Historically, Satan first appeared as a title, not a proper name. The original Hebrew word is śāṭān, which means “enemy” or “adversary”.
In early Judaism, Satan was a title given to a member of God’s council. A prosecutor tasked with testing human virtue by placing obstacles in their paths, forcing their “real selves” to surface. The entity that held this title was not seen as evil; not the fallen angel figure many people associate Satan with.
That shift from neutral figure to rebel didn’t happen much later. Scholars suggest it started during The Second Temple period, which was roughly between 500 BCE to 70 CE. During this period, the Jews were exiled in Babylon where they were exposed to Zoroastrianism. This belief differed greatly from theirs, in that there was a clear distinction between a God of Good (Ahura Mazda) and God of Evil (Ahriman/Angra Mainyu).
As they adopted these binary ideas, Satan’s role as The Adversary began to form. He became an opponent of God rather than a figure within the heavenly order. Christianity would later reinforce this belief and it was them who transformed Satan into the personification of darkness and ruler of hell. A concept that did not exist prior.
By the time of the New Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Satan The Rebel and Fallen Angel had become firmly established. Alongside him, the other angels who fell, became known as demons who then formed his legion.
But this is just one side of the story. Satan is a figure with many faces, some deeply misunderstood. To scratch the surface of his origins, here are some important things you need to know.
Dates / Feast Days: July 23, which is known as the High Feast day in modern Demonolatry traditions.
Alternate Dates: April 30 known as Beltane eve or Walpurgisnacht and October 31, which is Samhain or Halloween. These are traditionally known as “cross-quarter days”, when the veil between worlds is thin.
Direction(s): Represents all four directions, particularly the South.
Planetary Association: Saturn, a planet associated with time, boundaries, and the Great Malefic influence. Satan is also associated with the Sun.
Zodiac Association: Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn and is often represented by the goat. Satan is also associated with Scorpio, the sign symbolizing death and rebirth.
Elemental Association(s): Fire, in modern systems, and Earth when it comes to older traditions, where he is considered “Prince of the World”.
Tarot Association: XV The Devil, symbolizing freedom from bondage and unhealthy attachments. It’s also a nod to working with the shadow self instead of representing literal evil.
Metal: Lead, which is associated with Saturn.
Color(s): Gold, Black, for void and power, and Red for passion and fire.
Plant / Herb: Hemlock, Mandrake, and Henbane, which are toxic plants and historically associated with Witchcraft. Patchouli is sometimes associated with Satan as well for its grounding and earthy energy.
Incense / Resin: Myrrh, Black Frankincense, and Dragon’s Blood.
Is Satan also Lucifer? It depends on which lens you’re looking at him from. In the 16th and 17th centuries, demonologists followed what is known as the Petrine Tradition. They believed that Lucifer was the name of the angel tasked with testing humans, but after “the fall” he gained the title “Satan”.
In Modern Occult practices, however, Satan and Lucifer are not the same entity. Western Esoteric traditions simplify the difference between the two as: Lucifer (light-bringer) is the intellect, while Satan (adversary) is primal energy. Two entities serving different functions.
“Satan to our personal experience is a title held by not just Lucifer, but the Infernal Kings, an archetypal energy that manifests as his own sovereign being and the entirety of the Infernal consciousness.”
I. Liber Officiorum Spirituum (The Book of the Office of Spirits)
The Liber Officiorum Spirituum, also known as the Book of the Office of Spirits, is a 16th-century grimoire that featured Satan as a high-ranking entity in the demonic hierarchy. He is mentioned as part of the Unholy Trinity, a triumvirate that consists of Lucifer (The Supreme Emperor or King), Beelzebub (The second-in-command), and Satan (The Prince or the third great “devil”).
This gives him authority over the “lesser” infernal spirits and in the grimoire, it is said that a practitioner must first seek his assistance before calling upon anyone else. His “office” is one of Supreme Governance.
In many texts influenced by this tradition, Satan is also referred to as Prince of the Air. The one who commands legions and the foundational authority that a practitioner must invoke in order to ensure the obedience of other infernal energies.
II. Ars Goetia (The Lesser Key of Solomon)
In the Ars Goetia Satan takes on an “Invisible Ruler” role. He is not listed as one of the 72 spirits with a sigil, a rank, or a specific role, but he does exist as a supreme authority needed to make the lesser spirits submit.
Much like in the Liber Officiorum, which influenced Ars Goetia, Satan is mentioned alongside Lucifer and Beelzebub as the highest powers of the infernal realm. You do not summon him for assistance; you use his authority over the others to force a spirit like Astaroth or Bael to appear.
