Latest Posts by forsakensnakeskin - Page 5

Azazel

The name Azazel only occurs one time in all of the canonical Bible, in Leviticus 16:8-10. As the Catholic Encyclopedia records, this passage explains the ceremony that the Jewish people should perform as part of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

As a personification of evil, the Jewish Encyclopedia refers to Azazel as "in some degree a preparation" for the idea of Satan. The figure of Azazel is likely pre-Israelite in origin and is probably closely tied to a communal fear for the mountainous desert region that he came to personify.

According to the Nahmanides the scapegoat rite is a symbolic expression of the idea that the people's sins and their evil consequences were to be sent back to the spirit of desolation and ruin, the source of all impurity.

1 Enoch portrays Azazel as responsible for teaching people to make weapons and cosmetics, for which he was cast out of heaven.

In the extra-canonical text the Apocalypse of Abraham (c.1st CE), Azazel appears as an unclean bird who came down upon the sacrifice which Abraham prepared. (This is in reference to Genesis 15:11: "Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away" [NIV]).

In the Apocalypse of Abraham, Azazel is described with his own Kavod (Magnificence), a term usually used for the Divine in apocalyptic literature, already indicating the devil as anti-thesis of God, with the devil's kingdom on earth and God's kingdom in heaven. Azazel is also identified with the serpent which tempted Eve.

In De occulta philosophia (1509-1510), Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Scale of quaternary: Four Princes of devils in the elements: Azazel: Air

In later lore, he is fallen and is punished by having his nose pierced.

The word "scapegoat" has developed to indicate a person who is blamed and punished for the actions of others.

The illustration depicts him with horns, a pitchfork, a banner, and, of course, a goat. There's a frog on the banner. From Dictionnaire Infernal by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy

Alternative Spellings

Hebrew: עֲזָאזֵל ʿAzāʾzēl

Arabic: عزازيل, romanized: ʿAzāzīl

Asael

Azael

Azazyel

Azzael

Epithets

The Adversary

Advisor

The Angel of Darkness

Blender of Eyeshadows

Counselor

The Crafty Adversary

The Crafty Worm

The Cunning Worm

The Fallen Archangel

Forger of Swords

Guardian of Goats

The Lawless One

The Rebel Angel

Seducer of Mankind

Identified With

The Devil

[Apocalypse of Abraham] Here there is the idea that God's heritage (the created world) is largely under the dominion of evil – i.e., it is "shared with Azazel" (Abr. 20:5), again identifying him with the devil, who was called "the prince of this world" by Jesus. (John 12:31 niv)

Gadriel and Rameel

Some of the fallen angels that are given in 1 Enoch have other names, such as Rameel ('morning of God'), who becomes Azazel, and is also called Gadriel ('wall of God') in Chapter 68. (A source is not cited for this)

Gadreel (Hebrew: גדר האל, romanized: Gader ha-el, lit. 'Wall of God') is listed as one of the chiefs of the fallen Watchers. He is said to have been responsible for deceiving Eve. Schmidt lists the name as meaning 'the helper of God.'

Iblis

In Islamic lore, Azazel or Azazeel was the name of Iblis before he disobeyed God by not bowing to humans and was sent from the Earth.

Satan

Origen ("Contra Celsum," vi. 43) identifies Azazel with Satan.

Azaz, as in Azazel, means strength, so the name Azazel can refer to 'strength of God'. But the sense in which it is used most probably means 'impudent' (showing strength towards), which results in 'arrogant to God'. This is also a key point in modern thought that Azazel is Satan. Also important in this identification is the fact that the original name Rameel, is very similar in meaning to the word Lucifer ('Morning Star') which is a common Latin name of Satan in Christianity.

Associated With

Alchemy

Antimony (use of)

Beauty

Coloring tinctures

Cosmetics

Cunning

The earthly realm

Fatherhood

Forbidden knowledge

Freedom of choice

Goats

Dye making

Herbalism

Knowledge

Magic

Marriage

Metallurgy

Metalworking

Mirror making

Occult arts

Ornamenting the body

Pleasure

Pride

Rebellion

Scapegoats

Seduction

Self preservation

Sensual experiences

Sexuality

Temptation

Warfare

Weapon making

Wisdom

Witchcraft

Attributes

Abyss, hole, pit

Air

Antimony

Banner with a frog on it

Black

Bracelets

Breastplates

Chain

Coats of mail

Cosmetics

Darkness

Desert

Dragon

Dudael, Dûdâêl (God's Kettle/Crucible/Cauldron)

Dye

Fallen/falling star

Fire

Goat, goat skulls, goat bones

Grapes, grapevine

Herbs

Jewelry

Knives

Metals

Metalsmithing tools

Mirror

Mount Azazel (Jabel Munttar) in the Judaen Desert

Nose piercing

Precious stones

Red

Rough and jagged rocks

Serpent

Shields

Swords

Unclean bird, bird of prey, carrion bird

Uninhabited places

Weapons

Wilderness

Depictions

His form is described as a dragon with "hands and feet like a man's, on his back six wings on the right and six on the left." (23:7)

Originally, Azazel was one of heaven’s angels, a gloriously beautiful man with wings on his back.

Today, like many demons, Azazel is drawn with red skin, glowing yellow eyes, and a barbed tail. He may also be found wearing goat skulls or dressed in goat bones.

He is a shape-shifter and may appear in any form, including a winged angel.

An unclean bird, bird of prey, carrion bird

Do you have any recommended books on Lucifer and demonolatry besides the one by S Connolly?

Hi! Sorry for taking so long, I was quite overwhelmed with college. So first some recommendations:

Children of Lucifer by Ruben Van Luijk - an academic book on satanic history.

Satanic Feminism by Per Faxneld - on the intersection of feminism, liberation in general, and the satanic. A book formative for my practice even though it doesn't much deal with religious Satanism.

The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity edited by Per Faxneld and Jesper Petersen - I'm still not finished with that one, as college makes me have much less energy for reading even more academic texts, but I've liked the previous book by Faxneld and the essays I've read so far were interesting.

