[a description of Satanic ritual] ... Sigil of [Baphomet], the trademarked symbol of the Church of Satan, adapted from the design used by the Knights Templar in the 14th century -- an inverted pentagram containing a goat's head surrounded by five Hebrew letters, one at each point of the pentagram. The letters spell out "Leviathan," one of the crown Princes of Hell.... ...The organist... begins to play "The Hymn of Satan," a corruption of Bach's "Jesu Meine Freude."... One of the female acolytes moves about the altar now, lighting the black candles in preparation. ...As the organist continues the "Hymn to Satan," LaVey picks up a large brass bell, waves it over the altar to sanctify it, and slowly revolves counterclockwise before his followers.... He rings the bell nine times -- Satan's number -- to clear the air, then returns the bell to its plae on the mantle. Turning to his blonde assistant he smoothly unsheathes the sword she has offered him. LaVey points it over the altar of flesh and somberly intones his evocation. "In nomine Dei nostri Satanas Luciferi excelsi!" The organist plays improvised rumblings to accent the High Priest's words. "In the name of Satan, Ruler of the earth, King of the world, I command the forces of Darkness to bestow their Infernal power upon me. Open wide the gates of Hell and come forth from the abyss in answer to your most Unholy names: "Satan {extending the sword to the south}. Lord of the Infernal Regions; "Lucifer {turning to the East}, Bringer of Light and Wisdom; "Belial {turning to the North}, King of the Earth; "Leviathan {turning to the West}, Ruler of the Watery Abyss. "Come forth and greet your loyal brothers and sister of the Left-Hand Path. Shemhamforash!" The congregation shouts in response: "Shemhamforash!" "Hail Satan!" chants the High Priest. "Hail Satan!" Their defiant cries ring out. The gong is struck. One of the hooded assistants moves to the altar, lifts the sword from the High Priest's hands and replaces it with the Chalice of Ecstasy -- a silver goblet filled not with wine or even blood but with LaVey's current favorite; Yellowstone bourbon. LaVey takes the chalice, drinks deeply and passes it among his assistants, finally returning it to his assistant, retrieving his sword. The two naked acolytes step forward. One holds a candle slightly above their heads. The other opens a large black book in front of the High Priest and holds it for him as he thrusts the sword aloft and reads in a harsh, echoing voice: "Hear me, Dark Ones. Appear among men and be driven back no longer. Come forth and creep into the great councils of those without, and stop the ways of those who would detain us. "Grant me the indulgences of which I speak! I have taken thy name as a part of myself! I live as the beasts of the field, rejoicing in the fleshly life! I favor the just and curse the rotten! "By all the Gods of the Pit, I command that these things of which I speak shall come to pass! Come forth and answer to your names by manifesting my desires! Oh, hear the names!" LaVey fiercely growls the infernal names -- gods and goddesses once adored, revered; now debased and defiled, hated and feared by all but Satanists. Loki, Balaam, Tchort, Mammon, Shiva, Asmodeus, Shaitan. All considered evil by conventional religions. The congregants echo each name after LaVey. The organ climbs to a crescendo and again the gong is struck three times. "Hail Satan!" the group shouts after their High Priest. When the infernal names are concluded LaVey recites a passage in the pre-biblical magician's language, Enochian. The syllables are hard, gutteral yet strangely compelling. "Ol sonuf vaoresaji, gohu IAD Balata, elanusaha caelazod; sobrazod-ol Roray i ta nazodapesad, Giraa ta maelpereji, das hoel-qo qaa notahoa zodimezod... Zodacare, eca, od zodameranu! Odo cicale Qaa: zodoreje, lape zodiredo Noco Mada, hoathahe Saitan!" LaVey steps toward his fellow Satanists, summoning them forth to speak their deepest desires before their Dark Lord. Each in his turn whispers his untold dreams and needs to LaVey.... After each desire is repeated aloud by the High Priest, shouts of "Hail Satan!" are repeated by the congregants.... While the organist quietly plays triumphal strains in the background, LaVey opens his cape wide before the nude altar, his hands held up in the Sign of the Horns: two fingers upward to affirm the duality of Nature with three middle fingers folded down in denial of the Holy Trinity. "Forget ye not what was and is to be! Flesh without sin, world without end!" He lowers his arms. "All rise and give the Sign of the Horns." The members rise, lifting their left hands to return the sign. After turning to the altar to pass a traditional Sign of the Flame over her, LaVey shouts three "Hail Satans," with his congregation repeating each one. After each, the gong booms forth. The purifying bell is rung nine times once more, as the organist plays "The Hymn of the Satanic Empire." [NOTE: Hymn of the Satanic Empire, or, the Battle Hymn of the Apocalypse, words and music by Anton LaVey; "written circa 1967, used to close early Church of Satan rituals. Words added in November 1988. To be released 1990."] When the music ends an the last ring of the bell fades to silence, LaVey pronounces, "So it is done." _The Church of Satan_, by Blanche Barton, Hell's Kitchen, 1990; pp. 116-9, 135 (NOTE). ____________________________________ EOF