tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59546937950955960782024-03-05T16:33:51.519-05:00Between the HornsA Satanist's take on various topics, from holidays to history to the news.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-65935893599654347492015-03-14T06:07:00.000-04:002015-03-14T06:35:09.628-04:00Between the Horns on the 9sense Podcast<div>
Tired of reading this stuff? You're in luck!</div>
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Between the Horns</i> is now a monthly segment on the <a href="http://www.9sensepodcast.com/" target="_blank">9sense podcast</a>! Hosted by Rev. Adam Campbell of the <a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/" target="_blank">Church of Satan</a>, 9sense is an informative, stimulating, frequently amusing forum for the discussion of Satanism and relevant topics. I have popped up in a couple of past episodes, but now it's a thing. And what a thing!<br />
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You can listen to the first episode featuring <i>Between the Horns</i> <a href="http://9sensepodcast.com/mp3/l/march/01marchlas.mp3" target="_blank">here</a>. 9sense is a weekly show, and my segment is currently scheduled for the first episode of each month.</div>
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I am excited to join this show's diverse roster of outstanding contributors!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-28979110067447294092014-08-08T00:06:00.000-04:002014-08-08T08:25:13.690-04:00On the Definition of Satanism<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Three Devil-worshippers walk into a desecrated church ― stop me if you’ve heard this one. They light candles, burn incense, and, much to their surprise, they successfully summon Satan! When they bow down to worship His Infernal Majesty, He says, “Haven’t I taught you <b>anything</b>?!”</i></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/what-the-devil.php" target="_blank">Satanism is not Devil-worship.</a> No matter how often we restate this, misunderstandings persist.<br />
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But that’s no surprise.<br />
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Anton Szandor LaVey codified this religious philosophy under a name that, while accurate, had hitherto been used almost exclusively as a religio-political slur against assorted heretics, freethinkers, and pagans.</div>
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This nomenclature has parallels to the term “Impressionism,” which was first used as an insult against a pioneering approach to painting in the late 19th century. Since it was basically accurate, this pejorative was adopted as the most suitable name for a movement that eventually became “respectable.”<br />
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But Satanism is far more controversial than the pastel Luciferianism of the Impressionists, and the history of slander against it spans millennia.</div>
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And yet, with the founding of the Church of Satan in 1966, Satanism transubstantiated from a scandalous accusation into an unconventional means of self-realization.</div>
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In <i>The Satanic Bible</i>, LaVey rhetorically asks whether Devil-worshippers are “practicing Satanism in its truest sense.” He points out that previous definitions of Satanism were merely Christian propaganda, whereas he is expressing “Satanic thought from a truly Satanic point of view.”</div>
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Unlike its theoretical caricature, genuine Satanism evolved from atheism. After all, the mythological Satan doesn’t worship any gods above Himself. Neither do we. Every Satanist is his or her own god. You can’t get more Satanic than that!</div>
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LaVey’s unprecedented formulation organically integrates the full spectrum of the Satanic, from traditional ritual trappings to literary predecessors to previously unidentified strains of cultural resonance.<br />
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With LaVey came the first definition of Satanism that is truly Satanic, through and through. It is a comprehensively sound work of conceptual architecture. Each and every element is integral to all the others. Even so, the resulting structure allows for infinitely varied elaboration in accordance with the idiosyncratic passions of each individual Satanist.</div>
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Satanism is not a faith, but an <i><a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/worlds-most-powerful-religion.php" target="_blank">augmentation</a></i>.</div>
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Satanism applies the principles that define the very nature of Devils: the rejection of external gods, the embrace of carnality, and a stance of honest individualism.<br />
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Again: Satanists do not worship Satan. Rather, we emulate that mythological figure’s most productive qualities, rejecting the rest as anti-carnal propaganda.<br />
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This very act of defining Satanism, and correcting its misrepresentation, is a Satanic act unto itself. Ours is the most accurate definition, and quite naturally resisted by many who subscribe to an un-Satanic worldview. They simply cannot grasp what comes so naturally to us. And we cannot afford to forget that, lest we commit <a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/nine-satanic-sins.php" target="_blank">the sin of solipsism</a>.<br />
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We insist upon this differentiation between Satanism and Devil-worship, pushing back against endless misunderstandings, because these efforts sustain the religious philosophy that enriches our lives beyond measure. On a personal level, I would like to give others a chance to experience the unexpected exhilaration of self-discovery that I enjoyed at age thirteen.</div>
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As Magister Nemo writes in “<a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/satanism-needs-an-enema.php" target="_blank">Satanism Needs an Enema!</a>”: “The Satanic movement is ideas. The wrong ideas can kill what is truly Satanic in our efforts and leave us just another mindless cult.” If an already Satanic individual comes across too much misinformation before rejecting Satanism altogether, we will have lost the full emergence of a remarkably inspiring peer.<br />
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So, if we reject the supernatural definition of Satanism, why do we use the name? LaVey admits in The Satanic Bible that “they” named our religion. But, being anti-Satanic, most religionists interpret Satanism through the lens of their own mythological prejudices. Yet the hegemony of spiritual religions has, through the course of human history, solidly established the groundwork of what is considered Satanic. This provides a context for us that could be alienating, but which we adapt toward our own stimulation. The only problem is that they have also projected their own faith-clouded ideas into their conceptions of Satanism, thus accusing us of their own compulsive fantasies.<br />
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And so it is up to us, as Satanists, to continue asserting the definition of Satanism ― from a <i>truly </i>Satanic point of view.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-23256188788260931772014-07-28T05:03:00.001-04:002014-07-28T05:16:57.660-04:00The Satanic DictionaryI have launched a new Tumblr blog titled "<a href="http://www.satanicdictionary.com/" target="_blank">The Satanic Dictionary</a>." Working from a master list, I will be sporadically updating it, in no particular order, to compile a reference that may come in handy for anyone seeking concise definitions of core Satanic terminology.<br />
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Since I am a Warlock in the Church of Satan, these entries are written with the express intention of reflecting that organization's principles.<br />
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Entries are written in as straightforward a manner as possible. It is not an encyclopedia, and complete understanding may require further research on the reader's part. But as LaVey always said, "Satanism demands study, NOT worship."<br />
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The original plan was to write and release this as a complete book, but the accessibility and interactivity of a Tumblr blog ultimately seemed more desirable, at least for now. Blogging allows for the gradual development of this reference as it evolves, and its searchability makes it more useful to others along the way.</div>
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Since I just celebrated my Birthday, I have begun with nine entries relating to that highest of holidays, along with the ego, pride, and other correlating terms. This was also a good way to begin cross-referencing through links within the definitions.<br />
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It is a pleasure to finally have this idea taking shape. As a lover and lifelong collector of dictionaries, I am thrilled to be developing such a reference dedicated to the religion that enhances every aspect of my life.<br />
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<a href="http://www.satanicdictionary.com/" target="_blank">The Satanic Dictionary</a> blog can be found at <a href="http://www.satanicdictionary.com/">SatanicDictionary.com</a>.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-21033605339879904212014-06-16T20:12:00.002-04:002014-06-16T20:12:39.759-04:00The Devil in Vaudeville: Showbiz as Satanic Magic<div>
About a week ago, I visited Spoonbill and Sugartown Booksellers in Brooklyn. Perusing my favorite shelves, I espied a title of preciously rare, immediate, and personal resonance: <i>American Vaudeville as Ritual</i>. As a writer, cartoonist, musician, comedian, and Satanist, I found this an unusually promising resource for my studies. And I was not disappointed!<br />
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Written by Albert F. McLean, Jr., a professor with a Harvard Ph.D. in American Civilization, this text was published in 1965 — a year before Anton Szandor LaVey founded the Church of Satan. LaVey gave ample credit to his influences: diabolically insightful predecessors from whose works, as well as his own life, he distilled the principles of Satanism. Though I don’t know whether LaVey was aware of this particular publication, I suspect it would have felt perfectly at home in his library. This highly readable academic work explores truly Satanic principles within the context of American entertainment, focusing on vaudeville from the late nineteenth century to 1930 — the year LaVey was born.<br />
