The Right Wing Left Hand Path

by Elisabeth Selwyn

The connection between Satanism and Fascism in Britain is well-known, though not well-explained. Nor has it been understood why this particular malaise has not, in general, crossed the Atlantic. Before attempting to examine the reasons why British Satanism has for so long been stained by this association, it may clarify matters to consider in some detail the major exponents of British Satanism and their political affiliations, past and present.

The name Dark Lily is alleged to have been originated by a Satanic group in the first decade of the present century. As far as can be ascertained, there is only hearsay evidence for this, but it seems irrelevant to the present study. The magazine Dark Lily first appeared in duplicated news-sheet format in 1977, allegedly the organ of the Anglian Satanic Church - not to be confused (though it often was) with the Anglo-Saxonic Church, which was Odinist and which will be refered to later.

The Anglican Satanic Church was run by Father Raoul Belphlegor (yes, that is how he spelled it), real name Thomas Victor Norris, and Mother Lilith, real name Magdalene Graham. It claimed vast resources, numbers and magickal powers which would be bestowed on members in return for money and/or (in the case of young female members) sex. Norris had earlier acquired a liking for brothel-keeping, involving his wife and daughters, aged eleven and thirteen. On his release from a six-year sentence resulting from this, he restored his fortunes with the aid of a rather naive eighteen-year-old (she was not concerned with his occult activities and has since now made a new life for herself, so her name will not be mentioned).

Norris' Occult involvement brought him into contact with Magdalene Graham, who was editing an Occult magazine on broadly LHP lines. Norris persuaded her to take over production of his magazines, both Occult and political (fascist), including the occasional news-sheet of his Odinist Anglo-Saxonic Church (another paper organisation). Despite holding similar political views, Ms. Graham was, at first, reluctant to be associated with the disreputable Norris, but was in the vunerable position of having just been diagnosed as suffering from a disabling illness and was desperately seeking a cure. That particular illness is subject to recession and Ms. Graham experienced an improvement (presumably psychologically induced), which, for a time convinced her.

She eventually became disillusioned and tried to leave. Impeded by her physical disability, she sought help from a Satanist who was not a fascist (possibly the only representative of that rare breed in Britain at the time) and he eventually re-started the magazine Dark Lily as the organ of non-political Satanism in Britain. Ms Graham remains typist, sometimes designated editor, although it is doubtful whether she has executive powers It appears that she is now convinced that Occultism cannot be associated with politics. Certainly Dark Lily, despite its history, has, since coming under new management, shown no sign of political allegiances and has, in fact, warned that to divide one's energies between politics and Occultism means that one will succeed at neither.

While Dark Lily may have purged itself, the same cannot, unfortunately, be said for a magazine called Fenrir (an Odinist word) produced by a Satanic group called the Order of the Nine Angles. They claim an ancient pedigree, but their writings appear to be an ill-digested mixture of Satanism (on the Black Mass level), fascism, ("Roman Salutes" as part of the ceremony!), sado-masochism (the inevitable scourge), alchemy, ritual magick and a paranoiac insistence that they are the only upholders of the Satanic tradition. Although referring to them in the plural, the effective long term membership of the Order of the Nine Angles remains at one: a gentleman who calls himself Anton (yes, really, Anton!) Long. His aliases include Stephen Brown, David Myatt and Algar Langton.

The Order of the Nine Angles first appeared in Leeds in 1975, but its founder was rather more preoccupied with his political attachments (the now-defunct National Socialist (Nazi) Movement and its successors), so the Occult aspect was not prominent.

The magazine Fenrir first appeared in 1988; it will be noted that it is dated in the Nazi tradition YF99 (Year of the Fuhrer). Mr Long's other writings have included pamphlets for Liberty Bell Publications (American readers will presumably not require further explanation of the nature of such literary efforts), a Black Mass to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Adolph Hitler, and various rituals. Mr Long is at present experiencing difficulty with his publisher, who appears somewhat discouraged by the contents of the rituals.

