“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I have been publicly speaking about Satanic Magic since XLVI A.S. In all that time, I have had the opportunity to discuss its practices, implications, applications, successes and personalizations with many Satanists. Satanic Magic consists of two categories: Lesser Magic which I rarely get questioned about, and Greater Magic which I am regularly questioned about.
For years I have been trying to reflect the text in The Satanic Bible and The Satanic Scriptures back on the reader but there seems to be a point of contention between two books that some Satanists are stumbling on. If you will join me, I would like to explore this with you.
The Satanic Scriptures has an essay at the beginning of ‘The Rituals’ section titled Satanic Ritual. Within it Magus Peter H. Gilmore writes:
“Satanic Ritual is a technique of self-transformative psychodrama. It is a tool for releasing emotions that are pent up and thus hindering you from the pursuit of Indulgence in your daily life. There is no guarantee that ritual can do anything more than serve as a cathartic experience for the ones performing it. That is why we do not perform rituals for other people; if they are not performing it, they will not benefit from the experience…”
Any yet we see and hear about Satanists performing Compassion Rituals for others. The basic structure of a Satanic Ritual is to effect others isn’t it? Lust, Compassion or Destruction all affect someone other than yourself. Isn’t that the goal?
The definition of Satanic Magic is found within The Satanic Bible. In the ‘(Earth) The Book of Belial – The Mastery of the Earth’ section is the chapter The Theory and Practice of Satanic Magic (Definition and Purpose) which states:
“The change in situations or events in accordance with one’s will, which would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable.”
Just a few paragraphs later Anton Szandor LaVey defines Greater Magic thusly:
“Its main function is to isolate the otherwise dissipated adrenal energies and other emotionally induced energy, and convert it into a dynamically transmittable force.”
Doesn’t that belie the ‘self-transformative psychodrama’ definition Magus Peter H. Gilmore mentioned before? I don’t think so, after all the Doktor has been referring to Greater Magic as a Psychodrama from the beginning of the Church of Satan.
If you continue reading his Satanic Ritual essay, you will discover references to ‘supernormal’ abilities which culminates in the following:
“Thus we leave this as an open ended question that each Satanist who chooses to use ritual must answer for himself—does it do more than simply give emotional relief? Only you can answer it, based on your personally chosen criteria for validity. You might find yourself surprised.”
Is it any wonder why the Maestro would leave it open ended like that? Greater Magic is an incredibly intimate practice. One that is hyper-personal and absolutely personalized to the performer(s). When you are engaging in a magical practice, there is no intellectualizing it, hence there is no scientific process to follow for results. Even Anton LaVey addresses this in The Satanic Bible:
“… no attempt has been made to limit the explanation set forth to a set nomenclature. Magic is never totally scientifically explainable, but science has always been, at one time or another, considered magic.”
This is reinforced later in the chapter titled The Three Types of Satanic Ritual:
“… it matters not whether anyone attaches any significance to your workings, so long as the results of the workings are in accordance with your will.”
Why then are some practitioners so obsessed with the fictional A+B=C mathematical formality of Greater Magic? Why are you so concerned with what others think about Greater Magic? Are you trying to justify your actions thus making them real through others’ approval or acceptance? There could be nothing less Satanic than that!
You should stop trying to understand what others think or believe about Satanic Magic and try it out for yourself. Come to your own conclusion, as this has been the stance the Church of Satan has had from the beginning! Not every Satanist practices Greater Magic. Not every Satanist believe it can be effective. Not every Satanist who does believe in it, or has practiced it needs to. But some do.
Every successful magician knows one simple truth—confidence is the most important ingredient in success.
Hail Satan!
Satanic Magic Video Essay: https://youtu.be/-Zv5GZcK__w
9sense Greater Magic Specials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVvV0kw_6B9i_GoXxq56QHHW5ZOGkhI-H