The Luminous Stone: Lucifer in Western Esotericism edited by Michael Howard and Daniel A. Schulke - I admit I don't remember much of the contents as I read it when I was beginning to work with Lucifer, and it's worth knowing that this one is not academic like the three listed before, but you can see some perspectives of the practicioners in it as it's an essay collection with many contributors.

As for Connoly - I don't like her books. They're poorly researched and perpetuating misinformation, they are very appropriative too, and in the Complete Book of Demonolatry she openly references a Joy of Satan website, waving the fact that they're a nazi cult away with "theological differences", which makes her seem to be way too comfortable with nazis. Koetting, a nazi who inspired actual murder, lists her on his Become a Living God website as someone he collaborated with, though she herself denies so I don't know what to think since Koetting is hardly a credible source and he lists 20 people there. Still - the Joy of Satan link is right there in her book.

on the essence of offerings

The question "does god xy will accept and like xy as offering" is a question originating from a theology where the offering will "appear" 1 to 1 before the god to eat and digest.

This question is one of the more prominent ones and can cause religious anxiety.

But this has not to be the case, if we take a different aproach on what exactly is offered and why. Do we "feed" the gods? Perhaps not. They were there before us and were well nutritioned. Just look at Thor :D

Do the Gods "need" our offerings? Perhaps not. Like I said, they exist without us and will exist without us.

So why do we offer food, drinks and votives?

@oceankeltoi made a wonderful example with his Cat where he would land on the lap of him and simply purr. This purr is what our offerings are. They have no "real" purpose but to sway and compliment the gods. We give symbolic thanks to them for what they did, do and will do in the future.

Like a toast, it helps to have some thoughts behind an offering and a pious aproach towards the ritual and the offered things.

Besides that, just because the Edda's state, that Odin only drinks Mead and Wine in his Hall, that doesn't mean he doesn't accept a nice offering of cookies and a libation of milk or anything else or he doesn't drink/ eat anything else outside the hall. Literalism is not the way.

Luciferian Challenge: Day 17

What symbols do you refer to in Luciferianism? Why?

There’s some overall symbols I’m really drawn to when it comes to my Luciferianism. Torches and serpents are the big ones, perhaps for obvious reasons: the Lightbringer or enlightenment aspects of Luciferianism are wonderfully represented by a torch (though I’ll sometimes use a lantern as a substitute, especially when it comes to an actual physical prop or tool) and serpents or snakes have a connection both to the Original Sin and to imagery of rebirth and growth given their constant shedding. 

Stars and fire are also imagery I enjoy, as they’re often a light in the dark and the theme of the Morningstar is ever present during modern discussions of Lucifer, and they have some overlap with my Dionysian side of things, as do the aforementioned serpents. 

For more obscure ones that are a bit esoteric and personal to me, I like the dagger (for its history as a very broadly used magical and practical tool) and those archways/portals with a set of stairs and stars beyond it (because it reminds me of imagery similar to the Flammerion Engraving, and the act of trying to look beyond the firmament). 

And finally, I’ll sometimes use the seal of Lucifer from the Grimoire Verum or a pentagram, but they’re sort of a supporting symbol or last resort rather than what I like most or find the best fitting for my beliefs and practice. 

I will admit that most of my general symbols are also ones I’d also use for Lucifer specifically, as despite having a trio of figures that are important to my practice and beliefs, he’s central and the tie that binds it all together. It is, after all, called Luciferianism. I’ve used the Emperor tarot card as a temporary idol for him during divination, but it’s a poor fit and I’d want to find a new one… perhaps the Magician instead, but it’s something I mean to put more work into. 

For Eve, I like the apple best as it’s most recognizable, but also figs, pomegranates, and mushrooms. Due to some tarot divination I’ve done, I also associate her with the Empress card, and the Queens of Swords and Pentacles. I’m still working on other flowers and plants beyond the fruiting ones that suit her, as well as planetary associations. It’s an ongoing process. 

And for Azazel, I so far default to a goat or goat’s skull. I don’t like leaning too far into the Scapegoat side of things, as that feels pretty uniquely Jewish, but even in Christianity he has some association with goats. He also has a role to me that feels very similar to the paintings you’ll see with the goat headed figure at the witches’ sabbaths, so it’s double appropriate. 

I am very, very conflicted on Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s symbol for Saturn being used as his sigil. While he is absolutely a figure you could describe as Saturnian, magically speaking, my research suggests that the earliest popularization of using that seal for him might have come from the founder of the JoS, which would be deeply unfortunate. Obviously it’s not like I’d be the one to spread the idea (as looking up “sigil of Azazel” will almost universally give you the Saturn symbol), but I’m just so deeply allergic to everything they stand for that the idea of using it is a bit, for lack of a better word, icky. 

Frater VIM, who ran a now defunct blog that brought this un-fun bit of trivia to my attention, proposed that the related symbol of the planetary daemon/demon Zazel was actually referencing Azazel, and therefore an appropriate alternative. However, I’m not fully sure if the idea of Azazel and Zazel being the same figure purely on name similarity is one I vibe with, and would have to do further research. While this happens a lot with some angelic names/occult figures, there’s other times when a similar name is not in any way indicative of two deities or spirits being related. Finally, as far as Tarot symbolism goes, I used the Devil card in a pinch but did not like it for him. As with Lucifer I need to investigate more appropriate alternatives. Currently I’m leaning towards the Hermit.  

I tend to represent myself in my practice, when the need arises, with the Fool (for its association with new beginnings), or with the card that’s become my signifier during Tarot divination, which I don’t want to post publicly at this time. I think having personal symbols and associations can be incredibly handy, and I wish I’d started employing it in my practice sooner.   

Hey! My preliminary research has suggested Azazel being closed to Judaism due to his roots within it, can I ask where you have gotten your information on him from? Not to sound accusatory, just wanting to know more.

Hello, thanks for asking!

So obviously I'm coming at this from a Christian perspective. My knowledge of Jewish religion and folklore is far more limited than someone raised within the religion.

The aspect of Azazel I understand to be very intertwined with Judaism is the scapegoat ritual. I've grabbed a definition of it from the Sydney Jewish Museum.

