A reply to a very touching letter sent by a fan, and a discussion on duality in satanism..This letter was not easy to reply to but this reader had a very serious issue. As she is new to satanism, I wanted to offer some of my advice to her.
..I have read a good bit on your website, and I have watched many of your videos. I am fascinated by satanism, and especially your ideas on independent satanism. But I am fairly new to all this. I became a Christian when I was very young. But in recent years I have become repulsed by Christians and the church. I see no value in associating myself with either. At the same time I find myself very much attracted to Satan.
Yet I still feel pulled in two directions. What I read about Jesus makes it hard for me to hate him. I don't see the same bullshit coming from him that I see coming from Christians and the church. So I would like to know if it is necessary for me to denounce Christianity, that is to denounce Jesus Christ, in order to practice Satanism.
I feel like I am falling in love with Satan. Yet I still respect the words of Christ. From some of my reading, it seems that most satanists really despise him. Any insight into my dilemma would be appreciated. Hail Satan.
I do not believe that you have to hate Jesus in order to be a satanist. Now, im waiting for the mail to pour in because of that statement, but allow me to explain.
The hatred of Christ in satanists has a long history. even before LaVey made his church and declared that satanism should be a practice and a religion, the Christians created a reputation for satanists that included rites that transversed christianity.
You can read stories like this in books such as 'LaBas' (Huysmans), and 'Satanism and Witchcraft' (Jules Michelet). Authors like this drew from the tales that were used during the witchcraft trials. They included morbid scenes of black masses where the (defrocked) priest would trample on the host, offer unholy sacraments and assist the priestess who was usually described as a street-whore or a former nun. Other rites included horrible things like using baby fat for candles In reading these tales you may think that there were some people who did some very morbid things in persuit of denying the church.
Why would the church make up horror stories like this? For authors like Huysmans it made them a lot of money through sensationalism. It enabled the Church to create an environment of fear, where they were able to gain control. It allowed for the witch trials to happen and many died. Their propaganda enabled them to have social control. The early church also did not want the competition from Jewish society. Many jews were killed, labeled as witches, their holy 'Sabbat' becoming the witch's unholy sabbath.. The tales the christian writers created were centered around these ideas. It worked for a very long time.
Even LaVey, who had the most social control over popular satanism, created an environment that focused on denying the christ-figure and embracing the ways of Satan. Much of that was influenced by anti-christian rhetoric of philosophers. It seems that since then, it has become almost traditional for satanists to behave in this way.
I take a different view. I accept that there are many gods in this world.
In my article, "My Advice on Leaving Christianity", I try to take a neutral view in suggesting how to leave that religion. I do not see a need to waste emotional energy on hate. That is why i suggest to this reader that if she wants to leave christianity, then she should, but its not required of her to hate anything.
In satanism, it is useful for some to mock or ridicule their former beliefs, as that enables them to subconsciously un-identify with the former beliefs of the past.
If she finds that the majority of her christian friends are actually hypocrites according to what they are supposed to be living by as Christians, then maybe she will be able to see that their way of life and their religion is a moral ideal, and that very few people in this life will ever achieve this perfected ideal.
I would not blame this on the god, but i would place the blame on the people within that religion who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions. Of course, i am not a christian so it is not my place to judge.
Satanism in general is more accepting of the human condition and that is why there is no need to restrict the self to moral conditioning. That is why as a satanist she may be able to see this 'hypocritical self deceit' that others continually choose to accept as a way of life. She may have to transition from an accepting and faithful way of life, to a more modern rationalist humanist approach. Some never make that transition and they merely invert the values of christianity. Even though the story is inverted, they never leave the sphere of christian influence.
Overall, her biggest issue is going to be the situation of duality.
Accepting Christ is fine but according to the christian tradition, there can not be room in one's heart for both god and Satan. There are generally no rules as to how satanists accept other gods, but generally from a satanists point of view the christian god would be either:
1. nonexistent
2. Denied, hated or reviled;
3. The eternal enemy of Satan
4. tolerated as the god of others who are christian.
wanting to love Jesus and Satan at the same time, while being dedicated to Satan is a noble thing to do. I do not think it would be easy. My suggestion to her that she examine her motives and sincerely explore whether she is ready to leave christianity or not. and if she is, then she is free to leave it behind without hating it. If that decision is too much to handle or her christian belief in Christ prevents her from doing it, then she would be better off returning to her god and praying for forgiveness for straying from the path of christian righteousness.
~Venus
Commentary on LaVey
December 8, 2009
My apologies for my non blog posting lately. I have been working in other areas of interest in my life, catching up. Recently, nocTifer & I opened the new Facebook page for the Infernal Horde. (HISS at FB) . We are looking forward to networking and sharing ideas with all varieties of Satanists.
Satan's Chaplain, a regular reader of my blog, provided me with some really interesting insights and comments on my last post (Reply To Questions About LaVey). I am replying to these comments here in this post, perhaps adding to the conversation in a meaningful way. I am open to discussion on these subjects, so I welcome any replies that are thoughtful.
