Spiritual Conflicts

2007-03-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

"With each new soul that claims for itself the heritage of the Prince of Darkness, the amount of Love, Mystery, Intelligence, Magic, Play, Music, Memory, Beauty, and Victory all increase in the Cosmos- in fact it is only through self development of individual men and women that such Qualities can increase. To desire unity with the universe would be to turn your back on being part of such Work."
Don Webb- Uncle Setnakt's Essential Guide To The Left Hand Path

2007-02-27T05:33:00.000-08:00

Lyrics Of A Metal Song

Now as most people know, I am a big lover of Black Metal music, but recently after reading a post in an online group about a particular singer from a black metal band who has done some solo stuff, I was very shocked and upset. I went to read the lyrics of his songs and it was confirmed that his songs were about about rape, murder and child molestation. What was even more disturbing is how graphic he was about these things as if it was nothing to him to rape and sodomize a child. How terrible. This disgusts me to no end and saddens me that he would write about doing such things in Satan's name. This is dispicable; I cannot say it enough. Why do people think they can write about their sick perversions under the banner of Satanism? Do they not understand that Satan stands for freedom? Individuality? Free Will? Well, by hurting a child it is not allowing the child any of these things. This is forbidden in the eyes of Satan, certainly not encouraged.
Now, these kinds of writings might cause one to have spiritual struggles as those who have heard that Satan is evil all their life, these kinds of lyrics might make them question their new beliefs about him, even though they may be a Satanist. What I want you to know if this is happening to you, is that this is not how the majority of Satanists think or believe. This is one person who has a sick perversion of the worse kind and uses Satanism to be able to express it. This is NOT true Satanism; it is NOT what Satan stands for. Those lyrics are wrong, plain and simple; so don't allow the sick mind of another to dictate to you what to believe or what not to believe or allow him to destroy your belief in Satan.
When I read the lyrics, I felt as if I was going to throw up. It is sad that people's minds can be so debased as to sing such filth and cruelty against innocent children and teens. It is horrible; just horrible. And it is certainly not of Satan.

2007-01-16T17:42:00.000-08:00

My Wishlist for Satanists

1. That we each get closer to Satan every day.

2. That we use our talents to serve him.

3. By how we live, non-Satanists will see we are not as they once believed.

4. That Satanists would care about other Satanists and be there for each other.

5. That Satanists will never stop growing in wisdom, knowledge and experience.

6. That Satanic groups and organizations would not fight but try to get along.

7. That Satanists will be free to worship no matter where they live.

8. That new Satanists will find the resources they need to learn about Satan.

9. That we are happy.

2006-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Christian Rapper Calls for the Killing of Witches and the Slaying of Demons

It seems like whenever I find a story about Satanism or Paganism in the news it is a sad one. This one is about a gospel-rapper called A-Man in Los Angeles who yelled to the crowd during his song, saying that the gangs have the right idea; "But instead of killing each other they should be out there killing witches! When they're out there slaying other gangs they should be slaying demons!"
This is so sad. This rapper is only 13 years old and is a part of a growing hop-hop movement in the churches. What happened to the love and kindness they are supposed to teach within their walls? Well, it only goes for those in the walls, and not those outside them. It is horrible how a 13 year old could be encouraged to spout such hatred towards others this way. Now, we all know that if someone was to sing that way about killing Christians there would be an outcry from Christians every where. But because it encouraged the death of witches and demons, there is silence.

2006-12-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

More Good Books That I Have Read as of Late

1. The Mysteries of Druidry by Brendan Cathbad Myers

This book explains the history of the Druids, their traditions and customs. You will learn Celtic spirituality, meditation techniques and Celtic magick. It is a great first book if you have never explored the Druid religion.

2. Cakes And Ale For The Pagan Soul Edited by Patricia Telesco

A collection of reflections, recipes, spells, from teachers in the Neopagan community. Topics include: experiencing the divine in nature, intimacy with self and others, earth and spirit, community, weather magick, learning from animals and commitment.

3. The Vision of Nietzsche by Philip Novak

This book is a collection of Nietzsche's most important words. Topics include: Truth, Will to Power, The Error of Free Will, The Psychology of Guilt, and The Folly of Pity.

4. The Pseudonomicon by Phil Hine

This book teaches about the ancient ones written of in the H.P. Lovecraft books, including Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep, and Shub-Niggurath. Topics include Shape-Shifting and methods of dream control.

2006-11-24T18:51:00.000-08:00

My New Website

I want to invite everyone to my brand new website that I have titled "In Satan's Honour." There are many things to read including Poems to Satan, Prayers, Satanic Hymns and Satanic Psalms. Come take a look. The URL is:

http://www.freewebs.com/marie_ravensoul/

2006-11-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I really enjoy Black Metal music and I find it is food for the soul. My favourite bands are as follows. You might want to check them out. I have written their website below their name.

1. Dimmu Borgir
http://www.dimmu-borgir.com/

2. Satyricon
http://www.satyricon.no/

3. Mercyful Fate/King Diamond
http://www.covenworldwide.org/

4. Cradle of Filth
http://www.cradleoffilth.com/

2006-11-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

It's Baaaaaaack. . . Christmas . . . Now what?

