Vestals, the
Symbolic meaning of this institution
February 25th 2018
In ancient Rome, the priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, were responsible for keeping the sacred fire burning day and night. But why keep a fire burning? We no longer live in prehistoric times, and if it goes out we can light it again. In reality, the fire maintained by the Vestals was a symbol of the inner flame which human beings must never allow to die. The Vestals, who were virgins, represented the divine Mother in her purest aspect, purity being a requirement for fire and light. The presence of the divine Mother is essential if we are to keep the fire burning – the sacred fire of love.
All humans must become virgins in their souls, attracting and maintaining this fire, so that the masculine principle within them – spirit – can use it in order to create. For fire is at the origin of all creation. From the preparation of the simplest meal to the launching of a spacecraft, fire is indispensable. And it is all the more so for spiritual life.