#and also I need to do research so I won’t accidentally spread any misinformation or anything

[nuppu-nuppu]

Hey guys 🍉, do you know any good and trustworthy charities that are raising money to help the people in gaza? Looking for recommendations!!!!

I was inspired by some other artists doing this but I thought that in exchange for you guys donating to a charity for gaza, as much as you want (it doesn’t have to be much, just what you can) I would draw you a sketch of a character of your choice!

[twigon0metry]

Piercing Tips Masterlist

Hiya~! 

 Today’s list is on piercings. I currently have five (and want more), and I’d like to share some tips and tricks I’ve discovered for getting them, taking care of them, and all of that lovely stuff! :D

1. CLEAN EM. SERIOUSLY. AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. This is especially important if you have a cartilage piercing. Those take longer to heal and are more finicky, so you are more likely to have complications if you aren’t cleaning them (infections, scarring, bumps). 

2. Make sure you follow your piercer’s aftercare directions. It’s for your own good.

3. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean your piercings. This is really bad for them and can dry them out too much. Instead, use some saline (salt water designed to mimic your body fluids). You can buy some, but making your own is much cheaper. Just take a cup of water and stir about 1/2 tsp of sea salt in until it’s dissolved.

4. Learn the differences between an infection, irritation, and a normal healing piercing. Obviously we aren’t all experts, so if you’re REALLY concerned, go see your piercer or a doctor. But there are a few key things to know: 

- Your piercing is likely to be infected if: it’s swollen, abnormally warm to the touch, extra painful, red/purplish, and oozing YELLOWY GREEN or BROWNISH pus. There may also be a visible cyst or a pocket filled with pus. It is worth noting however that sometimes pus isn’t visible until the hole is opened (by turning the ring a bit). When my lobes were infected, they looked fine on the outside, but if I turned the rings a bit they would ooze. Nasty stuff. Generally you aren’t supposed to turn them, but if you’re suspicious, it can’t hurt to check. 

- If your piercing is: swollen, reddish, a little sore (especially when touched), and has a bump or two, but is NOT pussy or warm, it’s likely just irritated. You may have bumped or torn it accidentally at some point, or you might be allergic to the metal. If you’ve torn it a bit, it may bleed a little. 

- If you just got your piercing recently and it’s: bleeding a little, swollen, red, sore, and oozing clear/white/yellow liquid, it’s healing and this is all normal. If, however, you see signs of infection early on, get some help as soon as possible.

5. Bumps on cartilage piercings are not always scarring, keloids, or infection. Sometimes it’s just a little irritated. One thing that I’ve found really helps for bumps and swelling is to do warm saline soaks (fill a small cup with warm saline and dunk your piercing in for about five minutes or so). I often notice a difference the same day. 

6. Cartilage piercings can be really tricky to heal. Some people’s just never heal. Make sure you see a doctor/piercer if you’re concerned and feel you may need to take it out. 

7. On that note, DO NOT remove the jewelry until your body is fully (or mostly) healed. Your piercer will have specific instructions for this (if they’re good). And if you suspect you have an infection, DO NOT take it out. This can trap the infection inside of your body and cause complications, since the jewelry keeps the hole open so it can drain. 

8. In cases where you have to take out jewelry, try not to leave it out for too long if you want to keep the hole, otherwise it may need to be re-pierced. Generally, the longer you’ve had a piercing, the longer it’ll stay open, but this won’t be the same for everyone. 

9. Be gentle with new/infected piercings. Don’t touch it unless you have to, and don’t play with it. Be extra careful with your hair (for ear piercings, especially the helix). You’ll want to put it up when it’s wet because it can put painful pressure on your ear. Also be really careful when brushing/combing--catching a hoop on the tines of a brush is NOT FUN. If you’re getting your hair done professionally, don’t be afraid to mention to the hairdresser that you have a sensitive spot. That way they can avoid accidentally hurting you by bumping it. If you are a side sleeper and you have an ear piercing, get a really big sock and tuck one end into the other to make a donut. Sleep with your ear in the hole. It really helps and is more comfy than a travel pillow!

