News and Notes from the Editor-January 2025: The Devil in the Details

Hello all, I’m finally getting back into my usual groove after battling illness for a few weeks. That time away allowed me time to go inward, and also allowed me to read a book that was on my personal reading list, that I hadn’t received to review. That book, Magic at the Crossroads: The Devil in Modern Witchcraft by Kate Freuler inspired many days of sleuthing on the internet researching subjects such as the Satanic Panic (the main topic of this article) as well as similar topics like the Temple of Set, LaVeyan Satanism, Dr. Michael Aquino and the like. Along with Magic at the Crossroads, a book that I’ve reviewed, Song of the Dark Man, also inspired the beginning of my gnostic dive with the Devil in his various guises. You can find that review here.

I’ve worked with the Devil before, but out of anger, hatred and similar emotions; never out of a desire for gnosis. My approach to writing this Opinion Piece is based off of both approaches, for spiritual gnosis, as well as for worldly, material reasons. As I continue reading Magic at the Crossroads, I’m inspired to write another Op-Ed, this time, getting into the darker recesses of society’s current dilemmas. This editorial is going to be another opinion driven article, meant to stir thought within our readers, to contemplate certain ideas and concepts that are prevalent to spiritual people regardless of the “flavor” they seek. Regardless, there is definitely a large dash of my personal commentary on society currently, which is rooted in post-modern, antinomian thought in many ways.

Trigger Warning:

This article discusses topics related to Satan, the Devil, Satanism, and the Satanic Panic, and the activities allegedly related to them, including rape, molestation, sacrifice and the like. Please use discretion while reading.

Disclaimer from the author:

This article is not meant to stir up panic within our community, nor is it meant to be predictive, as I’m not a “doomer” when it comes to my predictions. Rather, it’s meant to be a lesson gleaned from examining the past, so as to not repeat it. A large part of this article is based off of my observations of history and the cycles we seemingly repeat. Given the current landscape of society and politics, the fertile breeding ground for a new crisis of morality has formed and bred various offshoots. Take this article with a grain of salt, if you must, but I believe each and every one of us knows what’s below is true. The author is not a Satanist, but sees the Devil as a necessary force of change, and therefore has a different understanding of him than what mainstream society knows to be true. Again, take this with a grain of salt if you must.

Fear an(d)evil

“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself”

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fear is an essential emotion to human existence; it drives our fight or flight response, and has undoubtedly saved many a person from death. People fear many things, from specific phobias like arachnophobia to fearing what they can’t see or understand. The fear of what can’t be understood is perhaps the greatest ailment that man has ever had; it has inspired him to kill, maim, and torture  without a second thought. From the Witch Hunts to the Red Scares of the 1920’s and 1950’s, to the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s/90’s, and all over again, fear of what cannot or will not be understood by the masses has driven man to self destruction, and will assuredly do so again. Voices of reason have been shut out as “satanic” or supporters of the Devil, when in reality they haven’t fed into the mass hysteria taking place. The Devil has, and does, represent the scapegoat, the person or group of people blamed for the wrongs and injustices in society. Scapegoats throughout history have been marginalized groups and peoples: Jews, Romani, Irish, Satanists, Pagans, Witches, Women, Black, Native American, Asian, LGBTQ+, the list goes on. Sounds a lot like our current political and social climate, doesn’t it?

The New Satanic Panic-Internet and Social Media Misinformation

A new problem is arising in our world: misinformation. Misinformation is the antithesis of information; it is dishonest, generally fits a narrative that then serves an agenda. If an agenda or belief needs misinformation to justify itself, much less sway others to believe in it as well, then it is completely unfounded. While many participants of the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s and 1990’s have since retracted their claims, and some well known individuals who participated have even apologized for reporting with such clear bias, the damage was done, and lasting impressions were left in the collective psyche of a nation. Watching these old tapes, that bias is clear and evident. So how did a nation get swept up in religious hysteria, especially at a time when Christianity was beginning to lose influence in society?

Without giving a history lesson that could be looked up on Wikipedia, it all started with a book titled Michelle Remembers and spiraled out of control for over a decade from there. Schools and daycares came into focus, as did Rock Music and the popular Dungeons and Dragons, as kids across the country were undergoing what is now considered to be a controversial  method of psychotherapy: hypnotherapy. I personally have had hypnosis done by multiple certified practitioners with backgrounds in psychology and other therapeutic techniques. Whether I sought hypnosis for past life exploration, or personal healing, I can personally attest that I never had an experience where I was guided to a certain place, event, setting or person.

That said, I can say that I believe there are ways to do such things through manipulating the way prompts are given or said. Much the same as certain interrogation techniques have been shown to work in guiding people to confess to something, regardless if they did it or not. It’s my personal belief that the therapists who used hypnosis on these children were consumed with the Satanic Panic hysteria and thus, intentionally or not, guided these young patients to what was a foregone conclusion in the mind of the therapist.