There are many issues within satanism in general, but how can we resolve this, or come to an understanding? It is difficult to do with Satanism, because of the diversity that satanism encompasses. But, I believe that open and thoughtful discussion helps others to be able to understand these issues, and this may eventually lead to intelligent solutions.
Satan's Chaplain contributed to my blog in comments, and he made some interesting points. His contribution to my blog comments are much appreciated. His words are in italics, below them my response.
"Thank you Venus Satanas for a great response. Kudos for your recognition of the true intent of the questioner. A typical nonsensical strategy employed by weak-minded critics. By attempting to denigrate the Satanic woman or man (in this case LaVey), they think it successfully denigrates the great ideology/philosophy/spirituality that is Satanism and all who call herself or himself a Satanist. Pure bunk. But I’m sure you’ve come to accept and expect the constant attempts to dismiss or ridicule. "
Of course, I could see his intention from a mile away. Perhaps he was a former satanist burned out on the ideologies of LaVeyan Satanism. Maybe he is an atheist that has a bone to pick with all other 'alternative' belief systems.
No matter. His letter was generic enough that I was able to use it to point out some very common misconceptions about satanism - effectively turning his ignorance of the subject into useful knowledge for all.
He hasn't written me back yet. meh..
" “I wont demonize him, but i wont make him a saint either. He was human and he had problems like all the rest of us do.” ~Venus
Very poignant. Yes, LaVey did some things that some Satanists and non-Satanists wouldn’t do, but as you said well, “So what? He had to deal with his own consequences.” I think following your example and learning everything one can about LaVey is key. The critic wanted to show LaVey as a hypocrite. From what I’ve learned, LaVey never pretended to be something he wasn't to any kind of extent even remotely close to the throngs of hypocritical, self-righteous monotheistic "leaders" and "advisers." He did practice what he preached. More importantly, didn’t he rightfully challenge the hypocrisy of Judeo-Christian ethos and mores while never claiming his alternative was anything to him but a freer and more honest recognition of man’s carnal nature, and not of a “higher” morality? "
You are right, and so was he.
Did LaVey live up to the standards that he professed? I dont believe that he did. It seems as if a lot of what he preached or taught were suggestions, never meant to be taken as a law.
In fact, his whole life has been exposed as being a series of untruths that he used to promote his ideals and to promote his image within Satanism.(please read about these in Aquino's Church of Satan) Does that make him a liar? Yes. On the other hand, it seems that within his method he encouraged the use of deception and appearance as a type of low, psychological magic. But perhaps that is reading a little to much into the situation. There is the real LaVey, and then there is the public's interpretation of him. Two different personas.
"I think it's correct to say that Satanists are and have always been skeptics. And one can be skeptical of the skeptic and LaVey was not infallible. Personally, I am comfortable with my strong appreciation for his contribution to modern Satanism. But you made an excellent point that we’ve had 3 generations of Satanists and that things are bound to change for the better and you are a perfect example of that with your ideas on Satanic spirituality and independence (not being invested in Satanism as a religion). Satanism isn’t static and we can always improve ourselves as Satanists. And that would include changing our stance on ideas that were once held by LaVey. "
Skeptical, or Rational? I would say that Satanism is a rational practice. I reserve the use of Skeptic to define someone who doubts, but a Rationalist will use their intelligence to come to a solution. It seems that within (laVeyan) satanism we are asked to think for ourselves in a rational way to end the fantasy of christian ideals.
And yes, The one thing that i can respect LaVey for, is for 'opening the floodgates' for satanists all over the world. The world is not the same as it was back then and things are changing very quickly thanks to our technologies. it seems that human nature takes a long time to evolve, though as many satanists are still willing to argue like religionists over who is the 'most satanic', 'most evil', who is the 'true' satanist, etc. There is also a clear dividing line between LaVeyans who do not want to be associated with the spiritual aspects of satanism, and at the other end are the hardcore religious satanists who despise the rational ways of the LaVeyans.
I choose not to take sides, and that is why I am interested in all of Satanism. This is why I am independent. I care about satanism in general, and i do not see a need to take sides. I see benefits in the rational and the spiritual. You could say that I am a spiritual Satanist who is also interested in the Material..I prefer not to single myself out as one or the other. Besides that, Satanism interests me, and I would like to see some positive changes.
You are right. Satanism isn't static. it is ever flowing and changing and we are a part of its current, directing its flow..
"Could one say, that as an independent Satanist: (1) no person in Satanism is recognized as an authority, only a contributor of certain degree? (2) one is logically precluded from revering any other person but one’s self firstly, and then only others that one recognizes within our close circle? This would certainly qualify LaVey as a great contributor only. One could still acknowledge disagreement with some of his ideas and personal behavior."
This is why i really enjoyed Satan's Chaplain's commentary. He brings up some interesting points.
re. Authority vs. Contributors. - Why not accept it as *both* instead of one or the other or consider the possibility that we are creators as well.
However, I dont see, at least not since LaVey's time, that there will be one singular doctrine, idea or belief that all of Satanism can agree with (or should agree with!). The only thing that could unite us is our understanding of Self. You say that in the second half of your comment above, that the Self is the source of experience and expression. According to what you are saying, LaVey was not a leader but a contributor to a new understanding of Satan and satanism. Agreed.
