neptunesdolphins | Entries tagged with virtues

Dealing with someone who is severely depressed involves “Dignitas,” the questioner’s worth and the reader’s reputation. For that, I refer to Rev. Dennis Kenny’s criteria. In “Breaking the Spiritual Care Code,” he gives three rules in counseling mentally-ill people. The first is to consider time limitations. The second is to consider skill limitations, and the third, emotional limitations. A diviner at a psychic fair faces severe limitations of all three. As for me, I lack the necessary skills, time, and emotions to deal with any severe mental illness such as depression. As a responsible diviner, I have a list of hot-lines with me, when I do readings.

Rev. Kenny offers several principles to effectively help the person in distress. First focus on the person. The counselor (diviner) lets the woman know that they care about them. Second, they help the woman to understand that referring her to help is a positive action. Most importantly, the counselor has the person involved with the decision to get help.

For the case of a suicidal woman, I would establish a rapport with her. I would ask her what she wants from a reading. Then, I would ask if she has considered getting help for her depression. I would also tell her that I have gone through major depression myself, and help is always available.

As a diviner, I would let the woman know that the spirits care about her. I would stress that she can heal. She can initiate a positive transformation by deciding to seek help. As for the reading, I would say that it “informs but not predicts.”

Works Cited:

Cicero, “On Duties.” Translated by Walter Miller. Roman Roads Press: Moscow (ID). 2016.

Cook, Tonya, “Influence of Roman Virtues on Modern Ethics,” 30 November, 2024. Web. Roman Mytholology Worldwide. https://roman.mythologyworldwide.com/the-influence-of-roman-virtues-on-modern-ethics-2/.

Kenny, Dennis, Rev., “Breaking the Spiritual Code.” Wipf and Stock: Eugene (OR). 2023.

Kinneging, Andreas, “The Geography of Good and Evil.” Trans. Ineke Hardy. Regnery Publishing: Washington D.C. 2005.

Leath, Melissa, “Psychic Integrity.” Hay House: Bloomington (IN). 2011.

Triarius, L. Vitellius. “Religio Roman Handbook.” Independently Published. 2014.

Vest, Jennifer Lisa, PhD., “The Ethical Psychic.” North Atlantic Books: Berkeley (CA). 2022.

Wood, Robin, “When, Why…If.” Livingtree Press: Dearborn (MI). 1996.

Since I am a Roman Polytheist, I follow the Roman Public and Private Virtues. (Note 1) These virtues are the ideals that Romans aspire to in their lives. According to Cicero, the four “Cardinal Virtues” contain the rest. (Note 2) “Prudence” (Prudentia) includes “Patience” (Patientia) and “Forethought” (Providentia), as important values to follow. “Courage (Virtus) has “Tenacity (Firmitas) and “Duty” (Pietas). Meanwhile, “Justice” (Iustitia) has “Mercy” (Clementia), “Equity” (Aequitas) and “Good Faith” (Fides). Finally, “Temperance” (Temperantia) includes “Dignity” (Dignitas), “Responsibility” (Gravitas), “Truthfulness” (Veritas) and “Nobility” (Nobilitas).

How these can be applied in modern life is described by Nessa Bird in her essay, “The Influence of Roman Virtues on Modern Business Ethics.” (Note 3) In business, “Virtus” is a commitment to moral integrity as “a responsibility to employees and stockholders.” “Fides” covers customer and community relations. The business ensures a safe product (service) and customer satisfaction. “Pietas,” which is responsibility in commerce, focuses on responsible business practices. For example, the company does not employ deceptive sales tactics. With “Dignitas,” the company’s reputation entails good will towards the community which includes investors.

Applying Roman virtues to divining means starting with “Virtus” (Moral Integrity). The diviner (reader) works with otherworldly entities and with humans. Unlike regular businesses, divination has a spiritual dimension to it. Mystic Dylan in “Throwing the Bones” notes that psychic links are formed between the tools used for divination, the questioner, and the otherworld entities with the diviner as the focal point. Therefore, the prudent diviner knows their own boundaries. An ethical reader recognizes the entire ecosystem of divination, which is “Pietas” (Duty and Piety)

“Fides” (Trust and Fidelity) for the diviner comes with the reading. A discerning reader understands what the questioner needs to hear and how they need to hear it. Since prophesy can be self-fulfilling, a responsible reader tempers their reading. As the maxim of Astrology states, “The Stars inform; They do not compel.” Therefore, the reading requires the latitude of choice and free will for the questioner. The responsible diviner preserves the delicate balance between what the otherworld entities want the questioner to know and what the questioner can understand.

Moreover, “Virtus” includes a duty to the otherworld entities drawn into this world. The diviner always establishes rules for all involved. Some entities need an offering for their services. Some should not be asked certain questions. Meanwhile to allow the exchange between the entity and questioner to flow, the diviner must remain rooted in the ordinary world.

Notes:

Note 1. Among the fifteen Personal Virtues are “Dignity,” “Tenacity,” “Prudence,” and “Truthfulness.” Among the twenty-six Public Virtues are “Concord,” “Confidence,” “Justice,” and “Piety.”

Note 2. “Everything that is honorable originates from some one of four parts: either in thoroughly recognizing and perceiving the truth; or in safeguarding human association, giving to each his own, and keeping good faith in agreements made; or in the greatness and strength of a lofty and unconquerable spirit; or in the order and due measure of all deeds and speech in which are included discretion and temperance.” Cicero: “On Duties: Book I,” Page 28.

