The Virtue of the Eight

The Passion of the Eight is Lust which does not refer to sexual lust so much as it is about a general lust for life. Eights, whatever they do, they do it 100%. In fact their tendency is to overdo things. They are addicted to a certain intensity of experience which means they can 'up the ante' in order to create more intensity, more friction. It makes them feel more alive and gives them a feeling of 'realness'. This can create problems as their desire to assert themselves in all settings can easily become dominating and controlling, rubbing others up the wrong way if not alienating them completely. If they become aware of this tendency in themselves they can, however, work to understand it and learn to act with more restraint. Although it goes against the grain for them, allowing the present to unfold instead of imposing themselves on the situation and others leads them to become more open and gentle. This lets their magnanimous nature really shine through without forcing anything and so leads them to their Virtue of Innocence. Innocence is about simplicity and wonder and a 'humanness' that is completely sincere. It does not seek to manipulate or dominate and there is a heartfelt benevolence towards others - which is real strength as opposed to merely power.