Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law
Love is the law. Love under will.
I learned this quote from an interesting, wise, funny fellow named Lon Milo Duquette. If you’ve never heard of him, you’re welcome! He is a gem; check out his YouTube channel and books if you have any interest whatsoever in the Kabbalah, occult, Tarot, Magick, or understanding Aleister Crowley. If you know him then you will undoubtedly know this phrase well:
”Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law
Love is the law
Love under will.” -Aleister Crowley
This “Law of Thelema” is simple and complex all at the same time. Simple because if everyone followed this law there would be no crime, no destroying of the planet and our environment; at least not in the long term. Complex because this quote can be interpreted in as many ways as there are living beings.
This is reminiscent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words on self reliance. If we are not careful, privilege can creep in here too. But the law applies no matter your station in life, your race, your age, your provenance. It starts and ends with us. Everyone else is just in the movie of our life.
According to this principle, every one of us is a star, moving along our unique orbit, determined by our circumstances, personal growth, and past impulses and experiences. All occurrences in our lives are considered lawful and serve a purpose in our overall development, although only one action at any given moment truly aligns with our essence. Thus, our responsibility lies in discerning and embracing the right course of action as we move through each moment of consciousness. This is why deconditioning is key in evolving into the person who we came to be.
If we know who we are without societal conditioning, then every action we take can be an expression of love, bringing together different elements of existence (out there and in here). Driven by our conscious will, chosen purposefully to honor and fulfill our true selves, rather than going against our nature or what someone else wants for us.
Now, let's talk about love. Every single thing you do is like a hug from the universe, bringing different parts of life together. But here's the thing: you have to do them on purpose, with a clear mind, making sure they help you become who you really are, not hold you back.
In this age of social media influencers and the “talking heads” fighting for space in our consciousness we must be even more discerning. Learning to think for ourselves takes time. It’s a trial and error game. But to learn you must be awake! Know thyself. Then the whole of thy will shall be the whole of the law. But remember to come from Love.