The Enema Image

Introduction
Some of the imagery, words and phrases within Satanism can appear to be intentionally disturbing, or to intentionally set itself up to be judged wrongly. This essay gives examples of such imagery and provides some thought on the effect of it.

The Enema Image is Vexen's term for an image which intentionally turns people away. Satanism is a religion which does inherently use imagery and wording to alienate itself by using metaphors and imagery which are easily misunderstood. For example our Patron Saint (Demon), Satan, is easily misjudged because the observer does not know of the non-dualist philosophy of the Church of Satan.

The effect of Enema Image

Satan Muse, Shock Factor and Jesus Christ

Shock factors in Satanism

Fascism

Conclusions

1. The effect of Enema Image

Sheep are frequently considered a bit mindless, uncurious and unintelligent because they follow the herd, without thinking and take for granted that that's the way it should be. No questions. No answers.

When you have a symbol that cannot be interpreted in terms of popular belief or by its cover or appearance, then you immediately filter out the masses who are unwilling to question their own assumptions. Assumptions are the mother of mediocrity and fuck ups. By a strange coincidence, Satan represents a train of thought is not mainstream and is not limited by a person's culture or upbringing: Satanism is Left Hand Path: The individual thinks for himself and all the assumptions of society are questioned.

The Fifth Satanic Sin is Herd Conformity
...It’s all right to conform to a person’s wishes, if it ultimately benefits you. But only fools follow along with the herd, letting an impersonal entity dictate to you...
The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey

Imagery that cannot be judged correctly without abandoning thoughtless stereotypes and assumptions are an advantage to someone who wishes to quickly identify people who are unwilling, in their current state in life, to step out of the grid-iron thinking of their culture and embrace Old Nick and his search of knowledge.

2. Reasons: Satan Muse, Shock Factor and Jesus Christ

OK hopefully if you're actually researching Satanism you will know that great emphasis is placed on Self development, knowledge, intellect, and most of all the practical application of these things in every day life to bring about self gratification and mental and physical well being. Satan should be an idol that inspires Citizens of the Infernal Empire (member's official position) to achieve these aims; the ultimate of which is total indulgement on a long-term scale.

Things which make people think and force them to abandon assumption or dogma is good in the eyes of the Satanist. Anton LaVey utilized shock and imagery to make people pay attention, to confuse them and hopefully stimulate them to think!. The most notable other religious leader to use this effect was of course Jesus Christ. I will briefly explain Jesus' usage of Shock Factor.

During Jesus' life he was questioned by the religious leaders of his time; and by people in general. Frequently he would give ambiguous roundabout answers, unclear responses, or from time to time would phrase things in a way that is easily misunderstood; but with further thought it becomes apparent what he actually meant. Furthermore he would say shocking things, surprising comments and seemingly confrontational remarks.

Understood in the light of the advantages of making people think, the shock factor is just one weapon that can be used to get someone's attention before explaining to them how things really are. Different people require different methods to awaken the demon within, and plain out shock is sometimes the right method.

Coyote Satan Amerika
By Rev. S. Leyba
Controversial and
dark performances of art

3. Shock factors in Satanism

Satanists pick up the advantages of shock factor subconsciously without really being able to explain why or how it works. This essay is not, of course, a complete or authoritive account of that, it is just my personal reasoning. See my Disclaimer.

There is a general background, frequently subconscious desire to ensure that neophytes to Satanism must study in order to understand, and cannot understand by judging Satanism by its name. This obfuscationist desire surfaces in almost all Satanic imagery and text.

The logo of this website is intentionally made to look nationalist, having fascist red-and-black-with-sharp-edges style which will be shunned by many simply because they are immediately able to judge it wrongly. So some will turn away... and so be it! By doing so they have already shown that they are unwilling to break their herd conditioning and think for themselves.

Phrases such as Hail Satan! are favorites - their usage is not only a valid expression of intent within Satanism, but can easily be misunderstood and has shock factor as a result. Satanic Rituals too... they are valid method of achieving Greater Magic (an effect on the self) but can be very hard to understand for those without a knowledge of what this is!

4. Fascism

"The themes of theatre, indulgence and power are natural to a Satanic going about the task of creating visuals and drama, and as such the visuals that fascism and Satanism use are frequently similar and the shock factor or powerful use of this imagery is frequently employed by Satanists. In the words of Blanche Barton, 'The aesthetics of National Socialism and Satanism dovetail'. Beyond this agreement on aesthetic however, Satanism and fascism disagree on pretty much every major line of thought. [...]
Fascist Germany is secretly admired by Satanists for "the drama, the lightning, the choreography with which they moved millions of people" [LaVey]. In short, shock tactics is a pragmatic point of agreement. "Aesthetics more than anything else are the common ground between Satanism and fascism" [Blanche Barton], but beyond this there is little in common"
"Fascism" by Vexen, 2005 Jan.

5. Conclusions