Statement of Values
Mere Thelema adheres to a set of ideals that shape all we do. Our mission isn’t merely to produce “content,” but to embody the kind of Thelema we hope to see in the world. To this end, while no outcome requires a hive mind to succeed, this journal—and our mission—is grounded in five basic values.
- Rooted Will in a World of Chaos Mere Thelema upholds the truths of the Book of the Law and the sacred authenticity of the Self, honoring the divine nature of embodiment in all its forms as expressions of True Will. It navigates the illusions (and realities!) of modern chaos with clarity, embracing existence as it is—coherent, ecstatic, and purposeful.
- Love under Will in a Divided Age Mere Thelema proclaims the Law of Thelema, of Love under Will—choosing liberty, courage, and honor over coercion, despair, or dogma—refusing to conquer others through force or manipulate the world through fear.
- Contemplative Discipline in a Reactionary Culture Mere Thelema cultivates depth, reflection, and clarity, rather than succumbing to impulsive outrage or empty consensus. It gives sacred pause to what is eternal, drawing on discipline rather than hot takes.
- Noble Speech in a World of Clamor Mere Thelema speaks what is True, Beautiful, and Necessary with noble bearing and poetic precision, refusing the snares of faction, clique, and performative virtue. It is focused both outwardly toward a world gone mad and inwardly toward a community untethered from its source.
- Illuminated Media in an Age of Noise Mere Thelema wields the tools of the digital age, using art, language, and dialogue to awaken the moral imagination and deepen conscious awareness—never to preach, but always to reveal.
Vision of Mere Thelema
Mere Thelema is a peer-reviewed, curated, open-access online journal that treats Thelema as a serious, lived philosophy, gathering clear, irenic voices to apply the Law to real human issues and concerns, enabling Thelema to speak credibly beyond its occult niche and take its place in the wider cultural landscape. Mere Thelema showcases fresh perspectives from insightful voices exploring the intersection of Thelema with community, culture, spiritual growth, theology, technology, literature, and global affairs. The goal of Mere Thelema is not to perpetuate the same online “occult content” that has dominated our communities for nearly three decades, but to stop being afraid of the pragmatism of the Law and to foster a dialogue between Thelema and everyday human issues.
Mere Thelema is designed to attract, encourage, and normalize writers who break the current stereotype of “occultist,” who are willing to put on their big-person pants and broaden the field of applying Thelemic principles to the world itself. Mere Thelema is not meant to take away from individual work or Substacks or blogs, or even to minimize the “magical” approach so many addictively chase; but rather it is to combine mature voices into a wellspring of revival for Thelema in the world-at-large, to very real concerns and events of all people; that takes seriously the mandate of the Book of the Law both that the “Law is for all,” and that “to each man and woman that thou meetest, were it but to dine or to drink at them, it is the Law to give”; that tackles reality rather than fantasy; that focuses on the concerns of the world as it is rather than the grandiosity of magicians; that looks consistently forward rather than constantly backward. It is for those who see Thelema as their life scaffolding rather than a spooky aesthetic, rebellious angst, spiritual bypassing, or merely some grab at a paycheck.
The bold vision of Mere Thelema is to give a voice to Thelema across all aspects and functions of society, directed toward the ultimate concern of humanity and of each individual, without the encumbrance of outmoded occultism and entrepreneurial religion.
Thelemites and Thelema-adjacent writers are all welcome. The topic is Thelema. We hope that’s clear. But how you approach Thelema, in what way you unfold Thelema to the world around us on some topic or another, is entirely up to you.
Mere Thelema‘s Writers’ Consortium
If you’d like to join our writers’ consortium, please see our submission guidelines and process. We also have a non-exhaustive and non-restrictive list of suggested topical categories.
