Une prière au creux de sa main/ A prayer in the palm of your hand
Updated: Jul 23, 2021
I have been working on this for about a week or 10 days....who knows! After all, it' s quarantine, days blur together and all look alike... I want this to be a collective project, I would like to include pictures of hands from other members from everywhere around the world, a diversity of shape and colors and personalities...
THIS is still somewhat of a WORK IN PROGRESS
My dearest Parrain infernal has been pushing me to publish it for the world to see and benefit from it. I don't think it is quite done but because it is friday the 13th I want to put it out there ! Also he might get off my back and it might make people happy so here goes nothing
Une prière au creux de sa main
A prayer in the palm of your hand
By Maryline Spicy
A pentacle is a wonderful illustration of the seven tenets, many of us use a (usually reversed) pentagram inside of a circle as an emblem for our Satanism. I actually just recently received one as a gift for the Halloween Black mass. Mine isn’t reversed, and I invite you to read on the symbolism (reason, standing at the top over the rest of the self, symbol of femininity...etc), it has a snake slithering around the entire design and it is absolutely perfect! My infernal Parrain* (french word for godfather without actual theological connotation) spoiled me rotten with this one and hit me right in the “feels”!
Not too long ago I also went back home to my mothers’ and re-discovered the first pentacles I got for myself as an early teenager around 12 or 13 years of age...yeah, early start for this mouthy heathen!
The word pentacle actually means “Talisman”, but most people do associate it with the pentagram/ star, or the reversed pentagram/ star within a circle though, it’s very popular in the Goth/alternative/underground scene as it is usually associated with horror movies, witches, satanist, the Devil himself and other spooky things! It is also used in Wiccan and Pagan religions (rituals and symbolism). Of course, one could definitely associate it to the morning star and therefore to Satan, and reversed, it is usually associated with “the Beast”, another fun Name for daddy Satan, as it resembles the goat’s head...or so they say….
I mean, some people are capable of seeing Jesus’ face in a brown stain due to water damage or on a burnt toast, so why not? At least they now acknowledge he was probably most likely pretty tanned considering his origins as opposed to caucasian/white,which makes zero sense but “ ‘k “, it’ s the small victories am I right? I digress, ‘couldn’t help myself...
Many of us, Satanists and Allies, ok….let’s be honest here, pretty much all of us throw “the horns” and say “Hail Satan” during our meetings, at concerts or even as a “success move”, like that meme/gif of a baby clenching his fist and frowning. Well that hand gesture, the pentacle around my neck and a piece called "one five one" written by a Canadian fellow Satanist, Ryan Clark, which I
translated led me to write this prayer today. (those are the main inspirations but, yeah, there’s always more)
Kaytee, San Diego division leader of TST SoCal chapter + Me enjoying an amazing day with an amazing new friend, hailing satan all the goddamn day
As a pretty active and open member of the Satanic Temple I am regularly approached by other members, sometimes new, sometimes not so new, about the religious aspect of my, well... religion. One of the recurring questions is, What does that imply in matters of rituals and prayers? Well, it literally implies whatever the hell you make it, whatever your heart truly desires, whatever science says is best for you, whatever you need. This is a religion based on the “worship” of the Self , self improvement and self acceptance. Not only for the individual but for the community in general. Unlike other branches of Satanism, the satanic temple isn’t actually so much of a lonesome cowboy kinda deal, it’s a brotherhood/sisterhood/siblinghood.
I know that some of our fellow satanists are on the road all the time, some are homelesss, in hiding still living at their parents or just don't have enough room or financil means to have an altar. I designed the following prayer as a way for people to always have the unholy rosary of their body to help them remember our common deeply held beliefs. As well as to find the strength, hope, or “little push” they might need in this small gesture for their Satan. To remind them that the tenets are bound together as much as we are, like the fingers in our hand.
Not every member or ally of the Satanic Temple can recite word for word each and every Tenet but it doesn’t mean they believe any less in their essence. For the tangible and spiritual application of this little rite, I simplified each tenet by simply extracting the core idea behind it, so Tenet number 2 is, for instance, assimilated to the idea of “Justice”.
In this ritualistic prayer each part of your left hand (this is the left hand path after all) represents a Tenet. Hand gestures and spoken words (recitation of the tenets or speaking out loud what you are praying about) can be added, but the simple awareness of each part of your hand is sufficient. Some examples will be given at the end of this presentation.
Tenet 1
Empathy/Compassion
One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.
Tenet number 1 is, for me, the base and center point of the satanic temple’s values. It is definitely ever present in the practice of my Satanism as it is for most of my fellow satanists and friends. It is defined as the Temple’s “creed” along with tenet 2 and 5 as seen in chapter 5 of “Speak of the Devil” by Joseph Laycock
Something easily forgotten by most when thinking about empathy and compassion towards all creatures is themselves. If someone asked you to list all the things you loved, how long would it take for you to say “myself”? I strongly believe one should also strive to act with the same compassion and empathy when it comes to themselves.