Back on topic: during these sessions, children reported “ritual abuse” by members of a nationwide, underground Satanic cult that did horrible things ranging from animal and even human sacrifice to child molestation. I would bet that most parents, and adults for that matter, would say that the idea sounds pretty scary, but also pretty far fetched. So again, how did people get so wrapped up in unfounded hysteria?

My personal theory is that it was a reactive movement with roots going back to the beginning of the Baby Boomer generation; their parents, the Lost Generation, were told by Dr. Spock to practice what he called permissive parenting; this obviously went against the strict, puritan attitude that American Christians had, and still do to a large extent. Many chose to instead embrace the opposite, and continue the methods of their parents, whether it was right, wrong or indifferent. This attitude then carried down to the Baby Boomers when they were parents, which just happened to be at the same time when music acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Venom, Slayer and more were becoming popular, with the imagery of Satan, the Devil, and the like not only in their album artwork, but also in the lyrics of their songs. Pair that with the HIV/AIDS crisis, Reaganism, the Cold War peaking, and all of a sudden you’ve got yourself a country in the midst of yet another moral crisis. Remember, the Satanic Panic spanned two decades, essentially. Many of these impressions have left lasting scars on the individuals it went after, and stereotypes are still present based off of this time of mass hysteria.

I firmly believe that our world, but specifically the United States, is in (yet another) moral crisis as I write this piece. Reactive movements such as MAGA, Trumpism, and on the other end, ANTIFA, “Radical Leftism” and others are the products of their era, the new moral crisis happening in America in the 2020’s. Although it has roots in decades previous, beginning from what I can recall as early as Obama’s first presidency. America, and humanity, is finally grappling with its demons, whether it wants to or not, as Pluto enters Aquarius and tears down the old. Christianity/establishment is clinging to a narrative that no longer works, a moral system that was never healthy, but instead oppressive. And as the vast majority of the cultural apparatus and moral structure crumbles, people, in fear, are clinging, at times violently, to what they were taught to be true. This moral crisis seems to be the culmination of all its predecessors: scares about Socialists and Communists, Jews, Satanists, Witches, Freemasons and hidden Secret Societies, all serving evil, and its’ personification: the Devil, Satan, Angra Mainyu, and all the other names he’s had throughout the epochs of time.

Social Media and the Internet have revolutionized the world of conspiracy, conspiracy theories and the exchange of information and misinformation. Many times, when we scroll on social media, we’re led to believe that what we see is how it really is. Social Media, much like a glamour spell, is an illusion, only showing us what it wants us to see. That pertains to people, pages, posts, videos and everything else we see on the internet. Whether we like it or not, the internet is social media driven at this point. The ease of access of information is both a blessing and a curse, as we ourselves must be the judges of what is credible and not credible. While some can generally determine the validity of information that they’re consuming, a growing number of those who cannot, it seems, continues to rise in number. Social media and the mass of (mis)information put out there is truly drowning any voice of reason. I, myself, a Pagan through and through, with no interest in abrahamic religion such as christianity, still gets a flooded news feed with videos about Satan and this and that, all reminiscent of Satanic Panic rally cries. Mind you, I’m a member of multiple pagan, witchcraft and occult groups on these same social media platforms. Comical, sure; annoying, most definitely. If I’m seeing this content pop up enough to be irritating, imagine what it must be like for someone just passing by. And here begins our problem…

How many people think it’s all true? 

I can’t answer that, just as much as any other person can’t. I think that’s besides the point, anyhow; what our focus should be on is education and interfaith dialogue. Showing people that even self proclaimed Satanists don’t participate in such vile acts, let alone Pagans and Witches. Dropping the veil of hidden traditions and allowing for open and intellectual conversations is a good starting point. Of course, the other side has to be willing, and we ourselves as Magickal, Spiritual folks must also, whether we’re of the Left or Right hand path, a Satanist, Wiccan, Heathen, Druid or Traditional Witch, Ífa, or anything else! Until that time is reached, and I would hedge bets that the Abrahamic religions are the ones with most resistance to that, the problem will continue, and perhaps worsen as the grips of sanity continually loosen on our social media driven, misinformed society.

So then, what can we do? After all, Witches, Pagans, Occultists and the like are all under the ire of the new moral crisis as it unravels deeper, hidden layers. First of all, we must not allow ourselves to be consumed with panic. The burning times have not returned, nor do I believe they will return ever again. That aside, we must arm ourselves with productive dialogue with peoples of other faiths and/or paths. Whether they be Setian, Satanist, Wiccan, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Islam, Christian, or what have you; making those connections, bridging that gap, and understanding each other is essential. The more we connect with folks of other religions, instead of debating the frivolty of who’s right and who’s wrong, the less likely we are to repeat mistakes of the past. That I hope, is what our readers take from this piece. I truly hope that those who have stuck with me to this end of this Op-Ed have enjoyed it and found it thought provoking.

~The Modern Merlin

 

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Author Bio:

The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. He is a Priest of Hecate, Diana, Hades, Lilith and Persephone. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has also been investigating the paranormal for over 10 years and has a keen interest in researching various mythologies, cosmologies and folklore from around the world. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and he has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!