 t's not as if I particularly care what people think when they look at Me, attired in black, sporting a goatee, carrying a devilish cane, in a leather trench-coat with My Baphomet medallion shining about My chest. I also wear deeply dark, black sunglasses. I suppose you could say the "windows to My soul" are deeply tinted. I find that people become much more intimidated without them on. They also provide Me with many opportunities to catch pretty girls in compromising positions... that's called "snake eyes."
I dress the way I want to dress, because I Am comfortable. I do not go out of My way to wear "in style" or "acceptable" clothing. Neither do I go out of My way to dress in "unacceptable" or "shocking" attire. As a matter of fact, I could care less. Such meager considerations are for the shallow, programmed masses.
There is no "one way" for a Satanist to dress. There are as many variations of choice of clothing as there are Individual Satanists. The latter two words are, after all, synonimous. However, the Satanist is also a realist, & would modify appearance to say, apply for a job, or perhaps while applying The Art of Deception, to attain a desire. These are for purely selfish reasons. Besides this, the Satanist dresses in the manner most aesthetically appealing to him / her. I suppose people expect Satanists to either look like a spike-wearing Metalhead, a veil-draped goth, or like Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies. Which is fine, if those are the aesthetics you are attracted to - there are variations of such which are actually quite pleasing, indeed.
And now, thanks to Marilyn Manson's prevalence, the image is even including rubber fetish wear, with a penchant for cross-dressing! {Sounds like "papal-wear" to Me!} Again, to each their own, but these images & characterizations contribute to the generalizations.
But in a way, these depictions provide for a coverage of sorts, & opens the portals of unpredictability. As the herd focuses on certain set images, that's when the Satanist moves into the picture, acquiring whatever position he / she desires. Whatever the case, the Satanist has always preferred the untrodden paths, whether it be aesthetics, music, to art & literature - the unique, the exceptional, the unorthodox.
Satanists, just seem naturally attracted towards the color black, which encompasses ALL COLORS in one. This can be extended to a metaphorical sense, as in perceiving issues, whatever they may be, in a multidimensional sense, allowing for all of the emotions to be freely, naturally, & responsibly expressed. The spechtrum of a whole being. For there are many hues in between white & black binary thinking. Such as thinking in terms of "good" & "evil", which makes for a rather simplistic, boring, & predictable outlook. The typical blindlight & proletarian view.
Another common misperception is that just because the Satanist may prefer black, that he must be depressed. Speaking for Myself, the truth is the opposite. No matter what color I choose to wear {most of the time it happens to be black - I just think I look best that way}, I Am generally a content person, persuiing My passions with furvor & zest. The results of those passions frequently bring Me gratification & joy. "Follow your bliss" as Joseph Campbell said.
It is also quite a common misperception that death is associated with black, as related to the Satanic Religion. Actually, Our philosophy is based firmly on the responsible propagation & indulgence in the bounty of life, as symbolized by the lustful gaze of the Baphomet goat, complete with dilated pupils, & the fertile strength of the upthrust horns.
The afore-mentioned misperception is obviously a product of repressed blindlight dualists, imposing their own fetishes, & manipulating their flocks into further subservience, via their ignorant fears. Theirs is the stuff that horror movies are made from. Which, as the Doctor recognized, as amusing as they may be, must not be taken at face-value.
Symbolically, I see WHITE, as in "white-light" religions, as representing emptiness ----- for white is the ABSENCE of color, whereas BLACK is the TOTALITY of color. Plus, it just looks great, & is always elegant. {A velvet-clad acquaintance of mine has taken to complimenting Me "Dapper Drac", which suits Me just fine.}
I also see parallels in The Martial Arts. A neophyte begins as a WHITE belt, then moves up through the color wheel until attaining a BLACK belt, indicating wisdom & capability.
White is representative of ignorance, NOT "innocence." White is the color of a brainwashed mind; what better opportunity to create a white-light zombie than with a devoid slate? As in "born again..."
So what does the common man see when they behold a God that is a Satanist? {It's really not that important, as the opinions of inferior lower-life forms mean absolutely NOTHING to Me}. Yet as a point of peculiar interest, much like Jane Goodall studying apes {no offense to apes}, it may prove to be an anthropological amusement to ponder.
The color black evokes images of forboding & fear in their little minds. They immediately associate it with "evil" & "death." A vampire? An assassin? A ninja? A demon? Certainly a villain of one sort or another. And unless one was brought up in a strict Catholic environment, where black is the token color of the true villains, the "unsuspected villains", as it were, then the former relations are inexorably connected. And that is as it should be.