10. Most infections can be treated at home by doing saline soaks and/or hot compresses (wetting a washcloth and applying it gently to your ear). You can also try silver spray/drops, which is a powerful antibiotic. 

11. However, if you have signs of a blood infection, like: a fever, upset stomach, and red streaks radiating out from the site of infection, see a doctor ASAP. You may need antibiotics.

12. Studs, in some cases, can be less irritating than hoops. If you’re having trouble healing a piercing, try switching to a stud. 

13. Make sure you’re getting pierced with implant-grade metal (titanium, surgical steel, or niobium). Some people are prone to allergic reactions to other metals, especially nickel. 

14. For the love of all that is good and pure, DO NOT PIERCE YOURSELF AT HOME. Please don’t. There are so many things that can go wrong, even if you think you’re doing it right (sterilizing, using an actual kit, etc.). Just because it worked for a Youtuber or your friend doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. Piercers get lots of education on the proper methods of piercing certain spots. There are certain spots on your body where if you pierce it, you can hit a nerve and cause lasting damage or an infection. Please, please don’t. Getting it professionally done may be more expensive, but it’s better than having to pay massive bills for treating a nasty infection or having to deal with permanent nerve damage or scarring.

15. If you have blood sugar issues or fainting, you’ll want to be extra careful about getting a piercing because it can cause your levels to drop drastically really fast. Some piercers will offer you some juice or something to make sure your levels are high enough beforehand, but just to be safe, have something at home before you go. Make sure you let them know if you have any of these issues. It’s also a really bad idea to not eat before you go for this reason as well. 

16. Don’t get a piercing impulsively. Do some research beforehand, and maybe even do a little photo editing to see if you’ll like it. The last thing you want is to spend lots of money to get a piercing only to realize you actually hate it on yourself. A piercing is also a hole, and it will most likely leave a scar of some kind, and some will be more visible than others.

17. At the same time, don’t get a piercing because someone else wants you to, or because everyone else is doing it. Get a piercing because you want to, and you think it’ll look good.

18. Make sure your piercer sterilizes everything properly in front of you. Do your research and make sure that the studio you go to is a good one. This can make a world of difference in terms of healing. 

19. DO NOT get your piercings done with a gun. It causes way more shock to your body’s tissues, and they are very hard to sterilize properly. Trust me, a needle is a lot less traumatic.

20. Pain levels will be different for everyone. Obviously some places will hurt more than others. A general rule of thumb though is that soft tissue (earlobes, septum), will hurt less, and cartilage will hurt more. Healing time also tends to be longer for cartilage piercings. Try not to tense up during the procedure if you can, because this will make the pain hurt more. It’s usually only bad for a second or two though, so don’t worry!

21. If you get something that’s a little out there, some people are going to stare, and some people are not going to like it. Ignore them, and if they stare, just stare back and smile! A piercing is your own special form of self-expression, and no one has any right to judge you for it.

22. Whether or not you get a piercing is up to you, but there are a couple things you need to consider still--where you want to work and (don’t come after me please) if you’re still young, what your parents will think. Some workplaces don’t see specific piercings as professional, and having them could decrease your chances of being hired at a job. It sucks, and it’s not fair, but unfortunately that’s the way the world works at this point. :( 

28. And as for your parents, generally if they don’t want you to get pierced, they are speaking for your own good and they have a legitimate reason for it. Generally for any body mods it’s a good idea to wait until you’re older anyways, because they are often permanent, and what you like and what you think looks good is going to change a lot as you grow up. Your parents are likely worried that you’re going to do something you regret, or that people will judge you because of it. It’s annoying sometimes, but parents often know best (they’re older and more mature), and thinking you know better than them can be really dangerous. It sucks, but it doesn’t hurt to wait until you’re a little older first. Besides that, going behind their backs to do something can really hurt your relationship with them, and tells them that you can’t be trusted.

On the other hand, if you aren’t legally a minor anymore, they don’t have a right to prevent you from getting one. It’s still worth considering the consequences though.

Hope this was helpful in some way! If I got any facts wrong, please please message me about it! I don’t want to spread any misinformation.

