Reminds me of the fact that I often read excommunicated Satanists say "Now I don't have to answer to anyone. I can do and say whatever I want!" I think about how empty that kind of life is. Responsibility and purpose to those we trust are the very things that make life matter.
This is an exciting topic - the root of civilization was born through care for others, namely the historical discovery of a human femur which was healed - Margaret Mead made the connection between the healed bone and one of the earliest known signs of civilization. It predates when archaeologists believe Gobekli Tepe was built by nearly 18,000 years (the site is thought to have existed 20,000 years before Mesopotamia began). Human connection, compassion, and care for the environment are signs of evolution. Great read 🖤
I've also been thinking a lot lately that there is an element of causality to this. Even through the crudest trial and error, a big enough group of people committed to their own happiness will figure out, over time, that what makes them happy is forming good relationships and building good communities. It's just a fact that that's what makes people happy.
The title of France's book still has the word "angel" in it. To be "adversarial" or to "rebel" says nothing about a lack of care, compassion, empathy and understanding of others and their world about us. I was reminded, at the beginning of this, of this tree I would see on a route to work. There is a lone boulder in the middle of a field and growing up, tall and proud, from the middle of the stone is a tree. Simplistic majesty. Nature's embodiment of "persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." A stark reminder that, given time, "Mother Nature" can and will push the reset button and reclaim what was originally its space. Ill snap a new picture of that tree for you. This article has engaged my thinker. Simply brilliant. Bravo!
Reading this essay helped me a lot this morning, so thank you for taking the time to write it.
Is there a book or essay(s) you could recommend which goes through the seven tenets and explains them? I am currently 70+ days sober and while AA largely references one’s ‘higher power’ and having a ‘spiritual awakening’, this is proving difficult for me to reconcile after years of identifying as an atheist. I am, though, starting to consider these concepts seriously.
"The Little Book of Satanism" is a great place to start.
If you are looking for help with your AA journey, Liz Bucar's book "Beyond Wellness" has a very interesting framing for AA for atheists and non-theists.
If AA isn't working for you, Sober Faction is TST's recovery program. I am not sober, a councillor, or lawyer so I cannot say switching program is a good or legal option for you.
Thank you - I’ve heard from another member here in Calgary that there is an atheist AA chapter, and that despite him being born-again, he is still able to see how it conforms to the 12 steps and actually works.
AA is useful to me at this point in my recovery because going to meetings and interacting with people with problems like mine draws me out of myself (which is a bad place for me to be), but I feel I may be more successful at this (and at life in general) if I cast my net wider.
A lot of great points here. I never got the practice of 'selfish satanism' . It has always seemed to me that we are mostly selfish animals anyway. So an '-ism' to be selfish is redundant. Also, I like your thoughts on freedom being a relationship. I don't know how to explain it in a rigorous way, but I instinctually feel that if my 'neighbor' isn't free, neither am I.
I think that feeling may come out of the understanding that if people can carve out an exception to your neighbour's freedoms they could do the same to you.
This and if I were to engage in tyrannical behavior, I would be creating an environment that is not free. It could set a situation where freedom is at the cost of another’s freedom. This would be more akin to renting or buying freedom. Once my currency (in this case coercion) runs out, so does my freedom. Plus, it simply feels better not being an asshole.
This is a difficult one for me. I acknowledge relationships with nature and the things around me but my relationships to people have always been more tenuous. I know what that is supposed to look like but to put it into practice has always been a difficulty for me. That is why I do what I can, but being part of a satanic community as a whole is also difficult. No matter the setting I always feel apart. My efforts to be part of the whole always awkward and ineffective. The smallest efforts take me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I do challenge myself with this when mental energy allows. I appreciate these pieces you write. They challenge me in so many unexpected ways.
I definitely appreciate how relationships with other people can be difficult. I experience alienation quite frequently, too. It has taken me awhile to overcome some of my instincts through pushing through discomfort to do things that I intellectually value.
In other words, I feel where you are coming from and I'm proud of you for pushing yourself to grow.
Reminds me of the fact that I often read excommunicated Satanists say "Now I don't have to answer to anyone. I can do and say whatever I want!" I think about how empty that kind of life is. Responsibility and purpose to those we trust are the very things that make life matter.
