Hello, all:
It has been suggested that in addition to the Wiccan Rede ("If it harm none, do what you will"), there are eight Wiccan virtues that are suggested by Doreen Valiente's "The Charge of the Goddess":
"Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you."
Beauty. Strength. Power. Compassion. Honour. Humility. Mirth. Reverence. Do these strike you as being excellent virtues to cultivate? Are they fundamental characteristics of the Wiccan experience of spirituality?
Source: http://www.wicca.utvinternet.com/BOS/bos3.htm
2007-05-13 08:44:29 · 10 answers · asked by prairiecrow 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't know if I would consider these virtues primary characteristics of Wicca. I would say that they are important virtues but I think that each person on their path may come up with virtues that are more fitting for them.
In my family coven we also add a few more ... empathy, honesty, knowledge, perseverance, trust, wisdom and adaptability.
2007-05-13 09:19:31 · answer #1 · answered by )0( Cricket Song 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
There are several problems with The Charge of the Goddess for non-Gardnerians and Pre-Valiente Gardnerians and I have a problem with hacking out 8 of its concepts to make it more palatable, which is essentially what proponents of the eight virtues do.
I'd place honesty, self-responsibility, self-awareness, knowledge and love far above "Beauty. Strength. Power. Compassion. Honour. Humility. Mirth. Reverence"
I would not describe them as fundamental characteristics of *my* experience, but I've certainly seen others use them, especially without the whole honesty and self responsibility thing.
2007-05-14 01:24:19 · answer #2 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that is a fantastic suggestion. Yes, they are excellent virtues, and I believe that most of us already embrace them (I haven't met any other Wiccan who doesn't)
It never fails for fundies to come claiming that we are copying something from the Bible. They seem to forget most Christian traditions and beliefs originate in ancient beliefs, and most Christian holidays and rituals were adopted from Paganism to attract more followers to their religion.
Blessed Be )0(
2007-05-13 13:40:48 · answer #3 · answered by David G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, they do sound like good virtues to have. But how can beauty be considered a virtue? Just wondering.
2007-05-14 05:56:53 · answer #4 · answered by Silver Wolf 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is very nice....i followed your links, and i thought i would paste it here for the person who obviously cannot read, as he states it sounds like the bible (BAH!!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Listen to the words of the Great Mother; she who of old was also
called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine,
Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod, Isis, Dana, Bride and by
many other names. At her altars the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta
made due sacrifice."
HPS: "Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it
be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret
place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all the
witcheries. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all
sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I
teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from
slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in
your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love,
all in my praise. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine
also is joy on earth; for my law is love unto all beings. Keep pure
your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or
turn you aside.
For mine is the secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth, and
mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,
which is the Holy Grail of immortality. I am the Gracious Goddess,
who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, I give
the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace
and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I
demand aught in sacrifice; for behold, I am the Mother of all
living, and my love is poured out upon the earth."
HP: "Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; she in the dust of whose feet
are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles the Universe."
HPS: "I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among
the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the
heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and
before my face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost
divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold,
all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore
let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion,
honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning
shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery;
that if that which thou seekest thee findest not within thee,
thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been
with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained
at the end of desire."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In answer to your question, YES!!!!
What a beautiful world we would live in if everyone took those verses to heart!
~*~*Thank You For Sharing*~*~
Ariel
2007-05-13 12:03:11 · answer #5 · answered by *~Ariel Brigalow Moondust~* 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely!!!
2007-05-13 08:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
they seem very apropos for Wicca, and could and should be virtues other religions employ as well.
2007-05-13 08:50:04 · answer #7 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
"all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals"
doesnt seem that virtuous to me. how can you have Beauty an humility too? thats vanity.
2007-05-13 08:51:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
There is no such thing as a virtue in the wiccan " religion", since wiccan is just another name for witchcraft. The name used to be witch craft, but due to all the persecution, they changed it to " wiccan ". There is absolutely nothing virtuous about witch craft !
2007-05-13 08:51:58 · answer #9 · answered by The Count 7 · 0⤊ 11⤋
Sounds like they copied the bible.
2007-05-13 08:48:41 · answer #10 · answered by teamjesus_ca 4 · 2⤊ 10⤋