Infernal Dialogues

Infernal Dialogues

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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.

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The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part VI – Agerath

Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott

Like Eisheth Zenunim, Agerath’s mythological origins lie primarily within Kabbalistic traditions. Along with the aforementioned, Lilith and Naamah, Agerath is one of the four Demon queens of sacred prostitution. She is considered to one of the brides of Samael alongside Her three sister Demonesses and Her name tentatively translates to “reward”. Her name is more commonly written as Agerath bat Machaloth, which means “Agerath, daughter of Machaloth” in Hebrew. Agerath is, of course, the daughter of the Demoness, Machaloth. She is sometimes reputed to be the mother of the Demon Prince, Asmodeus—as She was once mated with King David to produce the offspring. Alternate versions of the story of Asmodeus’ conception suggest that Naamah, not Agerath, was His mother.

Although opinions vary, many authors attribute Agerath to the direction of West—indicating that Hers is a watery nature. However, Kabbalistic traditions suggest that She is associated with the direction of Northeast which is a more accurate assignment considering Her nature. Agerath is depicted as a Witch Queen and with an appearance akin to that of the Gorgon, Medusa, with serpents in place of Her hair. She rides within a grand chariot which is drawn by an ox and an ass. This traditional depiction of Agerath implies that Her nature is earthy, more closely related to that of Naamah’s. As the earth is aligned with sensuality, sex and love within occult schools of thought, it makes sense that Agerath should be included as a goddess of the Earth. Agerath’s depiction also encompasses the sacred animals of three of the four anti-Kerubs—the serpents of Her mother, Machaloth; the ox of Her husband, Samael; and the ass, the sacred animal of the watery Chaos Dragon, Rahab.

I attribute Agerath to the 29th Path—referred to as Sekhel Mughsham or the Path of Corporeal Intelligence upon the Tree of Life and Nashimiron (Malign Ones) upon the Tree of Death. Interestingly the common title of the Sekhel Mughsham is “The Elder Witch”, a fitting title for Agerath’s nature as the Witch Queen. The Sekhel Mughsham is assigned to the Zodiacal sign of Pisces, which supports the less popular perspective that Agerath’s nature is aligned with the Element of Water. I personally subscribe to the belief that She may be most accurately recognised as a goddess of the Earth, with secondary Water and Air characteristics. Further evidence to support the attribution of Agerath to the 29th Path is the fact that the Nashimiron are described as women united to the bodies of serpents, drawing a close comparison to the tradition depiction of Agerath as a Medusa-like figure.

I perceive Agerath as sensual and beautifully sinister, enjoying both performing and receiving performance within sexual and theatrical contexts. She is a goddess who is deeply enamoured of music of all kinds and seeks to inspire creativity within all who approach Her. She is concerned with upholding the Satanic philosophy that the human experience is to be cherished and that the Self should be indulged its wants and desires so long as it is responsibly done. She inspires us to look within ourselves and to discover the roots of our inadequacies, fears and self-undoing. She helps us to understand and acknowledge our own basic human needs and to unravel the threads of our cocoons by slowly exposing ourselves to new ideas, adventures and ways of thinking.

Primary Name: Agerath bat Machaloth

Other Names: Agerath, Aggereth, Agrat, Agrat bat Mahlat, Agerath bat Machalath

Mythological Source(s): Zoharistic Kabbalah, Judaic and Occult Traditions

Title: The Witch Queen, The Elder Witch, Bride of Samael, Demon Queen

Role: Demoness of Sacred Sexuality and Witchcraft, One of the Four Demon Queens

Sacred Animals: Serpent, ox, ass, beetle, fish, dolphins, bull, owl, eagle, scorpion, dove, penguin, heron, swan, stag, cuckoo

Mythical Beings: Phantoms, Succubi, Werewolves, gnomes, brownies, dwarves, dryads, elves, faeries, undines, mermaids, naiads, water sprites, hippogriff

Zodiacal Sign(s): Pisces

Planet(s): Jupiter

Element(s): Earth (Primary), Water (Secondary), Air

Direction: Northeast (Kabbalistic), North (Biblical), West (Agrippa), North (Traditional)

Colours: Stone colour (Assiah), Buff flecked with silver-white (Briah)

Soul Part: None

Sense: Touch (Earth), taste (Water)

Musical Key: F

Kabbalistic World: Assiah (Earth), Briah (Water)

Kabbalistic Hell: None

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: None

Tree of Life Attributions: Path 29 (Corporeal Intelligence)

Qliphothic Habitation: Nashimiron (Malign Ones)

Associated Demons: Nashimiron, Qulielfi

Vowel: A

Sounds: k, kh, g, gh

Environment: Geosphere

Season: Winter

Magickal Words: Tauropolit, Louloenel, Nerxiarxin, Psychompoiaps

Consort: Samael

Children: Asmodeus (Speculative)

Parentage: Machaloth (Mother)

Trees: Elm, ash, poplar, cedar, cherry tree, elm

Herbs: Poppy, raspberry, agrimony, aloe, amaranth, daisy, beetroot, borage, cedar, cherry, red cabbage, quince, strawberry, flax, mulberry, elm, poplar, peony, plum, buckwheat, sesame, violet, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, clover

Stones: Pearl, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, lapis lazuli, clear quartz, diamond, beryl, aquamarine

Incense: Ambergris, red storax, golden copal, mace, Balm of Gilead, saffron, ash, cedar, cinnamon, black copal, lotus, myrrh, clover

Metals and Minerals: Tin, gold, bismuth, sulphates

Tarot Cards: The Moon (Pisces), Wheel of Fortune (Jupiter), The Hanged Man (Water), the four Princesses, Pentacles/Coins, Queen of Pentacles

Ailments: Sexual dysfunction, sexually-transmitted diseases, gout, leg and foot problems, bone disorders and injuries, tissue damage, cancer, bowel afflictions, lymphatic disorders, malnutrition and malabsorption

Bodily Government: Legs, feet, sexual organs, bones, tissues, organs of excrement, lymphatic system

Sins: None

Vices: Over-indulgence

Virtues: Responsibility to one’s loved ones and oneself

Holy Days: March 12 (Zodiacal)

Time of Day: Midnight

Chemical Element: None

Alchemical Process: Projection

Symbolism: Magick mirror

Chakra: Root

Ritual Tools: Mirror, salt, chalk, wax, aspergillum, chalice

Drugs: Opium, narcotics

Powers and rulership: Getting in touch with the primal needs of the Self, instincts, sexuality (especially female sexuality), love, compassion, healing, illusions, visual magick (glamour), magickal control or influence over others, divination, theatre and music, prostitution

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The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part V – Eisheth Zenunim

Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott
Eisheth Zenunim’s origins lie primarily within Zoharistic Kabbalah. Alternate forms of Her name are Isheth Zenunim, Isheth Zennanim and Qodeshah. Alongside Her sister Demonesses, Eisheth Zenunim is regarded as the first of the four queens of the Demons—all goddesses of sacred prostitution and brides of Samael. Little is known of Eisheth Zenunim outside of Zoharistic writings, however many Theistic Satanists and Demonolators include Her within their respective pantheons as a goddess of women’s mysteries.

