From: locklin@titan.ucc.umass.edu (Lupo the Butcher)
Subject: Re: Oh so worried.
Organization: Campus Crusade for Cthulhu
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 02:37:33 GMT
X-Posted-From: titan.ucc.umass.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <lfoul.2r13@terapin.com> lfoul@terapin.com (Jake McClean) writes:
>I don't exactly contribute all that much to this newsgroup, but I do find the
>discussions here extremely interesting.  I've been getting more and more
>involved in the whole pagan/Satanic issues, and I'm beginning to really
>question the validity of it all.  First off, I have no set "religion", in fact,
>I despise religion.  To me, religion is just a unbelievably huge tool used to
>manipulate the masses.  It started back when some genius/psycho
>came up with a scheme for worldwide power, (or perhaps just control of some
>people out in a desert somewhere; it doesn't really matter) and using various
>myths and assorted legends, wrote the Bible.  Yeah, it's NOT that simple, but
>to make my own small point, I believe the Bible means and (this goes to all you
>xtians and born again xtians) PROVES nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  If the
>bible gives proof in Christ, then the Satanic bible proves, well, anything it
>wants.  (I have yet to read it..)

I agree with this stuff. My biggest problem with the "Satanic/Pagan" orgs that
I have bumped into are _their_ restrictions on individual behavior. I'm a
strong proponent of "Do What Thou Wilt". Ye should get yerself a copie of ye
olde satanist bible (its only $5 in your local bookstore & a better read than
Thomas Covanent Books IMHO)

>I don't wear much in the way of, uh, jewelry and the like, with the exception
>of an earring and a neckless.  Attatched to the chain around my neck is a
>pentagram (with one point up, NOT in the Satanic position) which I get constant
>complements on.  I swear, not a day goes by that I don't get a comment on my
>pentagram from a friend or mostly, a total stranger.  The pentagram itself is
>made of peuter (sp?), and is approximately one inch in width.  (Oh, it's a
>pentram inscribed in a circle..)  The surface of the pentram itself and the
>circle has been grooved to make it look like some sort of vine, the points of
>the pentram each have to small leaves protruteng from the end, and in the
>center of the pentagram is a small red gem, which seems black unless hit by
>very bright light, which will cause it glow with a seemingly inward glow.  My
>question is this:  Is it "dangerous"?  Can the "satanic" affect someone who
>doesn't believe in it?  The question I get asked most often is, "What does it
>mean?", does it HAVE to mean anything?

The pentagram is an old symbol, meaning various things. Some say the upright
pentagram is a stylized symbol of an upright (wo)Man. There is a RUSH album
cover that shows this quite well. Supposedly the inverse pentagram is the man
with his head downward, not exalted. This is supposed to show how those who
dabble in the "Black Arts" have their heads on "earthly matters" rather than 
the spiritual longings of "white magick". Milage may vary; I think it is a
crock of shit myself. 

Hey BILL! (cyber-shout to get his attention 8-) D'ya know the explanation
of the inverse pentagram?

What _I_ use the pentagram for is the "ritual of the pentagram"; a presumably
pythagorean invention used by nearly ALL modern occultists & pagans. The four
lower points stand for the 4 aristotlean elements & the upper point "spirit"
or "EHN/B" (in the enochian). (Again, there is some goofy new-age legend about
the obverse pentagram putting the earthly elements above "spirit")

The stone in your pentagram is likely a garnet of some kind. It is likely that
the artisan who constructed it knew of its association with "fire of earth" &
fashioned the rest of the pentagram to go with this motif. Sounds like a nice
piece. As far as it having influence on those who do not "believe" in its
"satanic powers" all works of art have strong effect on the psyche of the
observer. Occult symbolism has even stronger effects on the psyche, I think,
weather the observer believes in (or knows about) it or not.
My pentagram was somewhat less "nice" & I mostly got frightened stares. Then 
again, I can be a spooky lookin critter...
It was a tarnished sterling job that looked like the necronomicon symbol. 

>I am intrigued also at the workings of possesions.  I've just finished a book
>by Malachi Martin, called Hostage to the Devil.  This book recounted the
>possesion of five americans in great detail, and has sparked my interest in the
>subject.  Can demonic "possesion" affect anyone, despite their beliefs in
>any or no religion?

My opinion on "demonic posession" is that insane people are more in touch
with various subconscious currents, collective & otherwise that haunt all
humanity. In essence the posessed _becomes_ one his hir subconscious 
archetypes. It is perhaps possible for one to loose their sanity in this
spectacular was through injudicious practice of occult techniques, which
nearly always involve some temporary lapse of "normal" consciousness. More
likely, I think, is the development of subtle personality changes, which
may not be particularly desirable. (See me in the mornings for details)

>Aw, hell.  Screw it, I'm just one confused individual, wouldn't you say?
> 
>                                                -Lord Foul

Perhaps. You certainly have read entirely too much of "The Chronicles of Thomas
Covanent the Unbeliever"
Personally, I found the first one to be too much.

>"Most of the time we don't communicate, we just take turns talking."
 *sagacious nod*

under the elder sign...
-Scott