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<i>American Vaudeville as Ritual</i> refers to figures specifically mentioned in the Church of Satan’s recommended reading lists, including Horatio Alger, Herbert Spencer, Jack London, and H. L. Mencken. Its vocabulary alone reflects a sincere grasp of the concepts and practices at the core of Satanism. Of course, this is not to suggest that the author is a Satanist. However, McLean, going against the academic grain, tapped into a magically carnal undercurrent, communicating its dynamics with remarkably sensitive wisdom.<br />
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McLean states his overall thesis as follows:<br />
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“Myth itself consists of interrelated constellations of images and symbols that both singly and collectively express the unconscious assumptions upon which men base their functional attitudes and beliefs. Vaudeville, as became clear in the course of my investigations, stood in relation to the American dream of human progress and personal achievement as primitive ritual stood in relation to primitive myth.” (ix)</blockquote>
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Already, we find several Satanic principles: meritocracy, self-realization, pragmatic engagement with philosophically-resonant symbolism, and remembrance of past orthodoxies. These themes constitute the core of the book’s content and its relevance to Satanism. They are reinforced later in the preface:<br />
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“...there is, in this heterogeneous society, still a folk element which too seeks to evolve its usable myths; only instead of linking these myths with the religious aspirations of the community, the new urban folk has drawn its symbols from the secular magic of its era — the very scientism which set out to dispell (sic) forever the prestige of myth. Vaudeville stands in the center of this secular myth-making and has been engaged in a process of real significance for modern society, a process which has gone largely unperceived because of inadequate perspectives and inattention to the nature and history of mass entertainment.” (xi)</blockquote>
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Here the text criticizes two Satanic sins: Forgetfulness of Past Orthodoxies and Lack of Perspective. It also embraces the concept of secular magic, which is essential to the Satanist’s practice of Lesser Magic and certain works of Greater Magic that would go unnoticed by most people as genuine sorcery.<br />
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I was particularly struck by another, longer passage, rich with elements of Satanic theory and practice:<br />
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<br />“Committed to no particular tradition, capable of infinite variations and permutations, alien to all of the formalized modes by which educated persons communicate, the ritual of entertainment could absorb public sentiment and respond to it immediately. Ritual, as it has manifested itself throughout time, has been dynamic and effervescent, always evading the attempts of language to confine it. And within the heterogeneous society of the American city, composed of many peoples from many cultures, it was precisely this active, elusive form of expression which could be most effective. Vaudeville was catholic in its tastes, hospitable to the most ambiguous and contradictory symbolisms, open to old myths but also busy building new ones. Whereas the popular myths which served it were pointed and restrictive — symbolized through stereotyped characters and stories — vaudeville itself remained mobile and elusive as a form, capable of shifting in coloration and emphasis from one performance to the next. </blockquote>
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“Through ritual the process of myth-making could be sustained; the symbols could be tested, and the gestures varied until the right combinations evolved.” (4)</blockquote>
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Where do I begin? Apply these ideas to a more individualistic point of view, and the resonance is astounding. We Satanists, a cross-cultural meta-tribe, freely borrow from seemingly incompatible sources of inspiration, blending them into idiosyncratic syntheses that fulfill an infinite variety of individualistic needs. Our magical workings, conducted both within the ritual chamber and through other evocations, are exercises in intellectual decompression — an aesthetically-induced emotionalization that LaVey suggested was all the more necessary for the intellectual. And while I would not say we focus on stereotypes, we do revel in the powerful conceptual embodiments found in archetypes.<br />
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Many Satanists have little or no interest in the traditional accoutrements of Satanic ceremony, and may find more inspiration in the creation or enjoyment of other sensory catalysts. That can include physical environments, works of literature, and even certain television programs. Indeed, the Satanist has the unique privilege of genuinely religious experiences that can appear thoroughly mundane to the average person — or even to another Satanist.<br />
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McLean’s mention of feeling out the “right combinations” brings to mind LaVey’s essay, “The Combination Lock Principle,” from <i>The Devil’s Notebook</i>, in which he emphasizes the inimitable nature of one’s personal system of sorcery. Prescribed methods can be a useful framework, but should be adapted, even until they are unrecognizable, to suit the Satanist’s personal needs. Of course, that sometimes does mean following tradition down to the letter. However, in my experience, that is rarely the case.<br />
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In the following passages, McLean outlines the fundamental mechanisms of these evocations:<br />
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“Like most rituals, vaudeville combined without explanation or apology the means by which an audience could be lured, enthralled, and emotionally satisfied.” (7) </blockquote>
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“Caroline Caffin, whose book <i>Vaudeville </i>appeared in 1914... saw vaudeville as... at its best creating ‘an electrifying experience’ in which the performer evoked from the audience ‘an answering vibration.’” (13) </blockquote>
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“Anyone present in the wings before curtain time could not help but feel the electric tension charging the atmosphere...” (92)</blockquote>
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This dynamic will be familiar to the Satanic student of Greater Magic. The power of any ritual is in its ability to heighten the emotions, and thus expand the will, through custom-tailored, personally satisfying stimuli.<br />
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For those not seeking to directly affect change outside of themselves, ritual is employed as “self-transformative psychodrama,” to borrow a phrase from Magus Peter H. Gilmore. This can be achieved not only before a traditional altar, but also through means that may appear to be mere entertainment:<br />
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“The New Folk were not just dreamers or escapists. If they wished relief from the give-and-take of city life, they also wanted the strength and motivation to face it once again.” (68)</blockquote>
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Of course, one need not feel overwhelmed by urban existence in order to benefit from this method. But Greater Magic through discriminating engagement with “entertainment” sure helps <i>me </i>to survive the daily grind in New York City!<br />
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(And I’ll admit that, sometimes, it’s just plain helpful to wind down with an excellent sitcom.)<br />
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As for Lesser Magic, McLean offers this keen encapsulation:<br />
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“Sex, which in primitive thought often shared with the earth mystical powers of regeneration, but which within the Puritan consciousness had become linked with a shameful bestiality, was refurbished into ‘glamour,’ a power accessible to even the most uneducated man or woman. Through ‘glamour,’ as vaudeville-goers and newspaper readers well knew, one could acquire popularity, wealth, fame, and happiness.”</blockquote>
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He continues with an insightful, if slightly utopian, take on the magical potential of modern indulgences:<br />
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“Even the machines — dynamos, trolley cars, and Gramophones — had invaded everyday life, creating wonderful new possibilities for pleasure. In the mythical view which saw all human society as moving toward a collective, euphoric future, the machines were indispensable talismans.” (6)</blockquote>
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As might be expected, the Satanic nature of entertainment has not been lost on the religious establishment. To this day, Christian fundamentalists and their Islamic counterparts, along with a joyless assortment of other death-worshiping religionists, protest these life-enhancing creations. As we’ve seen on the news — and sometimes in our personal lives — their irrational, totalitarian responses range from obnoxious comments to fatal acts of terrorism.<br />
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In several passages, McLean directly addresses the tension between Christianity and vaudeville, which naturally tends to result in the triumph of instinctual delights over stifling dogma:<br />
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“Vanity Fair, as it was described from the pulpit, stood ready to lure Christian from his journey to salvation... the Protestant movement had gained its impetus from the rejection of pomp and ritual, and latter-day prophets could, without too much distortion, find in theatrical presentations just such an appeal to carnal, unregenerate man.” (72)</blockquote>
