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The non-essay

By Evel D.

Believe it or not, but Satanism at this time is going through a major wave of herd conformity. A kind of forgetting that we are actually suppose to be different. The ranks are swelled with followers, and the strong self actualized or soon to be self actualized leaders are seemingly out numbered. Now is this really a bad thing? Let us take a look at it.

Herd conformity and Satanism can be a good thing? Yeah right!

Herd conformity when applied to Satanism is a slight contradiction, but not as large as one may expect. Look at it this way, while Satanism does indeed abhor the mindless drones that make up the herd; the herd can be very beneficial to the Satanist. Especially if you are in charge of a Satanic herd. I think the Satanic herd is a phenomena where a person is at a point where they understand Satanic ideals and they are trying to rid themselves of xian ideals that are still deeply seated in their psyche. They may understand Satanism completely, but herein lies another part of the problem. The actual application of Satanic ideals to the real world. In order to apply Satanic ideals to the real world you must end up in situations where you can put your ideas to use. In fact everything should be quite natural, but it is the xian ideology that has been brainwashed into many of us may make things awkward. Maybe for these individuals finding someone who is at the same point as they , or possibly someone who is far more advanced then them helps them deprogram themselves. One thing that we as Satanists must not forget is that we are all individuals and we must go through our paces our own way. If we truly are what we believe ourselves to be sooner or later we will stop veering off the road and have are feet firmly planted on the Left Hand Path.

The Satanic herd also offers another advantage. They basically believe in the same things that you do. If anything is ever going to be accomplished we can not all be leaders. Not if we have to get something done together. Leaders can not lead other leaders and for that moment whenever that is, if it ever is we would actually put something of ourselves aside. Which in and of itself is very unSatanic to me. To martyr yourself for some cause; but if the wave of fundamental xianity keeps going at this rate all religions that are non-xian (and that does not hold true for all xian religions either) will have something to worry about. There was more religious acceptance in the 60s then there is in the 90s. Do we really want to be stuck on the same issues in the next millennia or do we want to move on to better things?

Remember the pack.

Let us for a second and take a look at how all of us in some form fall into the herd category. Many Satanists find the idea of a herd as a degrading term, but at the moment together we are not much else. When we use these terms we are speaking about all of us together and like it or not if you consider yourself a Satanist then you are a part of the herd. We all spend too much time bleating at each other when we should be howling together. Figuring out what it is exactly we want if anything at all. We all want different things, and it would be extremely hard for us to come to a happy medium; but not impossible to get something done. There are some great ideas floating around out there from the creation of Satanic ISPs (Not my idea it is Sat Antyrs idea. Check out his webpage The Satanic Axis ) My own personal fav however is the building of an island where people would have to apply to live there by sending in applications, but everyone has their own personal ideas about a Satanic paradise. Now off of the tangent why does the wording mean anything? Well, the wolf pack are actually working together. The herd just stays together. Also, remember that even the wolf pack has a pecking order, but even the low wolf is still a wolf and has a purpose.

Well, my group is doing this and that while you sit at home and write essays

Well, actually this is not entirely true. First we will talk about how I sit home and do nothing, but write essays (which honestly I would do if I could get away with it.) My goal right now is getting a skill. Which I am doing since I am a computer tech for the moment at least and making money so that I may move and finish my education which I have put on hold at the moment being that I feel my current school has does not have the adequate facilities I need to help me with my future career endeavors. So I am actually doing quite a bit believe it or not. Now I can give an overview of all of the groups out there. Groups are fine for the people who need to join something. Many of people who are in groups are again the Satanic herd. Though they may actually be doing something which would make them a pack. Either way these little groups can cause a problem. The major problem with these groups is the more of them we have the more it lessens the chance of everyone saying fuck it for a second and getting together. Besides that the fights between the different groups you get the people who do not like groups, and the people who like groups but just not your group, the people who like all groups, and the people who at first like your group and then decide that they hate your group and go join another group and do the same thing all over again. The can tear apart something that could have otherwise been a friendly working relationship. I am not talking so much about the large organizations such as the ToS the CoS and the ONA. Though these organizations do have the problem of fighting with each other. Being that they are larger, established and have formed foundations for each set of ideas. The rules are a bit different. People join these groups for many different reasons. Though many of the people who are members are in fact joiners, many others are not.

What about being yourself?

Simply put being yourself is not being different for everyone. There are some people who consider themselves Satanists who are different for the sake of being different. That is possibly the worse thing one could do. It would be better to be your boring self and like it instead of lying to yourself and being something you are not. The phrase that is oft repeated "To thine own self be true. " Everything will fall into place if you follow this great advice.

How to spot a herd/lower rank in the pack Satanist.

Well, I do not know if this really matters that much. You will know them when you see them or hear them speak. One thing that I do wonder about is that I personally have not met a person who I would regard at this rank among the ToS. I do not think it is because the ToS does not have people like that. I think they just lock them up in the basement he he he. No seriously if you go by the net alone for every 10 CoS members there might be 1 ToS member. Anyway, here is your handy little guide. Also, take into account that they may also, just be new. This is in no particular order and by no means should one go out and bash and or try to take advantage these people. If we want to do something then we all must realize that we all have our own personal roles.

