“The Serpent Beguiled Me, And I Did Eat.“ 

7 DEADLY SINS + VADE RETRO SATANA Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon, France.

Sulfur and Satan

Sulfur as an element

Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16.

Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element by mass in the universe and the fifth most on Earth.

Historically and in literature sulfur is also called brimstone, which means "burning stone".

Sulfur is an essential element for all life, but almost always in the form of organosulfur compounds or metal sulfides.

Sulfur is one of the core chemical elements needed for biochemical functioning and is an elemental macronutrient for all living organisms.

As a solid, sulfur is a characteristic lemon yellow; when burned, sulfur melts into a blood-red liquid and emits a blue flame.

Sulfur, usually as sulfide, is present in many types of meteorites.

The distinctive colors of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io are attributed to various forms of molten, solid, and gaseous sulfur.

Elemental sulfur can be found near hot springs and volcanic regions in many parts of the world, especially along the Pacific Ring of Fire; such volcanic deposits are currently mined in Indonesia, Chile, and Japan.

The radical anion S3− gives the blue color of the mineral lapis lazuli.

History

English translations of the Christian Bible commonly referred to burning sulfur as "brimstone", giving rise to the term "fire-and-brimstone" sermons, in which listeners are reminded of the fate of eternal damnation that await the unbelieving and unrepentant. It is from this part of the Bible that Hell is implied to "smell of sulfur" (likely due to its association with volcanic activity).

Early European alchemists gave sulfur a unique alchemical symbol, a triangle at the top of a cross (🜍).

Left: alchemical sign for sulfur/the combustible elements/Pallas

Center: 2/3rds of the Trinity sign, inverted/inverted phosphorus sign

Right: the alchemical sign for brimstone, an older/archaic name for sulfur.

In alchemy

Sulfur or soul, the principle of combustibility

Sulfur represents the soul in Alchemical philosophy. It is a volatile principle that relates to the individual essence of a being and expresses itself through unique compounds that are typically found in the oil of any given substance.

In association with Satan/Lucifer

Fire and brimstone frequently appear as agents of divine wrath throughout the Christian Book of Revelation culminating in chapters 19–21, wherein Satan and the ungodly are cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Greek: λίμνην τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης ἐν θείῳ, limnēn tou pyros tēs kaiomenēs en thei).

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Brimstone, an archaic term synonymous with sulfur, evokes the acrid odor of sulfur dioxide given off by lightning strikes.

The church fathers brought the fallen lightbringer Lucifer into connection with the devil on the basis of a saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (10.18 EU): "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning."

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_and_brimstone

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemical_symbol

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_and_brimstone

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_in_Christianity

http://www.alchemycology.com/sulfur/

Vepar themed Lockscreens

Demon-A-Day: Barbatos

BARBATOS – Duke

Color: Green

Incense: Sandalwood

Metal: Copper

Planet: Venus

Element: Fire (Under Ziminiar)

Demonic Enn: Eveta fubin Barbatos

Date (Connolly): June 1-10 (Day Time)

Date (Runyon): Apr 25-29

Archangel: Auriel

Origin: Fallen Angel, Order of Virtues. A good spirit.

Original text from the Ars Goetia:

The Eighth Spirit is Barbatos. He is a Great Duke, and appeareth when the Sun is in Sagittary, with four noble Kings and their companies of great troops. He giveth understanding of the singing of Birds, and of the Voices of other creatures, such as the barking of Dogs. He breaketh the Hidden Treasures open that have been laid by the Enchantments of Magicians. He is of the Order of Virtues, of which some part he retaineth still; and he knoweth all things Past, and to come, and conciliateth Friends and those that be in Power. He ruleth over 30 Legions of Spirits. His Seal of Obedience is this, the which wear before thee as aforesaid.

Other citations of note:

Barbatos is a spirit which reveals ‘astral’ grimoires that is methods of initiation which may be found by inspiration via the astral plane. This spirit, who rules 30 legions is an Angelick ruler of the Witchcraft – by nature one comes into being by the communication with animals (body language, posture ect) and the ways of astral shape shifting via dream. 