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“Vaudeville in its formative stages spoke for a generalized conception of the good life rather than for liberated fun-making. Happiness, however, within its ritual was no longer an otherworldly reward for good works, nor was it the endowed privilege of a few saintly members of the community. Happiness was, the ritual implied, already blossoming within the cities and would soon spread beyond the palaces into the daily lives of men.” (84) </blockquote>
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“To the immigrant the spiritual promise of his religion had been manifest in the hues, lines, and lights of the cathedrals, and when he came to the secular society of the United States, he could not help seeing the symbolic promise — not for the life hereafter but for the present life — in vaudeville palaces. By its proportions and decor the vaudeville palace made easier the immigrant’s translation from the rites of a ceremonial religion to the ritual of secular amusement.” (195) </blockquote>
This last statement in particular reminds me of LaVey's proclamation at the opening of <i>The Satanic Bible</i>: “Since worship of fleshly things produces pleasure, there would then be a temple of glorious indulgence...”<br />
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In the concluding chapter of McLean’s book, one finds the author’s most direct thoughts regarding vaudeville’s inherent diabolism:<br />
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“Obviously the vaudeville ritual denied the validity of certain basic Christian principles. Where Christianity sanctified poverty and turned men’s eyes toward heavenly rewards, vaudeville extolled the gospel of wealth and sought happiness in immediate existence. Where Christianity marked man’s place in history through a framework of revelations, the vaudeville myth knew no past nor future, only the the sensuous and climactic rhythm of its man-made, man-centered ritual... Salvation was no longer an arduous hike along a cruel path but a willingness to open the senses to the brilliant wares that Vanity Fair had to offer.” (215, 216)</blockquote>
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I encourage the reader to hunt down a copy of this outstanding book, as this essay only touches upon a few of its ample moments of Satanic resonance.<br />
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We often note that Satanism is the only religion that takes pride in its showbiz elements, even though <i>all </i>religions are rooted in fetishistic theatricality. <i>American Vaudeville as Ritual </i>demonstrates this more clearly and thoroughly than I have seen anywhere else. It has certainly helped me to further recognize and articulate the principles of Satanism within the context of entertainment.<br />
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What a rare pleasure. The newest book on my shelf is already among my most cherished grimoires.<br />
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And I just wrote a book report — for fun.</div>
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<u>Work Cited</u><br />
McLean, Albert F., Jr. <i>American Vaudeville as Ritual</i>. Kentucky: University of Kentucky Press, 1965. Print.<br />
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<u>Bibliography</u></div>
Gilmore, Peter H. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Scriptures-Peter-H-Gilmore/dp/0976403595/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7850525-6432757?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182438419&sr=8-1/churchofsatan" target="_blank">The Satanic Scriptures</a></i>. Baltimore, MD: Scapegoat Publishing, 2007.<br />
LaVey, Anton Szandor. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0922915113/churchofsatan" target="_blank">The Devil's Notebook</a></i>. Venice, CA: Feral House, 1992.<br />
LaVey, Anton Szandor. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Bible-Anton-Szandor-Lavey/dp/0380015390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302554576&sr=8-1/churchofsatan" target="_blank">The Satanic Bible</a></i>. New York, NY: Avon Books, Inc., 1969.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-20144712985997069882013-11-07T02:16:00.000-05:002013-11-07T13:51:18.845-05:00A Prayer for Atheists & Devil WorshipersAs Magus Peter H. Gilmore explains in <i><a href="http://www.satanicscriptures.com/" target="_blank">The Satanic Scriptures</a></i>, Satanism's current watchword is: Justice.<br />
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As it turns out, it goes both ways: a <i>Justice </i>can <i>watch words</i>. Bear with me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2013/1106/Public-prayer-why-devil-worshipers-came-up-in-Supreme-Court-arguments-video" target="_blank">Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court debated the issue of prayers at town board meetings.</a> Normally, this would be of interest exclusively as a matter of separation of church and state. That principle is always significant, and has special implications for Satanists. But, in this exchange, what caught my ear was the conspicuous absence of the very term "Satanist."<br />
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Justice Samuel Alito asked for an example of a town hall prayer that would be acceptable to an assortment of religions, including, among others, Christians, Buddhists, and Wiccans. Justice Antonin Scalia, playing Devil's advocate, added atheists and devil worshipers to the list. Despite the laughter in the courtroom, this successfully illustrated that it would still be insufficiently inclusive to address town hall prayers to a generic "almighty."<br />
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Getting to my point: Scalia mentions "atheists" on the one hand and "devil worshipers" on the other. <i>Phew!</i> Living up to his title, the Justice did not drag <i>Satanists </i>into this. Since we're already covered by "atheists," Scalia's use of "devil-worshipers" in this case introduces a welcome specificity that doesn't risk conflating Satanism and, <i>lehavdl</i>, devil worship.<br />
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It seems like an almost deliberate choice. After all, public figures usually love the word "Satanist." It's even the more efficient choice, being two syllables shorter! But the Justice put in about 66.6 percent more effort, resulting in a much clearer argument that kept Satanism out of the whole mess.<br />
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Perhaps I'm more pleased than I should be. The truth is, most people probably still don't know that Satanists are atheists. Nonetheless, <i>this</i> vocabulary-obsessed Satanist was excited to hear a legislator managing not to use "Satanists" and "prayer" in the same breath. (Oops!) I'm very happy to be thrown in with the atheists and not mentioned by name, because the last thing Satanism needs is another ignorant association with theism.<br />
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This isn't exactly the answer to our – ahem. Even so, on some level, I think that this little moment demonstrates the potential for public discourse to approach Satanism in a more informed manner. But at the very least, as long as they aren't using our word, they aren't misusing it.<br />
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Amen!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-1109663686818061772013-02-02T06:07:00.002-05:002013-02-02T10:13:45.082-05:00Empathy from the DevilSatanists are generally expected to be misanthropes. However, we are rarely given credit for being tolerant and understanding. Anton LaVey noted the cathartic candor with which some people communicated with him because he was a known Satanist. Yet I find the same happens to me, even though I rarely tell anyone about my religion. These strangers and acquaintances sometimes even tell me that they're not sure why they're being so open with me.<br />
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I think that people open up with Satanists because, though socially critical, we possess an advanced capacity for empathy. Don't mistake this for a Goodguy Badge, though. It simply means that a Satanist is more likely to understand why people exhibit certain behaviors ― whether laudable, dismissible, or despicable. <br />
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The Satanist embraces honesty in its truest sense and on every level. Satanism recognizes human instincts for what they are, from our most savage lusts to our loftiest creativity. Unlike other religions, it provides a framework that reinforces productive urges while harnessing, rather than denying, destructive instincts. Operating beyond good and evil, the Satanist emphasizes the principles of indulgence and justice. Along with these values, the Satanist tends to be both inquisitive and imaginative, studying freely and creating prolifically. <br />
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With this profoundly aware mindset, the Satanist sees with balanced understanding that which the herd usually evaluates with primitive prejudice. <br />
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Lucifer might not always like what he sees, but he doesn't kid himself into thinking everything will be okay. Nor does he despair. Ever the pragmatic realist, Lucifer faces the situation with bold honesty so that he can maximize his own joyous autonomy within the given circumstances. <br />
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A Satanist truly knows what it means to look out for Number One. Perhaps this balanced, responsible selfishness is ultimately that to which people respond by, from time to time, confessing their uncensored thoughts and feelings to Satanists. <br />
