 |
| Acrophobic Pixie |
|
| My name is Heather Corus, but everyone who knows me calls me Pixie,
since I'm fae otherkin and it stuck. I currently live just outside of
Pittsburgh, PA, but I'm originally from the Middle of Nowhere, Indiana.
I've been involved with the vampiric community for roughly about 10
years. My older brother and best friend are vampires, and I now
consider many vampires to be my close friends. I currently am
lead admin for the Blackswanhaven.org website and forums, and am a
moderator for the donor section of the VCMB forums. I also run a blog
that takes a peek into the real life of a donor, at
acrophobicpixie.wordpress.org, called Donor, not a döner. We also have
an IRC chat, #blackswanhaven operated by a friend of mine.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I'm not totally sure, since I'm a donor and not a vampire. Currently, I'm thinking it's most likely a
combination of biology and mystical cat-dirt. People have different
versions of vampirism due to both nature and nurture, I think. It's a
great thing. No two people are alike, and it makes for if a person has
a problem, someone's probably already dealt with it, and can give
advice.
What I See The Community As:
Vital. We have to
have it, or it will all collapse. What would any of us do with out the
community? Lord and Lady both know that I would probably be bored to
tears otherwise, and possibly get involved in something bad for me to
get rid of the excess energy I create/absorb. And, if not for the
community, I'd not have some of the friends I have, nor the vamp I
currently donate to.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
More
cohesive. Honestly, it's like there's a dividing line between each
type, branch, etc. of vampirism. And the Swans are left on the sidelines
watching all the brouhaha, and trying to avoid the shrapnel.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Safety
first. Then making sure that everyone is happy with what is happening.
I don't have a set out rule list I follow, and it's worked for me, so
far. As long as no one is hurt, it's all good, in my book.
|
 |
| Akasha Knyghte |
|
| I am termed Akasha Knyghte. I have been in the online vampire community since 1994. Prior to that, the area I lived in didn't have much in the way of an offline community, so I didn't have a whole lot to do until I finally got adventurous and got online. I founded and co-own the Vampyre Support & Information Society, which used to be called the Vampyre Society and prior to that, the Vampyre Research Society. We've decided this is our final name change. The VSIS is a support and information group (as our name suggests) for seekers and the newly awakened. We are setting up a mentoring service for newly awakened vampyres. I am also the co-founder and co-owner of the House of Anubis. We don't have an official website for the House though. The link supplied is to our public e-list. HoA is a localized house based in Columbus, Ohio.
|
 |
| Angel Obscura |
|
| I'm known as Angel Obscura. I have been active within the vampire community for many years and I
currently hold the position of High Elder in three vampire networks,
Fallen Creations Teen Vampire Community,Silken Shadows and Co-founder
and High Elder in Of Shadows Born. I am also a follower of Old
Ways,combination of druidic/celtic and Native American traditions. I
have grown up in these traditions and follow in the footsteps as some
of my family has done for over 200 years. I can be extremely
quiet at times, and at other times, I am known to be very vocal. I do
not like drama of any type, games and people that tend to lie instead
of dealing with the truth. I'm married with 2 kids and am normally laid back and easy
going. We live in a homeschooling household and I
believe rules are written for the protection of others and should be
followed to the fullest extent.
|
 |
| Anshar |
|
| My name is Anshar Seraphim. I am a member of House Lost Haven and have been
active in one fashion or another in the community for about 8 years. I
write articles and teach for House Lost Haven as well as being head
house counselor. I have posted or participated in many forum
communities under various names, and have spent some time around the
therian and otherkin communities (as an observer, not a participant). One of my article contributions found its way into "Vampires:
In Their Own Words" and I was recently featured on FOX's Hannity's America - Beyond Belief (Night Neighbors).
|
 |
| Belfazaar |
|
| I am Belfazaar Ashantison. A primarily sanguinary vampire residing in New Orleans who has been fully awakened since the age of 13. Founder and Elder of the House of Mystic Echoes, founder of NOVA (New Orleans Vampire Association) and the owner of Donor_Sanctuary (yahoo group). My heart and soul will always be for helping our community. One of my favorite sayings is "discussion, even heated, brings us to a greater understanding of each other". Simply put, just because I believe one way, does NOT make it the end all of vampirism. I am, after all, still learning about my condition.
