I’ll admit that when it comes to my religion, I’m a bit of a loner. That’s part of what attracted me to Satanism in the first place — I get to design and schedule my own rituals instead of engaging in old chants and readings that no longer mean anything to me, alongside people I barely tolerate at best. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not aware of the Satanic community at large, and it has not escaped my notice that there seems to be more Satanic men than there are Satanic women.

Honestly, I’m not overly concerned by this. I don’t know exactly, or particularly care, why this is. I’ve never felt threatened by Satanic men, or made to feel like I don’t belong if I don’t fill a certain role, like I sometimes did as a Christian, or that I’m anything less than what I am. No, I’ve never had another Satanist take issue with my Satanism, but I have had a few non-Satanists (most of them Christians) decide for me that Satanism is not the right path for me.

I’ve had my religion mansplained to me. I’ve been told that I’ve joined a social club (for the record,  I am not affiliated with The Church of Satan or any other Satanic organization; joining a religious organization after I’ve eschewed organized religion defeats the purpose of eschewing organized religion) and I’ve been accused of joining a cult. I’ve been told I’m an atheist. I’ve been told I’m a pantheist. I’ve been called a Satanist with the use of air quotes in a condescending tone, as if I were a wayward teenager going through a phase but who will eventually come back to the fold. I’ve been accused of devil worship, of selfishness, and of Sadism. Someone once accused me of drinking human blood and heavily implied to several of my coworkers that I might offer them poisoned gifts (normally I find these types of accusations amusing, but that one royally pissed me off; fortunately my coworkers are more than capable of thinking critically, and I didn’t have to deal with an unpleasant investigation).

Not all reactions by non-Satanists have been negative. I’ve been complimented for my Sigil of Baphomet necklace, by people who probably don’t understand its significance. Members of my inner circle have noted that I seem more confident and pleased with myself than I had before.

And that, to me, is the essence of being a Satanic woman. A Satanic woman is confident and pleased with herself. She isn’t a member of a pointless social club or a cult, she isn’t a devil worshiper, she’s not an atheist or a pantheist. She doesn’t drink human blood, nor does she have any interest in poisoning her coworkers. The only thing she’s interested in is living her life as she sees fit, and taking care of herself and those she cares for.