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One thing has never managed to escape my curiosity since I began studying the magical arts when I was younger. I found myself inexplicably drawn to cultures that embraced the darker, sometimes entropic, gods of their society. The left hand path was the term I heard for it years ago. That term has come to grow into a plethora of definitions for me. It all began when I first dabbled with tarot as a teenager and came to learn of the death card as something more than it's face value and the devil as well. Though I haven't touched the cards in many years, I got more answers from them than just the ones I asked.

When many worshipped Osiris or Isis for help in their daily life, some sought out Set. Sumerians who paid honor to Enki or Marduk, but also Tiamat, seeing the world of man made manifest through the flayed flesh of chaos, or revering the dominion of the terrible Erishkigal. The Nordic people are another example with their veneration of Hel or the Greek and Roman Hecate who was both benevolent and mercilessly malevolent. The Bengali observe Kali as a source of empowerment and destruction. Of course Satan is included here as well, whether you believe in the Judeo-Christian interpretation or a different theistic approach, Satan has been a figure of strength and creativity.

Instead of looking for the caring nature of more conventional gods, some people sought out those that judged them based on what they did for themselves. Was the autonomy and strength they gained by themselves reward in itself or was their ability to do this a gift from the gods?

Granted, most of these gods or godesses were involved in pantheons where multiple gods were worshipped, not just specific ones, but those who sought out gods that most feared has always impressed me.

In this thread, I'd like to hear about people's interactions with these (and others of course) gods and godesses. Whether it be evocations, meditations, dreams, religious fusions, philosophy or just anything you feel fits here, I'd love to hear anything you have to say.

I've had the fortune of studying these entities, but have never worked with them myself. I've enjoyed a comfortable seat in a scholar's armchair and I'm working my way into actual practice. I'm trying to find a fusion that appeals to me and in the process, learn from all of you that have dedicated yourselves to your beliefs and passions.

...Was the autonomy and strength they gained by themselves reward in itself or was their ability to do this a gift from the gods?

I'd say reward in itself,but the 'correct' answer depends on how the individual believes,in what they percieve Godhead to actually be.

I personally believe all Gods exist,but that they were created in our image,by Humanity,to represent forces we had no 'shape' or common description for previously.These are powerful energy forms,long fed by worship and praxis.
I also accept that many Gods were born from the tales of living,breathing human heroes,ancestors whose deeds became Legendary and eventually conflated with those of the older Gods,generations after their death.These are also powerful because they too have been continually reinforced over many generations.

This makes my relationships with/to Gods somewhat complex,lol.

Nahemah,

You've touched upon perhaps the very heart of what I'm writing about and looking for.

I recall reading about the polytheistic satanist, Diane Vera, and her theories on these deities. The results of her musings were that each god such as Tiamat, Set, Kali, Angra Mainyu/Ahriman and the others were all aspects of one ancient primordial being. This being manifested in different forms throughout human history and Satan was just the newest aspect proliferated by society's recent captivation with Christianity.

I'll try to dig up that article. It was an interesting fusion of "satanic" (I quote that because she obviously incorporated ideas from outside of traditional LaVeyan or theistic Satanism) theology and ideas.