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I think it is safe to say that when someone meets a Satanist, that person usually doesn't know it. But looking into the eyes of a Satanist, the average person is as close as he will ever be to true self-acceptance. And self-acceptance is the first step toward evolution.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-53910840528208812462012-06-07T13:33:00.002-04:002012-06-25T04:18:33.537-04:00Ray Bradbury, the Demon Muser (1920-2012)<div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9069183731917292"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Wednesday, the sixth of June, the incomparable Ray Bradbury died at the age of 91.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something Wicked This Way Comes</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, his haunting novel about a sinister traveling carnival, is included in the recommended fiction reading list of Blanche Barton’s book </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Church of Satan</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As diabolically evocative as that book is, though, it was not Bradbury’s greatest contribution to </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Satanic education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My personal favorite Bradbury work is </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Zen in the Art of Writing</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which overflows with passionate wisdom for embracing the genuinely awesome experience of a profoundly creative life. Aside from </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Satanic Bible</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, this has probably been the most influential book in my own evolution. Nietzsche ranks high on that list, too. But Bradbury captured, distilled, and transmitted the Nietzschean lightning within the space of a single, concise, and indispensable manifesto.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is fitting that Bradbury left us on a Wednesday. That day is named for the warrior-poet god Wotan, who embodies wisdom and the full spectrum of its power, and whose name means “frenzy.” My lifelong affinity for Wotan, also known as Odin, owes a great deal to the empowering, poetic frenzy of Ray Bradbury.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unrelentingly vital spirit channeled through Ray Bradbury’s art ensures his immortality for as long as there are individuals receptive to his works—those brilliant sparks of his generous “demon muse.”</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-67139068046000967782012-02-21T13:17:00.001-05:002012-02-21T13:32:44.502-05:00Mardi Gras: a Triumph of Indulgence Over Abstinence<blockquote class="tr_bq">On Mardi Gras, wild revelers<br />
chug wine with Dionysus.<br />
Then, for the next dull forty days,<br />
they bore themselves for Jesus.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">-Warlock M. M.</div></blockquote><br />
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is an unofficial Catholic bacchanal, celebrated just before the forty-day observance of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent is, of course, a period of self-denial leading up to Easter Sunday. Many Catholics choose a particular vice, such as candy or alcohol, from which to abstain until the Easter Bunny returns with those delicious chocolate eggs.<br />
<br />
But before the <i>abstinence</i> begins, most Catholics catch up on their <i>sins</i>...<br />
<br />
The rampant revelry of Mardi Gras is more than just another good excuse to throw a party. It’s among the most <i>honest </i>traditions to evolve in all of Christendom. Celebrants are naturally very reluctant to give up their carnal pleasures for over a month! That’s because it’s <i>unnatural</i> to avoid the life-enhancing indulgences that they embrace, often to excess, during this yearly carnival.<br />
<br />
Mardi Gras is a triumph of indulgence over abstinence. It’s a celebration of fleshly delights in defiance of their ritual denial. And in a liturgical calendar that cycles through converted pagan holidays, Fat Tuesday is unique in its development from the <i>opposite</i> direction. Instead of disguising “the gods” as “God,” Mardi Gras brings back some of the fun of pre-Christian revelry. Indeed, despite its creation <i>after </i>the Jesus cult got out of hand, Mardi Gras is, in more than one sense, “pre-Christian.”<br />
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Today’s festivities will be particularly rewarding for those who take advantage of the atmosphere without succumbing to compulsive excesses. After all, why drink yourself sick and stupid today, when tomorrow you will have just as many indulgences from which to freely choose?<br />
<br />
That said, on a personal level, I <i>am </i>somewhat grateful to Christianity for—I might as well admit it—yet another excuse to throw a party.<br />
<br />
Enjoy an indulgent Mardi Gras!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-64963706573486715292011-03-31T20:54:00.002-04:002011-04-01T10:13:21.313-04:00Nose Bubbles and Rado EchoesIn observance of April Fool’s Day, I am sharing photographs of rare novelties from my collection. These are particularly interesting because they are featured prominently in the work of Anton Szandor LaVey.<br />
<br />
LaVey found great wisdom where others have found mere amusement, little of interest or, in many cases, nothing at all. This is the true occult. One especially overlooked area of this realm of hidden meaning is that of the prank.<br />
<br />
Often perpetrated against innocent friends and acquaintances, pranks are treated differently within Satanism. As LaVey said more than once, it is far more fulfilling to employ unpleasant surprises toward the balancing of egos and as a form of humorous revenge. He also discussed more than one specific gag, including a couple from the old Johnson Smith & Co. Catalogue, which is featured in the Church of Satan’s recommended reading list. LaVey called it his <i>Necronomicon</i>.<br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THE SNEEZE-O-BUBBLE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></div><br />
On the dedication page of <i>The Devil’s Notebook</i>, LaVey mentions the inventor(s) of the Sneeze-O-Bubble. In <i>Satan Speaks!</i>, he dedicates an essay to the artful use of a rubber “nose bubble.” I have always deeply enjoyed that essay, and it has seemed to me that its subject is none other than that enigmatic Sneeze-O-Bubble.<br />
<br />
I had the good fortune of finding this incredibly rare gag on eBay. It is a set of four bubbles, and they appear to be made of blown glass. Perhaps this is an earlier version of LaVey’s nose bubble. Either way, it is one of my most cherished possessions. I took some time to photograph it for both my own pleasure and this blog.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpXSvIHmBX9BPi6Q0t7c7X39TknkNcrrw2uzXDGGw7LoK7Je5Sb9v53wgmX1wL2KilHBbmje1k24hRJKt2-UrFOz4KbwQTPn5v7im99fivZspzZ7moOfOU3l9x25CZqAFQ18a9gXjzP8/s1600/BtH-SoB-Front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpXSvIHmBX9BPi6Q0t7c7X39TknkNcrrw2uzXDGGw7LoK7Je5Sb9v53wgmX1wL2KilHBbmje1k24hRJKt2-UrFOz4KbwQTPn5v7im99fivZspzZ7moOfOU3l9x25CZqAFQ18a9gXjzP8/s400/BtH-SoB-Front.png" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This is the top of the Sneeze-O-Bubble box. In the background is an open copy of the 1941 Johnson Smith & Co. Catalogue.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VJRVW2dyYPC2NRn1IeeDsfBkw0MQIKnEDATRxSWsvx6qt_mSSJTMPy9v3i9StYOTdaukI6z5-X6DNPReq6vX9DoT_EI0HPR04fkKJdWD2CA5GYG815Pip7FUWOf9_A38H_GnbNWWiYk/s1600/BtH-SoB-OpenBox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VJRVW2dyYPC2NRn1IeeDsfBkw0MQIKnEDATRxSWsvx6qt_mSSJTMPy9v3i9StYOTdaukI6z5-X6DNPReq6vX9DoT_EI0HPR04fkKJdWD2CA5GYG815Pip7FUWOf9_A38H_GnbNWWiYk/s400/BtH-SoB-OpenBox.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Opening the magnificently decorated box, one reveals the faux mucus globules and, nestled beneath them, a pink instruction sheet.<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbPxG4PA5aMzT89rIPFkc5m3udFqeFS7kd8gwY4M0SDBu7SKxr9joFxyAzTCqZH3FJe-AP5grW6myR0tz7HRgrQFxb0Lq82qkouo9qDFznzt87jkWyFFW-a-U5hcsJYxMv_C5s9Cl9r0/s1600/BtH-SoB-Scene.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbPxG4PA5aMzT89rIPFkc5m3udFqeFS7kd8gwY4M0SDBu7SKxr9joFxyAzTCqZH3FJe-AP5grW6myR0tz7HRgrQFxb0Lq82qkouo9qDFznzt87jkWyFFW-a-U5hcsJYxMv_C5s9Cl9r0/s400/BtH-SoB-Scene.png" width="300" /></a></div><br />
And here are the legendary bubbles themselves. What schnozzes have these delicate baubles graced in eras past? Though crystal-clear, these replicas of inflated snot are among the most mysterious relics in all Americana.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHQ3CpD2oXdG__wtYVpv3wTpyjVrMa9RubD3BCPctp0sDMnqnLRpPDDTzoB17BpcfBHOItKbZ9CRad3RcJ6XHz-BEyy8Qa2BbkFBaG7ebxgWMQICLqsecM9ttLsvUyEk9ctFNBFcaNHU/s1600/BtH-SoB-Sheet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHQ3CpD2oXdG__wtYVpv3wTpyjVrMa9RubD3BCPctp0sDMnqnLRpPDDTzoB17BpcfBHOItKbZ9CRad3RcJ6XHz-BEyy8Qa2BbkFBaG7ebxgWMQICLqsecM9ttLsvUyEk9ctFNBFcaNHU/s400/BtH-SoB-Sheet.png" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for a closer look!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
But what good are nose bubbles if you don’t know how to use them? Study this sheet, stick a few Sneeze-O-Bubbles in your jacket pocket, and you’ll be good and ready for that next cocktail party or family gathering. Again, you should also read (or re-read) LaVey’s excellent tips and scenarios for artificial snot in “The Nose Bubble,” from <i>Satan Speaks!</i><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></b></span>THE RADO ECHO VOICE-TESTER</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></div><br />
Another sacred object I have managed to acquire is the Rado Echo Voice-Tester, which LaVey discussed in the documentary <i>Speak of the Devil</i>. This cruel device conceals a particularly nasty surprise. To learn more about it, see the film. It is chock-full of wisdom, including an entire segment about “practical” jokes. That’s where you’ll find an anecdote about this wicked little item.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VOt7LSeG4bQQ406IKuDQ8P20IBvZxRSsbgRfneKMl6u-gpHEJdR2KjDzqk_WsfWt6K-NY_6Cqg3vxf3EHW6b4L75jSYkQGcV1XcJJZuKunHTBSiVseC8qob0GyekZiQrJLXIqdIbKE8/s1600/BtH-RDVT-Front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VOt7LSeG4bQQ406IKuDQ8P20IBvZxRSsbgRfneKMl6u-gpHEJdR2KjDzqk_WsfWt6K-NY_6Cqg3vxf3EHW6b4L75jSYkQGcV1XcJJZuKunHTBSiVseC8qob0GyekZiQrJLXIqdIbKE8/s400/BtH-RDVT-Front.png" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This is the face of the “voice-tester.” The box is made of cardboard, and the old-fashioned “speaker” is made of cloth.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAj9d8QAFNDss9nXHbI1rTR2Ku5YxIay0Ht6Lc6x6JlbOHtJ7Gdv7_1aJBB7MTu1EvPO7m9KFi0EkiQ5l0c8JlvsVn7XZxcsDPlcNyEt5Ujt-mdPnHyyXjpKnM-xifluaDOIEx-DHE3M/s1600/BtH-RDVT-Button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAj9d8QAFNDss9nXHbI1rTR2Ku5YxIay0Ht6Lc6x6JlbOHtJ7Gdv7_1aJBB7MTu1EvPO7m9KFi0EkiQ5l0c8JlvsVn7XZxcsDPlcNyEt5Ujt-mdPnHyyXjpKnM-xifluaDOIEx-DHE3M/s400/BtH-RDVT-Button.png" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Here, you can clearly see the tester’s wooden button. Anyone who has seen <i>Speak of the Devil</i> knows what it does. Even if you haven’t, I’m sure that you get the point.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">♦</span></div><br />