There are a lot of political figures that are known for their scandals yet still are able to maintain an image of popularity. Knowing those private things about his life do not disappoint me, they empower me. He is a good example of how not to be. Regardless, his ideas allowed many people to come to their own experience and realization of Satanism and the self. He was then, perhaps only the messenger of something much greater than himself.
Thank you for posting to my blog, Satan's Chaplain.
~Venus Satanas~
http://www.spiritualsatanist.com/
Satan's Chaplain, a regular reader of my blog, provided me with some really interesting insights and comments on my last post (Reply To Questions About LaVey). I am replying to these comments here in this post, perhaps adding to the conversation in a meaningful way. I am open to discussion on these subjects, so I welcome any replies that are thoughtful.
There are many issues within satanism in general, but how can we resolve this, or come to an understanding? It is difficult to do with Satanism, because of the diversity that satanism encompasses. But, I believe that open and thoughtful discussion helps others to be able to understand these issues, and this may eventually lead to intelligent solutions.
Satan's Chaplain contributed to my blog in comments, and he made some interesting points. His contribution to my blog comments are much appreciated. His words are in italics, below them my response.
"Thank you Venus Satanas for a great response. Kudos for your recognition of the true intent of the questioner. A typical nonsensical strategy employed by weak-minded critics. By attempting to denigrate the Satanic woman or man (in this case LaVey), they think it successfully denigrates the great ideology/philosophy/spirituality that is Satanism and all who call herself or himself a Satanist. Pure bunk. But I’m sure you’ve come to accept and expect the constant attempts to dismiss or ridicule. "
Of course, I could see his intention from a mile away. Perhaps he was a former satanist burned out on the ideologies of LaVeyan Satanism. Maybe he is an atheist that has a bone to pick with all other 'alternative' belief systems.
No matter. His letter was generic enough that I was able to use it to point out some very common misconceptions about satanism - effectively turning his ignorance of the subject into useful knowledge for all.
He hasn't written me back yet. meh..
" “I wont demonize him, but i wont make him a saint either. He was human and he had problems like all the rest of us do.” ~Venus
Very poignant. Yes, LaVey did some things that some Satanists and non-Satanists wouldn’t do, but as you said well, “So what? He had to deal with his own consequences.” I think following your example and learning everything one can about LaVey is key. The critic wanted to show LaVey as a hypocrite. From what I’ve learned, LaVey never pretended to be something he wasn't to any kind of extent even remotely close to the throngs of hypocritical, self-righteous monotheistic "leaders" and "advisers." He did practice what he preached. More importantly, didn’t he rightfully challenge the hypocrisy of Judeo-Christian ethos and mores while never claiming his alternative was anything to him but a freer and more honest recognition of man’s carnal nature, and not of a “higher” morality? "
You are right, and so was he.
Did LaVey live up to the standards that he professed? I dont believe that he did. It seems as if a lot of what he preached or taught were suggestions, never meant to be taken as a law.
In fact, his whole life has been exposed as being a series of untruths that he used to promote his ideals and to promote his image within Satanism.(please read about these in Aquino's Church of Satan) Does that make him a liar? Yes. On the other hand, it seems that within his method he encouraged the use of deception and appearance as a type of low, psychological magic. But perhaps that is reading a little to much into the situation. There is the real LaVey, and then there is the public's interpretation of him. Two different personas.
"I think it's correct to say that Satanists are and have always been skeptics. And one can be skeptical of the skeptic and LaVey was not infallible. Personally, I am comfortable with my strong appreciation for his contribution to modern Satanism. But you made an excellent point that we’ve had 3 generations of Satanists and that things are bound to change for the better and you are a perfect example of that with your ideas on Satanic spirituality and independence (not being invested in Satanism as a religion). Satanism isn’t static and we can always improve ourselves as Satanists. And that would include changing our stance on ideas that were once held by LaVey. "
Skeptical, or Rational? I would say that Satanism is a rational practice. I reserve the use of Skeptic to define someone who doubts, but a Rationalist will use their intelligence to come to a solution. It seems that within (laVeyan) satanism we are asked to think for ourselves in a rational way to end the fantasy of christian ideals.
And yes, The one thing that i can respect LaVey for, is for 'opening the floodgates' for satanists all over the world. The world is not the same as it was back then and things are changing very quickly thanks to our technologies. it seems that human nature takes a long time to evolve, though as many satanists are still willing to argue like religionists over who is the 'most satanic', 'most evil', who is the 'true' satanist, etc. There is also a clear dividing line between LaVeyans who do not want to be associated with the spiritual aspects of satanism, and at the other end are the hardcore religious satanists who despise the rational ways of the LaVeyans.
I choose not to take sides, and that is why I am interested in all of Satanism. This is why I am independent. I care about satanism in general, and i do not see a need to take sides. I see benefits in the rational and the spiritual. You could say that I am a spiritual Satanist who is also interested in the Material..I prefer not to single myself out as one or the other. Besides that, Satanism interests me, and I would like to see some positive changes.
You are right. Satanism isn't static. it is ever flowing and changing and we are a part of its current, directing its flow..
