A Summation.

Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law.

     As humans, each of us has a desire toward a higher power. Something greater than ourselves, something we can identify with to ease the burden of loneliness. Throughout the history of our species, there has always been an awareness of this desire. Every civilization, or tribe, or society in the history of our planet has had ways to satisfy this desire. It would be very difficult to cite an example of a culture without a spiritual facet. Shamans, priests, medicine men, seers, and prophets are just a few examples of integral parts of a society's spiritual aspect. Pyramids, temples, churches, pagodas, sanctuaries, and monuments all reflect human's acknowledgement of the presence of the divine. With the entire history of our species having acknowledged the existence of the spirit, and of a greater spirit, it is safe to say that we may be on to something.
     Religion is a touchy subject. Religion involves people's deepest felt spiritual impressions, and their concrete beliefs and personal truths. Religious beliefs are held in such high regard in most people that, upon hearing something that doesn't fit within their parameters of acceptable spiritual truth, they will condescend, shun, and some will even become violent. Philosophy on the other hand is an ever-changing, ever-growing idea of what is true in this world. Philosophy is, and can even be translated to, a love of the truth. Religion and philosophy can find common ground since the experience of the spirit gives merit and credibility to its truth and existence. But most of the time philosophy and religion are at opposite ends of the spectrum, since truth requires proof, and personal experience can't be proven to any but the one experiencing it.
     Thelema is not solely religious. It is not solely philosophical either. It seeks to bind the two together in harmony, so that religious belief is strengthened by spiritual experience and provable truth. It also implies aspects of both in the attainment of spiritual strength and knowledge. It gives merit to everyone's experienced truths and provides us with a way to coexist in harmony. It is not the only system of its kind, and it is certainly not right for everyone. But that is the point. That there are as many paths to the light as there are people to walk them. Thelema has given me the tools and guidance to grow spiritually, mentally, and intellectually, and has given me the confidence to live by my own convictions, and my own philosophy.
     Thelema asks nothing of its people but to be honest with themselves. If a certain practice, or text strikes you the wrong way, there is a good chance that by exploring the reason it does you can learn something about yourself. Conversely, if a particular aspect resonates inside you, there is a good chance you can learn about yourself by exploring the reason for that, too. Knowledge of your self is the key to development and growth, and in a system like Thelema, that learning never stops.
     The aim of religion is self improvement. Whether it is improvement to become closer god, or improvement in the way you treat other people. The key is improvement of the quality of life by changing your habits and outlook. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Thelema is no different in this aspect. Continual self improvement and growth positively affects ourselves and our society.
     I did not start this blog to persuade anyone to become a Thelemite. I certainly did not start it to prove or disprove any religious or spiritual belief. I started this blog to open some eyes to a system of tolerance and understanding in hopes that some of that tolerance and understanding may 'rub off' on my reader. I hope that by reading about this system of thought, you are made more aware your own beliefs, and that you see the need for understanding and harmony in a world full of different views.

This bumper sticker has become very popular these days, and it embodies the idea of tolerance I am trying to convey.


 Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

Book 837- The Law of Liberty

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.
     One of the best resources available to describe Thelema is Book 837- "The Law of Liberty." It can be difficult for someone such as myself to induce lucidity of the system in the mind of someone else. Although it is perfectly clear to me, everyone's mind works differently. Aleister Crowley wrote Book 837 "for those who have not read our sacred book, The Book of the Law, or for those who, reading it, have failed to understand it."(Book 837, Section 2) It is a clarification of the general message of the book, and proves useful in describing the idea of the actions expected of a Thelemite. Crowley wrote quite a bit about the hidden meanings in The Book of the Law, and about the mystic nature of its teachings, but this text is a good starting point to understanding the 'main idea' of Thelema.

     This book starts with a brief explanation of why the phrase "Do what thou silt shall be the whole of the Law" is at the beginning of most thelemic texts. He writes, "Why, how else should I begin? What other greeting could be so glad? Look, brother, we are free! Rejoice with me, sister, there is no law beyond Do What Thou Wilt!" (Book 837, Section 2) This is one of the things I love about Crowley's work, he can convey the joy and enthusiasm he has for his subject very clearly. The phrase is the ultimate expression of our divine freedom, and an affirmation of the dissolution of sorrow. The rest of the text summarizes and paraphrases the first two sections of The book of the Law.

