Lesser Magic
Anton LaVey, in his seminal work on the subject of Satanism: The Satanic Bible, described a form of "magic" he called Lesser Magic. LaVeyan Satanism is an atheistic religion and as such does not believe in a "higher" god on which you call upon to help you accomplish things in life. Lesser Magic then, is not a plea to invoke the power of an omniscient and omnipotent Satanic god to do your bidding, but instead describes a power within each of us to enable ourselves to do our own bidding. Lesser Magic is a practice that can be used on a daily basis, and one that is both proven and genuinely effective. There is no requirement to believe in the supernatural to employ Lesser Magic and acceptance of esoteric mysticism is not at all necessary either. Indeed, the most important thing to understand and embrace about Lesser Magic is its potential to change how others see you, how you see yourself, and ultimately how you and the rest of humanity interact. By learning and understanding aspects of Lesser Magic and how you can use them to your advantage, you can make very real changes in your life and see many potentials realized. So how does Lesser Magic work and how can you use it your advantage? The first step comes in understanding both yourself and others and scrutinizing your attitudes and mindsets as you go about your affairs.
People are subject to all sorts of prompts, hints, and guides that change their behaviors, limit or control their decisions, and influence them in one direction or another. Many of these hints and prompts can be utilized by an individual to help sway the minds of others. In my youth, I happened upon a book that described some ways to influence people. On reading it and employing the techniques, I was amazed at the results. Here I was, barely a teenager, and I was earning the respect of my peers and adults, merely by adjusting some aspects of how I interacted with them. I became more confident in myself and projected this upon others by what I'd read. I caught the eyes of women for the first time and talked my way into a job I was both too young and not qualified for. What had I learned in this book? Mind control techniques? Mystical manipulation? No. I had gotten my first introduction to the use of body language. I had learned about posture, poise, stance, hand-shaking, and eye contact. These are simple, subtle, and surprisingly effective ways to use only the body to influence others. This book had opened my eyes to Lesser Magic.
As I grew older, I studied people closely. I watched powerful men and women, examining their behaviors and patterns of speech. It didn't take long for me to realize that powerful people acted and spoke in different ways from ineffectual people. It also didn't take long for me to realize that adopting these same patterns of speech and behavior can make anyone more powerful. Knowing not only what to say, but how to say it, and how to hold yourself while saying it, empowers you and manipulates the thoughts of those around you. Indeed, not only does it affect others, but it will actually change you. As I said before it is subtle, yet quite powerful. I have used these techniques, in one form or another, throughout my life and have gained positions, promotions, possessions, and people as a result. This is Lesser Magic. It is dynamic and influential. Most of all, it is efficacious... ...and transmutative.
As with all skills, Lesser Magic demands constant study and practice for mastery. No mere book learning will grant you power without you investing your own energy into doing. The recognition of what Lesser Magic is, as garnered from this essay, may be enough to light the fire, but it is up to the individual Satanist to stoke the flames. Build the fire of Lesser Magic large enough, and it can be employed to successful ends.
