Infernal Dialogues

Infernal Dialogues

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Basic Satanic Ritual & Magick For Neo-Pagans


When most people think of “Satanic rituals”, they conjure up wild and frightening imagery of animal sacrifice, perverse sexual orgies and, of course, chanting masked figures clad in dark robes.  This is, of course, to be expected when one considers the popular depictions of Satanism and its rituals.  The entertainment industry is to blame for much of these negative and unfairly stereotyped portrayals; Satanism, along with witchcraft, has always been an enticing target for storytellers looking to craft an enthralling plot.  The reality of Satanism and its practices, however, could not be more different.
Although there are always those with different perspectives, it is safe to say that most Satanists, regardless of path, do not condone criminal acts and any acts in which an innocent life is destroyed or harmed in any way.  This philosophy also carries over into the realm of ritual practice—although most Satanists either practice or support the use of destructive magick, it is not to be assumed that this means that we support the careless application of curses and other maleficium.  As I will discuss a later, black magick is not always deserving of its reputation.  I should also point out that not all Satanists and Demonolators practice magick—many are simply spiritual individuals who, for them, derive their fulfilment from the simple acts of prayer, meditation or by making offerings to their gods.  For the purposes of this article, however, I would like to introduce you to some of the rituals and magickal workings practiced by real Satanists and Demonolators.
I have had quite a few Wiccans and Neo-Pagans surprised to learn that some paths within Satanism embrace many of the same practices and ritual observances which they do themselves—most common is the concept of the “Wheel of the Year”.  Since some Satanic paths are also Neo-Pagan in that they recognise the divinity within the Natural World, practitioners of such paths honour the Earth through the celebration of seasonal rites.  These celebrations may or may not retain the traditional names such as Lughnasadh or Samhain as they occur within the Satanic paths which observe them, but for some they do.  For most Theistic Satanists who choose to observe the Wheel of the Year, the meanings behind each Sabbat are not typically the same as those found within Wicca.  
For example, while Wiccans generally adhere to the mythology of the God and the Goddess and their roles according to the seasons, Theistic Satanists may choose to simply honour the Earth in general, the Elements, an aspect of Satan or a particular Demon.  The latter is typical of most Demonolators—there are Demons, just as there are gods and goddesses, which correspond to each of the festivals.  It should be noted that Demonolatry is not inherently Satanic in nature.  There are Demonolators who do not recognise Satan as an entity of any kind.
For Atheistic and LaVeyan Satanists specifically, magick may or may not play a role in one’s day-to-day existence.  Although most LaVeyan Satanists consider any belief in the supernatural to be nonsensical, LaVey’s own writings are ambiguous where the belief in natural magick is concerned.  For these Satanists, magick and ritual are regarded as psychological vehicles for self-transformation and catharsis—however, LaVey clearly endorsed the use of ritual for a variety of purposes such as for the cursing of enemies as well as for the blessing of loved ones.
One ritual with its origins solidly rooted within LaVeyan tradition is the celebration of one’s own birthday.  This idea was a result of LaVey’s belief that every human being is inherently divine and godlike—thus the day of one’s birth is seen as a holy day in the same manner as the holy day of any other god or goddess.  Many Theistic Satanists and non-LaVeyan Atheistic Satanists have also adopted the recognition of one’s own birthday as a holy day within the context of their own systems of belief.  As I have said before, much of the content within modern Satanism has been, in some way or another, inspired by Anton Szandor LaVey.
Where we find historical “accounts” of alleged Satanism, we almost certainly are confronted with the notorious imagery of the devotee making a gruesome pact with Satan—in essence, “selling one’s soul” to the Devil.  As nonsensical as the selling of one’s soul to Satan is, many real-life Satanists do actually choose to devote themselves to Him by means of a pact.  Most often the agreement outlines the individual’s own willingness to dedicate themselves to maintaining a lifelong relationship and allegiance with Satan.  If this idea makes you uncomfortable, then perhaps your perception is still influenced by popular culture and Christian propaganda.  Nevertheless, Satanic pacts can and do play an important role in an individual’s spiritual journey. 
    
Pacts and Self-Initiation
Before you dismiss the practice of Satanic pacts, entertain for a moment the process of self-initiation and dedication within a Wiccan or Neo-Pagan context.  Generally, when a Seeker finds a deity with whom they wish to work or align themselves, it is typical that they perform what is known as a self-dedication ritual—making a vow to serve that entity.  Likewise, when a Seeker has come to accept Wicca or Neo-Wicca as their religion of choice, it is customary for him or her to be initiated or to perform a self-initiation rite for the purpose of devoting themselves to their path.  There is absolutely no difference between a Wiccan dedication ritual and a Satanic pact other than the fact that most Wiccans do not dedicate themselves to Satan! 
The pact itself may be created with or without the accompaniment of a proper ritual.  Some Satanists choose a specific day, time and place for the signing of their pacts—others decide on a whim and let Chaos dictate what is to follow.  Still others enjoy the theatrics of psychodrama, the use of ritual and symbolism in the stimulation of psychological processes, and may choose to create their pact to be reminiscent of a medieval parchment, complete with their signature rendered in their own blood. 
Although this may sound pointless and grotesque, it is generally accepted within Neo-Paganism that the use of symbolism and ambience can greatly affect one’s mood and magickal undertakings for better or for worse.  The use of blood in ritual is also not unique to Satanism as there are a number of Neo-Pagan paths which utilise its magickal and energetic properties.  Signing a pact in one’s own blood also implies a sense of seriousness in that one is pledging one’s word, through his or her very life’s essence ensuring that the oath is unbreakable.  The most common reason why devotees may decide to use such imagery is because many Satanists, like some Neo-Pagans and witches, appreciate darker themes and feel more comfortable expressing themselves in this way.  Others may find such things distasteful and opt for a more basic approach, using instead a simple piece of paper and an altar adorned with seasonal flora.

The following is an example of a very basic pact (©2011 Torey B. Scott): 

I, __(name)__, do hereby pledge, from this day forward, my allegiance, loyalty and services to my Lord, Satan.  I promise to honour Him, exalt Him and to open myself to receive His lessons that I may grow in the Light of Knowledge.  I will strive to question all established truths and to challenge those who maintain that ignorance is bliss.  I acknowledge that I am a human being, worthy of contentment, and I will aspire to satisfy my desires and needs to the capacity which both law and love allow.  Above all, I shall remain forever true to myself and to those whom I love.  By all that I hold dear to me, I dedicate myself to you, Lord Satan.  

Satanic self-initiation rituals are slightly different from pacts in much the same way that Wiccan and Neo-Pagan self-initiation rituals differ from dedication rituals.  A Satanic self-initiation ritual should always be written solely by the initiate.  In addition to the fact that writing one’s own ritual ensures that it is original and deeply personal, as there are no sacred texts within independent Satanism which dictate a “proper” ritual outline.  Initiates are free to tailor their rituals to their unique practices and relationship with Satan and for many this enables them to better express themselves and their intent.  If a pact was not previously made, the self-initiation ritual is an ideal time to pledge oneself to Satan.  Alternately, the Seeker may choose to pledge themselves by means of a self-dedication instead of a pact.  A self-dedication ritual may be done within a self-initiation rite or it may be done separately.
Like other Neo-Pagan self-initiation rituals, it is encouraged that the initiate purchase or make something for themselves ahead of time which will serve as a gift and a reminder of his or her emergence into a new life as a Satanist.  Many individuals choose jewellery adorned with traditional Satanic icons such as the inverted pentagram, Baphomet or inverted cross.  There is no compulsory requirement that one must adhere to any form of symbolism within Satanism whatsoever—such images carry importance and validity, but the initiate should choose something which he or she is both comfortable wearing and which is harmonious with his or her personal beliefs.  
Self-initiations, like other Satanic rituals, may or may not be performed whilst skyclad or nude.  Nudity within Satanism does not retain the same importance found within most Neo-Pagan traditions, so it is entirely up to the individual.  It is usually encouraged for one to look one’s best however—this means having a cleansing shower or bath beforehand, brushing one’s teeth and hair and (if wearing clothing) dressing in one’s “Sunday best”.  The reasons behind this are essentially to ensure pride in oneself, to show respect to the Divine and to remind oneself that true success in any walk of life takes effort.
Although when the ritual takes place is of little real importance, it is my personal belief that sunrise or noon are the best times to perform self-initiations even though some Satanic sects insist that initiations be carried out after sunset.  I believe that rituals during the daylight hours are ideal because Satan is traditionally recognised as a Solar deity, therefore the Sun should theoretically be present for the ceremony.  This is certainly not a requirement, but in my opinion it is another way to honour Satan and to invite Him into your sacred space.
The rest of the ritual and its design is dictated by the imagination of the initiate.  Many take inspiration from existing Satanic rituals such as those found within Anton LaVey’s book The Satanic Rituals or rites published in works by other Satanic sects.  Again, there is no required equipment nor is there any structure which must be adhered to when constructing a self-initiation ritual.  The following is a very basic outline for a Satanic self-initiation rite which I have written for the purposes of this article:
Satanic Self-Initiation Ritual (©2011 Torey B. Scott)


