The Third Law: The Law of Joy
Congratulations. You’ve completed one quarter of your alchemical journey in the Octagon Society. You’ve accepted yourself just as you are. You’ve accepted other people in your life just as they are. You’ve analyzed the people and things that make you feel sad and you’ve taken steps to increase the happiness in your life. You’ve attained the rank of 2/8 in the Octagon Society. As a 2/8 you now have access to our lessons for the first three laws: the Law of Acceptance, the Law of Happiness, and the Law of Joy.
The Third Law, the Law of Joy, says we can achieve a joy-filled existence in spite of all the negative things that can happen to us. You can achieve a joy-filled existence in spite of all the negative things that can happen to you.
Most people in this world of manifestation are filled with far more fear and anxiety than joy. They awaken, live, work and sleep in a world far more fearful than joyful. They move through the world in a state of fear rather than a state of joy. In many ways, fear governs their lives. They’re afraid of dying, of not having enough food, money or clothing, of not keeping a good job, of losing their homes. They’re afraid bad things will happen to them and there’s nothing they can do about it. Their lives are filled with fear and not joy. This is the Law of Joy: your capacity for joy is measured by your ability to let go of fear.
The Law of Joy has eight separate and distinct steps to be practiced in order to attain the rank of 3/8. As you work your way through these tasks, set aside the knowledge than nobody can make you feel fearful or joyful. You have control of these emotions, not them, but for the time being it’s important to let go of that awareness and feel, as most people do, that other people can make you fearful.
• List the things your father did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things your mother did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things your children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things your aunts, uncles, grandparents, great uncles, great aunts, and all your ancestors did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things your spouse, lovers, friends, fellow students and fellow employees did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things your enemies and antagonists did to you to make you feel fearful or anxious
• List the things all other persons whatsoever did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious
• List all the other things in your life that make you feel fearful or anxious
1. Step One is to list the things your father did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Make this list as complete as possible. This is the first task and it can be completed in the same manner as you approached the First Law, the Law of Acceptance.
The second task is to consciously decide how you’ll handle these same situations in the future regardless of the people, places and things concerned. Your decision is not specific to your father but general to all other situations similar to the events you’ve listed in regard to your father. The decision is how to remain joyful in many situations that previously caused you to feel fearful or anxious. Once you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, move on to the second and subsequent steps.
2. Step Two is to list the things your mother did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Make this list as complete as possible. This is the first task and it can be completed in the same manner as you approached the First Law, the Law of Acceptance.
The second task is to consciously decide how you’ll handle these same situations in the future regardless of the people, places and things concerned. Your decision is not specific to your mother but general to all other situations similar to the events you’ve listed in regard to your mother. The decision is how to remain joyful in many situations that previously caused you to feel fearful or anxious.
3. Step Three is to list the things your children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps. When you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, proceed to the next step.
4. Step Four is to list the things your aunts, uncles, grandparents, great uncles, great aunts, and all your ancestors did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps. When you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, proceed to the next step.
5. Step Five is to list the things your spouse, lovers, friends, fellow students and fellow employees did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps. When you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, proceed to the next step.
6. Step Six is to list the things your enemies and antagonists did to you to make you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps. When you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, proceed to the next step.
7. Step Seven is to list the things all other persons whatsoever did to you that made you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps. When you’ve completed both tasks to your satisfaction, proceed to the next step.
8. Step Eight is to list the things you do that make you feel fearful or anxious. Process these items and complete both tasks in the same manner you handled the first two steps.
How to Increase your Joy
Your happiness increases in direct proportion to the number of things you love to do. That was explained in your last lesson concerning the Law of Happiness.
Your acceptance of yourself and others increases more and more as you release to the Divine the people, places and things that cause you pain and suffering. That was explained in the first lesson concerning the Law of Acceptance.
Your joy is increased in direct proportion to your ability to face your fears. That’s your current lesson concerning the Law of Joy. Whatever you fear reduces your joy. It reduces your quality of life. It makes your life more difficult.
You can face your fears in life or in your imagination. Either way works. If you’re afraid of high places, you can visit high places, let go of all your tension and concerns, relax and face your fear of high places. Or, in the comfort of your living room, you can breathe deeply and relax. Let go of all tension and all the cares of the world. Then imagine yourself in a high place and face your fear of heights in your imagination.
What you imagine will become true.