Friday, Saturday and Monday ~ 10AM to 8PM ~ Sunday 12PM to 6PM ~ Tuesday thru Thursday 10AM to 7PM
Who is Baphomet?
A symbol of the occult arts, self-power, and non-conformity, Baphomet has transformed through the centuries, and gained popularity in modern-day paganism. The first historical accounts of Baphomet come from the Knights of the Templar in the 11th century, who were accused of heresy for worshipping a goat-headed deity. Many thought this deity to be from the pre-Christian pagan religions of Central Europe. While the descriptions of the Horned God and Baphomet are very similar, the latter has evolved to fit a specific need in modern society..
The image of Baphomet has changed dramatically since the 11th century, and our modern depictions are heavily derived from Eliphas Levi’s 1856 publication of Dogmas and Rituals of High Magic. Shown above, Levi’s drawing depicts a humanoid figure with cloven hooves, a goat’s horned head, and wings. This image solidified Baphomet’s association with the occult sciences, and makes way for Aliester Crowley to adopt Baphomet in his “Gnostic Mass”.
Today, the most popular iconography depicting Baphomet is the 8-foot tall bronze statue commissioned by The Satanic Temple, temporarily housed at the Salem Art Gallery. The Satanic Temple continues to work with the image of Baphomet, adapting it to fit our modern day. Most notably has been the use of a male chest so that U.S. State governments could not reject the statue for being considered obscene. The statue was first unveiled in 2015 and moved to various locations in protest against displays of Ten Commandments monuments in public places.
Importantly, Baphomet has been used as inspiration for many depictions of demons or the Christian Devil. We see this in the witch community with the illustration for “The Devil” tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The Devil deity has long been described as having a goat’s head or cloven hooves, so naturally, he would quickly become entangled with the imagery of Baphomet.
Due to their close association with the Devil, many individuals escaping fundamentalist religions identify with Baphomet as a symbol of personal freedom. The Satanic Temple used Baphomet’s image as an expression of religious freedom and to represent their core tenants of compassion, equality, and autonomy. In the occult arts, Baphomet represents the interconnectedness of all things and the balancing of opposing forces. There is an emphasis on the realization of self-power when it comes to worshipping them, as well as a focus on individual spirituality rather than an organized system of worship.
The popularity of Baphomet in the queer community should come as no surprise. The witchy community, in many cases, has been a respite for queer folks, especially those who come from fundamentalist Christian upbringings. Baphomet’s associations with pride, defiance, and non-conformity speak to many queer occultists, and this is why Baphomet has appeared in Pride imagery and artwork.
Pride is a celebration of all those individuals who do not fit heteronormative ideals of sexuality and gender identity, and a reminder of the efforts of queer folks throughout history to live freely and equally. Existing as a queer person is itself a rebellion, a declaration of non-conformity, and Baphomet’s spirit invites us to celebrate those qualities. Whether you are out and proud, still discovering your identity, or you love someone who is queer, you can petition Baphomet for bravery, enlightenment, and balancing of energies. Celebrate Pride Month with us this June!
Learn how you can cultivate spiritual abundance during the harvest season
