The idea of a deity who reigns in the kitchen, blessing and protecting the household, is common all the way around the globe. In China, he is called Zao Jun, in Mesoamerica, he was called Huehuetotld, in Rome she was Vesta.
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| Vestal Virgin by Leighton |
So how come she was never assigned one of the major planets when the astrological prizes were being dispensed way back when?
In fact she was not entirely overlooked. The second century astrologer Manilius did give her a "tutelary" assignment: to oversee Capricorn that least domestic of signs. Capricorn is the sign most associated with public life and duty, so you can see that having Vesta, goddess of all things homey, might be quite helpful.
For an example of a Capricorn specially blessed by Vesta, read this piece on Nigella Lawson.
But Vesta is having a comeback. A lump of rock in the asteroid belt was named after her at the beginning of the 19th century – and then everyone promptly forgot about her again. In the 1970s, astrologers began to take more interest in the asteroids, and just this year Vesta was promoted to proto-planet.
In case you're thinking, "So what?" That's just a whisker away from getting to be a planetoid like lonely Pluto and chummy Ceres.
There's a beautiful Grand Trine in the sky today between butch Mars and Pluto and Vesta. They are all in earth signs, but Vesta is surely the most comfortable there. It's home turf for her. She has fire in common with Mars though, and Pluto is in her favourite sign Capricorn. All three are working in harmony.
I have just pulled two beautiful loaves of sourdough out of the oven. What could you do to honour the goddess of the hearth this week?
Here's a piece about the (possible) connection between Vesta and eating disorders.
