Hestia Kitchen Blessing

by Moirai

We recently had the kitchen 'refreshed' as after four years of cooking, cat antics and a leaking roof it was sorely in need of some attention!

Once the painting was done and some new shelves had been put up it got me thinking that the kitchen, more than any other room, is the focal point of the home to me. It's where myself and my husband chat about our respective days, where guests tend to gravitate and where I tend to gaze out of the window watching the birds come to feed in the garden.

I was so happy when everything was in place that I wanted to celebrate. I'd also been thinking of a mini-altar to Hestia for quite some time, although I hadn't really had the space before. That's when I read Debs' helpful article on The Modern Day Kitchen Witch over in Cauldron Corner which had a useful section about Hestia in it. I wanted to cleanse the kitchen first and then gather a few things for the altar space. Not too much as I didn't want a really overt statement but just a few things that would be a touchstone.

The first step was to get a white sage smudge bundle out and give the kitchen a good blast of cleansing. I did this in the evening and had the back door flung open, where luckily I could catch a glimpse of the rising moon. I walked around the kitchen anti-clockwise three times whilst quietly saying that I cast out negativity and all harmful influence.

I'd made a batch of the Hestia incense from Debs recipe earlier on, so once the white sage was put out I lit a charcoal disc in my incense burner and put in some of the Hestia incense to burn. I really liked burning it as it has the right sort of 'herbs and flowers gently drying' scent that seems perfect for a kitchen. Then I walked around the kitchen three time clockwise whilst giving thanks for my bright and clean kitchen and asking for Hestia's blessing on the heart and hearth of my home.

The few things for the altar space are some of Debs hand blended Midsummer Sun potpourri, a corn dolly that is made in a traditional sweetheart pattern from the Chilterns (which will be going up on one of the walls once I decide where), a blue lace agate which I find really soothing to look at, a red votive glass and candle to represent the warmth and love of the home and a small bag containing the Hestia blend incense. I also got a basil, thyme and coriander candle which I think is great for kitchen use. A small note - I don't actually burn the candles when they are on the shelf!