The Hit List - Chastity? Oh no.

I’m coming down to the last few of Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues. If you haven’t been following this little experiment, here’s the deal: I’ve been fascinated with Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues, a set of principles that he promoted and practiced. So I decided to live ‘em, one month a time. (More here.) Geeky? Yup. I am all about nerdy stuff like that.

Last month, my virtue was: Chastity.

Mr. Franklin says this about Chastity: “Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”

Here’s what happened:

When I first sat with this virtue, I thought well that’s easy…I’ve been in a monogamous relationship for 25 years. And I’m certainly no spring chicken over here so those days of “venery” for procreation and recreation are far behind me.

In other words, I’ve got this one down without even having to try.

But here’s where it gets interesting…I started doing some research about ole Benny Boy and discovered that he wasn’t so chaste himself. In fact, he had quite a reputation as being kind of a lascivious lout. A cheater even. Say whaaaaaa?!?! Mr. Thirteen Virtues was a pig?

Yup, not only was he discovering electricity and being political ‘n stuff – he was also making time to be a ladies man. He even gave advice on picking mistresses! Damn….

So how the heck am I supposed to be all virtuous when my hero turns out to be kind of a cad?

I’m afraid I don’t have the answer for that except to say that even the holier-than-thou can have their vices and it appears that sex was Franklin’s. I’m not going to get down on the old guy too much because as I’ve learned through this Thirteen Virtues experiment, I’m not perfect either. I have failed time and time again to be a living example of what it means to be “virtuous.” I guess at the end of the day, does it matter? Because really…there is no one way to live and no one set of virtues that works for everyone.

Ultimately all we can do is be clear on what virtues are important to us and, from there, try to do our best. Which may mean monogamy for some of us…a tidy house for others. (Still working on that tidy house, yo.)

And that’s okay.

Chastity & Tarot – your affirmation for the month:

I am mindful of how I treat my loved ones.

What about you?

Do you need to practice a bit more Chastity?

What would that look like? Where will you begin?

Maybe that might be a little less debauchery and a bit more restraint? Or perhaps, if you’re like Ben Franklin, your version of Chastity might be a whole ‘nother moral code. Ahem.

If you’d like to join me as I continue my journey through Ben Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues, feel free! This month (September) I am tackling Humility, the last of the Thirteen Virtues. This one is all about “being like Socrates and Jesus”….which I kinda have a feeling isn’t going to go very well over here. Consider yourself duly warned.

I hope you enjoyed my ongoing exploration of the Thirteen Virtues.

Here’s a Ben Franklin quote that I feel might explain his kinda hypocrite ways with this whole Chastity business: “A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.” So there ya go…a little bit of fault means more friends. Ha ha!

Loving this little empty nest I found.

Other stuff:

Jupiter just went into Libra – and astrologer Amelia Quint just dropped her field guide to working with this transit.

Mecca Woods gives the low down on what your astrology says about your relationships wants and needs.

From the always-wise Jennifer Louden: what you are doing matters.

My favorite post of the week comes from my girl, Hilary Parry: How to recover from giving a “bad” reading. Every tarot reader will benefit from this one!

This woman tried the Oprah diet.

Interesting read: Check your privilege – self-interest, celebrity and saving the world.

Loving this from Beth Maiden: What makes a “feminist” tarot?

This post from Alexandra Franzen really got to me: Try to stay here if you can.

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with goats. These pics of goats and sheep are pretty stunning.

You goat mail: You can also send people stuffed goats anonymously.

My buddy Briana Saussy wrote about what the goat knows.

I’m with her: there was once a female presidential candidate that talked to the dead!

Curious about how gummy candy is made? Here ya go.

Digging this post from Kelly Diels: I’m bored with beauty and body love. I’d like to be body neutral.

Because I’m obsessed with contouring: the best new contour palettes of 2016.

A fantastic post well worth your time if you have a blended family: How to help your new partner respect your kids’ boundaries.