The scope and natures of the Law of Exception and the General Law are elucidated by Mouravieff’s analogy comparing how cells within the physical body are like individual human beings serving the superorganism (the World). Just as the body regulates cells to ensure the body is well maintained, so does the General Law regulate the World by keeping individuals in their place. The Law of Exception, on the other hand, guarantees that the cell is also able to act in accordance with it’s own selfish needs and desires.

What then is the meaning of human life in this Cosmos as we know it? Mans’ existence has two main purposes:

-as an element of the universal organism, it serves the aims of the latter;

-as an isolated individual, he can pursue his own aims.

To better understand why and how these two objectives are bound together, let us take an example:

The position of man in the Universe is analogous to that of a cell in the human body. Each cell is a part of an organ which, in its turn, is an element of a group of organs that assures proper accomplishment of some definite function of the organism.

From this point of view, let us examine the lot of a cell in our bodes. It is subject to two categories of laws. To simplify, let us say that it is placed under the rule of two laws.

The first keeps the cell in its place. In esoteric science we call it the General Law. The second leaves a certain liberty of action for the cell, and is called the Law of Exception.

The first law, which is conservative, ensures that the organ of which this cell is a part accomplishes its function with no impediment. To this end, the first condition is that during their lives the cells which compose the organ fulfill the role given them. this law obliges these cells to remain in their own places, to complete their work, and to dedicate their lives to it.

It is evident that if this law did not keep the cells for the body within the limits of each organ , if it did not oblige them to fulfill their function, the latter would not be able to exist. Thus this law is beneficial; by ensuring the existence o the organs, it permits the whole body to endure.

We know, however, that the total removal of certain organs of the body is compatible with survival. In the current state of our knowledge it even seems that removal of some of them leads to no serious functional inconvenience. Even more; the organism tolerates partial resection of some organs without compromising the roles played by the latter in the general economy. This shows that the disappearance of a few cells, an infinitesimal part of an organ, goes unnoticed: its functioning is not impaired. As the essential role of the General Law is to watch over continuity of function, this disappearance passes unnoticed by it. Therefore it places no further obstacles. Symbolically, one can say that cells which escape from this law now enter the domain of the Law of Exception.

In the life of a human being the General Law manifests as: the status quo, inertia, reactionism, routine and habit, groupthink. It keeps us in familiar settings, but it also tends to hold us back when we try to make meaningful changes in our selves and our lives.

The Law of Exception

Counter to the General Law is the Law of Exception. This law is responsible for making sure that individual cells have room to express their own selfish desires and pursue their own goals. In a larger sense, the Law of Exception is what allows streams of new info/change into an otherwise closed-seeming-system. The goal of someone who is getting the system message that they’re not fitting in and receiving a lot of systemic pressure, is to resonate with the Law of Exception and, essentially, hitch a ride out of the domain of the General Law. This isn’t a trick, but a natural progression. As we become better suited for more conscious service-of-the-all (outside the sub-system we were born to serve), the General Law of this system no longer has a hold on us, and the Law of Exception appears to help us safely through the transition.

In order to escape the pressure of the General Law and move with the Law of Exception, one must be equally unplugged from the General Law and A (external) influences as the results one seeks. For example, one might be seeing the limitations of the system in which they live, strive for freedom, and get hit with a big slap of General Law pressure because they are still attached to the system through some very external influences. So, the process of moving from reactionism and reprimands of the General Law, to expanded awareness and freedom of moving with the Law of Exception necessarily involves a lot of introspection and sorting through our identity and our place within a larger whole (more on this later).

To the organism (the system in which we live as microorganisms), there is room for a very small amount of individuals to escape the demands of the General Law -after all, it is primarily concerned with the overall functioning and stability of the system it is responsible for; so long as the body is running smoothly there is no reason to expend energy on rounding up stray cells. The Law of Exception sets conditions so that some individuals are allowed to leave/graduate to new frontiers of development, and also new members are able to enter (graduate to) this system.

So, the General Law is a governing system. It keeps the cells in the place so that they can best support the body. The Law of Exception connects all dimensions and frequencies of being. Its effect on static realms is that it lets bits of new/other information into the mix. To us as individuals  it appears as small little windows of opportunity to learn how to avoid the General Law.

In esoteric teachings, this process is sometimes discussed as stages like “finding the way to the path”, “finding the path” and then following the path through to greater liberation.

For someone who has experienced the General Law as covert harassment, this pressure is the ‘finding the way to the path’. It’s a daunting ordeal, but also an opportunity to learn something about ourselves and the nature of reality. “Finding the path” I think is when a person starts to see the positive results, the growth, that is occurring, rather than just seeing the negative influences and attacks as something to avoid at any cost. The path is the focus of all esoteric science and teachings. It is many things, but in short it’s a process of learning to avoid the pressures of the General Law and learning how to move along with the Law of Exception.

