SMC, (also known as SM or Essemian Church) is a modern Natural Religion; committed to the restoration of some of the ancient women's religions worshipping the Great Goddess.

We are interested in historical research of many ancient Goddess-based, matriarchal cultures to the extent of simulating the existence of such a society in our present time. The simulation could be extended to include a Goddess-based, Amazonian-like society, in which present day assumptions of the active and passive gender roles respective to male and female are reversed, and women have assumed extraordinarypowers.

We are not afraid to explore a societal simulation where women become the oppressors and men the oppressed, even to the extent where men assume roles as slaves in a female dominant environment. The Goddess becomes the Dominatrix; the Dominatrix becomes the Goddess when she can successfully channel the spirit, temperament and awesome power of the Goddess Kali to rule and hold strict command over the helpless males at her feet.

To explain what this has to do with Goddess worship - we offer the following. Since we believe that the worship of a male gender God has resulted in a rationalization for the legitimacy of a male dominant society, it then becomes apparent that the practice of Goddess worship could also have a similar effect upon gender dominance presumptions. If such an effect were to result in an inversion of the present societal paradigm (whereby the female becomes the dominant gender rather than the male), it may be concluded that such an inversion of gender dominance is an essential element of Goddess worship

SMC believes that the ideal Goddess worship private communal environment indicates the necessity for a female dominant societal paradigm, and thus retains as one of its principle religious objectives the acquisition of resources for the eventual creation of an isolated living arrangement, where a Goddess-based, female-dominant, disciplined lifestyle can be fully effected. Insofar as we believe that the realization of our unique communal lifestyle objective is a ‘Goddess-directed religious mission’, SMC seeks special women and men who are prepared to experience the full consequences of living in such a communal situation, and are able to help bring such a commune into existence.

Q: WHAT DOES THE SMC TEACH ABOUT GOD?

A: SMC has no unique theological teachings about God, except for the rejection of the odd notion that a "spiritual" God should require a biological gender. We are suspicious of those religious traditions which seem to have an extraordinary need to describe God as a 'He'; their image of an all-powerful, super-human, spiritual being is always shown as being male in gender. We believe this to be more the result of (male dominated) 'societal assumptions', rather than being based on logical or theological reasoning. We offer a unique opposing alternative by recognizing and emphasizing the female aspect of the (same) all-powerful 'God'. .

Q: WHAT DOES THE SMC TEACH ABOUT THE GODDESS?

A: SMC's theological beliefs involve more the 'QUEST' (i.e., study) of ancient Goddess Religion history and mythology, rather than teachings of any set orthodoxical beliefs. Rather than seek for "believers," we prefer instead to invite others to share in our Quest for increasing our knowledge of the Goddess, to study the ways of the ancient Goddess-based societies, and to explore practical applications of ancient traditions to develop new rituals for our present time.

Q: IS THE SMC REALLY INVOLVED WITH RELIGION?

A: The word 'religion' really means "to re-link." And the basic commitment of SMC involves re-linking some parts of present-day (male-dominated) technocratic society, with a distant past where 'Goddesses' (rather than any 'Gods') were natural to the collective consciousness of all rational beings. Yes, SMC really is involved with religion. Some SMC Rituals originate from the mythology of the "dark side" (e.g., Mahavidya) goddesses of ancient India. Herein one finds the paradigm of the powerful, awesome, and sometimes cruel feminine deity who demands male surrender and obeisance. It is from this source that SMC's 'Sanctuary of the Goddess' derives its ritual traditions, based upon acts of surrender and subjugation of the male principle, as being a sincere spiritual expression of the religious devotional practices of Tantric Shaktism.

Q: IS SEX A PART OF THE ESSEMIAN CHURCH OF THE GODDESS?

A: Even though few admit it, sex is a part of ‘every’ religion. See how prevailing religious influences can affect strict laws to control not only sex but sexuality itself. SMC believes that it is better to involve the use of eroticism in religious ‘celebration’ rather than religious litigation to have one group's sexual preferences prevails over another. Moreover, SMC's devotion to the practice of ‘Shaktism’(a unique form of worship of the Mahavidya Goddesses) is rooted in Tantrism. And Tantrism is based upon the use and control of eroticism as being an essential element of religious practice.