     The first summary covers the call of the "Great Goddess, Nuit, Lady of the Starry Heaven, who is also Matter in its deepest metaphysical sense, who is the infinite in whom we all live and move and have our being."(Book 837-Section2) Crowley is great at exploring multiple ideas based on one text, and The book of the Law is filled with phrases and stanzas that mean so many things at once that it is easy to get confused. He discusses the joy of the law, "And what are the conditions of this joy, and peace, and glory? Is ours the gloomy asceticism of the Christian, and the Buddhist, and the Hindu? Are we walking in eternal fear lest some 'sin' should cut us off from 'grace'? By no means."(Book 837-Section2) He supports all his claims with quotes from The book of the Law, and with common sense.
     One of my favorite points from this section of Book 837 is that every act should be a ritual. No matter your course of action, your action should reflect your convictions, and beliefs. Crowley writes, "This is the only point to bear in mind, that every act should be a ritual, an act of worship, a sacrament...let it not be self indulgence; make your self indulgence your religion...When you drink and dance and take delight, you are not being 'immoral', you are not 'risking your immortal soul'; you are fulfilling the precepts of our holy religion, provided that you regard your action in this light." (Book 837, Section 2) This proposes that the 'morality' of any act is only in the way you regard it. It is yourself who makes the choice between right and wrong, but it is also yourself that defines both, since no single action can be right or wrong in itself.

     The next section summarizes the ideas in the second section of the Book of the Law, the voice of Hadit, who represents, "eternal energy, the Infinite Motion of all things, the central core of all being."(Book 837- Section 3) Crowley goes on to describe how everything that exists is a "crystallization of divine ecstasy" since it is all a union of Nuit and Hadit.
     This section is extremely empowering and uplifting. Hadit bestows upon us joy, strength, and pride. In fact, it is that joy that strengthens and grows our soul. We are again confirmed the freedom to make our own decisions, and choose our own actions, "Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture; fear not that any god shall deny thee for this."(Book 837, Section3) The phrase "of sense and rapture" refers back to one of the points made in the previous section, about regarding our actions as sacraments.

     Crowley concludes Book 837 by reaffirming the joy and freedom, "Lift yourselves up, my brothers and sisters of the earth! Put beneath your feet all fears, all qualms, all hesitancies!"(Book 837, Section 3) He is calling on all of us to be free, joyous, proud and confident, "Go on, go on in thy might; and let no man make thee afraid."(Book 837, Section 3)
     The Law of Liberty does a wonderful job at describing the Thelemic outlook. While some could argue that self indulgence could lead to disaster, I would have to point out that nature is always the best teacher. There is a joy and beauty that is subtly sprinkled throughout the Book of the Law, and Book 837 conveys a portion of it very effectively. I would suggest this as one of the starting points to anyone who is new to Thelema, or anyone who is unsure of its intent.

Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

Birth Rights in Thelema

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.
     I would like to dedicate an entire post to Book 77. It is a short piece by Aleister Crowley that simplifies what it is Thelema entitles to the individual. It is said in many of the holy texts of Thelema that it is the Law of ultimate freedom, and of ultimate responsibility. Book 77 gives us a good idea of what is meant by this freedom.
     Book 77 starts with a few quotes from Liber Legis(The Book of the Law). "Every man and every woman is a star."(Liber Legis 1:3) This line implies that each person is the center of their own universe, or experience. It also implies an equality between men and women, and that each of us are radiant beacons of divine light traveling through the cosmos on our own path (i.e.- doing our Will). The next line of Book 77 strikes many people as blasphemous, "There is no god but man." This line, although appearing atheistic, implies that we are responsible for our own choices between light and dark. It is also a powerful statement about our place in the hierarchy of living creatures. We are the only living animal, that we know of, on this planet with the capability to conceive "god" or a higher power. It sets us apart from the animal kingdom.

What follows in Book 77 is five short sections about the rights we have as intelligent, self aware creatures.

Section 1 says, "Man has the right to live by his own law-to live in the way that he wills to do: to work as he will: to play as he will: to rest as he will: to die when and how he will."
This may strike some as common sense, and they are right. It gives complete liberty to the individual to choose what is best for his life. This liberty may be taken for granted in this country, but there are many parts of the world where people are enslaved, or where people are forced into belief systems. For instance, sweatshop labor, blood diamonds, human trafficking, et cetera. This section gives the individual absolute control over their lives, and destiny.

Section 2 says, "Man has the right to eat what he will: to drink what he will: to dwell where he will: to move as he will on the face of the earth."
This seems like more common sense, and it is. It implies a complete freedom of sustenance, and of travel, two things that are vital to survival. So, it could be paraphrased as, "Man has the right to sustain his own existence."

Section 3 says, "Man has the right to think what he will: to speak what he will: to write what he will: to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will: to dress as he will:"
This section confirms man's right to free speech, to free thought, to free expression. This is something else that is taken for granted in our country. Even though we have the rights of the first amendment, there are still dictatorships in this world that don't allow any anti-government ideas to be printed, let alone discussed.(i.e.-communism, socialism, etc.) This section also gives man the right to artistic expression, no matter the artistic medium. Whether it's painting, sculpture, music, or poetry, there should be no limitations on subject matter, or content.

