Baphomet is a symbolic figure often associated with occultism, mysticism, and esoteric traditions. The image most people recognize today—a winged, goat-headed figure with both male and female traits, one arm pointing up and one down—originated in the 19th century.

Origins

• The name Baphomet first appeared in the 14th century, during the Templar trials, when the Knights Templar were accused (likely falsely) of heresy and of worshipping a mysterious idol called Baphomet.

• The term may be a corruption of "Mahomet" (Muhammad), reflecting medieval European misunderstandings and anti-Islamic sentiment at the time.

Eliphas Lévi’s Influence

• The modern image comes from Eliphas Lévi, a French occultist, who in 1856 published "Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie" ("Dogma and Ritual of High Magic").

• Lévi depicted Baphomet as a goat-headed hermaphrodite sitting cross-legged, combining human and animal elements, male and female, heaven and earth.

• The figure represents balance, duality, and the union of opposites—light and dark, good and evil, masculine and feminine.

Symbolism

• Goat’s head: Wisdom, instinct, and nature.

• Torches between horns: Enlightenment and divine knowledge.

• Up and down gestures: The Hermetic maxim “as above, so below.”

• Androgyny: The balance of male and female energies.

• Pentagram: Often associated with occultism and spiritual balance.

Modern Use

• Adopted as a symbol by some occult, Satanic, and esoteric groups—not as a being of evil, but as a symbol of free thought, rebellion against dogma, and personal enlightenment.

• The Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple have used stylized versions of the Baphomet image in modern times, usually as a statement on religious freedom and separation of church and state.

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Trancidental magic 

This is the most influential piece of literature that would define the occult as it is today, for Alevis Levi inspired Arther Wreight would create the sigil of Balphomet. Which Anton Levey would also use for the cover of The Satanic Bible. Anton Levey would also take heavy inspiration from Alevis Levi in his 9 satanic statements.

Core Ideas

• Unity of all knowledge: Magic is not separate from religion or science, but a higher synthesis of both.

• The Magus (the practitioner): The magician seeks self-mastery and spiritual enlightenment, becoming a conscious channel for divine will.

• Correspondence and analogy: Everything in the universe is interconnected (“as above, so below”), and symbols reflect deeper truths.

• The Astral Light: A subtle, universal medium or energy that connects all things and can be influenced through will and ritual.

• The Power of Will: True magic comes from disciplined intention — transforming both the outer world and the inner self.

Goals of Transcendental Magic

• Achieving spiritual illumination and union with the divine.

• Understanding and applying universal laws through symbolism, ritual, and meditation.

• Balancing opposites — light and dark, spirit and matter, intellect and emotion — to attain harmony and mastery.

Influence

Lévi’s concept of Transcendental Magic inspired later esoteric traditions, including:

• The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

• Thelema (Aleister Crowley’s system)

• Modern Western occultism, tarot, and Kabbalistic mysticism

Key points of the Balphomet

The two horns represent two apposing forces and the torch represent the polarity between them. They also represent masculintiy while the breasts represent femininity.  The arms of the balphomet represents as above so below representing the Earth and astrology which Levi got from Puzuzu. The arms of the Balphomet represent solve and coagula which represents the deconstruction and reconstruction of ones self. symbolizing spiritual transformation. This symbolism is further represented by the Caduceus. 

Overall if you wanna attain your own godhood the Balphomet will teach you and if you wanna sport a true satanic artifact get yourself a demonic rose pendant. Which is used in demonic rituals by an actual occultist. 

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