Virtues for the Fall

Here at Lammas/Lughnasadh we pause for the first Harvest. There are many ideas about this Pagan holiday and I would like to add another perspective to compliment your own.

In the Charge of the Goddess, she asks us to be humble, compassionate and honorable. These are not the only virtues in the charge, but these are ones for this time of year.

At Lammas, we focus on humility. We don't talk about humility much in Paganism presently, but I hope we may start such a discussion. The definition I prefer for humility in a Pagan context is not being proud or arrogant; being modest; being humble and successful.

Proud, in this context, refers to having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance. This sort of pride goes quite well with being arrogant and both show us that they are geared towards ourselves only. Prideful and arrogant people are difficult to get along with and can be destructive to a group trying to achieve a goal or a coven wanting to gel. This sort of pride should not be confused with the pride that comes from achieving something wanted or attempted or the pride we feel in others and their achievements. Thomas Merton wrote “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real."

Being modest and humble may sound old fashioned, however, being modest means being unassuming and not making excessive importance to what you are doing or achieving. Being humble keeps us grounded. Being humble helps us refrain from becoming arrogant. We learned about being powerful at Imbolc, here at Lughnasadh we consider how to be powerful and humble. Our ability to develop the virtue of humility, helps us not over do our power or become enamored of our power or our position in life or an organization.

Humility is love’s repose. Love is not arrogant or proud. Unconditional love is peaceful and comfortable. It does not need to shout or prove itself to anyone else. It rests in the knowing that it is worthwhile intrinsically. When we are humble, we are demonstrating the peace of love. We are allowing our love to flow to others and resting in the clear knowing that our humility is increasing our understanding of love in action. We are feeling that we are intrinsically worthwhile, humbled by that understanding when it becomes part of our sense of self.

Here is a prayer for humility:

Oh Aidos, Goddess of Humility, the last to leave the mighty Earth after the Golden Age, sister of Nemesis, she who keeps us humble and respectful, smile upon me now. Let my heart know the peace of your gifts, so that I may walk in the world with understanding and love. She who helps us know our worth quietly, but deeply, bring me to a clear understanding of how humility improves my life. Let me find my self-worth through your presence in my life and by the good deeds I do when no one is watching. All praise, Aidos, Goddess of Humility, may humility be my guide.

At Mabon/Fall Equinox, we can focus on the virtue of compassion and at Samhain, the virtue focus is honor. Consider how humility - doing the right thing when no one is watching and compassion - finding a way to suffer with others, leads us to living an honorable life. As a reminder, the full list of virtues are contained in this sentence from the Charge of the Goddess: Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.