"Could one say, that as an independent Satanist: (1) no person in Satanism is recognized as an authority, only a contributor of certain degree? (2) one is logically precluded from revering any other person but one’s self firstly, and then only others that one recognizes within our close circle? This would certainly qualify LaVey as a great contributor only. One could still acknowledge disagreement with some of his ideas and personal behavior."
This is why i really enjoyed Satan's Chaplain's commentary. He brings up some interesting points.
re. Authority vs. Contributors. - Why not accept it as *both* instead of one or the other or consider the possibility that we are creators as well.
However, I dont see, at least not since LaVey's time, that there will be one singular doctrine, idea or belief that all of Satanism can agree with (or should agree with!). The only thing that could unite us is our understanding of Self. You say that in the second half of your comment above, that the Self is the source of experience and expression. According to what you are saying, LaVey was not a leader but a contributor to a new understanding of Satan and satanism. Agreed.
There are a lot of political figures that are known for their scandals yet still are able to maintain an image of popularity. Knowing those private things about his life do not disappoint me, they empower me. He is a good example of how not to be. Regardless, his ideas allowed many people to come to their own experience and realization of Satanism and the self. He was then, perhaps only the messenger of something much greater than himself.
Thank you for posting to my blog, Satan's Chaplain.
~Venus Satanas~
http://www.spiritualsatanist.com/
Reply to Questions about LaVey
November 27, 2009
Here is a letter from someone who came to my site, and had some typical statements to make about LaVey and LaVeyan beliefs:
Not to be too critical, but it seems as though Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible, from Nietzsche and others. Also, it didn't seem to work for him, he died pretty much broke and the San Francisco 'black house' was in disrepair and eventually sold.
Lastly, everyone around him seemed to desert him, Aquino, his wives, children...
I wonder did Lavey practice what he preached?
I will reply to each statement as I go along:
Not to be too critical, but it seems as though Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible, from Nietzsche and others.
First of all, here is something that I have learned about the way that people write. When someone begins a statement with the words "I don't mean to be..", "Not to be critical, but.. " and statements like that, its a statement disguised with hidden intent. The hidden intent is to be critical and demeaning, but to apologize for it first so that the statement is softened into a commentary instead of a criticism. So, when this guy started his statement with 'Not to be too critical.." that's exactly what he intended to be!
Now, on to answer the questions. These questions like the ones that were asked here, could be misunderstood as the typical 'trollish' comments that satanists are given in forums and on the internet. These are the same criticisms that a lot of Satanists have had to hear from others. Alot of their criticism means nothing when you are able to reveal the sources of their misunderstandings.
"Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible"
Actually, he didn't start out that way. I have seen the early pre-1980's edition of the Satanic Bible that contained every reference that LaVey used in his book. Along with this is the reading list that is available at the Church of Satan website. Its a known fact what books that LaVey was inspired from, and he let it be known that these writers and philosophers were (in his view) proto-satanists.
The later versions of the Satanic Bible did not contain the Bibliography of his writings. Thus, many people think that the writings are plagiarized, when they are not. The SB's Book publisher, Avon, chose not to publish the list of books that LaVey referenced from the 80's onward.
"Also, it didn't seem to work for him, he died pretty much broke and the San Francisco 'black house' was in disrepair and eventually sold. "
I think everything he wanted worked for him. he wanted to create satanism and be the leader of the Satanic empire, and that is what he did. He is in the history books as being the founder of Satanism. The Black house was only important in the beginning of LaVey's career and after he left control of the COS to others, it no longer mattered to him or to the members of the COS.
His house and his personal affairs are discussed at the Church of Satan website. There is also a history of his life in the PDF by Aquino, "The Church of Satan".
For anyone interested in knowing the real story of who LaVey was, that is a good place to start.
I'm sure there's lots of people who 'died broke'. I doubt that in the last days of his life, money was an issue. His family owns the copyrights and ownership of the organization and it is alive and well today, and that is what matters.
"Lastly, everyone around him seemed to desert him, Aquino, his wives, children.."
His wife sued him for Palimony in the late 80's. He beat his children, his wife and his animals. He was an abusive man. Anyone who thinks differently is welcome to read the COS website or the COS book written by Aquino. LaVey wasn't perfect and so what? he had to deal with his own consequences. Its a case of do-as-i-say, not do-as-i-do, which is very typical for religious orgs. and cult leaders.
Aquno and 9 others of the original Church members, left because as time went on, they had lost the original spirit and ideals that LaVey had started the church with in the 60's. It happens frequently with occult orders. The Temple of Set was formed when Aquino and others carried on their work in a new tradition of occult practice. Called the Temple of Set, they worshiped the dark forces of Set and have a structured order of Magic.
LaVeyans were more focused on the physical attributes in life, and others involved with them were looking for a spiritual approach. If anything, it was an evolution of Satanism and a new avenue to explore for seekers of the LHP.
I am not Laveyan, but at the same time, the only thing that i CAN appreciate about LaVey and his life is that he made Satanism socially acceptable, and he is a historical figure. beyond that, i have no admiration for him personally, and no admiration of how he treated his family. I wont demonize him, but i wont make him a saint either. He was human and he had problems like all the rest of us do.
