Title
FOR TEENAGE SATANISTS
By Marie RavenSoul
The path of a Satanist is not an easy one, but it can be even harder when one is a teenager and alone in their beliefs and don't know where to turn. You may have been a Satanist for some time already, or you may feel drawn to Satan, yet don't know why. Either way, you most likely are experiencing many things both spiritually and in your every day life.
If you have been a Satanist for awhile, chances are you want to go deeper spiritually, magically and psychically and you may feel that you have exhausted your search for books and websites but still have not found what you are looking for. Also, most likely there are no fellow Satanists in your area and probably none who go to your school, so you might be exploding at the seams wanting to talk to someone about your experiences. In the links section of this website, there are many places you can check out to gain the knowledge you seek and places where you can go online to talk with other Satanists as well.
If you are new to Satanism, you may still be wondering who Satan really is and why you are drawn to him. You might feel a presence around you and feel scared at times. Why me? you may ask, yet you might not get the answer for many years. You are most likely excited and want to learn as much as you can about Satan and Satanism, which is what I recommend to be your very first step as a new Satanist. Before performing rituals, contacting demons, performing magic, or doing any form of initiation or dedication; you should learn as much as you can from reliable sources so you will know what is true and wise. You must grow in your relationship with Satan as you study, but dont rush things, even though you might feel the urge to do so in your new found excitement.
One of the things you might be eager to do and that is to join a Satanic organization. It is natural to want to become a part of something and to talk and work with people of like mind; yet most Satanic organizations do not accept applications from those under 18 years of age. Disappointing? Yes. But instead of letting it discourage you, take this time to learn about the different organizations out there, so that when you are of age to join, you will know exactly which one best suits your beliefs and needs. This is very important, as there are organizations that might not be good for you in a number of ways, but by doing your research, you will be well prepared. One of the best ways to do this is to read the websites thoroughly of the different Satanic organizations; see what they believe about Satan, ethics, what they have to offer and how you can contribute your talents. If they have an online group, join it if you can and get to know the people; this will give you a good idea if this is truly an organization that you want to be a part of. Also, talk to other Satanists you might know and ask them which organizations they have had experiences with, if any; as they can give you a look inside that you cant get yet on your own. As you read up on Satanism, keep your eyes open for information, as it is out there.
You may be wondering how you can talk to other Satanists if you have not been able to do so already. Well, as stated above, there are many groups on the internet on Yahoo and MSN for example, where you can talk to others from all over the world and you will find that many hold a variety of different beliefs that you can learn from. Join the groups you are interested in and when you feel comfortable, ask some questions about how the different members see Satan and how they practice their beliefs. Now, while groups like these can teach you a lot and can give one a sense of community, it is very important to use discernment when joining. Look for groups who believe similarly to you in regards to ethics and you will want to make sure that the members are law abiding; if you find that they are not, the best thing to do would be to leave as soon as possible. As you get to know people and participate is groups such as these; not only will you gain invaluable knowledge but you will also feel a part of something special. Being able to talk to people your own age who know what you are going through can help you cope with the different issues in your life regarding your spirituality and what it is to be a Satanist. Since Satanism is not accepted by most people, it is expected that you will have struggles in your life, especially if you have been open about your beliefs; but talking to other people about these struggles and knowing that you are not alone, will give you strength.
One thing that you may be struggling with is living at home with parents who dont understand about your beliefs. They may not allow you to have occult books, ritual items, or anything to do with Satan in the house. You are probably feeling angry, frustrated and even resentful as you want to be able to grow spiritually and practice your religion, but keep in mind that your situation wont last forever. When you are able to move out on your own, you will be able to have the freedom to do what you want. That is why at this time in your life, concentrating on getting a good education so you will be able to get a career is most important. Till then, there are things that you can do to grow in your relationship with Satan, such as taking time to commune with him in meditation, prayer and devotion. You may be worried that you might not be able to do anything without ritual items; but be aware that the greatest altar is your heart, soul and mind and no one can take what you do there away from you. If your parents are outright against your beliefs, you might want to show them some good Satanic websites if they are willing to give them a look see, and then hopefully they will start to understand that Satanism is not what they have always thought it to be.