A key part of Yom Kippur, as described in the Torah, is the ritual slaughter of two goats; one for the Lord, and the other is designated “for Azazel”. Jewish tradition takes “Azazel” as the name of a rocky headland off which one goat, having the sins of the community symbolically placed upon it, would be thrown. The other goat, the one for the Lord, would be slaughtered as part of the general Yom Kippur rituals. This slaughter would bring atonement to the community.

This isn't part of Azazel's mythology that I really engage with. My view of him as a Watcher or fallen angel comes from the Book of Enoch, which is an Apocryphal text that seems to date back to the Dead Sea Scrolls. I've read that both Ethiopian Jewish communities and some Orthodox Christian churches consider it canon, but for the most part it is treated by wider Judaism and Christianity as not an official part of scripture. I have also heard that a story very similar to it appears in Islam, though I've not done enough research into it to speak at length about that.

In another Apocryphal text called the Apocalypse of Abraham, the name Azazel is attributed to an unclean bird of prey that tried to consume part of Abraham's sacrifices to God. In the same text, the name is also used to refer instead to the Serpent in Hell. Neither version is something I draw much of my understanding of him from (at least currently), but I'm mentioning it as an example of how often the same name or concept can pop up in different texts.

So to summarize, the name Azazel and a very specific rite associated with it do appear in Judaism, and that version/interpretation not something I feel comfortable approaching as a Luciferian who was raised Christian. Meanwhile, the view of him as a fallen angel exists only in Apocrypha, and isn't closely intertwined with or unique to Jewish culture and folklore in the same way a figure like Lilith is. That's the specific entity called Azazel I engage with.

One of the earliest definite mentions of Azazel was in the Book of Enoch, particularly in what is known as The Book of the Watchers. This text, written between the 3rd and 1st century BCE, is a part of the Dead Sea Scrolls and is not considered canon by most modern day denominations but the characters and stories in this text remain a popular source of intrigue even to this day. In Enoch, we are told of the Grigori (Watchers) who were a group of 200 angels in charge of, you guessed it, watching mankind. In the process of watching humanity, they began to notice the “beautiful and comely daughters” of mankind and were overcome with lust for these women. Collectively, they agreed to take wives and father children but their leader Semjaza expressed concern that some of his men would back out. In an effort to guarantee that he would not be the only one commit this great sin, they all took an oath on Mt. Hermon, binding themselves ‘by mutual imprecations.’ Of the 200 Grigori, there were 20 leaders, with Semjaza holding the highest rank. The second highest rank went to Azazel who taught mankind how to make weapons and use cosmetics (get yourself an angel who can do both!)

Each of the Watchers taught humanity different ‘secrets of heaven’, which ended up being subjects like astrology, meteorology, and various practices considered ‘witchcraft’ in those times. However, some of them taught subjects still considered taboo in certain cultures. Tamiel, also called Kasdeja, for instance, was said to have taught women about abortion. Each of the Watchers also slept with mortal women and fathered monstrous giants called Nephilim. The Nephilim were said to be 3000 ells high, which is a little more than 2 miles tall. They were ravenous, even cannibalistic. When the labors of humanity could no longer keep up with the Nephilim’s appetites, the Nephilim turned on humanity, devouring man, animal, and each other. Those who were killed by the deeds of the Watchers arrived in heaven and brought God’s attention to destruction on Earth. To combat the devastation brought on by the Watchers, God sent he archangels. Uriel was told to warn Noah of the upcoming flood. Gabriel was in charge of killing the “bastards and the reprobates” as well as the Nephilim. He was instructed to pit them against each other while Michael bound Semjaza and the rest of the Watchers so that they could see their son’s rip each other apart. But God specifically set out an individual punishment for Azazel. “The Lord said to Raphael: ‘Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there forever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgement he shall be cast into the fire.” He further adds “the whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin.’

Art: Azazel by Peter Mohrbacher ( @bugmeyer ) for his work, Book of the Watchers. 

When the Watchers arrived on earth

if you're a witchcraft/pagan blog, you need to block the following accounts immediately:

these blogs are known for being part of a neo-nazi, antisemetic hate group that sends spammy asks to nearly every witchcraft blog on this hellsite. these asks usually include a link to their website, which just boosts their seo and gives them more traffic. do not interact with them. do not answer their messages/asks, and do not engage. i highly encourage you block the following accounts:

gulbara

ostara-444

heaven-nor-hell

daemonsagenda

oracle-of-raum

887266161

holy-oracle-of-satan

i also recommend turning off anonymous asks - they tend to prefer to send asks anonymously, and if you have that feature turned off on your blog, they'll be less likely to bother you.

i'll be adding to this list as i discover more!

REMINDER, DO NOT FOLLOW ME IF YOU "WORK WITH LILITH"

I have too much respect for witchblr's Jewish community to waste time with people who appropriate aspects of their culture, and refuse to respect their requests that you all stop.

If you're TRULY clueless as to WHY working with Lilith is not okay I can link you to a few resources on it, but I truly suggest you seek out someone who IS jewish and learn from them instead.

A Serenity Prayer from the Satanic Sober Faction:

"I grant myself the courage to take responsibility for my Own actions,

The power to let go of that which does not serve me,

And the wisdom to seek help when needed.

Hail Satan"

Small ways to connect with and honor Lucifer

Contemplate the stars.

Learn something new.

Share some fruit with him.

Take care of yourself.

Boost voices of marginalized people.

Explore his depictions in art.

Study philosophy.

Learn and correct misinformation about snakes and other villanized animals.

Light him a candle and contemplate the fire.

Write them little thank you notes.

Play music that reminds you of them, and invite them to listen with you.

Do something that brings you pleasure.

Donate to organisations doing work connected to what he stands for, like fighting oppression and helping oppressed people.

Write a list of things you appreciate about him, then try to do the same for yourself.

Learn about their history.

Simply talk to him.

Sing them a song.

Lucifer

Lucifer is a Latin word coming from the words lux, meaning light, and fero, meaning to bear or to carry. Literally translating to light-bearer.

Lucifer as a Roman Deity

Lucifer has had many faces throughout history. One of these being the ROman deity of the morning star, or Venus, considered the male equivalent of the goddess Venus. He is attributed to being the god of enlightenment and illumination. Lucifer is often depicted carrying a torch, and said to be equal in beauty to the goddess Venus. Due to being the morning star, I can also see Lucifer being associated with war as well. Especially considering his association with learning and knowledge, as well as that Venus also historically had war epithets. 