Well, the ghosts and goblins have been taken down, the pumpkin thrown out and the Halloween chocolates are on sale at the stores. Taken their place are coloured lights, trees and decorations. It is that season again where people get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and everyone else is expected to join in or be happy about it whether or not they worship this person. Everywhere one goes they see and hear the signs of Christmas whether it be the mall, work, or the homes of friends and family. Christmas work parties are for all staff whether or not they might celebrate Christmas, but hey, it is all in fun, right? Wrong. Not everyone wants to celebrate the birth of someone they don't know or be reminded of past beliefs. And what is one to do if they have now moved on but still have children who enjoy the season? What are they to do if they are invited to the family dinner on Christmas day?
As an ex-Christian, I for one know what it's like to still enjoy the lights and decorations, yet I do not like hearing songs about the person I have put behind me and don't like seeing mangers every where and be told that “Jesus is the reason for the season,” when in fact the season has been stolen from the Pagans. I also don't want to be continually reminded about Jesus' supposed birth as I know it already. But admit it, Christmas is EVERYWHERE. Yet is it wrong to still like some of the decorations and if you do, what is to be done about it? What if your children might perhaps be Christian or just like Christmas? This can be difficult for the Satanist, but I will give some suggestions that you might want to try to keep your chin up during this season.
If coloured lights is something you like, think of the colour blue, the colour of Lucifer and place blue lights around your window to symbolize your belief in him. Spend time thinking about what it is Lucifer stands for, he is the Light Bearer, the Morning Star, so at the time of year when darkness hits its peak, usually on December 21, and then begins to wane the day after, take this time to appreciate Lucifer, who brings light to the world. Light a blue candle and spend time contemplating Lucifer and focusing on him, so that when everyone else is talking and singing about Jesus we can know in our hearts that we believe in the true light bearer.
Another suggestion regarding decorations if you like them, is concerning the tree. Bringing a tree in ones home to decorate is in fact a Pagan tradition, a symbol for their celebration of Yule. It was stolen by the Christians who then began to call it a Christmas tree contrary to what it says in the bible about NOT doing as the Pagans do by bringing into one's home a tree. But most Christians are ignorant of this fact, or wave it aside as they like the Yule, I mean Christmas tree so damn much. :) But what is a Satanist to do if they still like the imagery of a decorated tree? Well, I suggest finding out as much as you can about Yule, or if not, feel free to put up a tree and decorate it celebrating Lucifer. Create Pentagrams out of foil and place them around the tree. Make strings of popcorn and use food colouring to make the popcorn blue. Use your imagination to create things that are meaningful to you for your tree.
Now the question, what if you have children who are Christian or who just like celebrating Christmas? Well, you could explain to them if they don't know already about your beliefs, but if you don't feel comfortable doing that for whatever reason, tell them that you yourself are going to celebrate this time of year in a different way, yet they are free to celebrate it the way they want to. Of course there is going to be some compromise needed on the parts of everyone, but that is to be expected. You don't have to explain the meaning of everything you do, as it might not be appropriate for your situation, so when you are putting up your blue lights around the window, tell your kids that you are doing something different for a change, or that you like blue. When you give gifts, in your heart you may be remembering the many gifts that Lucifer/Satan has given to you and to mankind, yet the people around you won't know the wiser. You can be as open as you want as only you know what your situation will or will not allow or what you feel comfortable with. But when it comes down to it, use this time to spend with your loved ones, as it can be hard to find the time in this busy life. The same goes for the traditional Christmas dinner you may be invited to or might have to put on for the sake of your family. During preparations try to concentrate on your relationship to Satan as it will give you strength when everything around you speaks of Christianity. It might be hard to put aside what used to be dear to you, especially if you are new to leaving Christianity, but this is why I am suggesting things you can do to incorporate into your new beliefs while still being able to enjoy some of the things you used to. As the years go on, it will get easier.
Another thing that I will suggest during this time is to spend more time than usual reading about Satan/Lucifer and about Satanism and taking more time out to perform rituals or devotions in order to keep your beliefs and yourself strong. It can be hard to have Christianity and Jesus constantly shoved in your eyes and ears but if you keep your faith and belief in Satan, you can do it.

2006-11-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

Remembrance Day

On this Remembrance Day, Father Satan, I thank you
For the wars and the battles you have fought
For the sake of becoming who you were meant to be
And because of that, we too can do the same
You gave us the opportunity to know what is good and what is evil
And to be able to choose
You have set the universe free
The shackles are off
Today I recommit myself to you,
and set my life anew on the path that you have planned for me
I will always remember what you have done
Hail Satan

