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Apr. 15, 2002
� A Letter to Satanic
Youth |
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� Due to the ever-increasing amount of mail that
we have received from young people who are new to Satanism, we feel the time
has come to put together some information to help answer your specific questions
and concerns.
� If you have read our books, you know that Satanism isn't about taking
drugs, and it isn't about harming animals or children. Unlike many religions
and philosophies, Satanism respects and exalts life. Children and animals
are the purest expressions of that life force, and as such are held sacred
and precious in the eyes of the Satanist. Besides, it is very un-Satanic to
take any creature's life against its will. It is equally un-Satanic to cloud
your brain and impair your judgment with mind-altering substances. A real
magician has no need of those kind of things, as he should be able to bring
about changes in consciousness by the very power of his Will and imagination.�
� If you have not read The Satanic Bible, you should do so. It has
a lot more information on our attitude toward Satan, and will give you a
clearer idea of our philosophy, ideals and goals. Perhaps at first they will
be difficult for you to understand, because you may have been raised in an
environment that dictates that God=Good and Satan=Evil. The truth is that
good and evil are often terms that people twist to suit their own purposes.
Sometimes people will lie and try to make you think certain things just so
you will do what they want you to do. Always remember that the final judgment
is yours. That is both a great freedom and a great responsibility. For us,
Satan is a symbol of the power of that choice.�
� There is no one way that a Satanist is "supposed" to be. Uniqueness
and creativity are encouraged here, not mindless conformity. It doesn't matter
what kind of music you like to listen to; it doesn't make any difference whether
you prefer gothic music, black metal music, classical music, old popular
tunes, or show tunes. It doesn't matter what style of clothes you like to
wear. What does matter is that you are a mature, sensitive, self-aware individualist
who revels in the Darkness, and who wishes to align yourself with others
who share your views. In this world of prefabricated, media-saturated, unoriginal
drones, it is up to the Satanist to cherish, maintain, and preserve true
individuality and creativity. Satan represents freedom from hypocrisy, from
convenient lies, and challenges that which is presumed to be true. He is
strong and defiant, and inspires us to our own strengths.
� That said, let's address some of your most commonly asked questions:�
- � "How old do I have to be to join the
Church of Satan?"
� You may become a member of the Church of Satan
at any age, though further participation in the organization is limited to
those who are eighteen years of age or older. This is not meant as a judgment
of your maturity; we've received letters from 14-year-olds who had a distinct,
mature grasp of Satanism. But we must be realistic about the world around
us. One reason is that we don't want to become a haven for the kind of sanctimonious
perverts that Christian churches and other "Goodguy Badge" forums (such as
Big Brother/Big Sister, Boy Scouts, etc.) often are. There are a lot of sick
people out there, and we don't want our vital young Satanists to become victims
of twisted adults who are more interested in contacting young kids than they
are in practicing Satanism.
� Another reason is because your parents or other adults in your life
may not understand or might be hostile toward your
exploration of this religion. They may try to cause trouble for us, falsely
accusing us of any number of things, just because they feel threatened.
So, we simply cannot allow anyone under the legal age of consent to participate
in any activities directly sponsored by the Church of Satan. The only exception
to this rule would be with the written permission and attendance of your
parent or legal guardian. Some of you may be lucky enough to have a good
relationship with your parents and they may be supportive, even enthusiastic,
about your exploration of the Dark Side. They may be willing to go with you
to meet a local Grotto Master and decide on your level of participation at
this point in your magical development. If this is the case, let us know.
- � "Do I have to become a member to be
a 'real' Satanist?"
� All you have to do to be a real Satanist is
start living like one. Dr. LaVey wrote The Satanic Bible so that people could
pick up a copy, read it, and know everything they need to know about Satanism
and how to put it to work in their own lives. Most people who choose to become
members do so as a symbolic act to themselves, to formally align themselves
with others of like mind, and to show their support for a philosophy and
way of life they agree with. It is a purely personal decision - we don't
solicit memberships. But actual membership usually conveys to others that
you are serious about your beliefs, and that you know enough about it to
have read Dr. LaVey's works and align yourself with his spearhead organization.
It usually grants you a certain amount of respect as an authority. If you
were going to speak as a member of the Church in a public forum, you should
actually be one. If you were going to start a grotto affiliated with the
Church of Satan, you'd have to be a member (again, you'd have to be over
the age of eighteen). but as far as benefiting from Satanism in your life,
or defending true Satanism, those are the rights and responsibilities of
every Satanist, "official" or not.
- � "My parents and friends don't understand
me, and don't approve of my interest in Satanism. How can I make them accept
my beliefs, and where can I go to perform my rituals?"
� Unfortunately, most young Satanists face this
problem. Few of us are lucky enough to have sympathetic parents, or others
around like ourselves. However, as long as you are living under your parents'
roof and they are feeding and taking care of you, you do owe them a degree
of consideration. Offer to let them read your books, and talk about what
misunderstandings they may have from TV talk shows and Christian propaganda.
