I’m traveling to Tokyo, Japan on a business visa! Vincent Castiglia Gallery & tattoo studio Florida, Audain Museum.
In the dog days of The Collapse, I have some unusually happy news… I’m going to be in Japan for a month, on a business visa! I was invited on a journalism project with the Japanese Embassy, and am delighted to be exploring Tokyo and Tohoku.
As you may know, Japan has essentially returned to “sakoku” (isolationism) since spring 2020. While most countries have re-opened to tourism, the Japanese government is still keeping its doors closed. (Some tourists are technically now allowed in, but there are enormous costs and hurdles: monitor tours, set itineraries, expensive and limited flights, and other restrictions.)
I used be in Japan every year on average for work, and never imagined that I’d be shut out of the country for several years. I’m thankful for the opportunity to visit on a business / work visa, and will soak up every moment of being back in Tokyo with friends.
And this means… I’ll be back to reporting firsthand on Japanese subcultures and fashion for your pain and pleasure! Please stay tuned to the blog and @LaCarmina on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook to see my 2022 Japan adventures. And please let me know if you have tips for things to see, do and eat in Tokyo — I’ll do my best to check them out for you. (Above two photos by Said Karlsson, hair Lulu K.)
Rules are changing all the time but as of this post, Japan requires all inbound travelers to have a negative PCR or NAAT test, within 72 hours before flying. The rules are rather complex, as the Japanese government asks for a particular certification to be issued, and only allows certain types of tests.
I was relieved to be in the good hands of Iridia Medical in Vancouver, as they are experts in the process and knew exactly what was needed to enter Japan. I got a Rapid NAAT NEAR Molecular Test, which involved a shallow nasal swab (no discomfort). It only took 15-20 minutes for me to get my result, as the testing is done right there and isn’t sent to a lab. Iridia also provided me with a “Negative Test Result Certificate” as required by the Japanese government. Iridia Medical makes pre-travel testing as easy as can be — thank you for the kind and professional care!
And a thank you to all of you for your support for my upcoming book! If you missed the news: The Little Book of Satanism: A Guide to Satanic History, Culture & Wisdom will be out right before Halloween, published by Simon & Schuster!
My Satanic guidebook is a historical-cultural look at the development of Satanism through the ages to today. “The Little Book of Satanism” covers the debut of the Devil in Biblical texts and legends, precursor Satanic groups, modern Satanist religions, the Devil in film and music, the Satanic Panic, rituals and holidays, and much more.
My fourth book is now available for preorder via: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Chapters/Indigo | Bookshop | other retailers worldwide.
See the book cover, interior, and more info HERE — and thank you for sharing and preordering!
Speaking of dark matters… I still have a story from my Florida trip to share. While I was in Miami last March, I swung by Ft Lauderdale to visit Vincent Castiglia Gallery and Custom Tattoo! (Address: 2227 S Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316)
I’ve long admired Vincent’s art, and was delighted to visit him shortly after the opening of his Florida gallery and studio.
Vincent Castiglia paints entirely in human blood… which is why his powerful, figurative surrealist works are in this signature red rust color! Vincent literally bleeds for his art — he uses his own lifeblood as his medium, sometime mixing it with blood volunteered by clients.
Visitors to Vincent Castiglia’s gallery can also book an appointment at his tattoo studio. With over 22 years of experience, Vincent is renown tattoo artist who works in black and grey — the detailed examples on his walls speak for themselves. He can create a custom tattoo for you in a variety of styles, from realistic to biomechanical.
Perhaps Vincent Castiglia’s paintings might make you think of the visions of H. R. Giger. In fact, Vincent was the first American artist to have a solo exhibition at the H. R. Giger Museum, and formed a bond with the Alien visionary himself. (You may remember my pilgrimage to the HR Giger Museum and Bar in Gruyeres a few years.)
Rather fittingly, Vincent’s iron oxide artwork is beloved by heavy metal musicians. His work is seen seen on albums, guitars, and other commissions by bands such as Slayer.
