Theistic Satanism: Home > Rituals, etc. > Standard ritual > Greetings > Old version



Greetings to the Legions of Hell

by Diane Vera



Copyright © 2003, 2010 by Diane Vera. All rights reserved.



This is an older version of the "Greetings to the Legions of Hell," a part of my recommended standard ritual format, intended to be said immediately after the preliminary Invocation to Satan.

You should already be facing your altar, facing whichever direction will be most appropriate for the centerpiece of the ritual. Below, it will be assumed that your main direction is west. If it is another direction, then your calls to the Legions should start at your main direction rather than west, and should go countercounterclockwise, ending at your main direction, which you will then be facing again when you look down and call the "Legions of the Pit." For example, if your main direction is east, you would begin with a call to the Legions of the East and to Lucifer, followed by a call to the Legions of the North and to Belial, followed by a call to the Legions of the West and to the Ancient Serpent, followed by a call to the South and to Iblis, followed by another call to Lucifer, facing east, followed by a call to the Legions of the Pit and the Dark One.

Facing west, raise your left hand, either with fist clenched or in a "sign of the horns" salute, and say:

Hail, Legions of the West!
I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan,
God of Hell, God of this world, and God of freedom!
Hail, Ancient Serpent! Dragon of the primal sea!

(By saying "Ancient Serpent! Dragon of the primal sea!" we are calling on the aspect of Satan associated with primal emotion, animal instinct, intuition, and the power of your subconscious mind. Visualize a large serpent rising from a raging sea, to represent the element of Water. Also, as you speak the above words, recall what the air feels like just before a thunderstorm, and visualize both the serpent and the sea exuding a similar kind of energy.)

Then turn to the south and say:

Hail, Legions of the South!
I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan,
God of Hell, God of this world, and God of freedom!
Hail, Iblis! Fire-born One!

("Iblis" is a name for Satan common among Muslims, who believe He was created from fire. Hence we use "Iblis" as a name for the fiery aspect of Satan, associated with pride, passion, destruction, and wrath against enemies. He also challenges us to face down our fears and thereby become stronger. Visualize Iblis as a fierce, bestial, stereotypically "demonic"-looking figure holding a sword, standing on a pile of bones, with a wall of fire behind him, to represent the element of Fire.)

Then turn to the east and say:

Hail, Legions of the East!
I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan,
God of Hell, God of this world, and God of freedom!
Hail, Lucifer! Light which comes forth from darkness!

(Lucifer is the Promethean aspect of Satan. He brings knowledge and encourages pride. Visualize Lucifer as a light emerging from darkness, like the flashes of inspiration emerging from the darkness of a person's unconcious mind. Alternatively, visualize Lucifer as a handsome, golden-haired young man in a white robe (or perhaps a lab coat?), surrounded by various devices representing major advances in science and technology. Behind Him, visualize a wind blowing, to represent the element of Air.)

Then turn to the north and say:

Hail, Legions of the North!
I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan,
God of Hell, God of this world, and God of freedom!
Hail, Belial! Ruler of the Earth!

(Belial is the aspect of Satan that encourages our desire for material wealth and power. Visualize Belial in whatever way best symbolizes, to you, worldly power, practicality, and success. Behind Him, visualize a rocky mountain, representing the element of Earth.)

Then turn to the west, and say again:

Hail, Ancient Serpent! Dragon of the primal sea!

Stand in a relaxed position, Look downward toward the floor between your feet. Visualize yourself looking all the way down to the Earth's molten core. Your arms should be down at your sides, hands open, receptive, palms somewhat downward, fingers extended somewhat downward and somewhat outward in whichever direction feels most natural and comfortable. (Practice this position before the first time you perform this ritual.) As you say the following, visualize hot, dark energy rising up from the Earth's core into your hands and feet. Say::

Hail, Legions of the Pit!
I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan,
God of Hell, God of this world, and God of freedom!
Hail, Dark One!

(The Dark One is nameless and formless, representing the hidden depths.)

Pause and contemplate the nameless Dark One for few moments.

Then raise your arms to an approximately horizontal position, outstretched to your sides, and say:

Hail, God of this world!

(Visualize the energy of Satan pervading the entire world.)

Then look up, raise both arms above your head, and say:

Hail, Azazel!
Hail, Satan!

(For some information about Azazel, see Azazel in Infernal names, directional correspondences, etc..)

You are now ready for the centerpiece of your ritual, whatever that may be, depending on the purpose of the ritual.


Important notes:

  1. If you are new to theistic Satanism, then, in your greetings toward all five directions, you should say:

    I seek to join you, at least for now,
    in the service of our Lord Satan

    instead of just:

    I seek to join you in the service of our Lord Satan

    to avoid any hint of a longterm promise. Longterm oaths to Satan or to demons should be taken very seriously and not entered into lightly. (See Pacts and self-initiation.) It is recommended that you continue to include the phrase "at least for now" for at least several years, until you are ready to make an oath of longterm dedication to Satan.

  2. In a group ritual, the word "We" should be substituted for all instances of the word "I" (in "I seek to join you..."), and the phrase "at least for now" should be included if even a single one of the people present has not yet made an oath of longterm dedication to Satan.

  3. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the directions north and south should be transposed. Turn clockwise instead of counterclockwise, and greet Iblis in the north and Belial in the south instead of vice versa.

  4. For more information about the names Leviathan, Iblis, Samael, Lucifer, Belial, Lilith, and Azazel, see Infernal names, directional correspondences, etc..



Back to: