Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Yes, I know this is a day early (and there won’t be one tomorrow because of it), but I wanted to put this out on Yule. Because … reasons.
I was originally going to write something deep and wordy for this Yuletide morning (and, technically, “the solstice” was six hours ago, but who’s counting that kind of nonsense, and on a holiday, right?). I was going to wow you with my profundity of connections between the season and Thelema, between the longest night of the year, our meanings and longings in the darkness, and some incredible theological insight I might have found in the Book of the Law.
Yawn. Right?
And then I thought, “Nah. Whatever you’re doing this holiday season, this upcoming day, and the days that follow in the week ahead, I hope you’re doing it with people you love. I hope that whatever this moment holds for you is filled with joy. Or even if you are working on the holiday, toiling at some labor, or if you’re taking the time to volunteer to help others in lieu of being at home, I hope you are mindful that someone is thinking of you right now.”
Because I am.
Honestly. As I sat here trying to figure out what to write—I’ve been on the road (as a passenger) for hours on my way to New York for a funeral—I stopped and went through my subscriber list, hit up every profile, looked at every individual who had a stack-thing with something to say, read something or two, and thought about who you are and what you had to say to the world out here, to all of us. I don’t know most of you personally, but you are brilliant, shining, wonderful people. Even if I disagree with you sometimes. Or not. You teach me, keep me thinking, and make me want to do more than sit around and stew in my self-righteous indignation at a world gone mad. And I thank you for it.
Whatever season’s greeting you choose, I offer it to you (even if it’s past us already).
Eid Milad un-Nabi!
Hanukkah Sameach!
Happy Bodhi Day!
Happy Boxing Day!
Happy Dong Zhi!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy Solstice!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Yuletide!
Love is the law, love under will.
—Johnathon Victor Reese