Dr. Who and the Authorised Allowers

The old Beast Aleister Crowley wrote "Do what thou wilt", and in doing so highlighted the great morality play of right and wrong, allowed and unallowed, freedom and control. Why is it that we are so apprehensive of our own ability to decide for ourselves, and yet pay only lip service in defence of this, our natural liberty?

Take the Internet, for instance. Back in the day, it was the new Wild West, the frontier of the bold and daring. Fortunes were made and lost, right and wrong were interchangeable bedfellows in a stormy romp. Slowly but surely however, we have allowed the (sometimes deserved) misfortunes of innocents old and young to be the saplings of the fence-posts which increasingly encircle, tame and corral that wide open prairie of uncharted possibilities. This, we do, so well.

Where there is unlimited, we limit. Where there is potential, we caveat. Where there is personal responsibility, we abdicate.

So what does this have to do with Dr Who? WHO??!!!
I've been a fan of Dr. Who since before television started seeing rainbows. Still, I must say I totally enjoy David Tennant most as the Doctor. Personal preference, get over it.

David brings to the character that boyish innocence, that charm of wonder, that freedom of power that comes with self-allowing. Dark dingy path that fills you with dread? Right, lets go down there, and at a run if you don't mind! Like a cat, the good Doctor always falls on his feet - even when it appears not to be so. Why? Because he allows it to be so.

Now if you, or I would run down that dark dingy (and did I mention dank?) path, our morality play would immediately kick in. Is it safe? Could I get hurt? Why does it look so scary? All of which, of course are the straps and ties which fasten us to the real question, "Are we allowed?".

Oooh-look, big shiny spaceship, open doors and no-body stopping us from going on board. First question I bet you'd hear "Are we allowed?"

How blithely we give away our Allowed-ness. Like Oliver offering up his bowl, "Please Sir, fill it up with a dollop more of Allowing" we ask for it. Even when there's no-one there. Even if we can't imagine of whom we'd ask this, we'd rather stop and ask of thin air - "are we allowed?"

Well here's the trick. In the asking, we give it away. Before we asked for it, it was ours. Now all of a sudden it ain't. Sad, sad creatures that we are.

Yes, Do What thou wilt. Precisely. Al Crow might have had something there...

Personally, I prefer the Wiccan version "An' it harm none, do what thou wilt". Perhaps that suits better my internal morality play. It is mine to allow after all.

What do you allow yourself? Really. Can you dream it? Zen this one:

What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?

In life, I believe, there is no failing - except failing to do. So get on with it already! You have my permission, I'll Allow it - but only if you ask nicely.