In the Greek pantheon, they separate the morning star and the evening star into two seperate deities, being Phosphorus/Eosphorus and Hesperos. Eosphorus meaning “dawn-bringer”, and Phosphorus meaning “The bearer of light”. Phosphorus and Hesperos are the sons of Eos, Goddess of dawn, and Astraios, God of dusk. Phosphorus is the father of the Hesperides, nymphs of the evening time and light of the sunset.

Lucifer in Abrahamic Religions

Historically, Lucifer was never mentioned in the Bible at all. His name being associated to Christianity nowadays is due to a mistranslation of a poem about a fallen king. However, he is a big part of Christian culture now, and there are myths associated with him. 

Lucifer was said to be the most beautiful and intelligent of God’s angels. He was God’s right hand. Until he defied God. There are many different versions of the fall of Lucifer. 

One version of this story says that Lucifer became overly prideful of himself, his beauty, intelligence, power, that he thought himself worthy of being worshipped equal to God. Because of this, God cast him out of heaven.

Another version is that Lucifer was jealous of Jesus Christ. He gathered the angels and brought forward the idea of worshipping him instead of Jesus. Some of the angels sided with Lucifer, while others did not. There was a meeting between God, Lucifer, and all of the angels in which God said that their rebellion was unforgivable. There was a war between the two sides, but ultimately God and his angels won. Lucifer and the angels who followed him were banished from heaven.

Lucifer in Modern Witchcraft

In more modern witchcraft, there is a tradition which states that Diana, queen of witches, created Lucifer when she split herself into two pieces, darkness and light. She kept the darkness for herself, and Lucifer kept the light. Lucifer and Diana also have a child, Aradia. In this tradition, Lucifer is seen as the god of light, and masculine energy. One of the most influential sources for this tradition is The Gospel of the Witches by Charles Godfrey Leland.

Lucifer in Demonolatry

In demonolatry, Lucifer has many titles. Prince, King, Emperor, Lord. Lucifer is a demon of transformation, enlightenment, awakening, self-discovery, self-empowerment, and more. He is usually attributed to the element of air, and also pride.

Lucifer’s Associations

Anything with the * symbol next to it means that it is my own UPG.

Animals:

Snakes

Rams

Peacocks

Corvids (crows, ravens)

Cats

Spiders

Moths

Colors:

Black

Grey

Gold

Red

Teal

Blue, especially pale blue*

Purple* 

Crystals:

Obsidian

Onyx

Hematite

Celestite

Seraphinite

Garnet

Sunstone

Clear quartz

Carnelian

Ruby

Copper 

I am aware that copper isn’t a crystal. 

Plants:

Apples

Pomegranates

Roses

Cinnamon

Cloves

Lavender

Blackberries

Sage

Black pepper

Garlic

Lilac

Hot peppers*

Other:

Stars

The number 7*

Spring equinox

Autumn equinox*

Offerings

Anything with the * symbol next to it is my own UPG.

Food and drink:

Strawberries

Blackberries

Chocolate

Apples

Pomegranates

Honey

Spicy foods*

Sweet things, especially baked goods

Juices, especially apple or grape

Coffee

Plants:

Roses

Other:

Feathers

Devotional Acts

Shadow work

Learn about the sciences or the arts

Create art of any kind

Face your fears

Learn about any of his associated animals

Magical workings, especially those that fall under his sphere of influence

Learning in general

Developing  your psychic abilities and spiritual senses (the clairs)

Spiritual progression

My Experience With Lucifer

I started working with Lucifer about a month ago. I work with the demonic aspect of Lucifer. I work with him on matters of self improvement, self discovery, and self acceptance. In the short time I've worked with him, I've noticed a huge improvement in these areas of my life, and my overall mindset and mood. I have a schedule that I work with him on: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. My shadow work is also dedicated to him.

Lucifer's energy, to me, feels very strong/powerful but also comforting. Also like a close friend, and someone who will you tell you what you need to hear whether you want to hear it or not. He is very patient and understanding with me as well.

My main forms of communication with Lucifer are pendulum, clairaudience, and feelings. I connect with him most through meditation.

Satanism is not atheistic. It is a spectrum of beliefs that includes atheism but also different types of theism.

Everyone wants their brand of Satanism to represent true Satanism but falling into this fallacy negates the other 99% of Satanists.

Hey fyi my fellow satanists, we have another nazi on our hands.

Block, and report. Satanism doesnt advocate or welcome nazis into our group and never will

I can immediately tell this person probably follows JOS, a nazi cult.

It'd probably help to look for specifically themed songs, these pages have some

TV Tropes

Satan - TV Tropes

Satan is the Greater-Scope Villain or Big Bad of most varieties of Christianity, Judaism and Islam (and by extension of most settings in whi

TV Tropes

Southern Gothic Satan - TV Tropes

Who's that tall dark stranger coming to town? It's Satan! Well, not the traditional Christian Satan, but an American Gothic concept that's h

en.m.wikipedia.org

Satan - Wikipedia

Is there any satanic music that isn't heavy metal? (Music about satanism/embodies satanic beliefs etc.)

The joke is I listen to a lot of metal so I'm not 110% sure, maybe my followers can help?

I know it's out there but the only thing vaguely not metal I can think of is ghost ^^; specifically He Is.

Apotheosis

Congratulations! You’re a Luciferian now! And you’ve heard about this thing called “apotheosis.” No big deal, it just means becoming a god. Sounds peachy, right? But uh… where do you start? 

Well, first of all, I will admit that I actually have no idea. Apotheosis is a spiritual mystery few have mastered (and most of those who claim to have done so are insufferable bores who probably read too much Nietzsche at some point). Answering the question of what apotheosis is, and how it actually works, is a bit like answering the question of what happens after death– I doubt anyone alive truly knows for sure.

Still, you can use the idea of apotheosis as your guiding star. There is a lot you can do in this lifetime, on this plane, to move closer to your own Godliness. 

Here are a few ideas! Please feel free to add your own.

1. Apotheosis through self-knowledge

Knowledge is the starting place. Fruit of Eden, right? After Adam and Eve eat the fruit, YHWH says that “they have become like us, knowing both good and evil” (Genesis 3:22).