Materials:
·         Baphomet pendant
·         Four black candles
·         One red candle
·         Inverted pentagram paten or Baphomet altar statue
·         Red pen
·         Black pen
·         Small piece of paper (only a few inches wide)
·         Fireproof bowl filled with sand
·         Matches
·         Silver chalice with red wine
·         Small bowl
·         Incense of your choice (preferably a Solar of fiery scent)
[Before the ritual, take the piece of paper and black pen and write out your pact or dedication to Satan (refer to pages 3 and 4 of this chapter).  Do not sign the pact at this point.]

[With a sharp object, carve an inverted pentagram into the red candle.]
[Prepare your altar by placing the four black candles at the edges to mark the Elemental quarters.  In the centre of the altar, place your paten.  On the paten, place the red candle (alternately, if you have a Baphomet statue, simply place the red candle in front of it).] 
[Place your Baphomet pendant either somewhere on your statue (if you are using one), at its base or next to the red candle on the altar paten.]
[Directly in front of you should be the bowl filled with sand and next to it the matches.  In the South (or North for the Southern Hemisphere), place the small bowl.  In the Southeast (or Northeast for the Southern Hemisphere) place the chalice containing the wine.]
[Prepare your body by taking a long cleansing bath.  If desired, meditate on your life as you have known it up until now and what you wish to do with it in the future.  Think about the impending ritual and what it will mean for you as a person and as a spiritual being.  Afterwards, dress in your best clothing, brush your teeth and hair (paint your fingernails and put on your best makeup if you are a woman and inclined to do so; shave if you are a man—otherwise simply make an effort to appear as neat and pleasing as possible regardless of your gender identity).]
[When you are ready, enter the ritual room and kneel or stand before the altar.  There should be minimal light in the room.  Light the black candles and incense.  Close your eyes and focus on the image of Satan which most appeals to you.  Open your heart to Him and invite Him to join you and to witness your initiation.]
Say:
“Lord Satan!  I invite you to join me here this morning/today/tonight that you may bear witness to this, my initiation into the path of the Enlightened.”
[Open your eyes and focus on the Baphomet statue (if you are using one) or the altar paten.  Imagine the eyes of Satan opening before you as you focus on the image of the statue/paten.  Let your gaze slowly drift down to the red candle.  Feel Satan’s presence all around you, pervading the atmosphere as a warm charged energy which embraces and comforts you.]
[Take the Southerly (Northerly for the Southern Hemisphere) Elemental candle and light the red candle from its flame.  Feel Satan’s presence solidify as the wick begins to burn brightly.]
Say: 
“I welcome you, Lord!”
[Take a moment to fully realise His presence.  Bask in it.  Feel yourself relaxing, body and mind, trusting in His power and wisdom.  When you are ready focus on the red candle again.]
Say:

“This morning/today/tonight I have come here, of my own free will and conviction, for the purpose that I may make manifest my desire to know you, Lord Satan.”

 “I accept your hand in trust and understanding.  Guide me through the darkness that I may realise the falsehoods imposed upon me by those who would wish to suppress my strengths and potential.  Light within me the Black Flame—immortal, inextinguishable.  Let its brilliance warm my heart in my sorrow.  Let its emanation pain me in my stupor and render me ever-mindful of the vows which I make this day.”

[Take the chalice in your hand and hold it up to the red candle.]
Say: 
“May this wine linger as blood on my lips that it should remind me of the sacredness of my flesh and the gift that is my humanity.”
[Take a sip of the wine.]
Say: 
“This I offer to you, Wise Serpent.  Drink with me of this cup and share with me in trust an eternal kinship.”
[Pour the remainder of the wine into the small bowl.  Next, recite the words you have written from your pact/dedication.  Take your time and truly feel the words as your recite them.  When you are done, take the red pen and sign your full name (if you are so inclined and are not squeamish, you may choose to draw a small amount of blood in which you may sign your name).]
Say: 
“It is finished.  I commit my words to the Ether that they may forever remain imprinted upon the fabric of the Universe.”
[Light the paper with the flame from the red candle and place it in the bowl upon the sand.  Allow it to burn completely, reducing it to ashes.  You may need to burn it several times to accomplish this.]
Say: 
“From this day/night I commit myself to the Satanic path—I swear to uphold the spirit of Satan as an agent and champion of Knowledge and the enemy of all which oppresses, stifles and binds freedom of thought.  I am reborn as the Phoenix emerging from the embers—I shall nurture the Black Flame now awakened within me.”
“I thank you, Lord Satan, for sharing with me this glorious day/night.  I promise to you that never shall I neglect nor revoke the vows I have made—hail, Satan.”
[Thank Satan in your heart and, equally as important as this, give yourself credit for having the courage and conviction to embrace a new life path.  Take the Baphomet pendant (or take up whatever gift you have acquired for yourself, wearing or holding it as appropriate) and place it around your neck.  This is your initiation gift.  Keep it near to you that it may serve as a reminder of your commitment to Satan and to yourself.  Extinguish the candles and incense and take the ashes mixed with the sand outside (wherever or whenever is appropriate).  Spread them to the wind and acknowledge that your oath is solidified and final.]    


Within sect-based Satanic traditions such as LaVeyan Satanism, there are suggested ritual outlines upon which most base their own—for Atheistic Satanists, these rituals tend to be fairly simple and symbolic with no spiritual inclinations.  Unlike within other specific Neo-Pagan religions such as Wicca, self-initiation rituals, like pacts, are not required of the practitioner in order for one to call themselves a Satanist.  The vast majority of Satanists, both theistic and atheistic, are solitary practitioners—the need to be viewed by others as “initiated” or “legitimate”, unlike within most Neo-Pagan paths, are of little concern within most forms of Satanism.  This is primarily due to the fact that Satanism is a religion which revolves around the Self and the attaining of individual desires as opposed to the sense of belonging and altruistic concerns of a group.
Within the context of organised Satanic sects, however, there can be specific rituals and practices which all individuals belonging to a particular group must partake in.  Some of these rituals include marriage rites, death rites, divorce rites, baptisms, coming-of-age ceremonies, meal blessings, initiations, devotions, consecrations and many more.  It would be a near impossible task to detail every single ritual within every single Satanic sect, but I have chosen a few specific rituals to expand upon for the purpose of understanding the nature of Satanic ritual.

