Satanism to me is not just a philosophy or way of life. It is something you feel within your soul. It is a feeling and understanding you have within yourself. It is when you hear your inner voice (or Satan) tell you "you are right and what you have felt and known all your life to be true has been the truth". That feeling honestly is something difficult to describe to some one that has not yet experienced it for themselves.
Yes, Satanism is a philosophy and way of life but it should be some thing that is felt and experienced and not just understood at a basic level. It can be felt by living your life based on your own true will and by thinking for yourself. It can be experienced through your own personal magick and your own personal communications with Satan, our Dark Mother and the Demons.
Yes, as most Satanists will tell you, Satanism is also about the individual. The path each of us choose to walk is very personal and individual but I know all of our paths will ultimately lead to one place and that is to our Dark Mother and Satan. I believe all sincere seekers of the wisdom of Satanas and our Dark Mother will experience that feeling and inner voice I mentioned earlier at one time or another upon their personal Satanic path. When the seeker does feel and experience it, they will understand much more about themselves on a personal and individual level as well as more about the world (both the seen and that which is unseen by most people) around them.
Satanism to me is more than just reading, studying and mere words. It is also about using what you have learned from reading and studying to take the actions necessary on your own individual path to reach enlightenment and self-empowerment because self-empowerment and enlightenment are the catalysts for the positive changes all Satanists want to bring upon themselves and the world around them.
Yes, I will agree that Satanism is a philosophy, a way of life and very personal but to me Satanism is also something that needs to be felt within the soul. It is there that true initiation and each persons individual true will combine to create the real Satanists and sincere seekers of the ancient wisdom of Satanas and our Dark Mother.
Ave Satanas!
MC Anvar