The Satanic Cult Awareness guide was together by a team
researchers and law enforcement officials around 1988. The data in this
document was compiled to help investigators better understand crimes
motivated by cults and Satanic rituals. At that time, several high
profile cases involving Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) made the news and
triggered a phenomenon that media now calls “Moral Panic” or “Satanic
Panic”. The full document was archived by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.
This article extracts some of the document’s most relevant information.
Introduction
This training manual is the result of compiling information from
several years of occult investigations including volumes of written
documentations from several investigators across the nation.
We take this opportunity to express our gratitude, and give
recognition to the following persons and organizations for the
information and documentation they provided.
Dale Griffis, Ph.D. – Tiffin, Ohio P. D.
Detective Sandi Gallant Daly – San Francisco P. D.
Lt. Larry Hones – Boise, Idaho P. D.
Sgt. J. Hill – San Diego P. D.
Kurt Jackson – Beaumont, California P. D.
Gary Bradford and Jim Craig – U.S. Defense Investigative Service
This information may serve as a resource file for any Law Enforcement
department, investigating such crimes suspected of having cult/satanic
influence. In many instances, “strange” and “unusual” symbols are left
at the crime scene, or transmitted through various writings which the
investigator does not know or understand, and so often these symbols are
disregarded, and or discounted as non-essential and immaterial to the
case at hand. These cult symbols, runes, and hieroglyphics will assist
the serious investigator to gain ability and to correctly understand and
recognize this new and serious crime explosion.
Types of Abuse and Torture
Confinement/isolation in small places, often with
sensory deprivation: Blackhole/pit, cage, coffin or grave. Often the
container is filled with bone or a body (animal or human), snakes,
spiders, etc. Children are told that worms will eat their brains out.
Often they are left for days in absolute filth. This abuse is involved
in significant rituals or may be utilized as punishment. Being reborn
into Satanism (hauled out of live burial) through symbolic death is a
standard ritual for children.
Sexual torture: Is
continuous and almost always with multiple perpetrators (both male and
female); as well as trained animals. Infants and toddlers are physically
prepared for later sexual abuse with objects forced into every body
opening. The role of the mother figure is crucial in this early sexual
abuse preparation. Sexual rituals are common and generally involve the
letting of blood (girls are cut vaginally, boys cut on the p---s).
Sexual orgies among cult members always involve the balance of pleasure
with pain to serve Satan. Girls are impregnated as early as possible,
and are taught that unanesthetized abortions are an honor.
Physical deprivation: Chronic disruption of sleep,
starvation, excessive exposure to heat or cold. This breaks down
resistance and increases susceptibility to brainwashing.
Forced participation in abuse/murder: For children
this may be real (adult hand guides child’s hand to stab baby) or staged
(the victim was already dead, or child’s participation was suggested
under hypnosis). Child is then labeled a murderer, unlovable, a criminal
who will be locked up by the police, crazy and awaiting psychiatric
lock up. Ultimately, many of the children will be programmed to murder
for the cult on cue. They are taught by “trainers” how to kill, collect
blood and skin victims. Even high level “trainers” still go through
continuous torture in order to stay vicious.
Psychiatric abuse: Children are often routinely
taken to an actual psychotherapist (cult member) or a person posing as
one. Routine “psychotherapeutic behaviors” are associated with pain and
fear, thus effectively sabotaging legitimate therapy for the survivor in
the future. Some survivors also report being locked up and restrained
in psychiatric hospitals or undergoing ECT as children.
Varied emotional abuse: Targeted at destroying
child’s self-esteem and self confidence. Standard caring societal
messages (I love you, you’re special) are linked with torture and
abandonment. A child is ordered to complete a paradoxical or impossible
task, then is tortured for not following orders or is blamed for the
torture or murder of another child. Children are told they are
worthless, dirty, stupid, ugly, evil and are lucky the cult will keep
them.
Religious/spiritual abuse: Often
in real or staged Christian churches, always targeted against any
future acceptance of Christianity (even though many cult families
masquerade as active Christians), always emphasizing control of child by
Satan and his demons. Children are raped with symbolic Christian
objects and are told that Jesus approved and believes they are bad.
