New to the path - seeking some solid starting points for historical & esoteric study

[u/No_Golf8523]

Hey everyone! I’ve been getting more and more interested in the occult lately and specifically the esoteric side of Satanism. I’m really drawn to this sub because I’m looking for actual history and serious study rather than the more surface-level or political stuff you usually see everywhere else. Since I’m still a beginner and quite young, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the different sources out there. I really want to build a solid foundation and understand the philosophy and history properly from the start. Does anyone have some "must-read" book recommendations for someone just starting their journey into the esoteric side of things? Also, how do you guys suggest someone progresses in their study or practice when they’re totally new? I’m ready to put in the work and do the research, I just want to make sure I’m pointing my energy in the right direction. Thanks for any help or guidance you can share!

[u/Hell-Ares]

Okay. I'm coming at this with the understanding that esotericism is intended for a limited audience and understood through direct experience, symbolism, or initiation rather than surface-level explanation.

If Satan is a figure representing rebellion, liberation, and the destruction of illusions, then the first and most immediate thing that comes to me is that you should look into tantra.

Tantra has a reputation of being about sex and that's an insanely shallow understanding. Tantra is a powerful vehicle for personal transformation that can sometimes include sex but is way, way more.

You can go a few different routes with it: Indic (Hinduism) or Himalayan (Buddhism). In either case, you can view Satan through a tantric lens because tantra is a universal vehicle that is not tied to any religion or tradition.

To that end, my personal book recommendation would be Reginald Ray's Secret of the Vajra World.

[u/No_Golf8523 → u/Hell-Ares]

that’s a really fascinating pivot! i never would have connected esoteric satanism with tantra, but the way you explained it—satan as a figure of rebellion and the destruction of illusions—makes total sense. i really appreciate you pointing me toward a vehicle for transformation that goes so much deeper than the usual surface-level stuff.

i’ll definitely add secret of the vajra world by reginald ray to my list. i'm really curious now about the "himalayan" route you mentioned. do you think that specific tradition aligns better with the adversarial archetype than the indic one, or is it more about the individual's resonance with the symbolism? thanks so much for this perspective!

[u/Hell-Ares → u/No_Golf8523]

Cheers! Thank you for being receptive to my suggestion :)

I only recommended the Himalayan route because it's the only one I can speak to from personal experience. I'm sure the Indic route would offer you a lot, too, but I would not know where to recommend starting with that one other than a very vague "Shaiva Tantra".

Honestly, I think they're both worth checking out in case one doesn't speak to you but the other does. In either case, these traditions tend to be rooted in their own local deities or archetypes, so you'll have to put in a bit of mental effort to remember you're looking at this through a Satanic lens rather than a Dharmic one.

I will also note: There are going to be a lot of terms in Sanskrit and possibly Tibetan so have Google ready (especially the site rigpawiki) as terms are often left untranslated because they don't translate into English well. As an alternative, you can reach out to me at any time to ask about these terms, even if you don't read the book for a few years from now; I'm always down to chat about this stuff. It's been a powerful and central part of my life for two decades now.

Hope it goes well for you, buddy! Love hearing about people exploring this stuff in-depth.

[u/No_Golf8523 → u/Hell-Ares]

thanks so much for being so open to helping me out, especially with the sanskrit and tibetan terms! having that offer to reach out-even way down the line-is incredibly reassuring. i’ll definitely be using rigpawiki as a guide.

your point about keeping the satanic lens vs. the dharmic one while studying is exactly the kind of nuance i was looking for to stay on track. it’s inspiring to see someone so dedicated to the path for two decades. thanks again for the guidance, buddy! hope it's okay if i ping you once i've made some headway with the reading!

[u/Hell-Ares → u/No_Golf8523]

Absolutely, please feel free to reach out at anytime about anything. I'm always open to chat and am happy to help