Like Naamah, Lilith and Agerath bat Machaloth, Eisheth Zenunim is a goddess concerned with the expression of human sexuality in all of its forms. She is especially concerned with the expression of female sexuality and, much like Lilith, is a champion of women. Because Eisheth Zenunim was, according to tradition, the first of the succubi, She is often approached by older women and can be seen by soft polytheists as the Crone aspect of Lilith. Outside of soft polytheist inclinations, others regard Her as the wisest and the eldest of the Four Queens.

Although each of the Four Queens is inherently linked to the Element of Earth, They possess unique characteristics which are demonstrative of the influence of other Elements upon Their natures. Thus I associate Eisheth Zenunim with the direction of Southwest to indicate Her fiery and watery natures—Fire for Her warrior aspect, boldness and concern with matters of sexuality and Water for Her role as the wise Crone of the Four Queens. Thus I assign Her to the 30th Path known as Sekhel Kelali or the Path of Collecting Intelligence upon the Tree of Life and Thagiriron (Disputers) upon the Tree of Death. For myself personally, Eisheth Zenunim is the Destroyer and a goddess of Death. She is the Matron Demon of the innocent and a protector of the frail, infirm, ill, very young and very old. She is also concerned with nursing the ailments of these individuals and may be approached for aid in the event of infantile or geriatric conditions.

Her nature is illustrative of the Satanic philosophy of “an eye for an eye”—although not outwardly aggressive to those who have not crossed Her, She will not hesitate to exact vengeance upon those whom She deems to be deserving, especially in instances in which an innocent has suffered at the hands of the offender. Eisheth Zenunim, like Samael, is closely associated with the Sun—a seemingly strange alignment considering the fact that most goddesses, especially Crone goddesses, are connected with the Moon. However it is very appropriate that She is regarded as a Solar goddess considering Her polarised qualities of both Destroyer and Life-Giver.

Although Her appearance is less often detailed within the annals of Kabbalistic mythology than those of the other Queens, Eisheth Zenunim often manifests in the form of a thin, graceful Crone adorned in robes of sheer golden fabric and wearing a six-horned Solar crown. One of Her additional roles is that of judge—She may be approached for aid in the resolution of conflicts, especially those which involve false accusations.

Primary Name: Eisheth Zenunim

Other Names: Isheth Zenunim, Isheth Zennanim, Qodeshah

Mythological Source(s): Zoharistic Kabbalah, Occult Traditions

Title: The Succubus Crone, Demon Queen, Bride of Samael

Role: Demoness of Sacred Sexuality, One of the Four Demon Queens, Destroying Goddess, Protector of the Innocent

Sacred Animals: Lion, raptors, stork, seal, swan, cats, vulture

Mythical Beings: Will-o’-the-Wisp, salamanders, phoenix, dragon, manticore

Zodiacal Sign(s): Leo

Planet(s): The Sun

Element(s): Earth (Innate), Fire (Primary), Water (Secondary)

Direction: Southwest (Natural), South (Biblical), North (Agrippa)

Colours: Gold, rich amber (Kabbalistic), orange (Atziluth)

Soul Part: None

Sense: Sight

Musical Key: None

Kabbalistic World: Yetzirah (Kabbalistic), Atziluth (Elemental)

Kabbalistic Hell: None

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: None

Tree of Life Attributions: Path 30 (Collecting Intelligence)

Qliphothic Habitation: Thagiriron (Disputers)

Associated Demons: Thagiriron, Raflifu

Vowel: I

Sounds: b, v, p, f

Environment: Mangasphere

Season: Summer

Magickal Words: Ypephenoury, Iaeouoi, Phimemameph, Nerxiarxin

Consort: Samael

Children: Unknown

Parentage: Unknown

Trees: Laurel, bay

Herbs: Sunflower, laurel, heliotrope, bay, angelica, balsam, cardamom, cabbage, chestnut, chrysanthemum, corn, hibiscus, knotgrass, lavender, lotus, , marigold, marjoram, nettle, orange, barley, palm, rosemary, saffron, sunflower, red sandalwood, sage, tansy, thyme

Stones: Yellow jacinth, fire opal, carbuncle, chrysolite, pyrite, aventurine, sunstone, onyx, diamond, jasper, cat’s eye, ruby

Incense: Cinnamon, frankincense, Kyphi, dragon’s blood, red sandalwood, lavender, lotus, orange, sage, olibanum, golden copal, amber, cloves, myrrh, benzoin

Metals and Minerals: Gold, nitrates, arsenic

Tarot Cards: The Sun (Planetary), Strength (Zodiacal), Judgment (Elemental), the four Kings, Wands, Queen of Wands

Ailments: Infantile and geriatric complaints, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, circulation problems, blood clots, strokes, oedema, cardiac disorders and ailments, spinal conditions, fever, blood disorders

Bodily Government: Female reproductive organs, circulatory system, heart, spine, blood

Sins: Pride

Vices: Pretentiousness, arrogance, false wisdom

Virtues: Humility, gratitude

Holy Days: August 11 (Zodiacal), August 1 (Lughnasadh – Northern Hemisphere)

Time of Day: Noon

Chemical Element: Chlorine

Alchemical Process: Digestion

Symbolism: Lioness, Solar crown

Chakra: Crown, Solar Plexus

Ritual Tools: Censer, burning bowl, chafing dish, lamen, talisman, charcoal

Drugs: Ecstasy, tonics, alcohol

Powers and rulership: Women’s mysteries (especially adult and older women), protection of the innocent and vulnerable, destruction of enemies, vengeance, wisdom, sacred sexuality, death, Crone magick, infantile and geriatric disorders and conditions, prostitution, judgement, reconciliation, false accusations, acquisition of wealth, crops and harvests 

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demon queen demonolatry demons gyllou history lilith mythology obizuth satanism women

The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part IV – Gyllou (Abyzou)

Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott
 

Gyllou is one of the Demonesses sacred to women and to childbirth. Her origins are debatable as She Herself claims to have twelve and a half names. Gyllou’s primary name originated in Babylon, but Her others names are Amorphous, Abyzou, Karkhous, Brianê, Bardellous, Aigyptianê, Barna, Kharkhanistrea, Adikia, Myia and Petomene. Besides these names, which Gyllou revealed to humanity, She is also known by others within various other languages and cultures. Anabardalea, Gello, Antaura, Alabasandria and Obizuth are all names by which Gyllou has been known.

