The Amatuanki

Amatuanki

Mother (AMA) who gives birth (TU) to Heaven (AN) and Earth (KI)

Three elements make up our symbol. The central element, the Pentagram, is well recognized by those with even a passing familiarity with the Diabolic tradition. On the most basic level, the Pentagram represents the five core values of our philosophy. More esoterically, it represents the universe. The two side points (whose Hebrew names are lost to us) represent KI. This Sumerian word we use to represent the baseline of what exists. The two upper points represent AN, the limit of what exists. Together, they make up "Samael" and "Azazel," which is All That Exists -- ANKI. Samael is like poison or death; Azazel is like innocence, victory or birth. Between birth and death one lives and the flame flows through the living only to return to its source. Deny the Source the flame, and the destructive or defending aspects of the nourishing Shekhina (Lylyth) manifest. The bottom angle, the one below the base, is called "Isheth Zenunim" or "Thiavat" in Hebrew, or ABSU in Sumerian. We generally refer to this principle as KALIYA, the embodiment of Lylyth's destructive aspect. Pictorially, Kaliya is a five-headed serpent (i.e. "Tiamat"). Together, Samael, Azazel, and Kaliya (plus the other two whose names are unknown) form "The Beast," which in Hebrew is called "Chiva." For much more information on the Pentagram and it's points, the best resources are the Dark Kaballah, Tantra, Serpents versus Adamites and Sigil of Baphomet, articles available here.

Surrounding the Pentagram, we see the symbol most associated with Lylyth, the Shen. This represents the Womb of Lylyth (TU). The symbol itself resembles an Ankh with the bottom cut off. (The Ankh itself is a cross or Tau "T" with a hole on the top to hang a cord through). The placement of the Shen around the Pentagram shows that Lylyth is Queen (AMA) of All Things Visible (KI) and Invisible (AN). The bottom line shows the circle itself is utterly closed. There is but one universe. To re-create the conditions that gave birth to our universe would destroy it.

Below this is the Dread Name, Lylyth, written right to left. Rather than go into Gematria, in either Hebrew or ASCII, let us talk about what Lylyth is.

On the most basic mythological level, Lylyth represents the first human race. She is older than the first man, Adam, and is herself "created in the Image of God," rather than Eve, who was born from man, (quite the opposite of the usual reproductive method for human beings). While the only direct mention of Lylyth in the Holy Bible comes from the book of Isiah, the myth itself comes from a discrepancy between the two creation mythologies of Genesis. The second chapter is the one people are most familiar. In it, we meet the character of Adam. He is a man created by a male god in the image of that god. Jehovah creates Eve later, as an afterthought, as a slave for Adam. There is a modern idea that Jehovah created Eve from Adam's side to show equality (rather than from his head or from his feet). Thousands of years of deeds and attitudes show that the people who hold to this doctrine more readily believe that the accurate interpretation is the one that states that Eve is an imperfect being, unlike that entity created in the image of his god - Adam. (Gen. 2:7)

This is not the case at all in Genesis I. Male and female humans emerge at the same time, are both blessed by the Gods, and both given the right to eat anything. This gives rise to the idea that there was a woman, before Eve, created in the image of God. (Gen. 1:27)

The Temple of Lylyth, of course, is not an organization that bases its tenets on Creationism, nor do we base our philosophy on mythology from the Holy Bible. The Temple of Lylyth emphasizes living in the real world, which would be the realm of "Sophia Achamoth" which is akin to Lylyth. (Sophia is akin to the upper Shekhina or Binah). The obvious connotation of this discrepancy is the creation of two races, humans and Adamites. However, those who created the Hebrew legend of Lylyth assumed that the men (plural) created in the earlier book were the same as the man (singular) mentioned in the later book, and that only his wife differed between tales. To fill the gaps between the books, we have the legend of Lylyth most people know: the rape. When Adam tried to rape her, Lylyth called out the Secret Name of God and escaped to the Red Sea. God sent three angels to bring her back. She did not return. God created Eve to take Lylyth's place. (More Information of Sophia Achamoth)

In this tale, though, we see the metaphor of Lylyth as a human being. To quote the Book of the Black Flame: "In Lylyth we see a true individualist, who refuses to be what her own husband expects her to be. She becomes a wicked evil character simply because of this act of defiance in the eyes of 'good' people everywhere, but when examined by the Satanist, she is merely a kindred soul, who has experiences very much like our own."

There are more myths of Lylyth after her flight from Eden, where she achieves a sort of apotheosis into a demoness. She mates with a demon, usually called Ashmodai (Asmodeus) from the Aeshma Devi of the Persians. (Or sometimes, just "Lili"). Mythology tells of her giving birth to hundreds of demons each night, and of Jehovah cursing a hundred of her offspring to die each day. Here we see Lylyth as a demonized Mother Goddess. Looking past the nonsense, we see the Dark Mother as the progenitor of the People of Lylyth, sometimes called the Sariel (See Rapheal Patai's work, "Gates to the old city", page 469). Metaphorically, we are not of the lineage of Adam, and we do not accept the curse given to his bloodline in Genesis.

Beyond the archetype of Lylyth as a human being, Lylyth is also the Mother Goddess. In the context of this symbol, think of Lylyth as the caption. Hebrew mythology has a hidden aspect to its terrible and wrathful patriarchal Jehovah - the Shekhina. Myth logically, this being is said to be the wife of Jehovah, and according to some, co-equal to him or above him. It is more of a principle, literally. As the philosophy of Satanism does not come from the Judeo-Christian tradition, let us turn to Shiva and Shakti.

Shiva (Satan or Samael/Azazel) is the Vedic lord of Entropy. It is the Arrow of Time that moves the universe towards its Final End. Shiva is existence. It is the Darkness made manifest in the universe. Shakti is possibility. Shakti is the Black Flame that burns within all life. For more information, see The Nine Satanic Postulates.

Do not confuse this with Hebraic, Christian or Olympian style gods. We are discussing “forces”, not intelligences and certainly not Humanoids of Vast Power. There is no way to pray to Lylyth so that "she" will hear your words.

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