Enjoy an impish April Fool’s Day, my mischievous readers! And remember: it’s funnier when they <i>deserve </i>it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-14598701473248332862011-02-27T04:31:00.004-05:002011-02-27T05:15:26.769-05:00Say Your Prayers: A Satanic Parody of The 23rd Psalm<i>From the first grade until the eighth, I attended a series of private schools run by Christians. Two were Catholic, and one was Seventh-Day Adventist. One was simply a Montessori Academy in which my ambidexterity was “corrected” for reasons I now recognize as superstitious. (After all, the left hand is “<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sinister" target="_blank">sinister</a>.”) In the three overtly religious schools, I learned to recite many prayers, psalms, and so forth. Nowadays, I find great pleasure in rewriting one every now and then. When I do, I create syllable-by-syllable parodies, replacing the original theology with Satanic principles. Tonight, I have “Satanized” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_23" target="_blank">The 23rd Psalm</a>. Just a little Black Mass before bed-time!</i><br />
<div><br />
I am My own Master; I shall not want.<br />
I roam and rest and rise and revel freely:<br />
I ride whirlwinds over roaring waters.<br />
I fulfilleth My Will:<br />
I lead Myself in the paths of righteous might for My own sake.<br />
<br />
Yea, as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,<br />
Beyond good and evil:<br />
The beast within Me,<br />
My brain, and My force—<br />
they strengthen Me.<br />
<br />
I prepareth Myself, that I may be quick to ruinate mine enemies;<br />
I indulgeth My mind and flesh; My joys are abundant.<br />
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<div>Ample power and increase shall follow Me all the days of My life,<br />
and I will live through My Ego, fulfilled, forever.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-67665542033401032332010-11-25T10:45:00.008-05:002010-11-26T15:25:54.247-05:00Why the Devil Loves Pee-Wee Herman<blockquote><i>[A note to non-Satanists: Before reading this, please understand that Pee-Wee and his creator are not preaching Satanism. This is a highly personal interpretation of the character and his world. It is not to be understood as anything else. Pee-Wee has endured enough scandal already!]</i></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Earlier this month, under the dark of the moon, in a chamber nestled among the Luciferian lights of Broadway, I attended a magical ritual. It was conducted by a sorcerer who has been an indirect mentor to me since my childhood.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This ritual was none other than <i><a href="http://www.peewee.com/broadway/" target="_blank">The Pee-Wee Herman Show</a></i>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal">It might not be terribly obvious, but Pee-Wee Herman embodies several principles that resonate deeply with elements of Satanism.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Those new to Satanism may want to read the <a href="http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/cosinfopack.pdf" target="_blank">Church of Satan Informational Pack</a>, along with other literature, to better grasp some of this. But for the most part, it should be self-explanatory.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Pee-Wee Herman is a staunch individualist. He is immune from any possibility of being changed by anyone outside of himself. Such is his strength of will that, if there is to be change, it will be in the people and objects <i>around </i>him! This can be seen most clearly in his Playhouse.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pee-Wee's Playhouse is a total environment. He has surrounded himself with imagery, companions, and activities that stimulate, satisfy, and express his ego. It is his sanctuary and, at times, his ritual chamber.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is also significant that, aside from a few human visitors, Pee-Wee’s primary companions are what would normally be inanimate objects. Through either technology or imagination, most of the items in his world are animated, or even<i> alive</i>. Though some are more anthropomorphic than others, all of these objects serve as Pee-Wee's artificial human companions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This unique environment is shaped by Pee-Wee’s profound capacity for evocation, which is a key principle at the often-misunderstood heart of Satanism.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Adding to this energy is "the secret word" that, from day to day, tautens the Playhouse's atmosphere with its explosive potential. Secrets are powerful, and this one never fails to unleash a confounding outburst of prankish cacophony.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’ve ever seen Pee-Wee on stage, you know how many dirty jokes he and his friends tell. Though distasteful to prudes, these are simply a mischievous celebration of carnality. This is, of course, essential to any truly good life — unless one’s particular fetishes encourage a rare inclination to the contrary!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It's not just the dirty jokes that are so diabolically delightful, though. If, as Baudelaire said, "Laughter is Satanic," then Pee-Wee surely ranks highly among the devils of mythology!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The final major Satanic element of Pee-Wee’s world is more overtly related to magic and ritual. Jambi, a genie (djinn) who lives in a trapezoidal box, is the most traditionally magical part of this environment. He grants wishes, inviting others to join him in a chant that, though it may be gibberish, is given meaning through its esoteric implications. These otherwise nonsensical words are, by their very association with magic, used to heighten emotions for the purpose of projecting and manifesting the wisher's will.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pee-Wee’s stage show also imparts two more significant magical lessons, which the perceptive can identify without my specifying them and spoiling the plot. The first is that, if one uses magic to bestow a blessing upon another person, this must be done with absolute certainty that success would not bring unhappiness to him or herself; otherwise, it may backfire. The second lesson is that one should not waste magical efforts on anything that could be better achieved through more direct means.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As with just about anything, the ultimate relevance of Pee-Wee Herman to Satanism is as varied as Satanists themselves. This is just a basic survey of themes of general interest to Satanists, at least a few of whom are some of Pee-Wee's biggest fans.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hail Pee-Wee!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Hail Satan!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-1443052876898337572010-09-22T14:59:00.008-04:002010-09-22T18:01:25.299-04:00An Eye for Carnage: Anton Szandor LaVey on the Horror Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 17px;"><i>A few years ago, I acquired an old catalog. Someone I knew was probably discarding it; I forget. But I kept this white elephant because it struck me as a unique reference for my cinematic explorations.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 17px;"> Audio Brandon Films 16mm International Cinema</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 17px;"><i>, 1978-79, contains well over 500 pages of films then available for rental by educational institutions, theaters, etc. Instead of a dull list, however, Audio Brandon fattened its catalog with striking stills and critical, even scholarly descriptions by educators, journalists, and other qualified aficionados. Among these contributors was Anton Szandor LaVey, who wrote about Herschell Gordon Lewis and two of his films.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span>When I discovered that this catalog, whose great worth was already apparent, included material by LaVey, I was all the more excited to have re-discovered this nearly discarded volume. Although this and other editions of the catalog have been quoted in academic works, it seems fairly rare. Especially because I was getting rid of clutter at the time, I felt that I had just narrowly missed losing a valuable bit of Satanic history. Not to mention a veritable encyclopedia of international cinematic history up until the late 1970s!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span>The following is LaVey’s contribution to this catalog. It involves horror films, as the average reader might expect, but offers keen observations that only the Black Pope himself could have penned. Of course, he could have also written illuminating pieces about many other films in the book, most of which are not horror, and some of which are recommended in the appendices of Blanche Barton’s </i>The Church of Satan<i>. I, for one, would have relished a book of cinema criticism by the premier pioneer of contemporary Satanism! But at least we have this passage, which in itself includes enough history and insight for a creative manifesto</i>.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> </span></span></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Herschell Gordon Lewis </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
In 1963 ex-English professor Herschell Gordon Lewis decided that the skinflick market was waning, limited as it was to nudie films. Not wishing to make history nor waste time and money in courtrooms pioneering porn, he recognized an unexploited realm of living-color, perfectly legal blood-and-gore cinema that the big companies wouldn’t touch. Though horror and the supernatural had always been good box office, no one had really pulled all the stops. Lewis’ first film of the type, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blood Feast</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, was received with such revulsion that it was yanked under protest from many theatres before its bookings expired. Yet it made money and made cinema history, inspiring and uninhibiting virtually every other producer and director with an eye for carnage. Later Lewis commented, “Peckinpah’s blood is much more watery than ours… Peckinpah shoots people. We </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dismember</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> them!” The discerning viewer will find Lewis’ films to be much more than superficial gore; rather an eerie reflection of the repressed sado-masochism in us all that even the smallest voice inside seldom admits to. From </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bonnie And Clyde</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Exorcist</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Wild Bunch</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jaws</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, fragments of Lewis’ kaleidoscope radiate.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two Thousand Maniacs</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (1964) </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
