Sinfully Delicious Online Magazine

Awhile back an entity known as ‘Tier Instinct’ sent me a friend request and message on MySpace. I happily approved of his friendship and later, we agreed that an interview would be very interesting for the site. That is what you will find located below. Tier Instinct is a musician and a certified citizen of The Church of Satan. He has put together a project called ‘In Through This Devour’ which is set to have an album released by Black House Tribute Records in the soon to be future. His project has also seen air time on radio shows namely ‘The Haunted Noctuary’ and Radio Free Satan. Please take a moment to sit back, relax and read this brand new interview he has done for SDOM. I hope you enjoy.

1. What first attracted you to Satanism? How did you first discover The Church of Satan?

A.) I learned of Anton LaVey when I was a teenager. I read an interview with King Diamond in some metal magazine where he spoke of Anton LaVey and admitted to being a Satanist. Years later the name came back to me and I wanted to read more about Anton LaVey, so I purchased The Satanic Bible at a local bookstore. B.) After reading The Satanic Bible a few more times I went back to the bookstore, and purchased The Satanic Rituals. This was all that they had in the store but asked if I would like to order more from the author. I looked over their list of available books on Satanism and ordered The Secret Life of a Satanist by Blanche Barton. This is when I first discovered Church of Satan.

2. If you have had or could have the chance to speak with Anton LaVey, what would you of liked to talk to him about, what questions would you ask him?

I did not have the pleasure of meeting Doktor LaVey. I would have liked to discuss his synthesizer clock, and manipulation techniques that he wrote about in what is now known as The Satanic Witch. This a book that fascinates me and is a life long study. Also, I would have liked to talk with him about some of the people he has met and who had influence on him. His days in high school and the experiences he had then would make for interesting discussions. Then, I would like to have heard him talk more about his time with the carnivals and the circus shows he worked.

3. If you had to name 5 Satanic/occult books (outside of the works of Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton) that you would recommend for others to read what would they be? Who is your favorite author?

A.)
The Satanic Scriptures – Peter H. Gilmore
Essays in Satanism – James D. Sass
Beyond Good and Evil – Friedrich Nietzsche
The Antichrist – Friedrich Nietzsche
The Human Zoo – Desmond Morris

B.) Anton Szandor LaVey

4. What would you do if another Satanic Panic broke out in the media and America? What is the biggest threat facing Satanism in our modern age?

Nothing different than I already do. I keep a look out at all times for crazy people who would be threatened of my existence. The hierarchy in Church of Satan have gone to great lengths to educate the media on what Satanism is, and is not. There are no threats to Satanism that I can see. I guess some would say Devil Worshipers, or Pseudo-Satanists are a threat, but stratification will win out. There have always been Satanists and there always will be Satanists.

5. Artificial Environments. Artificial Human Companions. Both terms invented by LaVey. How much of a role do these two things play a role in your life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments or companions for other Satanists?

I would suggest reading the literature by Doktor LaVey on the topic of a total environment. Each will find their own reflection and aesthetic demand. As far as the Artificial Human Companions are concerned, well, how can one go wrong? With a bit of imagination, one has the perfect artificial companion in every way. I think they are even making a Real Doll that speaks, and moves, too.

6. How important is ritual to you in your life as a Satanist? Is ritual absolutely necessary for magic to work it’s effects? And do you think the act of conducting magic in ritual a ‘faith based’ idea or it is more scientific than that?

Greater Magic is important to me, but it is something that I rarely discuss outside of the Church of Satan. It is scientific because science is a collection of facts that have been proven to work. Satanism is not about faith, but rather about what works. Greater Magic works!

7. If Hell was real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

Gilda Radner

8. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

Everything is as it should be. I do not think it is wise to work against nature.

9. Please tell me about any projects you might have and where you’re at in the online world.

I have recorded an album of spoken word that is accompanied with original special effects. ‘In Through This Devour’ will be available soon on Black House Tribute Records. The magic and charisma that is ‘In Through This Devour’ was created for my own pleasure, but soon became a project to be released out into the world on Black House Tribute Records.

Check out the official site for reviews at inthroughthisdevour.weebly.com and at myspace.com/inthroughthisdevour

10. Any final thoughts or anything you’d like to share?

To comprehend Satanism, one must first understand that Satan is a symbol. It is when we step into our intellectual decompression chambers that we exalt our most highest god, Satan. Which for myself, and most Satanists that I know, is an extension of ourselves.

Hail Satan!

1. What first attracted you to Satanism? How did you first discover The Church of Satan?

Back in 1999, incident had it that while visiting a friend who I found used to own a copy of The Satanic Bible (TSB), I came to read a few passages. I was supposed to pick up the guy for band practice, but when I arrived at his place he was still busy talking to some girl on the phone which simply didn’t seem to end. A transient glimpse at his bookshelf instantly directed my interest at a paperback copy of TSB. After briefly flipping through the chapters, I started to read The Book of Satan and from then on simply devoured every passage. The very next day I ordered a paperback copy of TSB which I eagerly studied from cover to cover the day I received it. Never before had I come across such an accurate account of how life really works. It was an incredible realization to have my basic understanding of this world basically works spelled out in front of me. Soon the other works of the Doctor’s followed causing a similar ignition.

From this point, discovering the Church of Satan was simply the next consequential step to take and helped me a great deal in deepening my understanding of Satanism. Also, the Church of Satan – website provided the starting point to learn about the manifold projects and creations of the Infernal Empire’s hierarchy. It was in 2002 that I finally became a registered member of the Church of Satan. I still remember the strong feeling of delight that filled me when I first held the red card giving proof of my membership in my hands. Since then my affiliation with the Infernal Empire has been a most enriching and fulfilling addition to my being. A number of doors have been opened and many exciting projects have emerged that have deeply inspired me and considerably enhanced my success in the real world.

2. If you have had or could have the chance to speak with Anton LaVey, what would you of liked to talk to him about, what questions would you ask him?

Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of meeting the Doktor in person. More than anything else, I wish I had the chance to make a visit at the Black House and get to know our Founder in person. That would be an absolutely priceless experience to converse with him surrounded by this very prototype of a total environment. There are of course many questions that I would like to ask him and it would be most exciting to exchange personal experiences reflecting the application of Satanic principles. To speak to the Doktor about the collection of oddities he was said to have had as well as about the human companions he had created would be as thrilling as the subject of visual patterns and shapes that influence our behavior. To perceive the named concepts firsthand and to witness their impact on me would be most instructive. I could probably add to this list endlessly and yet it would already be a supreme pleasure to enjoy the Doktor’s presence. One thing that I would definitely do is to express my sincerest gratitude and admiration for what he has created.

3. If you had to name 5 satanic/occult books (outside of the works of Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton) that you would recommend for others to read what would they be? Who is your favorite author?

1.The Satanic Scriptures by Magus Gilmore
2.Essays In Satanism by Magister J. D. Sass
3.Nemo On Satanism by Magister Nemo
4.Bearing The Devil’s Mask by Magister Paradise
5.How To Make Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie

A favourite author is certainly hard to name, considering the large number of excellent authors I could name here. As regards fiction, these would include but not be restricted to Shakespeare, Milton, Greene, Nabokov, Zola, Hoffmann such as Poe and Lovecraft in the field of short fiction. When it comes to the wide field of non-fiction, it is clearly the works of the Doktor’s and said high-ranking members of the hierarchy that stand out, as these have had the strongest impact.

4. What would you do if another Satanic Panic broke out in the media and America? What is the biggest threat facing Satanism in our modern age?

Considering the specifics of our contemporary computer and information age, this would be highly unlikely to occur both in the country in which I reside and in the US. Taken together, the vast amount of information available by mouse click and the high degree of networking have led to a situation, in which public assertions and claims can easily be checked for their validity. Nowadays, the whole Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) myth has been thoroughly debunked. People are simply not buying that nonsense anymore. Meanwhile, there is vast evidence for the large number of Christian clerics responsible for child molesting and sexual abuse. Magister Svengali and Priestess Graham have created a first-rate blog documenting this phenomenon. Doubtlessly, aside from child pornography networks, the various institutions run by the world religions present the major venue of child abuse today. It must be a real thorn in our most fanatic enemies’ side that Satanism is law-abiding in every regard. Simply inventing obscure horror stories and spreading these over and over at the campfire clearly doesn’t have as much of an effect as it used to have back in the eighties. Let’s nevertheless assume the scenario of another Satanic Panic spreading became reality. Even if that was the case, I doubt that it would personally affect me that much, because only a few close friends and family members are aware of my affiliation. I’m certainly not the type of person to exhibit a Baphomet bumper sticker on my car. Generally speaking, the mere idea of Satanists becoming victims of a strongly restrictive social climate such as that of a Satanic Panic appears to be a contradiction in terms to me.

With respect to the second part of your question, my estimate is that Satanism so to say ranges pretty much on top of the food chain, not only compared to other religions but the scope of schools of thought in general. It is not in any way affected by any of the common confessional mud fights going on out there. Neither does it provide religious fanatics of whatever denomination with a target, since it is only a very small percentage of humankind that thoroughly understands Satanism. And even though, there are some considerable nuisances such as devil worshippers giving Satanism a bad name, but these are far from being a real danger.

5. Artificial Environments. Artificial Human Companions. Both terms invented by LaVey. How much of a role do these two things play a role in your life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments or companions for other Satanists?

Total environments play an important role in my life in many ways, starting with my immediate surroundings that I shape in accordance with my aesthetic likes. My lair is a good example in so far that you find very old and massive pieces of furniture here as well as a variety of items and object from long forgotten eras. Among these are also a few very rare items and collections of old books, records, weapons, etc. Many objects have a very special history and remind myself of certain aspects or periods of my past. What is sometimes considered as uncanny or archaic by visitors provides an atmosphere of beauty and timelessness that I feel most comfortable with. Furthermore, my affinity to art deco and the old-fashioned extends to almost any area of life. The crackling sound that accompanies the songs of an old record is always preferred to CDs and the ticking of a clock that is a hundred years old simply has an incomparable appeal. Occasionally, I also find the inspiring quality of total environments by simply driving a certain street at night in an old car listening to music from tapes that I have recorded some 20 years ago which adds many components that bring up memories of certain situations and events. It is a way to re-capture or conserve specific sentiments to activate these when I feel the desire to do so.

Artificial Human Companions are evolving into an increasingly important field of research and development. This covers various facets and goes far beyond the Real Doll – industry that is often immediately associated with this item on the programme of Pentagonal Revisionism. Beyond the just mentioned example, I’m particularly fascinated with every aspect related to artificial intelligence (AI) and robot applications. This affinity started back in childhood/adolescence years when first encounters with chess computers and very early AI computer applications took place.