Rituals involving the insertion of eyeballs into the vagina or rectum
symbolize that demons are inside the child always watching. Children are
“placed under numerous curses” during rituals. Especially important to
uncover is the “curse of silence” (if they tell of the cult, they and
the non-cult listener will die). Although special children are taught
they can develop great powers by serving satan, fear of the diety’s rage
seems to predominate the belief system. Most of the cult abuse is
intertwined with religious dogma. Male and female children and adults
are “married to Satan” (who is considered bisexual) at various ages.
General physical torture: Mutilation/marking the
body for satan, drawing blood, banging by arms or feet, tubal insertion
in body opening to allow for fluids to be introduced. Electric shock to
spine/knees, dragging with rope or leash around neck, generally being
treated like an animal, immersion in feces/blood buckets/urine,
pulling/drilling teeth, being burned (trial by fire), blood transfusions
and skin grafts from sacrificial victims.
Drug abuse: Begins in infancy, is routinely a part
of general brainwashing and rituals. Drugs are very sophisticated and
often administered by medical professionals (IV, IM, gas masks, orally).
Most survivors report that drugs are administered through cranial burr
holes as well. The effects of drug are complex, such as resulting in
paralysis from the neck down, and are very carefully induced. Some
ritual torture need not be fully experienced by the child, and simply
serves symbolic or spiritual purposes. The cult also uses sodium amytal
to gain information.
Brainwashing: Often in conjunction with drugs, is
sophisticated hypnosis which involves the associative pairing of induced
pain/terror + the cult message + the trigger cue(s). Trigger cues are
planted in the subconscious and are too numerous to list. They are later
utilized by the cult to control the survivor without his or her
conscious awareness (visual symbols on greeting cards, flower colors and
arrangements, common hand gestures, verbal phrases, body postures,
facial movements). Brainwashing is an integral part of ritual abuse and
cult indoctrination, and also serves to create amnesia for cult
information such as names, places, etc., thus protecting cult secrecy.
Hypnotic introduction of visual images during abuse can hamper later
therapeutic efforts to uncover accurate memories.
Near death experiences: Particularly common via
suffocation torture, near drownings (head is held under water). These
are utilized for punishment, to promote “out of body experiences”, and
are a common part of certain rituals. Victims may be resuscitated with
oxygen.
Forced eating of flesh, excrement, and other fetid material: This
is routine and is generally force-fed or given to child as a trick,
concealed as something else after the child has been starved for days.
“Ritual meals” of blood, flesh, s---n, urine, etc., are consumed by all
cult members during sacrifices to Satan. (These are commonly accompanied
by nausea and vomiting). It is quite common for survivors to be very
suspicious of food in general and to avoid many food types due to color
or texture. Some survivors seem anorexic and others compulsively eat to
combat “taste memories”.
Staged birthing of “bad babies”: Dead snakes, rats,
objects are seemingly pulled from between the legs of small girls who
are told they are giving birth to bad, rotten things. This serves to
practice birthing and also is more “evidence” of how bad they are inside
and need to be purified (by more abuse).
Teaching cognitive contusion: Opposites are
constantly reconciled in cult behavior and training (be obedient/rebel,
sex without pain is not pleasure, love and hate are the same, black is
white, ugly is pretty, left is right). Children learn that none of
society’s concepts are stable and often represent their opposite. The
child must split inside to function within this cult confusion vs. the
non-cult world. cult families frequently evidence different rules at
home vs. at cult gatherings.
Sabbat and Festivals Dates in Witchcraft & Satanism
Pagans, witches and satanists share eight common sabbats during the
year . Each one holds special significance to them. In addition,
satanists hold member’s birth date in reverence. On these dates there
should be a significant amount of activity amongst traditional
worshippers.
In the Celtic (Druid) belief, night proceeds the day, therefore, festivals are held on the eve of the event.
The Celtic year began with winter and was broken down into halves.
The winter half runs from November thru January and February thru April.
The summer half runs from May thru July and August thru October. Both
Equinoxes and Solstices are also celebrated.
Pagans hold fertility rites on Holy Days to promote fertility both in the home and agriculturally.