Most things they say end with LaVey. These people are not stupid at all. They know LaVey like the back of their hands. They can quote him backwards and forwards. They can take his words and say the same thing he said in other words. They just can not say something that does not have LaVey in it. LaVey was to me a great man. He was a man who thought for himself. Who was able to see connections that might not have been apparent to everyone. I am in no way bashing the late Dr. LaVey. I do however feel that these parrots are making a mockery of LaVeys work. There is nothing wrong with quoting from time to time because hey there was so much one could use and it makes the point oh so well in certain situations, but remember when you are quoting LaVey about being yourself and thinking for yourself you are making yourself look rather silly. Take some time to think about it.
If one says something that might go against LaVeys ideals then they are immediately saying something unSatanic. This is the same as people who think that LaVey is the be all and end all to Satanism. Do not be afraid to go into uncharted territory. The more we explore the more we might find. Do not be so naive and such a follower that you cannot question LaVey. If one never questions anything one remains stagnant.
Everyone else is wrong. This one-wayism idea is a throw back to many of their old xian ways. For shame that it is not seen for what it is. Everyone has a right to think and feel as they will, but isn't that one track mind the thing we are trying to get away from? Most, people who eventfully invented great things were laughed at quite a bit. Most were told they were wrong, but they still invented great things. Just because it is not your way does not mean that it is not a valid way? Sure you can judge if you enjoy doing that just do not whine when others do the same to you.
Complaints about being oppressed or that no one understands them. Of course no one understands you, you are a Satanist! If everyone understood you they would be the same as you would they not? Also, if everyone was a Satanist it would not really be Satanism anymore now would it? Who would be the adversary? I guess everyone could be an adversary to themselves, but that would be a nice case of MPD.
I will admit this one is pretty stupid and I do not have an explanation for it. I have seen it a few times only online though. Questioner "Hi, I am a new Satanist. Could someone tell me what Satanism is? " I am sorry, but how can you be something when you do not even know what it is? I suppose that is like an infant being a xian. All I can say is I hope people who write things such as this are just wording it really wrong.
Bashes other people simply because of what organization they are in. This is where it gets complex and I will be the first to admit that I have done many of these things if not all of the things I am listing, well I didn't do the one that is right above this one, but the others I have done. It is a matter of live and learn and I realize now how silly and unproductive all of that is. Bashing someone just because they are in a different org. is a waste of energy. Most people do not do it, but some do. This in some ways goes back to the whole one-wayism issue. In other ways it is sometimes ok to bash different organizations (even if it is childish) when these organizations come out with mistruths about others. Though bashing really should not happen to often because it makes the basher lose credibility. That credibility might be extremely important especially when trying to show what actually are lies and what is truth. (Or what you want people to believe are lies and what you want people to believe is truth.)
Puts down people who are different from them. That is the point damn it! Be yourself.
Has to be in a clique. Dependence on others speaks for itself.
Can not stand to be alone. What do you hate yourself? That should be your best time. Or close to it anyway.
Does not try to expand knowledge. Stays at one point and never moves forward. Maybe this is my own personal bias, but I hate stagnation. If you are willing to stay in the same place, you are willing to stay in the same rank. You have no desire to move up. You probably hate change. You are the ideal follower.

Well gee before you said that they are not that bad, but besides what has been listed what are the other bad parts?

Well, I think some of the more unfavorable points would be the fact that it does pose a slight contradiction in some ways. Also, while people are in that phase it may embarrass some of the more mature among us. I will say however, that people who are in these stages are the perfect example about how Satanists are different and they will always be among us regardless so why not use them to our advantage?

I sometimes feel that people go thorough this stage because they might not be quite ready to take a leadership role. Remember they may not stay that way forever. Hopefully it is just a transitional stage until they move on to greater things. It's ok to follow if one, you do not have to ie. you are not totally dependent on one person; but the person is giving you things that you may need at the moment before you can establish yourself. Such as knowledge. We all know that knowledge is power and if you do not know as much as you should, you should find a way to learn what you need to know. If you happen to find someone who knows more then you there is nothing wrong with letting them help you along the way. As long as you are not so totally weak willed where your will becomes theirs.

Last word

All in all I think if we as Satanist remember one thing we will be fine. No matter what comes our way we should be able to turn it around and make it our advantage. If we are unable to do such things are we really 'elite' and all those other great things we like to pat our backs about. The time for the self deceit needs to end. Nothing will happen by itself. Those who keep pointing the finger at who is real and who is not need to turn the finger right around to themselves. You are the ones who are really the problem. You are the ones who try to cause dissension. If you can not take what offends you and put it to work for you, then you need to learn a bit about using your resources. Remember the herd will be a part of us for some time if not forever. Instead of complaining about it let us put it to work for us. This way we can use it for our best interests. The Satanic infantry if you will. If they are begging to be lead, why not lead them? If you would not know what to do with them, others would and they might have something for you to do as well.

Stay strong.

HAIL SATAN!

Note to readers: This is more of a throwing of ideas on the table then an essay. If you have any ideas to throw, throw them in the Infernal book or send E-mail

More literature from and about this author can be found at Synic's Page of Infernal Delights