I Am The Strength

"Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms." Liber al vel Legis 3:17

We live in fear. We fear the unknown. We fear darkness. We fear failure. We fear each other. And most of all, we fear death. The older people get the more fear-bound they seem to be.

Such fear is of our own making. Humans have listened to the whispers of angelic energies and created religious systems that generate fear. Preachers constantly promote the fear of God, the fear of sin, the fear of a non-existent Devil, and consequently the fear of death from the pulpit, via radio and television.

Fear is not for the Thelemites. Horus commands that we fear nothing. While verse 17 follows a prophetic warning of sadness and future loss for the Beast, this verse appears to be directed as a word of strength and comfort. But it also is a command for all that follow this path.

Notice that the verse outlines many of the fears that can immobilize a person.

We are not to fear men. We find ourselves in social situations where another human is in a position to mock, intimidate, or even detain us. The imposing employer. The police officer that blocks our way. The judge that towers over us from his high bench. During my years as a news reporter I have had the pleasure of walking with judges, corporate presidents, governors, admirals, theologians, internationally famed personalities and even a United States President. And I discovered something peculiar. The more important their image, the smaller these people appear in real life.

We are not to fear Fates. Suppose that police officer wrongfully puts you in shackles and throws you into a cell. Or the judge seeks to find you guilty of some misdeed as defined by angelic driven law. Or the employer unjustly fires you from your job. Fight them with severity but keep a cool head and use great cunning. And always retain your dignity. We are locked in spiritual conflict that often filters down to human levels. We are tested daily. Horus promises victory to those who fight and never cower.

We are not to fear the gods. If we are truly stars and if we do all things in love of Nuit, then "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." Nuit proclaims: "I am Heaven, and there is no other God than me, and my lord Hadit."

Money is not to be feared. Either possessing it, or fearing its power over us. Those with money often use it as power. As long as people perceive money to be power, it has power over them. But money is only an illusion.

We are not to fear mockery by those around us. They are the folk folly. Their laughter is no more than a display of their ignorance. If you know you are right, hold your ground to them. Give no quarter.

There must be no fear of the spirit world. This is that "other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth." Angelic, demonic and other life forms live around us in fourth, fifth, sixth and even more complex dimensions. Sometimes they affect our world. Sometimes they purposely influence our lives. We acknowledge their presence, but we know that we have dominion over them. Thus the fear of spirit forces is silly.

And finally we have this assurance: "Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms." Wrapped in that kind of safety, what would there be to fear? Death is the worst that can happen and for us, death is something to be desired. "Thrill with the joy of life & death! Ah! thy death shall be lovely: whososeeth it shall be glad."