Written by Frater Thoth aka Frater H.O.T.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law
To those of us who are called Thelemites and have dedicated our lives to the accomplishment of the Great Work it is vital to meditate and expound as clearly as possible upon an important issue---a spiritual life in the modern world. How can an Aspirant develop in a society? How is he to live among the ignorant if he has devoted his whole live unto the Great Work and keeps daily discipline which seems so strange to a commoner? Those are the questions I meditate upon at this hour when an insight inspired me to write this essay.
Firstly, let us survey very briefly the antiquity for the purpose of analysis and study of the development in attitude towards spiritual life and the contact between profanes and initiates.
In ancient times devotees of the Great Work were usually initiated priests of various Cults who were greatly venerated by their people. There was no friction between people and initiates but communication based on trust and respect. The advent of Christism and Mohammedanism changed it all. Instead of loyal priesthood who were benefiting their countries and governments there rose to power a Pope of Rome who enslaved all those who acknowledged his sick authority.
The times of Dark Ages was generally an era of the rise of hermits, those who abandoned all to search enlightenment in solitude and peace of mind away from the worries of common men. The original hermits lived in solitude and meditation imparting insights of wisdom from time to time, but the building of prison like monasteries changed it all as monks degenerated into inmate slaves. At that time there were also many magickal organizations who worked in a secret manner assisting mankind by producing great men of history; philosophers, scientists musicians, artists etc...
Let us now consider a spiritual live in present times; the carrying out of the Great Work within a society and the solution to its difficulties directly from our Holy Law.
An Aspirant to Thelemic path of Initiation leads a spiritual way of life at the same time lives quite smoothly within a society. How are we who dedicated our lives to spirituality to live among the people? We use the Book of the Law to look for a solution of all our problems and align it to our lives. It is written in Chapter II Verse 77 of our Holy Law:
"O be thou proud and mighty among men!"
This verse indicates precisely the manner in which we are to live in the world of men. For those of mystical nature to live as strong kings within a society is much more advanced formula of a Magickal Life and a way of spiritual advancement then to live as an Old Aeon worn out hermit on a mountain. By balanced application of this formula with confidence and authority as well as respect and politeness in our daily lives we will be appreciated by the society and avoid friction.
In the modern world a Thelemite aspirant upon the path of the Great Work whose will is to lead a spiritual way of life and persistent dedication to magick, one whose will is aflame to progress on the path of mystical discovery and enthusiasm for the high and sublime picks of undimmed glory is not required to abandon his life or to give away his properties but instead he reconstructs his life as he develops to align it with his will and condition it to his mystical path.
Indeed the aspirant may seem to the tormented profane to have totally abandoned his life to some strange unpragmatic path. All the commoner sees is a fool who stubbornly waists his life on useless pursuits of magick that will lead to nowhere. Yet the aspirant has not abandoned his life but changed it as he changes where he is on a higher level for others to see him for what he really is. He loves magick and knows that his discipline is the key to his own advancement and initiations that bring more wider comprehension of the mysteries of life and universe.
Initiation brings more responsibility upon the path and you realize that you can no longer waste your energy on useless efforts or cares of society, all you need are favorable conditions for your work -- you use what energy you get to further your advancement, and energy that itself comes from discipline. Your aspirations become more definite as you unlock more mysteries from within that are only possible with dedication. Suddenly you find yourself busy with magickal experiments and deep studies in great cities living among the multitudes and laboring to farther your evolution with silent comprehension that Initiation is the key to sublime existence, growth to fantastic possibilities and freedom from all restrictions whatsoever. You are no longer concerned with woes and weak joys of men but instead move among the nations of the earth in splendour and pride, revered and loved, selecting those who are worthy to follow the path of Θελημα.
This is my outlook on Spiritual Life in a modern society.
Love is the law, love under will