Traditional Satanism

Often I am asked why I follow Traditional Satanism or rather I am told it is 'evil' or destructive. I find that this is not true through my continual studies and practice in the field of the Black Arts. I beg you not to silence me.

"The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error." John Stuart Mill

The idea of evil in a spiritual sense is deeply rooted in the legacy left to us by the Christian Church. They preach man is born into sin and therefore he must climb upwards to reach God via a goodly life. I do not share this opinion. I believe man is born with equal capacity for evil and good and is born neutral. He lives and dies by his decisions throughout his life and then when he finally dies he must stand up before his own personal deity and justify his actions whether they are honourable or not. Do not forget these Christian ideas were superimposed on top of Paganism never more so than in Medieval times when Occult thinking struggled for recognition. How many innocents had to be hung and burnt as 'witches' before it was deemed wrong?

Traditional Satanism encompasses the study of Black Magick and the nature of evil as a magickal dichotomy. It is impossible to be wholly good or totally evil yet the white path is strewn with as many illusions as the black. I believe we must master both roads to achieve completion, not only ascending but descending and thus achieving a greater understanding of the whole.

It is narrow minded and blinkered to accept that only the light can save mankind. How many so called 'love and lighters' hurt others? Another shell methinks to encase the ego, another ivory tower just waiting to be knocked down. Tell me how many times you have lied to spare someones feelings, stolen to save from starvation or used violence uncontrollably? We are all capable of these things. The fundamental difference being the Black Magician does these things under will and accepts the consequences of doing so.

"Evil exists to glorify the good. Evil is negative good. It is a relative term. Evil can be transmuted into good. What is evil to one at one time, becomes good at another time to somebody else." Mencius

To clarify what Black Magick involves, the use of grimoires such as the Clavicula Solomonis, texts such as Barret's Magus and the Scared Magic of Abramelin the Mage. Self discovery and understanding of mans fundamental animal nature (many magicians can look in the mirror and scry the beast within.) A stricter mental discipline that any white magick will allow, (the Black Magician must 'read and not read' the infernal names to prevent subconscious calling.) Finally compassion for what he learns and sees of the world around him, it is far harder to accept and quantify truth than lies, harder to accept we are brutal and aggressive, harder to accept we are vulnerable.

The Traditional Satanist wears a mask few take the time to penetrate. Behind those robes lies a mind struggling to come to terms with mans inhumanity and natures cruelty. Its all the same coin, just another side.

"Evil and good are Gods right hand and left." Horace Mann

Let these words rest with you and maybe you will understand me a little better. If not, I remain with you always.

"The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding." Albert Camus

Art by Neapsimoka