A Few Points Of Law
Do what thou Wilt shall be the Whole of the Law
This writing is an act of will. It is not an attempt to "discuss" the Thelemic world view. Nor is discussion of Liber AL vel Legis, even to points mentioned in this article, encouraged. Take what is written here, one person's viewpoint, if it rings true, use it. If it is anathema to the reader's viewpoint, reject it and forget it.
For what reason should matters be this way? Thelema is a world view that dictates that we all have a ruling passion within us. The absolute rule of "Do what thou wilt" allows for sufficient room for all our wills and dependant points of view. Further, it allows all our subjective world views to be valid and free from the interference of others. Discussion and argument are, ultimately, tools of persuasion and dominance.
Yet there is a covert war within most individuals. Their outer wills are at odds with their True Wills. The outer willis a bundle of contradictory inclinations, wants, and impulses. Far too often the outer will is mistaken for the True Will. Equally true, our petty desires mask and obscures the True Wills. This occurs because we are trapped by the artificial conventions of our culture and assume them to be valid expressions of our wills. Society's need for rules has it's price in the restriction of the individual. Despite being beseiged from within and without, the True Will always seeks the means to manifest itself.
Now it is necessary to ask, what is this True Will? And what makes it so important, so central to each of our lives? All of us who accept Thelema will agree to its importance. We will also disagree on the specifics. This writer's viewpoint unites a metaphysical theology with points of modern psychology. The universe was created to actualize the Divine Will. This Divine Will requires infinity and eternity for its expression. All things move according to this Divine Will. Each of our True Wills is a spark of that Divine Will. It forms the core of ourselves. It is the source of personal meaning and significance within each individual. It is the real basis of who we are and what we do. This is akin to Maslow's theory of self-actualization. However, where Maslow places self actualization at the peak of the heirarchy of needs, Thelema demands that the True Will must be the base. All other needs, wants, and desires must be in accord and subservient to it. For without the True Will, our lives are as meaningless and absurd as the existentialists proclaim.
All of this must breed a strange species of tolerance for the True Will of others. We are each "doing God's work" but we can be called to radically different parts of it. To risk oversimplification, a hedonistic anarchist and an ascetic totalitarian are equal in their sovereign right to do their True Wills.
The novice to the ideas of Thelema may feel encouraged and disheartened at this point. One may know one has a True Will, the key to living life, but it's discovery and implementation seems so far out of reach. There are many ways and means to the True Will. The fundamental key is Love. What do you love? Is it the controlled chaos of the marketplace? Is it the sort of love that requires service to others? Perhaps it is the love of the land so necessary to be a farmer. Or is it simpler to ask what and who do you love enough to kill or die for? What one is looking for is that love of whatever that is central and essential to the self.
We may further say that this love must be in the form of self fulfillment. The Law of Thelema is specifically the divine right to fulfill one's nature and function. Yet we must caution that this does not include freedom from the consequences of action. Action is never devoid of consequences both positive and negative. As such we must adapt our wills and our actions appropriately for our environment. A preliterate culture does not have books. Instead, such societies have storytellers and elders rather than authors. One cannot be a fisherman in the Sahara desert. If one tries his efforts are wasted. And his neighbors may properly seek to lock that soul away.
Let there be an end to these words. I have endeavored to supply grist for your mills. I cannot grind your grain for you. Let me leave you with one adage that I have found useful: Win, lose, or draw, do it with style.
-Rhemis Megis
Love is the Law, Love under Will
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