Globusz^® Publishing 

The aim of this dissertation is to focus upon some of the ritual magical aspects of modern Satanism without recourse to the sensationalism that is only too evident when Satanism is misunderstood. It is only when one steps aside from one's preconceptions and morality that Satanism can be understood in a clear and balanced light.

There has been in the past a tendency to approach Satanism with a deliberately ignorant misunderstanding, where Satanism is only, and definitively understood as being a cult phenomenon for the paedophile, sadist or teenage rebel. Yet throughout the history of Satanism, which has its roots in pre-christian cults, there has been a number of individuals who have sought, through a magical process of alchemy to change themselves through both ritualistic and non-ritualistic processes. These individuals have continually questioned that which is commonly accepted, as Magdalene Graham says in an article entitled 'Re-Defining Satanism.' (Dark Lily. 1989). 'We want to know. Those four words summarise the Satanic quest.' ⁽¹⁾

Yet again and again there arises the sensationalist articles in the press and the literary spheres promoting Satanism as a mindless cult of sex, drugs, murder and torture all practiced hedonistically for the sole pleasure or ego-gratification of the Satanists. In an attempt to redress the imbalance I have therefore focused upon five different areas that are particularly relevant within the context of Satanism as a whole. These areas are also most relevant when attempting to counter the false claims made by both the media and the church concerning the activity of Satanists and it is the media and the church that, according to Satanic adherents, hold the masses in a strangle-hold of repressive and unnatural morality and slave-like consciousness.

Satanism is therefore suggested to offer freedom, true freedom of thought, rather than artificial freedoms that are offered by political or religious systems. Satanism deals with the here and now, with reality as it is. Satanism accepts the inequality of people, of sexes and of races. It accepts the necessity of disease, famine and death. Take away such things and mankind creates a dangerous imbalance in nature and it is in nature that Satanism is firmly grounded.

However, in order to return to a natural way of living, certain practices are deemed useful in order to free the individuals contaminated psyche from the education of a society and civilization racked with guilt, repression and taboo. One may ask whether society in the latter half of the twentieth century is really as oppressive as the Satanist makes out. In answer to this the Satanist may cite many examples of political policy that encroach upon individual liberty. The predominance in equal rights - for sex and race - practically forced upon the inhabitants of western society. The continual repression and taboo concerning minority sexual groups, be they for example sado-masochistic, transvestite or homosexual. The forbidding of an individuals right to kill in self defence and the maintenance of the laws against euthanasia are all examples of the (generally unconscious) influence of society upon the individual. It is for these reasons and many more besides that the Satanist seeks to find liberation by utilising ritual procedures which also, if effective enough, release large amounts of psychical energy which can then be directed towards specific goals be they external or internal of the practitioner.

Magic in this context is defined in two ways, largely dependant upon the way the word is spelt. Traditionally magic has been spelt 'magic', the definition of which is generally understood to mean causing changes in the world or the individual's consciousness in accordance with the individuals will using psychical or occult forces. The second spelling of magic adds a 'k' to the end of the word, thus 'magick.' This spelling dates back to the writings of Aleister Crowley's system of magick - itself based upon older qabalistic and eastern magical traditions. Crowley added the letter 'k' in order to differentiate between his own brand of sex magick and other non-sexual forms of magic. In this essay I have however used both forms of the word, in relation to how the relevant Satanic group spells the word.