Like Lilith, Gyllou was historically blamed for miscarriages and infant mortality, but is today understood to be a Matron Demoness and protector of all women and children. To those who feared Her, Gyllou was said to murder infants because She envied the motherhood of the mortal women who bore them—according to legend, as a being of Spirit, Gyllou was incapable of bearing a flesh-and-blood child. She is depicted as being serpent-like or fish-like and is inherently connected with the sea and the Element of Water. Some scholars have attempted to equate Her with the primeval Ocean which would effectively drawn comparisons between Gyllou and other mythological sea entities such as Tiamat, Leviathan and Rahab. Amongst many modern Demonolators and Theistic Satanists, Gyllou is sometimes believed to be a daughter of Eisheth Zenunim and Rahab or Leviathan.

A common theme amongst classical depictions of Demonesses is that They often appear as possessing serpent-like features. Like Agerath, Gyllou is described as having serpents in place of Her hair. This connection with mythological figures such as the Gorgons, namely Medusa, leads many soft polytheists to assert that the beings are one in the same—a particular point of interest is the fact that both Medusa and Gyllou are said to have been fathered by gods of the sea. A further connection between Medusa and Gyllou is illustrated by the Testament of Solomon. In this tome, the mythical figure of Solomon punishes the Demoness by chaining Her by Her hair and hung up in front of the Temple. This echoes the legend of Medusa’s head being severed and used as a weapon by the hero, Perseus.

Most Theistic Satanists and Demonolators who honour Gyllou do not equate Her with Medusa and the Gorgons. Within other legends, Gyllou is conquered and flogged by the Byzantine hero, Arlaph—identified with Solomon and the archangel, Raphael. This image of the conquered Gyllou was inscribed upon amulets for use in the protection of childbearing women and newborn infants from the grasp of the Demoness. Gyllou often appears within stories in which She is confronted by or speaks of the archangels. Michael is said to have demanded that She reveal to him the 40 names by which She could be controlled and She speaks of Her hatred of the archangel, Raphael, within the Testament of Solomon.

Like Machaloth, Gyllou is a Demoness of healing. She may be called upon for aid in the healing of specific ailments—most notably migraine headaches, labour pains, preeclampsia, infant illnesses, hearing loss, eye afflictions, obstructions and inflammation of the throat, mental illness, arthritis, muscle pain and fibromyalgia. I associate Gyllou with the Zodiacal sign of Cancer due to its overtly watery nature in compliment to its underlying fiery influence. Although Gyllou is a Demoness of healing, She is less patient than Machaloth and may be said to have less of a “good bedside manner” than Her sister Demoness. Gyllou is a goddess to approach when one is in need of rapid healing and assurance during medical crises.

I attribute Gyllou to the 18th Kabbalistic Path. The 18th Path is known upon the Tree of Life as Sekhel Beth ha-Shepha or the Path of Intelligence of the House of Influence and Schichiriron (Black Ones) upon the Tree of Death. Because of this, Gyllou also concerns Herself with transformative rites and introspection. She is very much a goddess inclined to deliver to us the hard lessons and to burn away our self-delusions, but who stands beside us through the process—remaining to soothe our wounds after the battle.

Primary Name: Gyllou

Other Names: Gylou, Amorphous, Abyzou, Karkhous, Brianê, Bardellous, Aigyptianê, Barna, Kharkhanistrea, Adikia, Myia, Petomene, Anabardalea, Gello, Antaura, Alabasandria, Obizuth

Mythological Source(s): Europe, Babylon, Egypt, Greece

Title: None

Role: Matron Demoness of Women and Children

Sacred Animals: Serpent, crab, turtle, sphinx, ibis, heron, eagle, scorpion, dove, penguin

Mythical Beings: Vampires, undines, mermaids, naiads, water sprites

Zodiacal Sign(s): Cancer

Planet(s): The Moon

Element(s): Water (Primary), Fire (Secondary)

Direction: South (Biblical), West (Agrippa), West (Traditional)

Colours: Maroon

Soul Part: None

Sense: Taste

Musical Key: None

Kabbalistic World: Briah

Kabbalistic Hell: None

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: None

Tree of Life Attributions: Path 18 (Intelligence of the House of Influence)

Qliphothic Habitation: Schichiriron (Black Ones)

Associated Demons: Characith, Schichiriron

Vowel: O

Sounds: s, sh, z, zh

Environment: Hydrosphere

Season: Fall

Magickal Words: Thothoutthoth, Nerxiarxin, Phimemameph, Geniomouthig

Consort: Varies

Children: Unknown

Parentage: Eisheth Zenunim, Rahab (or Leviathan)

Trees: Yew, lime tree, hazel, mangrove

Herbs: Lotus, Angelica, Watercress, crab-apple, hay, camphor, cucumber, poppy, pumpkin, gourd, lettuce, melon, purslane, beetroot, reed, white sandalwood, lime, hazel, yew, mangrove, comfrey, almond, mugwort, moonwort, alder, pomegranate, mistletoe, peony

Stones: Amber, emerald, sapphire, chalcedony, beryl, aquamarine, onyx

Incense: Onycha, camphor, orris, lotus, myrrh, storax, benzoin, opoponax

Metals and Minerals: Silver, Sulphates

Tarot Cards: The Chariot (Cancer), The Hanged Man (Water), The High Priestess (The Moon), the four Queens, Cups, King of Cups

Ailments: Migraine headaches, labour pains, preeclampsia, infant illnesses, hearing loss, eye afflictions, obstructions and inflammation of the throat, mental illness, arthritis, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, chills, malnutrition, lymphatic ailments, female complaints and disorders, vitamin deficiencies and imbalances

Bodily Government: Female reproductive organs, the stomach, breasts, lymphatic system

Sin: None

Vices: Envy

Virtues: Trueness to Self, Independence

Holy Days: June 21 (Solstice), July 21 (Zodiacal)

