Prayer Song Honoring Goddess Hestia

While it is traditional to honor Brigid during the Imbolc season, it is also fitting to honor Goddess Hestia who is the goddess of hearth and temple fire—the loving goddess of the divine spark. She so wished for humanity to have this connection to the gods that she gave up her throne on Olympus to dwell amidst humans and bring us her precious gift.

In Hellenic Paganism, it’s customary to honor Hestia at the beginning and ending of each ritual for two reasons: First, because she was the first born of the Olympians, then the last to be reborn from Chronos when he was slain by Zeus. And second, because the divine spark, of which she is the ruling goddess, is the beginning and ending of all spiritual practice. Without that first spark, we would have no possibility for spiritual connection and our souls would shiver, alone, in permanent dark.

Every morning, I sit down at my altar and empty the incense holder from the day before, clearing the ashes of the past. I put away yesterday’s tarot cards, letting go of the events of the previous day. Then, before anything else, I light a candle to Hestia and sing her a little song I made up for her fourteen years ago when I was living in desperate poverty and I needed the warmth of her fire to help remind me that I was not forsaken and alone.

You can hear me singing the song in the video above. Here are the lyrics:

Hail Hestia,
Ancient Mother of ours,
Keeper of the flame
Goddess of the hearth
Come into our home
Our hearts—make them your own
Oh, dear Hestia
Draw near
Draw near to us

It’s a simple little song, but connecting with Hestia’s fire helps warm up my divine connection each morning, just as her fire is meant to do.

Plus, the gods love it when you sing to them. They swoon, their hearts warm with loving embers, and they say, “See that songbird? S/he is one of ours!”

Love on your gods in song. Use mine if you like. Write one of your own. I, and the gods, will love to hear it.

-M. Ashley
Head Devotee, Temple Mercury