We are approaching the point of strong AI becoming increasingly indistinguishable from biological intelligence. To get an impression of the advancements achieved here, one may have a look at the level of strategic behavior of artificial opponents in modern computer and video games or AI applied for translation purposes. And yet, these are just the more obvious examples of a general concept of constantly growing importance in almost all areas of life. What I find especially interesting is how specific applications like for instance chat-bots have developed in terms of strongly resembling human behavior. The artificial linguistic entities developed by the Artificial Intelligence Foundation (A.L.I.C.E.) are a splendid example and if I were into online chatting at all, I would prefer chatting with one such artificial entity. Picture such entities included in the most up-to-date android/robot entities and you have a very sound idea of where we are going.

We are living in absolutely exciting times. Many nowadays commonplace aspects of technology had been considered as pure science fiction by even my parents’ generation just fifteen or twenty years back. Keeping an eye on these developments, individual Satanists will surely spot promising means and applications for their personal needs and desires. More specific suggestions for other Satanists would be difficult since personal preferences and aesthetic requirements differ a lot.

6. How important is ritual to you in your life as a Satanist? Is ritual absolutely necessary for magic to work it’s effects? And do you think the act of conducting magic in ritual a ‘faith based’ idea or it is more scientific than that?

Ritual has become an integral part of my life from the very moment its effects became evident for me which was shortly after reading TSB and TSR. As many Satanists, I have started from an atheist background and a thoroughly materialist perspective. In so far, my focus was mainly directed on the dimension of psychodrama at first. The possibility of manipulating objective reality by means of ritual however, was something that needed to be validated by my own personal experiences first. That took me some time, especially because I tended to be a die-hard skeptic back then. Once I was able to turn the switch to de-activate my skepticism for at least as long as the given ritual lasted, things changed remarkably in terms of results.

Given that Lesser Magic offers a large variety of tools to manipulate others, a great deal can be accomplished this way in the Satanist’s everyday life. From a practical point of view, what matters is that one’s goals are achieved in an efficient way, regardless if by means of Lesser or Greater Magic. However, once one has validated magic in ritual as a workable way to produce real life results, it would be unwise to ignore this option. There is an essay of the Doktor’s in The Devil’s Notebook titled The Combination Lock Principle that elaborates on the interlocking of Greater Magic and objective reality in a most brilliant way. Considering the mechanisms explained, ritual in Satanism is a very earthly and results-oriented instrument. Even though, science in a traditional sense regards any belief in magic as superstition, science itself is constantly re-structuring its explanatory models and its understanding of reality to adjust it to new findings and insights. Therefore, much of what had been considered sorcery in former times has become scientific discipline by now. And yet, magic as referred to in your question remains one of the blank spots here. Rather than the term ‘faith’ which denotes a continuous state of believing, I would describe the mental preset as temporary suspension of disbelief. Outside of the ritual chamber there is no need to enter this state of mind.

7. If Hell was real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

That would be the waiter.

8. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

Pentagonal Revisionism completely implemented on every level would do the trick. Other than that, there are of course a number of adjustments that I would personally love to see performed to my own advantage, any of which I do what is feasible to see these take place. Consider it a game of chess highly exponentiated in its complexity. With some practice and strategic skill a small advantage here and there can easily be gained. Gross advantages, however, do of course require a lot more and involve a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration. Certainly, the balance factor comes in here and limits the scope of individual possibilities accordingly. Once you have acquired an understanding of your role as a doer and your potential radius of action, it becomes obvious that time spent envisioning your own utopia and longing for it to become reality is a waste of precious resources. Considerably more, I view it from a rather practical angle instead of pondering about a perfect version of this world. The focus is basically what can be done now or as soon as possible to make my existence here and now more enjoyable. This means working on many different fronts and developing awareness regarding changes and upheavals that bear the potential to significantly benefit from. Take for instance what is at present often referred to as the financial crises. I could name quite a few aspects that I have found ways to prosper from. Apart from that, I view these developments as a necessary process of stratification which brings us back to Pentagonal Revisionism.

9. Please tell me about any projects you might have and where you’re at in the online world.

There is my electronic music project The Invisible War which is basically intended to create what I personally consider ideal acoustic environments for the ritual chamber. In fact, there have been several occasions when I have been looking for a particular piece of music fitting such a very specific need. Starting to tailor my own arrangements is how the whole project came up. Very soon however, I found profound delight in composing pieces of music even beyond the initial purpose and it turned into a very fulfilling endeavour. What I do especially appreciate is the fact that I’m solely in charge of everything. It is this D.I.Y. approach that fits my way to go about projects all too well. A website with more comprehensive material on this project is also in process of planning as the extent of material grows.

Furthermore, writing essays and articles on various different subjects as well as reviews of books, movies or music makes a pursuit that I enjoy a great deal. Several of my essays have been published in different magazines and a selection of my written material can be found on my Undercroft profile-page. Then there is a long-dated and quite beloved endeavour of mine which is exploring places and houses that have a somewhat gloomy and haunted appeal. So far, I have archived quite a few interesting photos of such places and have from time to time gone into some research regarding the history of some of these places. I’m yet unsure however, what I will do with the material. One day a website or a magazine might emerge.

Aside from the Church of Satan website, I find great delight in both Magister Ventrue’s Undercroft and the Letters to the Devil – message board. While the latter has been around for a very long time providing a paramount source of information and platform to learn from and to contribute to, the Undercroft is a relatively new brilliant tool for networking purposes with like-minded individuals. Every now and then, I post essays or articles and take part in discussions on various topics which is always a very enriching activity. And of course, Warlock Blackthorne’s Shadowmantium, his Order of the Black Dragon and his magazine The Devil’s Diary provide most excellent and rich resources of diabolic thought.

10. Any final thoughts or anything you’d like to share?

Thank you very much for interviewing me. It was a true pleasure. My best wishes for this and all future projects.

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Prometheus’ music is available to listen to online via myspace. Please check it out.
http://www.myspace.com/theinvisiblewar9

1. What first attracted you to Satanism? How did you first discover The Church of Satan?

As a long standing Wiccan Priestess/teacher/bookstore owner/public activist I fought off accepting that I was a Satanist for years. I was hung up on what I perceived as feminism via goddess empowerment, on kindness which I was programmed (not by my atheistic parents or even Christian friends, but by Wiccans) to think Satanists lacked, and most of all because I have a real issue about rude and mean people, I was inclined to wear the biggest goddamned good guy badge I could find. I was that rare fighter who had to be a defender. I was led to believe that I couldn’t be that in Satanism.

Well, a time came when I needed to be fought for, and I had trained my covens and classes so well that magically they couldn’t fight for me due to that stupid three-fold-karma thing, and in the real world they wouldn’t fight for me because they were inherently chickenshit. My blossoming friendships with Satanists didn’t help either.

By the time I met Dr. LaVey I was pretty disenchanted with the whole thing. In my heart I finally realized what I actually was but counter-productive pride kept me in denial for several years more. Eventually I looked around and realized all the people I actually liked were Satanists, and I gave in to my nature.

2. If you have had or could have the chance to speak with Anton LaVey, what would you of liked to talk to him
about, what questions would you ask him?

We discussed movies, as he had known of my grandfather’s work as a screenwriter. We talked about Wicca’s developing (at that time) Jesus with tits dogma. The rest of that conversation is mine. If I had known that I would be joining in a few years I would have asked him a lot more.

3. If you had to name 5 satanic/occult books (outside of the works of Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton) that you
would recommend for others to read what would they be? Who is your favorite author?

The Satanic Scriptures/Gilmore, which now, by the way, should be placed in our dogmatic canon right up there with LaVey & Barton.
Bearing the Devil’s Mark/Paradise
Essays in Satanism/Sass
The Fire From Within/Nemo
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches/Leland

Most of the time
I read crap, schlock, commercial, popular fiction. I was raised on literature, you see, reading Shakespeare and Ovid at 6, Joyce at 10. By the time I could afford my own books I wanted someone to tell me a goddamned story. I’m the same way about movies, by the way. I am about as deep as a puddle.

Right now my favorite author is Christopher Moore, who is just plain funny. He kills me. My favorite of his (which actually IS NOT crap) is called Lamb: The Gospel of Biff, Christ’s Childhood Friend.

I also enjoy the recent trend of fictional accounts of historical characters, whodunnits by Fairstein, Deaver, and here is where even I wonder how the fuck I can read that crap- Patterson & Kellerman,. I love books that take place in my hometown of New York, be they fictional or otherwise.

4. What would you do if another Satanic Panic broke out in the media and America? What is the biggest threat
facing Satanism in our modern age?

Let me answer the second first., as it has become what I write about, defend against, and what stirs up all the occulty non-Satanists to absolute apoplexy. Our biggest, and if you scrape away all the symptoms, our only REAL problem is devil worshipers.

To clarify I am stating that our problem, in all of its retarded manifestations, is that devil worshipers have convinced themselves that they are simply another kind of Satanist. The nerve! The complete lack of self-awareness! The shame they bring upon us!

Christian heretics have somehow gotten the notion that if label themselves Theistic or Spiritual or Traditional they somehow legitimize their stolen (from Christianity) religion , and they negate the larceny of our name. It would be funny if they weren’t actually dangerous. Truth be told I’d happily escort them to the Hell they actually identify as a real place—that they are looking forward to. I wonder why they don’t, you know, take matters in their own hands. I guess it would just be too efficient.

They are the root of just about everything that ails us. Sure, Christians would still hate us without these idiots, BUT they’d hate us appropriately–for our self-divinity and carnal acceptance. They could decry our lack of faith, and reliance on study, but without these cunts (credit for that to UVRay) no one would see us as dangerous is a criminal way, anymore. But no, these idiots are the religious equivalent of the mullet actually bringing back much of the crap that we were accused of during the Satanic Panic

As for what I would do , the short answer is exactly what I do already, anyway. Not that individual Satanists need my help. The Panic was highly educational for us. Satanists are perfectly comfortable being stoic, and most of us have created lives where we could easily adapt to playing possum. Not me though. Nope. No, Sir.

Earlier I mentioned that my nature is that of defender. Add to that intense and overwhelming maternal instincts, and a love of teaching. Mix them together and what you get is in advocate/activist. Only this one shaves, bathes and dresses nothing like a hippy.

Given that I was quite lucky that I had already been doing media for a couple of decades when I joined the CoS. In fact it was at a Geraldo taping that I met HP Peter Gilmore in 92 or 93–I am lousy with years. Because of that I was granted the privilege of doing media regarding the CoS while just an Active Member.

It isn’t about seeing myself on TV or my name in print. Actually if you ask around you’ll find I watch my interviews once and then literally can’t bear to watch them again. I read the articles, once, just to make sure I am not misquoted–remember that you— so it isn’t about self-promotion per se. It is actually a need to be needed.

I need to defend the things and people I love. It has always been a part of my nature and in recent years it has become my raison d’etre as I have developed the ability to read my audience and respond to them and adapt my message. The easiest way to describe why I am effective at it—meaning making the mainstream listen BEFORE they light the bonfires is that I am just different enough to be interesting and just normal enough to be non-threatening to the viewers/reader/herd. I have heard many a Christian bemoan my suits or my white minivan or any of the other Mommy accoutrements that are a genuine part of my life. They desperately want my normalcy to be an act evidently unaware that EVERYONE”S, normalcy is an act!

