Nine Noble Virtues
By Galena
@Galena (9110)
March 24, 2007 12:20pm CST
these are the nine noble virtues, a set of qualities by which followers of Asatru, a Norse Pagan path, aspire to live.
I'm interested in anyones views on them, regardless of what they beleive in or don't beleive in.
while I am not Asatru, I find them a very important ethical guideline. if we all try to live by these virtues then the world gets a little better.
as a Pagan who is not a Wiccan, I find them a far more realistic and valuable moral code that the Wiccan Rede.
the Nine Noble Virtues are
HOSPITALITY - could also be called Courtesy, or even just plain manners. to be respectful to those you have dealings with. and in the more narrow sense, to be kind and generous to those under your responsibility
COURAGE - doing what you beleive is right, even when you are afraid, even faced with fear and danger
TRUTH - to stand up for what is true, to accept truth even if it isn't as you want it to be.
LOYALTY - to me by far the most important. to give your unwavering loyalty to those who deserve it. to your family, your friends, those who you care about. to me, Loyalty includes always doing what you can to protect them from harm.
HONOUR - you keep your promises, you never make an oath or promise without striving to keep it with everything you've got. Honour also to me includes the protection of others.
SELF RELIANCE - you are your own responsibility. you can't always assume others will provide for you. you should always be willing to do your best to provide for yourself.
HARD WORK - similar to the self reliance. but where self reliance is the willingness to do so, hard work is carrying it through.
PERSEVERENCE - things may be difficult, but if it is something important that needs doing, you keep trying. if life treats you badly you keep your head down and keep going and don't let it stop you.
DISCIPLINE - having the organisation to get things done, and keeping at it even if you don't want to.
so these are the nine noble virtues, and my rather loose interpretation of them.
what do you think of these values? are they important to you? do you try to keep these values, even when it's difficult?
do you think these virtues will make you a better person if you strive to acheive them?
3 people like this
7 responses
@cooky28 (739)
• Australia
24 Mar 07
I think you have hit the nail on the head, its a pity that a lot of people dont follow them,but then again thats life.i did not answer your last discussion because i dont wear corsets,but i bet you look very nice with that slim waist.lots of hugs.
@Galena (9110)
•
25 Mar 07
hehe. don't worry, I'm not one of these people that expects everyone to answer everything I post. post on what you have an opinion on, or want to talk about.
it seems strange to me how some people expect everyone on their friend list to respond to everything they post, and why should they.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
24 Mar 07
It is a bit of a loose interpretation, but an awesome one. Very well done!
It's pretty similar to the values I live by, though mine are phrased a little differently. But a Celtic path and a Norse path have a lot in common, from what I've heard and read.
I think these are some very important values for anyone, regardless of religion or upbringing.
2 people like this
@rainbow (6761)
•
24 Mar 07
I think all of these come under the heading of "being good" as my mum, bless her, would have put it. She brought me up to behave in these ways although she was non-attending C of E.
Surely regardless of religion these are values that we should all accept into our lives and try to live by.
I think how to live your life is learned at your mothers knee and her hopes and behaviour teach you what is acceptable, sadly some are not so lucky.
I hope that I live as best I can although I cannot say that I really have a religion at all, I just make up what I think is good and right as I go along.
Did that make any sense?
1 person likes this
@Strawberry_chaos (302)
• Australia
24 Mar 07
Hi! I'm wiccan, and i have to say, i love the wiccan rede.
I think these values are pretty great too.
Hospitality...this one isn't so important to me..i try to be polite, but it generaly depends on who im dealing with and what i think of them. i'm not realyl sure what this one is implying and whether i agree with it all that much.
The others are things Ithink are important, and have always tried to keep to in my life, especially courage, truth, loyalty, and honour. Sure, it would probably be easier not to soetimes when things are difficult, but i'd rather stick with what i think is right rather than be a lazy quitter type person and feel bad about myself for it.
I think that following these values would be really helpful for people to become better people.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Merry meet fellow Pagan! LOL I often tell folk I'm a Born Again Pagan
I'm a tad familiar with Asatru, but I never came across the Nine Noble Virtues
Hospitality (Courtesy)---I certainly wish people were more hospitable with one another--I hate rudeness in people. There's nothing wrong with a little kindness and respect toward a fellow human being. True?
Courage--ah that can be a hard one at times. I've gone through a wringer of set-backs in my life, and it's a wonder I haven't gone off the deep end, in fact, some of my friends keep encouraging me to write a book about all the bizarre things that have gone on in my life. One friend though said to me that I'm a very strong person, I just have to believe in myself...that's the hardest at times --isn't it??
Truth--Yes it is much better to stand up for what you believe in even if it goes against the beliefs of others...you have to trust in your heart of what is honest true and worthy in life
Loyalty and Honor--I think this are tied in together---It's a shame that in today's society that all too often when a person gives there word or promise about something it's not kept--one shouldn't make the promise in the first place then.
Perseverence--I think this can be tied with courage too....Like I've said I've had my share of major set-backs in life--but I haven't quit yet..maybe because I'm just too stubborn..
Discipline--I'm certainly disciplined--if I say to myself I am going to accomplish something, I mean it...Too do anything worthwhile in life, any goal any ambition does take a lot of discipline
@arcadian (930)
• United States
26 Mar 07
I like this list. Reading through it, I found some were qualities I was taught as a child and are ingrained and some I learned the hard way are important to my personal sense of worth, but one is very hard for me, and gets harder as I get older. Perseverence. In some things I've been hitting my head against a wall so long it feels like a mushmelon. That's the real reason I'm brain-damaged.