[kathleenseiber]

Banning news links just days before Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout?

By Maryke Steffens, University of Sydney

Facebook’s decision to ban media organisations from posting links to news articles on the social media giant’s platform comes less than a week before Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout begins. The ban also prevented many health organisations, government health departments and other organisations from posting links (some, but not all, have now been restored).

The combined effect of this could be incredibly damaging.

My research is on how poor-quality information and misinformation in online environments, including social media, is presenting serious challenges for public health.

When I saw the news about Facebook’s ban this morning, I was struck by the terrible timing. Now, more than ever we need credible, evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccines circulating on social media.

A balance to less credible information

Of course, not all media reporting is perfect. But research by myself and others has shown the media in general plays an important role as gatekeepers and disseminators of high-quality public health information to the public.

You can be critical of individual news organisations or reports while also recognising that much of the media has provided a crucial counterbalance to less credible information and misinformation on social media about vaccines.

We are now at risk of an imbalance in the types of COVID-19 vaccine information available on social media, just when the public needs reassurance and evidence-based answers to their often quite reasonable questions.

Public health organisations and government sites caught up in the ban

The fact that public health organisations and health departments were or are caught up in this — and are or were also reportedly unable to post links to their Facebook pages — is particularly worrying.

Facebook has said government pages should not be affected — but some have been. Some have now been restored and Facebook said it will reverse the ban on any pages accidentally affected.

Public health organisations — including government departments, research institutes, charities and not-for-profits — do so much in the vaccine information and hesitancy space.

Many people understandably have genuine questions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. People are really hungry for information right now. One of the main ways people get it is through social media.

Public health organisations support people with concerns on social media by digesting complex information, translating it for non-scientists, and answering questions.

And that’s why this timing is incredibly poor.

Facebook has traditionally been the place where a lot of vaccine misinformation has been spread. The social media giant does appear to be making an effort to fight misinformation. It recently did a purge and made it harder for posts by groups spreading vaccine misinformation to appear in people’s newsfeeds. Facebook has also pledged to fight misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.

But banning links from media and public health organisations, just as we prepare to begin a national vaccine rollout, certainly won’t help that effort.

Screenshot of the Queensland Health Facebook page at 11:30am 18 February. It has now been restored. Credit: Facebook

Positive vaccination messaging will suffer

Many media organisations are likely planning a lot of coverage to go with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

In general, I have been impressed with the efforts of many media organisations to inform people about the science that underpins the new COVID-19 vaccines and debunk vaccine myths and misinformation.

They have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting and complementing the work of public health organisations, many of which lack the budget to do that kind of health messaging on their own.

By minimising the media’s role at this moment, Facebook will make it harder for people to access good information, at a time when they need it most.

We are living through a significant public health event. Facebook has a moral responsibility to support public health messages being put out by experts and today’s decision doesn’t help achieve that.

Maryke Steffens, Research Affiliate, University of Sydney; Research Fellow, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance; PhD Candidate, Macquarie University, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Banning news links just days before Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout? published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[warninggraphiccontent]

12 June 2020

Tangfastic

Audrey Tang, Taiwanese digital minister, was fizzing with energy and insight when I interviewed her for the IfG this week.

We covered how Taiwan has kept its coronavirus cases astonishingly low (partly through quarantine and 'digital fences'), how it has fought misinformation, its innovative work on digital government and public engagement in general, and the most poetic job description you'll ever encounter.

Watch the whole thing here, and read/watch much more here.

In other news:

On the subject of job descriptions, a good selection of jobs this week. MoJ's Sam Tazzyman - you may remember him from an excellent Data Bites presentation - and the ESRC asked me to highlight theirs, while Full Fact also have an excellent opportunity - you'll find them all at the end of the Meta data section below. And an irregular reminder that if you're looking for data/digital jobs, Jukesie's newsletter is still the best place to look.

On the subject of Data Bites (any excuse), the next one will be at 6pm on Wednesday 1 July, supported by ADR UK. It's a great line up - full details shortly. Catch up on previous ones in the meantime.

Honestly, what is it with the completely unnecessary secrecy? The government is storing up serious problems for itself when it comes to earning trust in how it's using our data.

