The Hearth

Folklore

For ancient cultures, the hearth was the center of the home.
It was the provider of warmth through the harsh winter months,
and also provided heat for cooking all meals. It was the
gathering place of the household.
Fire has a special attraction for all of us. Within its
smoke and flame lie the origin of many religions.
Fire, the element of transformation, causes change to occur. It can be
destructive, but through destruction comes creation.
The fire in the house was never allowed to die. It was considered
unfortunate if the household fire went out during the night.
If this occurred, hot coals would need to be borrowed from neighbors.
If the coals died while being transported home, it was an omen
that the family would have an unlucky future.

Today, the fireplace is viewed as the heart of the home, as well as an altar to natural forces that shape our work. Because the chimney is regarded as a
"magical entrance" to the home, it has been magically guarded.
Plants can be utilized for this. Olive branches hung on the chimney
serve to ward against lightning strikes. Pine needles scattered in the fireplace
work in a similar manner.

Crossing fireplace tools in front of the fireplace is said to prevent sparks from popping out onto the floor. A jar of salt on the hearth can be used
during any period of argument or tension: throw a pinch on the flames, and its cleansing powers will bless your home.

Three circles drawn in white chalk on the hearth will
ban evil from entering.

According to folklore, fire must have at least thirteen sticks
in order to burn properly.

When the fireplace was cold, witches would rake the ashes into a circle,
then cast spells within the circle.

A fire is useful for transformative spells, such as those utilizing
rosemary or rose petals, which are cast into the flames. Combining
this with the proper visualization would bring love to the spell-maker.
Nettles thrown into the fire will conquer fear.

The type of wood being burned can affect your spells. Use oak for healing magic, for instance, when someone in the home is sick.
This wood helps to draw off the illness and protects the rest of the household.
Ash logs promote energy, while pine brings money into the home.

Hestia

Hestia was the Goddess of the Hearth. She was felt to be present in the living flame at the center of the home or temple. Hestia's symbol was the circle; her first hearths were round. The home (or temple) was not sanctified until Hestia entered. She made these places holy when she was there. She was considered a spiritually-felt presence as well as a sacred fire that provided illumination and warmth.

Even though she was greatly honored, she was the least known of the Greek goddesses. She was the first child born to Rhea and Cronos. In the Roman pantheon she is known as Vesta, and her mythology appears in three Homeric hymns.

Come Vesta, to live in this Beautiful Home,
Come with warm feelings of friendship.
Bring your intelligence,
Your energy and your Passion
To join with your Good Work.
Burn always in my Soul.
You are welcome here.
I remember you.
--Homeric hymn

Aphrodite caused Poseidon and Apollo to fall in love with Hestia. She refused them both, taking an oath to remain "a woman unto herself."

Hestia's significance is found in rituals symbolized by fire. For example, whenever a new couple would venture out to start a new home, Hestia would come with them, representing the sacred fire and linking the old home with the new. This symbolizes continuity and relatedness. Hestia's fire provided warmth and sanctified the home.

Hestia was often associated with Hermes, the messenger god. He was an eloquent deity, a protector of travellers and god of speech. In households, Hermes and Hestia were related but separate. Hestia provided the sanctary for the bonding together of the family; Hermes was the protector at the door.

The Hestia archetype represents focused consciousness. Her way of perceiving is inward and intuitive. This archetype allows us to get in touch with our values by focusing on what is personally meaningful.

Spiritual Housecleaning

Your house receives energy from the many forces surrounding it, and in turn sends out its own unique energy. After you have "cleansed" you home, it can function both as a collector and transmitter of energy. In order to achieve this harmonizing effect, follow the four steps of house clearing.

The four steps are:
1. Preparation
2. Purification
3. Invocation
4. Preservation

These steps form the framework for the clearing of your home.

Preparation

Before a house clearing, it is best to clean your home. Give your entire home a thorough cleaning, which will facilitate the clearing, and give your home a stronger energy field.
The day before, prepare all your tools by: purify them by moving them through smoke. Purify the clothes you will wear during the ceremony. Before retiring for the night, ask Spirit to work with you to prepare you for the cleansing. Upon rising the next day, meditate and ask for guidance. Visualize yourself going from room to room, cleansing each room. Then take a salt bath. Add a pound of salt to your water and soak for twenty minutes. Rise off after your bath. Put on the clothes that you prepared the night before. Do not wear jewelry. It is preferable to work with shoes on. Gather together the items you will be using for the cleansing.

Purification

Before you can instill new energy fields in a home, it is important to cleanse the overall energy first. Energy can become stagnant and this affects the health of all the home's occupants. Before beginning, stand back and listen to the room's energy. Visualize clearly the finished project. With this vision in mind, use your most powerful tool to break up the energy and move it around the room. Hold in your mind the intention for the clearing. Some other suggestions: open to energy flowing through your body; expand your aura to fill the room; offer prayers; sensitize your hands.
Circle the room by starting in the eastern corner of the room. Use your receiving hand to perceive places of erratic or stagnant energy. Use your power hand to do the clearing with a rattle, bell, water sprayer, or salt. Keep circling the room as the energy becomes lighter. There are several ways to perceive when the room has been cleared:
Colors look brighter
Sounds are clearer
You can breathe more deeply
You feel lighter

Invocation

Invocation fills the home with radiant light and clear energy. It is essential that you call energy into the home after it has been cleared. You can use the same tools, but the intention is different. You have the Intention of calling energy instead of clearing it. When you sanctify the home you are asking the Goddess to fill your home. You are calling forth an energy of healing and love. Some suggestions: be specific; open to energy flowing through your body; expand your aura to fill the entire home.
Offer prayers by stilling your mind and asking that the home be filled. Stand in the room that feels most central to the home and offer your prayer.

Preservation

Once your have cleared the home and have invoked new energy, it is helpful to preserve the energy you have called in. For example, take a quartz crystal that has been cleansed and dedicate the crystal to balance and peace within the home. Place the crystal in a central location so that it can continue to radiate balanced, peaceful energy.

Sources Used
Sacred Space
The Magical Household
Goddesses in Everywoman

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