Guises and Names of Satan

One of my least favorite questions is, “are Lucifer and Satan the same or different?” I still cannot understand why someone would ask this question, as most people seem to have already made up their minds as they ask. To me, this question is unimportant. There are certainly very different egregores associated with each the Lucifer and Satan archetypes. From the perspective of someone who lets Hellish forces present and speak for Themselves, We are Legion.

To reiterate my experience of Ha-Shaitan, He/She/It is a conscious force pulsing through nature, humanity, and the powers of Hell (underworld/subconscious). The deified Adversary has many faces and names. We are all blind men incorrectly describing an elephant. I have met Satan as a “god of gods,” Emperor of Hell. I have met Him as a tangible Devil in a dark forest at night. Lucifer has warmed me from the frigid cold with the light of the Sun. Lilith has manifested before my altar and possessed my body. Belial’s eyes followed me out of a dream. Asmodeus first confronted me in my kitchen to summon me to Golochab. Astaroth has shown me the true nature of others. Each of these Hellish deities were acting as an extension of the One Who carries the flame of Black Fire. All of these names: Satan, Lucifer, Lilith, Belial, etc. are human-made; as are their images, lore, seals, and sigils. The real forces and entities behind these masks have shown themselves to me as “sovereign hands” of the Hidden One. Some see the One as Baphomet, or as a burning black Sun. The Great Adversary is the One and the Many, and the Many are sovereign unto Themselves and Their offices. Each “hand” specializes in particular fields of knowledge and aid available to the loyal Satanist.

Legion

Adversary

As Adversary, Satan teaches the Satanist to challenge the popular narrative, rather than mindlessly repeat it. Before adopting a belief, seek knowledge. A belief written in an old book does not make it knowledge. Tiktok consensus is not knowledge. Knowledge is gained through comparing research with experience, running tests, asking questions and finding answers. Returning to the elephant, it is easy to be misdirected with limited knowledge. Therefore, all that is taken for granted as “known” must always be further explored. Satan teaches us that a change in perspective can reveal what has been hidden. (Think about the motif of inverted symbolism.) The truth is rarely easy or simple. The Adversary contextualizes information revealed by the Light-Bringer. Light is blinding without shadow to give form and dimension. Knowledge without understanding can be more dangerous than ignorance.

Understanding is something that cannot be forced, or rushed. It requires not only comprehension, but reflection.

False Light

I could rant about the false “Lucifer” for days, but I’ll keep it short. As an Italian American Witch, my understanding of Lucifer cannot be fully divorced from the solar god Who is the consort of Diana and the father of Aradia. With that understanding, it’s clear that the only time this name is brought up in the bible (only once!) is a title (translated from Latin) given to the “fallen angel” and we all know Who that is. (I’m aware of the weird arguments that this was about Emperor Nero and frankly I don’t care about them, as they bore me to tears.) I am also aware of the various grimoires and their individual hierarchies placing a “Lucifer” at the top. These are just that to me - individual hierarchies: All different understandings of alleged Daemon rankings which only reveal perspectives on how Hell is apparently run; provided by all sorts of simple-minded magicians desperately trying to personify the Daemonic. Personified so egregiously as though the dimension of Hell is parallel to this physical world and everyone lives in little houses and works little jobs and wears clothes in Hell. Spirits do not “live” as physical beings do. I hope that isn’t a controversial statement.

On a more concerning note, it's suspicious how these characterizations of “Lucifer” frequently depict an “aryan” man with long blond hair and blue eyes…. Personally, most Daemons do not appear human to me at all; humanoid at best, with skin colors that human beings don’t have (violet, gray, blue, etc.) and I’ve always been personally uncomfortable with shaping Daemons into sexy anime boyfriends with “fallen angel” motifs. (On the rare occasion that a Daemon does choose a human guise with me, they’re almost never white, usually Middle-Eastern, specifically Canaanite, with features closer to modern-day Palestinians than any blond Nordic-looking dude.)

Shadow of God

Unlike this parasocial egregore of “Lucifer,” Satan cannot be white-washed. There are many reasons why Satan might be distinguished from the Devil, some of which I sympathize with, as the Witches’ Devil is a different figure than the biblical Satan for most traditional Witches. If you know my story of meeting Satan, then you know where I connect and separate the two.

To me, there is no image that can be made of Satan; not really. There are many images that can represent His power, influence, and wisdom. The goat is one of my personal favorites, as I see Satan as primordial and connected to the animal kingdom. (A theme that connects back to the Devil.) Satan manifests in the darkness - not just literal shadows, but the hidden corners of the soul. The forgotten whispers of longing that linger in the back of your mind.

I learned early in my practice as a Pagan that the gods are not limited to our human projections, and if you are willing to get to know Them, They often surprise you. I’m not saying believe impressions which are wildly out of character - it is possible to come across imposters once in a while. With Satan, however, I’m never confused. His energy is unmistakable and impossible for lying entities to imitate. I can recognize where other Daemonic forces echo this energy, but express it in Their own ways. It is certainly true that calling the Adversary under different names - Ahriman, Iblis, Satan - is going to show different facets of the Hidden One. Yet They all share the current of Black Fire and its source. I have even met Satan as a She, though I have felt no need to feminize the name in this guise.

Who is Satan? To me, He is the god of pleasure and freedom, Whose original names are locked in the past, and Whose form has been forever changed with humanity’s shift away from nature and its wisdom. Unlike many gods from His time, He did not leave us. We shoved Him into our shadow, and He adapted. Denying His existence does not negate His presence and influence. I learned this first-hand, and I won’t make that mistake again.

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