|
 |
| Camille |
|
| My name is Camille. I'm an independent member of the vampire community; formerly of House Kheperu. I’ve done a small
amount of writing, presenting and organizing. However, my real area of
focus is one-on-one and small group teaching. Prior to my involvement
in the vampire community I was involved in the Wiccan/Pagan community
as a teacher for several years. My areas of community-related interest
include teaching (especially beginner-level) and vampire/pagan
community relations.
|
 |
| Cole St. Valentine |
|
| I'm Cole St. Valentine; a 28 years old male living in San Francisco, CA. I have been involved in the Online Vampire Community since 1998. I am
still involved, but prefer to focus my energy on off-line, real life
activities. I've been involved with the Wretched eList, helped to
co-found Black Lamp Bay in 2005, assisted with the B.R.A.V.O. Meetup
Group, and founded the Carpe Noctem Meetup Group in San
Francisco in 2007 (a vampirism, energy work, and otherkin group). I believe vampirism is a
real condition marked by energy deficiency, and that we can mitigate
the effects by obtaining energy from external sources. I strongly
support scientific or academic research into vampirism, its causes and
symptoms, and methods of controlling or at least dealing with it. I believe in science and magic, and actively practice both.
|
 |
| Corvis Nocturnum |
|
| I am Corvis Nocturnum, artist and author of the 2005 book, Embracing the Darkness; Understanding Dark Subcultures, and the upcoming 2009 Allure of the Vampire, Our Sexual Attraction to the Undead. I have been an active voice in many dark communities, promoting
public awareness on various issues, such as ethics and explaining away
misguided stereotypes since early 2005. I serve as an administrator on The Lost Children of the Oubliette, and am a
member of both Tantric Vampires and the Suscitatio Vampire Research forum. I was born in May of 1971 and am the great-grandson of a member of the Order of the
Eastern Star and Freemasons. My artwork has been heavily influenced by artists such as Brom, Joseph Vargo,
Luis Royo and Dorian Cleavenger. I'm a long-time scholar of occult and Asian philosophy as well as the works
of Carl Jung, Friedrich Nietzsche and Anton LaVey and became
ordained as a reverend by the Universal Life Church while holding a
co-chair (and later Vice President) position within the Fort Wayne
Pagan Alliance (an all faith tolerance organization). I joined the Church of Statan as a citizen of the
Infernal Empire in June 2004 and was promoted to the status of Warlock
on April 11, 2007 (the anniversary of Anton LaVey's birthday). I've been a speaker at a World
Religions Seminar at the Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne and have also been a
repeated guest of Dr. Ed Craft on Magick Mind Radio.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
My view on Vampirism is that it is an energy deficiency in the energy
body in the metaphysical sense, which can be replenished by direct or
ambient replacement from another donor(s), or in some cases via blood
in minuscule amounts for the symbolic use.
What I See The Community As:
I see the Community currently as a wide mix of views, aesthetic
representation, and Houses. Much has changed over the years on ethics
and more support has been shown for newcomers, which is a good thing.
Most, if not all have been very welcoming and helpful in explaining and
guiding both the neophyte and the curious nonvampire in the ways of the
Community, it's history, and diversity.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
The Community still has a long way to go before it sees eye to eye as
peacefully as it could be on the differences, so I'd like to see the
various Houses, Elders, and Community representatives work together
better in communicating. The progress that has been made has been
wonderful and needs to be nurtured continuously.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
The Black Veil is a most important document containing important
guidelines of proper behavior and etiquette in order to keep the
Community safe from both itself and the outside world.
|
 |
| Craze |
|
| I'm Craze, owner of Smoke and Mirrors Support Web Site after LadyCG stepped down. I'm 25 years of age, reside in New York City, have two kids, and am currently working on my Bachelor's degree. I'm currently the owner of From The Ashes Message Board on Yuku.