Time of Day: Sunset

Chemical Element: None

Alchemical Process: Dissolution

Symbolism: Alchemical furnace, serpents, Medusa, ouroboros, rain

Chakra: Third Eye, Heart, Belly

Ritual Tools: Burning bowl, aspergillum, chalice, censer

Drugs: Emmenagogues, ecbolics

Powers and rulership: Healing, transformation, introspection, protection of women, protection of children, childbirth, defiance, medical emergencies, enchantments, divination, hydromancy, sea-storms and tempests, all things pertaining to the water and oceans

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demon queen demonic medicine demonolatry demons history machalath machaloth magot magoth mahlat mythology satanism women

The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part III – Machaloth

Originally published 7 March 2011. © Torey B. Scott

 
 Machaloth, although not considered to belong to the hierarchy of the Demon Queens of sacred sexuality, is one of the most enigmatic Demonesses within Semitic Demonolatry. Like Eisheth Zenunim, little is known of Machaloth’s origins. Within Kabbalistic traditions, Machaloth is one of the four averse powers beneath the feet of the Kerubs thus making Her the anti-Kerub of the world of Briah. Like Her daughter, Agerath, Machaloth is depicted as a woman who is part serpent. She is said to ride upon a beast which resembles a scorpion-like serpent or dragon.

Machaloth is reputed to have a special relationship with the kingdoms of the Greeks—it is suggested by some soft polytheists that She is perhaps comparable to one of the Greek goddesses or serpent-like creatures within Greek mythology.

Machaloth’s name loosely translates from the Hebrew mahathallah as “deception” or “illusion”. Her name is similar to that of the Demon, Magot(h)—often appearing within occult texts as a high-ranking Demon and similar in status to Beelzebub, Asmodeus and Satan Himself. This suggests that Magoth and Machaloth may be one in the same, although there is no real evidence to support this theory.

She is associated with the Element of Water and with the 23rd Path known as Sekhel Qayyam or the Path of Sustaining Intelligence upon the Tree of Life. As a Demoness of Water, Machaloth is aligned with Lunar currents and the concepts of compassion, healing and psychism. Like Naamah, Machaloth is a fantastic deity to approach when pursuing divinatory avenues as She will speak truly and with patience. Although all of the Demonesses may be approached for matters of healing, Machaloth is especially concerned with the healing arts, especially in relationship to afflictions pertaining to fluid, chills, menopausal symptoms and nutrition. She is also especially concerned with scrying and introspective mediations.

Machaloth is the Matron Demoness of mothers. Although many of the other Demonesses are inherently concerned with the protection of infants and childbearing women, Machaloth is specifically aligned with the sacredness of motherhood. While most of the other Demonesses may be approached for the protection of a child, Machaloth is the ideal ally for the ensuring of the safety of any woman to whom has been born a child regardless of age. She can offer guidance and compassion for mothers who are dealing with rebellious teenage children and especially those single mothers who are struggling to raise a family on their own. She is also a goddess of fertility.

Machaloth, like many Water spirits, has a hauntingly beautiful singing voice and often uses it to soothe those in distress. She may often be heard singing when we are experiencing times of extreme stress or pain and reminds us that all suffering is only transient. She also possesses the power of foresight and may send to us omens or messages in order to warn or to prepare us for life-altering events and changes. Her presence is felt most strongly during storms and periods of heavy rain. Unlike the majority of Her sister Demonesses of Water who are innately connected with the oceans, Machaloth is primarily attached to freshwater lakes, streams and ponds. She sometimes manifests as a beautiful middle-aged woman, nude from the waist up with pale skin that shimmers iridescently.

Machaloth has the ability to aid the magician in situations in which defensive magick is called for. As well as teaching us ways in which we may best protect ourselves, She can also grant to us temporary or permanent Auric shields and may act on our behalf in negotiations with the Patron or Matron deity of the offender in question. Machaloth has a deep knowledge of the occult and of the ways of human beings and well-suited to serve as an advisor if one is in doubt of one’s abilities or is simply in need of direction. She also retains influence within the realm of psychism—mentoring and aiding those in need of the knowledge of astral travel, dream interpretation, spiritual visions and clairvoyance.

Primary Name: Machaloth

Other Names: Machalath, Mahlat; Magoth, Magot (Speculative)

Mythological Source(s): Kabbalistic and Occult Traditions

Title: Machaloth, Mother of Agerath

Role: Demoness of Water, Matron Demoness of Mothers

Sacred Animals: Serpent, scorpion, eagle, crab, dove, penguin, catfish, cat, camel, frog, toad, baboon, bat, hare, rabbit, otter, dog, sow, turtle, ibis, heron

Mythical Beings: Water beings, ghosts, succubi, vampires

Zodiacal Sign(s): All Water Signs, especially Cancer

Planet(s): The Moon

Element(s): Water

Direction: West (Traditional), South (Biblical), West (Agrippa)

Colours: Sea-green

Soul Part: None

Sense: Taste

Musical Key: None

Kabbalistic World: Briah

Kabbalistic Hell: None

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: None

Tree of Life Attributions: Path 23 (Sustaining Intelligence)

Qliphothic Habitation: None

Associated Demons: Malkunofat

Vowel: O

Sounds: s, sh, z, zh

Environment: Hydrosphere

Season: Fall

Magickal Words: Nerxiarxin, Geniomouthig, Thothoutthoth

Consort: Unknown

Children: Agerath

Parentage: Rahab (Speculative)

Trees: Willow, alder, hazel, lime tree, mangrove

Herbs: Lotus, waterlily, leek, crab-apple, hay, camphor, cucumber, poppy, pumpkin, gourd, lettuce, melon, purslane, beetroot, reed, white sandalwood, lime, lotus, watercress, banyan, almond, mugwort, hazel, moonwort, alder, pomegranate, mistletoe, peony, comfrey, mangrove

Stones: Moonstone, pearl, quartz crystal, chalcedony, emerald, sapphire, green lapis, onyx, beryl, aquamarine, marble

Incense: Myrrh, orris, calamus, lotus, jasmine, willow, black copal, white sandalwood, benzoin

Metals and Minerals: Silver, sulphates

Tarot Cards: The Hanged Man (Elemental/Kabbalistic), The High Priestess (Planetary), The Chariot (Zodiacal), the four Queens, Cups, Queen of Cups

Ailments: Fluid retention, chills, menopausal symptoms, hormonal imbalances in women, stress and anxiety, post-partum depression, malnutrition and malabsorption, lymphatic disorders, menstrual troubles, arthritis, stomach complaints, breast cancer and breast disorders, nausea and vomiting

Bodily Government: Female reproductive organs, female hormones, lymphatic system, breasts, stomach