Q: HOW CAN A CHURCH INVOLVE SENSUALITY WITH RELIGION?

A: From the earliest times known, religions traditionally have made sensuality a natural and normal part of their religious experience. Nearly all of these earlier pre Christian era religious traditions were Goddess-oriented. It was not until after the patriarchal suppression of matriarchal religions that sensuality become an “immoral pagan” practice to be condemned by patriarchal churches. However, the practice of Tantric Shaktism requires that we confront and experience our sensuality as an expression of the necessary surrender to the Goddess who dwells within. Therefore, the subject of sensuality must be included as a regular aspect of our religious devotional exercises and rituals.

Q: DOES THE SMC ADVOCATE FREE LOVE?

A: No, but here we can see the confusion over the term of “free,” which to most people implies acting irresponsibly. Since total freedom and total responsibility is something too few people are willing to accept, people seek to escape from freedom and responsibility by hiding behind cloaks of “respectability” while criticizing those who dare to take responsibility for acts of investigating ‘alternative sexuality’. SMC's most controversial position on sexuality is the notion that full control of a sex act be reserved for the female instead of the male. Such a notion is likely to be found extremely antithetical to a patriarchal society. SMC’s position:

       • Since the woman is the 'child bearer', it should be only the 'woman' who initiates and controls all sexual activity; and

       • All sexual activity should be “Life Affirming” (i.e., safe sex practices, and taking responsibility to exclude unplanned pregnancy).

Q: WHY IS THE SMC ORGANIZED AS A CHURCH?

A: As there is a certain communal benefit that can result from the coordinated efforts of individuals who share the same interests (i.e., “religious Common Belief”), SMC’s purpose is to provide the community coordination and legal organizational structure necessary to best socially and economically share the benefits and costs of our Quest. As our Quest is a “religious purpose” activity, by being organized as a church we can far better provide for the transfer and sharing of resources in the same privileged situation that exists for other tax-exempt, nonprofit, religious corporations. Moreover, insofar as the practice of some SMC “Essemian Rituals” may well be considered controversial, by being organized as a church we can invoke U.S. Constitutional protection for the freedom to practice our religion as we interpret it to be, and offer ‘Sanctuary’ to all who share in the same desire to practice our Common Belief

Q: IS THE SMC CHURCH INVOLVED WITH “S/M”?

A: If you take the meaning of “S/M” to singularly describe the act of sadomasochism as sexual deviation, involving senseless cruelty to cause injury or harm to another, the answer is a very clear “No!” Make no mistake about this! As a caring, humanistic church, SMC opposes cruel, senseless violence in any form. But if you take “S/M” to mean, as it was intended, “Shakti Mysticism,” then the answer would be a qualified “Yes.” Our involvement with this form of “S/M” actually describes a situation where one may experience a deep, psychically intense spiritual fulfillment by participating in orchestrated rituals of surrender to iconographic forms of the Darkside Mahavidya Goddesses. We see this as the most sincere expression of devotion to “Shakti Mysticism,” and it is the only kind of “S/M” that the SMC invokes in its religious practices.

Q: WHAT IS AN “ESSEMIAN EXPIATION RITUAL?”

A: Demonstrating our interests and respect for antiquity, we make anthropological note of the use of “expiation” or “atonement” rites from the oldest primitive, to even a few of the modern religions. Such rites, where a consensual sacrifice or suffering was freely given as an offering to a deity to grant pardon for a past wrong, or to ask for some future favor, was a natural and common occurrence and thus it is also recognized by our church as the physical manifestation of a Divine petition. The sincerity of the petition defines the severity of the expiation or atonement. This Rite is conducted by an Essemian Priestess and her Dakini Initiates (women trained in assisting a Priestess in rituals). Here devotees may present their petition to the Goddess through an Essemian Priestess by consenting to endure mild to severe forms of restraint, mortification, and/or corporal-based correction.