The Self-Dedication Ritual
For most solitary Theistic Satanists, self-dedication rites are very similar to their Neo-Wiccan counterparts.  As I have already mentioned, the primary difference between a self-dedication ritual and a self-initiation ritual is that the former is concerned with pledging one’s allegiance to a particular deity and the latter is concerned with aligning oneself with a particular path.  In Theistic Satanism, the self-dedication ritual can be as simple as reciting a few lines or as complex as designing and carrying out a full-fledged ceremony.
Depending upon whether or not one is dedicating themselves to a particular Demon or to Satan Himself, one thing is for certain—he or she must be absolutely sure of the decision to dedicate.  Demons, unlike many other deities, are not as forgiving of Their devotees when it comes to being abandoned later on down the road.  Many Neo-Wiccans, for example, may experience dedications to many different gods and goddesses throughout their formative years—they may find that they have “outgrown” a particular deity or that another deity wishes to claim them for itself.  Whatever the case, Demons are not to be entered into an agreement with casually.  
Make no mistake–it is not that They are inclined towards malice, but They simply dislike being used and discarded as I believe all deities most likely do.  Demonolators who have severed their ties with particular Demons have reported that thereafter they had experienced numerous instances of “bad luck” or misfortune.   It could be that guilt and self-undoing on the part of the Demonolator is behind such events, but the reason why Demons are so renowned for Their intolerance of flighty devotees and betrayal may lie in the annals of Ceremonial Magic.  
If there are any beings which are prime candidates for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder it would be the Demons.  One of the major focuses of High Magick is often ceremonial evocation—a technique in which a Demon or other Otherworldly entity is ritually summoned, bound and compelled to perform favours for the magician.  It is my belief that Demons have grown distrustful of human beings in many regards because of the grievous ways in which They have been disrespected.  Not only has Mankind turned its back on the Demons, once known as the gods of olde, but the passing centuries gave rise to arrogant individuals and societies which believed that they could control and use these entities for magickal slave labour.  
I have worked with Demons, especially the Goetic Spirits, who refused to work alongside the Christian pantheon.  It was not because these Demons fundamentally opposed Christ and Yahweh, but because it was by these names that They have been repeatedly assailed and degraded by magicians who believed that Demons were inferior to God and to themselves.  Therefore it is so very important to uphold your oath should you devote yourself to a Demon—it is difficult enough to gain Its trust, much less have It openly invite you to partake of Its wisdom.
Although Satan is generally much more lenient, it goes without saying that He (and any deity) should never be offered a service only to have it withdrawn.  Keep in mind that Otherworldly beings do not have the same concepts of time and space as do we—it is important to be clear with such beings exactly what it is that they can expect from you.  If you can spare only an hour per week in your devotionals, make certain that you are upfront with your Patron or Matron about this from the beginning.  I am not insinuating that we are not allowed to slip up from time to time or that we are expected to give our entire lives over to the Divine, but it must be remembered that deities are not tools at our disposal—they are intelligent, sentient beings who expect you to contribute to the relationship in the same way that an employer expects you to show up to work on time each day.
I believe that it makes sense to allow oneself time to think when it comes to dedicating oneself to a deity.  Some suggest that one should wait for three months before doing so—I believe that this is not out of the question as it gives the individual time to decide exactly what he or she is and is not capable of giving and doing to maintain a lifelong commitment to another entity.  This “waiting period” is also beneficial in that it serves a means to weed out those who are simply experiencing a phase or fascination with a particular deity and those who are sincere in their devotion.  
For some Demonolatry sects, specifically the OFS, dedication to a Patron or Matron Demon can include what some may describe as acts of self-mutilation—however, these acts usually consist of simply tattooing, cutting or branding the sigil or seal of a particular Demon into the flesh of the consenting adult devotee.  The devotee always has a choice—there should never be an assumption that Satanic or Demonolatry sects force members to participate in acts which violate their own personal moral codes or sense of safety.  
Many individuals choose to dedicate themselves to Satan during a specific Holy Day or another day which holds special significance such as the individual’s birthday.  Because I adhere to the importance of Satan’s alignment with Solar imagery, I would suggest that a self-dedication ritual (like self-initiation) be performed during daylight hours—preferably at noon.  Of course it is entirely personal as to when and where the ritual will take place, but it is a good idea to use the appropriate symbolism when planning the rite.  I have provided, for the purpose of this discussion, a simple self-dedication ritual to Satan.  Again, there are no rules which are set into stone—Satanism is a very forgiving and eclectic religion after all.
Satanic Self-Dedication Ritual (©2011 Torey B. Scott)
Materials:
  • Anointing oil (any oil blend will do, but preferably Solar or Fiery in nature)
  • Incense (again it is suggested that one use a Solar or Fiery scent)     
  • Small libation dish (for the offering)
  • Needle or diabetic lancet (for drawing a small amount of blood)
  • Offering (bread, wine or even a nice cigar)
[I recommend performing this ritual outdoors if possible.  Self-dedications need to stimulate the consciousness and remind the individual of his or her innate connection with the Natural World and the world of the Unseen.  Ideally the devotee should have a cleansing bath or shower beforehand.]
[Lay the ritual items on the ground or floor before you.  Light the incense and hold the vial of oil in one hand, allowing the other to remain free.  Mentally or orally invite Satan to join you.]
Say:
“I, (name), request your mighty company, my blessed Lord Satan.  Join me in this celebration and rejoice with me!  Salve!”
[Visualise Satan, as you imagine He would appear, joining you and standing beside you to take your hand.  Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly, feeling the warmth of His presence grow as you focus on Him.  When you are satisfied that Satan has fully joined you, proceed with the ritual.]
Say:
“Where yesterday I walked alone, today I stand in your presence.  I offer to you these gifts in love and trust that you should know and see the sincerity in my devotion.”
[Pour the wine/place the food/light the cigar in the bowl.  Light the incense and stand back.  Turn to “Satan”, your mental image of Him as He stands next to you, and feel yourself completely encapsulated in His aura and His energy.  Imagine your own aura melding into His—becoming one with Him.  Feel the energy pulsating throughout your body.]
Say:
“I wish to know you, Great One.  I despise those who would speak ill against you, I exalt those who would join me in praise.  I offer to you my service and my allegiance this day that you may, in turn, guide me and help me to understand my destiny.  I swear to open myself to your wisdom and ask that you shape me in your image.  My word is my bond—by my blood I cement my pledge.”
[Prick your finger, just enough to attain a drop or two of blood.  Depending upon what you have place upon the libation dish, smear or drop the blood onto the item.]
“It is finished.  Hail, Satan.”
[Dab a few drops of the oil onto your right index finger and draw the inverted pentagram or the symbol of the Sun upon your brow, over the Third Eye chakra.]
[Leave the dish outdoors for the offering to be taken.  It would be a good idea to create a devotional altar especially for the purpose of prayer and meditation at this point.]
Hellfire and Brimstone
Within Satanism, especially the theistic varieties, the Element of Fire plays a significant role.  It is tempting to draw conclusions as to why this is thanks to the association of Fire with the concept of Hell and damnation.  However there are other reasons behind the attribution, specifically where Satan is concerned.  
The reason for this is primarily due to the fact that Satan is a Solar deity and is thus fundamentally associated with Fire.  Additionally, Fire is representative of many human and spiritual qualities upon which the philosophies of Satanism were built—transformation, willpower, sexuality, power, desire are all things which Satanists consider to be of profound importance.  Because the Element of Fire is such a vital component of Satanic philosophy, it is often included in most aspects of ritual as well.  The sigils or seals of Demons are often burned, especially within Demonolatry, as a means of honouring the Demon while simultaneously allowing the request of the Demonolator to be transformed into pure energy—thus rendering it more absorbable for the Demon receiving it.  Similarly, many Theistic Satanists who are not Demonolators also perform a similar ritual when calling upon Satan—they simply replace the Demonic sigil or seal with the inverted Pentagram or some other representation of Satan.
Most Satanic marriage rituals are essentially the same as those found within any other Neo-Pagan path.  For the vast majority of Theistic Satanists, the marriage rite includes such symbolism as the lighting of a unity candle or the binding of hands by means of a handfasting.  Within the OFS, locks of hair belonging to both the bride and the groom are sealed within a vial and are required components should the pair ever choose to divorce.  
Funeral rites within Satanism can vary tremendously depending upon the sect.  For most theistic varieties, cremation is preferred to burial due to the Satanic reverence for the Element of Fire and its transformative qualities.  For the rituals themselves, most spiritual Satanists choose to bless the journey of the soul of the deceased through prayer to Satan or the Demons.  Depending upon the tradition, there may or may not be a circle cast.
Within most forms of Demonolatry, all of the Elements, not only the Element of Fire, play an important role.  Many Demonolators believe that an individual’s energetic makeup can be altered, or balanced, by assimilating within oneself an equal saturation of all four Elements.  An Elemental imbalance may be corrected by working with Demons specifically possessing a particular Elemental nature.  For example, if one lacks motivation, it may be said that the individual is suffering from an Elemental imbalance in which there is a deficiency of Fire.  To remedy this deficiency, the practitioner may either use visualisation or ritual to interact with Fire Demons—the belief is that the Demon lends the energy from its Elemental essence to the practitioner, thus “curing” the imbalance.
The fact that many Satanists use their magick for good in the majority of practices may seem surprising to those of you who may have previously perceived Satanism as a religion concerned only with selfishness and negativity.  There are just as many Satanists as there are Neo-Pagans who are concerned with the betterment of humanity and who seek to help others simply because they feel that it is the right thing to do.  Rituals for blessings, healings and good fortune exist within nearly every form of Satanism to date—most often these rituals are carried out in much the same way as their Neo-Pagan counterparts are with the blessing, healing or well wishes being requested in the name of Satan.
As Satanism is a set of religions concerned primarily with the enjoyment of the human experience, it is only natural that sex and sex magick play a substantial role within its practices.  Needless to say, not all sects perform sex magick, but many do.  Satanic sex magick hardly differs at all from any other form of sex magick except that it usually includes or invokes Satan or particular Demons.  It is most commonly used for raising energy for spellwork or for focusing energy and channelling it for a particular purpose.  Unlike Wicca, Satanism does not utilise such rituals as the Great Rite as there is little if any acknowledgement of an innate divine Masculine and Feminine.  
One of the most popular practices within Satanism, especially Theistic Satanism, is the practice of blood magick or blood sacrifice.  Although the practice is most certainly not exclusive to Satanism, it is one of the most widely used forms of ritual offering.  It must be made clear that what is meant by the terms blood magick and blood sacrifice is the offering of one’s own blood, not the blood of animals or other human beings.  As I have already illustrated, most Satanists are staunchly opposed to cruelty and the needless taking of another life—therefore the use of one’s own blood is essential.  
For rites in which blood magick plays a role, it is common for a request to be made of the gods—this may mean either Satan or a particular Demon.  The request is usually written on paper and meditated upon—afterwards, the practitioner may choose to draw blood from themselves and anoint the paper with it before burning it.  By using blood in such a manner, one is essentially seen as offering to the gods a substantial amount of their own energy in exchange for the aid of the entity or entities.  Relationships between individuals and gods exist because of this exchange—through prayer and offerings, the practitioner provides their deity or deities with energy.  Using blood as an offering is one of many ways in which Satanists commune with the divine.   