Sin: Sloth

Vices: Laziness, depression, procrastination, irresponsibility

Virtues: Zeal/enthusiasm, inspiration, punctuality, responsibility

Holy Days: July 21 (Zodiacal), June 21 (Summer Solstice – Northern Hemisphere)

Time of Day: Sunset

Chemical Element: None

Alchemical Process: Dissolution

Symbolism: Storms, rain, rivers and streams, scorpion

Chakra: Third Eye, Heart, Belly

Ritual Tools: Wine, chalice, mirror, aspergillum

Drugs: Blue lotus, juniper, Emmenagogues, ecbolics

Powers and rulership: Compassion, Greece, water magick, motherhood and the protection of mothers, divination, defensive magick, negotiations, the occult, calming of anxiety, freshwater bodies and systems, omens, storms, rain, menopause, female hormonal disorders, fertility, healing, introspection, meditation, hydromancy, enchantments, clairvoyance, astral projection, dreams, visions

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brides of samael demon queen demonic medicine demonolatry demons history maamah mythology naamah nahema nahemah nahemoth satanism women

The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part II – Naamah

Originally published 7 March 2011.  © Torey B. Scott
 
As one of the four Demonesses of sacred prostitution and sexuality, Naamah is an important goddess within the traditions of many Theistic Satanists and Demonolators. Naamah’s name translates to “pleasant” or “pleasing” and She is considered to be a goddess of divination. Other variations of Her name are Na’amah, Maamah, Nahemoth and Nahemah. These spellings often occur within various Grimoires and Kabbalistic writings in reference to Her alleged status amongst pseudo-Christian occultists as a sinister being associated with evildoing.

Naamah’s origins are obscure. Scholars do not agree as to the manner in which She first appears within mythology nor is it clear as to exactly how She became identified as a Demoness of sacred prostitution. The Zohar depicts Naamah as a fallen angel and one of the four brides of Samael alongside Lilith, Eisheth Zenunim and Agerath bat Machaloth. Within Zoharistic tradition, Naamah and Her sister Demoness, Lilith, were alleged to have visited Adam in the form of succubi—mating with him and bearing vast numbers of Demonic offspring. One such legend suggests that the Demon Prince, Asmodeus, was the product of the lovemaking between Naamah and Adam. Another telling of the story of Asmodeus’ birth implies that Agerath bat Machaloth, not Naamah, was the mother of the Demon whose father was King David.

Kabbalistically, Naamah’s role is very pronounced—at least within the context of the Qliphoth. She is aligned with the direction of Northwest, associated with Abaddon, and is depicted as a crouching woman with an animal’s body, eating earth as She crawls along the ground. Although this depiction may seem strange, it is rather fitting considering that Naamah is considered amongst most Demonolators to be a goddess of the earth. This consideration is further supported by the fact that Kabbalistically She is given rulership of the tenth anti-Sephirah of Malkuth (known upon the Tree of Life as “Kingdom” and associated with the Earth), known Qliphothically as “Lilith” but not to confused with the goddess, Lilith. Naamah also serves as a gatekeeper and psychopomp, meeting and guiding departed souls as they pass from their incarnate existence into the discarnate realm of Spirit. She exudes love and reassurance as She escorts each soul through the gate and beyond the Shadow of Death to the Otherworlds which lie in wait. She can serve as a spiritual gatekeeper as well—acting as a bridge between the unseen realms and the causal and safely communicating messages to the individual from the Otherworlds and the hereafter. She is also a Matron goddess of the creatures within the natural world, bringing healing and renewed life to all plants and animals in peril. She resides within a lush and fertile nocturnal garden filled with strange yet beautiful flora.

In addition to Her rulership of the tenth Sephirothic and anti-Sephirothic spheres of Malkuth and Lilith, Naamah is also aligned with the 31st Path known as Sekhel Temidi or the Path of Perpetual Intelligence upon the Tree of Life and the Element of Fire, indicating Her association with sexuality and passion. Naamah’s nature may thus be seen as primarily aligned with Earth, but secondarily incorporating aspects of both Fire and Water. Naamah is perhaps the most nurturing of the Four Queens and is ever-eager to provide comfort and reassurance to Her children. Thus I attribute to Her nature the Element of Earth as the primary Element and the Element of Water as the secondary Element—acknowledging the role of Fire within Her nature as a goddess of passionate love. Naamah also offers serenity to those who are troubled by worry and indecision. She helps us to slow down and examine the obstacles before us, reminding us of our strengths and abilities to solve all of life’s problems by having faith in our own Selves. She helps us to recognise those things in our lives which are detrimental to our wellbeing as well as those which benefit us or will do so in the future.

Naamah has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the most sensual and virtuous Demonesses of sacred sexuality. She has even been depicted within fictional literary works such as the novel Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey as a gracious divine mother goddess, inspiring within Her children passion, desire and an appreciation of sexual pleasure. This portrayal of Naamah is rather accurate as She is a goddess to whom all matters of human sexuality are sacred gifts. One is reminded of the line delivered by the Great Goddess of Wicca in which She says “all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals”. This is perhaps a perfect sentiment for Naamah. Those who seek Her mysteries should bear in mind that to appreciate the joys of the flesh is to pay homage to Naamah.

Primary Name: Naamah

Other Names: Na’amah, Nahemah, Maamah, Nahemoth

Mythological Source(s): Kabbalistic and Occult Traditions

Title: Demon Queen, Bride of Samael, Queen of the Earth

Role: One of the Four Demon Queens, Demoness of Sacred Sexuality, Protector of Women and Children, Goddess of Love

Sacred Animals: Bull, serpent, dog, lamb, owl, goat, sow, dove, rhinoceros

Mythical Beings: Gnomes, dwarves, elves, gorgons, minotaurs, succubi

Zodiacal Sign(s): All Earth Signs, especially Taurus

Planet(s): Earth, Venus

Element(s): Earth (Primary), Water (Secondary), Fire

Direction: Northwest (Kabbalistic), North (Traditional), East (Biblical), South (Agrippa)

Colours: Black and yellow

Soul Part: Guph (The Physical Body)

Sense: Touch

Musical Key: F

Kabbalistic World: Assiah

Kabbalistic Hell: None

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: The Seventh Palace

Tree of Life Attributions: Malkuth

Qliphothic Habitation: Lilith (Queen of the Night)

Associated Demons: Lilitu

Vowel: A

Sounds: k, kh, g, gh

Environment: Geosphere

Season: Winter

Magickal Words: Psychompoiaps, Demogened, Zenobiothiz, Nerxiarxin

Consort: Samael

Children: Asmodeus (Speculative)