Section 4 says, "Man has the right to love as he will" and is supported by a quote from the Book of the Law, "take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where, and with whom ye will."(Liber Legis 1:51)
This gives complete and total freedom of love, of sex, and of family. This is an affirmation of our natural right to choose our loved ones, our lovers, and our benefactors. It can be clearly seen today the need for this kind of thinking, especially in the wake of same-sex marriage debates.

Section 5 says simply, "Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights."
Enslaved people have the right to freedom, even if that means killing those who enslave them. It is your right to eat and to drink, to sustain your body, even if it means killing those who dare to stop you. These examples are a bit extreme, and I am sure I will be misunderstood. But think about nature, if you come between a tiger and his dinner, you probably won't last long. If you come between an elephant and its young, it will kill you. If you put any living creature in a situation where it is either you kill them or they kill you, they will try to kill you out of the survival instinct. I am not saying that murder is justified, but in some cases it is necessary to survive.

     In conclusion, there are certain rights every living creature has. Infringing on the will of others is not only a violation of their rights, but a serious misconception of your place in the world. Book 77 gives us a guideline to what it is that we are entitled to, and what everyone else is entitled to as well.

"Man has the right to live in the way that he wills to do...Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights." Or as Crowley has written elsewhere, "Freedom almost always relies upon the sword." Nobody would argue that this slave doesn't have the right to kill those who stand in the way of his freedom.



Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

Will and Whim

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.
I had mentioned in an earlier post that Will is often contrasted with Whim. I would like to expand on that idea since it is one of the most prevalent misunderstandings about Thelema.
Almost every question I hear about Thelema is, "How does doing whatever you want qualify as a philosophy?" The answer to that, is that is doesn't. The Will in Thelema is the "true self" or the "higher self." It is the divine spark within you that must be nurtured, and strengthened. This is one part of Thelema that reminds me of esoteric Christianity in that, like a priest or nun, you must give up your earthly desires for the Will of God or the Divine Will. The "true Will" in Thelema is the same idea, you let go of your false ego and earthly desires to ready yourself to embody the divine, and to serve a higher purpose. The higher purpose is often enlightenment, or illumination, and by becoming enlightened and illuminated you will spread that light throughout the world.
 Whim is usually used to contrasted Will, because it is almost the opposite of it. Most of the time, it is your whim that dictates your actions, whether consciously or sub-consciously. The whim will serve the false ego, or the aspects of our self that crave gratification. The whim seeks distraction from the discontent of existence almost constantly. It is a device of the mind to convince ourselves our consciousness is the "end all" and "be all" of existence. But, eventually you will reach a point where the emptiness is never satisfied.
The Will encompasses the aspects of the higher self. When you do your Will, you do only the things that are of necessity to your existence, and things that will bring you closer to illumination, and you do nothing else. When you do your Will, there is no time to worry about what other people are doing, or thinking. There is no time to waste on fruitless endeavors, or distractions. This is no easy task, and I will admit to faltering on this all the time, but its reward is inner-peace, illumination, and wisdom. By seeking and doing your true Will, you will eventually become a more effective person, and one who is happier, and more fulfilled.
There are many books and essays on this subject, anyone who is interested in the idea is advised to read the articles of these links. They are to a website with a multitude of information regarding Thelema.

"Each person as a star with a Will"

 "The positive and negative aspects of the Will"

 There are also several quotes on this website that could elucidate the idea of "True Will."

Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

Thelema as a Compliment

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.

In this post I would like to discuss a facet of the universality of Thelema. My aim is to dis-spell the notion that Thelema requires an individual to give up their traditional religious views. I have been told by many people that, although Thelema makes perfectly good sense to them, they can't abandon their religious upbringing.
Well, I can certainly understand that, and I wouldn't ask anyone to do so.
Thelema is a philosophy. It is a culmination of centuries of thought and wisdom. Most of the basic ideas that are in Liber Legis are not new ideas at all. Ideas from Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism can be found through out the Holy Books of Thelema. What is revolutionary about this system is the harmony it brings to these ideas as they work together. Thelema does not ask you to abandon any truth you may hold, it only requires you to be honest with yourself.
If it is your Will to be a Christian, and to live in accordance with the word of Jesus, Thelema only asks that you give 100%. It is written in Liber Legis, "Thou hast no right but to do thy Will. Do that and no other shall say nay."(Liber Legis 1:42-43). The great part about philosophy is that it can be applied to almost anything. If it is your Will to be a Buddhist, "Do What Thou Wilt." No Thelemite anywhere is going to try to stop you from nurturing your spirit. That's the whole point of our system, spiritual growth and development.
So, in closing, I would like to re-iterate that Thelema is a Philosophy. It is a culmination of eastern, and western wisdom, and it is a great compliment to almost any religion.
Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

The massage, not the man.