I must make one final disclaimer.  None of the rituals presented within this article are inherent to Theistic Satanism.  Again, Theistic Satanism refers to a collection of religions and practices which are unique in and of themselves.  Traditions vary from person to person and from group to group.  It must also be said that, although the majority of Theistic Satanists are altruistic and level-headed individuals generally concerned with the greater good, there are also Theistic Satanists whose practices are wholly centered upon destruction, chaos and the infliction of harm.  It would be an utter untruth to state that all Satanists are “good people” or that all Satanists practice “fluffy magick”.  The purpose of this article is to enlighten those already familiar with aspects of Neo-Paganism to the similarities between some practices within certain traditions of Theistic Satanism.  

Categories
devil fallen angels history lucifer mythology satan satanism

Satan: Then & Now


Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott

“My names and manifestations on this plane are legion, I have been known to many, but understood by but a few.” -Liber Azazel

It makes sense to introduce this section with a simple question—who exactly is Satan? Most Neo-Pagans assume that they know the answer. For these Neo-Pagans, especially Neo-Wiccans, Satan is simply a Christian invention derived by the Church as a means of frightening Pagans into religious submission. While there is little doubt that Satan, as most know Him today, has Christianity to thank for His bad reputation, He is most assuredly not a “Christian invention”.

In order to better understand the evolution of the mythology behind the name, we will have to work our way backwards to the beginning of His story. Amongst Theistic Satanists today, Satan is a very real being. Something that is exceedingly common is to assume that Satanists worship “The Devil”—the embodiment of evil. For myself and others, Satan and “The Devil” are two different entities altogether.

The role and character of The Devil have been blown entirely out of proportion thanks to the Christian obsession with Satan’s perceived influence over humanity. According to fundamentalists, The Devil controls every aspect of daily life—it is constantly seeking to lure human beings into its snares through the pursuit of earthly pleasures such as rock music, dancing, sex and (of course) alternative religions. One would think, from listening to such claims, that The Devil’s power must surely rival that of the Almighty’s! With so much paranoia and obsession feeding such a concept, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Christians have, through their unfounded fears, created their own Devil.

Many of you may be familiar with what is commonly known as an egregore or thoughtform. The concept of an egregore revolves around the school of thought in which it is accepted that with enough belief and energy poured into a specific character or idea, such a thing may “come into being”—fiction essentially becomes reality. A similar concept drives many of the principles behind Chaos Magick. While there is substance to the system of creating and working with fantastical imagery, for the purposes of this book I will leave the topic at that. It is a commonly shared belief within Theistic Satanism that The Devil is, in fact, an egregore and should not be confused with Satan.

Why and how, you may ask, is The Devil different to Satan? The answer comes in understanding the original role of Satan within the Judeo-Christian context. Satan’s Biblical origins establish that He was, in fact, an angel whose duty was to influence the lives and fortunes of human beings in an attempt to test their faith in and loyalty to God. This means that all of the supposed “evil” for which Satan was responsible was not only condoned by God, but was wholly devised by God. Satan was simply one of many angelic beings whose role was that of the “accuser”—responsible for revealing to God those whose faith was shakeable.

In Hebrew, the word ha-Satan, the word from which Satan’s name was derived, actually denotes a title, not a proper name—loosely translating as “accuser”, “adversary” or even “prosecutor”. Because ha-Satan is not necessarily applied to one entity, it must be understood that it is entirely possible that there is more than one Satan. In fact, the Apocryphal Book of Enoch specifically describes six such Satans, fallen angels and former Grigori whose supposed evil actions in relation to the Beni Elohim earned them God’s condemnation. Additionally, the second Book of Enoch identifies a specific angel, Satanael, as the Prince of the Grigori who was also cast out of heaven for his offenses and a similar angel, called Semjâzâ, is also described in the first Book of Enoch. However it must be made clear that not all Satanists subscribe to the Judeo-Christian descriptions of Satan as a fallen angel and accuser for God. Those who do, however, typically identify with the Satan portrayed in the Biblical Book of Job—an angel whose role is that of the trickster, accuser and tester of Mankind.

In contrast, the image of The Devil in many cases seems to contradict the original role of Satan. The word devil is derived from the Greek word for “slanderer”—diabolos. The Book of Job sees the Hebrew term ha-Satan (Accuser) evolve into ho diabolos (Slanderer) within the Greek Septuagint translation of the Bible. It is not until the advent of The New Testament that the term diabolos becomes much more identifiable with Satan, being mentioned more than thirty times alongside His name. One note of historical curiosity is that some early Gnostic sects and the 11th century French Christian sect known as the Cathars denoted the Christian God of The Old Testament, not Satan, as “The Devil”, a malevolent entity which whose purpose was, through deception, to enslave humanity.

