3 Mistakes New Satanists Make

I’ve been a Satanist going on 25 years. I’ve seen trends in Satanism come and go. But there are some common mistakes that new Satanists make that I have noticed in talking with new Satanists around the world, over the years.

The fact is, many new Satanists just don’t know where to go once they decide to become a Satanist. If you are new to Satanism, hopefully this will help you to not make the same mistakes that I’ve seen new Satanists make in the past.

Mistake #1 Not Taking The Time To Read The Satanic Bible

Many people over the years have asked me, “I want to become a Satanist, where should I start?”. I usually let them know that the Satanic Bible is a good place to start, for several important reasons.

The Satanic Bible was written by Anton LaVey and it serves as the doctrine for the Church of Satan. I am not LaVeyan – by any means. The Satanic Bible is not a perfect document. It is pieced together from various sources. But the overall philosophy is something that Satanists should become familiar with when they first start out in the path of Satanism.

The Satanic Bible enables you to understand the idea behind the basic philosophy of Satanism. The spirituality of Satanism, however, is something that you create and experience on your own. The basics behind the the philosophy is what helps you understand how to live as a Satanist.

Without this knowledge, you are left wondering what Satanists are talking about on forums, or why they reference certain things. You want to be in the know, right? Learn how to speak the Left Hand language.

The Satanic Bible is not a large book, you can read it in a few days. You don’t have to study it, and you don’t have to agree with everything that’s written in it, just become familiar with it. This book will give you a basic understanding of the philosophy of Satanism and the ideas behind Satanism as a social movement.

You can pick up a copy here at my Left Hand Path Books Blog -> The Satanic Bible

Mistake #2 Rushing Into a Pact Without Understanding the Consequences

I’ve known a few Satanists that came to me over the years saying that they rushed into their Satanic pact before they were sure what they were doing. They eventually quit Satanism but wanted to return.

Maybe they didn’t take the time to understand what is required to make a pact, or they didn’t have the confidence to live a Satanic life. Maybe they read somewhere that making a pact is easy and it’s all you have to do to become a Satanist. Well, its a little more complicated than that.

Yes, pacts are an important part of Satanism. A pact enables you to create a bond between you and Satan. It is useful for self-initiation into the Satanic path. But, just performing the pact ritual itself doesn’t make you a Satanist. It’s that moment when you know the time is right, when you have everything in order, that making a pact makes sense.

I suggest to my readers that a pact is serious business and it should be approached with caution and respect. A pact should be made after a period of time, when you have studied about Satanism and you have performed your own rituals. I usually suggest to wait a year before you decide.

Make Satanism a part of your life, but work towards the goal of having a pact. It’s so much more meaningful than just diving in without a direction or meaning, leaving you feeling empty. If you are going to swear your allegiance, know what you are swearing for. Don’t make a pact until you study, pray, ritualize and work with Satan in your own personal way for at least one year.

Read my page at the Spiritual Satanist Site, on Pacts and Satanic Dedication

Mistake #3 Not Doing Your Research

This last point ties in with points #1 and #2. Research is an important and often overlooked facet of learning how to walk the Satanic path. Nobody out there really teaches you how to research. You just do it on your own hoping that you are going in the right direction. Some people never research at all and they feel that once the answer is handed to them, they might be satisfied and feel that there is no need to ask any questions.

For those of us with a sense of curiosity, the search for knowledge is never ending. You should take the time to research the things you read about. Don’t just take someone’s word for it without investigating. The nature of the occult makes it easy for authors to obscure their sources. With a little bit of work, you can uncover their sources and understand more than just what is on the surface. The lesson here is not to take things at face value. Do your own research and come to your own conclusions. That way, you will have not only knowledge, but also wisdom. This will carry you farther than just simple belief.

Don’t Make These Mistakes!

So to recap, the three biggest issues that new Satanists face are the facts that many skip the essential part of at least reading the Satanic Bible. Many new Satanists rush into pact making without considering the long term consequences. And many aspiring Satanists who come from a Christian background, are too willing to accept other’s stories about Satan, without taking the time to do their own research. If you are new to Satanism, considering these three important suggestions may help you to walk the Satanic path with more confidence.

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