What a treat to be able to see Vincent’s blood-works up close. Many of his pieces touch upon death, transience, and humanity’s mortal coil (note the caduceus, neurons, and surgical tools in the one above).
Vincent had a show at The Satanic Temple headquarters in Salem a few years ago, and he has exhibited works at top galleries worldwide. You can purchase striking prints (like “Feeding,” above) and original artwork on Vincent Castiglia’s site.
Vincent designed the interior of his Fort Lauderdale gallery / tattoo studio himself, and it features high ceilings and cathedral arch cut outs.
You’ve got to see his blood paintings in person for the full effect — so the next time you’re in Florida, I encourage you to visit Vincent Castiglia Gallery and Tattoo.
You’re going to be inundated with Japan photos soon… but before I jet to Tokyo, let me share some recent Vancouver shoots.
Does this outfit remind you of Liv Tyler in the 1990s? It’s inspired by the movie Empire Records! Her record store character wears a similar cropped baby blue sweater and plaid skirt combo, with boots.
My Empire Records ensemble is also from Kpop / Kdrama fashion company Fashion Chingu.
I accessorized with an Inle Heritage Silk headband from Thread Tales Company. Their handwoven ikat design matches my hair and has a vintage vibe. Thread Tales’ accessories are zero waste (they use off-cuts from their cushion production) and support local artisans.
I also had an art adventure at Audain Museum in Whistler, BC. How marvelous is the West Coast modern building, by Patkau Architects?
Audain’s architecture uses wood and glass to let in light, and highlight Whistler’s mountainous surroundings. (Whistler is the famous ski and nature destination, about a 1.5 hour drive north from Vancouver.)
Audain Art Museum’s dramatic exterior and walkway are excellent for outfit shots. (My new split dye purple-pink hair is by Katya at Kore Salon in Vancouver. BC.)
I’m holding a Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon tote from the Maje Paris x Sailor Moon collection. As a fan of the Sailor Scouts since childhood, I was pleased to find a designer book bag with a kawaii / anime element.
“In the name of The Moon, I’ll punish you!” Here is an Instagram @LaCarmina video of my Sailor Moon x Maje large blue tote bag, which has a Usagi / Serena print and can fit many items (including a bouquet of pink flowers).
I paired my Maje Sailor Moon bag with chunky black leather loafers, and scrunch socks by We Love Colors,
Shop the Maje Paris x Sailor Moon clothing line below:
The carvings in the column hint at Audain Art Museum’s goal: to showcase art from British Columbia, particularly from Indigenous creators.
I was impressed by the displays of intricately carved masks inside. Doesn’t the one on the right look like Michael Jackson?
At the end of the long hallway, I met the Dogfish — an enormous mask by Haida artist Robert Davidson.
Don’t let a rainy day keep you from exploring. (Images taken on my new Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera.)
The native masks and statues at Audain were fascinating — I enjoyed reading about the legends behind the spirits depicted.
A last look at my new half-and-half split colored hairstyle. More from the Maje x Sailor Moon fashion capsule collection below:
And now, I must finish packing my business visa and documents… as I’m off to Japan! If you have questions about visiting Japan under the current restrictions, or suggestions for things to do in Tokyo, please leave me a note. Add @LaCarmina on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook for a deluge of Japan updates.
And thank you again for supporting / sharing / preordering my upcoming book! Details about The Little Book of Satanism can be found here.
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Book Deal Announcement: “The Little Book of Satanism” by La Carmina! Ulysses / Simon & Schuster, Satanic guidebook.
A devilish announcement: I have a new book coming out… about SATANISM! It’ll be published October 25 by Ulysses Press / Simon & Schuster!
Late last year, I received a book deal for The Little Book of Satanism: a nonfiction guide to the history, culture, and practices of Satanism. My fourth book features a foreword by Lucien Greaves of The Satanic Temple, and will be released by Simon & Schuster on 10/25.
♥ PREORDER NOW — The Little Book of Satanism: A Guide to Satanic History, Culture & Wisdom is available for preordering on Amazon. My book is also available at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and other retailers worldwide. Canadians can find it via Chapters/Indigo or Amazon Canada.