From the Luciferian Goetia by Michael Ford

Seek Barbatos to stop magician’s personal wars with one another. Invoke Barbatos to communicate with your familiar if needed. Also invoke to protect your home from hidden attacks.

From the Daemonolatry Goetia by S. Connolly

Barbatos is a demon of communication and of protection. He can help you communicate with other animals, other people, and can keep you safe from outside harm and other people’s violent emotions. Along with this, he is also known for being still rather close to his angelic routes. Barbatos goes by no other names and is a subordinate spirit in Pope Honorius’ list of infernal spirits.

Demonic Ranking System: New and A Little Horrifying

Barbatos sounds cool, right? Definitely viable to mess around with and start out with, right? Ehhhhhhh. I’m a litle wary of the demons that do still cling to their angelic past. It can mean that they’re a lot more strict and a bit tougher to work with, but that’s a bit more from my perspective. Definitely has his uses, but just keep that in mind. 

Luciferian Challenge: Day 17

What symbols do you refer to in Luciferianism? Why?

There’s some overall symbols I’m really drawn to when it comes to my Luciferianism. Torches and serpents are the big ones, perhaps for obvious reasons: the Lightbringer or enlightenment aspects of Luciferianism are wonderfully represented by a torch (though I’ll sometimes use a lantern as a substitute, especially when it comes to an actual physical prop or tool) and serpents or snakes have a connection both to the Original Sin and to imagery of rebirth and growth given their constant shedding. 

Stars and fire are also imagery I enjoy, as they’re often a light in the dark and the theme of the Morningstar is ever present during modern discussions of Lucifer, and they have some overlap with my Dionysian side of things, as do the aforementioned serpents. 

For more obscure ones that are a bit esoteric and personal to me, I like the dagger (for its history as a very broadly used magical and practical tool) and those archways/portals with a set of stairs and stars beyond it (because it reminds me of imagery similar to the Flammerion Engraving, and the act of trying to look beyond the firmament). 

And finally, I’ll sometimes use the seal of Lucifer from the Grimoire Verum or a pentagram, but they’re sort of a supporting symbol or last resort rather than what I like most or find the best fitting for my beliefs and practice. 

I will admit that most of my general symbols are also ones I’d also use for Lucifer specifically, as despite having a trio of figures that are important to my practice and beliefs, he’s central and the tie that binds it all together. It is, after all, called Luciferianism. I’ve used the Emperor tarot card as a temporary idol for him during divination, but it’s a poor fit and I’d want to find a new one… perhaps the Magician instead, but it’s something I mean to put more work into. 

For Eve, I like the apple best as it’s most recognizable, but also figs, pomegranates, and mushrooms. Due to some tarot divination I’ve done, I also associate her with the Empress card, and the Queens of Swords and Pentacles. I’m still working on other flowers and plants beyond the fruiting ones that suit her, as well as planetary associations. It’s an ongoing process. 

And for Azazel, I so far default to a goat or goat’s skull. I don’t like leaning too far into the Scapegoat side of things, as that feels pretty uniquely Jewish, but even in Christianity he has some association with goats. He also has a role to me that feels very similar to the paintings you’ll see with the goat headed figure at the witches’ sabbaths, so it’s double appropriate. 

I am very, very conflicted on Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s symbol for Saturn being used as his sigil. While he is absolutely a figure you could describe as Saturnian, magically speaking, my research suggests that the earliest popularization of using that seal for him might have come from the founder of the JoS, which would be deeply unfortunate. Obviously it’s not like I’d be the one to spread the idea (as looking up “sigil of Azazel” will almost universally give you the Saturn symbol), but I’m just so deeply allergic to everything they stand for that the idea of using it is a bit, for lack of a better word, icky. 

Frater VIM, who ran a now defunct blog that brought this un-fun bit of trivia to my attention, proposed that the related symbol of the planetary daemon/demon Zazel was actually referencing Azazel, and therefore an appropriate alternative. However, I’m not fully sure if the idea of Azazel and Zazel being the same figure purely on name similarity is one I vibe with, and would have to do further research. While this happens a lot with some angelic names/occult figures, there’s other times when a similar name is not in any way indicative of two deities or spirits being related. Finally, as far as Tarot symbolism goes, I used the Devil card in a pinch but did not like it for him. As with Lucifer I need to investigate more appropriate alternatives. Currently I’m leaning towards the Hermit.  

