The Satanic Altar

Satanic Altar, those two words strike fear and bring people to the point of soiling themselves. It immediately conjures up images of a red pentagram drawn on the floor surrounded by black candles, people in dark hooded robes chanting some arcane verse, writing 666 on every surface, and of course, the naked woman as the altar table.

Fact, fiction, or LaVey?

To be fair, a lot of this is exactly what LaVey showed off to the media for shock value and publicity, and it totally worked. He took the old cliches and stereotypes and turned them into new cliches and stereotypes. The media loved the sex and scandal. People loved the blasphemy.

You can find dozens of photos of LaVey at his altar with Baphomet flags, candles on large pedestals, ceremonial chalice, and dagger all while wearing a dark hooded devil costume. It was both mockery and making a statement.

But really, what is the Satanic Altar? Is there really such a thing? Is it a dark portal to Hell? Is it the place Satanists go to conjure demons and sell their souls in dark compacts with the Devil in exchange for power and wealth?

A Satanic Altar can be anything you want it to be, but everything else in that sentence is nonsense. It’s not a dark portal, there is no soul selling for obvious reasons, and there are no dark compacts, for even more obvious reasons. And just to state it again, there are NO animal sacrifices, that is NOT acceptable.

Some people have altars, a centerpiece to channel their thoughts, to clear their mind, and gain enjoyment from Satanic art, iconography, and philosophy. It can be something simple or elaborate. As with most things, it’s up to the individual on design and function.

Over time, my entire home office has turned into an altar. It’s the space I spend the most time in, so it’s decorated with items I enjoy.

I have fun items like skulls, Ouija boards, Ouija skulls, crystal balls, tarot cards, D&D dice, limited edition playing cards, pirate themed trinkets, Lava Lamps, Crystal Head vodka bottles, Funko toys, and dozens of Halloween decorations lining the shelves.

It’s a hodgepodge put together in admittedly random fashion, but they all have their place, and they are all meaningful to me. I’m surrounded by items that were fun to track down and collect.

Instead of an altar, I’ve gone with the LaVey concept of the “total environment.” There is no single spot, but rather items throughout the entire place that are a reflection of me, my interests, and what I want to see. It doesn’t cater to someone’s style or for their entertainment value. Everything is for my entertainment value.

At present, I don’t perform ritual or ceremony, they simply aren’t part of my practice at the moment. That’s why I’ve gone for an environment over a specific altar. If times change, I will create a distinct focal point and I will spend time tracking down meaningful objects for it’s creation.

The concept of the Satanic Altar, can be anything the designer wants. It could be an actual altar, it could be a writing desk with specific pen, paper, and ink, it could be outside in a bamboo grove, it could be a decorated office space, or it could in fact be a candle lit room, with pentagrams on the floor, Baphomet flags, intricate chalice, bad ass ceremonial dagger, and a naked woman/man.

If that works for you, then more power to you, and I’m totally impressed.