"Demonolatry".
Related Topics:Demonolatry not to be confused with demonology (the study of Demons) --means, literally, the worship of Demons(used interchangeably with daemons as demon and daemon are seen much the same to the Demonolator because the word demon comes from daemon and daimon). Although the word Demonolatry is old, it was originally used (like the label Satanism) as a term of derision to refer to a variety of different religions that the early Church persecuted. It was not adopted as a term of self-reference until relatively recently (late 1950's/early 1960's). Even then, Demonolatry was clandestine. It was not until 1997 when the Guild of Demonolatry (now defunct) finally funded a website--Tezrian's Vault--devoted to the religion that Demonolatry came out-of-the-closet. That site closed in 2001. Previously, many sects simply referred to themselves as followers of name of Demon here.
Modern Demonolatry is a polytheistic religion in which Demonic entities are worshiped and worked with as wise divinities. Each demon is the wellspring of a single energy source. These energies can be defined as universal elements, emotions, or ideas. The most common pantheon of Gods used are demonic--from Christian mythologies about diabolical beings, which were formerly the Gods of pre-Christian pagan religions. However, Roman, Greek, Goetic and other pantheons have been used. Perhaps the most popular of the pantheons is the Richard Dukante Hierarchy, which was developed in the early 1960's. It became the basis for many modern Demonolatry sects.
Demonolatry is considered a left hand path religion because it is a religion of the self. It is discovering personal power and living within the natural balance of the energies within the universe. It is also about self-responsibility and inner peace. Demons, to some, are simply focal points of single pure energies. To others they are real entities with personalities and individual consciousness. Each of the demons is seen as the embodiment of an emotion, an element, or an idea. As mentioned, some people believe these energies are sentient (real deities), while others believe they are simply natural forces without consciousness. The Gods of Demonolatry are demons because they are considered to represent misunderstood or clandestine parts of the natural world. Many demons were merely Gods of pre-Christian pagan religions. There are demons for love and healing just as sure as there are demons for anger and destruction. There is a natural balance to the religion. For every demon there is an equal and opposite demon. There are also those demons on the subtle in-between of the two.
In Demonolatry there is no heaven or hell. Many Demonolators believe in reincarnation of our own personal energies. Within the practice of Demonolatry there are many rites. Most of them are meditative (and include prayer and mental exercises), while others incorporate magick in which requests are burnt, incenses and candles are burnt representing certain aspects of the ritual's design. Many different forms of magick are used in conjunction with the religion. This depends on the individual's preference. A personal belief system that fulfills the needs of the practitioner is encouraged
See The Hermetica and Hermeticism to learn more about the core foundation of Demonolatry beliefs.
March 21 - Rite to Lucifer in celebration of enlightenment and the air that sustains life on this planet. Also a celebration of knowledge, education, and ideas. It is also a celebration of spring and new beginnings. Marriages are sometimes performed on or around the Rite to Lucifer.
May 2 - First Rite to Leviathan. This is typically an initiation ceremony. Leviathan symbolizes the seed cycle and emotional bonds. Many sects choose to initiate their new arrivals during this rite. However, it is also the Rite wherein some people may choose to get married or to conceive children as it symbolizes fertility and bonding.
June 21 - Rite to Flereous. Flereous is the Phoenix that rises from the ashes. This rite celebrates the warmth of the sun and summer. This is the Rite at which Baphometic Fire Baptisms are performed. Baptisms are rarely performed on children. However, adults may choose to have their matron or patron deity's sigil either branded, tatooed, or cut somewhere into their body. While some cultures may regard this as self mutilation, a Demonolator finds honor in this ritual and bears the "scar" proudly. Nowadays, tatoos are very popular because sigils can be encompassed by a picture.
September 21 - Second Rite to Leviathan. This is the Rite that celebrates autumn and harvest. It celebrates the element water. It also celebrates emotional ties (married couples sometimes choose this Rite to reaffirm wedding vows). Scrying, tarot readings, and other forms of divination are practiced during this time as it is believed the connection between the parts of the whole are stronger now.
October 31 - Rite to Eurynomous/Baalberith/Babael. This rite, as in many other traditions, is a celebration of death, dying, and the dead. Many people choose this rite to "destroy" bad feelings by requesting curses on those who have wronged them. Cursing rites are a condoned and encouraged practice in Demonolatry. This is a time of emotional cleansing and self renewal.
December 21 - Rite to Belial. This is sometimes called the second initiation rite because Belial also represents new beginnings. Belial represents material things, financial matters, and business endeavors. It is the celebration of winter, family and friends, and the birth of the sun (as it is the shortest day of the year).
These are the principal rites practiced by religious Demonolators in addition to the holiday of their Patron/Matron deity. They are too numerous to list.
Information Used With Permission Source: *
The Goetic Hierarchy (from The Goetia) is a popular hierarchy used by both Traditional and Modern Demonolators.
Richard Dukante's Hierarchy (1963)
Note: This is one of the few hierarchies acknowledging female demons. Denoted by (f) Satan - King Unsere - (f) Fertility and Sorcery Delepitore - (f) Demoness of Sorcery Enlightement Satanchia - Grand General (War) Agaliarept - Assistant Grand General (War) Lucifage - High Command (Control) Flereous - Fire Elemental Lucifer - Air Elemental Leviathan - Water Elemental Belial - Earth Elemental Beelzebuth - Lord of insects Belphegore - Master of Armorment and Weaponry Mesphito - Keeper of the book of death Amducious - The destroyer Asmodeus - Demon of Lust Sonnielion - (f) Demoness of hate Abbadon - Advisor Ammon - demon of domination Mammon - Demon of Avarice Rosier - Demon of love Ashtaroth - (f) Priestess of friendship Eurynomous - Demon of Death Verrine - Demon of Health Verrier - (f) Demoness of plants and herbalism Ronwe - Demon of Knowledge Babeal - Keeper of Graves
Family 1
Family 2
Family 3
Family 4
Family 5
Family 6
Family 7
Family 8 - Some speculation has arisen suggesting that family 8 should actually be coupled with family 3. As it has been suggested these are the females of that family.
Family 9 Consists of lesser hierarchy.
Source: With Permission From The Author
In some Demonolatry, Satan is referred to as the "fifth element," or the source of all other energies. In other words, Satan is the "Whole" and every other Demon is simply a part of the whole. Each person, animal, plant and thing that exists in nature is a part of the whole as well. Some other traditions, on the other hand, treat Satan as just one of many demons available for worship.
Some claim that demonolatry is not related to the modern religious and philosopical movements collectively referred to as Satanism; see the main article on Satanism for more information.
Demonolatry is often confused with diabolatry, reverse Christianity, ceremonial magic, magick that employs evocation, necromancy and demonomancy.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the "Demonolatry".
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