I tend to represent myself in my practice, when the need arises, with the Fool (for its association with new beginnings), or with the card that’s become my signifier during Tarot divination, which I don’t want to post publicly at this time. I think having personal symbols and associations can be incredibly handy, and I wish I’d started employing it in my practice sooner.   

Satanic Hub's Digital Library

This is a digital library filled with books on Satanism and adjacent topics, mainly research!

Disclaimer: There are some books present (such as books by Anton Lavey, etc.) that we do not condone the author or share their views. The books are only present to learn from and to be able to form your own understanding of what is wrong with the work, despite how influential it is. Some books may include aspects of antisemitism or appropriation, so it is important to be critical of what you read even though we try to curate this to the best of our ability. Despite this, we make sure to not include books that are outright fascist, transphobic, etc. If for some reason we do, please let us know!

Each book is accessible in pdf form here!

Yes, Vepar, the goetic demon of the sea, is among other things connected to sickness. But that power means she is also able to heal and soothe. She is actually happy to show her more gentle side to those who approach her with respect and kindness instead of treating her as a malicious monster, or worse, a tool to bind and control.

Source: my experience with her.

Thank you, Vepar, for being there! Your help is so very appreciated.

Faces of Lucifer #4

The Serpent

As the Serpent of Eden, Lucifer is the bringer of knowledge and liberation. He is not an evil deceiver but a Lightbringer who shares his flame with human beings.

In the story of the Garden, the first human sin was seeking knowledge. No wonder the fruit was forbidden! After all, one who can see and think for themselves can also disobey.

The symbolism of the fruit is complex, interpretations are many and not  necessarily mutually exclusive. Knowledge - intellectual and spiritual. Conscience and free will. Liberation. Responsibility and hardship that come with all of that. Sometimes even sexuality, too, and more than that.

The Serpent’s gift has a certain danger to it. Ignorance can be easy. Freedom is certainly not. But Eve took her chance and shared it with the one she loved.

The story of Eden is not a historical event - but it is more than that. Over the ages, Lucifer continues to offer his gift to human beings. But will you take it? What will you do with it? That is completely up to you.

Luciferian Journal Prompts

Make a mind map of your personal symbolism of the fruit.

How does the story of Eden relate to your relationship with Lucifer?

Reflect on the figure of Eve. What is the meaning of her story for you?

Ritual acts

Eating fruit and sharing with Lucifer.

Meditating on the story of Eden or art pieces illustrating it.

Lighting a candle for Lucifer and studying philosophy in his presence.

Offering ideas

Snake imagery.

Apples, pomegranates and other fruit.

Donations to snake conservation - snakes are crucial parts of many ecosystems, but are so vilified many don’t care about their survival.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider reblogging - this is the only way others can actually see it.

How do I know which deity I’m talking to, or if it’s just my own inner voice?

Silas’s guide to Deity Communication 101:

Okay, so the absolute first step is to get to know yourself. You need to be able to identify what it feels like to be alone in your head/body, in order to identify when something else is there with you. So step away from your altar, don’t call upon any deities, and just spend a few days alone. Things to pay attention to:

what does your inner voice sound like? does it change or is it always the same?

do you think in a monologue, or have conversations with yourself? do you play different voices?

have some imaginary conversations, with your mom or best friend or a celebrity even. what does that feel like, sound like, etc?

how often do you hear your own voice? are you monologuing constantly? do you have to convert your thoughts into words?

is it usually quiet in your head, or pretty loud with lots happening? what do each feel like to you?

how often do you visualize? what does that look like? do you pick what you’re seeing or does it pop up randomly?

Talk to yourself out loud. does your inner voice respond?

Talk to someone else out loud. what happens in your head during that conversation?

Really pay attention to these things and getting a solid grasp on how your own brain works and responds to all sorts of situations.

Ready to move on? Now you can start learning to identify your deities. Depending on how your brain works and how your relationship with each specific deity works, communication could look any number of ways. Be open to learning what that is, rather than trying to force a certain communication style!