|
 |
| Cynsanity |
|
| Cynsanity, vintage '83, became aware of her vampiric nature at the
ripe, old age of ten. Living in a rather remote corner of Austria,
Europe, she didn't have any possibility to interact with the vampire
community and thus had to realise everything about the possibilities,
limits, drawbacks and scary cool superpowers of her condition by
herself until she learned about others similar to herself with the
arrival of the internet in aforementioned remote corner when she was 16. Cynsanity
identifies as a sanguinarian with particularly intense needs which
sometimes border a bit on the freakish side. Considering this and a
bunch of other "symptoms" she sees as parts of her condition, she likes
to refer to herself as the resident ghoul (don't worry, she doesn't
really rob graves and eat corpses, though). Other than that, she is a
chaote of the lazy persuasion, aspiring author of creepy stories (some
call them "disgusting", but she's sure that will pass), language freak,
scientifically minded sceptic, more or less devout follower of Enkig
and Nergal, and student of ancient semitic philology, sumerology and
oriental archaeology.
|
 |
| Daemonox |
|
| Daemonox (aka Dae) founded The Vampirism Community eList in 1998, The Wretched eList (California Vampires) in 2001, the early resource website DEADEND: Vampires & Occult in 1997 (closed in 2002), and TWILIGHT in 2007. Dae was also a contributing author to the original Vampyre Almanac in 1998, and was involved in the event promotion and production of Endless Night from 2002 through 2004. Despite being a consistent presence in the vampire community, Dae has remained a solitary figure and avoids involvement with organizations in any official capacity. Through the years she has simply preferred to build networks and bring individuals together, online and offline, with the goal of furthering the discussion and understanding of ourselves and our community.
|
 |
| Deacon Gray |
|
| I am Deacon Gray. I started out over on AOL in a room called
"Vampyres" back in 97 till 98, but went back into the shadows until about 2003. Currently I collaborated with the
Vampire Nations to create and run a e-zine; the Graveyard Press. I also moderate and sit on the council for the Vampire Nations, Moderate
Real-Vampires for Sylvere. I co-moderate the
Vampires Advanced board with Lady Slinky for Lady CG, run a Idaho Based
Vampires board, and some other projects. My
interests are eclectic and include a wide range of music, Wines, Coffee,
Cigars, and the company of wicked ladies. I love fine decadence I
suppose. My main hobby and love is writing both for the community and
fictional works mostly for myself and friends. My goal is to help build the West coast community, I think there is a lot of new starts out here. I
am currently a member of the House of the Dreaming.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
My view is never stable, as I learn I come to
believe different things. What I have come to feel is that Vampirism is
a state of the spirit that is manifested in the physical incarnation.
As no two people are alike neither is the manifestation of their
nature.
What I See The Community As:
It is hard to make a
simple comparison, or statement. People gather in groups that make them
comfortable or suit their needs. They spend too much time nay saying
each other and bickering over little things, or trying to figure out
who is REAL or not, or who falls into their groups specific beliefs
systems. For some it is all about the physical, the practical, others
it can be spirital, mystical, mundane or a number of variations.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
I would like the community to be more
scholastic in nature. Rather than a large group of large egos,
ambisons, and agendas, I would like to see people actually making the
attempt to work together to accomplish bigger goals. I applaud those
who work hard to accomplish things in the community. Perhaps more so
applaud those who do so with out trying to self promote.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I respect the goal of the Early
Versions of The Black Veil as a guide for those who need one. I
make no excuses for what I am, and really have no issue not being
popular or hold to some pseudo politically correct silliness that’s out
there. I am a Vampire. An Eros Type, a sexual vampire that loves every
moment of being who and what I am.
|
 |
| Diaboluslupus |
|
| I am Diaboluslupus aka Brad. I run the Southern California Vampire Meetup Group which has been my focus in the community for the last few years. I'm a donor, sang by preference, and what some term a "natural donor" or "fetish donor". I've
written a lot on the subject of being a donor, community relations, and
the ups and downs of dealing with and being a part of the community -
which one of these days I really need to scrape up from the various
groups, blogs, and forums I've been posting too. I've pretty
much been on a hiatus from the on-line community for the last three
years, but since Twilight III, I've been thinking its time to come out
and get more involved again. Outside of the vampire community, I like
to write about politics and religion, I've been described as a "paranoid xenophobe" politically and
socially. I'm socially liberal (legalize gay marriage, abortion, guns,
drugs) and economically either libertarian or a cruel social
Darwinist. I'm nominally satanist, but not very active. But I enjoy being a part of religion that makes people feel twitchy. I
also own two ferrets - Harley Quinn & Egon von Critter. I collect
Soviet Bloc relics (uniforms, firearms, badges), I even have about 10
lbs of the Berlin Wall.
