Gaia Veturia Sacerdos (Nova Roma)
Gaia Veturia Sacerdos holds a B.S. in Architecture ( for buildings, not for computers ) and is a licensed architect in the state of California. Shortly after becoming active as a citizen, Veturia was honored to be selected the first place winner of the Certamen Historicum held during the Ludi Novi Romani celebrating the XVth anniversary of the founding of Nova Roma. She is proud to have established the lineage of the Veturia gens for Nova Roma in AUC 2766. She chose her Nova Roma name as an historic tribute to "Veturia", the mother of the ancient Roman general Caius Marcius Coriolanus and the first, founding priestess of the Temple of Fortuna Muliebris. This temple to the "womanly aspects" of the Goddess Fortuna was an ancient feminist temple celebrating a return to peace from war; a temple which was requested on behalf of women's rights by "Veturia" and earned by the successful efforts of a group of ancient Roman women who proved that they could bring peace to Rome. The Temple of Fortuna Muliebris was the only permanent temple in Rome that was completely run by women and which gave the women of Rome, particularly women in their first marriage, the right to speak publicly.
C. Veturia Sacerdos discovered Nova Roma whilst doing online research regarding the Goddess Fortuna, and became interested in the Religio Romana as a spirituality. By the time she applied for citizenship, her research had already expanded into a variety of different projects, including a website, a radio show and a nonprofit organization. She had become a believer in the ancient mythological religions as a "latchkey" kid with a fascination for the elementary school library. With no obvious religion to provide guidance, save her private studies of Greco-Roman mythology, her prayers for a normal family life were divinely answered. She and her siblings were miraculously blessed with adoption by her mother's new husband; a kindhearted, educated man who took the time to read children's storybooks aloud to the family ... a mysterious immigrant from one of the regions located within the extensive realm of the ancient Roman Empire. Her childhood fascination with ancient temples in the Greco-Roman world became a foundation for her later studies in University.
She also holds a California real estate license, a clergy ordainment through a separate organization and has performed legal marriage rites in California. Between architectural contracts, she learned divination by cartomancy as a calming, meditative hobby. When she discovered that her gifts were well-received by clients, she developed these skills into a second career. At the same time, she earned additional occult credentials as a master consultant and the title of high priestess. After becoming a citizen of Nova Roma, Veturia quickly adapted her knowledge, tools and practical abilities in consultation by divination to include a Roman Oracle using English translations of the traditional Homeric texts. She continues to be available as a professional in California, and also entertains a "moonlight" occult consultancy by email, live chat and phone.