It was a bright cool day in June, and Nineteen Eighty-Four was celebrating 71 years since it was first published.

There are some good #BlackLivesMatter-related links from FiveThirtyEight below. But you should read this first.

See you next week

Gavin

Today's links:

Tips, tech, etc

Employees must be consulted on technologies monitoring the return to work (Computer Weekly)

MPs and their offices during lockdown - how we've helped (Parliamentary Digital Service)

Ten tips for facilitating online workshops (NPC)

Elephant safaris: organising meetings that help us grasp complexity (Geoff Mulgan)

Graphic content

Viral content: cases

How the Coronavirus Compares With 100 Years of Deadly Events* (New York Times, via Marcus)

Coronavirus Map: Tracking the Global Outbreak (New York Times)

Coronavirus cases are surging in Latin America* (The Economist)

Is the world making progress against the pandemic? We built the chart to answer this question (Our World in Data)

This chart compares the outbreaks of coronavirus in four parts of Wales (David James)

Coronavirus: Looking for R is about the geography as well as the maths* (The Times)

Brazil stops releasing Covid-19 death toll and wipes data from official site (The Guardian)

As coronavirus cases rise nationwide, public health experts urge caution* (Washington Post)

Viral content: consequences

Business impact of coronavirus, analysis over time, UK (ONS)

How to avoid the virus as the world reopens (FT)

What to Make of the Rebound in the U.S. Jobs Report* (New York Times)

The Economic Pain That the Unemployment Rate Leaves Out* (New York Times)

EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY TRACKER (ECFR)

That CNBC chart (CNBC, via everyone)

Psychopathic charts, lines that should be bars, and picking cherries (Alberto Cairo)

GDP monthly estimate, UK: April 2020 (ONS)

UK’s virus recovery lags behind European peers* (FT)

#BlackLivesMatter

#StolenSeriesbyAB (Adrian Brandon)

How Public Opinion Has Moved on Black Lives Matter* (The Upshot)

US boardrooms fail to reflect country’s demographics* (FT)

Protests spread over police shootings. Police promised reforms. Every year, they still shoot and kill nearly 1,000 people.* (Washington Post)

Charts that Count: how badly are African Americans affected by police brutality?* (FT)

Do You Know How Divided White And Black Americans Are On Racism? (FiveThirtyEight - but also, read this)

Why would you want to honour this? (Mona Chalabi)

BME deaths in custody, 1991-2014 (Institute of Race Relations)

Coronavirus fuels black America’s sense of injustice (FT)

George Floyd is remembered around the world* (The Economist)

Experience the sights and sounds of a historic protest in the nation’s capital* (Washington Post)

Patterns Of Death In The South Still Show The Outlines Of Slavery (FiveThirtyEight, April 2017)

Extensive Data Shows Punishing Reach of Racism for Black Boys* (New York Times, March 2018)

US politics

What to remember about polls as Trump continues to disparage — and invent — them* (Washington Post, via Marcus)

Forecasting the US elections* (The Economist)

Will protests help Donald Trump as they did Richard Nixon in 1968?* (The Economist)

Everything else

Services and Brexit (UK in a Changing Europe)

Ministerial directions (Oliver for IfG - being updated today)

A virtual parliament was well equipped to make progress on the government’s legislative agenda (Alice/Hannah for IfG)

A U.S. Secret Weapon in A.I.: Chinese Talent* (New York Times)

A study names firms who buy products from areas with deforestation* (The Economist)

Explore connected papers in a visual graph (Connected Papers)

A national aggregator for current and historical planning information (UK PlanIt)

#dataviz

A journalist’s introduction to network analysis (Paul Bradshaw)

How We Accidentally Wrote Our Most Popular Story Yet and What We Learnt in the Process (NZZ)

Meta data

Viral content: trace-y island

Boris Johnson’s patience wears thin over tracing app* (FT)

Coronavirus: Ministers consider NHS contact-tracing app rethink (BBC News)

NHS Covid-19 data store doc raises questions about link to contact tracing app (NS Tech)