Like they say, know thyself. Figure out who you are and where you are at. From what point do you begin on this journey? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What baggage do you carry with you?

After that, you can start working on…

2. Apotheosis through self-improvement

Become a better person– which is to say, more like the person you wish you were! Not on a superficial level, either– I’m talking about becoming the sort of person you can truly admire. 

Do you need to break some bad habits? Do you have some character flaws that are causing you trouble? Are there talents you haven’t developed, areas of knowledge you want to explore but haven’t? Are you procrastinating something? Do you often fail to take proper care of yourself? You’re human, so chances are your answer to all of these questions is “yes.” Start changing that!

But while you do this difficult work, be sure to simultaneously incorporate…

3. Apotheosis through self-acceptance

I’ll tell you something you might not have realized yet– shame, guilt, and self-loathing are not useful tools for change. They tend to keep you stuck, convinced you can never do better. Breaking this cycle means the end of recriminations, the clear-eyed acceptance of yourself, and the grasping of your own power.

This is shadow work! The “shadow self” is a Jungian description of all the things about ourselves we can’t accept. The path to healing your defects is not in denying your shadow, but in embracing it. By admitting your imperfection you shuck off vanity, by accepting it you free yourself of guilt and shame. That’s three shadow aspects decreased automatically just by the process of acceptance!

Try this: make a list of everything about your personality that you don’t like, and then try to understand how it might better serve you. Most character flaws are actually strengths that have been taken too far. For example: shame and guilt indicate that your conscience is in working order. Angry outbursts are usually attempts at self-defense that became excessive. Vanity and pride are merely out-of-control self-confidence, which is an excellent trait! I could go on ad nauseam. Try it yourself!

After that you might feel ready for…

4. Apotheosis through self-worship

Treat yourself like the God you want to be. Give yourself offerings. Make yourself an altar. I believe our divinity is already within us, in the form of our Higher Selves. If you buy into this idea, then you can treat your Higher Self like any other God. Pray to it, meditate on it, try to feel it and communicate with it and let it guide you. Your mileage may vary, but this works really well for me. 

5. Apotheosis through legacy

Great musicians, authors, artists, etc. are often referred to as “immortal,” because their work lives on after they have passed. If you are creatively inclined, why not shoot for this form of Godhood? Try to make something that will carry your spirit on forever.

If you aren’t an artist of any type, you can still do this! Are you the type of person who wants to have children or otherwise assist in raising the next generation? Do this well and you may become a revered ancestral spirit, an entity whose power, love and memory others call on long after you are gone from the physical world.

Don’t wanna deal with kids? That’s fine! There are other ways. Will your legacy be your career? Will it be activism and community service? There are many ways for your memory to live on. 

Getting witchier…

6. Apotheosis through magic

If you are a person who does this sort of stuff, you might have already noticed the apotheosis potential of magic. Through your craft, you can influence the world and manifest your desires in ways that other people don’t. You can gain abilities– like astral travel/soul flight, communicating with spirits, etc– that other people don’t have or don’t use. Many of these abilities are associated more with Gods than with humans in popular imagination! Cultivate them and you will quickly feel a little bit more Godlike. 

That’s all I can think of for now! Please feel free to chime in.

HI! um this might be a really dumb question, and I hope I don't offend you, but is Luciferism the same as Satanism?

It’s okay, and no, they are not the same. Luciferianism is focused more on seeing our flaws, bettering ourselves, and aspiring to apotheosis by becoming more noble (think virtues) and divine. We educate ourselves about many things, such as languages, ancient texts, social issues, etc, and try to educate others as well. We embrace the aspects of humanity such as creativity, wisdom, and passion for learning. This can come in the form of Theistic, Agnostic, or Atheistic.

I am going to be a wuss and not define Satanism and there by avoid probably fucking it up. Just to be clear they are different, but one is no better than the other.

With either, Theistic practitioners may worship one of many entities given the title of Lightbringer/Morningstar or Satan. These titles are not exclusive to the basic devil type.

Lightbringers might include Jesus, Mary, Lucifer, Eve, or Prometheus.

Satans might include Ha-Satan, Shaytan, Samaul, Set.

How do non-theistic luciferians work towards apotheosis if they don't even belief in the existence of gods?

Apotheosis does not only refer to literal deification. I’ve found that the number of luciferians who work towards this particular understanding of apotheosis, in which they strive to transcend and shed their own mortality to become literal gods, are few in comparison to those that incorporate apotheosis in their work in a much broader sense, where divinity doesn’t exist solely outside of the bounds of humanity.Instead, apotheosis may mean becoming like God. It may mean taking responsibility of one’s own fate, of refusing to blame or thank anyone/anything for what they have done for (or to) themselves. Apotheosis may refer to self-betterment, in which the vision of your own best self is the divinity you seek to become. It may refer to the godhood that mankind has already made for itself, this strange sort of artificial (but not necessarily lesser) divinity that our own hands have wrought. 

There are so many different things that apotheosis may mean to someone, theism is hardly a requirement. In fact, I think this is an excellent chance to get some discussion going on—anon, perhaps input from others will help answer your question even further.So, I’m opening this up to whoever wants to contribute: What is your understanding of apotheosis, and how do you incorporate it into your own practice?

“The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.“ 

Dr. Aschenasy, a Hebrew scholar said: “In Hebrew, beguiled does not mean “tricked” or “deceived”, as commonly thought. Rather, the Hebrew word is a rare verb that indicates an intense experience evoking great emotional, psychological, and/or spiritual trauma. It is likely that Eve’s intense, multilevel experience, this “beguiling” by the serpent, was the catalyst that caused Eve to ponder and evaluate what her role in the Garden really was.“

Satan’s [deceptive efforts] were not enough to deceive Eve into blindly eating the fruit. What it DID do was beguile her: made her question, made her doubt, and sent her on a soul-searching journey.

