Cosmopolitan Satanists
"Have you noticed," asks a friend, "the acceleration in the positive mentions of Satanism and the occult? Did you see that piece in
Cosmopolitan praising Satanic ritual abortion clinics?"
Here it is. It's a profile of the Samuel Alito's Mom's Satanic Abortion Clinic. Excerpt:
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"I think it's genius," says Jessica* over hands-free while driving her kids around Albuquerque, running errands. The 37-year-old mother of three isn't a Satanist, but as of this week, she's a fan. She's also pregnant but not for long. A set of abortion pills is waiting for her back home, thanks to speedy shipping via Samuel Alito's Mom's Satanic team.
Jessica and her husband don't want any more children, especially given her history of super-high-risk pregnancies. Still, "It's hard. It's a hard decision," she says. She's decided to terminate this pregnancy within the next day or so, starting with an oral mifepristone pill in the morning followed by four misoprostol pills administered vaginally six hours later.
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… Jessica was pleasantly surprised by the TST [The Satanic Temple] intake consult she did at home over Zoom. "The experience was just very supportive," she says. "I think that's the biggest thingthey really reinforce that this is your decision and your choice and that you are supported."
She listened with curiosity as the nurse described the optional ceremonial aspects of the Satanic abortion ritual: First, you find a quiet space. Bring a mirror if you can. Just before taking the medication, gaze at your reflection and focus on your personhood. Home in on your intent, your responsibility to you. Take a few deep, relaxing breaths. When you're ready, read the following tenet aloud: One's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone. Take the medication and immediately afterward, recite, 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. Later, once your body expels the aborted tissue, return to your reflection. Focus again on your personhood, your power in making this decision. Complete the ritual by reciting a personal affirmation: By my body, my blood; by my will, it is done.
The ritual allows for personalization. Patients can include as many loved ones as they'd like or light candles or even dress upwhatever makes them feel empowered. "We have ministers, myself included, who are available to walk people through the process," Blythe adds.
Jessica decided to incorporate some ceremonial aspects into her solo abortion experience. Why not? she thought. The overall messaging just clicked with her.
Very few Americans will ever enter into anything run by The Satanic Temple. But this ritual you have just read about is how very many, perhaps even most, Americans think. Pop Satanism is worship of the Self. You might remember my telling you about the apostate from Aleister Crowley's OTO organization who came to the church I attended a few years back. He told me one day at coffee hour after the liturgy that all the things they read of Crowley's work from the early 20th century the way Crowley wanted to use ritual transgressive sex to transform Western civilization was strange to encounter, because all you have to do is look around to see that it has already triumphed.