Anyway, returning to history, please keep in mind that Wiccans got their fair share of shit during the last Satanic Panic–which, if you ask me, was three fold karma for lying about Satanists and throwing them under the bus, and they/I suffered. I had a car drive through the front window and directly into my store. I had death threats, I was assaulted. Picketing, prayer vigils, vandalism, murdered pets, my kids terrorized and ostracized and I wasn’t even identified as a Satanist then. In 1990 being a witch was bad enough.

Yet I made it through and I learned much. Throughout the 80’s I won a whole bunch of silly civil rights awards from the Neo-Pagan community which actually meant something to me back then. Now, knowing how easily they abandoned me because I refused to hold the party line and vilify Satanists for the sake of having a scapegoat to throw at the mainstream , I am glad they were lost in one of a gazillion moves over the years.

18 years later I have been occasionally surprised at a more open attitude towards Satanism by some Wiccans and Neo-Pagans I have met. Some are genuinely intrigued. Some, I suspect, were like me—Satanic to the core, but refusing to admit it to themselves. Maybe once they learn about Satanism they’ll pick up a fucking razor and discover the delights of bra shopping at Victoria’s Secret. But I digress.

During the last round of witch hunts that we call the Satanic Panic I know for a fact I genuinely changed attitudes and helped bring about the end of it. From 85 to 94 I had to have done well over 200 television interviews, double that on talk radio. The newspaper articles about the witch could fill a multitude of litter boxes. I can’t even count how many lectures and Q & A’s at colleges and universities I did. Am I gloating? Yeah, a bit but I am particularly proud of the several years that I was asked to speak at the local police academy to explain why Satanists and Witches were not the criminals but, given the climate, were more likely to be the victims of religious crimes (yeah, I know, we Satanists hate being perceived as victims or weak, but we aren‘t made of steel and back then we were radically outnumbered by those whose fear made them angel dust strong,).

So, while very, very small, I count my contribution as one the of the many factors that helped bring an end to that regrettable period. I am proud to be counted, as a tiny percentage, with about 20 other activists, a bunch of ethical medical/psychiatric professionals, a few honest authors, and, most of all, the trinity of super-heroes who finally slew the dragon that was the Panic: Kenneth Lanning of the FBI and two, believe it or not, Christians who had the decency to tell the truth , Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott.

So when you ask where I’ll be, I can say with honesty, and a lot more ammunition than I had last time, that I will be directly on the front lines. I will challenge every lie, I will clarify every misconception, and I will demonstrate just what a Satanist is, as a neighbor, as a contributor, and as a dangerous and effective enemy. This time we might just scare them off the field before the drop of blood hit’s the ground.

And, the irony is that it is all about love.

Really.

In the world of people I love my fiancée’ and my children and grandchild above all things, then my parents, about a dozen people from growing up/high school who I maintain relationships with (including an ex-husband and his family,) and then the members of the Church of Satan. Truly. Not all, of course. That would be silly. I sure as Hell don’t even come close to knowing .0000010, BUT I can say of the members I have met it is downright freaky how many of them I have either fell in love with at first sight (platonic, obviously) or grown to love as if they were family.

I know a lot of traditional church preachers will go on about how the flock are a family once a member kicks the bucket. They also say to love your neighbor and everyone is your neighbor and blah blah blah, eat me! Their love is available at the dollar store.

I am talking about a love that is earned by admiration, talent, dedication, what we have in common, and just as important, what is unique. I am talking about honesty, the kind where you can admit what you lack and gloat about what you have, and both are equally met with compassion, and if called for, brutality—and yes, sometimes love demands brutal honesty.

So, if ever there comes a time, be it a small blog read by 20 people lying about us, or a Senate hearing trying to find a First Amendment loophole to abolish us, that is where you’ll find me. And while I have been known to lose a battle or two, I never lose a war..

5. Artificial Environments. Artificial Human Companions. Both terms invented by LaVey. How much of a role do these two things play a role in your life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments or companions for other Satanists?

Artificial/Total Environments thrill and inspire me. Artificial Companions do nothing for me until they can do housework. ‘just not my deal. I hope they end up creating really good sexual ones so more marriages that are foiled by sex issues might stand a chance but I turn red and giggle with embarrassment over a fucking vibrator–’just not my bag.

It is not by chance alone that I live minutes from Disney. In terms of fun I am about 11 years old. Give me castles and talking chipmunks and roller coasters that make you believe you are hurling through space….heaven! Disney is so amazing, and I get really bored with ultra-cool people who allow the commercialism interfere with both their good time, and if they are loud and grumpy, mine. I have been known to literally walk up to assholes and remind them “Hey! You’re in the fucking happiest place on Earth, get with the goddamned program!” They look shocked and indignant but their kids are delighted.

The parks aside, the two dozen hotels that are on property each have a theme, and it is monument of achievement in total environmentalism. The rooms, the costumes of the staff, the décor, everything is designed to take you to another place and time. One day Jim and I will be married there, of this I am certain. What I am not certain of is which one!??? Will we go for turn of the century southern gentility at the Grand Floridian? Eternal Mardi Gras at French Quarter Port Orleans Resort? Perhaps have a giraffe nibbling on the branches of a tree beside the balcony at Animal Kingdom Hotel? Polynesian? Contemporary (with monorail running through it–uber nifty?) As of now I am torn between the Boardwalk Hotel that reminds you of that sort of 1930’s Atlantic City vibe, and the Wilderness Lodge that is based on the National Park Lodges a la Teddy Roosevelt with art and furnishings from the Pacific Northwest.

Anyway, I used to live in a stereotypical Satanic environment. I had the black walls and the scary stuff and usually lived by candlelight and everything was all occulty and it was pretty cool. One morning I woke up and determined two things . First, my religion wasn’t contained in my décor, and secondly, if I woke up to black one more day I was gonna go postal. Later I realized it was my situation, not my walls that was depressing me, but at the time I flew to Home Depot (which reminds me, check out my blog and support Home Depot,) bought peach colored paint and attempted to be normal. Suffice to say that worked out as well as black. The inherent dilemma was me. I hadn’t figured out enough about me to determine what my perfect environment was. As the list of hotels above prove, I still haven’t.

Other than Fred, the life-sized gargoyle outside of the front door, with a few exceptions my house is the ultimate in white bread. I even call the house Casa White Bread. Oh, yeah! I forgot. My bedroom is decorated a la Cheshire Cat. Seriously. I am 45 and I collect stuffed Cheshire Cats and Cheshire Cat knick knacks and bedding, etc…Cheshire Cat is very meaningful to me and my middle age resolution to simply enjoy the things I love without firm direction or intent– after all, the Gospel according to Kitty says “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” At this juncture, I am cool with that.

Much more impressive than my current white bread theme at home are some of the total environments of many of the CoS members. I am blown away by the creativity and diversity.

6. How important is ritual to you in your life as a Satanist? Is ritual absolutely necessary for magic to work it’s
effects? And do you think the act of conducting magic in ritual a ‘faith based’ idea or it is more scientific than that?

As a Wiccan witch and teaching HP I did so many rituals and spells that in all honesty, I welcomed Satanism’s lack of compulsory rituals. Lesser magic/psychology and for lack of a better word, manipulation have always been comfortable and natural for me., Once I had done the ones listed in TSB and some from TSR it was several years before I adapted some of my own and then they were solidly done with intent. I am a very successful ritual magician and my spell work is a kind of neat creation that draws on, face it, a boatload of traditions and cultures. Satanism allowed me to use something I always possessed but was frowned upon in my previous religious adventure: I had the right to know, accept, and proudly declare that the magic I do, both the power and the beauty of what I do is MINE. I may want to be Rhiannon, putting those who dare to chase me to sleep, and I can pretend to be her, even use her stories as poetry, her words as a magical language, but there is no goddess Rhiannon swimming about the cosmos, waiting like a anticipating bride to be called to do my bidding. I have the power. I am the magic. Faith doesn’t enter into it. Faith is for those who are too weak, scared, or cowardly to take personal responsibility.

Better still, I love a good cursing! If you get stuck in those white light religions they act like you can face criminal charges for having angry thoughts. They are worse than Christians who at least utilize wrath, even if they call it God’s will.

At some point I realized that it is more dangerous, more “bad” to not curse than to take the chance and get it thrown back at you. Many RHP people will say “Oh! You can’t curse that child molester. It is wrong and you’ll get it back three times over.” Cowards! My Defender mode turns itself on and besides the fact that I am utterly dubious that there is a cosmic scorekeeper doing his 3’s on a multiplication chart I have to ask what asshole isn’t willing to take the punishment when you could potentially rid the world of a child molester? Curse the mother-fucker and do it good! Yes indeed, nothing beats a good cursing. Really, why bother being a witch if you can’t curse the living shit out of someone who deserves it?

That said I haven’t done anything magical since 6/6/6. No need. That sucker carried me for a good long time.

Lately, however, there is a certain surgeon I am none too fond of.

7. If Hell was real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

My son who is only 15 and a young 15 at that, says that even in Christian mythology they should appreciate Satan because he punishes those who do bad things. If that is the case, I am not going. I know my heart, and if I am wrong and there is some divine creator, they know my heart as well. I assure you, as heavy metal as it may sound, I’ve already done Hell.

If I am wrong again, I will look for all my CoS friends. I love them, they will keep me entertained and learning for eternity. NIFTY!

8. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

I think you could fix the whole world in one or two generations if every human was reversibly sterilized at birth. And to breed you had to get a license to prove the following:

You earn enough to support a child or children until they reach majority. Single parents would have to have a certain amount in escrow because in a couple if one loses income the other can pick up the slack. If a couple divorces they each need to put the money in escrow before the divorce is final/they move out.

You must be genetically tested prior to marriage, so you know in advance if you‘ll be allowed to breed, or if single and genetically unsuitable you can go on the list and potentially adopt kids created on those rare occasions of new and previously undetected genetic illnesses. Why? Because that is what you would have had anyway, and for the sake of emotionally healthy families raising kids who are likewise, it is too stressful to have broken siblings. Sad, but true.

Yes I know once a baby with a handicap is born their parents love them, and they have value and politically correct stuff that I really do have empathy for. I cry over Shriners commercials, I give to Jerry’s kids, I have even been known to go completely off at people ridiculing handicapped kids, no matter what the situation. Suffering destroys me, and likewise I want to destroy it.

But it is hard to deny that I wouldn’t need fucking empathy if all babies were born without genetic malfunctions. Let’s eradicate Downs, and Spina Bifida! Imagine the joy of knowing your kid won’t or at least is highly unlikely to shake to death from Parkinson’s or have a diabetic seizure that forces parents to decide whether or not to pull the plug. In matters of reproduction I give the middle finger to God’s master plan, and long to use science in a way that literally, not rhetorically , or hypothetically, helps mankind.

