Wicked Walpurgisnacht!

In this Year 50 Anno Satanas, tonight we celebrate the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Church of Satan.

Around the globe we witness extremist theism casting its ugly pall, bringing death, slavery, and torture to countless individuals. It is time for those who cherish reason, merit and civilization to bestir themselves to stem this tsunami of reactionary regression so that our species may more actively pursue knowledge and creation towards ever-expanding realms of undefiled wisdom. Anton LaVey’s profound insights into the nature of the beast called Man have never been more relevant. Those carnal individuals whose self-awareness brings them to recognize themselves as their own gods flourish as they serve the highest possible cause—their own joy in living their lives to the fullest.

To celebrate our half century mark, Rabid Crow Arts & Graphics, by special arrangement with HarperCollins and William Morrow publishing, has produced a handsome hardcover volume combining both The Satanic Bible and The Satanic Rituals for the first time in English. Now you can have these iconoclastic texts in this limited collectors edition that I’m sure you’ll treasure for years to come. This link will take you to their web page so that you can order your copy today.

Let us recall what Doctor LaVey said when this grand experiment was but ten years old:

“To those of you who were with me in the beginning when the show got on the road, and to you who have since become a part of us in mind, body or act of just plain orneriness, I am grateful for your support. ‘Evil’ is still ‘Live’ spelled backwards, and if evil we be live we will. Living well is still the best revenge against all adversity. Love, laugh, fancy, create, innovate, reap and revel—as Satanists—in this best of all worlds, World without end. Remember, the first 99 years are always the toughest. Rege Satanas!”

As we enjoy our 50th year of challenging the withering concepts of self-abnegation that still abound, we have reached that midpoint on the way towards our first century, more vital than ever before. To all of you who have had the courage to be part of our ongoing journey, know that your lives are the exemplars that will inspire future generations to embrace The Black Flame within themselves. You are living testaments to the power of our philosophy of self-deification that brings joy in abundance to ourselves and all whom we cherish. You are the Church of Satan and do our founder proud.

Here at The Black House we raise our glasses and toast your exuberance! I know that you will ride the whirlwinds to ever greater triumphs!

Hail Magus Anton Szandor LaVey!

Hail our Church of Satan!

Shemhamforash! Hail Satan!

So it is done!

—Magus Peter H. Gilmore