The Devil’s Tome Study Questions

Shiva has complied a collection of questions that you can use for self-reflection or incorporate into your book group while studying The Devil’s Tome.

Starting in October 2020, Shiva is scheduling online Q+A sessions about The Devil’s Tome with chapters of The Satanic Temple and Friends of The Satanic Temple groups. If your group is interested in Shiva giving a talk, you can request her here. Shiva has also created a special program for groups interested in reading The Devil’s Tome together. She is offering 15% off book purchases of 5-10 books, and 25% off of book purchases of 10+ books. Each package comes with samples of her ritual products. Contact her to inquire about this discount.

Part I:The Evidence for Ritual

How do you define ritual? Satanic ritual? How does your definition compare to Shiva’s?
How do you feel about ritual?
Do you find the scientific evidence in support of ritual compelling?
What benefits have you experienced from practicing ritual?

Part II: My Journey to the Underworld

5. Shiva’s religious upbringing was an important part of her journey to Satanism. What religious traditions did you grow up with? How did they impact your journey?

6. What rituals associated with that tradition have you practiced?

7. How did your religious experience color your current thoughts about ritual?

Part III: Building Your Practice

8. What is your current ritual practice?

9. What elements make ritual effective for you?

10. What aesthetic or symbolic elements do you associate with Satanic ritual?

Part IV: Ritual for the Solo Practitioner

11. Have you created your own solo Satanic rituals? Discuss your experience.

12. What solo rituals resonate with you most?

13. Create your own Satanic solo ritual. What’s the focus? What does it look like? What components are important to you?

Part V: Group Ritual

14. How do you define group ritual?

15. Have you practiced group ritual? Satanic group ritual? What was your experience?

16. How do you feel about the distinction between ritual as catharsis and ritual as performance?

17. What elements are important when creating and performing a group ritual?

18. Shiva shares several versions of the famed Black Mass ritual. The second veers significantly from what many consider to be the traditional Black Mass ceremony. What do you think of that progression?