The Five Divisions of the Body

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


This is an attempt to project the central body of Liber OZ onto the Tree of Life by taking its five divisions, as given by Crowley, and assigning them to the five central spheres of the Ruach. “The Ruach is a closely-knitted group of Five Moral and Intellectual principles, concentrated on their core, Tiphareth, the Principle of Harmony, the Human Consciousness and Will of which the four other Sephiroth are (so to speak) the feelers.” While Crowley suggests that Liber OZ may fit on the Tree of Life, he by no means specifies the following model, which only represents one of many possible interpretations.  That being said, here is a workable model:

 

Liber OZ Planets Virtues Weapons Yoga Union
Moral Freedom Jupiter Obedience Wand Mantra Through Speech
Bodily Freedom Moon Independence Perfumes Hatha By Courage
Mental Freedom Mercury Truthfulness Versicle Gnana By Knowledge
Sexual Freedom Venus Unselfishness Lamp Bhakti By Love
Safeguard Tyrannicide Sun Unselfishness Rosy Cross Bhakti By Will

  

Once a basic model for OZ has been projected onto the Tree of Life many others may be easily adopted. For instance, the five sections of Liber OZ can be seen to represent the Five Precepts of Pali Buddhism with little effort.  In similar manner any number of models may be adopted for personal use.  All that is important in each case, is that it in some way aid the Aspirant in their path.  If we embrace the concept that OZ may be applied as a tool in working with the forces within the Ruach then we have a whole host of new applications for this Liber.  We are left with a practical code of ethics applicable in life that aids in navigating the complex corridors within. 

 

Moral Freedom

1. Man has the right to live by his own law—
to live in the way that he wills to do:
to work as he will:
to play as he will:
to rest as he will:
to die when and how he will.

The key to terms being “Moral” and “law” – both of which are defined by our choices… Does not the King establish the laws of governance within the kingdom? Are we not Kings? Morality has always been self-imposed and a matter of self-governance by definition.

This section speaks to the fact that Man has the right to determine what is right and what is wrong.  Further, it implies that the laws we choose to live by should be in accord with our True Will or we may find our laws to be in conflict with Nature which results in conflict on all planes.

Crowley taught that Liber OZ was the practical code of ethics for all Thelemites. Ethics and morality are closely interrelated words; ethics being established by socially and culturally established norms while morality represents self-imposed principles which helps one determine between right and wrong. In other words, morals are more abstract and subjective while ethics are more practical, yet both are essentially principles that lead to right conduct. While Crowley clearly defines Thelemic ethical principles throughout Liber OZ he, in this section, establishes that each is to define their own morality rather than fall into old aeonic trappings.

 

Bodily Freedom

2. Man has the right to eat what he will:
to drink what he will:
to dwell where he will:
to move as he will on the face of the earth.

All essentially issues of the body, both physical and subtle. How we nurture and sustain it, and how we alone are to dictate its actions. It may arguably imply that all mankind has the right to meet their basic needs. And though these rights are everywhere today challenged doesn’t mean we should surrender them. As an example, Crowley was clear that he believed Liber OZ implied the right for all to medical assistance… a battle that continues today and will, until the laws that govern our bodies are in harmony with the Universal Will of Man.

 

Mental Freedom

3. Man has the right to think what he will:
to speak what he will:
to write what he will:
to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will:
to dress as he will.

These are all related to the application of the creative principle and the mental faculties which are expressions of free will and the internal spirit – all fundamental in the self-determining process we call the Great Work. After all, it is the intellectual capacity which separates Man from beast. It is the Sword of the keen which allows us to control our thoughts, words and actions. Consider what Crowley meant when writing, “By the practice of Liber III one first acquires the faculty of inspecting every thought that presents itself at the threshold. “Halt! who goes there?” cries the new sentinel. “Friend”: and on proof, the stranger passes into our consciousness.”* — Simply said, without proper guard at the Door all sorts of enemies may penetrate the Camp.

 

Sexual Freedom

4. Man has the right to love as he will:—
“take your fill and will of love as ye will,
when, where, and with whom ye will.” —AL. I.51

This section is about Union… and, “There is no bond that can unite the divided but love”.  Love being a Law of change that when properly Understood is under Will.  Will being the determining factor, as what we choose to unite with will define our experiences on Malkuth and shape the incarnation moving forward.  Without freedom of choice in these regards we would be slaves to fate. In commenting upon sexual union Crowley wrote, “The sexual act is a sacrament of Will. To profane it is the great offence. All true expression of it is lawful; all suppression or distortion is contrary to the Law of Liberty.” A Sacrament is a sacred act and a word whose Latin roots mean to Consecrate and an Oath; which makes it a binding statement of Truth.

 

Safeguard Tyrannicide

5. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights.
“the slaves shall serve.” —AL. II.58

The key is to “kill” all those things which actually thwart your rights—the real barriers to Spiritual advancement being usually found within. Even when manifested in an outwardly fashion that requires external work, this remains true. In other words, the “slaves” that shall serve could represent the demons within; the lower aspects of self that needs be pressed into service of the higher in order to serve the Master well.

In the fifth practice of Ethics from Liber Had, the Aspirant is instructed to bear himself “as a great King” and to “root out and destroy without pity all things in himself and his surroundings which are weak, dirty, or diseased, or otherwise unworthy. And let him be exceeding proud and joyous.” Yet, let me remind the reader that in his commentaries to AL 111.60., Crowley explains that this Law “must not be regarded as individualism run wild” and needs to remain in “harmony with state-craft,” a concept he expounds when discussing discipline and the limits of true liberty in Liber Aleph. He elaborates: “For every Individual in the State must be perfect in his own Function, with Contentment, respecting his own Task as necessary and holy, not envious of another’s. For so only mayest thou build up a Free State, whose directing Will shall be singly directed to the Welfare of all.” — Liber Aleph, Chapter 38

Finally, in the essay “Duty”, which according to Crowley, “outlines the chief rules of practical conduct to be observed by those who accept the Law of Thelema”, he wrote: “He who violated any right declares magically that it does not exist; therefore it no longer does so, for him.” In short, this Right does not free you from the karmic ramifications of your actions.

 

Love is the law, love under will.

Orpheus

 

*On The Golden Verses of Pythagoras, A. Crowley