Hearth magick has long been a part of my personal spiritual practice but it is not something I talk about often as its own subject. Hearth witch is also not a label I use. My practice includes so many different types of magicks, I can’t really list them all. I do believe that there is a bit of hearth witch in all of us, and our ancestors probably practiced quite a bit of hearth magick as well.
When my husband and I first opened our store ten years ago, I started teaching a workshop series called Hearth Magick. And each month, the class would focus on a different need or type of craft. I always opened my workshop with a prayer to Hestia, and I would like to include that prayer here. It is by far my favorite prayer to Hestia and for that reason alone I’d like to share it. However, I do not know who the original author is, sadly.
“Home-loving Hestia, fair maid who sits by the fire, first-born of fearful Kronos and deep-souled Rhea, goddess who is the beating heart of every home, tender of the altar flame, guardian of the gate, I pray to you this day, I ask your favor. All who pass this threshold pass into your realm, O goddess; may all who dwell within these walls be under your protection. Hestia, eldest of the deathless gods, I ask your blessing on my home and on my family. May we live our lives in joy and love, may our larder be full, may we be sheltered from storms, kept safe from all ill, may only those who wish us well make their way to our door. Be ever welcome in our home, O Hestia; be ever present in our hearts.”
Hestia
Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth. But she also holds providence over many other domains as the protector of the home and the state. Referred to in a Homeric hymn as “chief among goddesses,” Hestia was a very important goddess in the everyday life of the Greeks. However, there are few myths and stories about the goddess despite her importance in both the private and public domain of Greek society. Thus, many do not realize the large role Hestia and her Roman equivalent, Vesta, played in the ancient world.
Hestia was the oldest daughter of the ruler of the Titans, Cronus, and his wife, Rhea. Cronus was afraid that one of his heirs would dethrone him, so in order to protect his reign, he ate his children. Only one managed to escape, the future king of the gods, Zeus. When Zeus overthrew his father, he forced him to throw up all the children he had devoured. Hestia was the last sibling to be thrown up. Thus, she is sometimes referred to as both the oldest and the youngest child of Cronus. As she was content to tend to the hearth in Olympus, Hestia gave up her throne for Dionysus. This means that, technically, she is not included in the pantheon of the 12 Olympian Gods, just like her brother Hades.
Hestia’s most significant role was as the goddess of the hearth. Her name itself means “hearth” or “altar.” Hestia was associated with the physical object of the hearth and is often represented as one, or as a woman sitting next to one. Hestia also extended her domain over the family and the home, as in Ancient Greece, the hearth was such an important aspect of the home that the two became synonymous. It was because of this association that Hestia became the Greek goddess of the home and domesticity. Zeus was said to have placed Hestia “in the midst of the house” when she chose to stay unmarried.
What is Hearth Magic?
Hearth magick, or hearth witchery, also sometimes called cottage witchcraft, is a form of domestic magic that focuses on infusing magic into everyday tasks and creating a sacred, relaxing, and safe haven within the home.
A hearth magick practitioner is a home-centered Witch who focuses their energies on creating sacred space and weaving the magickal into the mundane. They do not usually feel the need to equip themselves with fancy tools or do elaborate rituals and like to get creative with what they have in their own kitchen or garden. They may also be crafty and enjoy making things for their home or practice.
Hearth Magick and Other Magickal Practices
Hearth magick could easily be considered a part of other magickal traditions. It often gets included in green witchery or kitchen witchery because hearth magick can involve gardening, using herbs, and cooking.
I live in the South, where we have a strong history of conjure and hoodoo. Conjure and hoodoo are words that are often used interchangeably but others will define them differently. Regardless of how we define those words, they are types of folk magick.
Folk magic is a system of traditional magical practices and beliefs that are passed down through generations within a community, often rooted in local customs and traditions, and practiced by everyday people rather than formally trained practitioners.
Hearth magick is primarily (there will always be exceptions) focused on low magick, much like folk magick. Both of these practices often address practical concerns and everyday needs, such as healing, protection, luck, love, or fertility.
For many of us, our desire is to weave the magickal into the mundane. I know it is something that I have been taught for years. If we can find the magickal in the mundane, it can bring us joy and connection to our deities. And this is the heart of hearth magick.
Change Your Language
The word chores can bring up really bleh feelings, so why don’t we change our language. Instead of chores, try referring to your house cleaning as housekeeping rituals? In our housekeeping rituals, we keep in mind our goal- to create a sanctuary, a sacred space, a dwelling for the divine- which nourishes us and our loved ones. These housekeeping rituals become an act of service- to our deities as well as to our spiritual well-being.
