Dominion: hearth, home, family, virginity, fertility, sacred fire

Title: Keeper of the Home Fires

Sacred Symbols: hearth, fire

Sacred Colours: red and white

Sacred Animals: pig, donkey

Sacred plants: chasteberry tree, oak tree, hemp, orchid, thistle, nightshade, hollyhock, coneflower, yarrow

Sacred Jewel: fire agate

Day of Worship: none

High Feast Day: 14th of February  

Festival: 15th of June

Devotees: none

Invoked for: blessings on the home and family, a good harvest, the protection of virgins, pregnancy when all else has failed and no other hope is offered 

Temple: The Temple of Vesta is in the village of Langley, in Tickingshire. 

Initiation: none 

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The goddess Vesta is widely revered in Lindensea, yet there is only one temple in her name in the entire kingdom, and no devotees come to her worship. The sanctity of her shrine is not to be profaned by daily comings and goings, and only her priestesses may keep the sacred flame alive there.

The manner of her priestesses is also quite singular. Each year six girls are chosen by the temple; they must be eleven years old, and of noble blood. These young maidens are then kept apart from men, excepting close male relatives, and attend their normal education at girl's schools and colleges which only have female teachers and professors. At the same time, they must study the rites and duties of Vesta's temple.

At the age of twenty-one, should they be willing and have passed all tests, they take a vow of chastity and become priestesses, or as they are known, Vestal Virgins. It is considered a great feat if only one girl a year is successful and wishes to dedicate her life to the temple. Vestal Virgins wear white woollen robes decorated with red ribbons, and cover their heads with a white veil. 

Vestal Virgins serve for a term of thirty years, and the only way to sever the contract is to lose their virginity. A surprising number choose to continue after the agreed-upon term, and remain in the role until the end of their days. By long tradition, the Vestal Virgins of Langley are librarians as well, since the village library is attached to the Temple of Vesta. They also manage the village bakery.  

Not only the hearth fire, but the threshold of each home is sacred to the goddess Vesta, and it is considered very unlucky for a woman to trip or stumble as she crosses, lest she offend the goddess. For that reason, on her wedding day a bride is often carried across the threshold of her new home by her husband to ensure that no offence is inadvertently given. Husbands who fear they may drop their new wife and cause even greater offence are permitted to merely assist her across the threshold by offering a gentlemanly arm or hand. 

Every wedding is blessed by Vesta, for this is another threshold of life that the happy couple are crossing together. Each donation made to any temple is given in Vesta's name, and every prayer offered to the gods invokes her assistance. Through her do flowers bloom in the spring, and by her will are the crops ready to harvest in the autumn. She is a friend and sister to all the gods; she is the goddess who is nowhere and yet everywhere.          

Although there is no formal day of worship for Vesta, and she has no devotees, every day is sacred to the goddess, and all of us are her followers. Each festival and high feast of Vesta is a public holiday, and all are expected to participate in some manner. There may be only one Temple of Vesta, but as long as every home has someone to tend the hearth fire, and there are those who  remember the past and honour the ancestors, the spirit of Vesta is alive and well.

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