wisdEm
Wisdom from the World's religions inspires our ethical and spiritual life.
Principles and
Guidance: A basic definition of
wisdom is the use of knowledge. It is a
deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations,
resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgments and actions in keeping
with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions
so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's
actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with
optimum judgment as to action.
The ancient Greeks considered wisdom to be an important virtue, personified as the Goddesses Metis and Athena. To Socrates and Plato, philosophy was
literally the love of Wisdom.
Wisdom is also important
within Christianity. Jesus emphasized it. Paul the Apostle, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, argued that
there is both secular and divine wisdom, urging Christians to pursue the
latter. Prudence, which is intimately related to wisdom, became one of
the four cardinal virtues of Catholicism. The Christian philosopher Thomas
Aquinas considered wisdom to be the father of all virtues.
In the Inuit tradition, developing wisdom was the aim of teaching. An Inuit
Elder said that a person became wise when they could see what needed to be done
and do it successfully without being told what to do.
Buddhist scriptures teach that a wise person is endowed with
good bodily conduct, good verbal
conduct, and good mental conduct. A wise
person does actions that are unpleasant to do but give good results, and doesn’t do actions that are pleasant
to do but give bad results. Wisdom is
the antidote
to the self-chosen poison
of ignorance.
In the Thirteen Virtues of a Witch, wisdom has nothing to do with education.
You cannot judge people's wisdom by how far in school they did or didn’t get. Wisdom comes from life experience. It is the best tool for giving people good
advice and helping them out of tricky situations. Wisdom is the ability to see what is for the
best and when or when not to act.
In Norse
mythology, the God Odin is especially known for his wisdom, often acquired
through various hardships and ordeals involving pain and self-sacrifice. In one
instance he plucked out an eye and offered it to Mimir, guardian of the well of
knowledge and wisdom, in return for a drink from the well. In another famous
account, Odin hanged himself for nine nights from Yggdrasil, the World Tree that unites all the realms of existence, suffering from hunger and thirst and finally
wounding himself with a spear until he gained the knowledge of runes for use in casting powerful magic. He was also able to
acquire the mead of poetry from the giants, a drink of which could grant the power of a scholar
or poet, for the benefit of Gods and mortals alike.
The Ansuz rune A
tells of increased awareness of what the future holds. Linked to Odin, it is a
rune of inspiration, wisdom, aspirations and communication. Promises spiritual
renewal and progress, clear vision and good health.
Air is the element of the East, connected
to the soul and the breath of life. If you’re doing a working related to
communication, wisdom or the powers of the mind, Air is the element to focus
on.
The Six-Fold Goal is another guideline
discussed in A Book of Troth by Thorsson and was adopted by certain Asatru groups. The Six-Fold Goals are:
Right, Wisdom, Might, Harvest, Frith and Love.
Mimir is a figure in Norse
mythology renowned for his knowledge. Mimir
is the wise one and Odin's uncle. He
guards the well of wisdom under Yggdrasil. Once he is decapitated, Odin gets wisdom from
the severed head.
Snotra is a Goddess
associated virtue, wisdom, self-discipline and justice. She is always ready to let folk know what is
fitting at any given time. Often called on by the lady of the house when men
are feasting too boisterously. Snotra is
one of Frigg's attendants.
Odin is a major God in Norse
mythology and the ruler of Asgard. He is
associated with war and death, but also wisdom, poetry and the hunt.
Vor is a Goddess
associated with wisdom. Vor
is the Goddess of marriage and faithfulness between man and woman from whom
nothing could be hidden because she is so wise. She is wise and alert, and she
misses nothing.
"Wisdom is not a product of
schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it." - Albert Einstein
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