Parentage: Unknown (perhaps Rahab)

Trees: Oak

Herbs: Lily, olive, wheat, peach, fig, vervain, mallow, almond, honeysuckle, lemon, coriander, watercress, spinach, fuchsia, clover, mistletoe, iris, hyacinth, lilac, cherry, myrtle, daisy, pansy, periwinkle, apple, rose, thyme, verbena, corn, ivy, willow, cereals, oak

Stones: Quartz crystal, sapphire, garnet, carnelian

Incense: Dittany of Crete, storax, black copal, vertivert, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, oak moss, rose, myrrh, ambergris, benzoin, clover

Metals and Minerals: Bismuth, copper, red brass, green lapis, pearl, coral, glass

Tarot Cards: The Empress (Planetary), The Hierophant (Zodiacal), Judgment (Kabbalistic), the four Princesses, Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles

Ailments: Mental illness, bowel complaints, joints and bone disorders and injuries, reproductive difficulties and disorders, menstrual pain, sexual dysfunction, growth problems, hormonal disorders, throat and neck conditions and injuries, lethargy, sexually-transmitted diseases, stomach and digestive complaints, cancer, numbness, diarrhoea, constipation

Bodily Government: Excretory system, skeletal system, reproductive organs (especially the female reproductive system), throat and neck, tissues

Sins: Lust

Vices: Inertia, hypersexuality, gullibility, self-undoing

Virtues: Discrimination, scepticism, self-control

Holy Days: May 14 (Zodiacal), April 30 (Walpurgis Nacht/Beltane – Northern Hemisphere)

Time of Day: Midnight

Chemical Element: Sulphur, Antimony

Alchemical Process: Congelation

Symbolism: Circle, Alchemical glyph for Salt, inverted triangle, equal-armed cross, key, cube

Chakra: Root

Ritual Tools: Magickal circle, salt, altar, chalk, wax, lectern

Drugs: Hashish, aphrodisiacs

Powers and rulership: Love, sacred sexuality, lust and desire, comfort, healing, nurturing, safety, relationships, protection and wellness for animals and vegetation, comfort for the dying and departed souls, healing, introspection, reassurance, discernment, serenity, logically solving problems and dilemmas, soothing anxieties, self-confidence, willpower, altered states of consciousness, earth magick, geomancy, talismans, alchemy, physical strength, love magick, sex magick, knowledge of the afterlife, communication with the deceased, necromancy

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brides of samael demon queen demonic medicine demonolatry demons history lilith lilitu mythology satanism women

The Satanic Feminine Divine: Part I – Lilith

Originally published 7 March 2011.  © Torey B. Scott

Perhaps the best-known Demoness of all time is Lilith. Although a vast number of variations and interpretations pertaining to Her origins and nature may be found scattered throughout the annals of religious traditions, Lilith is most often accepted to be the first wife of the Biblical Adam and, contrary to belief, the first woman. In the Talmudic version of Her myth, Lilith was created, like Adam, from dust. Unlike Lilith’s successor, Eve, who was created from Adam’s rib, Lilith was created as an equal to Her husband. During their lovemaking, Lilith desired to mount Adam and to move astride him. Adam, however, insisted that She lay beneath him. Because Lilith considered Herself to be Adam’s equal, She did not feel that it was fair for Her to assume the subservient role and to allow Her male partner to dominate Her. Because of Her refusal to obey the commands of Her husband, Lilith finally abandoned him (although another version of the story insists that God cast Lilith out of the Garden and cursed Her).

Lilith evolved over time into a Demoness, finding Herself feared and loathed by those who considered Her to be an evil spirit concerned with murdering newborn babies and mothers during childbirth. The association of Lilith with a child-murdering Demoness most visibly originates with the Jewish interpretation of the myth of Abyzou, a female Demon of European tradition who was allegedly responsible for miscarriages and infant mortality. She is also depicted, in contrast with the traditional image of Satan, as being the Serpent responsible for the temptation of Eve. Amongst Zoharistic traditions, Lilith was one of two Demonesses who mated with Adam and bore innumerable Demons from this union. Another legend details that, after Her abandonment of Adam, Lilith resigned Herself to abide within the desert where She allegedly found refuge and companionship with sympathetic Demons. God sent three of his angels to retrieve Her, but Lilith denounced him. According to other sources, Lilith vowed to murder the children of men for the sins of their fathers—smiling at them and destroying them as they lay vulnerable within their beds. Although most Satanists and Demonolators do not accept this sensationalised depiction of Lilith as the destroyer of innocent lives, many honour Her as a protector of children and pregnant women as well as an advocate for women’s rights.

It is suggested that Lilith originated as a Sumerian goddess of desolation and may be associated with the Babylonian demon known as lilitu, a succubus-like entity which preyed upon men. Her name translates to “Storm Goddess” or “She of the Night” and Her sacred animal is the owl, believed to symbolise Her affiliation with nightime and Her alleged role as a silent predator. Amongst modern Demonolators and Theistic Satanists, Lilith is honoured as a protective goddess and one of the four Demonesses of sacred prostitution. She is sometimes identified with the star known as Algol or “The Demon’s Head”. Lilith is often embraced as the Matron deity of many female Demonolators due to Her obvious role as a champion of gender equality, female empowerment and feminine sexual liberation.

Lilith is often considered to be a dual-aspected goddess—She is honoured amongst many Demonolators in both Maiden and Mother facets which are Lilith the Younger (Lilith Ulemta) and Lilith the Elder (Lilith Savta). In Her aspect as Lilith the Younger, She is considered to be the wife of the Demon, Asmodeus. She possesses the ability to transform dark energy into usable energy and may be approached in matters in which one has found themselves cursed or plagued by Auric attachments. In Her aspect as Lilith the Younger, Her image is that of a hermaphrodite—female from Her head to Her waist and male below. She is depicted as riding within a chariot drawn by a winged horse and a winged lion and is aligned with the direction of Southwest. This image was inspired by the Kabbalistic tradition in which Lilith plays a substantial role as a Qliphothic Demoness, ruling the anti-Sephirah of Yesod which is known as Gamaliel.