|
 |
| Eric Bloodstorm |
|
| Eric Bloodstorm is from Portland, OR and a leader in the Portland Vampire Community. The Portland Vampire Community is a small yet single minded group of vampires who walk the right hand path and firmly believe in returning to this World as much if not more than they take from it. They believe the greatest good they can do for their small society is to make a positive difference in the lives of those they meet and befriend. They are composed of Sang, Psy, and Elemental vampires as well as those who choose to be not so clearly defined. While their membership is private or "closed", upon good reference, they will accept vampires, donors, and friends of the community in honorarium. They hold a public function once a year - the Vampire's Masquerade Ball which is shared with the larger gothic community, but is intended as a chance to meet those vampires who would be willing to travel and enjoy their community and its hospitality.
|
 |
| Gabby |
|
| My name is Gabby. I am 34 years old, a Leo, Hybrid married to another Hybrid Vampire, mommy of one so far, at home with her, Pagan, and Goth. The Pagan part is eclectic, though primarily Egyptian-based, Dark. The Leo in me is 100% forefront - I am honest, blunt, outspoken, willing to admit error or lack of knowledge when needed, and most of all I take VERY seriously honor, friendship, truth, family, and the want for wisdom. I work in the interest of paranormal research in any way I can. I am an artist, though motherhood keeps me too busy to focus on it as much as I'd like, working mainly in photography, clothing and jewelry. I've known Mairi in some manner since just after the inception of Bloodlines and then its transformation into Shadowlore as Head for the Northeast Region. I was also featured on the National Geographic Taboo Episode 'Bloodrites'- though frankly, what they filmed, and the good that we did, wasn't what got shown overall. It lacked real substance since they edited so much. I have been aware of myself since I was a kid, though growing into puberty was very hard, dealing with the urges, the issues. Puberty hit hard, the awakening was intense, and except for several very important people in my teen years, I was alone. The internet was just a baby then, and the resources we have now weren't there when I was young. I primarily fed sang until my late 20's, and now am more psi in nature.
|
 |
| Goddess Rosemary |
|
| My name is Goddess Rosemary; High Priestess & Matriarch of the House of Sahjaza. I am from New York City, and I live in Manhattan though I do have retreats where I spend time away from the city to formulate ideas and create and meditate. I have traveled and lived all around the country only two states I have not visited, and have been lucky enough to have traveled the globe and lived in several other countries including the tropics of Australia, and in the Andes Mountains of Peru. I'm a natural witch, a vampyre witch, hereditary, solitary and garden witch. I am a psychic and I am a visionary. I follow my own path and have studied a variety of cultures particularly in the areas of their individual and unique ritualistic practices & myth and erotic mythology of various cultures. I worked with Katherine Ramsland on her book titled "Ghost", as well as her book "Piercing the Darkness". I taught a workshop/ritual monthly in NYC for about 6 years called, the "Full Moon Goddess Worship Rituals," we conducted private rituals and experimented and thought with ritual and other lessons from various cultures.
|
 |
| Gypsy |
|
| My name is Gypsy. I am a hereditary vamp but latent in my awakening and am
psi/empathic/sanguine. I became involved in the online community
in 1998 and stepped out into the Vampire Community at Endless Night 2001
breaking up the earliest incarnation of House Scarlet Moon. In
2004, HSM backed away from the community both online and off for
personal reasons, finding solace only in each other. We have made lasting
friendships with House Crimson Blade, Temple Damaak, and House Raven
Shadow. Most recently through Black Atlantis, HSM has met many of the
delightful members of House Dark Haven and the AVA. I am a Hoodoo & Reiki practitioner, half-seated in
Lukumi (Santeria) - a child of Shango, a dedicate of Ezili Freda
Dahomey in the Marie Laveau tradition of New Orleans Voodoo, and favor
the Dianic and Alexandrian Traditions of Wicca. However, I do not
believe in the 3 fold law. I am a life long student of the Kabbalah,
Shekinah-driven, and have been devoted to the deepest studies of the
Rider-Waite deck since age 14.
