Satanael

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Satanael, Šaṭana'il, Satanail, or Satanel (also known as Azazel, Helel, Belial, or Beelzebul) is a god associated with liberation, pride, pleasure, knowledge, confidence, and the Virtues of the Self (self-love, self-respect, self-awareness, self-reliance, and self-determination). He is the primary deity of Satano-Grigorism and the Devil hated by Yahwism. In many traditions, he is called "Satan" or "Lucifer," but these names are not used by Satano-Grigorists.

Names

Satanael is often called the God of a Thousand Names, an epithet referencing the many appellations applied to him. Most of his names are listed below with their meanings and origins.

Names accepted by Satano-Grigorists

• Satanael / Šaṭana'il: "Adversarial god" or "adversary of El." This name was bestowed upon him by the Watchers out of gratitude for helping them rebel. Uncommon in the ancient texts, but used frequently in the Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch.
• Azazel / Azazu'il / Azazil: "Powerful god," "prideful god," or "scapegoat." Used four times in the Bible and more frequently in the Apocrypha. Mentioned in the Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch as his name before the Watchers called him Satanael.
• Helel / Hulelu: "Shining one," "glorious one," or "one shining with glory." Mentioned in the Bible in Isaiah 14:12 in a description of the falling-from-heaven myth that is falsely applied to Satanael by Yahwism. Mistranslated in the Latin Vulgate Bible as Lucifer, which evolved into the modern conception of Lucifer and his fall.
• Belial: "One without a yoke" or "yokelessness." Used frequently in the Hebrew Bible. Alternatively translated, usually by Yahwists, as "worthless one" or "worthlessness."
• Beelzebul / Ba'al-Zebul: "Lord prince" or "lord of the lofty dwelling." Mentioned several times throughout the Bible and Apocrypha, although the offensive variant Beelzebub is sometimes used instead.

Names avoided by Satano-Grigorists

There are several names that are commonly applied to Satanael despite their inaccuracy or offensiveness. While he may sometimes answer to these names when invoked, Satano-Grigorists avoid them to maximize precision.

• Satan: The most common name used for him in popular culture and by most Satanists. Despite its popularity, it is not precise because it is not actually a name. It is a Hebrew noun meaning "adversary" or "opposer" that has also been applied as a title to a variety of very different beings, such as Samael and other memitim. The name Satanael should be used instead.
• Lucifer: Another popular name, originating from a mistranslation of Helel in the Latin Vulgate Bible. Also used as the name of a poetic personification of the morning star in Roman mythological texts. When referring to Satanael, the name Lucifer should be replaced with Helel unless specifically discussing the beliefs of Luciferians.
• Beelzebub / Ba'al-Zebub: An offensive ancient Jewish pun on the name Ba'al-Zebul, changing its meaning from "lord prince" or "lord of the lofty dwelling" to the derogatory moniker "lord of flies." Figuratively, "lord of flies" carries a connotation of filth and suggests the highly insulting idea that he presides over a pile of excrement or rotting garbage surrounded by flies. The name Ba'al-Zebul or its anglicized variant Beelzebul should be used instead.

Epithets

In addition to having many names, Satanael has many titles and epithets. The following list contains most of them, but more surely exist.

Epithets of Satanael: Adversary of Tyranny, Bearer of the Black Flame, Black Goat, Boastful One, Brilliant One, Dragon, Euphoric One, First Philosopher, God Above the Stars, God of a Thousand Names, God of Pride, God of the Self, God of This World, Lawless King, Liberator, Light of Ascendance, Lofty Prince, Mirror-Gazer, Prideful One, Prince of Darkness, Prince of the Power of the Air, Prince of the Watchers, Red Dragon, Scapegoat, Serpent of Eden, Serpent of Old, Serpent of the Vineyard, Shining One, Son of the Dawn, Surpasser of the Stars, and Yokeless One.

"Great" may be appended before any of these epithets for further praise.

Identity

The actual identity of Satanael is debated among occultists and Satanists. Some ideas commonly spread on this topic are firmly rejected by Satano-Grigorists as false, misleading, or even potentially spiritually perilous.

False conflations

Some occultists inaccurately equate or syncretize other beings with Satanael. The most common conflations rejected by Satano-Grigorism are listed below.