Mouravieff said of these laws and the path
(Gnosis, Book I: the Exoteric Cycle):

“As long as man accepts the principle of the final annihilation of his Personality without a fight, he can carry on in life without attracting the increasing pressures of the General Law upon himself.

“The case is totally different if he struggles to surpass the limits which it imposes. It acts simultaneously on several planes: physical, mental, and moral. Its action on the moral plane is conceived by man, since time immemorial, in the form of a personification: the Devil.

“In the orthodox Tradition demonology occupies a considerable place. We find there practical constatations, fine and profound observations on the highly sophisticated and insidious forms that the Devil’s action takes in very varied circumstances, in which it goes as far as using the good faith of humans for its own ends.

“We will also find precious advice, based on accumulated experience over the ages, which is particularly helpful to students of esoteric science; because once the first positive results are obtained those students will unmistakably run up against the active opposition to the law and the GAME OF THE CRAFTY ONE.

“It must be realized that in placing himself under the aegis of the Law of Exception, man goes against the General Law, which he is even called upon to overthrow, if only on an individual scale. He must not forget–under penalty of ’surprise attack’–the salvation depends on victory over the Devil, which as we have said, is the personalized moral aspect of the General Law. This is so, even though this, being a cosmic law, is naturally a divine law. One must not be afraid, as the Law of Exception is also a divine law. In choosing it, man continues to serve the interests of the whole, but differently and in an incomparably more efficient manner. During his fight against the first law, he is subject to tests that often take the form of temptations. In orthodox Doctrine deep studies are devoted to this theme, As stated above, they contain precious advice of a practical nature, details of which we cannot cover in this present book. We are however permitted to draw attention to the indirect nature of the diabolical action. If, aiming straight towards his goal, which is liberation and salvation, the seeker successfully overcomes the obstacles and by this shows proof of a strength that would permit him to defy the authority of the General Law, the latter will begin to act upon him indirectly, generally by the mediation of his near ones if they do not follow the same path: this action occurs on the moral plane, and often takes emotional forms appealing to his most noble, generous, and disinterested sentiments: to his charity; his obligations; his pity. It impels him down blind alleys, insinuating that he will be returning to his duty, that by so doing he will go on walking in the right path, etc. This will clarify the profound saying of Jesus that: ‘A man’s worst enemies are those of his own household.’ “

The Law of Exception is not just a fluke; it is not merely a lacking of the General Law or where the latter fails. In moving from the domain of the General Law, the individual continues to serve the system (the Whole), but in a different, more efficient capacity. The balancing between the General Law and the Law of Exception might be seen as the Human Resources department of a business. As a junior member begins to master their original role as outlined by the company, their amassed knowledge and skills eventually qualify them for promotion to a position with greater freedom of movement and decision making; they can serve the company better by working on more advanced projects, and less experienced employees can more efficiently serve the company by performing the entry-level tasks. The Law of Exception promotes those who are ready, willing and able.

As Mouravieff says,

Up to this point, the analogy with what happens to man because of the General Law and the Law of Exception could be taken as complete.

But it stops here, at least as regards the present state of our knowledge. In this activity of life, of migrations and of cellular death, there is no justification for thinking that the passage from the General Law to the Law of Exception results from any conscious actions of the cells.

For man it happens differently.

As one moves toward the Law of Exception, one necessarily moves against the General Law. This draws the attention of the General Law, the regulatory mechanism of the system, and a series of systemic reprimand ensues. As the individual learns how the mechanics work, these aggressive corrections become more like neutral obstacles. If the individual successfully evolves from reactionism to a significantly greater degree of Consciousness, they escape the General Law and graduate to Man 4 status.

Moving away from the dominion of the General Law and toward the Law of Exception is an intensive Process of sorting… between external influences and introspection (between A influences and B influences) of sorting through and making order of all the “little I’s” that have made up our personality, in order to form a more lasting and true identity.

To the individual person trying to move toward the Law of Exception, there appears a series of obstacles or tests that require a person to become much more conscious in order to escape the pressures of the General Law and succeed along the Way to greater freedom and continued evolution. This step toward greater consciousness involves becoming aware of all the various bits of our Personality, which can be broken down into 3 centers: intellectual, emotional, and motor/instinct. But first, let’s look at the connection between personality and what Mouravieff called A influences.

Mouravieff uses the terms A and B Influences as useful containers for various external and internal influences (respectively). Tuning into A influences keeps one plugged into and ruled by external influences, ruled by Chance. B influences are those which introduce and inspire Free Will and conscious decision making based on Introspection. Tuning into B influences encourages the development of a ‘real I’ as opposed to the fickle, ephemeral mixture of myriad ‘little I’s which external man is ruled by. As Mouravieff has it, the development of the I/Self is the development of Consciousness. All is learning. He uses the distinction ‘real I’ to connote a degree of greater Consciousness.

A and B Influences