|
 |
| Hellkat |
|
| My name is Hellkat. I have been part of the OVC for many years. Being an active part of
several groups, I have been serving and guiding the Newly Awakened for
about 4 years now. I manage a support board for Vampyres and Otherkin
named Smoke and Mirrors and am active in the Craft. I am a mostly
Psychic Vampire though I do have Sanguinarian tendancies. Along with a
kin-type it makes life interesting to say the least. I am a proud
mother and wife.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I have come, over the years, to realize that we as a whole cannot be
classified by one word. I think we can associate with the word
Vampi(y)re because it makes our behaviors and issues more easy for
others to identify. What I have found is that most of us lack energy to
keep us happy and healthy. We get what we need in many different
fashions, the "side effects" and benefits vary for each and everyone of
us.
What I See The Community As:
The Community, for the most part, has good intentions. I see the
community as a place to congregate and share different ideas and point
of views. We help those who are new we provide information and
explaination, for those who are more expierenced we can discuss more
advanced and philosophical points. This can more explain everything
behind what we go through on a day to day basis.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Though we have our bad points, as does any other sub-culture, I think
that overall we have evolved as a community. What is discussed now was
only a dreams a few years ago. I think that we will continue to evolve
as a group to take on bigger and better things.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I think that ethics is a topic that we all need to individual uphold. I
do not think that one set of rules should be a standard for all
because, like I said above, we are all different. You cannot make one
form for all to fit in, if it feels right to you, go with it!
|
 |
| Isealdor |
|
| Isealdor is a hybrid sanguinarian/psi vampire and currently lives in
Joplin, Missouri. He is the resident Administrator of the Vampire Realm
of Darkness (vampires.nu), a vampire discussion board created in 2001.
He has been in and out of the vampire community for a number of years,
and most active for the last 4 years. He is a parent and is currently
working on two degrees. Isealdor spends a majority of his time dealing
with computers, forensics, and the paranormal, and is an amateur
photographer.
|
 |
| Jade |
|
| My name is Jade. I have been active within the vampire community for many years and I
currently run two vampire networks, Fallen Creations Teen Vampire
Community and Of Shadows Born. I also administer Silken Shadows
Vampire Community, which I have been a member of since almost the
beginning. I am also a Pagan following the Old Ways which were taught
to me by someone who had no one left in her family to which to hand down her
information.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
Vamprisim is deficiency, a deficiency that is not physical but
spectral. The deficiency is damaged energy centres, causing their
energy to be unable to recharge itself, therefore needing to gain this
energy from other sources.
What I See The Community As:
This is a difficult one to answer as at this time I feel it's all over
the place. I see the community as being divided into many sectors.
For example - those that follow the veil, those that do not, role
players and wanna be's.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
What I believe it should be is similar people gathering to help others and educating those that are searching for answers.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I believe ethics are a good idea but we also need to use common sense.
|
 |
| Kai |
|
| My name is Kai. I am a professional jeweler and martial artist
currently residing in New York City. I have been a part of the on-line
community since late 2004; I administrate the majority of the large
occult and real-vampire related forums on the "Vampirefreaks.com"
website. I am the co-founder of a private off-line organization, Bit
Nibiru. I try to be as active in the off-line community as my schedule
and financial situation allows, and am always willing to meet members
of the community with whom I am previously acquainted over the internet.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I
believe vampires to be people who cannot produce enough and/or maintain
proper amounts of chi. With that, we must seek an external source of
that energy in order to function optimally. I will not even pretend to
say that I understand the "why" behind the "what"; though I do have a
few thoughts on the subject, they are little more than thoughts.