“For God to be free of responsibility for human evil, humanity must be capable of freely choosing to be diabolically evil. But if human beings can freely choose to be diabolically, purely, evil, Satan and his demons are redundant.” -Phillip Cole – The Myth of Evil

Mainstream Christianity has taken the original mythology behind the Biblical Satan and His role and has exaggerated it, embellished it and subsequently evolved it to such an extent that The Devil has become a character of its own. Most of the popular Christian beliefs about The Devil today have actually been derived from The New Testament and the writings of Christian scholars whose own beliefs and interpretations of Biblical lore have contributed to the modern imagery behind The Devil. Concepts such as Hell being the abode of The Devil and the ongoing war between the Christian God and this evil entity for the possession of human souls have no real basis within the Hebrew foundations of the Bible. In a very basic sense, it may be said that Satan is the entity of the Hebrew Biblical tradition and The Devil, the personification of evil, belongs to Christian theology and the traditions of The New Testament. It may be easy to see why so many Satanists take offense to being mistaken for devil worshipers.

In addition to The Devil, Theistic Satanists do not generally consider Satan to be the same entity as the Christian depiction of Lucifer. I personally do not subscribe to the belief that Lucifer and Satan are one in the same. This is perhaps one of the most obvious differences between Theistic Satanism and the related practice of Luciferianism. Like many other Theistic Satanists, I do not believe that Lucifer is Satan primarily due to the fact that the Biblical origins of the word lucifer have nothing to do with Satan.

It is commonly assumed that Lucifer was simply another name used in the Bible to denote Satan, but this is inaccurate. Lucifer means “morning star” in Latin and occurs in the Bible primarily as a translation of a metaphorical title given to a Babylonian King whose fall was detailed in a passage from Isaiah 14:12:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!” -Isaiah 14:12 – King James Version of the Holy Bible

The Babylonian King was referred to as “day star” or “morning star” by Isaiah in reference to the fact that the King’s fall was comparable to the Canaanite myth in which the personified Morning Star, whose arrogance had inspired it to ascend the heavens and to establish itself on the mountain of the gods, is cast into the Underworld. This ancient myth would later be adopted in the second Book of Enoch. In this adaptation, the Grigori Prince, Satanael (replacing the Morning Star of the Canaanite myth), arrogantly aspires to establish his throne higher than the clouds over the earth, desiring to be all-powerful. He leads a rebellion of angels which ultimately fails to succeed, finding himself and his cohorts cast down for their transgressions.

Jerome, responsible for the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, translated the original Hebrew passage as lucifer qui mane oriebaris which, in English, means “morning star that once rose early”. Erroneously, later Christian scholars decided that this entire passage referred to Satan and alluded to the myth of His fall from grace, thereafter the name of Lucifer becoming synonymous with Him. Many Neo-Wiccans and Neo-Pagans tend to believe that Lucifer is the name of a Roman God, a similar belief is found within the context of Gnosticism in which Lucifer is the son of the goddess Sophia.

Many Theistic Satanists accept the depiction of Satan as the serpent responsible for tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden as well as the Gnostic interpretation of Him as being the entity responsible for giving Knowledge to humanity. Although I personally believe that this particular story is allegorical, it nevertheless speaks of Satan’s role as a being concerned with forcing us to question those things in our lives which bind or hinder us. In Hebraic traditions, the entity responsible for the temptation of Eve and her subsequent impregnation with Cain was known as Samael, or “poison of God”. Samael is often equated with Satan by both Hebraic and Christian scholars, but within Talmudic mythology, Samael is regarded as the angel of death and one of the principle Archangels. Jewish traditions do not consider Samael to be evil as His role, in addition to being the angel of death, is that of the accuser, acting upon the direction of God. In other mystical traditions such as those of Zoharistic Kabbalah, Samael becomes the “prince the demons”, a fallen angel, and consort of the four Demonesses of sacred prostitution—Naamah, Lilith, Eisheth Zenunim and Agerath bat Machaloth. In addition to Kabbalistic tradition, Samael’s role as a sinister entity emerged with the advent of Gnosticism in which He is considered to be the demiurge. I do not believe that Satan is a fallen angel in the Biblical sense—for me, He is a god like any other god. I believe that He is, indeed, an “accuser”, but in the sense that He inspires us to take a long hard look at ourselves, to question our boundaries and personal convictions. There is almost a unanimous belief amongst Theistic Satanists that through the pursuit of Knowledge, understanding things for ourselves instead of accepting what we are told by others, we are upholding the spirit of Satan’s lesson that Knowledge is Power.

In religions which view Knowledge as dangerous and threatening to the authority of God and the clergy, Satan would naturally be seen as the adversary to law and order. Perhaps it is because so many Satanists embrace a rather anarchic philosophy when it comes to religious and moral constraints that Satan is such an ideal champion for the human experience. In both Corinthians and the Book of John, Satan is described as the “god” or “prince” of this world. What this means is that Satan is concerned with the mundane, with the pursuit of pleasure and the importance of the enjoyment of incarnation. In Christian theology, worldliness and earthly pleasures are seen as devices through which Satan operates—instilling within human beings a desire to put themselves and their own wants ahead of their relationship with God. It is because of this belief that many Christian denominations shun modern conveniences such as televisions, computers and telephones. These things are seen as serving the interests of Satan.

The mythology of Satan also encompasses other religions such as Islam. Iblis, the angel of Islamic deity Allah, is given a very similar role and nature to that of Satan in the Qu’ranic tradition. In Islamic myth, Iblis refused Allah’s command for the angels, or Djinn, to bow before Adam. He saw Adam as being inferior to the angels—Adam was, after all, made from clay and the angels had been created from fire. Allah condemned Iblis and he was thereafter known as Shaitan, which translates loosely to “rebel”. Shaitan then roamed the earth, vowing to lead astray those human beings whose faith in Allah was questionable. Like the Judeo-Christian God, Allah condones Shaitan’s testing of Mankind.

The figure of Melek Taus within the Yezidi mythos is reminiscent of Satan, as well. Shaitan is, in fact, an alternate name for Melek Taus; although it is unclear if this attribution is the result of an outside Muslim influence. The Yezidi religion is little understood by most. It is suggested that the majority of its beliefs are pre-Islamic in origin which infers that, if Malek Taus and Satan are identical, Satan’s beginnings may be much more ancient than previously understood.

With so many similar mythologies scattered throughout the world’s cultures, it is difficult to say where and when the Satan of Theistic Satanism originated. Many suggest that His roots lie within Zoroastrianism in the guise of the principle entity of evil, Angra Mainyu. However, such a character did not appear within Zoroastrianism until the later appearance of Zurvanism which disappeared before the 10th century. Figures similar to Satan can be found in nearly every world religion—deities such as Loki, Rahu, Mara, Set and Enki have all been compared to Him. However I am not a soft polytheist and therefore do not believe that all of these deities are the same or that they are merely facets of Satan. There is no consensus amongst Theistic Satanists as to who Satan actually is—because it is a highly individualistic religion and because it encompasses many unique paths and points of view, Theistic Satanism acknowledges many different interpretations of Satan’s identity and role within the lives of human beings.

I have been confronted with the assertion by some Neo-Pagans that Satan is nothing more than an amalgamation of pre-Christian gods, created by Christians in an attempt to frighten Pagans into converting to Christianity. As we have already discussed, Satan’s origins are much older than Christianity, but there is some element of truth to this notion. Although similar monstrous depictions of Satan had existed for much longer, according to Ronald Hutton’s Triumph of the Moon, it was during the 19th century that Christian writers and representatives began to create a physical representation of Satan that overtly resembled that of the Pagan Horned Gods of old, most notably Pan. This was in reaction to the increasing prevalence of Pan’s appearance within literary works of the time. It would therefore be much more valid to state that Satan’s physical appearance, not He Himself, is primarily a Christian invention derived from depictions of Pagan gods.