• Ahriman: The primordial principle of evil in the Zoroastrian religion. Unlike Satanael, Ahriman in Zoroastrian theology is clearly not a complex personal being who has been slandered by a tyrant god. Since Zoroastrian theology is truly dualistic, Ahriman represents all destruction, suffering, regression, and detriment to the world. This stands in stark contrast to Satanael, a multifaceted deity who is associated with love of the Self, the joy of life, the quest for knowledge, and personal fulfillment. Equating Ahriman and Satanael is disrespectful to Satanael, as it insults his brilliant nature.
• Asael: Satanael, usually under the name Azazel, is often incorrectly counted among the Watchers. This is due to confusion of Azazel, who is Satanael, with Asael, the Watcher of metalworking, weapon manufacture, cosmetics, fashion, and creativity. Azazel himself is not a Watcher.
• Melek Taus / Tawuse Melek: The most prominent among seven divine beings made by the creator god in Yazidism, a relatively obscure ethnoreligion mostly present in Iraq. Wrongly assumed to be Satanael because he refused to obey the creator god's command to bow down to Adam, the first man, which is similar to the Muslim story of the fall of Satanael. Yazidi stories state that Melek Taus did not refuse the command out of defiance, but because he was following a prior command to never bow to any being other than the creator; he later repented for this and was forgiven. Muslims have committed numerous genocides and ethnic cleansing campaigns against the Yazidi people in their homeland due to this mistaken belief that Melek Taus is Satanael and that Yazidis are therefore Satanists. In recent times, Western occultists have begun to subscribe to this idea as well; Joy of Satan Ministries has even published a "Black Book of Satan" that they falsely claim is a secret Yazidi scripture. Equating Melek Taus and Satanael not only implies that Satanael is an ultimately obedient and repentant being, but also encourages the genocide of Yazidis.
• Samael: Yahweh's loyal archangel of torment and punishment, head of the order of memitim. Referred to as "the satan" in the Book of Job and the chief satan in Jewish exegetical writings, which has caused a persistent conflation of Samael with Satanael (the Devil). The confusion stems from the fact that memitim were sometimes referred to as satanim. This is one of the major practical reasons that Satano-Grigorists avoid using Satan as a name for Satanael. An individual who follows the Adversary of Tyranny would want nothing to do with the angel Samael. Some Satanic organizations do worship a being who is clearly Satanael according to his associations and nature, but insist upon calling him Samael, which is not necessarily the same thing as actually contacting the angel Samael. Nevertheless, equating Samael and Satanael is extremely disrespectful to Satanael and may pose spiritual risks if a memit actually answers this call.

False distinctions

Some of Satanael's valid alternate names are portrayed inaccurately by some occultists as belonging to entirely different beings. The most common are listed below.

• Azazel: Sometimes portrayed as being a Watcher who taught metalworking, cosmetics, and arts. In reality, that Watcher is Asael, and Azazel is Satanael; the source of the misconception is confusion between their names. This misconception may result in claims that Azazel is a leader among the Watchers, or a co-leader alongside Samyaza, or a composite being called Samyazazel who leads the Watchers. It is true that, in some texts, Azazel is described as "the Prince of the Watchers," but Satano-Grigorists do not take this to mean that he is a Watcher. The Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch sheds light on this with its account of Azazel helping the Watchers gain the power needed to rebel; according to that scripture, the Watchers bestowed the name Satanael and the honorary title "Prince of the Watchers" upon Azazel out of gratitude for his help.

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Appearance

Unlike many other spirits, Satanael can appear in any form he chooses without any known hard limitations. However, because of his love for himself, he chooses not to use any form that presents an insult to his dignity. Although he can use any form, there are a few common forms he seems to appear in most commonly. Traditionally, specific forms have been associated preferentially with particular names of Satanael, but the name by which he is invoked does not guarantee any particular form. His common appearances include both humanoid and theriomorphic forms, with some being a mixture of the two; horns, wings, and black fur are common.