A horror version of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brigadoon</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, this is Lewis’ tale of a Southern town which was savagely destroyed by Union troops and rises from its swampy site every hundred years. Overlooked by American critics because of excessive gore, it was praised by European masters such as Jean-Luc Godard and classed with Polanski’s </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Repulsion</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and Hitchcock’s </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psycho</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The musical score (also by Lewis) inspired </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bonnie And Clyde</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">’s and many other later films. Because, rather than in spite, of its low budget and unknown performers (Connie Mason was a </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Playboy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> foldout), amateurism transcends into chilling super-realism. The plot is equal to the best old-school pulp thriller, combining suspense, kinky sexual innuendo and the supernatural. Made in 1964, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two Thousand Maniacs</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is rapidly achieving the stature it deserves, now that “respected” filmmakers have saturated the public with bloodier but less effective results. In the genre of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Night Of The Living Dead</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the townspeople extras convey the feeling that this film is the Real Thing!<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span> </span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Color Me Blood Red</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (1964) </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
A temperamental beatnik artist who occupies a desolately situated beach house becomes dissatisfied with ordinary pigments and materials. Pretty girls become his source of supply in what must be the only </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grande Guignol</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> treatment of the Frankie Avalon / Annette Funicello beach blanket theme. As with other Herschell Lewis films, this is not for the squeamish.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-3467838400405527172010-09-11T18:39:00.005-04:002010-09-22T17:37:54.539-04:00Thoughts on Crime and Justice Nine Years After 9/11Today, during the hours just before dawn, I reflected upon the perennial troubles facing the society in which I live, as well as the forces that keep them in check.<br />
<br />
I had just finished watching a film that explored, among other issues, some of the most vile behaviors to be found on the worst urban streets. The specifics are not as important as the overall reminder that there are always individuals and groups plotting to infringe upon the freedoms of others. Of course, one need not watch a movie to be reminded of this, but it certainly can stir the blood.<br />
<br />
Whether it is a crack-addicted thief robbing someone else's home, Al Qaeda fanatics committing wholesale kamikaze murders, or any other shade of intrusive crime, I am always infuriated when I learn that yet another life has been adversely or lethally impacted by such actions. This is a common reaction amongst Satanists, despite peskily persistent claims to the contrary.<br />
<br />
Satanism advocates <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Justice</span>. In fact, that is the current watchword of the Church of Satan, which fully supports the noble efforts of military and law enforcement agencies that fight for personal freedoms and against the criminals who curtail them.<br />
<br />
It is with this universal meditation that I consider the significance of 9/11, nine years after the infamous attacks.<br />
<br />
My thoughts are, as always, with those who have lost loved ones at the hands of criminals and enemy combatants.<br />
<br />
My gratitude is, as always, with those who have been, and are <i>still<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">,</span></i> fighting against the enemies of our liberties.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-variant: small-caps;">Lex Talionis!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-variant: small-caps;"><br />
</span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-53104980163310572272010-07-04T03:33:00.000-04:002010-07-04T03:33:22.648-04:00Happy Birthday, USA!Today, the United States of America celebrates its 234th "Birthday". I celebrate this holiday not with blind patriotism, but with a joyous awareness of my freedom from plenty of the worst restrictions and difficulties that plague many other countries. My patriotism is not collective, but selfish. It is also grateful, as members of the military and of law enforcement, for reasons of their own, work to protect these privileges.<br />
<br />
I thoroughly enjoy my lifestyle, my language, and my memories, all of which are deeply rooted in my history as a citizen of the USA. Whatever its faults, this nation was founded upon principles that have led to circumstances that enrich this wonderful life of mine.<br />
<br />
These very principles inform the supposedly odious title bestowed upon the USA by Islamist fanatics:<br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span>The Great Satan</i></b>.<br />
<br />
I, for one, <i>embrace </i>this title as an <i>honor</i>! Others with similar principles probably do, as well. The USA has long been a bellwether of international standards of individualism, indulgence, and innovation. All of these are anathema to terrorists and other evangelical totalitarians. They also happen to be welcome in, even essential to, the religion that stands in direct opposition to all of theirs: Satanism.<br />
<br />
Let the death-worshipers shout their accusations from their temples, podiums, and screens. They call this nation Satanic for many of the right reasons! And, unlike most who would make that assertion, I think that it is a truly excellent thing.<br />
<br />
If I am an American by accident of birth, I consider my nationality a felicitous accident, indeed!<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday, USA!<br />
<br />
Hail the Great Satan!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-69431097638864747352010-06-21T12:48:00.008-04:002010-06-23T23:20:48.635-04:00Summer Solstice XLV A.S.Summer has stricken the Northern Hemisphere.<br />
<br />
Long gone are the days during which this season freed me from the tedium of elementary and high school classes. That leaves just the thermometer-popping temperatures, which seem to awaken every boor's <i>inner </i>boor. The city is suddenly and consistently louder, not only because the crowds are thicker than sweat, but also because more oafs blast their stereos for the benefit of their neighbors. And that's just for starters.<br />
<br />
I do enjoy warm weather and sunshine, but where other seasons <i>offer </i>these experiences, summer <i>imposes </i>them. The only truly wonderful thing about summer is that, just when it's at its worst, I get to celebrate my Birthday. The particularly indulgent days surrounding that most important holiday are, along with the holiday itself, almost like a reward for my patience.<br />
<br />
This is a good time to read or re-read Anton LaVey's essay "Summertime," from <a href="http://feralhouse.com/titles/books/devils_notebook_the.php" linkindex="15" target="_blank"><i>The Devil's Notebook</i></a>. It's a concise guide to the season's literally glaring flaws. However, it concludes with an inspiring passage on the cultivation of total environments, using a real-world example that the Magus himself once built. It's one of my all-time favorite pieces of writing.<br />
<br />
On that note, I'm off to slice up a sweet, juicy mango, whose golden flesh is perhaps the embodiment of all that is good about the next few sweltering months.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-8832868062589772482010-06-09T00:51:00.030-04:002010-09-22T17:47:50.883-04:00Thoughts on the Dynamism of Satanic Ritual<blockquote>"There is more to Satanic magic and ritual than being in costume, with all your ritual gear in a decorated room. This is a necessary phase, and for some people will always have more 'juice' — but the ultimate 'intellectual decompression chamber' is and always will be YOUR OWN SKULL."<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">-Magister James D. Sass, <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/essays-in-satanism/2122672" linkindex="16" target="_blank"><i>Essays in Satanism</i></a> </div></blockquote><br />
Ritual magic, also known as Greater Magic, can be a highly dynamic tool — especially within the individualistic framework of Satanism. For those who cling to pre-established formulae, the variations can confound and confuse. The Satanist, however, approaches all things from a third-side perspective, eschewing absolutism and its mind-flattening effects. Ritual is no exception.<br />
<br />
I tend to employ Greater Magic exclusively as "self-transformational psychodrama," as Magus Peter H. Gilmore has so concisely defined one of its most undeniably effective uses. Though skeptical about magic's effectiveness in remotely controlling the world outside of oneself, a Satanist may nonetheless benefit greatly from this type of ritual. This active and highly adaptable relationship with diabolical symbolism can serve to stimulate one's mind, deepen one's awareness, and augment one's strengths. It keeps one in touch with one's daemons, attracting the very same success that others seem to attain more "mysteriously".<br />
<br />
Whenever I feel the need, I find time in my day to focus and direct my energies, without speaking, to tap into the same energy that I access through formalized ritual. This is currently the most effective method for me. I developed it over the past fifteen years through an evolutionary maelstrom of philosophical "ourobourism," to coin a term. I maintain it through particular forms of study, contemplation, and visualization.<br />
<br />
I have also gone through extended periods without engaging in any type of ritualistic thinking, usually when I am extremely busy with... well, <i>business</i>. However, I have learned that ritual and meditation are particularly important when I'm "all work and no play." Intellectual decompression keeps the mind flexible and realigns the will. It can be a potent means of maintaining balance in one's life.<br />
