Occult Observations: The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

"Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a stupid action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not ?" In The Black Cat, Poe gave a very telling,yet, non Catholic confession to his nature as a man of fire and lust. It is even more telling, to those of a different nature, to reveal that the strategy is mainly to break or disrespect morality. It can be a compelling or attractive quality to those of the opposite sex seeking to have a traditional good time, playing with the "bad boy". But this does not read as the most idealistic state of being for those living such lawlessness first hand. Poe goes on to say, "Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is Law, merely because we understand it to be such? This spirit of perverness..." Much like the little boy reigning in his parents' household with fire and fury, shaming his mother and worshipping the father who leaves in search of greener pastures, Poe describes killing a dog simply because it loved him. The dog's lack of desire to attack or kill his master is what lead his Master to kill him.

The Sun, Shango, Zeus, Jesus, Hades, Had, no matter what you call the power of the element of fire, it only respects that which who knows, promotes, promises and does eventually put him out. Poe goes on to explain that his desire to kill the weaker vessel was his initiation into demonic terror. After also killing a black cat, which may or may not be to his recollection, he realized that his existence was symbolized by his poorly chosen victim. The light of historic gods of fire have been always paralleled to black cats and self destructive behavior. Shango's debauchery leading to him hanging himself, The Lord's desire for a street gang and traveling magic show and staunch opposition to the government, leading to his execution and Poe's thirst for excitement by means of murder lead to his downfall as did his predecessors. He later goes on to murder his wife, who innocently and ignorantly pandered to his sexual perversions and used surprising masonic skill to bury her in the basement wall. Like all men descending from Fire, the black cat appears when he has reached his fate. In Poe's case, his drunken-like demonic rage influenced his arrogance when he invited the police into his home and taunted them as they searched for his missing wife. And while audaciously reveling in what he thought would be his victory, his blackened feline murder victim reappears in the basement and screeches in the direction of the Mrs. Poe hidden body.

I, that which who knows, promotes, promises and does eventually put him out, would have told him not to do it. Or at least, I would have told him how do it. But who am I?