Meet Shiva Honey | Satanic Priestess, Author, & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shiva Honey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shiva, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to go all in on a creative career after spending a decade in the corporate world believing it wasn’t possible to be a professional artist. I was the first person in my family to go to college (let alone obtain a graduate degree), and growing up without many resources, finding a ‘stable’ job was valued over all else.

Years into that path, I could see my future in these corporate roles and knew it wasn’t what I wanted. The frailty of life became more and more evident over the years, and I decided I wanted to spend my time here in a way that was aligned with my values and interests. So, I quit my corporate job and jumped head first into the unknown – producing events, creating ritual tools, writing books, doing illustration, and most recently writing music. It was one of the best decisions of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Much of my work has been inspired by my path as a Satanist. I am a Priestess within The Satanic Temple, a relatively new religion, so I’ve had the rare opportunity to create works that I think have both reflected and helped to further develop this religious movement.

My first book, The Devil’s Tome: A Book of Modern Satanic Ritual, really helped ignite a new understanding of ritual within our community and spark a ritual movement. I’m really proud of the impact its had both within our community and in the broader secular world. Although it has just been released this year, I hope my second book, The Devil’s Death: Your Satanic Companion For Grief and Dying, will have a similar impact and help people confront fears, navigate grief, and rekindle their relationship with death.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was fortunate to have a collection of folks encourage me as an artist and creator over the years, which made a huge difference when people inside my home were discouraging growing up. My grandma, great grandma, and great aunts’ encouragement and love live in my mind and motivate me always, although they’ve passed.

The Satanic Temple has been the muse for much of my work over the last decade. This path has been life-changing and motivated to share my experience via my books and creations. The organization’s co-founders Lucien and Malcom have encouraged my work at every turn, which I’m very grateful for. The Satanic community at large has been a monumental support personally and professionally, and continues to inspire me on a daily basis.

Website: www.serpentinae.com

Instagram: instagram.com/shiva_honey/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivahoneyofficial