READERS LETTERS DL1

READERS LETTERS’ (DL1)

Pleased
to hear that DL is making a comeback Under New Management. That title was too
good to lose. But its brief appearance a few years ago wasn’t the first use of
the title “Dark Lily”, was it?

ANSWER:
The earliest known use of the title “Lilium Arcanum” or Dark Lily was in
1908ev. A member of our editorial staff has seen two sheets, one dated 1908 and
one 1910, apparently individually written in imperfect copperplate. Although
she did not have the opportunity to examine these, she believes the person in
whose possession they were did not have the skill to forge such documents. Any
further information would be gratefully received. As you say, it’s a good name,
no matter what its previous pedigree.

Can you
answer a few questions for me:

  1. What
    is Satanism?
  2. What
    creed or rules do they live by?
  3. What
    would be an ideal Satanist?
  4. What
    sort of people do they despite?
  5. How
    many are there, do they all belong to groups?

ANSWER: Every Satanist would
probably have a different response to your questions. Our answers to the first
three are contained in the Dialogue Between Adept and Pupil in this issue.
Question 4: we do not waste our energy in futile emotions, but we would have no
time for anyone who follows a set of rules laid down by other people without
having first thought them through, reasoned them out, and decided that he/she
agrees with them. Question 5: there are millions of Satanists. A very small
proportion belong to groups. Many do not feel the need to seek company, and
many more have not even realised that they are Satanists.

Can you
tell me how to become a Satanist?

ANSWER: If you truly wish to be
a Satanist, then you are a Satanist. But you must define your question more
clearly before it can be fully answered. If you feel the need for a ceremonial
initiation, you could compose a suitable ritual as outlined in “Teenage
Satanist” (black candles, parchment and other equipment are available from an
advertiser in this magazine). If you wish to join a group, you must first
decide on the type of group; what you can offer to them (not your “soul” –
no-one but you has any use for that); and what you want from them.

From the Dark Lily Journal No 1, Society of Dark Lily
(London 1987).