2006-11-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

Discrimination: A rant

I feel the need to write this today after hearing and reading about so much discrimination towards Satanists and Pagans. It saddens me knowing that we as Satanists cannot even say that we are Satanists without fear of losing our jobs, losing our children, being attacked, and being accused of acts that we would never even think of committing. Why is it that we should worry that our pentagram might been seen by others, that someone might see us reading a Satanic book, that our altar might be viewed by a visitor in our home? Why? If we were Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim, we would not have to worry about any of these things. A Christian is free to wear their crucifix at work without fear of being fired, Muslims wear their head coverings and Sikhs fought a few battles and won in a court of law for their children to be able to wear their kirpan, (dagger) to school even though many people were against it for safety reasons and Sikhs who are Mounties won the right to wear turbans instead of the traditional red hat. If someone were to comment negatively, they would be proclaimed a racist, yet why is it that Satanists only have to mention their belief in Satan and they are discriminated against and no one says a thing? This must change and as Satanists we have to do what we can so we will be treated just as everyone else have demanded to be treated. For example, in a public school here in Canada, the Muslims were given a room in which they could go and pray as they are required to by their holy book the Koran. Do you think Satanists would be given this opportunity? No way. Do you think Pagans would? Think again. If parents of students in some schools protested to get the book Harry Potter banned from the libraries, do you think they would sit quiet if the school gave a room to Pagans and/or Satanists to perform rituals during the day? Heck no. Now do I believe that schools should allow rooms to be used for prayer, etc? No, not at all as school is a place to learn, to become educated; not for religious work, yet if people want to bow their head to pray to whatever god they worship at their desk, they should be free to, but school should not be a place for people to practice their religion no matter what religion it is. But the whole point of me mentioning this is to show that most religions with the exception of Satanism and Paganism are respected at least to a certain degree and that when they aren’t, their members will fight for their rights. They are protected under the banner of “prejudice” as people squirm when accused of it and the larger the numbers, the bigger the scare.
Now as Satanists, what can we do to change things so that we can have the same rights? Where we can go to work and wear our Symbol of Baphomet openly? Teach a class on Satanism without being shut down? Own a store without it being attacked? Well, it is my belief that we need to wear our Pentagrams openly and the more of us who do this, the harder it will be for people to take away our right to do this. The more we show that we are not a character out of a horror movie, the better it will be for us, but we have to be more open. When someone asks us what our religion is, say that you are a Satanist, say you are a Luciferian, a Devil Worshipper and be proud of that fact. Also, when you see a fellow Satanist being discriminated against, or if you yourself have experienced it, do something about it. Stand up for yourself by writing to the newspaper, complain to the labour board if you are fired from work, etc. The more we do this, the more people will think twice before they discriminate as they don’t like to be in the spotlight when they are the guilty party. It will get better for all of us with some work and in time people will see us as a force to be reckoned with.

2006-11-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

Heavy Metal TV show Cancelled Because of a Question Asked about Satanism

A television show in Italy called Extreme Metal who gives underground bands exposure, has been cancelled after the host of the show was fired when a musician who appeared on the show was asked a question that led him to express his belief in Satanism. He was asked if the occult symbols that he uses had meaning for him, or if they were just for show. He responded by saying that they aren’t for show, that he does believe in them and that religion should not be criticized. He then had said that if anyone wanted to talk about Satanism that he’s there.
This is a case of religious discrimination and it would only happen in the case of the Satanist religion. If the musician had been asked a question regarding Christian symbolism, there would not have been a problem. It is only because of how people view Satanism that this has occurred. It is stereotyped and misunderstood and there is no intent on trying to understand it on the part of most people and societies. It is sad as most Satanists are law-abiding citizens but they are shunned just for the fact that they believe in Satan, yet Catholics and Evangelical Christians are welcomed with open arms in most countries when in fact many of their priests and pastors have molested children. In the city that is the capital of the Catholic Church where its former pope had arranged refuge for priests who had been accused of molesting altar boys, a person cannot even say he has a belief in Satanism without the show that he did it on having been cancelled. Where is the sense in this? When has it become proper to discriminate against law-abiding Satanists, yet it is acceptable to promote a religion where the cases of child molestations are continually growing? There is something very twisted going on here.

The complete story can be read here:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=61608

2006-11-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

Another Attack On Pagans

Sadly, once again, Pagans have been attacked; this time by a group of Catholic youth in Glastonbury. The group threatened to “cleanse” the Pagans from their town, by throwing salt in their face and calling them witches saying they would burn in hell. A Pagan shop called the Magick Box was also attacked by the Catholic pilgrims.
This was compared to the witch hunts that happened in the middle ages when Pagans were singled out, attacked and killed for their beliefs. And in a world where religious prosecution is frowned upon and when certain religious groups will shout from the rooftops loudly proclaiming their anger at others who have put down their beliefs, or made fun of their prophets or god, it is assumed that it is still acceptable to put down and attack the Pagans. Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this thinking?

The story can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1939477,00.html#article

2006-10-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

What does your Spirituality Mean to You?

Ask yourself, what does my spirituality mean to me? Is it something that you run to when something bad happens, such as a death in the family, illness, depression, etc, or is it a part of your daily life? Do you often think of your Deity while doing your day to day things and do you start your day with him/her in your mind and ask for their strength to get through the day? Do you ask them to show you things, as well as to guide and teach you in the new day that has been given to you? I am asking these questions to help you think about your spirituality, what it is now and what it could be. If it is not the way you would like it to be, do some things to strengthen it, if you are happy with it, there are always things you can do to strengthen it even more. It can be whatever you want it to be; a refuge for when things are rough, or a path that you walk every day. But no matter what, it should always be growing, always strengthening, and your wisdom and knowledge always increasing. Your spiritual walk should never remain stagnant.

2006-10-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

These are some good videos that may help someone who is thinking of leaving Christianity or has left Christianity but still are going through a hard time with Christian programming. They are also good for anyone who would like some facts to share with Christian friends or relatives or any Christian who may try to push their beliefs onto you.

Richard Dawkins- The Root of All Evil: Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB2vmj8eyMk&NR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGeL1yFeK6I&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76UDVB-ofpI&mode=related&search=

Richard Dawkins- The Root of All Evil: Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C10sSC2kB3Q&mode=related&search=

Richard Dawkins- The Root of All Evil: Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr_qZ3P4nl4&mode=related&search=

Richard Dawkins- The Root of All Evil: Part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cZGGD5grkQ&mode=related&search=

Richard Dawkins- The Root of All Evil: Part 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDuUUhv0MbQ&mode=related&search=

2006-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

These are a few good books that I have read as of late:

1) Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche

The first parts of this book were written in 1883/84 and the last part was
published in 1892 by this often controversial, yet great philosopher. Topics
include the death of God, redemption, science, chastity, and virtue. It is
considered to be Nietzsche's best work.