Start out by just trying to get time with your deity:

pray or talk to them, out loud or in your head!

spend time at your altar, gather things that remind you of them or that are associated with them.

write them letters

meditate while focusing on them & your connection to them

Hold crystals you associate with them, light them a candle, so a spell for them with herbs they like, etc

give an offering, invite them to join you for a meal

read their stories and myths, get to know them, learn how their worshipers usually get in touch with them

go out in nature, find a spot that reminds you of them. Could be a tree, a body of water, a clearing in the woods, a patch of wildflowers or mushrooms, a big rock, etc. Make that your place, meditate there and invite them to join you.

use tarot, a pendulum, etc. (pay attention to the energy you feel, if the same cards come up frequently, etc.)

Look for art, music, etc that reminds you of them. or make some!

Now WHILE you are doing all of the above, pay very close attention: does it ever feel different than when you’re alone? what does it feel like? Pay attention to all your senses!

How does it sound in your head? is it louder or quieter? does your inner voice respond the same as usual? does it take on a different tone or pace sometimes? do you hear a different voice altogether?

do certain things pop into your head, like you don’t hear a voice but knowledge or answers are just kinda… air-dropped to your brain?

How do you feel emotionally? is there a sense of calm/peace? is there a rush of excitement? does your energy feel different?

what do you see visually? is anything different about your visualizations? do you picture certain animals, imagery of your deity or things associated with them (plants, the sun/moon, water, etc)?

do you taste or smell anything specific?

do you have any bodily sensations, like butterflies in your stomach, a tingle down your spine, hair standing on end, goosebumps, a warm feeling in your chest, a sudden burst of energy, or a suddenly so calm you’re almost sleepy?

does music play in your head?

do you recognize an energy or “vibe” when you’re interacting with them? what does it feel like?

Be patient with yourself, it may take time to really tune into these things and feel the connection. But eventually you might see a pattern of how you feel when you interact with your deity. I recommend trying to start with just one, and really master how it feels when you’re together.

Once you know what they sounds like or feel like to you, it will be easier to tell when they’re around or communicating with you. You’ll learn to recognize them even when you’re not at your “spot” or specifically praying to them.

Venus & Satan

Connection with Satan/Lucifer

In the Book of Isaiah, chapter 14, the king of Babylon is condemned in a prophetic vision by the prophet Isaiah and is called הֵילֵל בֶּן-שָׁחַר (Helel ben Shachar, Hebrew for "shining one, son of the morning"), who is addressed as הילל בן שחר (Hêlêl ben Šāḥar), The title "Hêlêl ben Šāḥar" refers to the planet Venus as the morning star, and that is how the Hebrew word is usually interpreted.

This passage was the origin of the later belief that Satan was a fallen angel, who could also be referred to as "Lucifer".

However, the translation of הֵילֵל as "Lucifer" has been abandoned in modern English translations of Isaiah 14:12.

An association of Isaiah 14:12–18 with a personification of evil, called the devil, developed outside of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism in pseudepigrapha and Christian writings, particularly with the apocalypses.

The metaphor of the morning star that Isaiah 14:12 applied to a king of Babylon gave rise to the general use of the Latin word for "morning star", capitalized, as the original name of the devil before his fall from grace, linking Isaiah 14:12 with Luke 10 ("I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven") and interpreting the passage in Isaiah as an allegory of Satan's fall from heaven.

Astronomy

Venus is the third-brightest object in the sky and the most prominent planet.

The third smallest planet in the Solar System, Venus is a terrestrial planet and is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" because of their similar size, mass, proximity to the Sun, and bulk composition.

Venus is shrouded by an opaque layer of highly reflective clouds of sulfuric acid, preventing its surface from being seen from Earth in light.

Venus has an extremely dense atmosphere composed of 96.5% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen—both exist as supercritical fluids at the planet's surface—and traces of other gases including sulfur dioxide.

The ground shows evidence of extensive volcanism, and the sulfur in the atmosphere may indicate that there have been recent eruptions.

The absence of evidence of lava flow accompanying any of the visible calderas remains an enigma.