"I wonder did Lavey practice what he preached?"
If you mean, eye for an eye, selective compassion, and aggressiveness towards others, then yes.. he did. He had ideals that he shared with everyone that became the foundation of satanism. Whether those ideas are worthy to follow and emulate in your life is up to you to decide.
~Venus
Not to be too critical, but it seems as though Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible, from Nietzsche and others. Also, it didn't seem to work for him, he died pretty much broke and the San Francisco 'black house' was in disrepair and eventually sold.
Lastly, everyone around him seemed to desert him, Aquino, his wives, children...
I wonder did Lavey practice what he preached?
I will reply to each statement as I go along:
Not to be too critical, but it seems as though Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible, from Nietzsche and others.
First of all, here is something that I have learned about the way that people write. When someone begins a statement with the words "I don't mean to be..", "Not to be critical, but.. " and statements like that, its a statement disguised with hidden intent. The hidden intent is to be critical and demeaning, but to apologize for it first so that the statement is softened into a commentary instead of a criticism. So, when this guy started his statement with 'Not to be too critical.." that's exactly what he intended to be!
Now, on to answer the questions. These questions like the ones that were asked here, could be misunderstood as the typical 'trollish' comments that satanists are given in forums and on the internet. These are the same criticisms that a lot of Satanists have had to hear from others. Alot of their criticism means nothing when you are able to reveal the sources of their misunderstandings.
"Lavey plagiarized much of the satanic bible"
Actually, he didn't start out that way. I have seen the early pre-1980's edition of the Satanic Bible that contained every reference that LaVey used in his book. Along with this is the reading list that is available at the Church of Satan website. Its a known fact what books that LaVey was inspired from, and he let it be known that these writers and philosophers were (in his view) proto-satanists.
The later versions of the Satanic Bible did not contain the Bibliography of his writings. Thus, many people think that the writings are plagiarized, when they are not. The SB's Book publisher, Avon, chose not to publish the list of books that LaVey referenced from the 80's onward.
"Also, it didn't seem to work for him, he died pretty much broke and the San Francisco 'black house' was in disrepair and eventually sold. "
I think everything he wanted worked for him. he wanted to create satanism and be the leader of the Satanic empire, and that is what he did. He is in the history books as being the founder of Satanism. The Black house was only important in the beginning of LaVey's career and after he left control of the COS to others, it no longer mattered to him or to the members of the COS.
His house and his personal affairs are discussed at the Church of Satan website. There is also a history of his life in the PDF by Aquino, "The Church of Satan".
For anyone interested in knowing the real story of who LaVey was, that is a good place to start.
I'm sure there's lots of people who 'died broke'. I doubt that in the last days of his life, money was an issue. His family owns the copyrights and ownership of the organization and it is alive and well today, and that is what matters.
"Lastly, everyone around him seemed to desert him, Aquino, his wives, children.."
His wife sued him for Palimony in the late 80's. He beat his children, his wife and his animals. He was an abusive man. Anyone who thinks differently is welcome to read the COS website or the COS book written by Aquino. LaVey wasn't perfect and so what? he had to deal with his own consequences. Its a case of do-as-i-say, not do-as-i-do, which is very typical for religious orgs. and cult leaders.
Aquno and 9 others of the original Church members, left because as time went on, they had lost the original spirit and ideals that LaVey had started the church with in the 60's. It happens frequently with occult orders. The Temple of Set was formed when Aquino and others carried on their work in a new tradition of occult practice. Called the Temple of Set, they worshiped the dark forces of Set and have a structured order of Magic.
LaVeyans were more focused on the physical attributes in life, and others involved with them were looking for a spiritual approach. If anything, it was an evolution of Satanism and a new avenue to explore for seekers of the LHP.
I am not Laveyan, but at the same time, the only thing that i CAN appreciate about LaVey and his life is that he made Satanism socially acceptable, and he is a historical figure. beyond that, i have no admiration for him personally, and no admiration of how he treated his family. I wont demonize him, but i wont make him a saint either. He was human and he had problems like all the rest of us do.
"I wonder did Lavey practice what he preached?"
If you mean, eye for an eye, selective compassion, and aggressiveness towards others, then yes.. he did. He had ideals that he shared with everyone that became the foundation of satanism. Whether those ideas are worthy to follow and emulate in your life is up to you to decide.
~Venus
Casting Spells Without Using Candles
November 15, 2009
Some who want to use magic can not burn candles on their magical altar, either due to circumstances beyond their control, or even for health reasons like disability or impairment. For others, candles may be impractical, such as a situation where one is working outdoors or for those who use an altar that is deconstructed and kept to a minimum of items. Well, as nice as candles are to use in magic, their use is certainly not required to be able to cast a spell.
First, here is a brief discussion of how candles are used in spells.
COLOR - Candles are available in a wide variety of colors. Each color is representative of the desired result, ie. red = lust, desire .. green = money
SHAPE - The candle itself is a symbol, a model of the phallic image and it represents will, power and energy. When candles are used properly, they become the focus of the ritual or spellwork, effectively concentrating and moving energy in the desired direction, much like the magic wand or the athame of some magical traditions.
