As a religious institution consecrated by and literally acknowledging the Prince of Darkness, the Church of Satan enjoyed an inspiring, and occasionally either thrilling or terrifying, existence from 1966 to 1975. Beginning as a whimsical and satirical countercultural statement against the social and institutionally-religious hypocrisy of the 1960s, the Church of Satan proceeded to evolve into a positive, sincere, and to its own surprise] virtuous organization, though not without periodic individual and group growing pains: the consequence of allegiance to a supernatural entity only dimly apprehended and understood by Western Judaeo-Christianized civilization. From its 1979 1st Edition to this 2013 8th, _The Church of Satan_ remains the only complete documentary history of that fascinating and bizarre adventure, from Anton & Diane LaVey's founding of the Church in their San Francisco home to its surprising dissolution into a secular business a decade later and metaphysical supersession by the Temple of Set. Ever since its 1981 2nd Edition, _The Church of Satan_'s growing size made it impossible to print. Volume I of this 8th Edition finally fits all of the text and plates into fewer than 500 pages: 285,300 words, 39 chapters, 73 color plates. This companion Volume II contains all 161 Appendices (247,000 words, 460 pages, B&W). Both volumes should be acquired and read together.

As a religious institution consecrated by and literally acknowledging the Prince of Darkness, the Church of Satan enjoyed an inspiring, and occasionally either thrilling or terrifying, existence from 1966 to 1975. Beginning as a whimsical and satirical countercultural statement against the social and institutionally-religious hypocrisy of the 1960s, the Church of Satan proceeded to evolve into a positive, sincere, and to its own surprise] virtuous organization, though not without periodic individual and group growing pains: the consequence of allegiance to a supernatural entity only dimly apprehended and understood by Western Judaeo-Christianized civilization. From its 1979 1st Edition to this 2013 8th, _The Church of Satan_ remains the only complete documentary history of that fascinating and bizarre adventure, from Anton & Diane LaVey's founding of the Church in their San Francisco home to its surprising dissolution into a secular business a decade later and metaphysical supersession by the Temple of Set. Ever since its 1981 2nd Edition, _The Church of Satan_'s growing size made it impossible to print. This 8th Edition finally fits all of the text and plates into fewer than 500 pages: 285,300 words, 39 chapters, 73 color plates. A companion _The Church of Satan II_ volume (imminently also available in this same format & distribution) contains all 161 Appendices in a similar-sized B&W book. Both volumes should be acquired and read together.

In 1975, after ten years of exploring its identity, the original Church of Satan confronted the limitations of its Judaeo-Christian imagery and a dismissal of humanity as a self-indulgent animal species. An ethical crisis in that year resulted in the organizational and metaphysical transformation of the Church into the Temple of Set, which in subsequent decades went on to become the preeminent initiatory institution premised upon the affirmation and evolution of the individual consciousness to divine essence and immortality. This book recounts the Temple's creation and early development, by its founding High Priest, Michael Aquino. It is more a memoir than a history, because the scope of the Temple and the works of its many Initiates are far too diverse for any single book. Included is also an extensive theoretical discussion of Setian cosmology, philosophy, and magic: the famous "Black Magic" from the _Crystal Tablet of Set_. The text is augmented by 97 detailed appendices on a variety of topics by many different Setians over the years. This is a 2-volume work compressed to reduce the 431,000-word set to below 1,000 pages. Volume I is in color; Volume II black/white

In 1975, after ten years of exploring its identity, the original Church of Satan confronted the limitations of its Judaeo-Christian imagery and a dismissal of humanity as a self-indulgent animal species. An ethical crisis in that year resulted in the organizational and metaphysical transformation of the Church into the Temple of Set, which in subsequent decades went on to become the preeminent initiatory institution premised upon the affirmation and evolution of the individual consciousness to divine essence and immortality. This book recounts the Temple's creation and early development, by its founding High Priest, Michael Aquino. It is more a memoir than a history, because the scope of the Temple and the works of its many Initiates are far too diverse for any single book. Included is also an extensive theoretical discussion of Setian cosmology, philosophy, and magic: the famous "Black Magic" from the _Crystal Tablet of Set_. The text is augmented by 97 detailed appendices on a variety of topics by many different Setians over the years. This is a 2-volume work compressed to reduce the 431,000-word set to below 1,000 pages. Volume I is in color; Volume II black/white

A comprehensive guide to the history and practice of Angular Magic Revealing the magical uses of number and geometry as tools for introspection, self-development, and creating change in both the inner and outer worlds, Toby Chappell explores the rites, history, and potent practices of Angular Magic and Infernal Geometry, the Left-Hand Path of Sacred Geometry. Focusing on the advanced magical system of the Nine Angles, he details the system's development by the early Church of Satan and later the Temple of Set, as well as its internal body, the Order of the Trapezoid. He shows how the system first emerged in the Ceremony of the Nine Angles, written by Michael Aquino and published in Anton Szandor LaVey's The Satanic Rituals. He explores historical influences on Angular Magic, including Pythagorean number mysticism, John Dee's Enochian magic, the theories of William Mortensen, and, most importantly, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft as well as other contributors to his Cthulhu mythos. The author analyzes the 3 key rites of Angular Magic: Die Elektrischen Vorspiele, the Ceremony of the Nine Angles, and the Call to Cthulhu, expanding upon them to demonstrate how readers can craft their own rituals. He examines the Nine Angles individually, detailing their keywords, powers, and related deities, and explains how each can be used in magical practices and as part of an ongoing initiatory process. He offers practical examples, including use of Angular Magic in divination, sigils, and magical symbols, and guidance on creating your own practices--a core component of the ever-evolving Left-Hand Path. Offering a self-directed path of magic and empowerment, previously unavailable to those outside the Temple of Set, Chappell shows how the Nine Angles must be worked with and experienced personally in order to effect true transformation and change.