Lowliness


 “Remember the proverb Bene qui latuit, bene vixit, they are happy that live Retiredly.”
(William Penn – Fruits of Solitude)



Interesting.

The literal translation of Bene qui latuit, bene vixit is something like:
  • Well that is not known, lives well
  • Hidden happiness lives happily
  • Blessing that is not noticed blessedly abides
  • Good living comes from good that is unremarked and unadvertised


It reminds me of this wonderful and remarkable poem by C.P.Cavafy.

Lao Tsu talks about the Valley Spirit often in his Tao Te Ching, and it is akin to what we usually describe as humility now, but was once called lowliness (humiles is Latin for ‘low’).  Lowliness is a precious treasure, a wonderful virtue.

It is my ambition to live a lowly and hidden life.

I love our front garden with its violets and abundant moss and woodland ferns behind the sheltering hedge that stands between the garden and the street, its primroses and the hellebores with their bent heads and hidden faces.  Natural plants, not showy.
It is a space that celebrates lowliness.

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365 366 Day 137 – Wednesday May 16th
  (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, see here)  



These beautiful orchids were given to me as gifts, one last year and one during the winter.  They were really quite glorious, and a joy to behold.  Then eventually came the time to let them go.  A lady from Freecycle was pleased to have them.