The Devil within

We are but human. Never forget those 4 words.
I, like probably many of you here and elsewhere, have chosen to associate with “Satanism”. To embrace our carnality and revel and search for our own expressions and freedoms. To know and acknowledge the darker side of our psyche. The knowledge humanity IS greedy and egoistical in nature. The knowledge that freedoms are sought and how conflict can somtimes bring out the best results. That violence, how harsh and cruel it might be, sometimes IS necessary in order to develop and leap forward. We know no one truly is equal to one another. We know there are many differences that legitematly can be used to differentiate and alienate others if deemed “unfavourable” or “unpopular” or….

When proclaiming to walk the Left Hand Path, when proclaiming to be “a Satanist”, these things are but natural to accept. So why would I post a fragment from Charlie Chaplin’s “The great Dictator”? Why would I post a speech where a man proclaims unity which, on first sight, stands into stark contrast asto what Satanism entails.

I share the speech, and this piece of filming history, because it shares an underlying and timeless idea. The very idea that all religions and philosophies have at their core. People searching for their own happiness. People acting to protect their happiness. The underlying idea is not to mindlessly embrace one another. The general idea is how sometimes decency and civility, despite conflict and differences, is also part of human nature. It is one of the things which enabled our specie to thrive on after conflict. The maturity to, despite all atrocities, move on one way or another. Perhaps not being able to look one other in the eye or even mend the scars that have been delivered. But to have the decency to let one another lick their wounds. The maturity to recognize the rotten things and evading them. To spew on them and prevent them from getting closer and taking over body and mind.

No, I do not believe in unity nor that man at its core is evil. Neither do I believe man is egoistic nor that he is good. But I do know humans seek their own happiness. This alone might bring about the devil that resides within us. People may find happiness in their love life. Others in carnality and unorthodox behaviour. Maturity and decency dictates civility. It does not imply we must defend or mustn’t judge anothers’ actions… to idly stand by. It implies that you, as a human being, have the right to act upon others if you see fit. It also implies the decency to back off and have the mindfulness to ignore those things which do not influence nor have an impact on your well-being and happiness.

You are but human. You seek things for your happiness. To act upon that knowledge and to expand upon it is a universal vibe. It is Satanic by nature.

So when people come to you and proclaim Satan by questioning all and everything. By being contrarian or praising adversity for the sake of adversity.. then those people are charlatans. They have a notion what evil entails but will never reach their full potential, let alone ever understand Satanism, by reason they do not know the full extend of their own humanity. They seek darkness by staring at the sun and failing to notice their own shadow.

So go out and seek your happiness. Have decency and civility to ignore or react. Have the maturity to know when. The devil within cannot be found. Only its shadow be recognized. Be wary that the carnality and “Satanism” you embrace is but the full extend of your own humanity.

Written version can be found here: The great dictator.