2) The Wiccan Mysteries by Raven Grimassi

This book teaches about the Old Religion; its origins and the Mystery
Traditions that are the foundation of Wicca today. The meanings of Wiccan rites,
beliefs, and symbols are taught and what it is that Wiccans truly believe and
practice.

3) Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

A book that explains what Wicca is about in a clear, concise manner. Topics
include Wiccan holidays, principles and ethics, meditation, magic, and creating
personal rituals. It also gives advice on finding teachers and groups you can
trust and the pros and cons of practicing solitary. It is a good first book if
you are looking at Wicca as a spiritual path or if you are looking to gain
knowledge about a religion that is so often misunderstood.

4) The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur

A journey into the origins of Christianity and how it came to be what it is
today. We learn that nothing in the bible is new; everything having been
written before and taken from other religions. It shows that Jesus Christ was
not a real person at all, and that his miracles, words and actions were stolen
from the gods of other religions, especially the Egyptian god Horus. In an
attempt to hide this, the Christians of old destroyed Pagan temples, literature
and libraries. Your eyes will be opened after reading this book.

2006-09-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

Strength in Difficulty

When things get very difficult, you realize just how strong you can be. Maybe you never thought that you were that strong and what you have been going through has forced you to not only see, but to act. You may be tired, stressed out, depressed and ill, yet you still have had to go on and deal with what life has put in your way. You may wonder if it will ever be over, how it came to be, and why you have to go through these struggles and pain. You may be alone and wishing someone could be there by your side helping to hold things up, yet under the circumstances, there is no one. Yet, even though bad things keep piling up on top of you, your spirits are high and you keep going and not only are you strong for yourself but for others too. Then the thought comes to you that you have had to go through these things in order to see that you can handle more than you ever thought you could and that when you thought there was no more strength, it came in abundance. Thank you, Father Satan, for being there for me this week and always.

2006-09-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

Frankenstein

2006-09-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Developing a More Intimate Relationship with your Deity

Do you ever feel discouraged that the relationship you have with your God or Goddess is not the way you would like it to be? As the months or years have passed, are there things that have changed? For example, does it seems as though your Deities don’t communicate with you as they once did, or perhaps you don’t feel the excitement like you used to when you would meditate, perform ritual, or pray? Perhaps you have begun to wonder if you were really meant to follow that Deity, or if it was just a passing thing? Maybe you have even thought about changing spiritual paths as you feel that your god or goddess might have abandoned you. Well, stop right there. Don’t give up yet. Instead, would you like to be able to develop a deeper relationship with your Deity? One where you feel their presence on a day to day basis, know that they are communicating with you, teaching you, walking with you in your path workings? Would you like to feel the way you did when you first began to follow him or her?
If the answer is yes, then it shows that you still desire a great relationship with the one who called you or who you chose to be your god. That is a great start. Now what are some of the things you can do to begin this process? Well, the first thing you might want to do is perform a self-initiation rite, perhaps the same one that you did when you first began to follow that particular god. That might get the two of you back in tune with each other again, and will show your Deity that you still wish to follow him/her. You might also want to begin talking to your Deity first to see how things go and might ask them for a sign that he/she is still with you. A sign might be finding something that is a symbol of your Deity, a dream, being given something by someone and having the feeling that it is your Deity leading them to do it, etc. One thing that I like to do is listen to music that reminds me of my Deity and that brings my mind and spirit closer to him. Singing a special song and addressing it to your god or goddess can be good too. I also like to write about my god and goddess in the form of poems and short stories and at times I will feel inspired to write certain things, which is a huge encouragement for me. I find Satan in particular will inspire his followers to write what he wants to teach them, and then if it is his desire, will encourage them to share what they have written with others.
The ideas are endless in what you can do, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple walk alone to think about your Deity while you express your feelings to him can mean a lot. You may want to do something more elaborate like perform a ritual, or take time to meditate on him or her, but the important thing is that you don’t put off what you feel needs to be done in order to develop that relationship you have always wanted or used to have with your Deity.

2006-09-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

"Do not forsake the path that is yours, the path you were born for, and the destiny you have to fulfil. To deny this destiny would be detrimental to yourself and perhaps to those others who depend upon the fulfilment of said destiny..."

Unknown

2006-08-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

People in India Killed For Accusations of Practicing Witchcraft and Sorcery

I was just referred to an article titled, “Modern-Day Witch Hunt in Remote India,” which speaks of attackers that hacked 5 villagers to death who were accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery. This is not all, as 9 people in the past 2 weeks have believed to have been killed and in the past 5 years, it is estimated that more than 150 people have been killed in northeast India on the sole reason that they were thought to have been Witches and/or practiced sorcery.
It is astonishing that in this day and age things like this would happen. The times of the past were horrible, in that people could not worship the gods and goddesses that they wanted and were tortured and killed for it; but in an age where there is freedom of religion in many parts of the world, it is sad to see that this is still going on. And what gives anyone the right to say that their religion is better than that of another and what gives them the right to kill another because they believe differently? It should not surprise anyone that the ones who do the killing are the ones with the vengeful and jealous gods, while the ones who are being murdered for being Witches, most often worship gods and goddesses that are more peaceful and loving.

The link to the article is:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/22/world/main1918803.shtml

2006-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

"I'll never know if it was worth the pain, but I still loved it more than anything in the world-it was my life."