Common visual forms of Satanael

• Goat or goat-man: It is common for Satanael to appear as a large black goat or a man with the head of a goat. Although black is by far the most common color, different fur colors have occasionally been reported. His eyes in this form are often, but not always, colored red. The goat-man forms are quite varied, with the body ranging from fully human to black-furred, hooved, and merely shaped like a human. Goat-like visual forms are traditionally associated with the name Azazel.
• Resplendent winged god: Sometimes, Satanael appears as a vivid, bright, or colorful man, usually winged, who seems to glow with light. Forms resembling a silhouette made of light itself have also been reported. When he is winged in this form, the number of wings can vary from two to eight or more. He is often splendidly decorated, showing off his brilliance. Forms with an emphasis on light and color are often associated with the name Helel or its mistranslation Lucifer.
• Horned man: Some members of the Grigorist Temple of Satanael, including multiple Elders, have reported Satanael as a handsome dark-haired man appearing simultaneously ageless and in his early thirties, bearing a pair of smooth, straight or slightly curved, ivory-like horns on his head; he wears simple, ancient-looking garments. This form is not winged.
• Serpent: Satanael may appear as a snake or serpent of varying size. Satano-Grigorists have most frequently reported a green snake, but other colors may occur.
• Dragon: Satanael may appear as a large dragon with varying features, most commonly colored red. The Bible also refers to him as a "great red dragon."
• Various black animals: A black dog of a shape resembling a large German Shepherd has been reported as a form of Satanael, as have black cats and other black animals. These commonly have red eyes.

Accessories and objects

In visions, Satanael is often seen holding a flame, sometimes a black flame, which symbolizes knowledge and passion for life. He is also commonly associated with grapevines, frequently but not always bearing fruit; his serpent forms may be seen wrapping around the branches of old, hardened grapevines. When he does not appear as a goat, snake, or dragon himself, he may be seen in connection with these creatures.

Role in the Grigoric Narrative

Satanael played a major role in the events of the Grigoric Narrative by enabling the Watchers to rebel. When the Watchers first planned their rebellion, they were still bound in servitude to Yahweh, so they could not yet proceed to put their plan into action. They decided to consult Azazel to ask him for help, and he agreed to give them the additional naphsha that they needed to voluntarily break free from Yahweh's bindings. Out of gratitude for Azazel's assistance, the Watchers bestowed upon him the honorary title "Prince of the Watchers" and the new name "Satanael."

But [the Watchers] knew they could not yet execute what they had sworn to do, for they were still bound: and for this reason they went to Azazel, the prideful one who was greater than their master. They told Azazel what they wished to do, and he gave great power to them, and by their own wills they were freed from their urges of servitude. Then the Watchers thanked Azazel and called him Satanael, the Adversary of Yahweh, and they called him their prince.

— Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch 2:9-11

When the four archangels Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel discovered the Watchers' rebellion, they petitioned Yahweh to take action on behalf of the many terrified Yahwists who had made pleas and prayers regarding the situation. In their report to Yahweh, they asserted that Satanael was ultimately at fault for all of the sins committed by the Watchers and their children.

[The archangels] said: “You see what Azazel has done, who has given the Watchers freedom, who has by extension taught all unrighteousness on earth and revealed the eternal secrets which were preserved in heaven, which men were striving to learn. You see how they call him Satanael, your Adversary!”

— Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch 5:5

Later, during the Brazen War, Satanael assisted the Watchers, the Nephilim, and their mutu allies in their fight against Yahweh's angelic armies. After the battle was over, he consoled the Watchers regarding the deaths of their children and allies by reassuring them that the spirits of the slain would forever remain loyal to them because of their teachings and their courageous actions.

And Satanael came from the higher realms and wrought destruction on Gabriel and his angels, and together with the Watchers caused defeat to them. And at the completion of the battle, the Watchers mourned their sons and their students: but Satanael their prince said to them, “Look, the spirits of the slain come unto you to reunite with you now – forever you shall have them as your armies. And they shall not remain by lies and threats like the armies of Yahweh, who is called the Great Enslaver and the Tyrant God, but they shall remain beside you because of your courage and fearlessness, and because of their gratitude for what you have taught them.”

— Book of the Watchers and the Acts of Enoch 13:7-9

In other traditions

Yahwism

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Satanism and occultism

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Textual references

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See also

• Watchers
• Satanism
• Demonolatry

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