Lastly, the higher the combined IQ of a couple the more children they will be permitted to have. We claim to understand that we are animals and yet, due to our alleged compassion (more suffering, less death), we do the opposite of animals in nature. The least fit breed the most. Stupidity has been painful long enough—mostly for the people who aren’t.
1 or 2 generations, 3 tops ….imagine…

9. Please tell me about any projects you might have and where you’re at in the online world.

I am currently in pre, and doing some actual production for Radio Free Satan’s The Culture Cauldron With Lady Ygraine. Unlike my activism this is a show about what real Satanists love and do. I have spent decades telling people what we do not do. Now I want to talk about what brings us joy. I want to share the reason why I am so very passionate about our church and it’s members.

Much to my dismay I have been ill, had surgery and am still not quite all better, so it has been delayed, but we are getting there, and by we I mean myself and my co-producer and buddy and occasional co-host, Citizen Jon Thibeaux aka Caudell.

In the meantime I continue my written assault on the dime store heretics and wanna be Satanists. I remain amazed that they often contact me somehow believing I could not possible be talking about them. Just now!-!!! I am sitting in Jim’s den typing this and I check my mail and, I cannot make up the fact that Damien Blackstone, of the Temples of Satan, wants to be my friend. Well…..we will certainly have a bit of correspondence.

I now publish on several different sites. I hope others enjoy these listed here:

There Is Only One Form of Satanism
http://knol.google.com/k/magistra-ygraine-mitchell/there-is-only-one-form-of-satanism/1p4mvwi5sh5a8/1#

More From Ygraine on Satanism – Ygraine on Word Press – Various Satanic Rants
http://magistrayrainetwo.blogspot.com/
http://magistraygraine.wordpress.com/

Magistra Ygraine on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/ygraine

I also work for hire. Readings, spell work, private lessons and lectures–I do for clients who find me online. I am really rather expensive, but, if you want proven results and extensive experience, you want me.

10. Any final thoughts or anything you’d like to share?

As I mentioned previously, my one activist focus, my one true goal, the thing I’d like to accomplish before I shuffle off the planet is to see a time when the word Satanism is mentioned, anywhere in the world, be it a mall in Toledo or a massage parlor in Thailand, and there is never any question what it is and what it means. Can you just imagine the sheer simplicity, pride, and joy of never being confused with a disgusting, dependent, weak, bowing, kneeling, begging Christian Heretic/Devil Worshiper again? I only regret that Dr. LaVey didn’t get to see it, but, I am pretty confident that with dedication and a really big mouth at it, his son will.

1. What first attracted you to Satanism? How did you first discover The Church of Satan?

I first became aware of “Satanism” through the infamous “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s. I remember watching those television programs hosted by Geraldo Rivera and his ilk and thinking, “There is NO WAY this stuff is real.” After all, if thousands of bloodthirsty nutcases were roaming the streets killing cows and abducting children, wouldn’t someone OTHER than a second-rate “journalist”/talk-show host notice?

As I grew older, I came across interviews with “Satanic” musicians like King Diamond, Thomas Thorn and David Vincent in my favorite music magazines. They all struck me as incredibly intelligent and well-spoken gentlemen, and I became interested in discovering for myself what REAL Satanism was and is. It took only one read through the Satanic Bible for me to realize that I was born a Satanist. After a lengthy period of research and consideration, I joined the Church of Satan on July 17, 2002 – my 25th birthday. I discuss my evolution as a Satanist in my new book, “Words From The Third Side: Essays on Sex, Satan & Success.”

2. If you have had or could have the chance to speak with Anton LaVey, what would you of liked to talk to him about, what questions would you ask him?

I would have loved to talk to Dr. LaVey about what he considered to be the most evocative Satanic music. Sure, he talked about his favorite tunes at length when he was still alive, but I would have loved to see his visible excitement and joy when discussing the songs that meant the most to him. If you really want to understand a person, review his or her music collection!

3. If you had to name 5 satanic/occult books (outside of the works of Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton) that you would recommend for others to read what would they be? Who is your favorite author?

I’ve always loved Gavin Baddeley’s approach to journalism. He’s a very “warts and all” writer, which is what made his book, “Lucifer Rising,” such a pleasurable read. I appreciate the fact that he gave equal space to Magus Gilmore and Dr. LaVey AND people like Paul Valentine, allowing the reader to make up his or her own mind on who were the kooks and who were the real Satanists. I also quite liked “The Satanic Scriptures” by Magus Gilmore and “Lords of Chaos” by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind. I’d also recommend anything by Magister Matt G. Paradise. Naturally, the fifth book I’d recommend would by my own!

4. What would you do if another Satanic Panic broke out in the media and America? What is the biggest threat facing Satanism in our modern age?

Technology has enabled all of us to gain information on an infinite list of topics with the simple touch of a computer key. There are accomplished Satanists in every conceivable profession and walk of life – from government to the arts. We live our lives to the fullest, and conduct ourselves without the ludicrous doctrines of Christianity keeping us running in place. With this in mind, I’d say WE are a greater threat to the status quo of herd conformity than any half-witted conspiracy theorist could ever imagine. We understand the TRUE meaning of life, and we fear nothing.

5. Artificial Environments. Artificial Human Companions. Both terms invented by LaVey. How much of a role do these two things play a role in your life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments or companions for other Satanists?

My thoughts on my own use of artificial environments and companions are lengthy and could – and very likely will – inspire an entire essay from me in the near future. As far as suggestions to other Satanists… just do whatever pleases YOUR tastes. It doesn’t matter if someone else “gets it” or not. Go with what fulfills your needs above all.

6. How important is ritual to you in your life as a Satanist? Is ritual absolutely necessary for magic to work its effects? And do you think the act of conducting magic in ritual a ‘faith based’ idea or it is more scientific than that?

I discuss my thoughts on ritual at length in my new book. I tend not to practice “traditional” Satanic ritual, opting instead to indulge in rituals of my own creation. Ritual is incredibly important to my life for one simple reason – it works! I could list numerous things that have happened in my life that are the direct result of ritual.

7. If Hell was real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

Warlock Shawn Poirier. I never had the pleasure of meeting the man, but his life and death led to certain events in my own life that are of great significance to me. He has become an important figure in my life, for reasons that shall remain known only to me and a very few select individuals. Hail Shawn!

8. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

I already affect the world every day by being as happy, productive and accomplished as possible. I absolutely love my life and those who enrich it.

9. Please tell me about any projects you might have and where you’re at in the online world.

Where am I NOT at in the online world! My official website can be found at www.gaustenbooks.com. My new book, “Words From The Third Side,” can be ordered online at www.lulu.com/content/5494803. My Myspace page for my book projects can be found at www.myspace.com/gaustenbooks. I’m also on Letters to the Devil, Facebook and the Undercroft. My official biography is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Gausten.

I am currently writing five more books PLUS working on numerous projects with my fiancee, Witch Shannon Gardner (www.shannongardner.net). We’re doing a compilation book called “Satanic Familiar,” which is a collection of essays by CoS members on their experiences with pets and animals. More information on that project is available at http://www.myspace.com/satanicfamiliar. I’m also working on some new, to-be-announced things with my old friend, Martin Atkins (Nine Inch Nails/Ministry), and will appear on the next Undead album. I also act as a media representative for the CoS.

10. Any final thoughts or anything you’d like to share?

Thank you for the insightful questions. Hail Satan!

01. Please state your case. Who are you and what do you do?

Well, my name is Herbert Paulis and I live in Vienna, Austria. I have a degree in computer science and I work in the industry, leading a small group of researchers. Besides I also lecture several computer science related topics at a university of applied sciences.

02. How did you first come into contact with Satanism and The Church of Satan?

Many, many years ago, in the mid-nineties of the last century, I was a very discontented seeker in many respects. I can remember very well, it was a dark and foggy evening in November and I was aimlessly surfing the internet, by then still in its infancy and online time was precious then – in the full sense of the word. Rather by chance on a page long gone away now I stumbled over a link which said something like “The Entrance to Hell – not for the weak-minded.” Now, that of course caught my interest and so I entered one of the very first sites about the Church of Satan. (I still have a printout of that page, one of my most precious personal Satanic treasures.) What I got to see there did indeed cast a spell on me which has not expired since then.

I read the famous article of by then Magister Gilmore, “Satanism – The Feared Religion” and more. During the next couple of days I could hardly concentrate on my work and felt how new energies flew through my body, stirring me up and filling me with new motivations, unbeknown to me before. I wanted to learn more about this religion, philosophy, mindset, attitude towards life, which had such a bad reputation and in which I saw ever so much truth and realization. Useful information was even scarcer to find in the web than it is today; fortunately also the free-loaders were thin on the grounds. With a lot of trouble I was able to dig out little more information, among it a source for literature.

After reading into the subject it was clear that I had finally found my destination. Joining the Church of Satan was only the final logical step, one I have never regretted since then.

03. How did your friends and family take to this discovery?

Well, I neither deny nor promote my Satanism, so I’d guess many of them don’t even know. Those who know cover the full range from thinking that I am crazy to those who think that it is a most sensible thing to do. On the other hand, I don’t really care much what and how people think about me, with very few exceptions.

I even hold some sort of cover position in a welfare organization as social camouflage although I am not particularly careful about it. If somebody addresses me about that dichotomy, I laugh into his face. Never be too predictable, it keeps people uneasy when dealing with you.

04. What is your favorite Sin and why?

Hmm, let me see, there are several of them. First, there is indulgence, then we have indulgence, and, oh yes, indulgence.

Seriously, I do have several favorites none of which are anyone else’s business. But I definitely do stick to Anton Szandor LaVey’s dictum that when sinning the most important thing is to stay in control.

05. What Devil, Demon, God or Goddess do you most closely identify with and why?

Huh? What a question! Me, of course.

06. Explain a result you’ve seen of Lesser Magic.

I work Lesser Magic on a daily basis but I would neither discuss the methods nor the results in public.

07. Explain a result you’ve seen of Greater Magic.

See the previous question. While I don’t of course work this on a daily basis, the conclusions are the same.

08. How has the ‘Law of Attraction’ worked in your life?

Hmm, I don’t really know. Coming to think of it, I can name at least as many arguments against it as in favor of it. So, from a scientific point of view when does it cease to be a law and become pure chance?

09. Do you have any Satanic projects either online or offline? If so, please list them.

Together with L. Kronlob from the German magazine “Schwarz & Magisch” I work on a project called “Pearls of Satanic Wisdom” where we want to preserve excellent articles from old Satanic publications so interested readers can profit from them once more these days.

10. Name 5 books you’ve read that have made a significant dent in your life and how.

The Satanic Bible
it showed me who I am

Atlas shrugged
it shows the importance of the right mindset: whatever you do, do it in excellence

The Lord of the Rings
I just love fantasy

Faust
an example of how complete humans can err

Starship Troopers
although the movie was ridiculous, the novel is phantasmagoric, it gives you the creeps, the perfect book about military attitude and duty

11. Name 3 of your favorite movies and tell me what makes them soo good.

Fahrenheit 451
V for Vendetta
as they both show what could happen if we don’t stay alert

Dune
because I just love Sci Fi and fantasy films for relaxation

Rosemary’s Baby
guess why?