Candles are available in a variety of shapes as well. There are round candles, square candles and even candles that are shaped like figures (figural candles). Basic spells are cast that are centered around the shape of the candle. For instance, a lover's spell can be cast by using a pillar or taper candle (long and skinny candles), but, an added and more focused effect is created by using a figural candle that is shaped in a human figure.
SIZE - The size of the candle that is used is also a consideration. A quick spell can be put together and cast by using a mini-candle and taper candles, which usually burn for a few hours or less, depending on the size. Ongoing spells or candles used for devotion are best cast by using a larger candle that can be burned and re-lit several times. Candles like these may take more than a few days to burn down.
INGREDIENTS - The ingredients that are used in candles and on candles, such as oils, are meant to add an extra effect. Oils or herbs are placed into the candle at the time of creation, or alternatively, candles are anointed during spell casting or ritual for magical effect.
USE - Candles are placed on the altar in designated areas, that denote what the purpose is for. In my altar arrangement, I use a center candle to cast my spells, and to the left of the center candle is my Bast statue, where I also burn candles on occasion. The appropriate candle is chosen before the spell is started and before the ritual begins. the candle is also empowered with intent and/or anointed with oils before it is lit. In working with two candles, I will light the first candle, and then light the second candle with the flame of the first candle that was lit, symbolically passing the flame from one candle to the other.
So, as you can see there are many ways that candles can be chosen, prepared and used in magical ritual. Doing without candles is no great sacrifice if you understand that the tools you use are representative of the effect that you want to create. All it requires is the use of basic, natural ingredients and a little creativity. So here are some suggestions to get you started.
- Talismans and Sigils. Create a talisman or sigil from natural ingredients like clay or paper. Use this talisman or sigil as a focus during spell casting. Use colored inks or colored paper for an intended effect.. No candle burning required.
- Herb Magic. Use an offering dish to place herbs into. the herbs act in much the same way that oils and candles do, as a representative of the forces that you are working with. Make a ritual tea (from SAFE and ingestible herbs such as mint or catnip..not all herbs are meant to be taken internally and some interfere with medication, so please research thoroughly) and as you create your tea and sip it during your ritual, focus on your result.
- Crystals. Meditation and focus with crystals and using their energies makes for a great method of casting magic. All one has to do is be familiar with crystals and their properties and be aware of how they are used.
- Ritual Oils. Some oils are safe to use on the skin, especially if they are diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive oil, or sesame. Ritual anointing with oil is a great way to absorb the qualities of an oil into your being. Be aware that some oils should never be put on the skin as they can irritate (cedar oil, cinnamon, orange oil etc.), and unless an oil is known to be food-grade (like almond oil made and specifically labeled for cooking) it should not be ingested or taken internally!
-Herbal Baths. There are specially made preparations for ritual baths that are created with sea salts, oils and herbs that are used as a magical bath. When used in spellwork they are like being anointed with the qualities that the bath contains.
-Magic Bags. Called magic bags, mojo bags, etc. they are like sachets which contain certain herbs, powders, gemstones, and possibly magical charms (symbolic charms). Placed in certain areas or kept on the person, they cause a magical effect to take place. For an example, If I were to make a sachet for gambling luck, i would put dice in it, and also some mint and patchouli herb, along with my lucky 2 dollar bill! Shazaam!
So, as you can see there are plenty of ways to create magical effects without using candles. For many, candles are a convenient way to cast spells, and are a focus of magical work, and for others, these methods that I've mentioned here are also great ways of creating magical spells.
CANDLE SAFETY:
According to the National Candle Association, Candle safety is an important consideration. "More than 15,000 candle fires are reported annually. According to fire experts, the bulk of candle-fire incidents are due to consumer inattention to basic fire safety or to the misuse of candles."
Here are some important safety notices about candles. Many of these things seem like common sense but a reminder is always a good thing:
Always keep a burning candle within sight. Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep! Do not, under any circumstances, leave a candle unattended.
Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc. Be very careful if you wear robes with sleeves during ritual.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
Trim candlewicks to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping. Trim your wick ONLY when the candle is extinguished.
Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
Be sure the candleholder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface. This will also help prevent possible heat damage to counters and table surfaces and prevent glass containers from cracking or breaking.
Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times. These things can easily catch fire.
Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents. This will help prevent rapid, uneven burning, and avoid flame flare-ups and sooting. Drafts can also blow lightweight curtains or papers into the flame where they could catch fire.
Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Don't burn too many candles in a small room or in a "tight" home where air exchange is limited.
Don't burn a candle all the way down. Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or ½ inch if in a container.
Never touch a burning candle or move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquid. Wax is burning hot (especially dark colored waxes) and will burn you on contact.
Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use. You can easily crack your glass container which will make it unstable.
Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This is to make sure they don't melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It's the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
Never extinguish candles with water. The water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might cause a glass container to break.
Make sure a candle is completely extinguished and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers repeatedly, or the flame becomes too high. The candle isn't burning properly and the flame isn't controlled. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, then check for drafts before re-lighting.
