeus who is also the one who forced their father to expel… disgorge… regurgitate… his siblings. And Cronus is sort of then basically overthrown by the one kid he didn’t devour. Hesia was the first to be devoured and the last to be undevoured so she is oddly the eldest and youngest daughter simultaneously.
Hestia is often considered to be part of the main 12 Olympians with her siblings. Although, in some stories instead of Hestia, it’s Dionysus. The Olympians who reside on Mount Olympus are third and fourth generation immortal gods after the primordial gods and are considered the main gods in the greek pantheon.
She does not have many stories. Probably because while the other gods are out running amuck she stays home on Olympus to keep the Olympic hearth fires safely burning. She is an eternal virgin goddess, she had many interested suitors but chose not to marry and to instead forever tend to the hearth of Olympus. She’s a homebody. And as a fellow homebody I can relate.
Hestia is the goddess of the hearth and home. She is not the goddess of fire in general but she is the goddess of the sacrificial flame of the hearth. Many gods or deities could receive offerings via their personal hearth flames. and she generally received a share of every sacrifice to the gods inside the household, often the first offering. She also sees over cooking, particularly family meals and breads. Despite her limited mythology, Hestia remained a very important goddess in ancient Greek society.
Who works closely with Hestia?
Anyone who feels called to work with or honor Hestia can work with her, but most commonly I see Hestia being the central deity for more “house witch” types. If most of your focus is home-based (home protection/cleansing, kitchen witchcraft), Hestia may be an ideal deity for you!
Additionally, if you generally work with other deities, you can honor Hestia by giving her an offering (such as food/bread/herbs/etc.) before any fire-based offerings to others as a thank you for maintaining the sacred flame.
Finding your hearth
Despite the hearth traditionally being the home’s fireplace, your personal hearth does not have to be. Especially if you don’t have one. What you consider to be the “heart” of your home can be your personal hearth. Many have created Hestia altars in their kitchen, since it is associated with cooking, nourishment, baking - especially breads. If you find that you and your family/friends spend a lot of time in the kitchen, that may be your hearth!
Strengthening a Connection with Hestia
Below are some things that you can do to connect with Hestia. Some of these may be things you already, but doing them with the intention of honoring her can make them special:
Cooking with fire (stovetop/grills/outdoor firepit)
Baking Bread
Lighting candles
Lighting one candle that represents Hestia/the sacred flame and using that candle to light others
Setting up a Hestia altar
Interior decorating with the intention of making your home a true sacred/safe space for you
Hestia assosciations:
Colors: warm colors like orange, red, yellow
Crystals: quartz, smoky quartz, amber, carnelian, citrine, garnet, tigers eye, sunstone
Symbols: pigs, donkeys, kettles, fire, torches, candles, bread
Hestia Offerings:
Part of your meal/drink
Part of your offerings to other deities
Incense or candles in warm scents like cinnamon & clove