Vestal Virgin
The vestal virgin feeds the flame in the ancient Roman Temple of Vesta and ensures it never goes out. She was recruited at age ten and commits to thirty years of service. Bodyguards keep her safe when she leaves the temple and the adjacent vestal virgin compound (House of the Vestals). The head priestess supervises her. The vestal virgin wears the white veil of purity depicted in the antique plaque. The only danger she faces is if she breaks her thirty-year vow of celibacy. Then she will be buried alive.
If my daughter Alix had been a vestal virgin she could have lived longer. She would have been protected for thirty years starting at between ages six and ten. Her stress-free responsibility would have been to feed wood into the eternal flame of Rome. Instead, she died at age twenty-five after eight years of a tumultuous life from her bipolar disorder.
Do you have a family member who died that might have lived longer with ongoing protection and supervision?
Dearest Alix, doing all that she could, using an inordinate amount of energy treading water to remain earth side. It's all a part of the mystery. Why some find healing, others do not until they can drop their bodies? Sending you always so much gentle loving care dearest Julie, as you ponder. Xo 💕
Fascinating, Julie! I suppose this is where the white veil and wedding dress came from. Most of us would live longer, given constant supervision and protection from all but illness. The fear of being buried alive would certainly avert most people, but this would be giving up a great part of your life, especially back then when they didn't live much longer. Unless in poverty, who would volunteer for such a post?
I believe both Alix and Garrett had rich and full lives, making their own choices, facing pain and joy, and knowing they were loved. Really, who could ask for more?