There are sects and individuals who believe that Satan is not merely one of many deities, but rather that He is the only deity—the Creator of the Universe and identical to the Neo-Pagan concept of the All. There are others still who believe in a similar concept in which Satan is the Creative Force behind the Universe as well as the Source of all deific manifestations. This belief in one all-encompassing energetic consciousness, expressing itself within the Worlds as deific masks or facets, is the embodiment of soft polytheism in which individual deities are aspects of the greater Whole.

For those Satanists who embrace aspects of Christian theology, Satan’s realm is Hell or a division thereof. I subscribe to a variation of this belief—for me, Satan is a god of the Underworld (which I do not necessarily refer to as “Hell”). I will discuss my personal Cosmology later on, but I do believe that the Underworld is the abode of many deities and Otherworldly entities besides Satan and the Demons. Theistic Satanists who also consider themselves to be Demonolators tend to regard Satan as the Lord of the Demons as He is often described within classical Grimoires. In such works, Satan is sometimes considered to be the highest-ranking Demon within particular hierarchies, commanding Demons such as Beelzebub, Astaroth and Asmodeus amongst others.

There can be a great deal of confusion where Satan’s aliases are concerned—names such as Leviathan, Baphomet, Azazel, Samael, Mastema, Abaddon and the aforementioned Beelzebub are all names which have been applied to Satan. Beliefs will differ from individual to individual, but it is widely accepted that names such as Leviathan, Beelzebub and Abaddon refer to separate Demons and not to Satan Himself.

Amongst Atheistic Satanists, Satan is not understood to be a supernatural entity at all. He is, instead, a representation or a symbol of individuality, rebellion against conformity and the pursuit of natural human desires. To Theistic Satanists who embrace components of LaVeyan philosophy, Satan embodies all of these characteristics whilst remaining a very real and sentient being. Atheistic Satanism is perhaps the most visible strain of Satanism in existence today, but it is often misinterpreted by Christians and Neo-Pagans as being concerned with worshiping The Devil. Atheistic Satanism employs the use of symbolism and ritualised taboo-breaking as a means of psychological evolution for the individual; but, Satan, as the antithesis of established religious dogma, serves as a figurehead and inspirational device rather than an external entity.

Where personal relationships with Satan are concerned, there are many points of view depending upon the practitioner and his or her theological persuasions, sect orientation and experiences. There are some who view Satan as a teacher and a father figure—in fact it is not uncommon to encounter individuals who refer to Him as Father. Others may enjoy a less intimate relationship with Him, choosing to honour Him as a guide and mentor. In my experiences, Satan has been less of a father figure and more of a friend and companion. He is empathetic, involved and willing to listen to my sorrows as well as share in my happiness. Others with a stronger leaning towards Neo-Paganism may choose to think of Him as the God—the consort of the great Mother Goddess. Thus Satan becomes the Horned God, a less popular but certainly a valid perspective.

I believe that there is almost always a lingering fear of Hell and damnation for those Neo-Pagans and non-Neo-Pagans alike that have come from a Christian family or upbringing. I know that I had my doubts when I came to Neo-Paganism in my late teens—there was always this nagging worry at the back of my mind which asked, “what if the Christians are right and I’m really going to Hell?” This is, in my opinion, a natural reaction—especially when one has been told repeatedly of the “realities” of sin and The Devil. There is little doubt that there are individuals who have come to alternative religions and who subsequently deny the existence of Satan in an act of overcompensation for the fact that they are afraid that He may actually exist. This is not to say that this is the sole reason why some Neo-Pagans and Wiccans do not believe in Satan—most assuredly, everyone has a right not to believe in something. However to acknowledge Satan’s existence is not to “admit” that the Christians are right in any way—after all, I believe in Satan and I do not for a moment believe that myself nor anyone else is destined for eternal damnation.

As I mentioned earlier, the Christian preoccupation with the belief that Satan is embroiled in a constant struggle with God over the souls of human beings is nonsense. Because so much of what makes up Christian theology was established by scholars and based upon their own interpretations of the Scriptures well after the death of Christ, there is little left which historically or Biblically supports the idea that Satan is anything like the lying, wicked “Father of Lies” of which He has so unjustly been accused.

I have always found it humorous, but understandable, when I am asked if I have “sold my soul to Satan”. Let me assure you that I have not sold my soul to anyone. Some Satanists choose to enter into agreements or pacts with Him or with their Patron Demon. Before you allow your mind to conjure up images of Faust and “deals with The Devil”, understand that real-life Satanic pacts have nothing in common with their fictional counterparts save outward appearances. We will discuss pacts at length in the next section of the book.

As many Neo-Pagans have begun to warm to the idea of accepting other Christian figures such as the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ or Mary Magdalene into their personal pantheons, it must be stressed that there is little argument in support of a continuing Neo-Pagan denouncement of Satan. I strongly disagree with religious cherry-picking when it comes to deity—I believe that one should be consistent in his or her support or lack thereof. For me, it makes little sense to insist that Jesus Christ is real and worthy of being honoured but that Satan, on the other hand, is not real and is thus not worthy of being honoured.

I have heard the argument from Neo-Pagans who include Jesus within their personal pantheons that Jesus was not the “son of God” but was, instead, simply a prophet or champion of peace, having ascended to the unseen planes and who continues to guide those who reach out to him. Through this explanation, they justify their continued denial of Satan’s existence by claiming that the Bible was only a partial-truth and that Satan is either entirely fictional or simply has no power over human beings. I find this simply absurd in the fact that if their argument is that the Bible is but a half-truth and that Jesus was not whom he was portrayed to be, why then can Satan not play a different role? It is quite a stretch to strip Jesus of his identity as the son of God when the New Testament is quite clear that this was his nature; and, it is an even further stretch to dismiss the existence of Satan entirely on the basis that doing so negates the Christians’ argument against alternative religions being The Devil’s playground. I find it interesting that everyone else in the Bible can somehow assume a different role except for Satan who, mysteriously, remains “evil”.

Satan enjoys a much more welcoming reputation amongst Satanists in that He is embraced as the wellspring of Knowledge and as the true god of Man. Many Theistic Satanists and Demonolators work with Satan in a more transcendent manner—choosing to simply honour Him through prayer and ritual, but never experiencing a vision of Him outside of their own imaginations. For others, techniques such as Shamanic journeying, scrying and intense ritual work have afforded them the opportunity to experience His many manifestations. When I speak of manifestations, I must make it clear that I am not talking about Satan appearing in a puff of smoke. As most active practitioners of Neo-Paganism already know, deities manifest Themselves in a variety of ways—most often these encounters occur during altered states of consciousness.

Some have described Satan as appearing in the form of an old man with white hair, a beard and black eyes—others have described him as being of a ruddy complexion and as having auburn hair. I have encountered Satan through Shamanic journey several times and He has always manifested Himself for me as a clean-shaven, middle-aged man of either Middle Eastern or Eastern European appearance. Deities will almost always appear to us in a form which either means something to us personally or with which we are most likely to feel comfortable. Some deities may not ever appear in human form, instead choosing to assume the guise of an animal, plant or force of nature.

Whatever His history, origins, nature or appearance, Satan has inarguably touched the lives of many people from many different walks of life. Perhaps in this awakening Aeon a new destiny awaits the devils of old–or, perhaps, the world will finally see a new friend in an old enemy.

Categories
black mass psychodrama ritual satan satanism

A Traditional Black Mass

 Originally published 3 May 2009. Original material (not including the text of the “Black Mass”) © Torey B. Scott

I thought that I would present a version of the Traditional Black Mass as found in some sects of Satanism here for you to observe.

