Lucifer vs Satan

[SoulStar]

Does anyone know of any literature of the history of Lucifer from a theosophical point of view? I heard that Lucifer and Satan ar two different things, but I cannot seem to find anything consistent about Lucifer online. Most websites slate theosophists as devil worshippers because of the Lucifer magazine in the early days, and quite frankly  I am not interested in reading their opinions, as I do not consider myself a satanist.

So if anyone knows who Lucifer (also satan) is supposed to be according to theosophy please help!

Thank you all in advance

[SoulStar]

[SoulStar]

that's what I thought...... the rosicrucians have their interpretation of it too

[John E. Mead]

Lucifer occurs once in the old testament - possibly referring Nebuchadnezzar. Lucifer is not an old testament word.

It is found in the New Testament twice (only twice I think). In Revelations it seems to apply to Christ.

They are very different terms. very different histories. Lucifer goes way back in Hermetic thought. Greek, etc. Morning light, Venus, Phosphor etc..

Actually - Joe Fulton had the best answer.

[SoulStar]

yes, it is the theosophical Lucifer magazine that sparked my interest in the subject as well as the "Lucis" trust for the Alice Bailey works.....

[Ferran Sanz Orriols]

 Hi, friends!!!

 I understand quite literally "Satan" as "adversary", so in practical terms "Satan" is anyone (or any effective force) who is against human freedom.

 I understand Lucifer as the light bearer, just like Christ descending into Hell (there is some reference about this in H P Blavatsky's writings and later in Alice A. Bailey's, too.) 

[Kirk W Walker]

Let me add something else. In his early appearance, as in the Book of Job, Satan was not evil. His role was to test those who were supposed to be good to see if they really were. That's what Satan did with Job. But it is certainly true that the labels evolved over time and both Lucifer and Satan acquired new roles. A possible Theosophical strategy is to select the nexus of meaning that you intend and define your terms accordingly. The words carry baggage with them due to historical evolution, but its possible to express what you mean by being careful. Thus 'Lucifer' would be defined in the original sense as Light-bearer, while 'Satan' could be shunned for its having the present meaning of evil.

[Kirk W Walker]

There was a Theosophy journal called Lucifer. That seems to suggest light bearer. But I've never heard of Theosophists identifying themselves with Satan. That's a small suggestion of them being distinct.

[SoulStar]

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!

[John E. Mead]

Joe is right.

I will throw in my 2 cents. (I think a good Kabbalist could help. I am not one)

The "current" usage we find in theosophical/hermetic/Christian theosophical literature etc. etc. is probably is what you are looking for. (18th, 19th centuary forward?)
I dug the below out, since it is pretty common. It almost all goes back to Levi (mid 1800s).
(Gnostic Christian is different from the below)

-------------------------
REFERENCE:  Levi, Eliphas [Alphonse Louis Constant]. The Hstory of Magic

Levi was the first (known) to connect the Tarot with the Kabbalah Tree of Life.
Albert Pike took most of his info from Levi in Morals and Dogma (on Satan and Lucifer).
The Golden Dawn took their stuff from Levi.

Below is mostly from Levi (Pikes translation, I believe)
Satan (True Name) -  HWHY  HE-VAU-HE-YOD  (YHWH backwards). Personification of Atheism or Idolatry. i.e. not a black god, but a negation of God.
In Hebrew Satan (the word) means "adversary".
Satan is a word existing in the Bible and Lucifer occurs once (?) and NOT the personage/synonym for Satan.
Satan is a Force not a person (Free Will. Goes both as Good or Evil

Lucifer: Does not occur in the Bible as a name, and definitely not for Satan. Lucifer is the Light Bearer (and Venus/planet). Often called Phosphor. Milton (poet - Paradise Lost etc.) basically sealed the name of Satan with Lucifer with apparently no good reason to make the identification.

my comments:
Levi had the Light Bearer (lucifer) as a blinder of light (and a deceiver due to brightness).
Lucifer is alchemical (Phosphor/Light) and probably has the meaning based in the Alchemical use of the word.
So - for Lucifer you probably need a Hermetic Alchemist.

 

[Joe Fulton]

We really can't answer to what the other "theosophy" sites say.  We are not and have no desire to be them.  You may want to ask Blavatsky's followers that question.

Well, the relationship is very complex.  In the theosophies that this site deals with there has been a long relationship, both allied and adversarial with the various institutions, ranging from the Gnostic, the Catholic and Protestant traditions. 

For many, many years, the theosophic current was regarded favorably, as Hermes Trismegistius was regarded to be the teacher of Moses, therefore part of the Christian tradition.  However, as time went on and the transition from medieval culture to renaissance and the enlightenment took place, theosophies became awkwardly situated.  Theosophies, Esotericism and Hermeticism have always been associated with some kind of magic and when the magical traditions, combined with Copernican thought ran afoul of church teaching then the associations with Satanism appeared.  Add to that the Protestant Reformation and what you have is a match made in hell for most of the theosophic tradition.  The Protestants regarded theosophies, which stressed individual effort and the communication with 'intermediaries' (i.e. angels, etc.) in the quest for divine knowledge to be a high form of blasphemy.

If you (or anyone) is curious on the issue check out Gary Lachman's fine book on the "Quest for Hermes Trismegistius".   Gary does a superb job of describing the relationships and treats it with a sense of humor.  It's a great read!