Honestly, if you mention the 11 Satanic Rules on Earth at a dinner party, people usually freak out. They start picturing hooded figures in basements or some weird horror movie trope involving goats. But that’s not really what’s going on here. These rules aren't about "evil" in the way Hollywood likes to sell it. They’re actually a weirdly pragmatic, hyper-individualistic set of guidelines written by Anton LaVey back in 1967.
LaVey founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco. He was a circus performer, a musician, and a guy who clearly understood how to push people's buttons. When he sat down to write these rules, he wasn't looking to summon demons. He was codifying a philosophy that prioritizes the self above all else. It's basically Ayn Rand’s "Objectivism" but with more black leather and theatrical flair.
Most people assume these rules are a direct "inverse" of the Ten Commandments. They aren't. While the biblical commandments focus on your relationship with a deity and communal morality, LaVey’s rules are obsessed with personal boundaries. They’re about who gets to occupy your space and how you should react when someone messes with you. It’s a "don't start nothing, won't be nothing" vibe, but taken to a very intense, almost aggressive level of social Darwinism.
Why the 11 Satanic Rules on Earth are misunderstood
Context is everything. You have to remember that 1967 was the "Summer of Love." While everyone else was wearing flowers in their hair and talking about universal peace, LaVey was essentially saying, "Actually, people are just animals, and we should stop pretending otherwise."
The rules were never meant for the general public. Originally, they were internal guidelines for members of the Church of Satan. They serve as a social contract. If you’re going to be part of this "alien elite," as LaVey called it, here is how you behave so you don't look like a total idiot or a doormat. It’s less about theology and more about social etiquette for people who identify as outsiders.
The first rule: Opinions and advice
The very first rule is a classic: Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked. Think about how much quieter the internet would be if everyone followed this. It’s rooted in the idea that your intellect is a resource. Why waste it on people who didn't ask for it? It’s also about respect. By forcing your opinion on someone, you’re assuming you know better than they do, which is a form of arrogance that LaVey actually despised (even though he was incredibly arrogant himself).
Rules of engagement and the home
Rules two and three deal with how you interact with others’ spaces.
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- Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them. - When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
The "lair" thing sounds dramatic, but just think of it as someone’s apartment or office. It’s a radical take on hospitality. If you’re a guest, you shut up and follow the host's lead. If you can't do that, you leave. There’s no middle ground where you get to be a nuisance in someone else’s home.
The "Destruction" Rule: Number Four
This is the one that usually makes people jump. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
Okay, let’s be real. In a modern legal context, "cruelly and without mercy" is a fast track to a lawsuit or a jail cell. But within the philosophy, it’s about the absolute sovereignty of your personal space. You aren't required to be "nice" to someone who is disrespecting your home. LaVeyan Satanism rejects the "turn the other cheek" mentality. If someone crosses a boundary in your territory, the philosophy dictates that you shut that down immediately and decisively. It’s about setting a hard line so the person never dares to do it again.
Consent and the 11 Satanic Rules on Earth
One of the most surprising aspects for outsiders is how strictly the rules handle consent. Rule five says, Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal. It’s phrased weirdly—"mating signal" sounds like something out of a National Geographic documentary—but the core message is 100% about consent. In the 1960s, this was actually quite ahead of its time. It places the burden of responsibility on the person making the move. If it’s not clearly wanted, don't do it. Period.
Rule six: Property and the "unburdening"
Then there’s rule six: Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
This is a strange one. It’s an anti-theft rule, but with a psychological twist. It suggests that if someone is complaining constantly about something they own, they’re practically begging you to take it off their hands. However, the primary takeaway is a respect for property. You don't just grab stuff. You respect what others have earned or acquired.
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The weirdly practical side of Satanic ethics
As we move further down the list, the rules get into how you should view the world and yourself.