The end of the tenet “ within reason” is very up to your own standards and interpretation. In the light of the beginning of this sentence, remember that reason needs to be a compromise with the rest of all creatures, what is reasonable is what is decided to be mostly agreed so. For instance as a society, there is an understanding on what is good or bad, legal or illegal, taboo or acceptable. Moral and Reason are therefore a conclusion, a compromise.
Tenet 2
Justice
The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
This finger is the instrument of justice and is capable of touching every single one of the other tenets/fingers and bringing them all together in a fist (see tenet 7).
Tenet 3
Autonomy/Agency
One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.
Tenet 4
Freedom
(of being yourself, of opinion and speech)
The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own.
Of course it had to be the middle finger! And now you can give extra meaning to that outrageous middle finger f*-off gesture ;)
Tenet 5
Truth
Facts and Science
Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one’s beliefs.
Tenet 6
Humility
Right to make mistakes/ Duty to right your wrongs, self reflection/introspection
People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.
Tenet 7
Unity in Nobility
For one’s self and the group
Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
The rite is that simple:
Let’s just say you feel alone in the middle of lock down and while staring at your ceiling incapable of sleep you find yourself stuck in an existential crisis induced by the insomnia and the world around us making no sense anymore:
Open your left hand and place your focus on your palm, breathe and give the inside of your hand the meaning of compassion and empathy.
You can place your whole other hand, one finger representing you, two fingers of the other hand (gesture of baphomet: as above so below) representing you and your significant other/your support system, or your four fingers even, for your family besides you!
Let the feeling of serenity and warmth, the memories of the good others or yourself have brought upon your life and the world, be cupped in the palm of your hand.
Bring each of your fingers one by one to meet the palm of your hand.
First your thumb for justice being brought forth with empathy and compassion towards all creatures and upon the world.
Then your index (pointer finger) for the autonomy of your body, your major (middle finger) for freedom, ring finger for Truth, your pinky for humility and self reflection.
Then close your hand in a fist and bring all those values together, all your people together and close it with your thumb: justice, over your palm/compassion and you will find yourself with the intent for fairness and nobility of actions and thoughts.
If you made a mistake and feel bad about yourself and want to, or need to meditate on your actions in order to find a way to right your wrongs, learn from your mistakes and grow out of it:
Bring your thumb and pinky together over the palm and reflect on the fairness you need to treat yourself with in the face of tenet number 1, 2 and 6. And do the same with the way you need to handle the matter that might have caused harm to others. Close your eyes. Breathe.Use this as a way to arrive at the best possible way to achieve wisdom, justice and demonstrate compassion and empathy, and close your fist. You’ll find yourself manifesting tenet number 7.
horns* (hand from dresden)
When you make the horns, you bring together empathy, justice, freedom and truth, which is how a Satanist should interact with the world.and you raise up Autonomy and Humility, which is how a Satanist should interact with themself.
and they are raised because we should always raise ourselves up first.
claddagh*
The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring which represents love, loyalty, and friendship (the hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty).
(hand from meg)
Baphomet’s as above so below (Attar/ Dex)
Its arms bore the Latin words SOLVE (separate) and COAGULA (join together) - the powers of "binding and loosing" usurped from God.Two fingers on the right hand point up and two on the left hand point down, meaning "as above, so below".
These words and the accompanying gesture are familiar to occultists.
The phrase is also used in relation to science, the universe and God, but Levi wrote that, by making the gesture, his Baphomet "expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice".
Dex, former member of IC, Satanic Ministry
Awareness that this prayer could bring to your life in everyday hand gestures:
Washing your hands can become a meaningful ritual! You could meditate on all the things you have done today and reconcile the good and bad (left hand and right hand), what went right and what didn’t. Become aware of what your life is like through thinking about all the things you have accomplished. What could improve,what should remain just as is and what needs to go away. It’s a moment of care for your body and why not more than just the body?
Being aware of what you touch all day long, especially during a pandemic, is something everyone should do for themselves but also for others. Be aware that a lot of people might have touched that same thing and many others might touch it after you. If you are trying to pick the perfect fruit at the market, make it count when you touch the one you are interested in. Putting something in the palm of your hand, strive to act empathy and compassion towards all those after you.
Pointing a finger at someone remembers that their body is inviolable and submit to their will alone, remembers the tenet before you add meaning to that gesture in a way that can go against this maxim.
Your middle finger gesture has never been so meaningful, yes you can tell someone to f* off but remember it also is their right to "return the favor" when you go further than what they can take it. I do not recommend this gesture as it is not usually in alignment with the nobility of action and thought but hey, we're only humans, creatures of habits and some of them are bad…expressing your feelings and opinions sometimes goes with profanity.
Shaking someone's hand is done with the right hand and is something that during the trying times we are living right now, we don't do much. When we do though, it's a gesture that can mean a lot, it can be intense and strong or rather soft and caring.
Holding hands between two people or a whole wall or circle of people is a very meaningful symbol of unity.