The Fire and the Wine: The History, Philosophy, and Rites of Satanism, Luciferianism, and the Left Hand Path

This 18-week course delves into the historical origins, ideologies, and ritual magic of Satanism, Luciferianism, and the Left Hand Path. Led by Shea Bilé – author, instructor, and devotee of the Left Hand Path for over 25 years – this course provides an in-depth and unparalleled journey into an entire domain of mystical praxes oft-misunderstood and hitherto granted an incomplete story. Shea Bilé’s The Fire and the Wine delivers a comprehensive and intimate exploration of the Left Hand Path – a spiritual path forged upon a crucible of radical devotion, transgression, and freedom. By the end of this course, students will have a clear vision for pursuing their own path of spiritual evolution and apotheosis within the emancipatory spiritual and ideological frameworks of the Left Hand Path, ignited by the purifying and empowering fires of the Black Flame.

Weeks 1-6 (History):

The Devil’s Path: The Origins and History of the Left Hand Path

In these lectures, Shea Bilé delivers a comprehensive primer on the origins and history of Satanism, Luciferianism, and the Left Hand Path. Beginning with the devotional antinomianism of Vāmācāra, Bilé delves into the ancient origins of Khthonic figures and their evolution throughout history – from the earliest iconographical representations of chaos, malevolence, and discord, to the development of the revisioned demonic archetypes that serve as the bedrock for contemporary Left Hand Path devotional practice.

Bilé also examines the key historical figures who have influenced the Left Hand Path. These scarcely-known, radically emboldened men and women throughout history cast their lot with the Other Side, profoundly shaping Left Hand Path esotericism today. Their lessons sustain, delivering us reflections on humanity, fragility, self-overcoming, and power.

Shea Bilé then explores the history of modern religious Satanism, Luciferianism, and the Left Hand Path to unravel its present-day manifestations (e.g., Temple of Set, Church of Satan, Satanic Temple, Gnostic Satanism/Luciferianism, Anti-Cosmic Satanism, Dragon Rouge, and others). He also sheds light on his personal religious praxis, a self-styled and independent religious path of devotion, freedom, and transgression.

Weeks 7-12 (Philosophy):

The Devil’s Way: The Ideologies of the Left Hand Path

In these lecture, Shea Bilé delivers a comprehensive primer on the origins and history of Satanic, Luciferian, and Left Hand Path ideology. He explores the journey from ancient Eastern devotional antinomianism and divine individuation to the formative Western philosophies behind religious nihilism and apotheosis/self-godhood, culminating in the modern conceptions of the “Black Flame” – rational self-interest and spiritual egoism housed within an etiology and ontology of the spirit.

Furthermore, Bilé elucidates on the ideas outlined within his book, “Friedrich Nietzsche and the Left Hand Path,” providing a deeper understanding of the ideological origins of contemporary Left Hand Path practice.

What emerges is a clear vision of a living philosophy that acknowledges the tragedy and fragility of humanity while offering a blueprint for embracing it, prevailing over its challenges, and ultimately attaining a self-overcoming and apotheosis.

Weeks 13-18 (Ritual Practice and Devotion):

The Devil’s Rites: Ritual Practice and Devotion Within the Left Hand Path

Shea Bilé delivers a comprehensive primer on Satanic, Luciferian, and Left Hand Path ritual practice and devotion. From ancient Khthonic gods and goddesses of chaos, malevolence, and power, to the oft-persecuted daemons of the Goetic tradition, to the Devil as conceived across Europe and around the world throughout history, these deities and divine figures of power will be elucidated with earnest faith and honest adoration. The ritual praxes associated with these gods, spirits, and their traditions will be thoroughly explored.

Shea Bilé’s own self-styled spiritual praxis will also be presented in a highly detailed and visceral narrative, providing an intimate glimpse into a living demonolatry/diabolatry tradition. A Left Hand Path religious praxis developed over the course of over two decades of impassioned devotion.

Students will learn how to integrate these spiritual technologies into their daily lives, fostering a transgressive and emboldened ritual practice purified and fortified by the liberating spiritual frameworks of the Left Hand Path.

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Instructor

Shea Bilé is an author, lecturer, musician, performance artist, and podcast host. A researcher and devotee of esoteric practice for over 25 years, his committed adherence to subversive forms of spiritual expression has served as a vital foundation for his work.

He has delivered lectures and workshops internationally, with a focus on Left Hand Path occultism and religious heterodoxy, and has served as both a visiting professor and a guest lecturer at various universities. His writings have appeared in numerous print and digital publications, his most recent treatise being, “Friedrich Nietzsche and the Left Hand Path,” a book of occult philosophy published by Atramentous Press in 2023. His forthcoming work, “Hymns of the Red Dragon,” a daemonic hymnal, is to be published by Theion Publishing.

He is the host of the Deferred Gnosis Podcast, a show that explores fringe philosophical, spiritual, and religious subjects. As a ritual performance artist, he blends various forms of esoteric practice with transgressive ritual expression. His more notable musical artistic effort is delivered through his most recent album, Tzimtzum, which combines spoken word lyricism with neoclassical instrumentation.

He has been a guest on a multitude of podcasts and has been the subject of various articles and documentaries, many of which relate to his life, his art, and his expertise and experience in the realm of the occult and alternative spirituality. Profile pieces of which Shea Bilé has been the subject have appeared in Vice, the documentary series 60 Second Docs, and is soon to appear on the forthcoming AppleTV documentary series, The Secret Teachings of All Ages.

He is also the founder of the Occult Student Alliance, based at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California; and The Black Sun Sect, based at KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium – both are esoteric organizations created to provide an empowering and sympathetic community for those who feel called to a path outside of conventional spirituality.

Shea Bilé holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from San Francisco State University, in San Francisco, California, and a Master of Arts degree in philosophy from The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), in Leuven, Belgium.

You can find him in the following places:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sheabile

X/Twitter: https://www.x.com/sheabile

Podcast: https://www.deferredgnosis.com

Music: https://sheabile.bandcamp.com

YT: https://www.youtube.com/sheabile