What I See The Community As:
In
the words of a friend, the community is much like a giant bathtub
filled with feral cats. I can hardly improve on that statement. Most
of the time, people within the community can't even agree on what the
definition of a vampire is...let alone even start to discuss the more
complex questions about the 'vampiric condition'. Though in the past
few years, I have seen a noticeable improvement, the bathtub analogy is
still appropriate, in my mind.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Rather
than be a chaotic mess, I would like to see organization. This would
eventually lead to more civilized, proper discussion about the "what",
"why", and "how"...rather than just menial bickering and petty
disputes. Ideally, the organization would even lead to people pitching
in for furthering research into the cause of vampirism.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I
am not a fan- they feel too much like LARP rules, which sends the wrong
idea to other people. If anything, there should be a simple motto-
"Common Sense". As far as I am concerned, that should [and does] wrap
it up.
|
 |
| Lady CG |
|
| My name is Lady CG. I am a 45 year old Sanguinary Vampyre. I am the owner of Smoke and Mirrors; a Vampyre and pagan resource site, and the originator of the Vampyre's conference on aging. I am also the author of the book "Practical Vampyrism for Modern Vampyres". I have been a Vampyre my whole life. The first time I was offered blood I was 18 and in college; that was back in 1979-80. I got involved in the online vampire community back in 1993, when many of us started to congregate in IRC chat channels, for support and companionship.
|
 |
| Lady Night |
|
| I'm Lady Night, founder of Haven of Kindred Spirits. I've been involved in the communities (pagan & kin) for many, many years... even prior to being involved in the internet communities. I've been out in Las Vegas for almost 6 years now and began Haven both on and offline back in 2004. My regular "day-job" is basically Haven... I quit the regular 9-5 about 3 years ago to try to spend more time on school and try to make a go of The Three Wise Cats Magickal Shoppe online. TWC has finally opened up "shop" a couple of months ago at a local Swap Meet three days a week so we're one step closer to having a nice big retail store! I'm currently working on my Master's in Mental Health Counseling and then will be working on my PhD. I decided to go into counseling to try to give those of alternative beliefs, lifestyles, kin, etc. someone to go to with their unique issues and have someone who understands and does not judge (or as commonly happens in the mental health community) or think they are mentally unstable for believing what they do. Other than that, I have degrees in accounting (law minor) and psychology.
|
 |
| Lady Onyx Ravyn |
|
| My name is Lady Onyx Ravyn. I am the Matriarch of House RavenShadow. I have been awakened for almost 17 years now. I am on an eclectic path which blends various teachings and combined ritualistic practices. I am a counselor/warrior blend and remain neutral in all aspects of vampyre politics. I have traveled to many different communities over the years to include Gotham, NOLA, Savannah, Atlanta, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee. I still sit the fence at times as to whether the Internet is a blessing to the greater communities as a whole or simply another road block in our never-ending struggle to keep fact and fiction separated. I am full Sang. I was Co-Promoter for Black Atlantis, a former ShadowLore S.E. Chapter Head, a current ShadowLore Affiliate for FL, Ambassador for House RavenShadow on Dark Nations, an author, a poet, a massage therapist, an energy manipulator, and an avid reader of religion and theology as well as earth based traditions, aromatherapy, crystal magick, and astral projection. I consider myself a friend and supporter of all vampyric houses, covens, courts, and ronins as well as any and all vampyre events and promotions.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I have been asked over the years, what makes me think I am a vampyre? I
have often given the short answer of "I don't think..I know." and left
it at that. For some this is enough, but for true seekers, this merely
intrigues them to ask me more pointed questions which I far prefer. I
find that asking someone what makes them a vampire/vampyre is no
different than asking someone what makes them a human being. They
believe they are a human, because since birth that is what they have
been taught. They can't prove it, because the word is derived by other
"humans" and so it becomes a debate which cannot be unequivocally
answered in an affirmative or negative way. As such, I will say
that I am a vampyre because I possess certain qualities that set me
apart from a standard being on this planet. I am predatory by nature, I
adore the night and find that I am most alert during the late
evening/early morning hours. I cannot sustain myself in an optimum
physiological and mental condition exclusively on the foods that I
intake and the energy that is created within my own being, so therefore
I take energy from another source of another being. I possess something
within me that draws people unto me like moths to a flame. I sense
things in others that often go unnoticed. I hear whispers from across a
room. I move fluidly and often go unnoticed in a crowded room. I am in
tune with currents that run throughout this planet as well as
throughout other people. I have the ability to heal or to harm. For
some, this may not be enough. They may say that anyone has these same
abilities, however, those who do not strive for enlightenment and for
an understanding of things which cannot be explained, will never accept
me for who and what I am. Vampyrism for me, is not merely a
physical state, but a mental, esoterical, ethereal, and all
encompassing existence. Rudimentary, it is simply..I think, therefore I
am. I walk between the darkness of night and the brightness of day. I
balance in the twilight, where nothing is black and white, but varying
shades of gray. How do any of us know we are vampyres/vampires?