<br />
Just as I have developed highly personal methods of ritualization outside of a formal context, so have others who wish to use this tool away from the ritual chamber. This is not an argument against more traditional rites — just another way to take "advantage of this many faceted key to the unknown — which the Satanist chooses to call 'Satan' (<i>The Satanic Bible</i>).<br />
<br />
These are some of the thoughts that I have been mulling over while modifying my ritual practices in accordance with my continued evolution.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-47356043681279593052010-05-06T23:05:00.015-04:002010-05-07T00:29:19.396-04:00National Prayer DayIn the United States of America, today is "National Prayer Day."<br />
<br />
This is embarrassing.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>It's one thing to have this regrettable holiday on a calendar, but this is <i>law</i>. The President of the United States is required, <i>by law</i>, to proclaim this holiday!<br />
<blockquote>"The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." - 36 U.S.C. § 119</blockquote>There has recently been <i>some </i>success in challenging this stain in our books. In a lawsuit initiated in 2008, the Freedom from Religion Foundation has sued Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with a few other relevant people, asserting that this law is unconstitutional. Earlier this year, U. S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in favor of this challenge, finding no secular advantage to the inherently religious law.<br />
<br />
This would be a victory if not for the Obama administration's decision to appeal this ruling. Now, we wait to see whether a law that contradicts this country's constitution will be overturned or, as it very well may, continue to soil our soil.<br />
<br />
After all, we haven't gotten rid of "God" in our Pledge of Allegiance, nor the motto "In God We Trust," both of which were established only decades ago. Progress, indeed! Not to mention the official prayers before each session of Congress, or that we still swear an oath to a <i>deity</i>, <i>on a religious text</i>, in <i>court</i>!<br />
<br />
Please excuse the exclamation points. Though based upon rational principles, my outrage is incandescent.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: auto;">The persistence of religion as an accepted influence upon our government is <i>worse </i>than embarrassing. It harms the intellectual integrity of our most fundamental institutions.<br />
<br />
</div>Although some atheists would regret having the Church of Satan on their side, being misinformed bigots weighed down by big, fat Goodguy Badges, the rest should be glad to know that there is at least <i>one</i> religion that upholds atheism and the rationalism from which it springs.<br />
<br />
Mr. Obama, tear down this law!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-64540465462247468302010-04-30T01:32:00.039-04:002010-06-23T23:25:05.438-04:00Walpurgisnacht XLV A.S.Just minutes after the arrival of Walpurgisnacht, which I celebrate from <i>Morgen </i>until <i>Nacht</i>, I am reflecting upon the previous day, which was as productive as it was unusual.<br />
<br />
I've just begun an enjoyable new job, and a lucrative part-time gig may soon add even more money-making fun to my schedule.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, after work, I experienced major delays in my commute, leading to conversations and meetings that included a couple of unlikely connections. Later on, I experienced another unexpected and highly enjoyable event. The details are not very relevant to this post, except for one: each involved admirable or entertaining misfits.<br />
<br />
Where others might find these to be mere coincidences, amusing at best, unimportant at worst, they have greater significance for me. They not only inspire me, but have also come at a time during which I am feeling especially... <i>charged</i>.<br />
<br />
Only a few days ago, I visited a museum to see a retrospective of the career of an artist who has been very important to me since I was a little boy, when my sketchbook was already full of monsters, ghosts, movies, and other subjects that still thrive in my imagination. This artist's similar interests resonated deeply with my own love for the outré, enriching my creative vocabulary and inspiring me to further develop my bizarre visions. Every day since my visit to his very special exhibition has been more fruitful and full of gratifying surprises.<br />
<br />
All leading up to what is sure to be an especially memorable Walpurgisnacht.<br />
<br />
Taking a cue from Anton LaVey's essay, "The Combination Lock Principle," I must consider eschewing the concept of "coincidences" and keep an eye out for what I will call "alignments."<br />
<br />
Inspiration, indulgence, and incidents.<br />
<br />
Things are going my way, more than ever before.<br />
<br />
May you Satanists enjoy your Walpurgisnacht as much as I will be enjoying mine.<br />
<br />
Hail Satan!<br />
<br />
- M. M.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-44030871045662564692010-04-24T04:23:00.004-04:002010-04-24T04:40:14.065-04:00Satanic Rituals & Satanic HolidaysAs another major holiday approaches, many Satanists are preparing their altars and minds for rituals and ceremonies. However, these aren't compulsory rites done for their own sake. As with many elements of Satanism, there is more to this practice than is commonly understood.<br />
<br />
Satanic holiday rituals draw their potency from one's life <i>outside </i>of this formalized context. One's energies are <i>heightened </i>by the occasion's symbolic significance – whether historical, seasonal or otherwise – but they first originate within the individual's "everyday" life. The religious trappings <i>enhance </i>his or her <i>existing </i>capacity for awareness, inspiration, and power.<br />
<br />
In most traditions, ceremonies exalt something <i>above </i>the individual participants. Let there be no mistake that, in Satanism, ceremonies are designed to serve the <i>individual</i>, not to glorify external deities, or even to honor the traditions themselves. No matter what, it all begins and ends with the <i>individual</i>.<br />
<br />
The imagery embraced within the Satanic ritual chamber can be misleading to those unfamiliar with our methods. Satanism's religious iconography and incantations often employ mythological elements and esoteric symbolism, which may seem to imply theistic or mystical inclinations. However, these are chosen for their ability to augment one's energies through emotional resonance. This is psychodrama. It has no basis whatsoever in any type of superstition.<br />
<br />
This will be obvious to a few, but many people make the mistake of expecting Satanism to exhibit the same basic characteristics as other religions, albeit with a few diabolical twists. It just isn't so. The Satanic approach to religious activity is distinguished by principles that are alien to mainstream creeds. That includes holidays and the ways in which we celebrate them.<br />
<br />
Again, we're not just going through the motions. Whether conducted on Walpurgisnacht, Halloween, a solstice, an equinox, a full moon, or a new moon, even the most strictly traditional ceremony is a <i>tool </i>in the service of the <i>individual</i> who <i>chooses</i> to ritualize.<br />
<br />
Naturally, Satanic holiday celebrations frequently revolve around social, culinary, and cultural delights. Since we usually enjoy these things year-round, a special occasion can simply be an "excuse" for even <i>more</i> festivities. Not that we need excuses!<br />
<br />
Only when the time is right does a gathering – or a solitary celebration – move from the informality of the living room to the electric air of the ritual, or "intellectual decompression," chamber.<br />
<br />
When that time has come, you will <i>know</i>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-15767198264673671872010-04-11T00:25:00.181-04:002010-04-12T01:47:09.520-04:00On the 80th Anniversary of Anton Szandor LaVey's BirthTonight, I am taking a moment to reflect upon the legacy of Anton Szandor LaVey, born eighty years ago today.<br />
<br />
I am ever grateful that the path which he found the most fulfilling yielded books, films, music, and an organization that have all profoundly enhanced <i>my </i>life in the path that <i>I </i>find the most fulfilling.<br />
<br />
Although I did not have the opportunity to meet Magus LaVey before his death in 1997, I joined the Church of Satan three years later, when I was about eighteen years old. My affiliation with this loosely-knit cabal has enriched my life on all levels, increasingly so as I continue to mature and evolve.<br />
<br />
I am thus grateful not only to Magus LaVey, but also to his loyal comrades, who continue to build upon the foundation established by that singular sorcerer throughout his remarkable life.<br />
<br />
<i>Hail Anton Szandor LaVey!</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Hail the Infernal Empire!</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Hail Satan!</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-37419251660449552212010-04-01T03:11:00.010-04:002010-04-05T14:05:28.631-04:00Johnson Smith & Co. and the Meaning of April Fool's DayToday is April Fool's Day, an informal holiday devoted to pranks. Many people will burst into guffaws as victims fall prey to obligatory, yet unpleasantly surprising, deceptions. However, few will consider the historical and philosophical context of their "practical jokes.".<br />
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One of the most sacred texts for the prankologist is the <i>Johnson Smith & Co. Catalogue of Surprising Novelties, Puzzles, Tricks, Joke Goods, Useful Articles, Etc. </i>Highly recommended by the most discerning cognoscenti, including Anton Szandor LaVey, this catalog is a cornucopia of... well, the title says it all! The catalog offers gags intended to amuse, confuse, or alarm their victims. Some are even designed to inflict physical harm.<br />
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This industry flourished during the first half of the 20th century, when the best editions of the catalog were printed. It survives today as <i>Things You Never Knew Existed...</i><i> </i>I deeply enjoyed reading this later incarnation during the early 1990s, when I was around ten years old. However, it lacks the charm and abundance of the original. But I digress.<br />