Satyricon- Now, Diabolical

2006-08-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

This is a great link to an article on the Bible that I recommend. It gives some great insights. Thank you to my good friend, Renee, for bringing it to my attention.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/ingerhb.htm

2006-08-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Indications One should leave a Group or Organization

1. Any kind of abuse- mental, emotional, psychological, physical,
sexual, spiritual

2. The leaders of the organization attempts to control you and/or its members.

3. Disrespect, Belittling

4. Stagnancy

5. You no longer are growing in wisdom and knowledge or as a person.

6. Your spirituality is not benefiting or is suffering.

7. You don’t feel as if you are making a difference.

8. Deity/Deities are leading you elsewhere.

9. The Organization/Group no longer fits your beliefs.

10. No longer happy.

2006-08-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.

Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

2006-07-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

To Be Born or Not to Be Born

The other day while looking at tattoo designs, (yes, I might be getting a tattoo), I saw quite a few that were religious in nature, mostly Christian. One of them struck me and the feeling was not unlike being whacked in the head. It was a picture of Jesus, the crown of thorns on his head, with the word Forgiven over him, and it was as if I understood something for the very first time. I thought, what is it that we need to be forgiven for? What could I, and everyone else that has ever lived, have possibly done to cause a man to die such a horrible death? Growing up in a Catholic home, one is taught that from birth a person needs to obtain forgiveness as they carry some so called ‘original sin,’ and if they don't, they are doomed for eternal punishment in a pit of fire. What this really means is that everyone that is born into this world is destined for this punishment as soon as they take a breath. A baby that never chose to be born in the first place will have nothing else to look forward to according to Christians, if they don't accept a torturous human sacrifice, that was neccessary to quell the anger of a supposed god of love, in order for them to be accepted, to be loved. So, one might say that it is better for us if we had not been born at all. According to this sick arrangement, it would be better if most people weren't, as millions of people have not or will not accept the Christian god.

It is truly sad that many have believed this for years, and even worse that they ACCEPT it. When I was struck as I set eyes on that design, I thought how could I have not seen this before? How could I have accepted such crap? It is a cruel belief, a fate that no human, as evil as we are considered to be by some, would put anyone through, yet those who call us evil, believe that their "loving" god has this future in store for most of us who ever lived.

2006-07-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Did Anyone Really Exist?

Yesterday I was forced into a discussion with someone when they asked me if I would take my children to Sunday school if they wanted to go. I said that I would rather take my kids to something that I believe would benefit them much more. He responded by saying, “Aren’t you being rather controlling in this matter?” What I should have responded to that was, how many Christians are controlling when it comes to taking their kids to church who DON’T want to go?
It got to the point where we ended up talking about my path and the person saying how it was because of us Pagans that Jesus had to come and die. That really got to me. I responded that a lot of gods are believed to have died, but he said that only Jesus had risen from the dead. I mentioned for example, about Dionysus, that he died similar to Jesus and had risen, and he of course said that there is much more evidence of Jesus existing than any of the others. I asked him what evidence other than the bible does he have and why certain things about Jesus and what happened regarding him, was not written about in greater detail by a greater number of people? I mentioned that there are many things written about people of the past such as Julius Caesar so we have a pretty good idea that he did in fact exist. To that he responded that even though we have those things, can I still believe that Caesar existed? I said that yes we can believe he existed. He said that we really cannot be certain that anyone existed or that anything happened. I asked him then why should anyone deny so much, give up so much of one’s life, for someone who might not have existed? He asked what is it that one would be denying and in response to my answers, he smirked, making them look like they were no big deal. Yeah, right. He then went back to asking me how can we be sure if anything exists and asked if we can really be sure that World War 2 actually happened and I said there are people alive today that can verify that it did. He just seemed like he wanted to bring out the most ridiculous things. And all because he was trying to defend his belief in a man that he himself said no one can be totally sure even existed.
I always seem to get into these kinds of discussions. Why? I don’t know. Yet even though for awhile some things may make me feel bad, the fact is, they will strengthen me in the end. With each discussion, each argument, each confrontation, there is something to learn, something to gain, and one’s beliefs can only get weaker or stronger. Yesterday, mine got very much stronger.

2006-07-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Magic has power to experience and fathom things which are inaccessible to human reason. For magic is a great secret wisdom, just as reason is a great public folly.
Paracelsus

2006-07-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

When Feeling Down

It is a given that sometimes we are going to feel down as that is just the way life is. Some person, some thing, some situation, or circumstance will make us feel bad or unhappy, hopeless, even powerless. But what are we to do when we feel this way? One thing not to do is let these feelings get the better of us, but even though we do our best to rise above them, sometimes they just don’t go away. We have to work at it, but if we feel really bad, we might not be able to do much of anything at all. If this happens, there are some things that can make one feel somewhat better and which can raise the spirits.
One of the best things is to put on some favourite music, songs that you really like and just listen to the lyrics and let the music fill you. A song in itself can empower and make a difference to ones countenance and how one views things, and the situation that one is in might begin to look a tiny bit better. When that happens, one can then try to figure out the best way to deal with it, but in a better frame of mind. Another good thing to do is to sit down with a good book and read. This can take ones mind off things for a bit which is a great break for the mind and spirit, as well as the body. Physical exercise is important too, even if it is a short walk up the street to look at the beauty of nature, maybe visit a neighbour, and think about your god and/or goddess. Or maybe a walk is just what you might need to clear your head of unwanted or bad thoughts so you can think better. Walking can even be combined with listening to music if you have a cd man or MP3 player, which is one of the things I really enjoy doing and which helps me out when I am down. Talking to a good friend is good too, as there is nothing like a friendly ear and often friends can offer suggestions that you might not have thought of yourself. Taking a rest is also very good, a time out for yourself to think, contemplate, meditate, or to clear the mind of everything negative in your life. Talking to your gods/goddesses are very important, but don’t just do all the talking, listen for them to speak to you in whatever way you are used to, whether it be through visions, dreams, words, or impressions. And always remember to get enough sleep.
In my life there has been a lot of hurt and pain and I just wanted to share some things that help me when I feel at my lowest. I must admit that I am not the best person at dealing with bad things; I guess it is true that the closer you are to something, the harder it is to see. Yet, I can say that these things that I have listed above have helped me a lot and I don’t know what I would have done without them. Next time you feel down or feel you are at the end of your rope, try them and hopefully they can help you feel better too.