Under pressure, UK government releases NHS COVID data deals with big tech (openDemocracy)

Revealed: Trump backer’s spy firm lobbied Gove, Hancock before winning key NHS contract (openDemocracy)

No, coronavirus apps don’t need 60% adoption to be effective* (MIT Technology Review)

Matt Hancock says the Test and Trace system is on its way to being “world class” Is that justified? I've spent the day trying to find out (Rowland Manthorpe)

Babylon Health admits GP app suffered a data breach (BBC News)

DHSC 'satisfied' after investigating Serco contract tracers data breach (Civil Service World)

Most data sent to Greater Manchester by national test and trace system 'was so rubbish it had to be returned' (Manchester Evening News)

Coronavirus: Police planning their own contact tracing system over concerns about government's version (Sky News)

Viral content: everything else

How Taiwan became a coronavirus success story: in conversation with Audrey Tang (IfG)

Struck (again) by how much lack of data on social care made this crisis hard to respond to (NAO via Graham)

Brazil reports 679 new coronavirus deaths amid controversy over data (Reuters)

How geospatial data is supporting the UK’s response to the coronavirus pandemic (Geospatial Commission)

DVLA and HMRC – working together during the coronavirus pandemic (DVLA)

Using detailed, frequently updated health data in a secure database, providing up to date information about patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic (DECOVID)

What data and digital stuff have you seen working really WELL during Covid? (Ben Goldacre)

Overload in the time of Covid (The Occasional Informationist)

Volte face?

IBM will no longer offer, develop, or research facial recognition technology (The Verge)

Although... (Olivia Solon)

We are implementing a one-year moratorium on police use of Rekognition (Amazon)

Microsoft won't sell police its facial recognition technology, following similar moves by Amazon and IBM* (Washington Post)

Identity parade

Meet the Identity and Attributes Exchange – GDS’s future for digital identity after Verify (Computer Weekly)

Digital Identity: The Missing Piece of the Government’s Exit Strategy (Institute for Global Change)

AI

Academics call on nations to work together on A.I. and ensure it benefits all of humanity (CNBC)

Microsoft's robot editor confuses mixed-race Little Mix singers (The Guardian, via Alice and Tim)

The ‘dark matter’ of visual data can help AI understand images like humans (The Next Web)

Big tech

Oral evidence: Online Harms and Disinformation - YouTube, Google, Facebook, Twitter (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-Committee on Online Harms and Disinformation)

Google got rich from your data. DuckDuckGo is fighting back* (Wired)

Wendy Liu: “Silicon Valley didn’t create the pandemic, but they’re profiting from it”* (New Statesman)

Everything else

New advice to help councils fight procurement fraud (MHCLG)

Liz Truss launches future trade strategy for UK tech industry (DIT/DCMS)

How data-driven democracy both helps and hinders politics (LSE British Politics and Policy)

Data firms pitch profiling tools at UK councils* (FT)

A Moment of Change: Challenges and Opportunities When Covering Hate Speech and Mis/Disinformation (MIT Media Lab)

Rendering Knowledge (Dave Snowden - old, but resurfaced via Glyn)

Selected Readings on Open Data Legislation and Policy (Open Data Policy Lab)

Storytelling with data podcast

Introducing the GOV.UK Data Labs (GDS - see also relevant Data Bites)

Best practice guidance and tools for geospatial data managers (Geospatial Commission - Owen's take)

Opportunities

EVENT: Launch of the UK's Geospatial Strategy (Geospatial Commission)

EVENT: Data, the Global South and the NHS: risks from new digital trade rules (Trade Justice Movement)

EVENT: Data, power, and the pandemic (Benchmark Initiative)

JOB: Head of Policy and Advocacy (Full Fact)

JOBS: Senior Data Engineer in the Data & Analytical Services Directorate and Lead Data Engineer in the Data & Analytical Services Directorate (MoJ)

JOB: Head of Data and Search (UK Parliament Digital Service)

JOBS: Citizens Advice is hiring into our technology team (James Plunkett)

JOB: Director, DDaT Function Strategy (GDS)

JOB: Deputy Director for Public Policy (ESRC)

And finally...

