To keep one’s own counsel is to know when silence is sacred. Not every thought must be spoken, not every journey shared. There is power in privacy, in honoring the unseen processes of becoming. Just as a seed must germinate in the quiet of darkness before breaking through the soil, so too must our ideas, visions, and experiences be given time to root within us before being exposed to the world.

This virtue teaches discernment; when to speak and when to stay silent, when to seek counsel and when to trust your inner voice. Some paths are meant to be walked alone. Some wisdoms, whispered by spirit, are meant only for your ears. And sometimes, withholding your opinion; especially when unsolicited; is a deeper act of wisdom than offering it.

When imbalanced, we see the effects in our hyper-sharing culture. Social media has blurred the line between personal and public, encouraging us to spill what should be sacred, and to comment on what is not our concern. In this state, we often sabotage our own creative process; sharing dreams too early, exposing thoughts before they’ve fully formed, and in so doing, weakening their power.

The artwork shows a woman with her finger gently pressed to her lips, signaling silence; not as suppression, but as protection. From her inner stillness, a lush garden blossoms, representing the fertile richness of ideas, thoughts, and visions that are nurtured in discretion.