An interesting correlation between Lilith’s association with the ninth Qliphothic emanation is that, like Yesod, Gamaliel is associated with the Moon, independence and illusions. As the Mistress of Illusions, Lilith’s lessons often present as life situations which are seemingly “too good to be true”—She encourages us to look beyond the illusion and, through the inner vision of our intuition, discern the truth. Her connection with discerning illusion from truth is also represented by Her sacred creature, the owl, whose acute vision and ability to find its way through the darkness enable it to thrive. Lilith, as depicted in ancient reliefs, traditionally wears a headdress adorned with lunar horns and is sometimes envisioned as a winged woman with the legs and feet of a bird of prey. Lilith the Younger is specifically attributed to the 30th Path known as Sekhel Kelali (The Path of Collecting Intelligence) upon the Tree of Life and Thagiriron (Disputers) upon the Tree of Death. Because of this association, Lilith the Younger may be seen as possessing a similar nature to that of Eisheth Zenunim, the eldest of the Four Queens—Her nature as a passer of judgment and goddess of retribution denotes Her as a beneficial ally when one is in need of justice, especially those events in which one has falsely accused an innocent.

Lilith the Elder is sometimes considered to be the chief manifestation of the goddess, most closely associated with Her role as the bride of Satan or Samael. Within Thelemic mythology, the feminine representation of Babalon is comparable with Lilith by many Demonolators although this line of thought is much more common within Luciferian circles. Kabbalistically, Lilith is also regarded as one of the four averse powers at the feet of the Kerubs. In this, She may be seen as an anti-Kerub, described as being outwardly beautiful yet inwardly corrupt and putrefying, riding upon a strange beast. As one of the averse powers, Lilith is said to rule the Kingdom of Babel. Her division amongst the four elemental anti-Kerubs is classified as belonging to the Kabbalistic world of Atziluth and encompassing the Sephiroth of Kether, Chokmah and Binah. In this, Lilith may be considered the emanation of the primary Divine Feminine—amongst some She is thus aligned with the great creative Mother emanation of Binah, the Aima Elohim. Elementally, the world of Atziluth is assigned to Fire—however Lilith’s true Elemental nature is dependent upon the perceptions and interpretations of the individual. Lilith the Elder is given rulership of the direction of Southeast within Qliphothic traditions and is associated with the 28th Path upon the Tree of Life known as Sekhel Motba (The Path of Active Intelligence) and Bahimiron (Bestial Ones) upon the Tree of Death. Lilith the Elder is the Demoness of the Dark Arts and malediction. She is a great ally and mentor to the magician when attempting to learn the subtleties of black magick.

Much confusion arises amongst Demonolators when attempting to discern the truth in the conflicting mythological accounts of Her marriage to both Asmodeus and Samael. One of the most common assumptions is that Her maiden aspect, Lilith the Younger, is paired with Asmodeus as an aspect of Samael. This is, however, a soft polytheistic interpretation as many Demonolators do not equate Samael and Asmodeus as being the same entity. Nonetheless, many Kabbalistic traditions indicate that the character known as “Samael the Black” is identical to Asmodeus. Regardless, the most common belief amongst Satanic Demonolators in regards to Lilith’s relationship with a male counterpart is that She is the bride of Satan.

Many Neo-Pagans have begun to recognise the value in Lilith’s story as it relates directly to the struggle against the oppression by male-dominated religious traditions. In addition, Lilith is often interpreted as a manifestation of the Great Goddess, especially amongst soft polytheists. In addition to Lilith, most Demonolators also embrace a belief in Her three companion goddesses—Naamah, Eisheth Zenunim and Agerath bat Machaloth. Some paths insist that these sister Demons are in fact mere aspects of Lilith, but the inclination for Satanic practitioners to accept all four Demonesses as independent sentient beings remains prevalent.

Primary Name: Lilith

Other Names: Lilitu (Speculative), Lilith the Elder (Lilith Savta), Lilith the Younger (Lilith Ulemta)

Mythological Source(s): Babylonian, Christian, Judaic, Occult and Kabbalistic Traditions

Title: Queen of the Night, Demon Queen, Bride of Samael, Mistress of Illusions

Role: Succubus, Demoness of Sacred Sexuality, One of the Four Demon Queens, Protector of Women and Children, Goddess of Childbirth

Sacred Animals: Owl, toad, dog, elephant, serpent, cow, catfish, camel, baboon, crab, bat, rabbit, otter, sow, goose; peacock, eagle, raven, mole, cuttlefish, mouse, crocodile, goat, wolf, oyster, tortoise, crow (Lilith the Elder); Lion, birds of prey, stork, cats, vultures (Lilith the Younger)

Mythical Beings: Strange beasts, monsters, Pegasus, winged lions, salamanders, phoenix, lares, ghosts, succubi and incubi; Will-o’-the-Wisp, dragon, manticore (Lilith the Younger); water beings, sylphs (Lilith the Elder)

Zodiacal Sign(s): All Fire and Water Signs (General); Aquarius (as Lilith the Elder); Leo (as Lilith the Younger)

Planet(s): The Moon (General); The Sun (as Lilith the Younger); Saturn (as Lilith the Elder); Algol (Star)

Element(s): Earth (Innate), Fire (Primary), Water (Secondary); Fire/Air (as Lilith the Elder), Fire/Water (as Lilith the Younger)

Direction: South (Elemental), Southeast (as Lilith the Elder), Southwest (as Lilith the Younger)

Colours: Indigo (Kabbalistic); amber (Lilith the Younger); bluish mauve (Lilith the Elder)

Soul Part: Nephesh (The Animal Soul)

Sense: Sight

Musical Key: C

Kabbalistic World: Atziluth (Kabbalistic); Yetzirah (as Lilith the Elder and Lilith the Younger)

Kabbalistic Hell: Gehenna

Kabbalistic Palace of Hell: The Seventh Palace

Tree of Life Attributions: Yesod (General), Path 28 (Active Intelligence) as Lilith the Elder; Path 30 (Collecting Intelligence) as Lilith the Younger

Qliphothic Habitation: Gamaliel (Obscene Ones); Bahimiron (Bestial Ones) as Lilith the Elder, Thagiriron (Disputers) as Lilith the Younger

Associated Demons: Gamaliel, lilitu, Tentatores/Maligenii; Bahimiron and Hemethterith as Lilith the Elder; Thagiriron and Raflifu as Lilith the Younger

Vowel: I; E (Lilith the Elder); O (Lilith the Younger)

Sounds: b, v, p, f; d, dh, t, th (Lilith the Elder); s, sh, z, zh (Lilith the Younger)

Environment: Mangasphere; Atmosphere (Lilith the Elder); Hydrosphere (Lilith the Younger)

Season: Summer; Spring (Lilith the Elder); Fall (Lilith the Younger)