~Venus Satanas~
First, here is a brief discussion of how candles are used in spells.
COLOR - Candles are available in a wide variety of colors. Each color is representative of the desired result, ie. red = lust, desire .. green = money
SHAPE - The candle itself is a symbol, a model of the phallic image and it represents will, power and energy. When candles are used properly, they become the focus of the ritual or spellwork, effectively concentrating and moving energy in the desired direction, much like the magic wand or the athame of some magical traditions.
Candles are available in a variety of shapes as well. There are round candles, square candles and even candles that are shaped like figures (figural candles). Basic spells are cast that are centered around the shape of the candle. For instance, a lover's spell can be cast by using a pillar or taper candle (long and skinny candles), but, an added and more focused effect is created by using a figural candle that is shaped in a human figure.
SIZE - The size of the candle that is used is also a consideration. A quick spell can be put together and cast by using a mini-candle and taper candles, which usually burn for a few hours or less, depending on the size. Ongoing spells or candles used for devotion are best cast by using a larger candle that can be burned and re-lit several times. Candles like these may take more than a few days to burn down.
INGREDIENTS - The ingredients that are used in candles and on candles, such as oils, are meant to add an extra effect. Oils or herbs are placed into the candle at the time of creation, or alternatively, candles are anointed during spell casting or ritual for magical effect.
USE - Candles are placed on the altar in designated areas, that denote what the purpose is for. In my altar arrangement, I use a center candle to cast my spells, and to the left of the center candle is my Bast statue, where I also burn candles on occasion. The appropriate candle is chosen before the spell is started and before the ritual begins. the candle is also empowered with intent and/or anointed with oils before it is lit. In working with two candles, I will light the first candle, and then light the second candle with the flame of the first candle that was lit, symbolically passing the flame from one candle to the other.
So, as you can see there are many ways that candles can be chosen, prepared and used in magical ritual. Doing without candles is no great sacrifice if you understand that the tools you use are representative of the effect that you want to create. All it requires is the use of basic, natural ingredients and a little creativity. So here are some suggestions to get you started.
- Talismans and Sigils. Create a talisman or sigil from natural ingredients like clay or paper. Use this talisman or sigil as a focus during spell casting. Use colored inks or colored paper for an intended effect.. No candle burning required.
- Herb Magic. Use an offering dish to place herbs into. the herbs act in much the same way that oils and candles do, as a representative of the forces that you are working with. Make a ritual tea (from SAFE and ingestible herbs such as mint or catnip..not all herbs are meant to be taken internally and some interfere with medication, so please research thoroughly) and as you create your tea and sip it during your ritual, focus on your result.
- Crystals. Meditation and focus with crystals and using their energies makes for a great method of casting magic. All one has to do is be familiar with crystals and their properties and be aware of how they are used.
- Ritual Oils. Some oils are safe to use on the skin, especially if they are diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba, olive oil, or sesame. Ritual anointing with oil is a great way to absorb the qualities of an oil into your being. Be aware that some oils should never be put on the skin as they can irritate (cedar oil, cinnamon, orange oil etc.), and unless an oil is known to be food-grade (like almond oil made and specifically labeled for cooking) it should not be ingested or taken internally!
-Herbal Baths. There are specially made preparations for ritual baths that are created with sea salts, oils and herbs that are used as a magical bath. When used in spellwork they are like being anointed with the qualities that the bath contains.
-Magic Bags. Called magic bags, mojo bags, etc. they are like sachets which contain certain herbs, powders, gemstones, and possibly magical charms (symbolic charms). Placed in certain areas or kept on the person, they cause a magical effect to take place. For an example, If I were to make a sachet for gambling luck, i would put dice in it, and also some mint and patchouli herb, along with my lucky 2 dollar bill! Shazaam!
So, as you can see there are plenty of ways to create magical effects without using candles. For many, candles are a convenient way to cast spells, and are a focus of magical work, and for others, these methods that I've mentioned here are also great ways of creating magical spells.
CANDLE SAFETY:
According to the National Candle Association, Candle safety is an important consideration. "More than 15,000 candle fires are reported annually. According to fire experts, the bulk of candle-fire incidents are due to consumer inattention to basic fire safety or to the misuse of candles."
Here are some important safety notices about candles. Many of these things seem like common sense but a reminder is always a good thing:
Always keep a burning candle within sight. Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep! Do not, under any circumstances, leave a candle unattended.
Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc. Be very careful if you wear robes with sleeves during ritual.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
Trim candlewicks to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping. Trim your wick ONLY when the candle is extinguished.
Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
Be sure the candleholder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface. This will also help prevent possible heat damage to counters and table surfaces and prevent glass containers from cracking or breaking.
Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times. These things can easily catch fire.
Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents. This will help prevent rapid, uneven burning, and avoid flame flare-ups and sooting. Drafts can also blow lightweight curtains or papers into the flame where they could catch fire.
Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Don't burn too many candles in a small room or in a "tight" home where air exchange is limited.
Don't burn a candle all the way down. Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or ½ inch if in a container.
Never touch a burning candle or move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquid. Wax is burning hot (especially dark colored waxes) and will burn you on contact.
Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use. You can easily crack your glass container which will make it unstable.
Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This is to make sure they don't melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It's the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
Never extinguish candles with water. The water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might cause a glass container to break.
Make sure a candle is completely extinguished and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers repeatedly, or the flame becomes too high. The candle isn't burning properly and the flame isn't controlled. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, then check for drafts before re-lighting.
~Venus Satanas~
Satanic Witchcraft - Questions
November 11, 2009
Letter from a Youtube viewer
I've been watching your videos for a few days now and reading a bit on your website (which is awesome by the way), But I am a little confused about Witchcraft. Why is Satan symbolized with Earth and not fire? Also why do you symbolize Satan with east and not south? Also one more question....(sorry I'm quite new to satanism) who is Belial and Lilith? I know Satan and Lucifer already...Also why are they all associated with each other? Are they all the "Satanic god" in other cultures?
I've been watching your videos for a few days now and reading a bit on your website (which is awesome by the way), But I am a little confused about Witchcraft. Why is Satan symbolized with Earth and not fire? Also why do you symbolize Satan with east and not south? Also one more question....(sorry I'm quite new to satanism) who is Belial and Lilith? I know Satan and Lucifer already...Also why are they all associated with each other? Are they all the "Satanic god" in other cultures?
I would love to take this opportunity to make some things clear with this post. I am very grateful that this letter was sent to me, because Ive been busy working on my website and revising it, and at the same time, working on my book of Satanic Witchcraft. Answering this letter will help me to make some clarifications and also it will help me to put my project into perspective.
For the past few weeks, my website has been revised, rewritten, and given am updated, and more subtle look. I have edited several pages in the Satanism section, and that is the section that I will finish first, before I edit the Magick section.
I started the Satanic Witchcraft series almost a year ago. Since then, I have re-written most of the first few chapters of my Satanic Witchcraft book (but I haven't yet added the revised writing to my website).
I plan on making most of my book available online at my site so that anyone can use the knowledge that I am putting together. The book itself will have extra rituals, formulas for spells, and insights that will not be printed at my website, so either way there is something good for everyone.
This is why I was really glad to get this letter from a reader who wanted to know specifics about my system of Satanic witchcraft. Interestingly enough, the letter hit upon some key ideas that I have since explained within my book (but haven't published on my site yet).
The youtube viewer asks, 'why is Satan symbolized by the earth and not by fire?' Well, in the creation of my satanic witchcraft series, I wanted to do something that was different than all of the systems that are already present in Satanic Occultism. Satan associated with fire, was a concept that was made popular by LaVey in the Satanic bible. In that book, LaVey gives the four cardinal directions, and in doing so, he labeled Satan as the South, representing the element of Fire. LaVey did not create these associations on his own, but he used them in his book. Those associations came from the Book of Abramelin, a judeo-christian grimoire that was designed as a system of ritual to find one's own HGA (Holy Guardian Angel)
Since then, many satanists have accepted LaVey's associations and used them as their own. But it wasn't just Abramelin that labeled Satan as fire, it was also the Christian associations of Satan and the lake of fire that relate Satan to that element. In creating my own system, I chose not to associate with the same old, typical judeo-Christian associations. So, to me Satan represents the Earth, and all things physical, and the body (the Self).
The youtube viewer also asked me why I associate Satan with the east and not the south. The demon and their corresponding directionals are for the purpose of ritual, and in my system the south is indeed symbolized by Satan while the East is associated with Lucifer. To me it only makes sense, as the earth is below our feet, to the south, and the star of Venus/Lucifer is found in the east. On to the next question:
Also one more question....(sorry I'm quite new to satanism) who is Belial and Lilith? I know Satan and Lucifer already...Also why are they all associated with each other?
These demons are not directly associated with each other. They each come from different cultures and places in time. I have had personal experience with them. My main reason in including these demons and gods into my system of witchcraft is to represent the divine aspects of satanism. The one thing that they do have in common is that each of the demons represent satanic qualities.
In my series on Witchcraft, I wanted to build a simple system that anyone could use for their own needs. That is why the representations that I have given for satanic gods and demons is not required to use any of the magic in the book, but in using them, or demons and gods like them, you can add a new dimension to your magic. It is true that I do not call upon demons or Satan every time I cast a spell, as most times there is no need to have their influence. But, when I need their influence they are there.
In my book I encourage others to eventually find the gods or demons that they can relate to on a personal level. My spells were designed so that anyone can use them with or without a demonic influence. This was created out of a necessity to have a system that had a basic framework for magic that was not dependent on any kind of religion. Unlike some forms of neopagan magic, my system is not dependent on the worship of any gods and dedication to Satan or any other demon is not required. For those who want to experience working with the demonic in their magic, the option is there and the four demons that I have named to represent these aspects blend beautifully into my system of personal magic.
I wanted to share these insights with others as an example for learning. So, along with meditations on each demon there are rituals for each demon and a history of each demon to get you started in working with them. These particular demons are not required for all satanic magicians, and working with them is optional. My goal in writing the book is not only to teach others about magic, but to teach others to eventually build their own system of (eclectic) magic.
~Venus Satanas
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