2006-07-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

All things are changing, nothing dies. The spirit wanders, comes now here, now there, and occupies whatever frame it pleases. From beasts it passes into human bodies, and from our bodies into beasts, but never perishes.
Pythagoras, Metamorphoses XV

2006-07-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Pagan Sites and Essays

http://www.geocities.com/athens/rhodes/5569/Faery_Trad_Intro.html

http://www.spiralgoddess.com/Astarte.html

http://inanna.virtualave.net/inanna.html

http://www.starhawk.org/pagan/pagan-goddess.html

http://www.paganspath.com/index2.htm

http://www.wicca.org/

http://www.faerywolf.com/index2.html

http://www.orderofthesacredgrove.com/menu.html

http://www.geocities.com/indianpaganism/index.html

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/humm/Topics/Lilith/lilith.html

http://www.lilitu.com/lilith/thealogy.html

http://www.tylwythteg.com/dynionmwyn/lesson1/thirteen6.html

2006-06-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Loving Our Self

I had an opportunity to have a talk with someone about love, self love to be exact. In all that this entails, we got to talking about the different ways we can show love to ourselves and the things we should do, if in fact we love our self. A few things might be to eat well, take care of our health, increase our knowledge, make good friends, take part in a favourite hobby, increase and use our talents and rest. We must love our self enough to not do things that would cause harm to our being, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual. We should not be putting our self in danger, doing things that would cause adverse consequences, and when we don’t do the things listed above we will suffer at some point for it.
The other thing that we must also do is to not allow people to hurt us. Often we might do this because we are caring, compassionate, and most often because we love someone that might take advantage of our love and abuse us in some way. This might be a spouse, a boyfriend/girlfriend, friend and even family. We must become aware of when a person is using us or has wrong motives for wanting a relationship with us. This can be hard to do, especially if there are feelings involved, but it is important. If we do find out that the only reason someone wants to be in our life is for their own self-interests, we can either choose to stay in the relationship or leave it, but it must be our own decision, yet if we love our self, then we have to protect our self from harm.
Spiritually, we can also be abused. When someone tries to coerce us away from the beliefs that we love, the Gods/Goddesses that we have a relationship with, this is abuse. The person doing the coercing would not see it this way, in fact they would see it as trying to “save” you, but when a person uses manipulation, scare tactics, or promises of a better life/afterlife, in order to bring one over to their way of thinking, it is wrong and harmful. For a person just new on a path, this is especially damaging as it can cause confusion, doubt, and may cause them to give up what they have not even explored fully. This might start a merry-go-round effect of going back and forth between their new path and the belief they were coerced into following. One should be encouraged to study as much as they can about the belief/religion they are drawn to and only stop when they come to the conclusion that it is not for them. Be strong when someone tries to push their beliefs upon you and never allow them to make you feel guilty for learning about what you may be interested in. Keep persevering and say no to all kinds of abuse and love yourself.

2006-06-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

Father's Day
by Marie RavenSoul

On this Father's Day, I honor you my Father Satan
I thank you for being in my life, guiding me, teaching me, comforting and loving me
You were with me when I was a child, and as I grew, you revealed yourself
I will never forget that day when I first saw your precious name on the stone
and when everyone else was scared, I looked in awe.
Then when I felt your power in the cloud and I could not drag my eyes away
You waited till I was old enough to lead me to believe in you and to follow in your footsteps
Then guided me throughout the toughest years in life, showing me I was your child
Your strength gave me the courage to keep striving.
Your will made me go on.
When I was alone, you were there and that meant everything to me
You taught me about you, so I would understand
Yet I left you behind, and you let me go so I could experience and learn new things.
When it was time to come back, you called me
I have put you through some tough times, I am sure
But like a Father, you have always been there
Remaining in the shadows as I did my own thing.
Then coming to my side when I needed your help, protection and guidance.
There is no one like you
You are the Amazing One
The Morning Star who brings to light a new day
Who cares to show his child what he has done in the early morning, waking me up
You are full of surprises
You are known by many names: Satan, Lucifer, Melek Taus, Blue God
But on this day I honor you as Father

2006-06-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

Time

One of the most precious things in life, if not THE most precious, is time. We come into this world with what seems like a lot of it to spare, but the truth is, time is short. Often I think that because I have not accomplished what I dreamed I would when I was a teenager, that I have wasted a large part of my life. Goals have been unreached, dreams set aside, and wishes have never come true. This has lead me to feel regret, sadness and even resentment. What I should have done, I have not done, whether it was because I have been unable to do them due to circumstances, or because I have not been ambitious enough. But does this mean that my life has been a waste? Certainly not. It just means that I have made other choices and in each situation, through each experience, and in the things I have done, these things have made a difference in my life and I hope has made a difference in the lives of others too.
You may be feeling the same way. As a teenager, what you thought you would have accomplished by the time you were 30, 40, 50, so far might not have not come to pass. You might feel bad, even without hope at times that your dreams and goals might never come true now that you are much older. But look back on your life and the things that you have done and the lives you have touched; could it be that was the path that was meant for you? Maybe what you have done in your life so far is what you were meant for at this exact time and place, yet your dreams, or at least some of them were meant to be fulfilled later on. Don't ever give up on them.
In regards to your spirituality you may also feel that you have lost out on some things. I feel that because I have had conflicts that they have kept me from accomplishing much more than if I hadn't had them. That maybe if I had stayed put in one religion that I would have understood much more of that belief if I had not have left as I did. I would have understood my Deities and maybe would not have left them. When I did, I was leaving everything behind and starting over. I have done that a few times and it is very difficult. It only leads to things started but never finished. Yet could there be something learned in conflict? There sure can. But one must look deep sometimes to find the lesson and what is to be learned from it. What I have learned is that there is something to be gathered from every path walked on, but not everything that is gathered should be taken, some must be left to wither and die while others are taken and kept.
The path I am on now is a new one as well as an old, which is suiting me quite fine. I have learned much so far and of the things gathered and taken, wisdom is defining itself and there will be no more turning back.