12. If you were president for a day what would you first make happen?

Fire all the idiots and get some people in place who know how to do the job.

13. What punishment would you give for would be child molesters, murderers and rapists?

Death, provided they are proven guilty without any doubts. Lex Talionis, that is what it stands for.

14. If there was another ‘Satanic Panic’ how would you react? What action would you take?

Well, how would I react if I were in war and someone would aim his gun at me? I can well fantasize about what I would do but how would I really truly react? Would I be a hero? Would I wet my pants and run away? Who could tell ahead? Fortunately we (at least here where I live) are far from such a Satanic panic scenario and as much as I love Science Fiction I also hate to speculate.

15. Have you met Anton LaVey or Peter Gilmore in person and if so what was your overall impression?

Sadly I could never meet Anton LaVey but I have met Peter H. Gilmore and Peggy Nadramia in NYC a couple of years ago and they gave me the impression that my decision to join the Church of Satan was the right thing to do from the start. We have been friends ever since.

16. Have you read Michael A. Aquino’s ‘The Church of Satan’ and if so, what are your opinions on it?

I neither have nor do I care.

17. Have you ever visited the black house or drove past it. What are your thoughts on the matter of being taken away. Do you see this as a vital Satanic landmark or something that could be termed as disposable?

I was very sorry when it could not be saved as it would most certainly have been of strong symbolic value but as time has proven the Church of Satan was and still is strong enough to get over this sad loss. And maybe it is better to have fond and proud memories than possibly having to endure its degradation into some disrespectable misuse…

18. What was the most important thing, anyone, dead or alive, has told you?

My wife, that she loves me.

19. What are your hobbies? Why do they interest you?

For a pastime I fly small aircraft which gives me a chance to free my mind from every-day ballast. It allows me to look down at magnificent earth and to pity humanity reduced to ant’s size and its meager problems. I can take my wife and friends on enjoyable rides and nice trips without having to side with the herd.

I do have a lot of other interests but way too little time to pursue them all satisfactorily. Especially I do not get to spare enough time for writing which I love best next to flying, as writing down one’s thoughts makes them permanent and gives a chance to profit and improve from them, for oneself and for others.

Besides, I love to cook, an activity which furthers a very special form of creativity as it allows family and friends to benefit it from almost immediately.

20. What is the biggest threat facing Satanism/Satanists today?

Being ignored and swept away by today’s all too liberal and ignorant “everything goes” fun-society. It is very difficult to provoke and stir up when provocation has become so ordinary and trivial. While this of course also has good sides as Satanists are free to pursue their own lives and interests it does also contain some inherent dangers like an ever-increasing absence of education and values, especially what is called common sense. Nobody recognizes a slow but steady gain of control by all dominant media companies or a permanent degradation of science by forces like creationists or ignorant masses with no ample education.

21. If you could have anything in the world with exclusion to money what would it be?

Enough time to pursue all my interests and goals.

22. Who do you hate (or despise) the most out of all the humans on this planet?

Quite a long list with a lot of hustle and bustle at the front. Take a look at today’s news report (whenever that today might actually be) and you will find many of my favorites in there. And then there are some candidates from my private sphere, yet they shall remain private.

23. If you could tell your children (if you had any) one thing, what would it be?

Question everything, believe nothing.

24. Artificial Environments. A term invented by LaVey. How much of a role does this play a role in your personal life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments for other Satanists?

I have successfully created mine and I fully enjoy them. I can only suggest to other Satanists to so too, but it is very well their own bloody thing to figure out what fits them best and how to do it.

25. Where do you think our present myspace/youtube generation is headed?

Wherever one can be headed at who is disoriented right from the start.

26. What magical/occult orders have you been a part of besides Satanism if any? What drew you to those orders?

None, because nothing they ever showed or said convinced me in any way.

27. Do you have any tips or tricks for the would be Satanic Magician? Anything you’ve personally noticed that helps the advancement of magic in one’s life?

Read up, think up, and learn. Then experiment with the new knowledge and after that go back to the start.

28. This question is not a question. You can say anything you want here. Please feel free to do so!

“If everybody minded their own business,” said the Duchess in a hoarse growl, “the world would go round a deal faster than it does.” — Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

01. Please state your case. Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Les Hernandez; founder of the Satanic Punk band, The Quintessentials, in which I sing and play lead guitar. I’m also a member of the Church of Satan, in which I hold the title of Warlock, which is the second degree.

02. How did you first come into contact with Satanism and The Church of Satan?

I’ve always been an outsider and interested in darker subjects. Back in the very early 1980s a friend and I stumbled upon a copy of Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Bible. I bought a copy and immediately read it, identifying with it more strongly than with anything I’ve read before or since. I must’ve been barely thirteen years old at the time, but I knew at that moment that I was a Satanist.

That was a period of time when the big Satanic Panic was happening. Clips of Doktor LaVey and other representatives of the Church of Satan were on every talk-show, Evangelical program and Halloween special, so I was aware that the Church of Satan was alive and thriving, but it wasn’t until around 1989 or so that I stumbled upon a copy of The Black Flame, and in it, the address for the Church of Satan. Ten years later (1997) I would finally be holding my Crimson Card as a member.

03. How did your friends and family take to this discovery?

My friends always knew from the very beginning. They’ve never really had a problem with it. I’ve never had the need to discuss actual Satanism with most of my family. When it comes down to the brass tacks, it’s none of their business and they know it, though I love them dearly.

04. What is your favorite Sin and why?

“Sin” is a concept I can’t say I believe in. I don’t accept the concept of sin an a reality–it’s a matter of Christian dogma, not Satanic. Indulging in things like “sin” and “blasphemy” is only really fun when I feel like getting under the skin of a particularly irritating person who believes in those Christian concepts. Then it’s a hoot!

Of the so-called “Seven Deadly Sins”, I enjoy Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Pride the most (not necessarilly in that order). Hmm…that’s almost all of them, I suppose!

05. What Devil, Demon, God or Goddess do you most closely identify with and why?

I’ve always held the image of Hekate in high regard, as she is the Greek goddess of Witchcraft/Magic (and not in the goody-two-shoes Wiccan sense!). In a sense, she seems to me like another face of Lilith or Kali. I always have a representation of Melek Ta’us (the prideful one) and Kanaloa (Hawaiian deity equivalent of Satan and Cthulhu) on my altar, as well as Anubis (representing the underworld/the hidden/occult) and Baphomet (which I view as being identical to Abraxas in what each represents).

06. Explain a result you’ve seen of Lesser Magic.

This can be seen almost anywhere there is human contact, if you know what to look for. Humans feed off one another, and many do so by using Lesser Magic without recognizing it as such. Though this is not to be confused with Psychic Vampirism, which is the hallmark of leeches and welfare cases.

Watch a pretty girl who knows she’s pretty when she wants something. Her smile, tone of voice, eyes, et cetera, will all work to ensure she is given what she wants. All the best strippers know this as fact. They know how to best manipulate and or accentuate their traits to make men their willing slaves. The same goes for certain authoritarian-resonating men who know which kinds of women need a “daddy figure” in their lives and become that, thus ensuring their own sexual and emotional gratification.

07. Explain a result you’ve seen of Greater Magic.

The problem with displaying magical results is that others will always shrug them off as coincidence–no matter how unlikely that particular coincidences chances of occurring might be.

Suffice it to say that I’m satisfied knowing that magic works. The last thing I’d want is the Law having proof that it does, and in the knowledge of magic’s reality begin legislating its use. People in Africa are killed regularly for practicing Witchcraft. Not all too long ago the same was happening in America. Let’s not forget that.

08. How has the ‘Law of Attraction’ worked in your life?

In that like attracts like, I’ve found that no mater where I go I somehow wind up around others with the same interests as myself or very similar outlooks, which shouldn’t be such a regular occurrence for someone who is such an outsider.

In the way of opposites attracting, or one being attracted to one’s Demonic, as Doktor LaVey put it in The Satanic Witch, I’ve found that most of the women I’ve dated were very near, if not dead-on, polar opposites of myself. The more we’re alike, the shorter the relationship would last and vice-versa. In relation to LaVey’s Synthesizer Clock, of course.

09. Do you have any Satanic projects either online or offline? If so, please list them.

My band, The Quintessentials, are working on a multimedia DVD called “Sarah Alice is DEAD!” to be released later this year, followed by our fourth full-length album next year and talk of a tour is getting a lot more serious not that we’re on the mainland and out of Hawaii.

I’m working on updates to my book, The Bloodfire Compendium, with the objective of eventually releasing a second, expanded and updated, edition in the next few years or so.

10. Name 5 books you’ve read that have made a significent dent in your life and how.

You mean aside from the five written by Anton LaVey?

The Devil’s Avenger, by Burton H. Wolf
The Church of Satan, by Blanche Barton
The Satanic Scriptures, by Peter H. Gilmore
The Fire Within, by Nemo
Essays in Satanism, by James D. Sass
Bearing the Devil’s Mark, by Matt Paradise
The Lucifer Principle, by Howard Bloom

Seven, I know, but the reasons should be obvious enough.

Other books were Demian, by Hermann Hesse (being a proud productive outsider–Alien Elite), and Candide, by Voltaire (humanity’s reprehensible foolishness in always
thinking everything happens for the best in this best of all worlds).

11. Name 3 of your favorite movies and tell me what makes them soo good.

Rosemary’s Baby, for its depiction of the versatility within Satanism. This movie and book (by Ira Levin) are and obsession of mine.

The Stepford Wives (also based on a Levin book of the same name) for its dealing with Artificial Human Companions and the underlying topic of what makes a woman a woman–to herself, other women and to men.

The Ninth Gate, based on the book The Club Dumas, by Arturo Perez-Riverte, for its very Lovecraftian flavor (Delemonomicon/Necronomicon connection) and dealing with underlying topics such as a born Satanist v. pseudo-Satanists.

12. If you were president for a day what would you first make happen?

I’d ban using religion as an excuse for one’s illegal actions. “The Devil made me do it” would not be admissible in court and to attempt to claim such would incur stiff fines and secular community service.

13. What punishment would you give for would be child molestors, murderers and rapists?

I’d do to them what Vlad Tepes did to the Boyars with his invitation to a grand feast: once they are collected and comfortable, I’d lock them in and set them ablaze.

14. If there was another ‘Satanic Panic’ how would you react? What action would you take?

Forewarned is forearmed! I wouldn’t be shocked, but I’d ensure my own safety. I’m almost expecting another Satanic Panic. It seems like the public is dying for it. They need to be unified against a common enemy in order to feel right. Perhaps they need to be steered toward another enemy instead?