Rule seven: Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
Now, if you ask a member of the Church of Satan what "magic" is, you’ll get a variety of answers. Most of them aren't talking about fireballs or levitation. They’re talking about "Greater Magic," which is essentially psychodrama—using ritual to change your own emotional state—or "Lesser Magic," which is basically just applied psychology and charisma. This rule is a warning against ingratitude and self-delusion. If you used a specific mindset to win, don't pretend it was just luck later. Own your process.
Rules eight through eleven: Common sense and animals
The final few rules are almost surprisingly mundane, yet they carry a heavy weight in the Satanic community.
- Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself. (Stop whining about things you can change).
- Do not harm little children.
- Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
- When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
The rules regarding children and animals are absolute. In LaVey’s view, children and animals are the "purest" forms of existence because they haven't been corrupted by societal hypocrisy. Hurting them is seen as the ultimate sin within this framework. It’s a sharp contrast to the "evil" persona the public associates with Satanism.
The "open territory" rule (Rule 11) is the ultimate summary of the whole philosophy. It’s a policy of non-aggression... until someone else starts it. "Bother no one" is the baseline. But if someone refuses to respect your request for peace, the response is meant to be total. Again, "destroy him" is usually interpreted metaphorically or legally/socially in the modern day, but the intent is to end the conflict by winning it decisively.
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Misconceptions vs. Reality
People often conflate the 11 Satanic Rules on Earth with Theistic Satanism (worshipping a literal Devil) or with the Satanic Temple (a political activist group). They are very different things.
The Church of Satan, which follows these rules, is atheistic. They don't believe in Satan as a person. To them, Satan is a symbol of pride, carnality, and rebellion. When they talk about these rules, they are talking about how a "civilized animal" should behave in a world full of people who are often dishonest about their true natures.
The issue of "Cruelty"
The biggest sticking point for most people is Rule 4 and Rule 11—the parts about being "cruel" or "destroying" people. Critics argue this promotes violence. The Church of Satan argues it’s about self-defense. In their view, "turning the other cheek" only encourages bullies to keep hitting. By reacting with overwhelming force (socially, legally, or physically in self-defense), you are theoretically making the world safer by teaching bullies that there are consequences. It’s a very "eye for an eye" philosophy that doesn't leave room for forgiveness without a reason.
How these rules impact modern "Satanic" life
You won't find many people today who follow these rules to the letter in a literal, "destroy your enemies" kind of way. Instead, you find people who use them as a framework for boundary setting.
In a world where everyone wants your attention, your data, and your emotional labor, the rule "Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked" is actually a pretty solid mental health tip. The idea of the "lair" translates well to the modern "safe space" or simply respecting people's digital and physical privacy.
The Nuance of Rule 8
Rule 8—Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself—is perhaps the most actionable piece of advice in the whole document. It’s a call to personal responsibility. If you hate your job, quit or stop complaining. If you hate a certain social circle, leave it. It’s a harsh perspective because it ignores systemic issues, but on an individual level, it’s meant to empower the person to stop being a victim of their own choices.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re looking at these rules and wondering how they apply to the real world, here is how they usually play out in practice:
- Audit your boundaries. Look at Rule 1 and Rule 2. Are you oversharing? Are you giving advice to people who don't want it? Try pulling back and see how your relationships change.
- Respect the "Lair." Whether it's a friend's house or a professional environment, recognize that you are there on their terms. If you don't like the terms, don't go.
- The Consent Standard. Take Rule 5 seriously. It’s not just about "mating signals"—it’s about ensuring that any interaction you have is enthusiastically mutual.
- The No-Whining Policy. Apply Rule 8 for a week. Every time you're about to complain about something, ask yourself: "Do I have to subject myself to this?" If the answer is no, either change the situation or stay silent.
- Protect the Vulnerable. Rules 9 and 10 are the moral floor. Protection of children and animals is non-negotiable.
The 11 Satanic Rules on Earth are a product of their time—edgy, theatrical, and intentionally provocative. But beneath the "Satanic" branding, they are a hyper-focused guide to being an individual who takes up space, protects their peace, and refuses to be a victim. Whether you find them empowering or off-putting depends entirely on how much you value communal harmony versus individual sovereignty.