2006-06-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Good Satanic Websites and Essays

http://kindredassociation.satanicwebsites.com/SummoningDemons.htm

http://www.jashan.net/sites/satanism/

http://www.theisticsatanism.com/

http://www.churchofsatan.org/

http://www.ofs-demonolatry.org/

http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/darkmatter/index.html

http://www.theisticsatanism.com/geifodd/

http://obelisk.satanicwebsites.com/main.html

2006-06-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Thinking of Telling your Family and Friends that You are a Satanist?

Being a Satanist is something that is very much a part of one’s life; so much that you may be excited to express your beliefs openly if you haven’t already. Well, before you do that it would be a good idea to think about how the people in your life might respond to your news. Do your friends know you well enough that they will see you as the same person once they find out about your religious choice? If not, you might want to reconsider telling them, at least for now.
What might help you to decide whether or not to tell your family and friends, is to start a discussion on Satanism or the occult and see how they react to it. If they react badly, then you know now might not be the time, yet if they give a favourable response, then you might want to go into it further by showing them some good Satanic websites to read. There aren’t many good books out on the market yet, but hopefully in the future there will be.
It is a good thing to know exactly what it is you believe so that you can explain it well. As soon as people hear the word Satanism, everything that they have ever heard, read, saw on television and on the movie screen will pop into their mind, and it is highly probable they will ask what you think about it. You must be prepared to give them an answer so that they will know that those things are not what Satanism is about. Doing that and then showing them good websites will help a lot.
The other thing and most important is that you live your life well. People will be watching to see how you, a Satanist, live, and when they see that you don’t behave the way Satanists are portrayed, that can make all the difference. No matter what you choose to do in the end, make sure it is the right choice for you.

2006-06-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Keep Strong in Conflict

The hardest kind of spiritual conflict is one that occurs inside oneself. Not only does one have to go through it alone to find their own answers, but it can affect all aspects of one’s being. But there is another kind of conflict, one that can occur within a group of people who come under the same banner or who believe similarly. When this happens to a group who are a minority in society that already has enough persecution from “outside,” it is a greater tragedy. It becomes much easier for the members of that path to be trampled on and become discouraged. But in a less than perfect world, conflicts arise as not everyone can get along and no one will see the same way all the time, which is a good thing. Yet in times when you might feel down because someone is causing you trouble, or an organization is giving you a hard time, don’t let them break your spirits. Keep going and don’t lose hope. Take what ever defeat you may have experienced and see it as a future opportunity. Things may be better in the long run and surprises can be great, just keep doing what you believe in and what you know is right.

2006-06-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

Shopping Mall Preaching

It never seems to fail; at least not for me anyway. I go out and once again meet up with someone I know who is Christian and they stop to say hi, and within a couple of minutes they begin to ask me questions to incite a discussion on my religious path. This Friday it began with a question regarding a t-shirt I was wearing, on it a picture of the devil. The guy, I will call him Simon (not his real name), asked what the name of the group was as he couldn’t make out the lettering. Cradle of Filth, I told him. He nodded, eying me while deciding what he was going to say next. Well, within a few seconds we were discussing religion in the entertainment section of a department store. What fun!
One of the things he was adamant about is how I must continue to search, as if my choices were just not good enough. It is obvious that to him, everyone on a path that is not Christian, could not possibly be content with what they believe. Now I agree strongly that searching is very important and that life is a journey where one cannot be stagnant; but I disagree when one is certain they have the truth, so are of the opinion that searching doesn’t apply to them, but insist that it applies to everyone else. Until of course, they find Jesus Christ and are saved, then the searching can stop.
Having ones beliefs trampled on and criticized can be hard, especially if the person is throwing everything at you that he possibly can to not only make you appear to be wrong, but to make his beliefs appear right no matter what you have to say. Simon did everything he could to make it look as if I did not know much about Christianity and that I needed to learn more, even though I had attended his church for over 4 years. Little did he know that I knew everything he had to tell me plus lots more, and it was then that he admitted I knew more than him, yet in his opinion I still needed to do a lot more searching.
It is good to learn what other religions are about, yet learning all one can about their chosen path is most important in order to grow and become. I have made many mistakes in regards to my spirituality, but I would say the number one mistake would be that I gave up on a path because of fear and because the comfort of my old beliefs seemed what I needed at the time. Because of this, I cannot stress enough that once you have begun a new path, that it is important to keep going, so then at least when you have given it your all, you can truly make it your own. If you come out on the other side and know it is not right for you, then you can leave with the knowledge you did your best. Don’t be discouraged by people, no matter where they may be, who might try to knock you off course because they don’t understand what it is you believe or desire in your heart. Stand strong and you will be free.