15. Have you met Anton LaVey or Peter Gilmore in person and if so what was your overall impression?

I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Doktor LaVey, though an acquaintance once played him a demo my old band did, to which he seemed enthused about–even if it wasn’t exactly hid kind of music. I take pride in that.

When I got my first issue of The Black Flame, I wrote Peter Gilmore and have corresponded with him off and on over the years ever since. I greatly respect the man and am proud to call him our High Priest, though we have yet to meet in the flesh.

16. Have you read Michael A. Aquino’s ‘The Church of Satan’ and if so, what are your opinions on it?

Aquino isn’t worth my time.

17. Have you ever visited the black house or drove past it. What is your thoughts on the matter of being taken away. Do you see this as a vital Satanic landmark or something that could be termed as disposable?

(no answer)

18. What was the most important thing, anyone, dead or alive, has told you?

Two things someone once told me a long time ago: “Man up, boy!” and “Ask not what the Church of Satan can do for you, but what you can do once you get off your ass!”.

Sadly, the person who offered me these very wise words way back when didn’t follow his own advice.

19. What are your hobbies? Why do they interest you?

I love making music. The recording process is where I feel I can be most creative. It’s akin to sonic sculpting. I like to make things–especially music. Writing is similar in that you create images in others’ heads and covey ideas.

I love to read and work with graphics as well. I drew a lot when I was younger.

20. What is the biggest threat facing Satanism/Satanists today?

The only thing a Satanist really has to fear is himself becoming to lax or complacent. Constant vigilance keeps the fire in our blood; keeps the Black Flame of Satan
burning.

21. If you could have anything in the world with exclusion to money what would it be?

The ability to read five books a day and retain everything–every last bit of knowledge, for practical use.

22. Who do you hate (or despise) the most out of all the humans on this planet?

The answer you’d get would depend and differ by which time of day you asked me.

23. If you could tell your children (if you had any) one thing, what would it be?

If I had any kids I’d want them to know just how extremely deadly recreational drug use can be.

24. Artificial Environments. A term invented by LaVey. How much of a role does this play a role in your personal life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments for other Satanists?

My own Total Environment is a mish-mash of everything I loved so much as a child: vampires, witches, tikis, werewolves, 1950s greaser stuff, art reproduced from Rosemary’s Baby, etc. It’s a matter of personal taste and ability to make it manifest.

25. Where do you think our present myspace/youtube generation is headed?

Down the Information SuperToilet.

27. Do you have any tips or tricks for the would be Satanic Magician? Anything you’ve personally noticed that helps the advancement of magic in one’s life?

Membership does have its privilages!

28. This question is not a question. You can say anything you want here. Please feel free to do so!

Folks can keep track of what I’m doing at both www.thequintessentials.com and www.bloodfire9.com

01A. Let’s start out with your new book. What is it called and what is the subject matter?

“The Satanic Scriptures” (www.thesatanicscriptures.com) is a collection of essays and rituals which I’ve written over the past 20 years. Most of the essays were published in “The Black Flame” (the official magazine of the Church of Satan) and some are newly released. All have been polished for this edition. They range from social commentary of a distinctly misanthropic bent to characterizations of human types, as well as details about the inner workings and perspectives of the Church of Satan. The rituals include the Satanic Wedding and Funeral Rites, which have heretofore only been given to members of our Priesthood. Finally the Rite of Ragnarok, a militant exercise in norse-flavored exoticism, had been previously printed in the Swedish publication “The Fenris Wolf.”

01B. When can we buy it, where can we get it? Personally, I’m looking forward to reading it.

The hardcover is now available from Scapegoat Publishing (www.ScapegoatPublishing.com) and select specialty booksellers while the paperback will be broadly released in October (Amazon.com) and should appear in major book selling chains.

02. Explain to us what you represent. What are the basic tenets of Satanism?

I represent Satanism as codified by Anton Szandor LaVey and embodied in the Church of Satan. Most succinctly, we are atheistic, skeptical epicureans who embrace Satan as a symbol of liberty, pride, and individualism. The details are in our literature.

03. How exactly did you find yourself to be a Satanist? What exactly convinced you that Satanism was the right path for you?

I read “The Satanic Bible” at age 13, at the time considering myself to be an atheist. I saw deeper aspects of myself reflected in LaVey’s words so I knew “Satanist” was a more accurate label for my nature. I’ve never come across a reason to alter that decision. I am a Satanist by Dr. LaVey’s definition, and the philosophy works quite well as a tool to get the most out of my life.

04. Anton LaVey founded the Church of Satan on April 30, 1966. He, himself, was the High Priest at that time. He unfortunately passed away in October of 1997. So the question is how did you get to become the successor of LaVey and take over his spot as High Priest?

Magistra Blanche Barton was the High Priestess at the time of LaVey’s passing, and so she became the head of the Church according to our articles of incorporation. Leading up to 2001 c.e., she felt it was magically appropriate for there to be a new High Priest, and she considered me to be the best man for the job. I was consecrated to that office on April 30 of 2001 c.e. Magistra Barton exchanged roles with my wife Magistra Peggy Nadramia a year later, so Peggy became the High Priestess and Blanche is now the chair of the Council of Nine.

05. What’s your relationship with Blanche Barton (Magistra Templi Rex of the Church of Satan) like? What is she like in real life?

We have been great friends for many years. She’s an all-around amazing lady – a deft communicator, and a woman who can blend suppleness with power to attain her goals. While Anton LaVey was alive, she was his “Girl Friday” and the most outstanding woman ever to be his mate. She has the brains and beauty to have been his ideal companion. Now she’s proven herself to be an excellent mother, raising Anton LaVey’s only son, Satan Xerxes Carnacki LaVey, into a very fine and unique young man. Blanche has a great sense of humor and completely embodies the archetype of the empowered gal of the 40s film noir along with judiciously employed contemporary sensibilities. She always wins my admiration.

06. Some may say your standings on religions is a very uneducated, stupid decision. That, one day God shall pass judgment on you and you might end up in a place, for eternity, well, in a very bad position… but you’re not a stupid man? With degrees in composition in NYU, a bachelors and masters as well as being a musician you certainly aren’t. How do you feel about those who might underestimate your logic or condemn you for your heretical beliefs?

I don’t care if the stupid can’t grasp my ideas. I don’t expect them to have that capacity. You can lead morons to facts but you can’t make them think. My choice of personal philosophy is based on my nature – and I am aware that there are people with other natures for whom Satanism would not be appropriate. I’m a carnal individual, while those types who feel the need to believe in something spiritual are driven to subjugate themselves to deities or dictators of some other form, as they cannot take control of or shoulder responsibility over their own lives. The Satanist is always his own savior, and our kind aims to keep the world secular and pluralistic so that the god-adorers can’t impinge on us. The opinions of the mini-minds count for nothing in my estimation.

07. If you could change this world in any way whatsoever what exactly would you change?

As each day goes by I find different things I might change depending upon what I’m attempting to accomplish. Being pragmatic, I don’t worry about things that I can’t change but put my efforts into making headway in ways I know are possible. I’m a “doer” not a “dreamer.”

08. Today I was browsing the official website of the Church of Satan and came across a section of the site that is offering participation with S.E.T.I. (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) through the Church. Care you elaborate on this?

Many of our members think it likely that there might be extraterrestrial civilizations that could be detected through assisting SETI. They contribute time on their computers to assist in that search and even work as a team.

09A. Are you familiar with the conspiracy theory that an alien race of reptiles came to Earth long ago and genetically engineered our race to use us as slaves for digging up gold in order that the reptiles would use that gold to help their atmosphere on their mother planet?

I’ve heard that some folks believe that. Several sci-fi films have played with that idea.

09B. How do you feel about the possibility that the world is being run by a bunch of reptiles?

I don’t see any evidence for this. I suppose that some folks who don’t have an integrated instinctual consciousness – who resist the impulses from the older, reptilian part of their brains – may have externalized this functional handicap into this “reptilian alien metaphor.”

Personally, I’ve always been attracted to reptiles, from extinct saurians to contemporary snakes and lizards – I’m quite enamored with the various crocodilians. If I’m “part of the conspiracy,” you might expect me to try to distract you from believing in it, and so you’ll have to decide for yourself whose side I’m representing as I present a toothy grin. I have written a screenplay which deals with ancient reptilian intelligence, but more cannot be said at present.

10. If Hell is real, who might you first try to contact when you arrive there?

My favorite deceased composers, particularly Gustav Mahler, so that I could find out how they would have completed the works left unfinished
at the times of their deaths.

11. Question number nine is all yours. If you wish to rant about something here feel free to do so. We would highly recommend it and enjoy it if you would.

I truly detest it when people run for election in the United States (and other republics) that they must project some form of religiosity in order to convince the dim and populous herd to vote them into office. It is needed, but revolting. I consider sincere beliefs in God, Jesus, Heaven, and Hell to be signs of limited intelligence and even dysfunctional delusion. Some politicians are non-believers but must act this sham. I would deeply prefer to see open non-believers running for office who are considered for the position because of their talents for handling that office. Are they rational, hard-working, intelligent, experienced? Are they flexible thinkers who can adapt to the needs of the position and serve their constituents?

The US was founded by free thinkers who wanted religion kept out of government, and today this childish and dangerous reliance on faith and belief in the supernatural is hindering our society from advancing technologically and causing the deaths of thousands (as it has in the past). Now is the time for enough to be enough. It is the 21st Century, time for damning God and relegating such concepts which require faith to a museum of barbaric superstition.

12. Why is the trapezoid so important to members of the Church of Satan? What is it’s significance?

The trapezoid is a form in symbols, art, and in architecture that has a potency for affecting those who experience it. It is disturbing and can evoke fear or at least unease because of its inherent sense of massiveness. Anyone interested in more details should read Anton LaVey’s essay “The Law of the Trapezoid” published in his book “The Devil’s Notebook.”

13. My favorite sin is Gluttony. What is Peter Gilmore’s favorite Sin?

Pride. I simply can’t help it.

14. Out of the 9 Satanic Sins coined by Anton LaVey which one of those irritate you the most?

Stupidity. In New York City I must unfortunately interact with so many stupendously moronic people. They waste my precious time.

15. If you have children or plan to have children what plans do you have to install fundamentals into them? What priorities as far as morals and behavior do you wish your children to have?

I am not interested in having children. My own creations will serve to remind those interested of me when I’m gone, and my dog Contessa Bella Lugosi, a beautiful black Chow, is a perfect canine-child for my wife and I.

When I consider the children of people around me, I encourage them to raise their offspring to question things and to employ reason to test everything to the best extent possible, being skeptical, and willing to learn as more data becomes available. Ethically I would encourage them to treat others as they wish to be treated themselves – with earned respect – but to not flinch from returning what is actually given to them.

16. Let’s talk about artificial companions. Please tell the readers what this is exactly… and how likely do you see this as becoming a reality in our lifetime. After all, there already is such a thing as a Real Doll that you can purchase online as well as virtual tours of hotels from hotels.com and lastly videogames are becoming more virtual everyday. How long might it take to see such development of this idea as in what we saw in the movie Westworld and recently I, Robot? And how much am I going to have to shell out to buy into the new generation of robot companions?