Now if your parents/guardians are Christian, things might be much harder for you, but dont despair as things can work out, even though you might not think so right now. You may have a desire to put down their beliefs, especially if they are putting down yours, but try your best to get along with them as you are living in their home. If they are the kind of people that can talk about religion and are not so strict, perhaps you might be able to share with them what you believe, but if they are not and are heavily into the more fundamentalist branches of Christianity, you may want to keep your beliefs to yourself for now. If you do choose to tell them that you are a Satanist, make your beliefs very clear to them so that they will understand; as them being Christian, they will automatically think you are a believer in evil. But the most important thing you can do is to live well, which will show your true character in action and will do a lot in combating the stereotypes of Satanists. So, even if things are hard for you right now, keep strong, as things will be better for you in the future and even though you might not get along well with your parents/guardians, try to be respectful for all that they are doing for you.
My Experiences
When I first began calling myself a Satanist, I was 14 and was living with my mom and grandmother who both believed in God and when I told my mom that Satan was better than God, she almost choked on her food. She was not religious in the least bit, yet she expected me to believe in God as it was right and normal; in her eyes at least. At first she thought my Satanism was just a faze and tried to ignore it for the most part, yet as time went on and after I kept reading her my poems about Satan, she knew that I wasnt going through any faze. I was not allowed to have anything Satanic in the house and I hated it, as I wanted so much to perform rituals, but there was no way my mom would have allowed that. Instead, I wrote and wrote about Satan and communed with him in my heart and my relationship with him was very strong, despite not being able to do rituals. A few years later, after I kept asking her, my mom did allow me to put up an altar and I spent time there in devotions and prayer. One of her rules was that I could not have any candles, which I did not like and thought unfair, but I knew I should be happy with what I had been given and it was more than I had before. What helped me the most through these years was looking to the future; knowing that when I got out on my own, I would have the freedom to put up a nice altar and practice my religion as I wished.
What also was very difficult was that I was alone in my beliefs, and there was no internet at the time where I could talk to other Satanists. There were also not many books out there to learn from and so the only things I knew about Satan was what I had been taught as a child, which deep down I did not believe, what was in The Satanic Bible and Satanic Rituals by Anton LaVey and most importantly what I felt in my heart. Now, I always knew that Satan had been guiding and teaching me, which of course is the best teaching one can get, and if it was not for feeling his constant presence, I dont know how I would have been able to go on. This was also in the 1980s at the time of the Satanic Panic where people believed and accused Satanists and non-Satanists of child molestation and when people believed that Satanists sacrificed babies, virgins and animals. There were television shows on this topic and one could not wear a pentagram without people thinking they also did those things. I went to a school that had teachers who were quite accepting, who listened to me as I told them what I believed and gave me exceptions when doing assignments; yet many of the student population, believed what they saw on television and so assumed I was the same way. It was because of how I lived from day to day and what they saw from me that changed their minds, but it took awhile, as many are quick to believe the media over flesh and blood.
One other thing I want to mention is that even though I was alone in my beliefs during most of my teenage years, I did meet some other teenage Satanists at one point who had their own little coven. This seemed great for awhile as it was cool to hang out with people like me, yet I later found out that they were not like me and that they all had different beliefs in regards to who Satan was. This lead to a lot of problems and I had to leave. A few years later, I met up with the High Priestess again and she had asked me to rejoin the coven and I did, but yet again, there were a lot of conflicts as everyone had a different view of Satan. Some wanted to do things that the others disagreed with and it only led to misery. This is why I wrote above how important it is to be very careful before joining any group, coven or organization before you know what it is they actually believe about Satan. If they see him as totally evil because of their Christian upbringing, they may have different ways in which they follow him; ways that you might not believe are right.
In conclusion, even though there are struggles on a Satanists path, the rewards outweigh them all. If you stick it out, the relationship that will grow between you and Satan will be something more special than you have ever known and the wisdom and knowledge you seek; you will find, if you study hard. Apply these things to your life and you will be successful. Dont give up when things get tough, be strong and you will triumph.
Copyright © 2007 Marie RavenSoul
