About 100 years ago, Aleister Crowley, who came to be known as “the wickedest man in the world” and signed his letters “The Beast” or “666,” was in a ruthless “magick” battle with the great poet William Butler Yeats over leadership of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
Yes, they used wands. The group had grown out of the “Order of the Rosicrucians” (or the Red Cross). Yeats considered Crowley dangerous, dark, and evil. Yeats didn’t approve of dark magic and certainly didn’t want magic employed for the accrual of power.
The great poet stood in the way of Crowley’s ascension of the Golden Dawn and defeated him on the steps of 36 Blythe Road in West Kensington, London, their headquarters.
Crowley didn’t just give up but founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the prophet entrusted with guiding humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. The motto of this religion and its supreme moral law is “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”
Do what thou wilt.
I would ask in what way does that differ from the prevalent view of today. Now, maybe we say, “You do you.”
There’s no difference between those two sayings. In this point of view there is no objective truth. It’s up to you to discern what you think is best for you. You do you. Do what thou wilt.
Your will leaves no room for God. It permits no possibility that there is an order to creation and that loving God is the highest good and all other goods come from that.
Aleister Crowley has won the day. Yeats may have beaten him from the steps of 36 Blythe Road in West Kensington but his views went on to win over the culture. Our rejection of God is the same as his.
Our cultural problems are myriad. We can look to politicians but that is like handing the football to a player who’s afraid of getting hit. Our problems are spiritual problems that require spiritual solutions. Abortion. Euthanasia. Greed. Lust. Envy. Pray. Pray as often as you can that people will open their hearts and minds to the truth, the way, and the life.
Reject the elevation of our own will. Kneel before our Creator.
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.”