Artificial Human Companions are humanoid forms which can be as basic as the inanimate but relatively detailed Real Doll up to functional humanoid robots that pioneers continue to develop. The basic point is to create a personality embodied in human form that has no feelings and which can be owned and treated as needed to satisfy the lustful or anger-inspired needs of the common folk. Many people can only raise themselves up by denigrating others, and so to save undeserving actual people from having to put up with such behavior, an AHC can satisfy these needs. Virtual reality in its several forms is becoming more sophisticated, and so that may be a key for more passive folk who prefer to passively use only visual stimuli. The more selective may have to await the creation of actual “holo-deck” technologies which engage all the senses in a detailed simulated reality.

Naturally such things will be quite costly at first, as are all breakthrough technologies. However, as the benefits for pacifying the masses are grasped by governments, such things will be subsidized and offered up to the general populace at reasonable costs.

17. What’s your current view on the War on Terrorism and even earlier with what happened on 911?

Terrorism is a tactic, not an enemy, so this marketing phrase for the actual war against fundamentalist Islamic aggressors is just meant to obscure what is being undertaken. We are at a crossroad wherein human society must either restrict (or abandon) religions which insist on their truth and their duty to convert non-believers or ultimately be conquered by a fundamentalist religion which will dominate the globe. These religions detest the secularism embodied and “evangelized” by Western culture and that is the basis for the current conflict – aside from economic reasons which also fuel the situation.

I am for a worldwide secular and pluralistic society in which people are allowed their beliefs so long as they don’t attempt to enforce religious dogma or morality upon others either through force or legislated social regulations. To reach that, the “mad dogs” of fundamentalist religions must be either rendered impotent, imprisoned, or destroyed for the safety of all rational people, regardless of where they live.

18. Back to your love of music. I understand you contributed some music under the composer role in the second and third installments of ‘Death Scenes’ back in 1992 and 1993 (according to the information given by imdb.com )? What sort of music do you make?

My music is in the second and third installments of the “Death Scenes” series and I’d describe it as orchestral music that is bombastic, expressive, and I trust stimulating. I write it, perform it, and record it using synthesizers. Much of it has been released on the CD “Threnody for Humanity” released by Adversary which is a subsidiary of Reptilian Records (http://www.reptilianrecords.com/adversary/releases.html).

19. So you formed the very first satanic magazine back in 1989. The Black Flame. Is the Black Flame still under creation/distribution? How can we actually buy an issue of this magazine?

Right now we are gathering materials for the next phase of “The Black Flame” which will be a book format and will include new essays as well as beginning a retrospective of pieces of interest published from the earliest issues which have not been collected elsewhere. Visit this url for details as to which issues are currently available (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/TBF.html)

20. Now the Church of Satan might be the first satanic church but there are other organizations that claim to be satanic in origin also. What are your feelings on other churches such as the Temple of Set and the First Church of Satan? Are they just copy-cats? Or do some of these organizations show a unique spin off of the original philosophy of Satanism LaVey created?

Most groups claiming to be organized and Satanic are neither, having no actual philosophy of note, or even if they have made efforts it is not something that we’d label as being Satanic in any way. Bastardizations of the integrated and rational philosophy of Satanism are useless garbage, fit only for fools and mystics. These clowns are not worth any attention. The Temple of Set does have a consistent philosophy, however it is theistic and seeks to embrace something they define as being non-natural, which is quite the antithesis of Satanism. See these essays for lengthy discussions of this subject: Pretenders to the Throne (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Pretenders.html) and A Map for the Misdirected (http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Map.html)

21. Well, this is the last question. Thank you for your time and energy. Sinfully Delicious greatly appreciates your willingness and participation. But! Anything you’d like to add to this interview? Or shall we end here?

I task all Satanic individuals – and those fellow travelers who might not have come ’round to embracing the archetype of Satan for all its liberating qualities – to utilize your sense of discrimination with vigor, as the challenge of today is to sort through the mass of information being presented online and in the other media without any evidence to give proof to its validity. Question all things, for there are many who are simply offering falsehoods without being taken to the task. That is your greatest challenge – to sort what has some level of truth and accuracy from that which is just plain bullshit. Don’t let the stench of the latter prevent you from finding the rare gems which might be worth your effort. So it is done!

01. State your case. Who are you and what do you do. Please be specific.

Well, I’m not trying to win anyone over, so all I can say is that I like to write. People are welcome to take it or leave it.

02. I understand you have a musical project. Tell us about that.

“Music” is probably the last thing I would call it. It’s really just a personal hobby that generated more interest than I ever expected. I’m sitting on hours of audio material that I have not decided what I want to do with yet. I had been tinkering with it for awhile, in the background, but did not put anything together until I was working on these little videos and needed soundtracks to go with the images, and I did not want to get caught up in all the bullshit of using other peoples “music” so I started working out audio tracks to go with the videos. I never expected to put out audio material, but then people have expressed interest in it so I may as well do something with that, plus I enjoy making it. It is interesting working with completely non-musical sound, experimenting what comes out of an original sound processed through layers upon layers of
distortion and alterations of speed and pitch. It is also interesting experience emotional or psychological responses to completely non-musical frequencies. They say “music soothes the savage beast.” This does something else. It does a lot of other things. I have ideas on this that I’m working out on paper. As an aside, it is definitely intended to be an affront to conventional popular music, which I detest, and music-oriented subcultures that think they are somehow superior to more mainstream garbage just because they are smaller or “underground” (so called). I detest those scenes even more than the mainstream because they imagine they are somehow superior while engaging in exactly the same bullshit. I don’t call what I do music. Don’t get me wrong, thought goes into it, but I know classical musicians and composers – real, formally trained and
educated musicians and composers – Peter H. Gilmore for example – what Dr. LaVey called “No Bullshit Music.” My grandfather was a real, no bullshit musician, in the LaVeyan sense, and I grew up around music – there is a big difference. Then there are all the pretentious bullshit “rock stars” and “underground” artists who are invariably vapid ignorant pretentious clowns. Those people I detest and would not want to be identified with. The only thing lower than your garden-variety performing musician is their fans and their bullshit pretentious little scenes – they should all be shipped off to a death camp in some third world shithole.

03. You have a book concerning Satanism coming out this year around Halloween. What topics are you writing about and what inspired you to make a book?

I like to write. I was actually working on a more detailed full-length book (and still am) when several people within a month or so offered to publish the essays and articles I had already posted online over the last few years. I didn’t think it was worthwhile, but after going through my files and putting it all into a formatted document, I realized I already had couple hundred pages worth of material, so I changed my mind about publishing it. I like writing essays and short excursions, and it is an established genre of writing within Satanism, so I decided to go ahead with it. The book is called Essays in Satanism (First Series), that will be followed up by Essays in Satanism (Second Series)… etc. whenever I have enough material together that warrants putting out a book – at least 200 pages or so. I already have the beginnings of the Second Series put together. As with the first it will be a combination of material previously posted online, with longer unpublished essays on important subjects, so people aren’t just getting what they’ve already read in various places. You’ll probably see my internet writing getting shorter as I reserve the more involved pieces for book publication. Subjects in the First Series of Essays in Satanism include Satanic Magic, Sex Magic, Canonical Horror Films, uses of Memory and Imagination, Survivalism, Self Protection, articles on pseudo-satanism, Aleister Crowley vs. Satanism, Satanism vs. Drug Abuse, observations on history, comments on various idiotic subcultures, etc. The Second Series will be including a number of articles on the Invisible War, longer discussions of important books (the First Series has no book reviews!), and other subjects. The Essays in Satanism series will serve to occasionally publish collected shorter writings on various subjects. The full-length book I have in preparation, and partially done, is on the “Deep Satanism” concept, although it probably won’t be titled that. Once I get the first volume of Essays in the bag, I’m making a concerted effort to finish the Deep Satanism manuscript in time for it to be published in 2008. I have detailed outlines, notes, and extensive raw material for two other specific full-length books after that. There are other possibilities also.

04. What is your favorite sin and why?

Dante’s Luxuria (lust) is probably my favorite, because women are just, well, gosh, so darn pretty.

05. How did you first come to embrace Satanism as your belief system?

I was actually very familiar with different religions, general philosophy and psychology, and standard works on ceremonial magic before I ever read The Satanic Bible. I read a lot. By that time I was sorting through what was useless there, and philosophically aligned with Nietzsche, so when I really read LaVey closely with that background, I appreciated the work he had already done. I frequently read Dr. LaVey being criticized for being over-simplified in his approach to magic, what that really means is that his methods are more direct, with all the erroneous metaphysical assumptions and other bullshit baggage weeded out. Also, on another level, when you familiarize yourself with his writings as a whole, and taken in conjunction with a lot of other material he refers to and hints at, he really does have one of the most unique, subtle and complex systems of magic in history. It is generally unappreciated by the dull types who can’t recognize anything not bogged down in the same tired bullshit, because it would actually require them to think for themselves, and actually work. Also, and this is the most amazing things, is how many facets of Satanism I was already attuned to long before ever even hearing of the Church of Satan; for example I was always completely obsessed with classic horror films, Karloff, Lugosi, Hammer Films, etc. and loved to read classic horror fiction; Blackwood, Bierce, Poe, Machen, Lovecraft, Derleth, etc. and aesthetically anything with Waffen SS skulls and crossbones, but the most amazing thing was discovering, even after I knew about Dr. LaVey’s basic works for awhile, about the whole Artificial Human Companion thing. This was long before the internet and before anything like Fact Sheet Five, but I had collected mannequins and made life size dummies, it was a huge rush to find out that Dr. LaVey had worked out a whole line of thought surrounding this! So in those and other ways, finding the Church of Satan was like finding the perfect suit, tailored to fit. It is an amazing thing that has not disappointed since. You see these people out there, yea-sayers with no thoughts of their own agreeing with everything because its part of the program, but then there are those of us who are with the program because we were genuinely on the same page, really in agreement. It’s interesting to observe conversations with people in the Priesthood that may have never met before, there is a tacit understanding of a broad spectrum of things, so many things that don’t have to be explicitly said or agreed upon, so the exchange is immediately taking off from a whole other level. Satanists, real Satanists, are the Master Race, and I mean that in the same sense that one would say a “master craftsman,” real Satanists are at a whole different level of the game. Real Satanists are also scarcer than hen’s teeth!

06. I, like yourself, have a very ill-will towards Christianity. What exactly turns you off in regards to that particular religion.