Some Reasons I like Satanism:

I vibe so hard with femme fatale beings (not gender specific)

The emphasis on autonomy and liberation

I relate to demons in a voidpunk way

Satan and Satanic figures are cool

It is what you make of it

Can range from theistic to atheist and in between

Satan makes me feel understood in a way other religions or spiritual paths do/can

Know of any good books for theistic Satanism/Luciferianism? Not sure which one I should get

I bought these four recently after being told they're good books for people just getting into theistic Satanism. Haven't read them yet, but I plan to soon.

The Infernal Gospel - Rev. Cain

The Satanic Scriptures - Peter H. Gilmore

The Unholy Bible - Rev Cain

At Satan's Altar - Marie Ravensoul

If any of my followers have any other suggestions, feel free to reblog or comment with add-ons. I'm always looking for new book recs!

Hope this helped, anon.

Library Tips For Magic Practitioners

As a Missouri librarian, I've gotten to know my library district pretty well. So here are some tips for you!

Tip 1: Dewey is your friend.

And by that I mean the Dewey Decimal System (a more in-depth list is in that link) is your friend. It breaks down as follows:

000: General Knowledge (encyclopedias, newspapers, almanacs, etc)

100: Psychology & Philosophy (feelings, logic, friendships, etc)

200: Religions & Mythology (Bible stories, Native American myths, classical mythology, etc)

300: Social Sciences & Folklore (families, career, money, government, etc)

400: Languages (English, Spanish, American Sign Language, grammar, etc)

500: Math & Science (arithmetic, animals, rocks, plants, fossils, etc)

600: Medicine & Technology (inventions, machines, farming, health, etc)

700: Arts & Recreation (crafts, painting, music, games, sports, etc)

800: Literature (poetry, plays, novels from other countries, etc)

900: Geography & History (countries, biographies, etc)

If you're looking for ghosts, divination, and witchcraft specifically, look around 133. That's where I've found most of my magic-based books to borrow. You'll also find books talking about people's near-death experiences or reincarnation around this point.

While fiction technically falls in the 800s, most libraries will have it separate from nonfiction. You may still find things like poems or memoirs in the nonfiction section. Some libraries will have the biographies separated into their own section. A few libraries (at least here in Missouri) will have state-specific sections where you can learn more about local stuff.

Tip 2: There are computers and printers to use.

If you can't research something at home for literally any reason, getting a library card will often grant you access to using the computers and printers in the library.

When using the printer, some libraries will charge based on how much ink you use, other libraries will charge based on how much paper you use, and other libraries will charge based on some other criteria.

Be aware that you lose access to these if you reach a certain level of overdue materials or money is charged to your library card until the materials are returned/paid for or the money is paid off. Luckily, librarians are here to help you and can tell you what's missing.

Tip 3: Libraries have more than books.

Seriously. The main branch of my library district has 3D printers, telescopes, gaming systems to use in-building, and more stuff that I didn't even pay attention to because I was scrambling to learn the behind-the-counter stuff. Feel free to ask us for something and we can see if it's in-county for ya!

Audiobooks are often available on CDs and in the form of Playaways, which are like MP3 players with a single book on them. You will need a wire-connected set of earbuds or a wire-connected headset and batteries. Some libraries sell earbuds, but not batteries.

Large Print books will often have their own special designation as LP, but more often they have their own shelf sections. You'll find a surprising number of Westerns there, but there are Large Print nonfiction books.

Tip 4: Requesting materials.

Not finding something you're looking for? Ask the front desk for help! In Missouri, we have the Missouri Evergreen system, which means we can borrow books from all over the state* on the topic you're looking for.

If we can't find it (or you're in a library that doesn't have such a monumental reach), then you can often fill out a book request form. We will then do our best to order the book for you - but be aware that it could take many months, and most of the time, people will cancel their order of the book well before our budget catches up or we even have time to get the book processed and integrated into the system. Patience is key when ordering a new book.

*At participating branches - not every library district in our state is part of Missouri Evergreen.

Tip 5: Self-checkout is a thing.

At least, it is here in Missouri. If you don't want to interact with the front desk, there are often self-checkout stations for books, DVDs, audiobooks, et cetera. Even my middle-of-nowhere branch has one!

Unfortunately, this won't work for other things, like updating your card once it expires or resolving monetary charges (which will both send you to the front desk).

Tip 6: Search the new shelves.

Some libraries like mine will have specially-designated "New Shelves", where you can find a lot of the most recent releases. If you're trying to find something in a particular number that you saw on the search but can't find it, it may be on the new shelf. These get cycled out whenever new books come in, which may mean that you have several months' worth of new releases to dig through.

In short, I hope this helps you in your search through the library! Best of luck to you!

~Jasper

Have you ever interacted with Lucifer's dragon aspect ? Can't find a lot about it or in the end since snakes and dragons get mixed togheter it is the same as his snake aspect ?

I wouldn't really say it's the same aspect, as they are rooted in different stories, though the Dragon is also described as the Old Serpent so the connection is here.

The snake originally comes from the Serpent of Eden, the dragon comes from the apocalyptic Dragon in the Revelations, both of which were identified with Lucifer or Satan in Christian tradition, though only the Dragon was described as Satan in the Bible. Their imagery and associations are not identical though.

While I have written about Lucifer as the Serpent, I don't have experience with the Dragon, so I can only wish you good luck.

practices to bond with your deities

i'm most familiar with Greco-Roman deities so i'll use them for examples, but feel free to ask me about a specific deity! which Greco-Roman deity you should work according to your birth chart indications

communication

say "good morning" / "good night" - this is not only out of respect but developing a habit to include them more and more in day to day life

talk to them - whether you're expressing gratitude, praying, asking for advice, or even just talking to them about your day, this will show you are thinking about them and looking up to them. if you feel uncomfortable or can't talk out loud, a journal works just as well

write to them - speaking or journaling, writing is an art form they will appreciate. make journal entries to them, write them a poem or a song. it doesn't have be a fancy, even just phrases here and there will make a huge difference

document your experiences - after spending time with them, write down how it went. keep track of what they seem to like, what they tell you, even small details that don't seem to stick out because when you go back and look, they might stick out then or you might notice patterns

share your food - giving your deity a small portion of your food each time you eat is a way to communicate your honor and respect to them, and also learn what foods/drinks they enjoy

divination - this is more than just tarot cards! there's other forms of cartomancy, there's dowsing, numerology, etc. i personally use astrology <3

