Funeral Rituals and Invocations for Witches of the Left-Hand Path: Honoring the Deceased in Theistic Satanism

 Funeral Rituals and Invocations for Witches of the Left-Hand Path: Honoring the Deceased in Theistic Satanism

  Funeral rituals in Left-Hand Path traditions, particularly for Theistic Satanists, are rich with symbolic meaning and powerful spiritual practices. These rites are designed to honor the deceased, guide their soul through the process of transition, and affirm the belief in personal empowerment, sovereignty, and transformation. The Left-Hand Path emphasizes individualism, self-realization, and embracing darkness as a means of transcendence, which greatly influences the way death and the afterlife are viewed. This article provides a detailed guide to the tools, offerings, rituals, and invocations used in Left-Hand Path funeral rites, focusing specifically on Theistic Satanism.

1. Ritual Tools and Offerings

Incense and Resins:

• Dragon’s Blood: Purification, protection, and empowerment.
• Myrrh: Connection to the spirit world and purification.
• Patchouli: Grounding and spirit communication.
• Copal: Ascension and connection to higher realms.
• Heliotrope/Night-Blooming Flowers: Invoking darkness and death energies.

Herbs and Offerings:

• Wormwood: Enhances spiritual communication.
• Belladonna: Symbolizes death and the journey beyond.
• Mugwort: Aids in dream work and astral travel.
• Mandrake Root: Represents death and rebirth.
• Blood (Symbolic or Real): Represents life force and sacrifice.

Candles:

• Black Candles: Represent mourning, protection, and the void.
• Red Candles: Symbolize life force and vitality.
• Purple Candles: Connect with spiritual ascension.
• Dark Green Candles: Represent grounding and connection to the underworld.

Crystals and Stones:

• Obsidian: Grounding and spiritual protection.
• Jet: Absorbs grief, provides comfort.
• Carnelian: Ancestral strength and life force.
• Black Tourmaline: Shields from negative energy.
• Onyx: Transformation and connection to chthonic realms.

Ritual Tools:

• Athame: A symbolic tool to cut ties and direct energy.
• Chalice: Used for offerings, typically filled with wine, blood, or other libations.
• Sigils/Seals: Used to channel specific infernal energies.
• Altar Cloth: Black, red, or purple cloths adorned with inverted pentagrams.

2. Ritual Actions and Symbolic Acts

Ritual actions in Left-Hand Path funerary rites are deeply symbolic, designed to honor the deceased while providing them with the means for transition into the afterlife.

• Offerings: Wine, blood, or symbolic food items to honor the deceased and offer nourishment for their journey.
• Sigil Creation: Draw sigils of infernal deities or the deceased to personalize the ritual.
• Binding Rituals: Tie or untie symbolic knots to represent the release of the soul.
• Feather or Bone Rituals: Use symbolic representations of mortality and the cycle of life and death.

3. Chants and Invocations

The chants and invocations used during funeral rituals are designed to invoke spiritual forces, deities, and ancestors to guide the deceased through their transition. Below are several invocations appropriate for a Left-Hand Path funeral, particularly for Theistic Satanists.

Invocation of Lucifer, Light-Bringer

"Lucifer, light-bringer, hear my call,
Guide this soul beyond the veil,
Through the realms where shadows fall,
Illuminate their path, let not their spirit fail.
Through fire and flame, let them ascend,
To the eternal realms where journeys end.
Guide their soul, O Prince of Light,
Through the eternal dark, into the night."

This invocation calls upon Lucifer to guide the soul through the darkness, symbolizing both enlightenment and the empowering force of darkness.

Invocation of the Dark Mother (Lilith)

"Lilith, Dark Mother of the Night,
Embrace this soul in your shadowed flight,
With your wings, let them be free,
To cross the veil and be with thee.
Through the darkness, their spirit rise,
And in your arms, let them find their prize.
O Queen of Shadows, guide this way,
And take this soul to the Endless Day."

Lilith is invoked here as a guide through the darkness, representing the nurturing, transformative aspect of death.