We referred to the former National Socialist Movement and must now introduce another of the Occult luminaries of that organisation, Mr David Austin. Without digressing too far into the convoluted history of Fascism in Britain, the National Socialist Movement was founded by Mr John Colin Campbell Jordan (generally known as Colin Jordan). Following his release from a prison term imposed for sedition, he changed the name of his organisation to British Movement. Shortly thereafter, Mr Jordan was fined for shoplifting a pair of ladies' red knickers from a (Jewish-owned) supermarket, and deposed from leadership of the BM. The new "fuhrer," Michael McLaughlin, instituted his own little knight of the Long Knives to remove all whom he considered to be "perverts" from the BM (disregarding the fact that this would leave him with only twenty-eight members) and David Austin was one of those booted out.

Mr. Austin, whose previous history included several years as a Mormon "missionary," has since joined the U.S. based Temple of Set and was formally ordained to their priesthood in May of 1989.

There are (unfortunately) other Satanic organisations in Britain. I say unfortunately because none appear to have escaped the political adherence which bedevils (if one may use that word) British Satanism. However, they are too small and ineffectual to be included here (if they are getting ideas above their station, this may be considered to only a temporary reprieve).

Let us now turn to the question of WHY. Yes, the Satanic question. Why is a valid and highly potent way of life so often (on one side of the ocean, at least) soiled by association with an inadequate and life-denying political creed? To Occultists, Fascism may be defined as the new "English Disease," but the condition which has for centuries been so entitled is Masochism, and the two are closely related.

It has been said that those who hold anyone else to be worthless are really projecting the fact they believe themselves to be worthless; this is demonstrably true. Even a brief acquaintance with a Fascist will reveal that he/she suffers from a severe inferiority complex. The phrase "racial masochism" is well-known. Most right-wing bookshops used to sell (possibly they still stock it, we haven't checked lately) a volume purporting to explain in pseudo-medical jargon why circumcision is for the purpose of increasing virility. On the same theme, the only quotation that anyone can ever remember from The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion is the contemptuous description of the Ayrian race as "hewers of wood and drawers of water."

One must also survey the poseurs. The High Priest in his dramatic robe or the Nazi in black uniform and jackboots. Where's the difference? The answer is that the Satanist understands the real reasons why he is "dressing up;" the Nazi does not. The Nazi is not intellectually capable of realizing that such trappings are a masquerade, utilized for the purpose of reinforcing an image when (in his case) no real authority exists. Dominance has no connection with threats or violence. One who is in control does not need them; in fact they negate potency. The power comes from within himself and it has no visible show; especially not a form of apparel which represents an external conferring of jurisdiction, or, in some cases, is the semblance of domination without any validity or competence. In such circumstances, a uniform is a pretence, in the manner of children playing games. It reveals the psychological deficiencies of those who resort to fancy dress to augment their macho appearance. Yet some people are able to direct others and order action without accoutrement. This is the phenomenon known as the ability to command. You want an example? Look at a genuine Satanist. To some of my readers, the direction may be re-phrased: look in a mirror.

Having briefly refered to Odinism, it must be said that followers of that path, in Britain, are, almost without exception, Fascist. This aspect of Occult political involvement is outside the scope of this article. However, the digression on Odinism is merely for the sake of completeness. The subject is Satanic Fascism and the question is why such a diversion should appeal to those who purport to be seeking Occult knowledge. To say that they are affected by masochism (which is an extraordinarily powerful sexual motivation) is certainly the explanation in many cases. Alternative answers which have been propounded are as follows: (A) that those who are politically-inspired are looking for something other than Occult power and knowledge and are attracted to the sinister image of Satanism; (B) since Fascists naturally expect to be hated, they gravitate to a theology which is hated; (C) the proponents of the politics of fear are subconsciously seeking persecution.

(To confuse the issue, it has been argued that Satanism has more in common with Judaism, especially in the matter of suffering persecution. Witch-burnings or gas chambers? How many million?)

As an afterthought, let us contrast the foregoing with Dr. LaVey's clear sighted understanding that the Nazi's were capable of Lesser Magic and mind manipulation but with obvious limitations. He had the courage not to avoid this thorny issue, as shown in the Satanic Bible and elsewhere, but makes it plain that the Church of Satan will never succumb to "the English disease."

Visit: Satanic Reds