connect with their energy - doing activities that appeal to your deity regularly with strengthen your connection with them. for example, my deities are Diana/Artemis and Luna/Selene, so I spend a lot of time in nature, especially at night under the moonlight

honoring

research them in great detail - to get to know your deity, learn everything there is to know: names and epithets, symbols, attributes (plants trees, stones, animals, planets, week days, etc.) domains, family, popular stories and myths

cook a full meal - you can decide on a meal that is associated with them (like steak for Mars/Ares) but you don't have to, either way just dedicating time and energy to make an entire meal just for them will say a lot

altar - this is probably what you will hear the most, but don't feel heavy pressure. it doesn't have to be huge, fancy, or expensive; you can start out with literally just a candle and some leaves. slowly over time decorate and personalize it to your and your deity's liking

offerings - this is more than just sharing your food with them, it's actually giving something solely to them. have you ever been in the mood for a certain food even though you weren't hungry at all? that might be them hinting that they want it. gifts that you think they'd like or you felt called to get, including crafts you made yourself

share your worship - i want to say this is 100% not a necessity, so don't feel stressed if there is no one you can talk to about your deity work. i have no one to talk to about it, but i share freely on this blog and am trying to make friends online who i can share with! not only is sharing a way to show respect and love for them, but others can give you ideas of devotion and connection

creation/digital

going digital is a great way to worship and connect with your deity, especially if you cannot be open about it

make a playlist - include songs that remind you of them or that you'd think they'd like that involve their domains or stories/myths

art - literally any form of art they will appreciate. music like singing or songwriting, drawing, painting, sculpture, literature like reading books they'd like or writing stories, poems, songs, etc., dancing, theater or acting, or literally anything else. you can get specific, like learning an instrument for Apollo

exploring - exploring areas you think they'd like or just new areas in general. you might find points of interest they'd enjoy (like crossroads for Hecate), or see/hear their sacred animals, or find things that coincide with their stories/attributes/symbols

spending time with them through hobbies - the best way i can describe this is through examples: going to parties/celebrating for Bacchus/Dionysus, cleaning and taking care of your home for Vesta/Hestia, gardening for Ceres/Demeter or Proserpina/Persephone, taking care of the ocean for Neptune/Poseidon, the list goes on and on. anything that involves their domain

pinterest board - kinda self explanatory, making a pinterest board (or a physical picture board/wall if you prefer) with images of your deity and their symbols/attributes. here's mine

phone background - setting your phone background as an image or your deity is not only a sign of honor and respect, but will help you develop the habit of thinking of them regularly. can also spark conversation with others without being direct about your worship!

Offerings for Lucifer

Fruit and anything made of fruit - especially apples, pomegranates or whatever your culture pictures as The Fruit. Strawberries for Venusian (Morningstar) associations, citrus for Solar. Cider, wine, juice, kompot, fruit teas. Cakes and other sweets made with fruit.

Strong spirits - often associated with the Devil.

Roses - Venusian. You can also give him rose water, alone or mixed with vodka.

Dandelions - for their chaotic, wild, untamed, unconquerable spirit.

Any plants associated with the Devil in your culture. Research your local lore and especially folk names to find them. Check their biological properties too - many of them can be poisonous so be careful.

Snake imagery - pictures, figurines, photos, any kind of arts and crafts. You can even make something yourself. As well imagery of goats and other animals associated with him.

Star imagery - especially Morningstar and falling stars.

Shed antlers - for Lucifer in his horned Devil of The Forest aspect.

Sunflower seeds - Solar.

Perfume or oils, especially of scents associated with him (apples etc.)

Your art of any kind dedicated to him.

Picrews of them - they enjoy it in my experience.

Queer symbols - Lucifer is a nonbinary shapeshifter.

Cakes, cookies and chocolate - just a delicious UPG.

(Made for Lucifer the Devil, offerings for the Roman Lucifer may vary.)

Venus & Satan

Connection with Satan/Lucifer

In the Book of Isaiah, chapter 14, the king of Babylon is condemned in a prophetic vision by the prophet Isaiah and is called הֵילֵל בֶּן-שָׁחַר (Helel ben Shachar, Hebrew for "shining one, son of the morning"), who is addressed as הילל בן שחר (Hêlêl ben Šāḥar), The title "Hêlêl ben Šāḥar" refers to the planet Venus as the morning star, and that is how the Hebrew word is usually interpreted.

This passage was the origin of the later belief that Satan was a fallen angel, who could also be referred to as "Lucifer".

However, the translation of הֵילֵל as "Lucifer" has been abandoned in modern English translations of Isaiah 14:12.

An association of Isaiah 14:12–18 with a personification of evil, called the devil, developed outside of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism in pseudepigrapha and Christian writings, particularly with the apocalypses.

The metaphor of the morning star that Isaiah 14:12 applied to a king of Babylon gave rise to the general use of the Latin word for "morning star", capitalized, as the original name of the devil before his fall from grace, linking Isaiah 14:12 with Luke 10 ("I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven") and interpreting the passage in Isaiah as an allegory of Satan's fall from heaven.

Astronomy

Venus is the third-brightest object in the sky and the most prominent planet.

The third smallest planet in the Solar System, Venus is a terrestrial planet and is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" because of their similar size, mass, proximity to the Sun, and bulk composition.

Venus is shrouded by an opaque layer of highly reflective clouds of sulfuric acid, preventing its surface from being seen from Earth in light.

Venus has an extremely dense atmosphere composed of 96.5% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen—both exist as supercritical fluids at the planet's surface—and traces of other gases including sulfur dioxide.

The ground shows evidence of extensive volcanism, and the sulfur in the atmosphere may indicate that there have been recent eruptions.

The absence of evidence of lava flow accompanying any of the visible calderas remains an enigma.

The planet is bright enough to be seen in broad daylight, but is more easily visible when the Sun is low on the horizon or setting. As an inferior planet, it always lies within about 47° of the Sun.

Venus "overtakes" Earth every 584 days as it orbits the Sun. As it does so, it changes from the "Evening Star", visible after sunset, to the "Morning Star", visible before sunrise.

As it orbits the Sun, Venus displays phases like those of the Moon in a telescopic view.