We believe that a deeply sincere commitment to this Rite, which of course is purely optional, improves one's chances of a petition being granted by the Goddess, as well as better preparing one to deal with the reality of everyday life. Moreover, one of the tenets of our Church is the believe that acts of consensual surrender to a little pain and degradation as an offering to the Darkside Goddess Kali, such acts can actually help reduce the non consensual pain and degradation suffering by others in the world..

Q: WHAT BENEFITS CAN THE SMC OFFER TO MEMBERS?

A: Membership benefits can vary considerably according to the degree of commitment a member is willing to make. One may be satisfied with minimal involvement as a Supporting Member by maintaining contact with SMC through its website and other SMC social media and making contributions to SMC as a (Level 1) General Member; or go to higher levels to help form a local Curia in their area as a (Level 2) Member. More information about Curias and how they can be formed will be forthcoming. The greater the commitment, the greater is the involvement and thus, perchance, the greater the potential for personal fulfillment. The more active member is far more likely to meet, talk and possibly share experiences with other members of the Essemian Community. But most of all we believe that the greatest benefit that SMC can offer any of its members (as members of a "Religious Community Who Share a Quest"), is the opportunity for a 'respectful association' with others with whom you may share very special benefits.

Q: SMC MEMBERS CAN BE DISCREETLY RECOGNIZED BY OTHER MEMBERS?

A:  Borrowing heavily upon those “secret recognition systems” of the ancient Goddess-based (Women-Kraft) religions, SMC members have special means to allow themselves to be discreetly recognized only by 'other members', even though they may never have met before. It's possible that someone you may see every day may be displaying one of several SMC recognition signs. These recognition signs may consist of wearing medallions with special symbols, or there may be more subtle signs, such as displaying buttons picturing some of the various ancient forms of 'male dominating Goddess' images that can be found in our publications. If you were not a member, you would not know how to recognize this or respond to it. Thus recognition and communication shall always remain the option of the individual member. (Note: Samples of the various proprietary Essemian symbols, logos, and SMC medallions will be displayed in forthcoming “Essemian Way” pages on our Website and available only to those who registered for this special website partition.)

Q: HOW DOES ONE BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH THE SMC, AND WHAT IS THE PRESENT SITUATION FOR SMC DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?  

Special Note

A:  At this point, “Involvement” used to mean filling out an SMC membership form and mailing it back to SMC along with an annual membership payment of $45.00. For this, a “member” would get a subscription to two publications, the monthly Echoes from the Sanctuary newsletter, along with a slick, quarterly published 44-page magazine The Essemian Way. The contents, stories, articles and fine illustrations, together with notices of coming Essemian events such as rituals, services, a few “special training” sessions, and other related activities, were all good.

But, while things were going well for SMC for a while, changes came about that SMC had not initially been designed to handle.Printing and mailing cost were going up. As the publications of The Essemian Way went up in quality, it also became larger, and heavier. That together with Echoes printing and mailing costs meant that the SMC “membership dues” costs would have to be raised substantially in order to sustain our publication enterprises. No, wait. SMC was organized as a nonprofit religious corporation, a church and not a print publishing enterprise. We’re going in the wrong direction.

Moreover, SMC was starting to get “membership dues” from other states, and even a few were coming from countries outside of the U.S. SMC’s primary area of operations had been the San Francisco Bay Area. Changes in the directions of future SMC’s program emphasis were indicated.

For one, SMC’s printing of the newsletter and magazine as an enterprise were halted insofar as it began to turn SMC more into a publisher than a church, and it was becoming more apparent that there was a need to develop a model where SMC, through electronic means (e.g..the Internet and Social Media) would be better able grow in membership number by exporting our Ideal which could better travel across state lines and international borders.

The new SMC membership model that is in development now will be based upon offering courses and training for those who would be interested in putting together an “exported” model of SMC that would consist of SMC Ritual practicing groups of 12 to 16 members that we call “Curias,” actually, “Essemian Curias” where each Curia would be under the direction of a female who, with the proper attitude of Female Power in dominance, and who would also have the leadership potential, to be designated as an SMC-certified “Essemian Curia Priestess.”

For more infomation, you can email your questions or comments  to:

smc@darkside-goddess.org

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