Liber LXV: The White Swan of Ecstasy and the Little Crazy Boy of Reason
The parables of the Holy Books of Thelema
“Also the Holy One came upon me, and I beheld a white swan floating in the blue. Between its wings I sate, and the æons fled away. Then the swan flew and dived and soared, yet no whither we went.
A little crazy boy that rode with me spake unto the swan, and said: Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many æons have passed; whence camest thou? Whither wilt thou go?
And laughing I chid him, saying: No whence! No whither! The swan being silent, he answered: Then, if with no goal, why this eternal journey? And I laid my head against the Head of the Swan, and laughed, saying: Is there not joy ineffable in this aimless winging? Is there not weariness and impatience for who would attain to some goal? And the swan was ever silent.
Ah! but we floated in the infinite Abyss. Joy! Joy! White swan, bear thou ever me up between thy wings!”
–Liber LXV, II:17-25
The second chapter of Liber LXV is attributed to the element of Air which, among other things, is associated with thought and ideas. Thus, the Adept traveling through the air gives us an indication that we will be dealing with such topics.
This brief parable is a lesson on the limitations of thought and reason when it comes to understanding the infinite and the ineffable. It also shows that joy can be found in every moment of existence and does not need to be tied to achieving goals and making results.
The swan awaits. Let us fly…