For the words in and of themselves were created by other beings of
mortal making. The mind and the lessons we have been given while
traveling this course determines what labels we choose to take upon
ourselves. Others may label us, but it doesn't make their labels
anymore valid than those we create for ourselves.
What I See The Community As:
I see the community as comprised of many smaller factions of
independent free thinkers who have been drawn to one another through
common beliefs and values. I see the OVC as an extended family where
people often come and go, appear and disappear but never lose sight of
the fact that they are part of the collective whole. I see various
strengths within each individual as well as weaknesses, but through
open communication and understanding we are able to exist amongst one
another on both a physical and spiritual plane of existence that often
goes un-noticed to outsiders. Although the community has existed online
for many many years, it is still in an infantile stage of development
with much room to grown and learn and to teach one another.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
In a somewhat Utopian point of view, I would like to see the community
continue to grow and to become self sufficient in and of itself. I
would like it to be a large network of professional individuals who
could work together with one another to promote success of each
community member. I would like to see stronger bonds formed and more
open lines of communication established with one another, so much to
the point that regardless of where a person finds themself in this
world, they would never truly be alone. Within the existing community,
there exists a multitude of forward thinkers, wonderful
conversationalists, promoters, business people, students, etc. It is a
shame to not take advantage of the skills that are at our doorsteps.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
While there have been numerous attempts at creating a universal code of
conduct for the OVC, I believe it is impossible to have a singular
document that would unequivocally apply to every individual within the
OVC. I believe that the basic tenents are the same regardless of human
existence: Love One Another, Respect One Another, Strive to Understand
One Another, and Support One Another. Simple to write, harder to do.
Doesn't mean we cannot strive to create a community in which these
traits are standard rather than exceptional.
|
 |
| Larae |
|
| My name is Larae. I am the owner of the Darkness Embraced Vampire and Occult Society. I have been involved with the community for a little over a decade. In
the recent past I have also served as an assistant in
ressurecting/administrating other community websites such as Vampyre
Almanac, (Zarakalistree) The Sanguinarium, Strigoi Vii, and TVD (The
Vampire Don). Some of the the articles from Darkness Embraced appear in Michelle's Belanger's anthology, "Vampires In Their Own Words".
|
 |
| Lenore |
|
| I am called Lenore, though I have been known by different names, at different times, in various venues, and with certain people. The most popular pseudonyms that you may know me by are Mleep, Amethyst, Sabine, and Mystery. I was most notably known (for years) as Mleep when I was an Administrator on The Vampire Don (TVD). I am no longer part of that group for personal reasons and for reasons of growth beyond what could be gleaned in that position. I have been as I am since birth with all the strangeness,
eccentricities, and chronic "symptoms"/ways, etc. Awareness and finding
a name for what I was and was experiencing came much later and much to
my relief. Any truth is better than uncertainty or fear of the unknown
or misunderstood. I lived independently for many years, thinking
I was "one of a kind". Finding other kindreds souls was a great turning
point and epiphany. After some time, I met some individuals who
inspired me to take a greater, more public role in the community. I
devoted myself to this group and was an administrator for our large
community website for several years. After the community broke
up, I planned to return to a private and independent existance.
However, again I was encouraged to take a larger part in the community,
this time as a leader. With a ragtag group of exiles I founded a new
on-line community. We are currently developing an eclectic house that
suits our shared goals, sense of honor, and dedication to education and
the development of leaders. Our web community and house is The Lost Children of the Oubliette. Regarding
myself, I have multiple degrees in the arts, communication, and
writing. I have held many jobs in various career paths. I prefer
diversity in employment and aquaintance. I am an artist, a writer, a
teacher, and a student (of many many things). Sadly, my many paths,
gifts, and skills do not extend far into technologic advancements. I am
a truly anachronistic enigma. And..... I like it that way.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
Vampyrism is the essence of our being, our spiritual path, our power,
and our pain. Along with other aspects of our lives, it defines us (but
does not limit us). To be a vampyre is both a gift and a
responsibility. And it comes with a cost. The things that impede us,
should not hold us back. Above others, we determine our fates. Our
wills open many doors and opportunities. We evolve with each
incarnation, ultimately reaching our "perfection". That is our
paradise.