Satanism is the great stratifier. It frightens, enrages, & dumbfounds the herd. It scares all the "right" people.
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Likewise, Satanism gratifies, enriches, & strengthens the "left" people, so to speak.
So, if their unconcious & subconcious minds register Ming the Merciless, Count Dracula, Genghis Kahn, Darth Vader, or even the Prince of Darkness Himself, so much the better. Remember Satanic Sin #9: Lack of Aesthetics.
Satanism, in its many forms, will always be the feared religion. We, as Satanists, are the preservers of that which is mysterious, that which is TRULY occult, & is personafied by the archetype of Satan. We are not "evangelists", we do not proseletize - that would be presumptuous & solipsistic, & would only detract from the mystique We enjoy & employ. Personally, I see demystification as another Satanic Sin. Whatever the culture, whatever the timeframe, there will ALWAYS be the Satanist, adopting the name of the current Dark God - the representation of the opposing viewpoint. The Devil's Advocate.
So, the Satanist is looked upon with fear, &/or revulsion, &/or curiosity, & in some cases, hatred. Often, it is a combination of all of these. 
Inevitably, their first instinct is that of fear. The fear of the unknown. Depending upon disposition, reaction may vary between sustained fear, which is more honest, & they will remain quiet, & move on, or they will feel as if in danger, not clearly ascertaining why. It is the primal reaction to fight or flee. Indeed, even if I did not dress as I do, if I chose to "dress down" to the level of the herd, I have found that it really makes no difference - I STILL seem to be perceived as "strange", "weird", "different", "evil", or "gothic". I suppose very much the same way a gazelle, deer, or sheep senses a predator in their midst, so it is with these "human sheep", or herd. The primal fear twisting in their gut.
Doctor LaVey experienced something simular to this when he once shaved his goatee to see what it would look like. He mentioned his appearance was even more disturbing to people, as he appeared more intrinsically "evil", whereas WITH the devil-beard, he appeared more diabolical.
But neither should the herds & flocks be tolerated. At any time, except when attaining something selfish, should the Satanist ever lower him/herself to the level of the lower life-forms.
I have found that even when I Am being cordial, polite, or even break a smile, people will seem to be disturbed, if not downright rude. As if they see this as an opportunity to antagonize the object of their fear. Perhaps as a concious or subconcious desire to alleviate the intimidation they feel. Ultimately, this would be a practice in masochism. As the Doctor pointed out, the weak seek to aggrivate the Strong until they are smashed. Indeed, they do have a penchant for making pests of themselves. Destrucive & self-destructive organisms.
Yet ironically, as the presence of a Satanist portends etiquette towards those who deserve it, I have found many times, that those who would normally be "shit-disturbers" seem to actually behave themselves. They are usually left gawking & pacified. Yet reactions have been known to be extreme. In the extreme opposite, do what must be done to preserve peace of mind & body. This is when it is well to be trained in the Martial Arts.
Remember ROE #11: "When walking in open territory, bother no-one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him."
Children react in the extremes as well. They either holler & run squealing, or stare & cautiously seek to communicate. Either way, they have fun with it. They recognize a visually stimulating object or person when they see it, & they respond in amusing ways.
Unfortunately, because of the proliferation of parentally-induced satanophobia, many more children may deem to cower & slink away from the figure in black. Yet their gaze seems to remain arrested nonetheless, as they are naturally more sensitive to charm & marvel.
No matter what one seems to do, the Satanist seems to be always looked upon as the bad guy, who, like "old scratch", is always up to no good. Like it or not, when in public, the Satanist is always on-stage ----- always the focus of diabolical attention. The Satanist must stay "in character", in accordance with one's aesthtic presentation, in order to manipulate the Command to Look while employing Lesser Magic.
Loom, stalk, scowl, if you resinate the fearsome aesthetic of The Balance Factor. Gain additional gratification from their fear. This is not to say that you must personanlly affix your attitude to negativity. Just stay in character & keep your focus. The subhumans seem to mark expressions of happiness as weakness, & may attempt to take advantage of it. Stay strong.
And you Satanic Witches, do what you do best. Preserve the charm. Pour it on thick. Have fun with it. This would be Satanic social interaction with the drooling masses. It is the most effective, & the most entertaining.
So if people insist on casting the Satanist in the role of villain, then so be it.
"Evil they name us, evil we are. And so what! Why not take advantage of it & LIVE!"
- Anton Szandor LaVey
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