The planet is bright enough to be seen in broad daylight, but is more easily visible when the Sun is low on the horizon or setting. As an inferior planet, it always lies within about 47° of the Sun.

Venus "overtakes" Earth every 584 days as it orbits the Sun. As it does so, it changes from the "Evening Star", visible after sunset, to the "Morning Star", visible before sunrise.

As it orbits the Sun, Venus displays phases like those of the Moon in a telescopic view.

The pentagram of Venus is the path that Venus makes as observed from Earth.

The pentagram of Venus. Earth is positioned at the centre of the diagram, and the curve represents the direction and distance of Venus as a function of time.

The pentagram of Venus is sometimes also referred to as the petals of Venus due to the path's visual similarity to a flower.

What color is Venus

To the naked eye, Venus appears as a white point of light brighter than any other planet or star (apart from the Sun).

If looking with human eyes, Venus is white and yellow with a reddish and brown surface. Scientists generally agree to describe Venus as white and yellow.

2022 Observation

Mornings: Jan 17-Aug 27

Evening: Dec 23-Dec 31

Faint or invisible: Jan 1-Jan 16; Aug 28-Dec 22

Astrology

Domicile sign(s) Libra (diurnal) and Taurus (nocturnal)

Detriment sign(s) Aries (diurnal) and Scorpio (nocturnal)

Exaltation sign Pisces

Fall sign Virgo

Joy sign(s) Gemini, Cancer and Aquarius

Ruler of 2nd house

Rules over Friday

Associated with

The principles of harmony, beauty, refinement, affections, love,

the urge to sympathize and unite with others,

the desire for pleasure, comfort and ease

Governs romantic relations, sex (the origin of the words 'venery' and 'venereal'), marriage and business partnerships, the arts and fashion

Alchemy

To the world of antiquity, Venus/Copper stood as a personification of the divine feminine.

Venus/Copper was the planet/element that represented aspects of feminine beauty, love, lust, artistic creativity, affection, fertility, and balanced thinking.

In magic, Venus/Copper is used to promote love, sensuality, friendship, positive relationships, fruitful negations, and peace.

To the alchemist, Venus/Copper represents the love and compassion needed to become a well-rounded individual. It is the balanced psychological energy of Venus/Copper that allows the alchemist to evaluate experiences through one’s inner eye and bring those powerful insights into conscience awareness.

Culture

Dante Alighieri associated Venus with the liberal art of rhetoric.

The Venus symbol, ♀, consists of a circle with a small cross below it. It has been interpreted as a depiction of the hand-mirror of the goddess, which may also explain Venus's association with the planetary metal copper, as mirrors in antiquity were made of polished copper (alloy), though this is not certain.

In botany and biology, the symbol for Venus is used to represent the female sex, alongside the symbol for Mars representing the male sex, following a convention introduced by Linnaeus in the 1750s.

Arising from the biological convention, the symbol also came to be used in sociological contexts to represent women or femininity.

The discovery in the modern era that Venus was a distant world covered in impenetrable cloud cover gave science fiction writers free rein to speculate on conditions at its surface; all the more so when early observations showed that not only was it similar in size to Earth, it possessed a substantial atmosphere. Closer to the Sun than Earth, the planet was frequently depicted as warmer, but still habitable by humans. The genre reached its peak between the 1930s and 1950s, at a time when science had revealed some aspects of Venus, but not yet the harsh reality of its surface conditions.

Devotional Ideas

If you need or want to be subtle you can use Venusian aesthetic (images, models, color scheme) to represent Satan/Lucifer

Welcome the Morning/Evening Star when they become visible

Celebrate when the Morning Star switches to the Evening Star and vice versa

Learn more about Venus as a devotional act

Utilize planetary magic

Examine the interactions of Venus in your astrological birth chart

Sources

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_in_culture

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram#Pentagram_of_Venus

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets_in_astrology#

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_planet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_symbols

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/overview/

https://nineplanets.org/questions/what-color-is-venus/

https://www.planetsforkids.org/what-color-is-venus.html

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/visible-planets-guide

https://www.thewonderingalchemist.com/blog/7-planets-and-metals-venuscopper