Invocation of the Ancestors

"Ancestors who have walked before,
We call upon you to open the door.
Guide the spirit who passes today,
Through realms unknown, show them the way.
Ancient ones, hear our cry,
Help this soul as they fly high.
Through chthonic gates, their path unfolds,
In your wisdom, their journey holds."

This invocation calls upon ancestral spirits to assist the deceased, acknowledging their wisdom and connection to the spiritual realms.

Invocation of the Abyss (Symbolizing the Underworld)

"Through the Abyss, where shadows creep,
I call to thee, where secrets sleep.
O Great Void, O Endless Night,
Guide this soul with your darkened light.
Through death’s embrace, let them be free,
To journey onward eternally.
In your depths, may they find rest,
In your vastness, their spirit blessed."

The Abyss, representing the underworld or the void, is invoked to guide the soul through the dark passage to the afterlife.

Invocation of Satan, the Dark Lord

"Satan, Lord of Darkness and Fire,
In your name, we call upon the pyre.
Grant this soul the strength to rise,
Through shadows and flame to reach the skies.
Empower them, as you do all,
To stand proud, no longer small.
Through your realm, they shall transcend,
In your power, they shall ascend."

This invocation calls upon Satan as a powerful force of transformation and empowerment, helping the deceased transcend their mortal limitations.

Invocation of the Dark Flame (Symbolizing Rebirth)

"By the Dark Flame, we call your name,
O soul, you are freed from mortal shame.
The fires of transformation burn bright,
And in these flames, you take flight.
No longer bound to flesh or bone,
Rise from this world, into the unknown.
By the Dark Flame, may you ascend,
Into the realms where all journeys end."

The Dark Flame symbolizes both destruction and rebirth, and this invocation aids the soul in crossing into the afterlife.

Invocation of Chthonic Gods (Hades, Thanatos, etc.)

"Hades, ruler of the Underworld's gates,
Thanatos, who guides through fate,
We call to thee in darkened light,
To guide this soul through endless night.
Grant them peace, through your dark embrace,
To move beyond time, beyond space.
By your hand, their soul be freed,
In your realm, they shall succeed."

Chthonic gods like Hades and Thanatos are invoked here to guide the soul through the underworld and ensure their peace.

Final Farewell Chant

"Depart now, soul, from this mortal coil,
Into the realms where spirits toil.
May your journey be swift and true,
Guided by the dark, ever new.
In death’s embrace, you are now whole,
Your essence lives on, beyond this role.
Go now, in power, grace, and might,
Into the eternal, beyond the night."

This chant serves as a final farewell to the deceased, affirming their transition into the afterlife.

4. Closing the Ritual

Once the invocations and offerings have been made, the ritual should be closed to ensure the safe passage of the soul and the completion of the ceremony.

• Thank the Spirits: Acknowledge the presence and assistance of the infernal deities and spirits invoked during the ritual.
• Closing the Circle: If a ritual circle was cast, it should be closed by visualizing the energy dissipating and thanking any forces that aided in the ritual.
• Sealing the Ritual: A final prayer or chant can be said to ensure the ritual has been completed, and the soul is safely guided to its next realm of existence.

Conclusion

Funeral rituals in Theistic Satanism and the Left-Hand Path offer a deeply personal and empowering way to honor the deceased. These rituals acknowledge death as a transition rather than an end, guiding the soul to its next stage of existence. Through powerful invocations, symbolic acts, and spiritual offerings, the deceased are honored and helped on their journey through darkness into the unknown. The Left-Hand Path views death as an opportunity for both the living and the dead to transcend the mundane and embrace personal transformation and empowerment.

By embracing the rites, chants, and invocations described in this article, practitioners can ensure that their rituals align with their personal beliefs and the spiritual forces they invoke, creating a meaningful, transformative experience for all involved.

References and Further Reading:

1. “The Satanic Bible” by Anton LaVey
2. “The Black Arts” by Richard Cavendish
3. “Infernal Reflections: The Rituals of Satanism” by Michael W. Ford
4. “The Grimoire of the Dark Sage” by Akram