Keep in mind that what you will read here may be extremely offensive, especially if you have compassion for the Christian faith or reverence for Christian Deity.

The Black Mass is designed as a rite of blasphemy – a rite in which the Christian Church, its symbols and deity/deities are mocked and ridiculed in an act of deliberate desecration – designed to initiate catharsis – to purge the psyche of the practitioner of all lingering Christian-based fears and convictions by means of ritualized taboo-breaking and by committing the one ‘sin’ deemed unforgivable by the Church, which is deliberate and premeditated blasphemy.

If you feel that you may be offended by the desecration of Christian symbolism and the blaspheming of Christian ritual and Deity, then please feel free to leave this article before reading any further.

I do ask, if you choose to read on, that you approach this article with an open mind. I do not ask that you agree with substance of this rite, but please keep in mind that this is an actual rite from an actual religion and that you please be respectful in your commentary.

Missa Niger: The Traditional Black Mass

The Black Mass is, of course, based on the traditional Catholic rite.

Participants (all must be properly educated of their roles and 100% willing to participate):

  • ‘Priest’, or celebrant, conducting the rite
  • Congregation or the ‘coven’ or Satanic group
  • Altar of flesh – traditionally a female participant who lays herself, naked, upon a table and who acts as a living ‘altar’ (referred to here as ‘the Altar’)
  • A participant to hold the censer (optional)
  • Two Acolytes, traditionally teens, but they should be sexually-mature young people of legal age and who are willing participants

Materials needed:

  • Table upon which the female ‘altar’ would lay
  • A small cauldron or waterproof container
  • Something to asperge with
  • Censors or incense burners and incense (preferably this should be granular incense and charcoal tabs)
  • Candles as preferred (preferably black)
  • Black robes for the participants
  • A consecrated Host wafer (consecrated by the Priest – however a stolen wafer from a Church may be used, although stealing is not condoned)
  • Red wine (may or may not be infused with hallucinogenic drugs – although personally I would not suggest this)
  • Chalice (silver or any non-gold metal)
  • An image of Satan (usually Eliphas Levi’s Baphomet)
  • A bell
  • Silver paten (a small plate)
  • A small handkerchief or cloth to cover the paten and wafer

The Black Mass is divided into five official segments. What I will introduce here, firstly, is the Introit. Prior to the beginning of the rite, the woman who will serve as the Altar will be nude and will assume her position on the table, laying on her back. The candles and incense should be lit and the mood set. The Priest and Acolytes will assume their positions and the Priest will begin the rite (Versiculus) and all shall participate as required (Responsum):

Versiculus: “In nomine Magni Dei Nostri Satanus introibo ad altare Domini Inferi.”

Responsum: “Ad Eum Qui laetificat meum.”

V: “Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Inferi.”

R: “Qui regit terram.”

V: “Domine Satanus, Tua est terra. Orbem terrarum et plentitudinem ejus Tu fundasti. Justitia et luxuria praepartia sedis Tuae. Sederunt principes et adversum me loquebantur, et iniqui persecuti sunt me. Adjura me, Domine Satanus meus.

Custodi me, Dominue Satanus, de manu peccatoris.”

R: “Et ab hominibus iniquis eripe me.”

V: “Domine Satanus Tu conversus virificabis nos.”

R: “Et plebs Tua laetabitur in te.”

V: “Ostende nobis, Domine Satanus, potentiam Tuam.”

R: “Et beneficium Tuum da nobis.”

V: “Domine Satanus exaudi meam.”

R: “Et clamor meus ad Te veniat.”

V: “Dominus Inferus vobiscum.”

R: “Et cum tuo.”

V: “Gloria Deo Domino Inferi, et in terra vita hominibus fortibus. Laudamus Te, benedicamus Te, adoramus Te, glorificamus Te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam potentiam Tuam: Domine Satanus, Rex Inferus, Imperator omnipotens.”

What follows, at this point, is the Offertory. The Priest removes the small cloth covering the paten and exposes the paten and the wafer which rests upon it. He takes the paten into both of his hands and raises it to his breast in a seeming act of offering and speaks:

“Suscipe, Domine Satanus, hanc hostiam, quam ego dignus famulus Tuus offero Tibi, Deo Meo Vivo et Vero, pro omnibus circumstantibus, sed ut pro omnibus fidelibus famulis Tuis: ut mihi et illis proficiat ad felicitatem in hanc vitam. Amen.”

The Priest then places the paten and wafer back onto the table and lifts the chalice to the height of his breast, speaking:

“Offerimus Tibi, Domine Satanus, calix carnis stimulos ut in conspectu majestatis Tuae, pro nostra utilitate et felicitate, paceat Tibi. Amen.”

He places the chalice back upon the table and extends his hands outward, palms down, speaking:

“Veni Satanus, Imperator Mundi, ut animabus famulorum famularumque Tuarum haec prosit oblatio.”

The Acolytes bring to the Priest the incense bowl with charcoal tablets burning and the granular incense. The Priest sprinkles incense on the charcoal and speaks:

“Incensum istud ascendat ad Te, Dominus Inferus, et descendat super nos beneficium Tuum.”

At this point, the Priest censes the chalice and the wafer in three counterclockwise motions – following this, he then bows. Next, he raises the censer three times towards the image of Satan before bowing once again. Finally, he censes the top and the sides of the Altar by walking around the table three times counterclockwise. Next is the following exchange between the Priest and the congregation:

V: “Dominus Inferus vobiscum.”

R: “Et cum tuo.”

V: “Sursum corda.”

R: “Habemus ad Dominum Inferum.”

V: “Gratias agamus Domino Inferno Deo Nostro.”

R: “Dignum et justum est.”

At this point, the Priest raises his hands (with his palms downwards) and speaks:

“Vere dignum et justum est, nos Tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, Rex Inferus, Imperator Mundi. Omnes exercitus inferi Te laudant cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti juberas deprecamur, dicentes.”

The Priest then bows and speaks:

“Salve. Salve. Salve.”

Next the bell is rang three times. The Priest speaks:

“Dominus Satanus Deus Potentiae, pleni sunt terra et inferi gloria Tua. Hosanna in profundis.”

The next segment is called the Canon. It is during the Canon that the first ‘shocking’ acts of the rite may be observed. In traditional male-dominated Christianity, the role of the woman in ritual and in life is suppressed or non-existent. During the Canon of the Black Mass, however, the role of the woman is key. Some may argue that the use of a naked female as the Altar is hardly pro-feminist, but I personally see her role as defining and key to the rebuttal of the Christian tradition as she and the Priest engage in a sacred sexual act together during Mass, the ultimate in rebellion.

Following his last spoken line, the Priest continues with the first lines of the Canon:

“Domine Satanus, gentes christianorum, quae in sua feritate confidunt, sinisterae tuae potentia conterantur. Pone illos ut rotam, et sicut stipulam ante faciem venti. Excite, Domine Satanus, potentiam tuam et veni. Vindica sanguinem servorum tuorum, qui effusus est; intret in conspectu tuo gemitus compeditorum.”

At this point in the rite, the Priest and congregation may disrobe and stand naked, or they may simply choose to expose their sexual organs to the image of Satan. The symbolism of this action reflects Lilith standing naked before Adam. The Priest then speaks:

“Credo in Satanus, qui laetificat juventum meam. Oramus te…”

The Priest then kisses the sexual organs of the Altar, followed by his speaking:

“Dominus Inferus, miserere nobis. In spiritu humilitatis, et in animo contrito suscipiamur a Te, Domine Satanus; et sic fiat sacrificium nosterum in conspectu tuo hodie, ut placeat tibi. Veni a porta inferi, redime me at miserere mei. Veni, Magister Templi. Veni, Magister Mundi. Pleny sunt terra majestatis gloriae tuae.”