♥ TO SUPPORT — Please keep reading to see the Baphomet cover art, contents, and more. And thank you for taking a moment to share this post on social media — I appreciate your help in getting the word out!
❤ What is the book about?
The Little Book of Satanism by La Carmina is an accessible overview of Satanic history and culture that aims to dispel misconceptions about modern Satanists. The book begins with a foreword by Lucien Greaves (of The Satanic Temple), and then introduces the Devil’s conceptualization from his Ancient Near East predecessors to the Bible and beyond. I trace Satan’s historic footprint through the centuries (the Knights Templar, Salem Witch Trials, Hellfire clubs, Aleister Crowley), to the birth of modern Satanism (LaVey’s The Church of Satan, and TST). I also cover the meaning behind Satanic sigils, the Devil in art / literature / pop culture, Satanic rituals and holidays, the Satanic Panic, and much more. (Full details further below.)
❤ Where and when can I get your book?
The Little Book of Satanism hits bookstores on October 25, 2022 — it’ll be available worldwide in both print and digital. You can pre-order my book now from Amazon, or get it from Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and other retailers worldwide, such as Canada’s Chapters/Indigo or Amazon Canada.
❤ How much does it cost?
Only $10.99 US for the digital version, and $14.95 US for the paperback. My book is available internationally at the links above, and can be preordered now. (Thank you for supporting!)
❤ Can you tell me more details about the book?
The following is the catalog copy for “The Little Book of Satanism: A Guide to Satanic History, Culture, and Wisdom” – by La Carmina.
Discover the fascinating history and culture of Satanism through the ages and learn why many Satanists today stand up for free inquiry and personal liberty.
Satanism is too often misunderstood as a religion that makes blood sacrifices to an evil, horned Prince of Darkness. In reality, modern Satanists are nonviolent and nontheistic, and consider the Devil to be a meaningful metaphor for the pursuit of knowledge, reason, and justice.
The Little Book of Satanism details the “mark of the beast” in cultural and historic movements over the centuries, which have informed the sincerely held beliefs and practices of Satanists today. Written by award-winning alternative culture journalist and blogger La Carmina, this comprehensive guide includes:
♥ A foreword from Lucien Greaves, activist, spokesperson, and cofounder of The Satanic Temple
♥ Information on Satan’s biblical origins, and his various names, appearances, and symbols
♥ Details on his age-old role as a scapegoat, from medieval witch trials to the 1980s Satanic Panic
♥ An overview of modern philosophy and practices, focusing on The Church of Satan, The Satanic Bible, and The Satanic Temple
♥ Examples of the Devil’s influence on art, literature, music, and films—from Paradise Lost to Rosemary’s Baby
This accessible book explains how Satanism developed in the context of social history while debunking lurid conspiracy theories about serial killers and ritual abuse. It includes a primer on various Satanic practices such as social activism, rituals, and holidays. In the spirit of the fallen angel Lucifer, be inspired by Satanism’s affirmative values that courageously oppose arbitrary authority and champion nonconformity.
❤ Can I see the book cover design? Who made it?
Above is the cover art of The Little Book of Satanism! Lucien Greaves contributed ideas for the book cover design, including the block effect and a Baphomet with gentle eyes. The execution is by the Ulysses Press design team. Thank you to my Pirate – artist Naomi Rubin – for her in-depth feedback on the cover and layout.
❤ May I take a look inside?
Here’s a sneak peek at the inner pages, which incorporate Gothic fonts and inverted pentagrams. The Little Book of Satanism is 144 pages long, and includes black and white illustrations (like Stanislas de Guaita’s goat head in an inverted pentagram).
My book is in the catalog of major publisher Simon & Schuster, which put up a La Carmina author page here.
And here is the back cover copy, which invites you to discover the rich history of Satanism.
“Written by award-winning journalist La Carmina and with a foreword by The Satanic Temple cofounder Lucien Greaves, The Little Book of Satanism shines a light on the religion’s affirmative values that oppose arbitrary authority and champion scientific rationalism and personal liberty.”