This. So much this.
This is an exciting topic - the root of civilization was born through care for others, namely the historical discovery of a human femur which was healed - Margaret Mead made the connection between the healed bone and one of the earliest known signs of civilization. It predates when archaeologists believe Gobekli Tepe was built by nearly 18,000 years (the site is thought to have existed 20,000 years before Mesopotamia began). Human connection, compassion, and care for the environment are signs of evolution. Great read 🖤
Needing each other is part of being human. You can eek out an existence alone but to truly live requires community.
I've also been thinking a lot lately that there is an element of causality to this. Even through the crudest trial and error, a big enough group of people committed to their own happiness will figure out, over time, that what makes them happy is forming good relationships and building good communities. It's just a fact that that's what makes people happy.
That makes a lot of sense to me.
The title of France's book still has the word "angel" in it. To be "adversarial" or to "rebel" says nothing about a lack of care, compassion, empathy and understanding of others and their world about us. I was reminded, at the beginning of this, of this tree I would see on a route to work. There is a lone boulder in the middle of a field and growing up, tall and proud, from the middle of the stone is a tree. Simplistic majesty. Nature's embodiment of "persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." A stark reminder that, given time, "Mother Nature" can and will push the reset button and reclaim what was originally its space. Ill snap a new picture of that tree for you. This article has engaged my thinker. Simply brilliant. Bravo!
Thank you.
I love how you establish the rootwork to derive the spirit of Temple Satanism! This is a great article!
Thank you very much. I felt really good when I finished it.
Great read and well said 👏
Thank you very much.
Reading this essay helped me a lot this morning, so thank you for taking the time to write it.
Is there a book or essay(s) you could recommend which goes through the seven tenets and explains them? I am currently 70+ days sober and while AA largely references one’s ‘higher power’ and having a ‘spiritual awakening’, this is proving difficult for me to reconcile after years of identifying as an atheist. I am, though, starting to consider these concepts seriously.
"The Little Book of Satanism" is a great place to start.
If you are looking for help with your AA journey, Liz Bucar's book "Beyond Wellness" has a very interesting framing for AA for atheists and non-theists.
If AA isn't working for you, Sober Faction is TST's recovery program. I am not sober, a councillor, or lawyer so I cannot say switching program is a good or legal option for you.
Thank you - I’ve heard from another member here in Calgary that there is an atheist AA chapter, and that despite him being born-again, he is still able to see how it conforms to the 12 steps and actually works.
AA is useful to me at this point in my recovery because going to meetings and interacting with people with problems like mine draws me out of myself (which is a bad place for me to be), but I feel I may be more successful at this (and at life in general) if I cast my net wider.
A lot of great points here. I never got the practice of 'selfish satanism' . It has always seemed to me that we are mostly selfish animals anyway. So an '-ism' to be selfish is redundant. Also, I like your thoughts on freedom being a relationship. I don't know how to explain it in a rigorous way, but I instinctually feel that if my 'neighbor' isn't free, neither am I.
I think that feeling may come out of the understanding that if people can carve out an exception to your neighbour's freedoms they could do the same to you.
This and if I were to engage in tyrannical behavior, I would be creating an environment that is not free. It could set a situation where freedom is at the cost of another’s freedom. This would be more akin to renting or buying freedom. Once my currency (in this case coercion) runs out, so does my freedom. Plus, it simply feels better not being an asshole.
This is a difficult one for me. I acknowledge relationships with nature and the things around me but my relationships to people have always been more tenuous. I know what that is supposed to look like but to put it into practice has always been a difficulty for me. That is why I do what I can, but being part of a satanic community as a whole is also difficult. No matter the setting I always feel apart. My efforts to be part of the whole always awkward and ineffective. The smallest efforts take me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I do challenge myself with this when mental energy allows. I appreciate these pieces you write. They challenge me in so many unexpected ways.
I definitely appreciate how relationships with other people can be difficult. I experience alienation quite frequently, too. It has taken me awhile to overcome some of my instincts through pushing through discomfort to do things that I intellectually value.
In other words, I feel where you are coming from and I'm proud of you for pushing yourself to grow.