A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of our @instituteforgov charts (Cath/Alice)

Animal Crossing’s massive popularity has made it less like paradise and more like Wall Street* (Washington Post)

The #opendata on every vineyard in France and which AOC wine grows in it (Tom Forth)

[williambriar]

Demonolatry - What Is it?

ZD Sigil by William Briar

I don’t typically pay attention to how many people are reading what I write here or on Facebook. I probably should, but the statistics feed my anxiety. For example, accidentally clicking the wrong tab this morning showed me how many people had disliked my Facebook page over the last month—and when. I didn’t need Sherlock Holmes to figure out why. I’d used the word ‘demon’ in every one of those FB posts.

But even though I know why people left, I guess I don’t fully understand. I write about witchcraft and Paganism openly. I suspect a good number of the people who like my page are probably witches or Pagans themselves. Last time I checked, neither group was especially well-liked by the bulk of society. The general public believes a huge amount of bullshit about them, and some idiots can be downright cruel. Just ask the witch in Winnipeg whose store keeps being vandalized.

While I won’t pretend to know how she feels, I’ve even had Wiccans say things to me along the lines of I will “steal your children at Halloween to ritually sacrifice them,” all because I’m a Daemonolater. Like Dominique Smith, “I know it comes from a place of ignorance, but it’s 2017, this is not 1717. We should be better than this, and it’s disappointing that we’re not.”

I realize ignorance can only be fought with knowledge. Most of today’s witches and Pagans weren’t raised in “alternate religions” and it could be that a few are having difficulty leaving Christian dogma behind.  At the risk of losing more “likes,” let me take a moment to sum up what Daemonolatry is—regardless of how you spell it.

What is Daemonolatry?

At its most basic level, Daemonolatry is the worship of demons. Nothing more and nothing less. Daemonolators do not worship the Christian devil, however. Since many demons started as ancient Pagan gods, most Daemonolators feel that their deities have been unfairly villainized by the church. Unfortunately, the Satanic Panic of the 1970s cemented the stereotype of animal sacrificing devil worshippers in the eyes of the public. Although prominent Wiccan writer and former police officer Kerr Cuhulain thoroughly debunked conspiracies of Satanic cults spread across North America, discrimination against Daemonolators continues among even Cuhulain’s own Pagan community. This is due largely to the misinformation floating around about demons in general and Daemonolatry in particular.

What Are Demons?

The word demon comes from the Greek daimōn. Homer’s use of theoí (“gods”) and daímones indicates that these two words originally had similar meanings, but later writers helped distinguish a difference between the two through showing daímones as “knowing or wise” beings that “distribute destinies.” By the time of Alexander the Great, the Greeks believed everyone possessed a personal daimōn that would guide, motivate, and inspire them to greatness. Numerous people today look to their guardian angels for that support. Daemonolators turn to their own deities—daemons or demons—for the same.

What Do Daemonolators Do?

Daemonolators work with patron or “counterpart” demons just as Wiccans work with patron deities. Unlike Wiccans, they do not typically commit to both a patron and matron. This is because Daemonolators believe the “All is One,” and that demons are an expression of a single divine energy source beyond gender. Therefore, a demon that presents as male to one practitioner may show up as a female to another. Patron or counterpart demons help Daemonolators identify strengths and weakness in themselves, overcome obstacles in their lives, and provide spiritual comfort. Elders advise new Daemonolators to spend at least a year studying and getting to know different demons before making this life-long commitment.

Daemonolators can and do establish relationships with demons besides their patrons. These will sometimes last only a short period or may develop into an ongoing partnership. The exact nature of these partnerships depends on the personalities of the practitioner and the demon in question, of course, as well as what they wish from one another.

Truly, those wishing to research the demonic “pantheon” will find it as diverse as any other group of gods. They will find love, fertility, wisdom, and prosperity demons just as easily as they will discover demons who oversee war, sickness, revenge, or cruelty. Like most beings, demons appreciate loyalty, honor, and respect. More importantly, Daemonolators believe that demons benefit from their offerings, prayers, and other spiritual acts even if they do not require them for survival. Of course, demons treated poorly may respond in kind—if they will have anything to do with you at all. In this way, demons are no more evil or capricious than anybody else.

