Independent Satanism

Satanism is a path of independence and individuality. Depending upon your personal beliefs and philosophy, you may or may not entirely fit into the three main sect definitions or even agree with those definitions. This is why it is important that you define your own Satanism. It is self-made, not prefabricated by others. Definitions can be handy for surface identification, but are not written in stone.

There may come a time, for whatever reason, that you will wish to join a group or organization. They may ask you to conform to their definitions and standards. It will be fortunate if you do not have to consider compromising your individual path for their sake. However, you may feel or be compelled or required to adopt traits of the group with which you don't entirely agree or which were not your idea. Some groups expect that you publicly support and defend them. Others would have you divide yourself from certain people and decide your associations, even publicly denounce them. This is when problems arise and your Satanism begins to take on a group-think aspect.

You must weigh the value of whatever benefits you feel you may receive from a group or organization against how you will allow it to manage you and your Satanism. You may just want to be associated with a group or org for social reasons and this is a way to acquire friends and have a sense of belonging. The group or org may be well known and dropping their name and that you are a member, may mean something to others with whom you want to make friends or be associated, thus a step in the social or political ladder you want to climb. They may offer titles that you find attractive, such as priest, initiate, etc. and that this will impress others and give you identity or increased esteem. You may feel it gives you some form of protection and security being associated with a group or org that has some power. If you wish to promote yourself, you may more easily do so by associating yourself with other well-known people or organization.Satanism is not always easy or comfortable, mainly because it asks so much of the individual. Hyatt in Pacts With The Devil writes that one must become their own priest, judge and psychiatrist. Such is a never-ending process and it may be tempting for some to adopt a group or org's preestablished codes and beliefs, rather than to create, evolve and maintain your own. This is quite natural for people to do this because of their tendency to find comfort in the herd. Christianity is very popular for this reason. They have a manual to which they refer for every aspect of their lives and in addition, churches and pastors that interpret and add to this, creating even more rules and dogma. Most people feel aimless and uncertain when they don't have a clear-cut idea of what to do. Some may desire a high priest or other guru they feel they can trust and look up to for guidance and information. Satanism is not a path of such second-hand religion and hive-mindedness. You need not fit yourself into someone else's requirements, but instead, create your own code and receive your own personal gnosis.

Independent Satanism realizes that there are groups and orgs that one might join toward a common cause and interest. The group, Independent Satanism is such a group. It is an association of independent Satanists whose purpose is to maintain their independent beliefs and remain free of the organizational requirements and dogma of other religious or non-religious Satanist groups and offer a forum for interacting with other independent Satanists.

Copyright © 2007 Krowznest, J. Spirit. All rights reserved

Purism is Restriction

We all must set restrictions for ourselves or agree to those of others, our community and government. But there is a huge area within that domain where we have freedom. We can accept or remake ourselves according to our whim and our will. We will only be limited by our knowledge, ambition and perceived limitations.

What is purism? It is not Puritanism, which is an extreme path of restriction, to exile pleasure from one's life with the idea that it is sin and makes one "pure". It can be a form of purism.

The purist will choose a path and learn all they can about its methods and rules. Then they will direct their life by this path.What occurs with most people is that they choose a path and only impose it upon themselves when it is convenient or does not interfere with their desires. There are many others who will choose a path and makes excuses why they "fail" or can't follow it and forever strive for "perfection" and to "master" that path. Some may achieve "mastery" and others may not.Neither is a creative way. It is not individual or unique. It is living someone else's way.

I suggest a utilitarian approach, to modify or individualize a path to conform to what your goals are in life, to your personality traits you have claimed and to what you have found works practically for you.

For example, The Tao is a life path that imposes restrictions. You do choose to impose them upon yourself, but they are required for "mastery" and can prove burdensome.Yet there are some very useful methods which can be adopted. Many methods that are entirely healthy, bring inner peace and power, even lengthen one's life.

Yet, there are only so many hours in the day and so many days in a life. You must choose how to spend them. I am not saying that one should be lazy about an endeavor or neglect an aspect of their path because it is too difficult or takes time. If your goal is to become a millionaire, you do more than dream about it (although that is useful too), you take action toward its achievement. If you desire to raise a family or run a successful business, you put the required amount of time, energy and effort into that, but not to the exclusion of all else.

Satanism recommends exceedingly well to merging with it styles and methods from other philosophies and paths. Since it does focus on the individuality of self and freedom from most restrictions, I find it an excellent foundation for my life.

I believe the life of a Satanist should be of balanced continual progress. It should contain pleasure, practicality, spiritual work, the evolution of self and most of all, creativity.

Even though Satanism was presented to me by deity, my own personality already conformed to its ways and it has always been a natural and comfortable path to walk. It is very me. Not to say that it is an easy way. It requires, no, it demands that the self be improved and embettered according to the will. Satanism is not a mere tag to hang on yourself. It is a way of life that is lived and a continual process of change.

When one chooses to combine aspects of a path or philosophy to Satanism, one need not go so far as to compromise one's beliefs and overthrow the existing system. Choose what compliments it and your unique individuality. Listen to the criticisms of others, but decide for yourself which is true and useful and make your own decision. There is great satisfaction in making a path totally yours by building upon its foundation.

Copyright © 2007 J. Spirit All rights reserved.