Virtue has its beginnings here.

There are many things to life. Good. Bad. etc. Here, we will go over the eight virtues that you can begin to study and master until you lead a virtueous life.

A simple layout of cards. Use this spread with your tarot deck to do a Virtue Reading, that is, where you should be going in order to better yourself in each virtue.

See how each card pertains to its place in the Octogram above?

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Principles

Courage - The quality or state of mind or spirit enabling one to face danger or hardship with confidence and resolution

Courage is the general term for a lot of bravery. It involves showing strength in times when you are afraid or facing a significant fear. Also a great hardship, say the death of a close one, or simply being the new student in school. All of these things take courage. Simply facing the unknown is an act of great courage.

As relating to truth, the simple courage to tell the truth is in itself courageous. Pride may be a hard thing to conquer, but the truth is even harder to come by. Why would one tell the truth if they didn’t have the courage to. One of the strong points of a persons personality, courage stands as a principle.

Love - To feel strong affection for all as a whole

Love too is a principle. Love comes in all shapes and sizes. It is also unconditional. To love a friend is different than to love a mate or family member, or even a pet. Each has its own value and none are more important than the others. With the unconditional standard, you love all that it comes with. The good, the bad and the ugly. No petty excuses about one point or another, just love for all as a whole. It also takes courage to love. You let down your guard and defenses and wonder about yourself and another. Facing the unknown. Facing the courage to love.

Truth - Conformity to fact with sincere integrity.

Truth exists as a principle because of its overshadowing existence. Following truth is to follow fact, not fiction and not simple opinion. Physical laws are truth, and the same thing happens. You drop a ball, it falls to the ground. You look at gay men and women, and the truth is not how they have sex, but that they have the ability to fall in love with the same sex. The truth about war is that it kills, and the truth about America is that it caters to the rich. These are all truth, because they are all fact and you follow fact.

Virtues

Valor - Courage, Bravery

Valor is a virtue. It is harbored by the principle of courage. Courage is a broad subject, yet Valor is specific. It is more of the bravery, and standing in the face of danger etc. Valor is not the ability to say, walk away from a fight, but to stand and fight for what is right. Not to lay low, but to proclaim your creed and defend what you believe in.

Valor is standing straight in the face of danger, and not backing down. Not necessarily starting the fight, but following through with the challenge, or even completing a duel etc. These are all examples of strict Valor.

Compassion - The sympathetic concern for the suffering of another, together with the inclination to give aid or support or to show mercy

Compassion is the part of love showing your sympathy, or how much you care. Compassion is harbored by love, and is nothing less, yet it is more. Compassion as a virtue is your ability to care for others, whether you know them or not. Also your ability to help others and/or show mercy. Someone else is going through a hard time and you help them cope. That is strong compassion.

Honesty - The quality of truthfulness and complete integrity combined with overall moral excellence.

Honesty only stands as a virtue. The sheer meaning of Honesty is very direct and very demanding. Telling people what you really thing, not running around in circles in conversations etc. The hardest thing to do is look at your best friend and tell them what they look like. The truth about what they look like. Or your parents, where you are going, what you are doing, who you are etc.

Or with a mate, family etc. You love them, and if you love them the way you say you should, you will tell them the truth. It can and may hurt to be honest, but in the long run, it is for the best. It builds trust.

Honor - Great respect accorded as a right or due a person.

Honor is best seen these days in Japan. Their system of honor is strong. If accused of a petty theft, whether guilty or not, you make amends by replacing the lost item. If challenged, you stand for your Honor and gain the respect of your family.

Honor could be seen in the Scottish Highlands and the old clans. They have respect of the other clans and for themselves. This as well is Honor.

Honor is also given to honorary members of groups etc. It is simply a way of showing respect for the person. It mainly comes down to respect. It could be said that Honor = respect.

Justice - The ideal of moral rightness while upholding such in conduct or attitude as well as fair treatment or punishment with honor, but standards and by law while being impartial.

Justice is a huge virtue and a very hot topic these days. A lot of movies deal with justice, how it is served, and how it is not served. Justice has to do with handling situations for the right outcome, while being impartial. it is settling a discrimination suit that contrasts with your beliefs, but because the law says so, you judge in favor.

Sacrifice - Forfeiture of something highly valued for less than its presumed value or one thought to have a greater value or claim.

Sacrifice pretty muck speaks for itself. You give your friend your favorite CD because they can’t afford it, but the really want it. You trade it for the friendship and for the respect. Or you could donate blood. Giving of yourself so that others may live. It could also be the fact that you work instead of doing what you want to. Simply giving people money when they have none is a great sacrifice.

Spirituality - Harmony between people, places, things, and yourself with yourself.

Spirituality is your ability to understand yourself and where you have come from and are headed to. Each persons spirituality comes from their religion, faith or beliefs. Christians spirituality involves working for their concept of god while a Quabalists is working for self improvement and nature. Depending on your system of belief, your spirituality will take a different form, but it all comes down to one thing. Your ability to accept who you are for what you are. Also to seek self improvement and understanding. You might have a different view depending on belief, but you have a common goal regardless.

Humility - Modesty or meekness in behavior, attitude or spirit while exhibiting submissive respect

You save a dogs life, and your friend steps forward saying he saved the dog when a reward is offered. The humble thing to do is let it go. Only you need to know what happened. Also, your ability to keep yourself at the same level of everyone else, even though you can say, play the piano better than a friend. You don’t gloat, nor throw it in peoples faces. You accept life and don’t try to make yourself look better than everyone else. you let the form their own opinions, and not care to know them. That is humility.