What Do Daemonolators Believe?

While keeping in mind that no essay can sum up an entire tradition, please remember that Daemonolators do not work with the demons described in the Bible. In some cases, Daemonolators may worship deities with the same names, but they do not worship them with any Christian or Judaic biases in place.

The symbol above is often referred to by Daemonolators as the ZD or DZ sigil. Daemonolators use it to represent Satan along with eight other deities especially beloved to practitioners. They are Lucifer, Flereous, Leviathan, Belial, Verrine, Amducius, Unsere, and Eurynomous. (Note the corresponding nine points on the ZD symbol.)

Within the context of Daemonolatry, Satan isn’t the adversary of the divine. Instead, Satan is the Divine / the Source of All that Was, Is, or Ever Will Be. Few if any Daemonolators believe in the demonic possession made famous by the horror industry. When they wish to bless an area or rid themselves of negative energy, they do so in the name of their patron demon or Satan because Satan is their source for all things natural in the cosmos. Bad apples exist within Daemonolatry as they do in all religions, but Daemonolators are just as law-abiding and rule-following as people of any other faith are.

Spiritual Daemonolatry usually centers on the observance of holy days as well as prayer and meditation. Many Daemonolators also practice magick, though the type may differ from person to person. Daemonolatry rituals are similar to those of both Wicca and Ceremonial Magick, although Daemonolators cast circles to balance the energy raised within rather than for protection. That said, magick is not a mandatory part of Daemonolatry. Those who wish to add spell-work to their practice may do so as they choose, following their own interests and inclinations.

While some Daemonolators may prick their fingers with a diabetic lancet and offer a few droplets of blood to their deities, others may gift baked goods, alcohol, or devotional art to the demons instead. Traditional Daemonolator S. Connolly has written a guidebook aimed at helping Daemonolators with special requirements modify their spiritual and magickal rituals as desired.

Just as Daemonolators must decide whether they wish to use blood (or even incense) in their ceremonies, they must also consider the ethics behind such controversial practice as cursing. It can be tempting to judge immediately upon first hearing about this sort of magick, especially if you do not know that some other Pagan traditions curse too. In addition to binding people who have caused them harm or reflecting negativity back at them, Daemonolators will curse their own destructive emotions and habits in an effort towards self-improvement. When someone’s behavior truly warrants a curse, however, such as in the case of a rapist or murderer, Daemonolators are told to curse such individuals without regret or suffer the effects of the curse themselves. Because of this possible side-effect, Daemonolators do not throw curses around without great forethought and some will not curse at all.

Most Daemonolators practice alone, although a few establish their own paths or join larger Pagan groups. Initiation is available through the Temple of Atem online but isn’t necessary. Self-initiation and self-dedication rites are as official as group initiations. Initiates become adepts through personalized study and working directly with the demons themselves.

Why Do We Never Hear About Daemonolatry?

Sadly, both the public at large and a good deal of the occult community continue to view Daemonolatry with suspicion. Since few Daemonolators risk outing themselves for fear of losing their jobs or worse, this remains completely understandable. Until generational Daemonolators began publishing their grimoires, or personal spiritual and magical books, there simply was no way for outsiders to read anything easily accessible about the tradition. Historical texts like The Lesser Key of Solomon perplex many students with their antiquated language, while modern volumes written by atheistic Satanists focus on the manipulation tactics rather than spirituality. Thankfully, writers such as S. Connolly, Ellen Purswell, B. Morlan, and M. King have spoken openly about their practices and the organizations to which they belong. May they be the first of many to come.

References

Connolly, S. The Complete Book of Demonolatry. DB Publishing. Arvada, Colorado. 2005.

GenDem Group. Demonolatry.Org: By Demonolators, For Demonolators. Website established 2011. Accessed regularly since 2010 and for this article on 20 Sept. 2016. 

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Please Note: The spelling of DAEMONOLATRY varies between those who practice it. Some articles use the most common spelling in their titles for search engine optimization purposes.