148
The Law is for All
1:44
is also possible on the larger scale, all Life being Magick, all 
Death Mysticism.
Then why is Death “forbidden”? All things are surely lawful. 
But we must work without “lust of result,” taking everything as 
it comes without desire indeed, but with all manner of delight! 
Let thy Love-Madrigal to Death, thy Mother-Mistress, ripple and 
swell throughout the years, with all the Starry Heaven for thine 
Orchestra; but do not imagine that to attain Her is the sole satis­
faction. It is the yearning itself that is Beatitude.
It may seem that in this verse the word “Death” is used in a 
sense somewhat other than that explained in the previous note. It 
is forbidden, observe, to “man.” That is, then, the formula must 
not be used by one who is still an imperfect being. Our definition 
is surely confirmed by this phrase rather than denied, or even 
modified. To long for death is to aspire to the complete fulfilment 
of all one’s potentialities. And it would evidently be an error to 
insist upon passing on to one’s next life while there were hawsers 
unhitched from this one. The mere inexplicability of the various 
jerks would make for bewilderment, irritation, and clumsiness.
For this reason, alone, it is all-important to ascertain one’s true 
Will, and to work out every detail of the work of doing it, as early 
in life as one can. One is apt (at the best) to define one’s will 
dogmatically, and to devote one’s life almost puritanically to the 
task, sternly suppressing all side-issues, and calling this course 
Concentration. This is error, and perilous. For one cannot be sure 
that a faculty which seems (on the surface) useless, even hostile, to 
one’s work, may not in course of time become one of vital value. 
If it be atrophied — alas! Its suppression may moreover have 
poisoned one’s whole system, as a breast debarred from its natu­
ral use is prone to cancer. At best, it may be too late to repair the 
mischief; the lost opportunity may be a life-long remorse.
The one way of safety lies in applying the Law of Thelema 
with the utmost rigour. Every impulse, however feeble, is neces­
sary to the stability of the whole structure; the tiniest flaw may 
cause the cannon to burst. Every impulse, however opposite to 
the main motive, is part of the plan; the rifling does not thwart the 
purpose of the barrel. One should therefore acquiesce in every