VESTA
… is the powerful ancient Roman goddess of the home and hearthfire. For centuries, her Eternal Flame was kept alight in her temple by her priestesses, the esteemed Vestal Virgins. And if you’ve ever felt a sense of reverence or comfort when you look into a flame, it may be Vesta you’re seeing.
If You’ve Ever Felt Drawn to the “Old Ways”
… you’re not alone. It is a changing world, and many people are turning to the past to find the meaning they can’t find in the religions they see around them.
If that’s the path you’re on, here you can learn about ancient history - Vesta’s history - and about how Vesta is honored today. Her sacred flame brings light, warmth, peace and inspiration to countless people worldwide, and if your life needs a little illumination, it can do the same for you. You’ll also find blogs, videos and a gallery of artifacts on this site.
Importantly, you’ll also learn simple rituals to honor Vesta, and for those who want to go deeper, you can learn my unique method of Vesta Candle Burns and Readings, a practice that draws from the well of ancient religion to bring the customs of the past into your modern life.
A Little About Me
I’m Debra May Macleod, BA, JD, an author of seven historical fiction novels set in Ancient Rome and featuring the powerful order of the Vestal Virgins. My books chronicle the history of the Vestal Order from its beginnings in the 8th century BCE to its end in the 4th century CE. I’ve also written nonfiction books about Vesta.
But more than that, I’m someone who has discovered the beauty and relevance of the sacred flame, and who wants to share it with like-minded people.
Everything Old is New Again
If you feel a sense of comfort or reverence when you look into a flame, you might want to incorporate simple Vesta rituals into your life. They’ve worked for people for millennia. Perhaps they can work for you too.
From home shrines to sacred offerings, visit the Vesta Today page to see how Vesta’s ancient legacy is honored in our modern world.
NEW! Subscribe to the All Things Vesta YouTube Channel for regular videos and posts, and to chat with a community of like-minded people.
Need a Little Drama in Your Life?
See the sacred flame burn in the temple… feel its heat, hear it roar… immerse yourself in the world of ancient Rome and the Vestals with these action-packed, emotional historical fiction novels:
Latest Release!
COELIA CONCORDIA: THE LAST VESTAL VIRGIN OF ROME
For over a thousand years, the esteemed priestesses of Vesta were tasked with keeping the goddess’s Eternal Flame burning in her temple. For as long as the fire was alive, the Eternal City would endure.
This is the thrilling, emotional story of the last Vestal Virgin—Coelia Concordia—and her battle to save the sacred flame from an encroaching darkness. It is also a story about a prophecy and a curse fulfilled, the fall of an empire, and the relentless suppression of the old gods as seen through the eyes of those who lost everything, but never gave up hope.
Want to learn more about the real-life people in COELIA CONCORDIA? Visit the Coelia Concordia page.
The First Vestals of Rome Trilogy
“If you love history, the Roman empire and the sex, fights and deception that allowed these privileged people to create one of the greatest cultures in the world, you will love this book.” - Book Junkie Reviews on Rhea Silvia
The Vesta Shadows Trilogy
“Fascinating… [A] page-turning story of the birth of the Roman empire, watching all the big names - Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Livia, Augustus - from an angle never seen before.” - Margaret George, NYT Bestselling Author on Brides of Rome
Do You Have Questions in Your Life?
Of course you do. So do I. So did the ancients, from the greatest Caesars to the most humble shopkeepers. To find the answers, they turned to the same thing that people have been turning to since the dawn of humankind. Divination. Many people still turn to it today to help them focus their thoughts and energy, work through their emotions, and make decisions based on their own intuition.
The Vestal priestesses had questions too, and to find the answers, they had a formal method of divining the goddess’s will by reading, recording and then interpreting the flames, smoke, burnt wood and ash of Vesta’s sacred altar fire. Since many of their practices were performed in secret, however, or have been lost to time, we don’t have specific documentation for how they did this.
As an author of historical fiction centering on the Vestals, I had to find a way to bring this important aspect of a Vestal’s temple duty to life. To do so, I did a deep dive into ancient Roman religious practices, rituals and customs, and emerged with an authentic method of fire-reading that has both religious and historical merit.
A Candle: The New Altar Fire
Yet truthfully, I found the process so beautiful and useful that I kept going. I transferred this method of fire reading to something far more accessible for most people - candle reading. (I even wrote a book about it). Just as the Vestals read the flames of the altar fire, you can now read the flames of a Vesta-dedicated candle. And you can use the same principles, practices, rituals and customs used in the ancient world.
So whether your questions are serious or irreverent, whether you’re looking to hone your intuition by the sacred flame or just have a little fun with friends, candle reading by Vesta’s flame is ideal for those who couldn’t help but light a candle while reading my novels on the Vestals. I hope you’ll try it in your life. And perhaps I can even do a custom Vesta Candle Burn for you.
FEATURED VIDEOS
DEBRA’S BLOG
More About the Author
Debra May Macleod, BA, JD, is an author of seven historical fiction novels set in Ancient Rome and featuring the esteemed order of Vestal Virgins. Her novels chronicle the Vestal Order's history over a thousand year period, from its earliest days to its emotional end.
She is privileged to have been invited to participate in research excursions in the Roman Forum, the Forum of Caesar and Imperial Fora, including places inaccessible to the general public, and informs her writing with this invaluable perspective.
Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Classics, as well as a Juris Doctor. An author with a true passion for her subject, she also writes about Vesta’s legacy in the modern world, including how she is honored today.