The pentagram of Venus is the path that Venus makes as observed from Earth.

The pentagram of Venus. Earth is positioned at the centre of the diagram, and the curve represents the direction and distance of Venus as a function of time.

The pentagram of Venus is sometimes also referred to as the petals of Venus due to the path's visual similarity to a flower.

What color is Venus

To the naked eye, Venus appears as a white point of light brighter than any other planet or star (apart from the Sun).

If looking with human eyes, Venus is white and yellow with a reddish and brown surface. Scientists generally agree to describe Venus as white and yellow.

2022 Observation

Mornings: Jan 17-Aug 27

Evening: Dec 23-Dec 31

Faint or invisible: Jan 1-Jan 16; Aug 28-Dec 22

Astrology

Domicile sign(s) Libra (diurnal) and Taurus (nocturnal)

Detriment sign(s) Aries (diurnal) and Scorpio (nocturnal)

Exaltation sign Pisces

Fall sign Virgo

Joy sign(s) Gemini, Cancer and Aquarius

Ruler of 2nd house

Rules over Friday

Associated with

The principles of harmony, beauty, refinement, affections, love,

the urge to sympathize and unite with others,

the desire for pleasure, comfort and ease

Governs romantic relations, sex (the origin of the words 'venery' and 'venereal'), marriage and business partnerships, the arts and fashion

Alchemy

To the world of antiquity, Venus/Copper stood as a personification of the divine feminine.

Venus/Copper was the planet/element that represented aspects of feminine beauty, love, lust, artistic creativity, affection, fertility, and balanced thinking.

In magic, Venus/Copper is used to promote love, sensuality, friendship, positive relationships, fruitful negations, and peace.

To the alchemist, Venus/Copper represents the love and compassion needed to become a well-rounded individual. It is the balanced psychological energy of Venus/Copper that allows the alchemist to evaluate experiences through one’s inner eye and bring those powerful insights into conscience awareness.

Culture

Dante Alighieri associated Venus with the liberal art of rhetoric.

The Venus symbol, ♀, consists of a circle with a small cross below it. It has been interpreted as a depiction of the hand-mirror of the goddess, which may also explain Venus's association with the planetary metal copper, as mirrors in antiquity were made of polished copper (alloy), though this is not certain.

In botany and biology, the symbol for Venus is used to represent the female sex, alongside the symbol for Mars representing the male sex, following a convention introduced by Linnaeus in the 1750s.

Arising from the biological convention, the symbol also came to be used in sociological contexts to represent women or femininity.

The discovery in the modern era that Venus was a distant world covered in impenetrable cloud cover gave science fiction writers free rein to speculate on conditions at its surface; all the more so when early observations showed that not only was it similar in size to Earth, it possessed a substantial atmosphere. Closer to the Sun than Earth, the planet was frequently depicted as warmer, but still habitable by humans. The genre reached its peak between the 1930s and 1950s, at a time when science had revealed some aspects of Venus, but not yet the harsh reality of its surface conditions.

Devotional Ideas

If you need or want to be subtle you can use Venusian aesthetic (images, models, color scheme) to represent Satan/Lucifer

Welcome the Morning/Evening Star when they become visible

Celebrate when the Morning Star switches to the Evening Star and vice versa

Learn more about Venus as a devotional act

Utilize planetary magic

Examine the interactions of Venus in your astrological birth chart

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_in_culture

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram#Pentagram_of_Venus

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets_in_astrology#

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_symbols

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/overview/

https://nineplanets.org/questions/what-color-is-venus/

https://www.planetsforkids.org/what-color-is-venus.html

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/visible-planets-guide

https://www.thewonderingalchemist.com/blog/7-planets-and-metals-venuscopper

Satan/Lucifer lockscreens

Description of 1st image

Top left: Venus's atmosphere

Top right: sulfur

Upper middle left: apples

Upper middle right: Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel

Lower middle left: Lucifer by Roberto Ferri

Lower middle right: various fruit arranged in rainbow order rows

Bottom left: black snakeskin pattern

Bottom right: Venus

Idk how to describe the 2nd one

It's basically the 1st multiplied and at an angle

But why did he [Satan] rebel against his maker? It was, as he himself informs us, because he saw no sufficient reason, for that extreme inequality of rank and power, which the creator assumed. It was because prescription and precedent form no adequate ground for implicit faith. After his fall, why did he still cherish the spirit of opposition? From a persuasion that he was hardly and injuriously treated. He was not discouraged by the apparent inequality of the contest: because a sense of reason and justice was stronger in his mind, than a sense of brute force; because he had much of the feelings of an Epictetus or a Cato, and little of those of a slave. He bore his torments with fortitude, because he disdained to be subdued by despotic power. He sought revenge, because he could not think with tameness of the unexpostulating authority that assumed to dispose of him.

William Godwin on Miltonian Satan/Lucifer. An early example of Romantic Satanism.

An icon

In a witch trial from 1673 in the province of Hälsingland, the maid Giölug Olufsdotter seems to have openly and without coercion confessed to having intimate relations with Satan (Court records 1673). She even claimed that she perceived her relationship with him as beautiful. The court complains that she denied or regretted nothing, showed no desire to repent; and that she claimed to drink, dance, and sleep with the 'worst Devil', i.e., Satan himself, while she was at Blåkulla, the location of the Swedish Witches' Sabbath. As if it did not suffice to proclaim herself a satanic witch, Giölung confronted the court and authorities with utter disdain, reviling the priesthood, the mayor, the court assessors and the police officers with perverse and blasphemous comments.

'It is better to believe in the Devil': Conceptions of Satanists and Sympathies for the Devil in Early Modern Sweden written by Mikael Häll in The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity edited by Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Peterson.

Many of those who praised or turned to the Devil appear to have done so only on a few occasions and under extraordinary circumstances. But some individuals clearly maintained worldviews or belief systems in which he constituted the major supernatural principle - a prince by whose name lesser spirits could be summoned, a god of the outsiders and the disposessed; a principle considered more powerful, more reliable, or more real than even God.

'It is better to believe in the Devil': Conceptions of Satanists and Sympathies for the Devil in Early Modern Sweden written by Mikael Häll in The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity edited by Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Peterson.