2006-06-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare has become quite popular these past few years, primarily in Christianity. The focus is to teach people how to fight battles in the spiritual realm where they believe Satan and demons are doing their best to turn people away from God and to keep them from doing God’s will, among other things. Many books are written on the subject and classes abound in the churches, while deliverance ministry prayer teams are at the front door waiting for the newcomers, to rid them of the so-called demons they are carrying within themselves.
Yet, is spiritual warfare just for the Christian? Are they the only ones who are afflicted by unseen entities? Absolutely not; but then what is the non-Christian to do when they feel spiritually attacked? Is there such a thing as spiritual warfare for them? I haven’t found anything as of yet, but according to Christians, unless one is a Christian, they do not have a chance at winning; as they believe one must use the name of Jesus Christ and in order to use his authority, one must be under his authority.
It seems Christians have the spiritual warfare issue all wrapped up in a brightly coloured box. I beg to differ. First of all, they automatically assume that all entities attacking people are demons, yet they have never considered that there could be other entities that do attack humans, yet have nothing to do with Satan. And what about the Pagan or the Satanist who experience spiritual attacks? The Christian would say that it is their own beloved Deities who are the culprit. Yet didn’t Jesus say that any kingdom divided against itself would be ruined? If that were the case, then why would these very Deities want to do anything to ruin what they have with their followers by attacking them? On top of this, Christian’s would never think or even try to understand that maybe, just maybe, those Deities they call demons, may care for and love their followers and would never want to harm them in any way. So, who could be the culprit of attacks against the Pagan or the Satanist? Do I dare say that it could be Jehovah? Hmm . . . now that would put a spin on the spiritual warfare issue. Well, the brightly coloured box is no longer bright and what’s more is that it is no longer closed.

2006-05-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

Resources for Spiritual Conflicts

Today I thought I would check to see if there were any websites that dealt with spiritual conflicts. I was quite disappointed to find that all of them seemed to be Christian based and most deal with how one can fight the devil. There were numerous sites dealing with spiritual warfare, a topic I am very familiar with and believe to be very much over covered and over rated; but there was nothing that Pagans or Satanists could find useful. Could it be that most of the people who have spiritual struggles are Christian? No, it just means that not much has been written for people of other religions. It's certainly not because they don't have struggles spiritually, because we all have problems from time to time, but it could be that they have choosen not to write about their struggles, or if the do, they don't post them on the internet. I am interested in travelling around to different book stores to see if there are any books on the subject and who they are authored by. I will write later on my findings.
As Satanists, Pagans and those of other religions, we should not have to settle for information written by Christians for Christians, or those written to convert people to Christianity. So, I encourage those of us who are Satanists, Pagans, etc, to write about our spiritual struggles, to write words that are inspiring, encouraging and informative, so that when someone is going through a hard time and they try to look for information, they won't just get a list of Christian websites that talk bad about the Deity they follow. What we need are some good articles and books so that others may find help when they need it and which also may help us one day in our time of struggle.

2006-05-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

10 Ways to Break Out of Spiritual Stagnancy:

1) Read a spiritual book
2) Join a forum on spirituality
3) Pray
4) Meditate
5) Attend a ritual
6) Perform a ritual
7) Take a class
8) Meet new people of your religion or of another
9) Learn about a new path
10) Take time out to contemplate- write, listen to spiritual music

2006-05-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

Pentacle Unrecognized

I couldn’t help but be saddened when I read a news article about a sergeant of the United States military who died while serving his country in Afghanistan; that attempts to have the symbol of his religious beliefs on his memorial plaque have failed. He was a Wiccan, but the US Department of Veterans Affairs has not approved the Pentacle, the symbol of their belief, to be placed on plaques, headstones and memorial markers that are issued by them. This man’s wife has tried for months to get the department to recognize the Pentacle, but so far has not succeeded, yet other symbols have been recognized, such as those representing Buddhism, Christianity and Sikhism.
What is so sad about this, is that the US government has been preaching freedom and equality for all people from its pulpit for many years, yet why is it so hard for the VA department to recognize the pentacle? Wiccans are just as equal to the people of the other religions recognized, so why do they continue to be mistreated? Anyone who is part of a minority religion should take notice of this case, as the same thing may happen to them or one of their family members. What happens if a Satanist is killed while serving his country? Will anyone stand up to fight to have a Pentagram or Symbol of Baphomet placed on their plaque or headstone?
It is time for people to get over stereotypes and prejudice and begin to see all people as having equal rights to believe as they wish and to be able to have the symbol of their belief which gave them happiness and much more, proudly displayed on what is there final resting place.

2006-05-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

Soul Cry
By
Marie RavenSoul

Tears streamed down her face.
An expression of how much she loved him.
But she left him behind;
fear having overcome what her soul had always known.
“You have made the right choice,” people said.
She couldn’t follow him, he was evil. . .or so it was written.
So moving on was what she had to do.
But the ache in her heart grew, as the months went on.
Had she been wrong all those years? Her path now set.
But the walks at night together, hadn’t they been a communion of the soul?
No one could understand, as they had never felt . . .
It didn’t matter now.
Looking up into the dark sky her soul cried out.
She could never forget.
Never.

2006-05-23T11:38:00.001-07:00

This is a quote I came across:

"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying "amen" to what people say you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive."
Robert Louis Stevenson

2006-05-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome,
I want to welcome everyone to my blog. I thought this might be a great way to give the Spiritual Conflicts group more exposure as well as to give certain topics more indepth attention. If you want to see something covered here or in the group, let me know.
Sincerely,
Marie RavenSoul