At this point, the Priest extends his hands (palms downwards) over the Altar and the gifts upon the table as the bell is rang. The Priest then speaks:

“Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae sed et cunctae familiae tuae, quaesumus, Domine Satanus, ut placatus occipias; diesque nostros in felicitate disponas, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari.”

The congregation then responds:

“Ave Satanus.”

The female Acolyte then raises her robe (if she is still robed) as the male Acolyte places the small cauldron or container beneath her. The female Acolyte then urinates into the cauldron/container. The Priest then speaks:

“Ecce sponsa Satanus. Domino Inferi in medio ejus est. Fluminis impetus laetificat vivos et mortuos.”

After she is finished urinating, the male Acolyte passes the cauldron/container to the Priest, who raises it to the image of Satan, speaking:

“Domine Satanus, torrente voluptatis Tuae potabis eos. Quoniam apud te fons vitae; et in lumine tuo videbimus lumen.

Domine Satanus corda nostra mundet infusio; et sui roris intima aspersione foecundet.”

The Priest passes the cauldron/container to the female Acolyte. She holds the cauldron/container as the Priest dips the asperger into the urine. He then speaks:

“Qui stitit, veniat; et qui vult, accipiat aquam vitae.”

He then asperges the congregation with urine, speaking:

“Ego vos benedictio in nomine Satanus.”

The congregation responds by speaking:

“Ave Satanus.”

*Comment on the use of the female Acolyte’s urine: I personally agree with the views of some that the use of the female Acolyte’s urine in the Black Mass is a manner of ‘the woman getting her revenge’. All of the actions within the Black Mass are symbolic – but the sole purpose of the rite remains that it is merely a rite of blasphemy. It is shocking for a reason – to ritually break the greatest Christian taboo and to strip the psyche of all retained fears and clinging superstitions ingrained therein from a lifetime of adherence to Christian laws and convictions.

The next segment of the Black Mass is called the Consecration.

At this point in the rite, the Priest takes the wafer and holds it in his hands, bowing over it and speaking:

“Hic est corpus Jesu Christi.”

The Priest then takes the wafer and places it between the breasts of the Altar, followed by touching the wafer against the sexual organs of the Altar. The bell is then rung and the Priest then places the wafer back onto the paten. He takes the chalice and bows over it, speaking:

“Hic est calix carnis stimulos.”

The Priest then raises the chalice above his head and presents it to the congregation. The participant holding the censer (or an Acolyte or the Priest himself) then moves or swings the censer three times. The Priest then places the chalice back onto the table and speaks:

“Oremus. Infera institutione formati, audemus dicere…”

The Priest and congregation then recite the parody of the Lord’s Prayer in unison:

“Pater Noster, Qui es in Inferis, Sanctificetur nomen Tuum; Adventiat regnum Tuum; Fiat voluntas Tua, sicut in Infero et in Terra; Cucem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie; Emitte spiritum Tuum et renovabis faciem terrae; Libera nos ad luxuria; Libera nos ad ubertate domus Tuae; Sicut in die ambulemus; Comedite pinguia et bibite mulsum; Fornicemur; Adquae ut ferventius corda nostra praeparentur, Flammis adure Tuae caritatis, Domine Satanus.”

The Priest continues by speaking:

“Ego sum radix et genus Lucifer, stella splendida et matutina. Transite ad me, omnes qui concupiscitas me, et a generationibus meis implemini. Tenebrae conculcabunt me, et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.”

The congregation responds:

“Quia tenebrae non obscurabuntur, et nox sicut dies illuminabitur.”

The Priest speaks:

“Gratias agamus Domino Infero Deo Nostro.”

The congregation responds by speaking:

“Dignum et justum est.”

Palms downwards, the Priest then raises his hands and speaks:

“Vere dignum et justum est, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, Rex Inferus, Imperator Mundi. Omnes exercitus inferi te laudant cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti juberas deprecamur, dicentes…”

He then bows and speaks:

“Salve. Salve. Salve.”

The bell is then rung three times and the Priest then speaks:

“Dominus Satanus Deus Potentiae, pleni sunt terra et inferi gloria Tua. Hosanna in profundis.”

The final segment of the Black Mass is called the Repudiation.

The Priest speaks:

“Ecce corpus Jesu Christi, dominus humilim et rex servorum.”

At this point, the Priest raises the wafer to the image of Satan and touches it against the breasts and sexual organs of the Altar as he speaks:

“Beatus venter qui te portavit et ubera quae suxisti.”

He then holds the wafer aloft as he speaks:

“Jesu Christi, dominus humilim et rex servorum, universi qui te exspectant confundentur. Absque synagogis facient vos et timebis a timore nocturno. Non dormietis et gladius transebit terminos vestros. Filii hominum in tegmine alarum tuarum, Domine Satanus, sperabunt.”

The congregation responds by speaking:

“Domine Satanus, salvos fac servot tuos.”

The Priest presses the wafer against the end of his phallus and speaks:

“Liberabo eum ad aspidem basiliscum, as leonem et draconem, ad oni peccato, ad subitanea et improvisa morte, ad fulgure et tempestate, ad flagello terraemotus, as peste, fame et bello, ad morte perpetua, ad ira Satanus.”

At this point, the Priest penetrates the Altar with his phallus (pressing the wafer inside of the woman’s vagina) and speaks:

“Domine Satanus dicit: In comessationibus et ebrietatibus resurgam. Desideria carnis perfic ietis. Manifesta sunt autem opera carnis, quae sunt fornicatio, impudicitia, luxuria, veneficia, ebrietates et comessationes. Caro mea vere est cibus.”

The congregation responds by speaking:

“Caro mea vere est cibus.”

The Priest then speaks (V) to the congregation and they respond accordingly (R):

V: “Adoremus Te, Domine Satanus, et benedicimus tibi; quia per spermem tuam redemisti mundi.”

R: “Revelabitur gloria Domini; et videbit omnia caro salutare Dei nostri
Satanus.”

V: “Fornicemur ad gloria Domine Satanus.”

At this point in the rite, the congregation proceeds to engage in a ritual orgy with one another. The Priest may or may not choose to engage in ritual intercourse with the Altar or with another member of the congregation.

As the sexual activity subsides, the Priest then takes the chalice, speaking:

“Calicem voluptatis carnis accipiam et nomen Domini Inferi invocabo.”

The Priest drinks from the chalice and then shares the drinking with each member of the congregation as he speaks:

“Ecce calix voluptatis carnis qui laetitiam vitae donat. Accipe calicem voluptatis carnis in nomine Domini Inferi.”

After the congregation has partook of the wine, the Priest replaces the chalice onto the table and recovers the paten with the handkerchief. He then extends his hands, once again, with his palms facing downwards as he speaks to the congregation (V), the congregation responding accordingly (R):

V: “Pleni sunt terra majestatis gloriae Tuae.”

R: “Tuere nos, Domine Satanus.”

V: “Protege nos, Domine Satanus, Tuis mysteriis servientes.”

R: “Domine Satanus dabit benignitatem et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.”

V: “Placeat tibi, Domine Satanus, obsequium servitutis meae; et praesta ut sacrificuum quod occulis Tuae majestatis obtuli, tibi sit acceptabile, mihique et omnibus pro quibus illud obtuli.”

The Priest then bows to the Altar, turning to the congregation, his left hand extended, and speaking to them (V) as they respond accordingly (R):

V: “Fratres et sorores, debitores sumus carni et secundum carnem vivamus.

Ego vos benedictio in Nomine Magni Dei Nostri Satanus.”

R: “Ave, Satanus!”

V: “Ite, missa est.”

This concludes the Black Mass.

Just a comment…

I would like to say that some versions of the Black Mass do not use the urine of the Acolyte nor do they involve the insertion of the wafer into the female Altar’s vagina (as I have mentioned previously) for reasons pertaining to health concerns and hygiene.