I grew up in a very non-religious household, so I don’t really have much personal rancor against Christianity. In fact I can’t think of anything more boring than people who call themselves Satanists who are locked into the Anti-Christian gear – they obsess and talk about Christianity more than most Christians! Don’t get me wrong, Christianity is loathsome toxic bullshit that poisons the world, as are ALL otherworldly religions, but Christianity is the species of religious idiocy we encounter most frequently in the West. Fortunately Christianity has been castrated by the advent of mass-media, and most Christians have been secularized and pacified to the point that they are not as fanatical or dangerous as their more fanatical elements, which are closer to fundamentalist Muslims in temperament. Any belief in an immortal soul and an eternal afterlife determined by the judgment of an invisible god distorts every action of the believer. It is literally insane. Religion is a form of mass insanity, so pervasive that it is more expedient for the state to cater to it and exploit it than it is to remedy it, so it’s not going away any time soon. The best you can hope to do is curtail its intrusion into your personal life, and into the political and legal structure of society as much as possible. Religion should be undermined by secular influences as much as possible. Take something as banal as myspace.com for example, you have all these women in thongs posting photos of themselves in sexual positions, basically advertising to get fucked, obliviously next to photos of their parents and families, alongside photos of them getting drunk with their girlfriends, and then stating “I am a Christian.” Those are the kind of Christians you want to see more of; people who don’t really give a shit, or let it influence their life, but occasionally have to assert that they are a Christian once in awhile to make themselves feel better, to alleviate whatever little shred of guilt they might still feel over actually living life. They are one step away from recognizing religion is not necessary AT ALL and phasing it completely out of their life. That is mainstream society moving in the right direction. The masses are always going to be vapid – you want them to be vapid but non-invasive.

07. I understand Anton LaVey appointed you to priesthood in 1996. Has this changed your life any?

Well, I’m a very independent person, some would say pathologically independent, and there are very few people who I would acknowledge as having any “authority” or valid position that their endorsement or approval would matter to me one way or another. Dr. LaVey was one of those people. His appointing me to the priesthood was totally out of the blue and unexpected, so it was as much of a surprise as it was an honor. If anything, I would say it was confirmation and reinforcement of who I already was and what direction I was going. I would say it galvanized or reinforced my life rather than changed it. A truly strong ego, a Satanic ego, is not challenged or threatened by acknowledging others or aligning with others of like mind. That is why Dr. LaVey created the Church of Satan. I think, along with others involved with the Church of Satan, it also made us more interested in carrying on his legacy, out of true respect, unlike some of the worthless scumbags who bailed out after his death who showed their true colors, they weren’t really aligned with the philosophy to begin with, all they wanted was a personality cult to pilfer some “notoriety by association” from, because they had nothing worthwhile of their own to show. Good riddance to them. The Church of Satan, Anton LaVey’s legacy, is stronger without them.

08. What are some of your favorite musicians or bands?

None. I really don’t have any. I can’t think of anything more stupid and embarrassing than these asshole bands bobbing around on stage blasting their garbage like it means something. Most people don’t believe me, but I really don’t listen to music or watch television. I watch movies. Only recently I figured out how to download music to my computer, not that I couldn’t figure it out before, I just didn’t care. I probably have less than twenty mp3s on my computer and they are mostly odd things from my past that evoke memories, not even that I particularly liked the music but that I associate it with poignant episodes of my life, or it evokes some mood, and I rarely listen to them. Sometimes I just listen to the first minute or so of the track, I don’t have to listen to the whole thing, I remember what it sounds like. I understand traditional Chinese and Japanese music better now, but I rarely listen to it. An old friend of mine recently took up bluegrass, banjo and fiddle, and actually studies under some old time bluegrass players, people no one has ever heard of unless they were really into regional bluegrass over the last fifty years or so. These are people who only play at rural flea-markets, outside garages and barber shops in extremely rural areas of the real south. Fortunately he has a digital recorder and sends recordings to me – the musicianship is incredible – these people are masters of stringed instruments, the technical proficiency is incredible. He recently sent the most incredible version of Mule Skinner Blues performed at a Saturday night hoedown in an auto garage in West Virginia. Its one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever heard. Not something you are going to hear from your local bullshit hipster music scenes, at tower records, or on TV. This is from another world that does not care about that shit. Also, these old fashioned country people would probably kick your ass if you told them you were a Satanist!

09. Who are some of your favorite authors do you have a favorite book?

This is an impossible question, which book is my favorite. I’ve read voraciously since I was a child. My personal library is about 30,000 books on all subjects, so it is impossible to single out a favorite book, or even a short list. For some time now I’ve been enjoying “grand narrative” style history books, such as J.M. Roberts, William Langer, William H. McNeill, even H.G. Wells’s Outline of History, and other big cohesive overviews of various subjects such as Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything or Daniel Boorstin’s From Dawn to Decadence. Another book I’ve been reading recently is Bryan Magee’s Confessions of a Philosopher, which is turning out to be one of the best popular overviews of Western philosophy I’ve ever read. He’s very gifted at cogently summarizing complex ideas without oversimplifying them. He’s a very no-bullshit writer, which is the highest compliment I can think of. I’m very much a devotee of the “Great Books” concept. I think it is important to be familiar with the most important works in the history of civilization. Even if you think some of them are bullshit, you should be able to articulate or justify why you think so. I hate stuffed-shirts who are dismissive of something, yet when you press them it is immediately apparent they have NO idea what they are talking about. I’m also a big fan of good reference books. I love the “Oxford Companion” series, I spend hours perusing through those. My favorite books are those that deliver the most pertinent information in the most direct way possible. I want to know about everything, because I find everything interesting. Unfortunately I’ve developed a mental block when it comes to reading fiction. I lack the patience for it. I’ve read a lot of “classics” in literature, but I suspect eventually I’ll get back into reading literature again – there is a lot to be gained from it – it’s just a very different mindset.

10. What’s the most intelligent thing you’ve ever read? A favorite quote?

That’s a hard question, for the same reason it is difficult to single out one favorite book; there are too many of them. At the moment I might single out Daniel Boorstin’s From Dawn to Decadence because the author covers and deeply comprehends so much material over as vast an area as Western Civilization, plus it is the product of a long lifetime of study and contemplation, I think he was in his 80s when the book was written. I recall an interview with him discussing his writing process, he pointed out a huge file cabinet and said it was filled with nothing but outlines for this one book – he had devoted that much time and effort to finding the best way to systematically cover the vast amount of material he was working with. Another work that I think is outstanding in its scope is Will Durant’s 11 volume set The Story of Civilization. I won’t go so far as to say it is the best written work of history out there, but its scope and the work that went into it impresses me. Wherever possible he visited the most significant places discussed, as well as visiting the museums and collections where the artifacts and works of art discussed were housed to see them first hand. The work was criticized by many academic specialists, but they were not his intended audience, and for general use the work holds up. I also admire the conception and work that went into The Syntopicon of The Great Books of the Western World – outlining and indexing the key ideas and their subordinate ideas as they are discussed throughout the Great Books. I like things of that scope. If you ask me the same question at another time I would probably have a different set of replies just as worthy.

11. Do you have a favorite movie? What is it and why?

That is as hard to answer as my favorite book, for the same reasons, I love films and have seen probably thousands of them. It is difficult to single out one favorite film or even a short list. Apocalypse Now would be in the top list – I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this film, and all the various cuts of it. Just in it’s scope and execution it stands out in the history of film – all that Coppola went through to make it – and that it is based on Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, which is one of my favorite novels. Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch is without a doubt one of my favorite films, definitely my favorite western. It would be difficult to pick one favorite by Scorsese, but I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Taxi Driver. There are other films that I love, Coppola’s The Godfater, Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers, any number of films by Josef von Sternberg, Carl Theodor Dryer, Lodge Kerrigan and a few others. I’m also a huge fan of classic Horror films, especially early Horror, and I’ve also watched nearly everything by John Waters and Herschell Gordon Lewis any number of times. Too many favorites to list.

12. Do you have plans to start a website? You’re a really interesting figure.

I don’t know that I’m interested in maintaining a full-scale website. I’ve had several people offer to host a website for me for free, but I have yet to take them up on it. I like tinkering with software, but I don’t want to get distracted by maintaining a full-scale website. I’m also ambivalent about self-advertisement. I’ve used a few free services, such as blogger, myspace, and a couple forums, but the advantage of that is you have no financial commitment to keep the show going, you can hit “delete” on the whole thing without having pissed away anything but the time you put in writing there. But I write anyway, so at least the material is saved to be used for some other project, such as a book.

13. I understand you corresponded with Charles Manson for several years. What was that like?

It was very interesting. I’ve always been fascinated with Manson without going so far as admiring him. His rhetoric is fantastic, and while I do think he is “deranged” he is also highly intelligent and extremely insightful. It always amused me to see him interviewed by idiots like Tom Snyder or Geraldo, who are both intellectually outgunned by a wide margin by Manson. I do think he got a bum rap, although I think he was accessory to a few of the crimes, I don’t think he warranted the scapegoat treatment he’s received. At this point he really doesn’t give a fuck. He is definitely byproduct and a casualty of the Invisible War, and some of the most interesting aspects of my communication with him bears directly on that subject, in specific terms. One of the most interesting things that came from being in communication with him was the number of people on the outside who contacted me at his direction. Very interesting stuff. The prison authorities cut off the correspondence.

14. What’s your opinion on aesthetics in facism?

Black and silver are a winning color combination. Hitler and Cocoa Cola understand the visual power of the black and white on red combination. Most of what is called “fascist aesthetics” are classical Greco-Roman standards so it is a misnomer, and usually a negative epithet to disparage traditional Western standards of beauty. National Socialist art only loses me when it verges into Norman Rockwell-esque kitsch, but who cannot feel moved by the power of Triumph of the Will, the huge symmetrical podiums, black leather jackets and jackboots, peaked caps, thousands sharply dressed killers aligned in perfect rows, eagles, wolves, runes and skulls? Whatever anyone may say against National Socialism or Fascism, historically, politically, or philosophically, they had outstanding aesthetic sensibilities.

15. What do you think about Aleister Crowley? Genius? Insane?

Crowley is only a slightly more interesting example of the Bullshit Factor at work. The reason I get suckered into discussing him so much is that people are constantly making the mistaken assertion that he was a Satanist or had something relevant to say about Satanism. He was not a Satanist and never claimed to be. No one with any real understanding of Satanism has ever held that he was. Crowley was almost systematically wrong about everything, and like any other “spiritual” philosophy, created a self-validating reinforcement matrix of systematic delusions and fallacies. Most people you encounter into Crowley, or most forms of religion or occultism for that matter, don’t really know about anything outside of their little area of interest. Or at least don’t maintain outside interests that would give them any real perspective. Even when you encounter someone from that field with a professed interest in philosophy or the history of ideas, they invariably distort it to reinforce their bias. They are “true believers” in Hoffer’s sense of the term, just as much as Christians or Scientologists.

16. Anything you’d like to share before I let you go?

These are “interesting times” for Satanists. There is a LOT going on, in the open and behind the scenes. High Priest Peter H. Gilmore’s book The Satanic Scriptures has just come out and is the most important book on Satanism to be published since the writings of Dr. LaVey. Several other members of the Church of Satan hierarchy are coming out with books in the near future. The Church of Satan is stronger than ever before. It is a good time to be alive!