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☉︎ in 13° Taurus : ☽︎ in 19° Virgo : Anno Vvi

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

To my Beloved Companion: Greeting and health.

I don’t think it is any great mystery that the Book of the Law starts out with the “unveiling of the company of heaven” before it declares the individuality of “every man and every woman is a star“ of that company. Our readjustment of understanding toward the individual does not minimize our understanding of community. It merely readjusts our focus from the importance of prioritizing the authority of the group over the authority of the individual. It did not, however, eliminate the burden of community from each individual who is a member thereof.

The Prophet calls this connectivity of community one of the most difficult aspects of the Law. I heartedly agree with him—especially after decades of observing our community and the radical notions of individuality that have maintained such pathological notions of distance and isolation. Now in a time of forced isolation and distance, we see how much that connectivity is needed and desired by so many.

Humans are social creatures by nature. The Book of the Law, of course, shows this very nature itself through its poetics as the Queen of Space, the symbolic “all,” as it were, declares that she is “above you and in you.” That is above each of us and in each of us, connecting the universe in all its diversity with a single, universal constant.

Liber Librae, one of my favorite study texts, says, “Be not hasty to condemn others; how knowest thou that in their place, thou couldst have resisted the temptation? And even were it so, why shouldst thou despise one who is weaker than thyself?” And again, “Do good to others for its own sake, not for reward, not for gratitude from them, not for sympathy. If thou art generous, thou wilt not long for thine ears to be tickled by expressions of gratitude.” Both of these lines out of that book ring of hospitality to me. Certainly more, but there is a sense of underlying hospitality and community that strikes forth there and lays the foundation of true community.

Meditation Text: “I am above you and in you. My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy.”

Repeat these three phrases to yourself as necessary, as a mantra of sorts, to remind yourself of each step of the path.

1. Touch. I touch the Soul of Relationships around me.
It is not enough to merely nod in passing along the streets. We must clasp each other by the hand, even if only metaphorically, and share a memory or create a memory. It is through Creation itself that relationships are formed, grown, and maintained.
     These are desperate times for some people. Reach out to those who are hurting, lonely, and in need. Assure them they are not alone. Just because we are stars, universes unto ourselves, does not mean that we are solitary. We are a community.

2. Desire. I desire to find strength in Community as Community finds strength in me.
I go back to the meditational text again. I let it move through my mind as I think about those I connect with on a daily basis, those I wish I could connect with more often, and those I will connect with today, this week, and ongoing. I move myself to ensure that I draw the strength that I need from the community around me, showing that I am not alone; but also that I will be available to engage with those that may need me in their time of need. I recognize that this is not a position of weakness but a position of strength for myself and my community.

3. Breathe. I breathe in the Spirits of Unity and Individuality without conflict.
There is no contradiction for me to by myself and be a part of the community around me. I am part and parcel, I am Hadit and Nuit, I am One and I am All. There is no contradiction here. In this, I am capable of unfolding Love under Will to those around me in practical ways through friendship and caring. If it is a matter of waiting for the right moment, the right timing, the right opportunity, I can do that too. I breathe … I wait … I feel my way through each situation until I know that I am being true to myself and my community at the same time.

In the end, give thanks. You don’t have to give thanks to anything or anyone in particular. Just be thankful for the moment. In that moment, though, consider two things: first, if possible, how can I connect with someone else who offered me this same friendship and commitment to community; and, second, is there anyone that I could pass along this same exercise, someone that could help build community in their own way?

I look forward to continuing this journey with you, if you choose to continue, and see where it takes us.

Love is the law, love under will.

B∴