Note 3. Bird considers the following: “Virtus”: bravery and moral excellence. “Fides”: trust and fidelity. “Pietas”: duty to family, state, and gods. “Dignitas”: dignity, worth, and reputation.

Works Cited:

Bird, Nessa, “The Influence of Roman Virtues on Modern Business Ethics,” 30 November 2024. Web. Roman Mythology Worldwide. https://roman.mythologyworldwide.com/the-influence-of-roman-virtues-on-modern-business-ethics/ .

Cicero, “On Duties.” Translated by Walter Miller. Roman Roads Press: Moscow (ID). 2016.

Dylan, Mystic, “Throwing Bones, Crystals, Stones and Curios.” Weiser Books: Newbury Port (MA). 2024.

Kenny, Dennis, Rev., “Breaking the Spiritual Code.” Wipf and Stock: Eugene (OR). 2023.

Kinneging, Andreas, “The Geography of Good and Evil.” Trans. Ineke Hardy. Regnery Publishing: Washington D.C. 2005.

Leath, Melissa, “Psychic Integrity.” Hay House: Bloomington (IN). 2011.

Sancho, Brandie, “Exploring the Core Roman Virtues: A Path to Moral Excellence,” 28 November 2024. Web. Roman Mythology Worldwide. https://roman.mythologyworldwide.com/exploring-the-core-roman-virtues-a-path-to-moral-excellence/.

Triarius, L. Vitellius. “Religio Roman Handbook.” Independently Published. 2014.

Vest, Jennifer Lisa, PhD., “The Ethical Psychic.” North Atlantic Books: Berkeley (CA). 2022.

Wood, Robin, “When, Why…If.” Livingtree Press: Dearborn (MI). 1996.

In “Ultimum Mysterium,” Physics Professor Anthony Burns notes that in relativity and quantum physics, the observer has influence over what happens at the quantum level. A person can make a significant difference to the behavior of quantum particles when they observe them. He writes, “We know how entities such as mass and electric charge behave – but we still don’t know what they really are. We don’t know what time is, except that we measure it with a clock. And most importantly we don’t know what the observer is. We knew that the “observer” is us… but we don’t know the true nature…”

In discussing what he called “new physics,” psychologist Allan Combs explains, “In quantum theory we recover the view of a world as an unbroken fabric in which seemingly separate events do not occur insolation, but in fact, form pieces interwoven into a common tapestry.” Combs was explaining what effect quantum physics has on mythology and synchronicity in his book, “Synchronicity.” According to Combs, the Common Tapestry is such that Wolfgang Pauli, well-known physicist, could have the “Pauli Effect.” (Note 1) Whenever he entered a laboratory, the equipment would break.

C.W. (Charles Webster) Leadbeater, noted Theosophist, wrote in 1913 in “Hidden Side of Things,” that people’s vibrations of thoughts and feelings affected other people. He cites the Principle of Cause and Effect (Note 2) which he says that whatever a person puts forth will return to them. Therefore, people need to be responsible in their deeds and thoughts.

Oberon Zell-Ravenheart echoes this in “Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.” “To be a Wizard is to acknowledge that everything is alive and everything is connected.” (Emphasis his.) A wizard understands that no matter how adept they are, there is always something else that they do not know. Since a wizard has the power to manifest whatever they want, they should examine what they are doing and why.

Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel, once said “Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great.” What she meant was do not be falsely modest, but own your successes. Taking credit for their actions means that the mature person understands their place in the world. They are someone who can be trusted, since they have demonstrated that in their attitude and conduct.

Because the Universe is connected, what a person does has reverberations through the Cosmos. Since wizards have power, they have to take responsibility (and credit is a part of that). Or they will end like Pauli, who had no friends. Carl Jung observed that Pauli had relegated his “Effect” to his Shadow, which came out in his brutal insults of fellow scientists. Pauli died of pancreatic cancer at 58 years old.

Notes:

Note 1. The Pauli Effect (Pauli’s Device Corollary): “The mysterious failure of technical equipment in the presences of certain people, particularly theoretical physicists.”

Note 2. The Principle of Cause and Effect (The Sixth Hermetic Principle): “Every Cause has its Effect, every Effect its Cause, everything happens according to Law. Chance is but a name for Law not recognized; There are many planes of causation but nothing escapes the Law.”

Works Used:

Besant, Annie and C.W. Leadbeater, “Magic and the Left Hand Path.” Compiled by Pedro Oliveira, PDF. CWL World. 2023. Web. http://www.cwlworld.info/On_the_Left_Hand_Path.pdf .

Burns, Anthony, “Ultimum Mysterium.” Winchester (UK): 6th Books. 2016.

Combs, Allan and Mark Holland, “Synchronicity.” New York: Marlow & Comp. 1996.

Corradi, Max, “The Seven Laws of Reality and Being.” E-book. Jaborandi Publishing. 2013.

Hall, Manly P., “Magic, A Treatise on Natural Occultism. (1929).” E-book. Mockingbird Press. 2022

—, “Unseen Forces: Nature Spirits, Thought Forms, Ghosts and Specters, the Dweller on the Threshold. (1924).” E-book. Borodino Books. 2018.

Michelle, Heron, “Elemental Witchcraft.” Woodbury (MN): Llewellyn. 2021.

Leadbeater, C.W., “The Hidden Side of Things. (1913).” E-book. Global Grey. 2016.

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, “Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.” New Page Books: Franklin Lakes (NJ). 2004.

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