The Eight Sabbats
Date | Name | Description |
February 2nd | Candlemas | In
Catholicism this is the festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In other
Christian religions it is the celebration of the presentation of Jesus
in the Temple. |
March 21st | Vernal Equinox |
|
April 30th | Beltane | Also
known as May eve. This is a major. Celtic festival marked by bonfires
and fertility rites. In Christianity May 1st is Apostles Day. |
June 22nd | Summer Solstice | Third highest satanic holiday. |
July 31 to August 1st | Lammas | Feast of the Sun God. The beginning of autumn and the harvest season. The English festival of wheat harvest. |
September 21st | Autumnal Equinox | Or Fall Day. |
October 31st | Halloween | Or
Samhain: First Highest Satanic holiday - Celebration of the beginning
of the Celtic Year (Nov. 1st). In Catholicism, Nov. 1st is All Saints
Day. |
December 22nd | Yule or Winter Solstice | Fourth Highest satanic Holiday. |
NOTE: According to the Satanic Bible a coven members birthday should
be treated as a holiday also. These dates may change according to the
lunar cycle.
Occult Calendar
(Dates based on 1988 calendar)
Date | Celebration | Type / Ceremony |
Jan 1 | New Years Day (Druid Feast) |
|
Jan 7 | St. Winebald Day | Blood. Animal or Human Sacrifice (Dismemberment) |
Jan 17 | Satanic Revels | Sexual Activity |
Jan 20-27 | Sacrifice Preparation | Kidnapping, holding and ceremonial prep. of person for human sacrifice. |
Jan 26 | Grand Climax. Five weeks and one day after Winter Solar Solstice. | Da Muer Ritual. Sacrifice Female/Child, Sex |
Feb 1 | Candleman's Eve | Welcoming Spring |
Feb 2 | Candlemans, Oimele, Lady Day, Imbok (SABBAT FESTIVAL) Welcoming Spring | Marks the transformation of the Goddess from mother to young virgin. Mass initiations
Animal/human Sacrifice |
Feb 2 | Satanic Revels | Sexual Activity |
Feb 14 | Shrovetide. Three days before Ash
Wednesday, Feb 17 |
|
March 1 | St. Eichatadt | Blood. Drinking of human blood for strength and homage to the demons |
March 20 | Spring (Vernal) Equinox (SABBAT FESTIVAL) Major Fertility SABBAT | Feast Day. Sexual Orgies
Animal/Human Sacrifice |
March 24 | Feast of the Beast | Bride of Satan in marriage ceremony. Sexual activities |
March 31 | Maunday Thursday,
Unholy Thursday |
|
April 1 | **Good Friday,
Day of Passion | Mocks death of Christ. Animal/Human
Sacrifice |
April 2 | Easter Eve Day | Blood. Human Sacrifice
Male/Female |
April 3 | **Easter Day, Unholy Sunday (Falls between March 22 - April 25). Followed by three days of fasting and chanting. | Blood. Human Sacrifice |
April 19-26 | Sacrifice Prep. | Kidnapping, holding and ceremonial prep. of person for human sacrifice |
April 24 | St. Mark's Eve |
|
April 25 | Grand Climax. Five weeks and one day after Spring Equinox. Da Muer Ritual. | Sexual Activity. Female Human Sacrifice. The sacrifice can be a child. |
April 30 | Walpurgisnacht, Roodmas Day, May Eve (SABBAT FESTIVAL) Welcoming Summer. One of the two most important SABBATS. | Blood. Animal/Human Sacrifice |
May 1 | Beltane, Walpurgis Day, May Day | Druid Fire Festival. Coven Initiation |
May 12 | **Ascension Day, Always the 40th day after Easter marking Ascension of Christ |
|
May 13 | Friday the 13th | Blood/Sexual. Orgies & Animal Sacrifice |
May 13 | Samhain. Old celebration date until 8th century. |
|
May 22 | **Whitsun, Whitsunday Pentacost |
|
June 2 | **Corpus Christi | Mocker of the feast of the body and blood of Christ |
June 20 | Summer Solar Solstice (SABBAT FESTIVAL) First day of summer (sun farthest from equator). Feast day. | Orgies. Animal/Human Sacrifice |