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.

In this post I would like to discuss a common misconception about Thelema, and that is the association with the lifestyle of Aleister Crowley. After a great theosophical conversation with a classmate I was posed with a very good question, “Do you agree with the way he lived his life, his actions?”

Honestly, I don’t think it matters. Yes, I think Crowley was a philosophical genius and a great thinker, but that’s only my opinion based on what I have read.  The truth is that his life and actions don’t make his philosophy better or worse. In fact, one has nothing to do with the other. Just like the fact that Walt Disney was an open anti-Semite doesn’t make Snow White a Nazi. There is A LOT of information about Crowley available to the public these days, and most of it is false. But it doesn’t change the philosophy he published. I want to stress the message, not the man.

Crowley himself urges the seeker to form opinions of their own, which is kind of the point of the whole system. ( i.e. Timothy Leary- “Think for yourself… question authority”). He also made no effort to defend himself against the ridiculous, and sometimes comical, accusations made by the press of his day. He expressed faith in the historical record to decipher the truth, and didn’t waste his time trying to refute the opinions of what he called “the ignorant.”

Personally, I think he was attacked with so much bad press and publicity because the things he said shook the foundations of lies that people built their egos on. When you say something that makes people think, and question themselves and their own actions, they automatically label you as something evil, or immoral so that you can’t be taken seriously.

I want to end this post with a quote, because I couldn’t possibly put it into better words. I am not sure the author,  but I will post the URL of the page it came from.

“A religious philosophy that requires no absolute belief, but instead encourages its adherents to rely on the self instead of some externalized father figure; claims no route to salvation and celebrates the biological facts of human existence, seems quite rational to me, which is why I remain a member.  Laugh all you like – we can laugh at ourselves too. There will be no Thelemic fatwa coming your way, because we don’t get touchy when people poke fun. We can accept that all religions are absurd, but then so is modern life.”

Quote taken from

https://www.facebook.com/secretfireoasis?hc_location=stream 

Love is the Law, Love Under Will.

The next step in a confusing simplicity.

Do What Thou Wilt Shall be the Whole of the Law.

      For the second post on this blog I am going to jump around a bit, and cover the three chapters of the book of the law, and each of their philosophical implications. Since each chapter is voiced from a different "God", they correspond to three aspects of existentialism.So, here we go.

      The book of the law is written in a poetic style of verse. It is written in relation to Egyptian symbols and Gods. Although this can immediately strike one as “pagan” or “heathenish” (for lack of a better word), it is these symbols and ideas that can convey complex ideas very simply. The book is written in three sections, three different voices. These can be taken as the three fundamental aspects of existence.

1.)The infinite. The all. The universe. The first chapter is the voice of Nuit. Great goddess of the starry heavens. She is the manifestation of the ocean of possibility. Everything is not only in her, but she is everything. That is to say that the sum of everything is the infinite. This is similar to the idea of the En-Soph in Kabbalism, and of the Shekinah. The feminine counter part to the creator God. She is the canvass of existence, waiting to be painted by experience.

Nuit is often shown arched over the earth, such as this, since she represents the night sky.

2.)Energy, experience, life, substance, the concentrated point in space (Nuit). The second chapter is the voice of Hadit. The eternal divine experience of Nuit. Hadit is the masculine counterpart of Nuit. Or, said another way, the love between Nuit and Hadit crystallizes into substance. It is the constant marriage of these two things that constitute our experience of existence.

Hadit is referred to as the "Winged snake of light." Symbolized here as a disc of light with wing. Note Nuit surrounding him.

     I feel compelled to elucidate this idea of “Gods.” Nuit and Hadit are not beings living in another realm. They are the representation of the fundamental ideas of existence. Without the experience of energy and the plane to experience it on, there would be no life, no death, no existence. Without these two things there could be nothing.

3.) The ever coming child. Ra-Hoor-Khuit. The third chapter of the book is the most controversial, but it is also the most accurate representation of the human psyche. He is commanding, proud, noble, and strong. He is the personification of all the qualities that make up the individual. Although it can be a little hard to swallow at first, this chapter of the book is a great source of philosophical wisdom.

 Ra Hoor Khuit also symbolizes the divine self, and is pictured here offering a bounty of spiritual gifts.

     I digress to discuss the Book any further, since it is clearly stated in the Book that each seeker of wisdom is to decipher for himself its personal meaning to him. I will however point the seeker to the comments written by Crowley himself with this hyper-link. 

 http://hermetic.com/legis/new-comment/

Until next time, 93. 

Love is the Law, Love Under Will.