Magickal Words: Geniomouthig, Phimemameph, Nerxiarxin; Ypephenoury, Iaeouoi, Phimemameph, Nerxiarxin (Lilith the Younger); Sesenmenoures, Chenneopheoch, Phimemameph, Akrammachamari (Lilith the Elder)

Consort: Samael; Asmodeus (as Lilith the Younger)

Children: Numerous Demons

Parentage: Rahab (Speculative Father); Yahweh (Biblical)

Trees: Willow, hazel, alder, cypress, aspen, elm, ash, linden, laurel, palm, chestnut

Herbs: Crab-apple, hay, camphor, red poppy, hibiscus, nettle, almond, mugwort, hazel, moonwort, alder, pomegranate, mistletoe, peony, juniper, pumpkin, gourd, lettuce, melon, purslane, beetroot, reed, white sandalwood, lime; asphodel, cactus, hemlock, cocoa, cypress, datura, hellebore, spurge, fennel, male fern, lichen, moss, lungwort, rue, weeping willow, tobacco, dragonwort, coconut, aspen, peppermint, linden, pennyroyal, ash, nightshade, elm, amaranth (Lilith the Elder); angelica, balsam, corn, cinnamon, cardamom, cabbage, chrysanthemum, cyclamen, cloves, heliotrope, laurel, lavender, lotus, marjoram, orange, palm, barley, primula, rosemary, saffron, red sandalwood, sage, tansy, thyme, sunflower, knotgrass, marigold, chestnut, watercress, blue lotus (Lilith the Younger)

Stones: Quartz crystal, pearl, moonstone, chalcedony, marble, green lapis, fire opal; carbuncle, chrysolite, pyrite, aventurine, sunstone, beryl, aquamarine, diamond, ruby (Lilith the Younger); onyx, jet, topaz, garnet, jasper, turquoise (Lilith the Elder)

Incense: Jasmine, ginseng, lotus, red sandalwood, dragon’s blood, cinnamon, olibanum, camphor, myrrh, jasmine, willow, black copal, white sandalwood; frankincense, golden copal, amber, saffron, myrrh, cloves (Lilith the Younger); asafoetida, indigo, sulphur, civet, musk (Lilith the Elder)

Metals and Minerals: Silver, lead, nitrates; gold, arsenic, sulphates (Lilith the Younger); iron, antimony, lodestone, magnesium, oxides (Lilith the Elder)

Tarot Cards: The High Priestess (Planetary), the four nines (Kabbalistic), Judgment (Elemental), the four Kings, Queen of Wands; Prince of Wands, The Universe (as Lilith the Elder), Queen of Wands, The Sun (as Lilith the Younger)

Ailments: Labour pains, female conditions, sexual dysfunction (especially female sexual dysfunctions), circulation disorders, lymphatic disorders, bowel complaints, leg injuries and complaints, cardiac conditions, spinal injuries and conditions, pneumonia, oedema, cystitis, blood pressure, chills, vision problems, blood disorders, paralysis

Bodily Government: Circulatory system, lymphatic system, excretory system, legs, heart, spine, respiratory system, blood

Sins: Idleness; Pride (Lilith the Younger); Greed (Lilith the Elder)

Vices: Co-dependency, weakness, submissiveness, deference, negative self-perception, idleness

Virtues: Independence, boldness, confidence, self-esteem, enthusiasm/zeal, humility, generosity

Holy Days: February 1 (Imbolc – Northern Hemisphere) February 16 (Lilith the Elder); July 21 and August 1 (Lughnasadh – Northern Hemisphere) (Lilith the Younger)

Time of Day: Noon; Dawn (Lilith the Elder); Sunset (Lilith the Younger)

Chemical Element: Fluorine (Planetary), Phosphorous (Kabbalistic)

Alchemical Process: Multiplication (Lilith the Elder); Digestion (Lilith the Younger)

Symbolism: Nine-pointed star, owl, crescent moon, crystal ball

Chakra: Crown, Solar Plexus; Throat, Heart (Lilith the Elder); Third Eye, Heart, Belly (Lilith the Younger)

Ritual Tools: Mirror, incense, stones, burning bowl, charcoal, seals/sigils, aspergillum, chalice; bell (Lilith the Elder)

Drugs: Ecstasy, Emmenagogues, ecbolics, alcohol, tonics, diuretics, pennyroyal, hashish, soporifics

Powers and rulership: Seeing through illusions, women’s mysteries, protection of women and children (especially infants), sexuality, sex magick, boldness, independence, discernment, self-esteem, justice, false accusations, ending gossip, reconciliation, slander, inspiration, divination, attaining familiars, acquisition of wealth, attaining fame, black magick, astrology, necromancy, pyromancy, transforming dark energy into usable energy, removing curses and Auric attachments, defensive magick, spiritual healing

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demon queen demonic medicine demonolatry demons history mythology satanism women

The Satanic Feminine Divine: Introduction

 Originally published 7 March 2011.  © Torey B. Scott

Many of those unfamiliar with Satanic paths assume that Satanism is, like Christianity, a religion dominated by and permeated with masculine themes, ideals and aggressive philosophies which are often considered to be aligned with male qualities. Although Satanic traditions which acknowledge only the perceivably male entity of Satan as the embodiment of acausal divinity may be fairly regarded as traditions based upon masculine energies, most forms of Theistic Satanism which incorporate aspects of Satanic Demonolatry within their core religious foundations acknowledge and exalt the Dark Divine as manifesting through sacred feminine theophanies.

Some traditions regard Satan Himself as embodying both masculine and feminine polarities and as being a hermaphroditic deity which transcends the boundaries of the causal perceptions of male and female. Many Theistic Satanists embrace the image of Baphomet, as depicted by the mage Eliphas Levi, as a sound representation of the androgynous nature of Satan. As Levi’s Baphomet incorporates aspects of both man and woman, bird, fish and the terrestrial goat, it is an ideal illustration of Satan, as a being of Spirit concerned with the interests of the material world, absorbing and reflecting the beauty of Nature in all of Her guises.

Outside of the traditional exaltation of Satan Himself within Satanic traditions is the reverence of the Divine, expressed through the sacred feminine, as the Dark Goddesses. Many Neo-Pagans will already be familiar with Dark Goddesses such as Hecate, The Morrigan, Sekhmet and Hel, but Satanic traditions often recognise the Feminine Divine in the forms of Demonesses found within a variety of world cultures and mythologies.

In this series of articles, I will explore key figures of The Satanic Feminine Divine from a variety of world cultures and religions.  If you have any suggestions for figures for future articles whom I have not yet included in my series, please feel free to comment on this article and I will do my best to incorporate Them.