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LaVey pointed to the pranks sold by Johnson Smith & Co. as evidence that humans are, to some degree, inherently sadistic. How <i>else </i>could a company profit from selling these embarrassing, sometimes <i>painful </i>devices? <br />
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LaVey suggested ways in which one might put this cruelty to good use. The primary approach would be to take a deserving enemy down a peg. Why throw a curse when you can throw a prank? The latter is usually more fun! He also shared methods of manipulating others by making oneself look absurd, the results being far more revealing than any pair of so-called X-ray goggles.<br />
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With all of the above in mind, I encourage pranksters to deploy their arsenals wisely. You might want to avoid committing undue mischief against your friends today. Instead, aim your pies at the faces of your enemies.<br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: small;">"After all, a joke or a trick is really not much fun, I feel, unless it is perpetrated upon someone who is deserving, or who is going to be deflated by it." </span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Anton Szandor LaVey, <i>Speak of the Devil</i></span> </div></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-66799631233523158202010-03-20T15:26:00.008-04:002010-04-24T03:18:09.978-04:00Vernal Equinox XLV A.S.Today is the Vernal Equinox — the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.<br />
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As in ancient times, we observe and celebrate the resurgent fecundity of the earth and its beasts, all of which have begun to explode with life and the lusts through which it blossoms.<br />
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Morning and night rule this day in equal measure; henceforth the sun will grow more dominant, the earth warmer and brighter.<br />
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Although Satanism is more often associated with the darkness of Halloween, Walpurgisnacht — which is celebrated during this verdant and cheerful season — is an equally significant holiday. (The most important holiday is, of course, the individual Satanist's own Birthday.)<br />
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Celebrated on April 30, at the height of spring, Walpurgisnacht has long been associated with witches, warlocks, and the Devil. Satanists embrace this diabolical reputation as a tradition. Indeed, the Church of Satan was <i>founded </i>on Walpurgisnacht. Magus LaVey could have chosen Halloween, but he didn't – and for good reason.<br />
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Satanism is a carnal, life-affirming religion, rooted in the indulgence and vitality that accompany the abundance embodied in the spring season.<br />
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Spring is lively, and we love life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-81803632403180024722010-02-28T03:07:00.009-05:002010-09-22T17:49:05.869-04:00The Michael Vick Project: Dog-Fights and Crocodile-Tears<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small;">Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!"</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small;">- the 7th <a href="http://churchofsatan.com/Pages/NineStatements.html" target="_blank">Satanic Statement</a></span></div></blockquote><blockquote><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small;">"Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small;">-the 10th <a href="http://churchofsatan.com/Pages/Eleven.html" target="_blank">Satanic Rule of the Earth</a> </span></div></blockquote><br />
Disgraced football player Michael Vick now has his own "reality show," titled <i>The Michael Vick Project</i>. As many of you may know, he served eighteen months in prison for running a massive dog-fighting ring. The owner of "Bad Newz Kennel," he was also an active participant in the criminal operation, helping to kill dogs whom were no longer able to fight.<br />
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Vick is claiming that, since his exposure to this activity as a child, he had seen nothing wrong with it, but now feels remorse. I think that all he regrets is being caught, and that any sick feeling he gets from revisiting his despicable actions is rooted in this unprincipled regret.<br />
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Even if Vick <i>is </i>genuinely sorry for his wretched crimes, his claim to ignorance does not make him at all innocent. For someone to be unaware of how terribly wrong dog-fighting is, he must be either a vile brute or a murderous cretin. Neither is worthy of the freedoms earned through responsible engagement with civilization.<br />
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I thank the Church of Satan Witch who made me aware of this outrageous program. She takes care of shelter animals every day with a warm strength that I and other Satanists deeply admire. Like this Witch, I strongly oppose the airing of a show dedicated to someone with a long history of torturing and murdering dogs.<br />
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I just hope that, at the very least, this show will make this widespread but underexposed problem more visible and lead to swifter justice in other cases of animal abuse.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-89836738752681733912010-01-19T05:10:00.002-05:002010-01-19T21:41:13.099-05:00The Satanic Wisdom of Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was born on this day in 1809. He is, of course, best known for his poem "The Raven" and his often macabre short stories. Though his contributions to literature occasionally incorporate Satanic values ranging from aesthetics to vengeance, there is one piece that has long struck me as his most thoroughly Satanic: a poem titled "Alone". <br />
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<blockquote>From childhood's hour I have not been<br />
As others were — I have not seen<br />
As others saw — I could not bring<br />
My passions from a common spring — <br />
From the same source I have not taken<br />
My sorrow — I could not awaken<br />
My heart to joy at the same tone — <br />
And all I lov'd, <i>I</i> lov'd alone — <br />
<i>Then </i>— in my childhood — in the dawn<br />
Of a most stormy life — was drawn<br />
From ev'ry depth of good and ill<br />
The mystery which binds me still — <br />
From the torrent, or the fountain,<br />
From the red cliff of the mountain — <br />
From the sun that 'round me roll'd<br />
In its autumn tint of gold — <br />
From the lightning in the sky<br />
As it pass'd me flying by — <br />
From the thunder and the storm — <br />
And the cloud that took the form<br />
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)<br />
Of a demon in my view — <br />
</blockquote>From beginning to end, this poem outlines several defining elements found in the lives of most Satanists.<br />
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We are born with the Satanic characters that we later refine, often finding ourselves outsiders — at least in our most avid interests — at an early age. <br />
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These solitary passions are not at all limited to the morbidity expected of many outsiders. Joy and sorrow, "good and ill" — the Satanist both embraces life's infinite pleasures and gains further strength and wisdom by overcoming unpleasant experiences. We love and hate completely, fully aware of and aligned with our instincts.<br />
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We are often inspired by the full spectrum of Nature's displays, from the soothing quiescence of fountains to the raging majesty of storms. As materialists, we find these profound in and of themselves — all the more so because our minds are free from the dulling effects of mythological superstitions. The very vicissitudes of our spectacular universe provide more than enough stimulation and insight for us. <br />
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I interpret the "demon" in this poem as a force that, though apparently ominous, embodies all of the diverse catalysts, enjoyable and difficult alike, mentioned by the narrator. A self-centered individualist, the narrator also uses his experience of the universe around him to enhance his self-awareness and self-understanding. He thus identifies with the external elements that rouse his spirit; he lives in alignment with the source of his inspiration, his "demon."<br />
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Most of this poem is included in <a href="http://purgingtalon.com/main/?page_id=60#tbosq" target="_blank"><i>The Book of Satanic Quotations</i></a>; I was delighted to find it there, and not at all surprised that it was the only entry for Poe. The Satanic appeal of Poe is often in his aesthetics, whereas this piece depicts a personal experience often found in the lives of Satanists, many of whom can't even relate to each other beyond this peculiar brand of otherness.<br />
<br />
Hail Edgar Allan Poe!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5954693795095596078.post-63915504865012286852010-01-09T23:07:00.164-05:002010-01-10T01:04:42.524-05:00The 9th Day of the Year XLV A.S.Today is the 9th day of the year XLV A.S. and of a new decade in the Gregorian calendar.<br />
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I've spent the evening and night engaged in personally meaningful activities, establishing a trajectory for the coming year by further refining the intentions I meditated upon after midnight on New Year's Day.<br />
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The beginning of a new year, in whatever calendar one is using, can be very stimulating. Many people use the occasion to declare "resolutions" for which they have no resolve. Wiser individuals, if they find the moment exciting at all, are more likely to think of this as a time in which to gain perspective through hindsight. They apply the wisdom collected through this period of reflection with <i>true</i> resolve, not because of the new year, but because it serves their purposes.<br />
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The new year is also a time for celebration. At the first stroke of midnight, we toast the people we cherish. Before and after, we enjoy indulgent gatherings abuzz with rampant cheer. This outpouring of positive energy can generate a potent reservoir for those who know what to do with it.<br />
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Happy New Year!<br />
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Hail Satan!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">- BtH<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0