But you can't force anyone to understand what, for you, is an obvious and
magical revelation. If Satanism offends others who have necessary control
over your life right now, do your studies and rituals in private. If you
don't have a place at home where you can be alone, find a special spot on
the beach, in a field, or in the woods where you can ritualize when you need
to. While you are understandably enthusiastic about your new-found religion,
it is not very Satanic to make yourself miserable by creating a problem with
your parents when you have to live in the same house together, or at school
where your real goal may be to aggravate those in authority in the guise
of "expressing your individuality." Practice Lesser Magic. Remember that
a competent Satanic magician should be able to size up any situation and
weigh his choices of action to bring about desired results. Enthusiasm is
certainly encouraged and appreciated, however Satanism asks no one to be
a martyr. And keep in mind that most people simply aren't going to understand
because, ultimately, they don't want to. That is as it should be. Satanism
is not for everyone. Satan, by his very nature, walks alone. He is the true
individualist, the outcast. This doesn't mean that you cannot care about
those who are close to you; Satan also represents love, kindness and respect
to those who deserve it. It just means that you should not concern yourself
with people who do not approve of you. Revel in your uniqueness; be proud
of who and what you are. Achieve all you can with the strength and determination
of Satan himself coursing proudly through your veins. When Satanism leads
to positive changes in your accomplishments and attitude, your parents and
other adults around you will notice. The best way you can represent Satanism
is by providing a living example of how the diabolical arts have made you
a stronger, more focused person. The results will speak louder than any logical
argument you can present.
- � "Is it better to study and ritualize
alone, or to work with others?"
� Unless you are able to find others who are
as knowledgeable about Satanism as you are, it is better to work alone. If
you do choose to ritualize with others, you must make certain that they are
100% clear on what Satanism is all about. If they are into it just out of
curiosity or for thrills, they'll get their thrills all right - the wrong
kind! Many young Satanists find they have one close, magical friend who they
feel they can work with, but usually one of you is magically stronger and
more sincere, and chances are that's you, since you're the one who has gone
through the trouble of actually contacting the Church of Satan. It's often
best for you to work and study alone, guided by the material in our literature,
rather than have your magic and concentration diluted by would-be friends.
As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. What that
means in this case is that if you perform rituals with others who are not
as serious and dedicated as you are, they will hinder your magic, not strengthen
it. Many adult Satanists work and study alone by choice. Finding a true magical
partner can be stimulating and rewarding, but if you need such a person in
your magical progression, you'll conjure one up (see Herman Hesse's Demian
or Illusions by Richard Bach). Don't be disturbed or frightened or think
you're crazy when you feel contacted by the Dark Ones you conjure forth,
or by the magical results you begin to produce. You're not crazy for feeling
the way you do about the hypocrisy, blindness and incompentence you see all
around you. Nor are you crazy to see the results of your Black Magic. Approach
the Dark Masters with the proper degree of respect and decorum - that's what
rituals are for, to establish a relationship. If you approach the demons
respectfully, they will reward you with knowledge, guidance, and success.
Your demon guide is within you - don't look for it outside. You just have
to contact that part of yourself and listen to it. That is the most important
work anyone can do.
- � "Do I need all the things mentioned
in The Satanic Bible to do my rituals?"
� You don't need everything mentioned in Dr.
LaVey's books to do an effective ritual. Maybe you don't have the money to
obtain, or the private space to store, items such as swords, chalices, black
robes, gongs and elaborate altars. Here is a powerful ritual you can perform
tonight, and all you need is a quiet place where you can be alone, a Baphomet
either on your person or in front of you, and a single black candle: Light
the candle and set it before you. Sit up straight, breathe deeply and relax.
Clear your mind of all outside thoughts. As you gaze at the flame, say in
your mind or out loud, "I am ready, oh, Dark Lord. I feel your strength within
me and wish to honor you in my life. I am one of the Devil's Own. Hail Satan!"
Open your mind. It will take time. You may think you are ready, but you may
still find you cannot let go right away. Concentrate on your image of Satan
and on the word "strength" and listen to what comes up from yourself. You
have answers for yourself that no one else can give you. This is a simple
way of conjuring Satan into your life. He'll snap you into line and tell
you what you have to do to be happy, strong and focused - and he'll give
you the stamina and courage to push yourself to do it. The path you've chosen
won't be easy; sometimes it may be a nightmare. But when you are ready to
face the challenge, it will be there.�
� A few final words:
� Just because you are not yet eighteen doesn't mean that you cannot
explore on your own these Dark Realms that are opening before you. This is
a very potent, magical time. You were compelled to write to us for a reason,
and right now you are going through an initiation into the Black Arts that
must be all your own. Your body and your mind are going through intense changes.
Take this time to learn all you can - about yourself and about the world around
you. Explore your skills, talents, and inventiveness. Learn to play music,
paint or build a robot. Use your brain and your heart to find out what is
right, what is true, and what will make you stronger. You are not alone.
You are different; you are superior, and it's okay for you to feel that way.
You see what others do not; you know what evil lurks in the hearts of men.
Don't settle for white-light bullshit just because you can't actively participate
with other "official" Satanists right now. Don't fill your mind and dilute
your magic with crap. Don't believe someone who claims to know more about
Satanism than you do. You're the one who contacted us; you might even join.
A friend your age probably doesn't know nearly as much about real magic as
you do. An adult who claims special powers and who says he can initiate you
into the Dark Realms is probably just looking to fuel his own ego (or wallet).
Read our Bunco Sheet carefully so that you won't be taken advantage of, and
look over the rest of our information. You don't have to join. Remember, to
be a true Satanist all you have to do is start living like one, so don't complicate
your life by pushing when it isn't necessary. Your status within the Church
of Satan will be based on your real accomplishments in the outside world,
not how many magical sigils you've memorized. The Church of Satan will be
here when you are ready, and if your commitment is strong and sincere, you
will benefit from this time. Your family and friends might be concerned at
first because they've been brainwashed about what Satanism is. If they love
you, when they see the positive changes that occur due to your new dedication
to Satanism (and most of all, to yourself) they'll try to understand and support
you. Best wishes for further success and fulfillment. You are with us.�
� HAIL SATAN!�
� Released January 1998
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