This is clear in the Ars Goetia’s “Grand Conjuration”, a part of the ritual where the practitioner uses Satan’s weight to threaten the lesser spirits:
“…I do invocate and command thee, O Spirit [Name], by all the names aforesaid; and by the seals of Satan, and by the obedience which thou owest unto him…
…that thou come down from thy place and appear before this circle in a fair and human form… and that thou be obedient unto me, and do all things whatsoever I shall command thee.”
Should the spirit refuse to appear, another chant can be used that has a more direct approach.
“I curse thee into the depth of the Bottomless Pit… and into the eternal fire, and into the lake of fire and brimstone… and that thou be bound by the chains of Satan, and be tormented until the day of Doom.”
In such a way, you can think of Satan in the Ars Goetia as the ultimate boss whose rank is used to keep middle management in line.
III. Pseudomonarchia Daemonum
In Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, Satan was not listed among the 69 demons in the hierarchy. Weyer wrote about him in the opening lines of the Lectoris (To the Reader), however.
In Latin:
“Ne Sathanicæ factionis monopolium usqueadeo porro delitescat, hanc Dæmonum Pseudomonarchiam, ex Acharonticorum Vasallorum archivo subtractam, in hujus Operis de Dæmonum præstigiis calce annectere volui…”
Translated to English:
“Lest the monopoly of the Satanic faction should hide so far away, I wanted to attach this False Monarchy of Demons, subtracted from the archives of the Acherontic vassals, to the end of this work on the illusions of demons…”
Why was Satan omitted in the catalog of demons in the book? This was a deliberate omission on Weyer’s part. He chose not to include Satan and other leaders, such as Beelzebub, to make the hierarchy feel broken or “headless”.
He also chose to omit any rituals and sigils, despite these being in the Liber Officiorum Spirituum which he used as a direct source for his work. This was to discourage anyone from using his work as part of their practice.
At first glance, his work may seem like the others, but it is important to note that Weyer was, above all, a physician not an occultist. This book was written as his way of showing how the demonic hierarchy was nothing more than folly. He also proposed that people who claimed to be witches were merely suffering from melancholy (a term for mental illness at the time), and as such they were undeserving of the persecution they received.
Key Takeaway: Satan isn’t the one you go to for help; he’s the name you use to make sure everyone else does the work.
There have been many different mentions of Satan in various texts throughout the ages. This is one of the most fascinating aspects of learning about him. These texts vary when it comes to their interpretations of who or what Satan is, but there are some common threads to be found.
Here are some examples.
S. Connolly is a bestselling author whose books focus on the study and practice of the occult and metaphysical. She is also a practicing Daemonolatress.
In her work, The Complete Book of Demonolatry, she portrays Satan not as a rebel angel or the devil. Instead, he is presented as the Fifth Element, known as Aether or Spirit. He is seen as the whole, the force which binds the other four elements together: Belial (Earth), Lucifer (Air), Flereous (Fire), and Leviathan (Water).
Satan does not have a physical description in her book. Instead, he is shown as energy, dark yet grounding, or represented by a cold black flame. Practitioners who subscribe to this belief see Satan as Divine Intelligence, rather than the Luciferian view of him as the adversarial spark.
In her writing, Connolly attributes certain abilities to Satan, such as helping practitioners with harnessing their personal power. Their “Inner Satan”. He teaches spiritual evolution through aligning oneself with the flow of the universe, rather than fighting against it.
Michael W. Ford is an occultist, writer, and musician. He is also the former co-president of the Greater Church of Lucifer, one of the pioneering Luciferian organizations in the United States.
In his books Luciferian Witchcraft and The Bible of the Adversary, he distinguishes Satan (the primal shadow) from Lucifer (the light-bringer). He depicts Satan as The Serpent or The Black Dragon, giving him physical form, unlike in S. Connolly’s work.
According to his writing, Satan is an Ahrimanic (from Ahriman/Angra Mainyu in Zoroastrianism) force; chaotic and all-consuming. He is also sometimes shown as a cloaked figure or a man with a beast’s head, reminiscent of Baphomet, which symbolizes the union of human and animal instinct.
In Ford’s view, those who work with Satan are gifted with the power to break through mental and social programming, allowing them to see beyond “The Illusion” clouding their minds. Through him, followers can also work to achieve self-deification. Think of him as the dark fire that consumes the old self to bring forth the new.
Gordon Winterfield is an occultist and writer, also known to be the eldest and most experienced member of The Gallery of Magick.
He wrote the book Demons of Magick where he represented Satan as one of the Three Master Powers, alongside Lucifuge and Beelzebub. Much like S. Connolly’s work, he also didn’t give Satan a physical manifestation, believing that it was unnecessary and may even be distracting.