June 23 | Midsummer's Eve, St. John's (the Baptist) Eve. Invokes the sun at the height of its strenght. | Fire |
July 1 | Demon Revels | Blood/Sexual association with demons. Sexual Activity |
July 10 | Unholy Day of the Paladium. Reading of old Satanism ritual books. |
|
July 20-27 | Sacrifice prep | Blood. Kidnapping, holding and ceremonial preparation of person for human sacrifice |
July 25 | St. James' Day | Blood |
July 26 | Grand Climax. Five weeks and one day after solstice. | Sexual Activity. Female Human sacrifice, it can be a child. |
July 31 | August Eve |
|
August 1 | Lammas Day, Lugnasadh (SABBATH FESTIVAL) | Heralding Harvest Blood. Animal/Human Sacrifice |
August 3 | Satanic Revels
Sexual Ritual | Sexual Activity |
August 24 | St. Bartholomew's Day | Fire. Ceremonial animal sacrifice |
Sept 7 | Marriage to the Beast Sexual Satan | Sexual/Blood. Sacrifice
Dismemberment |
Sept 20 | Midnight Host | Blood. Dismember & hand removed for Hands of Glory. Flesh eating usually occurs. |
Sept 22 | Autumn Equinox
(SABBATH FESTIVAL)
Sun crosses equator and days and nights are equal length. First day of fall. Feast Day. | Blood and orgies. Animal/human sacrifice |
Oct 22-29 | Sacrifice prep. | Kidnapping/Holding. Ceremonial prep. of person for human sacrifice |
Oct 28 | Grand Climax. Five weeks and one day after Autumn Equinox. | Sexual Activity. Female human sacrifice, it can be a child. |
Oct 30 | Satanist High Unholy Day, Related to Halloween | Blood. Human Sacrifice |
Oct 31 | All Hallow's Eve.
Samhain (Halloween) (SABBATH FESTIVAL). Announcing onset of two most
important SABBATS. Attempts are made to break the bonds holding closed
doors to the Underworld. | Blood/Sexual association with demons. Animal/Human sacrifices (M or F) |
Nov 1 | All Saints Day | Celtic-Druid Fire Festival |
Nov 1-2 | Day of the Dead | Celtic-Druid Holiday |
Nov 4 | Satanic Revels | Sexual |
Dec 21 | Winter Solar Solstice (SABBAT FESTIVAL)
Shortest day of the year (sun farthest from equator). First day of winter. Witches' year begins. | Blood/Sexual. Animal/Human Sacrifice |
Dec 22 | Feast Day | Orgies |
Dec 24 | Yuletide |
|
Dec 24 | Demon Revels. Da Muer Ritual. High Grand Climax. | Blood. M/F Sacrifice |
Dec 25 | **Yuletide, Christmas
Celebrates the rebirth of the sun as a young babe to the great Goddess. |
|
Dec 29 | St. Thomas' Day | Fire. Ritual of Choice |
**Celebration held on Christian holiday would be done to mock the Christian holiday.
Masses and Rituals
Masses are services held at different times during the week, month or
year. Rituals are conducted at most of these masses and are used as a
tool to bring about a change in the state of consciousness among the
participants. Drugs, colors, music, chants, words and meditative
practices are used to enhance or mesmerize the participants.
Types of Masses
Initiation: Where new members are accepted into the
group. They will usually participate in the service acting as an
acolyte. Once initiation is complete the neophyte is sworn to secrecy
regarding all activities of the group.
Gnostic: A worship service sometimes open to
outsiders who show a desire to join the group. Evil spirits are called
upon and a desire of the group is expressed in hopes of it becoming a
realization.
Mass of Angels: On the eve of the Mass a black
rooster is killed and the heart, eyes and tongue are cut out. This mass
is practiced to give the priest protection from demonic powers becoming
too unruly.
Mass For the Dead: Used to call on God to free the
celebrant from the fear of Hell and to make the demons obey. A lamb will
be sacrificed, his throat cut and heart, eyes and tongue removed and
ground into powder and then buried with the lamb.
