There is a cord from which we all extend. From the Goddess to the First Witch, there was always a first spark that has made its way through time and space. Hestia, seen as one of the oldest Goddesses worshipped, was understood to represent the fire at the center and the space from which family (chosen or otherwise) was connected (think umbilical cord). While Hestia is centered in the hearth and the home, surrounding those who make it so, the spark of the first flame can take us much deeper.
Synchronicity and Syncretism
This energy moving through time and space is seen often in forms of syncretism or emergence of an equivalent energetic force. Why am I speaking to Hestia and the cord that connects us all and syncretism?
Vesta.
Vesta is considered the Roman equivalent to Hestia and it is here that I began to feel Hestia grab me by the hair for synchronicity that I could not look away from!
The above symbol is that of the asteroid Vesta. Tell me what do you see?
A torch?
A fire pit?
Or the Sacred Umbilical Cord from between two legs?
Or perhaps the fire from the phallus (ahem, Hermes)?
All of them perhaps?
To go a bit deeper, think of Juno, who we connected with last month. Vesta is Sister to Juno, just as Hestia is Sister to Hera (Juno equivalent). If we can connect to Juno as the abundance coming from breathing life into community and the energy creating connection, then what is the force that moves it? What is the thing beyond or behind that flow toward it? It is the force of the first spark, that first Heiros Gamos or sacred marriage from which all came to be. I believe it is Hestia. She who is wholly owned by herself and asking us to tend the flames of ourselves so it may flow (in reciprocity) at a collective level.
Creating Your Black Sacred Candle
Ingredients:
- Clove (powdered and whole)
- Cinnamon
- Mugwort
- Fennel
- Eyebright
- Calendula Petals
- Oil of your choice (Juno Oil, a power oil, or even olive oil would work just fine!)
Supplies:
- Candle
- Candle Scribe (to carve Vesta glyph into candle, toothpicks work too)
- Aluminum Foil
- Parchment Paper
- Candle Holder
- Salt
Directions
- Take a piece of aluminum foil (large enough to wrap your candle in) and place it on your workspace.
- Take a piece of non-stick parchment paper (about the same size as your aluminum foil) and place it on top of the aluminum foil. Trick: Fold the edges of the aluminum foil over the top of the edges of the parchment paper to keep it from rolling!
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Go back to your candle and carve the sigil/glyph into it, then place your candle on top of the parchment paper.
- Grab your oil (or personal power oil) and anoint your candle with your chosen oil.
- Lightly coat your candle with each of the herbs.
- Caution: Please make sure there are no large chunks of plant material as these can be dangerous or ‘pop’ during candle burning. As always, please abide by all fire safety rules.
- Place your candle onto the parchment/aluminum foil, wrap your candle, and place in the oven.
- DO NOT LEAVE THE KITCHEN (lesson learned the hard way), turn your candle every 2 minutes (this took me about 12 minutes total).
- In between turning the candle in the oven, pour salt into your candle holder, add fennel on top.
- When you take your candle out of the oven, let it sit for a moment to cool down and carefully open it. In a line, push 7 whole cloves into the candle and then place your completed Black Sacred Candle within the candle holder.
Cultivating Connection to Hestia and Our Sacred Flame
Each day this month, sit with your candle for a few minutes and call in Hestia to connect. Ask her for guidance on connecting to your First Witch Sacred Flame and cultivating it further, you may be surprised at how far she takes you!
A Candle & A Key,
Kaycee
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Feature Image Credit: Kaycee Reeves