Think of the more thankless chores as nurturing actions. Things like doing the dishes, folding laundry and picking up after kids can be really thankless, especially when your hard work is undone in minutes sometimes. Remember that every dish washed is in service of nourishing someone with food, every shirt folded is to keep someone warm, and every toy picked up is both an accident prevented and an example/teaching to your kids for the future. Life really is in the details and I believe the little things do matter- especially when we see them as the building blocks of the goal and the big picture.
Include Your Home or Land in Your Daily Practice
Start the day with a land-honoring grounding practice. You may wish to acknowledge the four elements, or create a daily ritual that grounds you into the place you live, its history and its people. I like to work with my land spirits and try to include them in many of my rituals and thanksgiving.
Sanctify the hearth of your home and spend time there daily to replenish. The hearth of your home is the sacred power spot or energy center of the home. It is different for each of us, but it is the place that you feel most relaxed, nourished and grounded. Often, if you have people over to visit, they naturally gravitate to this area. Once you have located this area, sanctify it by cleansing and blessing it, creating an altar there, decorating it in a way that honors its spiritual essence and tend it with love. Spend more time there, doing things that nourish your soul or make you feel good.
Create Altars to Remind You
Regardless of whether the kitchen is the hearth of your home or not, you are likely going to be spending significant time there. Having an altar with beautiful, inspiring objects, seasonal flowers, candles and other items that speak to your soul will help take the edge off those long hours cooking and cleaning. It will serve as a reminder of the sacredness of the work you are doing, and infuse it with positive energy. You could also create altars in various spaces around your home to help remind you that your home is sacred, you are sacred. The bathroom is a great place to set up a self-love altar. Use your imagination and the items you already have, or things you find outside, to craft intentional, mindful spaces.
Listen to Your Home
I have read many urban fantasy books that give the witch’s home a personality or magickal abilities. Sometimes I think having a home with magickal abilities would be fun, but I don’t truly need my house getting mad at me and making all the doors disappear. However I do think many well loved homes do have a personality and getting to know your home is relatively simple and easy.
Listen to the building itself and honor it like a living being. Every home has its unique energy and will encourage its stewards to live a certain way. If you work in harmony with your house, it will take care of you. Take time to get to know your home and what its needs are. You can do this regardless of the type of home you have. Whether you live in a mobile home, house, apartment or another type of dwelling, your home has some type of permanent structure. It has walls that used to be living, breathing trees. You can connect with the energy of the building no matter where you are.
I like to spend time touching the walls of my home, infusing them with my love and gratitude. Everything and everyone loves to be told they are pretty (or handsome or beautiful) and that they are doing a good job. Your home is no different. Offer it your thanks for protecting you from the elements. Thank it for sharing space with you and nurturing you.
Spend time getting to know the land you live on as well. You can research the history of your town or neighborhood. But spend some time outside just getting familiar with where you live. Understanding what is normal and what is not in your outside environment is part of being in tune with your home. And recognizing when something is off can be an early warning system at times.
Enjoy Your Home
The most important thing you can do is to spend time enjoying your home and having fun in it. It is likely that your home is a work in progress. We often have plans or ideas to fix something, rearrange something, build something. Maybe we just need to do a deep clean. You can still love and honor your home even if it is not in a perfect state. We, as humans, are often not in a perfect state but we still need to be respected and loved. Our homes and workspaces are no different.
We are currently living in a society that tries to force us into being busy all the time. In American culture we are encouraged to monetize our hobbies, work multiple jobs or have multiple gigs. Mostly this is because of the cost of living, but it is also because we feel like we have to be productive the entire time we are awake each day. I’m not saying that American culture owns this problem, but it has certainly become a major thread in our culture. Sadly I have never lived anywhere outside of America, therefore I do not know if this is a part of other cultures or how they handle it.
Even as my own life gets busier and busier (by choice), I find myself embracing and teaching the need to enjoy life. What’s the point of running the rat race, of collecting all the things and toys we have, if we don’t ever get to play with them? Make some time to be present I your life and in your home. Take the time to enjoy just sitting at home. Appreciate the beauty of your home and grateful for the amazing things you have.
Being a Hearth Witch
Being a hearth witch can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. As I stated earlier, I think each of us practices a bit of hearth magick in our spiritual practices. You don’t have to work with Hestia to call yourself a hearth witch. You don’t have to live in a cottage with a garden to identify as a hearth witch. Like with most things, there are no set rules on how to be a hearth witch. If you work to provide a comfortable, safe home for yourself or family, you’re a hearth witch! If you love to cook, you’re a hearth witch!
Like many of our spiritual practices, intention and working from the heart are most important when it comes to hearth magick. If you can bring that mindfulness, intention, and presence into the work you do around your home, you can create a magickal safe haven that you will love. And it will love you in return.
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