Notes on "Reclaiming Self-Governance"

ChatGPT summary of my notes on a seminar by constitutional expert William Keyte

I attended a seminar on constitutional law by William Keyte in the autumn on 2022. Two years on, I am preparing to deliver my own seminar at the same venue, and tread in illustrious footsteps. I wrote up the first half of this earlier event at the time, and have had a “to do” of processing my remaining notes ever since. As part of my own reading I have asked ChatGPT to turn my notes into prose, and these are relayed below. It is a strong compact summary of the moral and legal quandary we are in, although the purpose of my own seminar is to add an extra dimension to this rooted in divinity. These words have not been reviewed by William, so take the errors as my own, with the content inspired by his work, and adjusted by AI to a robotic aesthetic.

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Self-Mastery, Morality, and the Hidden Power of Natural Law

In today's world, where external authority often undermines individual freedom, the true foundation of liberty lies within us—through self-mastery, moral integrity, and an understanding of natural law. Self-mastery is the alignment of thoughts, feelings, and actions. Achieving it requires immense self-awareness and the willingness to observe and control unconscious behaviour, which can lead us astray due to past trauma and societal programming. Natural law governs this journey, an unseen force guiding moral and ethical actions, which, when followed, results in freedom and harmony.

The Struggle of Self-Mastery
Self-mastery is not an easy pursuit. It requires moral consistency, internal observation, and a conscious understanding of one’s motivations. According to natural law, infringing on another’s free will always leads to negative consequences, both individually and collectively. Freedom is not merely about overthrowing external control but demonstrating that we can responsibly govern ourselves. This personal responsibility extends into society—if we cannot manage our thoughts and actions, we cannot expect to live in a truly free society.

In alignment with the Hermetic principles, the journey toward self-mastery integrates mind, spirit, and body. Each part must harmonise to achieve full consciousness. Our current society, however, is characterised by unconscious behaviour, evidenced by the widespread manipulation of thought and the pervasive influence of trauma. Many live in a state of "low consciousness," succumbing to conformity and programmed behavior, never realizing their true potential. As the Milgram experiment illustrates, the most dangerous threat to a free society is a populace that follows orders without questioning.

Collectivism vs. Self-Governance
The modern political system often pushes collectivism, a framework that undermines individual sovereignty by elevating the group over personal responsibility. This system operates on coercion, using the state’s authority to control individuals, violating the fundamental principles of natural law. True self-governance rejects statism and its dependence on external control. In contrast, individualists value voluntary cooperation, where collective action is based on free choice rather than coercion.

The current state of governance has resulted in a loss of humanity, with people outsourcing their moral compass to those in power. As discussed in the William Keyte course notes, this abandonment of self-governance has created a system where governance is less about morality and more about control. The denial of self-governance is itself a crime against natural law, as it strips individuals of their sovereignty.

Freedom Through Consciousness
A conscious society is one in which individuals earn their freedom by demonstrating the ability to manage themselves morally and responsibly. The fewer the rules a society requires, the more conscious it becomes. As people grow more aware, the need for external governance diminishes. A society that clings to rules, regulations, and authority, on the other hand, is unconscious, often operating in a state of "separation consciousness," where individuals are disconnected from their moral responsibilities.

Morality under natural law isn’t about rigid rules but context. What is moral in one situation may not be in another, depending on whether it infringes on another’s free will. This flexibility contrasts sharply with the modern legal system’s rigidity, which fails to account for individual contexts. For example, the distorted legal system, which devalues the power of trial by jury, exemplifies how far we’ve strayed from natural law principles. The jury, historically the conscience of the nation, has been disempowered by judges and legislators seeking to centralise control.

The Trial by Jury and its Moral Significance
In a true system of self-governance, the jury is a key institution. As William Keyte argues, the jury serves as the “court of conscience,” where ordinary people are tasked with interpreting not just the facts of a case but also its moral dimensions. The power of annulment—a jury’s right to nullify unjust laws—has been systematically eroded, stripping citizens of their moral agency. This degradation is part of a broader effort to centralise legal authority, leaving ordinary people disenfranchised and unaware of their power.

The jury’s moral significance extends beyond the courtroom. It is an expression of a society’s consciousness. A society that clamors for trial by jury demonstrates its readiness to take responsibility for itself. It shows a willingness to exercise judgment in accordance with natural law, something that no legislator or government official can truly replace.

The Way Forward: Reclaiming Self-Governance
As we move forward, the challenge is clear: we must reclaim the principles of natural law and self-governance. This starts with personal responsibility—observing and mastering our own thoughts, feelings, and actions. It requires rejecting the false morality of collectivism and statism, embracing instead the voluntary cooperation that marks true freedom.

Natural law is not something we can ignore. It is baked into the very fabric of the universe, governing moral actions and their consequences. The more we align with these laws, the more freedom we will experience as individuals and as a society. Our current legal and political systems are distortions of these truths, designed to centralize power and control. By awakening to these distortions and reclaiming our sovereignty, we can create a society that values self-mastery, moral integrity, and freedom under natural law.

Evening on Holy Isle, Northumberland