Black Mass: The most bizarre of all rituals done
only for evil purposes. Magicians can use powers, forces, spirits and
demons. Evil medicine can be herbs or parts of animals or human beings. A
mockery of the Catholic Mass is held. Blasphemy of the name of God and
the trampling on or urination upon Christian artifacts is part of the
service.
The Ritual
The steps taken before and during a ritual are described below. Keep
in mind that each group may do things differently so this is merely an
example of how one group conducts itself.
1. Preparation of the ritual area
2. Dress in garb and jewelry (if clothing is to be worn)
3. Ring bell to begin ritual
4. Light flame on the altar
5. Hold invocation
6. Celebrant drinks from chalice
7. Conjuring of demons begins
8. Execute desire
9. Extinguish flame
10. Ring bell to end ritual. utter closing, “So it is done.”
In most cases, rituals will be conducted within the circle to protect
the celebrants from unruly demons. There are groups, however, who
believe this to be unnecessary, feeling that they alone are in control
of what happens during the rituals.
Investigative Suggestions For Law Enforcement
1. Terrorist cults and cults which specialize in hate generally use
many different names and have various front organizations. Develop as
much information as you can, i.e. identity of leaders, their beliefs,
recruitment techniques, etc. before taking any action. Many of these
groups have automatic weapons stockpiled–know what to
expect!
2. Some cults are using quasi-legitimate businesses as fronts for
narcotics traffic. Determine whether such fronts are registered as a
business or as a charity to solicit funds. Check local and federal
courts for prior civil lawsuits and complaints … also, the Better
Business Bureau, State Attorney General’s Office, etc.
3. Many non-traditional satanic cults are using drugs, child abuse,
human sacrifice and forms of mind control to keep their members from
defecting. Many of their criminal acts center around the personality of
the coven leader. Determine what form of his/her teachings the group is
following. Study their symbols, dates activities are performed,
instruments used in the ceremonies, etc. Note the holidays honored by
the cult; particularly–birthdates of leaders, the solstices of June
22nd, December 22nd, April 30, etc. In missing children cases, determine
whether dates of disappearance occur on or near these holidays. Ensure
your inquiries are kept confidential as any public awareness will drive
the cult into even greater secrecy.
4. Note that many traditional “white” witchcraft and satanic cults
are legitimate, sometimes even helpful, to police in occult criminal
investigations. Many are eager to give information on those cults
engaged in criminal activity because they are giving them a “bad name”.
Be able to differentiate between such groups in your area.
5. Since the Mariel Boatlifts of 1980, many voodoo cults are now
operating in this country. Understand the various signs and symbols
connected with these groups; particularly–drawings of fowl, dolls,
saints, painted rocks, coins, etc. Some of these groups are involved in
narcotics, murder, extortion, and occasional human sacrifice.
6. One indication of satanic cult activity is the appearance of
mutilated animals, i.e. dogs, cats, cattle, etc. Have qualified medical
examiners examine the cadavers for missing blood, sex or other organs,
and possible blanched skin on the back from electric shock. In some
cases the epiglottis on these animals will be frozen open just prior to
death. Check with local humane societies on complaints against
individuals torturing animals.
7. Crime scene searches of suspected occult crimes should be as
detailed and thorough as possible. Photographs of the scene should be
taken with the magnetic positions of the compass noted as satanic cults
believe the “evil one” comes from the North and will lay small branches
or sticks pointing south.
8. To understand the amount of occult activity in your area, check
with local libraries and bookstores which cater to the occult. Research
occult symbols in graffiti and tattoos on suspects.
9. Investigators should take a county map and overlay a drawing of an
inverted star on the map. Information and past experience has shown
this is used as an occult center of activity in the area. A good place
to start looking.
Colors Significant to Satanism/Witchcraft
Black: Darkness, night, sorrow, evil, devil
Blue: Vigilance, tears, water, sadness
Green: Vegetation, nature, soothing, restful
Red: Blood, physical life, energy
White: Cleanliness, purity, innocence
Yellow: Perfection, wealth, glory, power
Occult Symbols
Alphabets
Witches’ Alphabet
Runic Alphabet

The full document is available at the
NCJRS website.