144 pages / $14.95 / Preorder via Amazon or Simon & Schuster (various links to retailers).
My book deal was announced in Publisher’s Marketplace and Publisher’s Weekly book deals announcements, in the Religion section. Thank you to my literary agent and to the Ulysses team for making this project possible. The article says:
“Ulysses Traces Satanism’s History. Casie Vogel, editorial director at Ulysses Press, bought world rights from Lindsay Edgecombe of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency to alternative culture journalist La Carmina’s The Little Book Of Satanism. The book examines the history and culture of Satanism, including “lurid conspiracy theories about serial killers and ritual abuse, and showing why many Satanists today stand up for free inquiry and personal liberty,” according to the publisher.”
I wanted to give a special shout-out to my friend Dr John Skutlin (who wrote about Satanism in his Ph.D. dissertation) for his hours of support throughout every stage of the manuscript. I’m thankful for the time he generously took to give me in-depth feedback and edits — the book wouldn’t have made it to the final draft without his expertise in these hellish matters!
It’s been a while since I’ve written a book, and it’s a joy to be back at it. This will be my fourth published book — my previous two were about Japanese pop culture (Cute Yummy Time and Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants, published by Penguin Random House.) If you’re curious, you can see my past La Carmina books here.
I’ve written extensively about Satanism since 2007, particularly about TST and the subculture in Japan — so I’m grateful for the opportunity to do a full-length book. My Satanic articles over the years have included:
♥ Fodor’s Travel: Profile of The Satanic Chef.
♥ The Daily Beast Travel: The most devilish destinations worldwide.
♥ Roadtrippers Magazine: Inside the TST Salem, MA art gallery and headquarters, with Lucien Greaves.
♥ Tripsavvy: Travel article about how to visit The Satanic Temple HQ.
♥ Unilad: La Carmina interviewed about the ongoing Satanic Panic.
One could say that I’ve been stepping on goat heads in pentagrams for quite some time now…
♥ I spoke about Satanism on various podcasts: La Carmina on Black Mass Appeal, Tea Room Dialogues, Satanic Study Hall, and Cemetery Confessions / The Belfry Network.
♥ I have over a decade of blog articles about Satanism worldwide, on my La Carmina blog. These include my firsthand reports of visiting The Satanic Temple in Salem, going to a Satanic disco party in London, hailing the Madrid Lucifer fountain, descending into Osaka’s Territory shop and Kobe’s IDEA Satanic bar, and more.
To commemorate the book deal signing, Joey Wong shot these images of me in Vancouver, using my new Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera.
Outfit details: Knee-high leather boots by L’Atelier de Charlotte (this women-run indie company designs shoes in London, and constructs them in Spain.) Cropped black sweater and houndstooth skirt from Fashion Chingu (they carry over 1000 items inspired by K-dramas and Kpop idols).
Handwoven mandalay silk headband by Thread Tales Company. The gold necklace is a large Safety Chain Choker by Eddie Borgo.
I can’t wait for you to read my new book, The Little Book of Satanism, when it comes out on Oct 25! If you have any questions about it, please leave me a blog comment. You can also connect with me on my @LaCarmina social media: Instagram / Twitter / Facebook Page — and shop items from my wardrobe on Depop @lacarmina.
And you’re welcome to check out my previous books from Penguin Random House: Cute Yummy Time (a guide to making meals look adorable) and Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo (exploring the bizarre world of Japanese maid cafes, cat cafes, vampire restaurants and more.)
PRE-ORDER The Little Book of Satanism on Amazon or Kindle or Barnes and Noble or through Simon & Schuster. Canadians can get it through Chapters/Indigo or Amazon Canada. It will be released October 25th, 2022.
The Little Book of Satanism by La Carmina drops 10/25/2022!
Thank you to all who made this dream writing project possible. Ave Satanas!
♥ Contact La Carmina: If you want to interview me about the book or have any questions, email me at gothiccarmina — att — gmail — dotcom
♥ And THANK YOU for preordering, and sharing my book news on social media (you can find me @LaCarmina). I’m grateful for your support over the years!
LA CARMINA
