Mr. Knife Guy from LeVi Lockwood's blog

I’ve always found Lavey’s concept of the “good guy badge” to be an interesting one.

I remember when I was thirteen years old and first read the words.  They seemed simple enough to me.

Don’t let anyone tell you when to be a nice guy...you figure that out for yourself.

At least that’s how I took it.

Then I ventured into the world of Satanism and found that quite a few others had a different view of the “good guy badge.”  To some it seems that to be a good guy at all is to be weak.

It’s understandable.

When you sharpen a blade you strike it against a stone stronger than the blade itself.  Minds and philosophies are no different.

And what’s that knife for?  Cutting of course.

To cut out a life for yourself as a Satanist and as an individual we sharpen and hone and polish because we understand more than most how hard the world is to cut through.  We know this because we possess the tool for the job...a beautiful blade that talks to us as we sleep, and see, and fight, and fuck, and live.

The trick of this blade is that it demands use.  Sharpening against stone is necessary and useful, but this blade is destined to cut fruit and flesh alike.

There is no choice in the matter.

The good guy feels hesitance.  The good guy has been taught that the greatest power comes from being able to cut but refraining from doing so.  Just like the white-hat cowboy who shoots the gun out of the bandit's hand.

Power and control.

I’ve felt this...and feel no shame in sharing it...but the truth is the truth.

The blade commands use.

Either on the world or the wielder...it cares not which.

Better to be the butcher than the lamb.