Instead, he showed Satan as a Cosmic Authority. In rituals, he was invoked as the “Lord of the Earth” and the “Prince of Darkness”. As one of the Three Master Powers, Satan was also the overseer of the 72 Goetic spirits.
In Winterfield’s system, which deviates from Demonolatry, Satan’s role is to provide practitioners with the “Infernal Authority” to command the 72 Goetic Demons. By invoking him, his subordinates could be expected to remain respectful and perform their tasks accordingly.
This is a callback to the Liber Officiorum Spirituum, where Satan was the “key” to commanding the demonic hierarchy.
Because Satan isn’t listed among the 72 demons in the Ars Goetia, and the fact that he cannot be bound or commanded in a similar way, no Goetic sigil exists for him.
However, there are other operative sigils associated with Satan. These are symbols that can be used as a focal point during ritual or meditation to represent him.
One of the most recognizable sigils for Satan can be found in S. Connolly’s The Complete Book of Demonolatry. Based on the Dukante Hierarchy, this sigil is often used in rituals and placed at the center of altars. It represents the divine spark of consciousness, as well as the Fifth Element (Aether).
While the Dukante sigil is highlighted in S. Connolly’s writings, particularly for ceremonial and ritual purposes, she also mentions the Leviathan Cross as another primary symbol for Satan. Also known as the Alchemical symbol for Sulfur, this represents Satan acting as the balancing force when it comes to the internal spark of consciousness or “Black Flame/Fire” (intellect, individuality, and self-deification).
Outside of S. Connolly’s work, the Leviathan Cross can also be found in The Satanic Bible by Anton La Vey. Within the Church of Satan, it represents balance, defiance, and self-authority.
I. Lilith
In almost all traditions outside of the Solomonic grimoires, such as the Ars Goetia, Lilith is shown to be the Feminine Counterpart or the Consort of Satan. In The Zohar (Kabbalah), they were described to have been born at the same time but were later separated by God, mirroring Adam and Eve’s creation.
II. Beelzebub
He is often Satan’s second-in-command in a number of different texts. In Weyer’s book, he is referred to as “Prince of the Order of the Fly.”
III. Astaroth
In Ars Goetia, he is depicted as a high-ranking member of Satan’s court. A Grand Duke who was “tricked” into his fall.
New practitioners seeking to start their journey working with Satan and infernal energies require ample preparation. Doing so shows respect and a willingness to learn. Remember, this is not about subjugation, it’s a collaboration.
Here are some essential things to remember:
In many traditional grimoires, practitioners used the names of God to “bind” infernal spirits to do their bidding. Modern Demonolators strongly advise against this.
They often note that the energy you bring to the ritual will be reflected back to you. So, by approaching Satan as a teacher, you will be shown the same.
The need to “dominate” is rooted in fear, especially amongst those who still struggle with the Christian idea that contracts with infernal spirits require the “selling of one’s soul”.
This is not how it works, however. Practitioners retain autonomy and the pact is similar to a contract for self-improvement or a mentorship agreement.
Before invoking Satan, you must first create stability within and outside yourself. Working with infernal energy can be intense and heavy, so meditating to help ground and center yourself is key. Doing this will strengthen your energetic core, keeping you from becoming overwhelmed by their presence.
You’ll also need to prepare an altar. For beginners, a simple one with a black candle and a representation of Satan would be enough. Lastly, always do your research first. It can be exciting to dive into the ritual itself, but do your reading and find guide books you resonate with.
For beginners, this step is more of an invitation rather than a summoning. After you’ve prepared your altar, sit in the quiet for a while and chant his name or a specific Enn, also known as a demonic invocation. Satan’s Enn: “Tasa reme laris Satan – Ave Satanis”.
How will you know if a connection has been made? Expect a subtle manifestation at first. His presence can be felt as a change in the room’s temperature, a heaviness in the air, or vivid dreams you may have after the ritual.
If you do not experience anything after the ritual, it doesn’t mean you have necessarily failed. In such cases, training your astral and psychic abilities will help.
Satan is associated with the whole and he is at the core of the demonic hierarchy, so your offerings should reflect that. Some common offerings suggested by practitioners include strong black coffee, red wine, dark chocolate, and high-quality incense.
The “offering of self” is something that many practitioners also highlight. If you’re petitioning Satan to help with a goal, your offering is the hard work you put into achieving it. You will not be handed what you want on a silver platter, but you will be supported throughout the process.
Make sure you also show your sincerity by being consistent with your offerings. It is more proper to give small offerings once a week than making a huge one once a year.
Remember, as with any work involving deities, respect should always be at the very core of your practice. Read as much as you can and be diligent about getting to know them first.
They key thing to remember is that their role in your practice is that of a mentor, a teacher; not a wishing stone that you can command to grant every wish. As such, treat them accordingly.
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