In quiet moments, we may wonder about the direction our life is going. We know we want to be happy, but we don’t always know the way to happiness. What light guides our steps? We turn to “the excellences” which lead us to happiness. They lift us out of our littleness into something greater than we can ever imagine.
Truth lights the way to freedom. Truth clears the fog of illusions to reveal radiance. Those who want to oppress us often present a distorted world—a world of fear, hatred, and isolation. Truth is luminous. It lets us see things as they really are and calls us into communion. In the Noble Flag, blue is the color of truth.
Wisdom is the spirit of intelligence, kind and generous. In its brightness, wisdom reveals divine power and glory.
Seven Wings: The Excellences
Foresight/Prudence: Foresight allows us to know what to do and what not to do. This gift brings light into the darkest places of our lives and shows us true freedom. Foresight allows us to turn knowledge into action. This “excellence” guides all other excellences. In Noble Flag, this excellence is represented by the color yellow. Yellow reminds us of the sun and its illuminating rays, inviting us to joy.
Justice: What brings us real dignity? Justice seeks the good of other people by giving others what is due to them. When we think of human right abuses, we see what justice is. Injustice strikes at the core of our being, and can lead to the destruction of entire peoples, who seemed “other” in some way. Justice speaks up for everyone. Justice is represented by the color indigo blue.
Courage/Fortitude: Courage involves really knowing what you are up against, which involves wisdom and foresight. Courage helps us defend the good, even when we are threatened. Courageous people will not back down in the face of fear, and they will not charge into battle without understanding what they are up against. Courage is represented by the color orange, a color of lively energy and strength.
Serenity/Temperance: How do we find inner peace? Serenity provides balance to our inner selves. Serenity helps us restrain powerful emotions, like anger or despair, so that we can live at peace. Purple is the color chosen for Serenity. It speaks of peace, harmony and creativity.
Faith: We can encounter great beauty and goodness here on Earth, but we are limited by our human nature. We sense there is something greater than what we can see and touch. When we look to the night skies and the immensity of the universe, our thoughts turn towards the source of all. Through faith, we have a way to seek beauty and goodness. We follow the light and see where it leads. Faith is represented by the color white. White contains all color within itself—it balances all color.
Hope: This excellence guides us toward an eternal life of happiness. Hope helps us stand firm in tough times. Hope is the signpost to joy and glory. The color green represents hope. This vibrant color brings us a sense of strength and renewal.
Love: Love is the highest of all the excellences. With fiery intensity, love is powerfully protective. Love endures everything with steady hope and rejoices in the truth. The gift of love guides us to seek what is good for others—even those in distant lands—and to find ways to put love into action. Red is the traditional color of love. Red speaks of the power of love, of its strength and of its joy.