arianhawk-bos:

Virtue - (Noun) A quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.

The Nine Noble Virtues are a set of moral guidelines which were created during the 1970’s. They are based on the virtues found in Norse Paganism.

The Nine Noble Virtues are as shown:

1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honor
4. Fidelity
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Self-Reliance
8. Industriousness
9. Perseverance 

Sourced by the Odinic Rite

Another set of goals a Wiccan or Witch is shown to follow are the 13 goals of a Witch. These were created by Scott Cunningham and can be found in the book, ‘Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner.’ The goals are as follows:

Know Thyself

It is very important that you know who you are in order to practice the Craft. Sometimes we think we do know ourselves, but in truth we don’t. Most of the time we have an image of who we think we are or how others think we are instead of really being ourselves. It is not easy to be ourselves since we are constantly open to criticism. So we learn from an early age to hide our true selves deep inside and create an outer shell that we show to the world. Therefore, you must look deep down within yourself. Start exploring yourself anew. Yes, even look into your dark side. See yourself for who you truly are, and embrace yourself for the person you have become.

 Know Your Craft

Learn all you can about the Craft. There are plenty of books, good and bad, on the topic. Read as much as you can. Meditate about what you have read. No witch is an expert on all aspects of witchcraft. Some are good herb healers, and others prefer gems. There are those who are excellent tarot readers, and those who prefer the runes. If you are interested in a specific topic, study it seriously and become an expert in the field. Practice your Craft. Keep a Book of Shadows in which you keep a thorough record of your witchy activities.

 Learn

Read…read…read! The more you read, the more you learn. Ask questions. Broaden your horizons by learning from other pagans and wiccan. You will be amazed how much you can learn from others through their enriching experiences. Being a witch is a never ending learning experience. You never stop learning. If you do, you become stale. This doesn’t apply only to your religion; this applies to your life. Enrich your life. Get a new hobby. Visit new places. Study something you really like. Meet new people. Your life will be more exciting! And believe it or not, you will have a better understanding of the world around.

Have Patience

Patience is a virtue every witch and pagan must have, and it is the hardest to achieve. First practice having patience with your own self. Then you will be able to be patient with others.

Apply Knowledge with Wisdom

Knowledge is a very powerful tool. The more you learn, the more knowledgeable you will become. Therefore, use your better judgment when you do your magickal works. Remember that the Wiccan Rede says, “Do as you will but harm none.”

Achieve Balance

Lead a well-balanced life. Don’t let one part of your life take over your whole life. Let’s face it, for most of us, our jobs practically take 95% of our time. We live and breath our jobs! That is unhealthy. Take time to do things you like. Set time to enjoy activities with your family and friends. Don’t overdue things.

Keep Your Words in Good Order

Speak clearly as you express yourself. Measure your words. Speak truthfully always, except when what you speak might lead to great harm. Do not lie. Do not gossip or speak ill of others. Look inside yourself and see if you are the right person to be badmouthing someone. Criticism is okay, but one thing is a constructive critic and another is bashing. Never speak in anger. You will say things you will regret later. Take a time-out if necessary.

Keep Your Thoughts in Good Order

Keep your thoughts clear. Express your ideas and opinions but always keep an open mind. Keep away negative thoughts that might depress you. Be careful of what you think about others. Don’t be hasty to judge a person, or you might be misjudging the person and being unfair.

Celebrate Life

Life is beautiful! Life is the most precious gift from the Goddess to her children so enjoy it. Go out and witness the miracles around you for there is life wherever you look. Take a walk through a park and enjoy nature’s beauty. Maybe plant a tree. Watch a sunset. Bask in the morning sun. Join a group and help clean forests and protect animals. Recycle. But most important, be happy and thankful to know that you are alive.

Attune with the Circles of the Earth

Seasons bring change to both nature and people. Become attune with them. Celebrate the Sabbats. Do activities to help you out in becoming attune with the seasons, like decorating your place and/or altar according to the Sabbats. Take a stroll through a park and observe nature as it changes from one season to another.

Keep Yourself Healthy

Eat right and exercise your body regularly. You should have all three daily meals, drop eating between meals, and reduce the fat in your meals. Drink a lot of water and take vitamins. Avoid the yo-yo diets. This isn’t about being a health freak, it is about achieving a balance. Exercise keeps your body healthy and strong. Exercising should be fun. Don’t run about two miles daily unless you really want to. There are other exercises you can do like yoga or power walking. Both are very effective! Stop smoking and drinking.

Meditate

Find a quiet place where you can’t be disturbed and take at least 10 - 15 minutes every day to meditate. You can either do this either when you wake in the mornings or before going to sleep. Clear your mind of negative thoughts and fill it with positive ones. Find inner peace. If you meditate in the afternoons or in the evenings, use your meditation time to recharge your energies.

Honor the Goddess and the God

Always remember to honor the Goddess on the Esbat. Maybe create a little altar for the Goddess and her cohort, the God. Then light candles or incense for them. Thank them for all the good things in your life (and even for the not-so-good ones!).

Blessings,
Arian Hawk
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