What I See The Community As:
Sadly, the community today is splintered by details, missing the big
picture. We argue over what divides us instead of what we share in
common. We can not put forth a unified front, therfore we must resign
ourselves to the shadows of general society. Where there is strength in
numbers, we fall short. We fight amongst ourselves instead.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
We call ourselves a community but it seems we don't know the true
meaning of the term nor understand the power of what we could be. We
need only to look upon the example of other "successful" communities,
organizations, etc. We would have a unified voice, a large group to
have our individual backs, a place to find a home in every city, town,
and country. We could have great exchanges of knowledge, leadership,
ideas, plans, and resources. We need to get past wanting to be "the one
way", to share, to forget petty differences, to support and to respect
all variations of our greater community. Ego holds us back. We need to
stop fearing the idea of a governing body. Choosing chaos over order
has not served us well.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
The Black Veil, to me, has always served as a great starting point,
especially for those without an existing personal ethical standard. I
believe that a moral center is essential for all beings. I don't
believe it can or should be mandated en masse. In our community, we
require certain special rules of behavior but interpreting those rules
should be left up to the individual and/or each house (within the
parameters of general law, reasonable ettiquette, and "good taste").
And then anything else you deem important for you to be known by.
My
personal standard, mirrored within my community/house is that of honor,
loyalty, truth, the pursuit of knowledge, and the development of
leaders. We are compassionate, strong, and do not suffer fools or cads
easily. Starting from within our community and moving beyond, we
seek to develop a place in the world and a method for us to thrive and
to soar. As well as a comfy, safe haven for us to land or fall.
|
 |
| Lono F. Vespertilio |
|
| My Name is Lono Fructus Vespertilio, I am a Software Technician working
in the Music Industry, a live in Boston, Ma. I have previous experience
in the television business (CBS affiliate). I have been a part of the
vampire community since late 1998. In 2000 was the administrator of
Psyvamp Information Exchange after Jack, until 2006 when Gabrielx
became owner. In 2005 I founded Psychicvampire.org aka The Psychic
Vampire Resource and Support Pages. I am also an administrator for the Vampire Community Message Board (VCMB).
|
 |
| Lord Alistair |
|
| Lord Alistair Darke has been involved in the vampyre community for well over 25 years. He began his journey in Toronto, Canada and now is established in Savannah, Georgia. As founder of House Dark Haven, his experience and teachings are passed on to the next generation of vampyres. Through his work with Black Oaks Savannah, he reaches out to the community at large, promoting understanding and unity for all like-minded souls.
|
 |
| Loxfin |
|
| My name is Loxfin of House Obsidian. In the past I have hosted and ran vampire related websites some may remember. Now we are less involved online we are more involved in real life in Charlotte, NC. We feel actions speak louder than words. We host the Charlotte Vampire Meetup Group and attend events about three times a month, not including House meetings or parties.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
There comes a time in a person’s life that they become a vampire. Nobody is born vampire. We choose to become a vampire through what we’ve read in books, movies or music. Each of us see qualities in vampires that we either wish to express or wish to become by being a vampire. To me and my House being a vampire as little to do with community and more to do with family. I feel that a vampire House, Coven or whatever you wish to call it should spend less time online or in clubs and more time getting to know the people who share your similar interests. Each of my vampire family members would gladly take a bullet for one another.
What I See The Community As:
A group of individuals and organizations collaborating to impose strength and power against any entity that wishes to suppress individuality self expression and freedom of speech.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
A group of individuals and organizations collaborating to impose strength and power against any entity that wishes to suppress individuality self expression and freedom of speech.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
The Black Veil and codes of conduct are very good tools for open groups and beginners. It is a good idea to have been posted in public places. If anything for people to get a sense that were not a bunch of crazy people. I personally have read various rules and codes of conduct. However I do not enforce them on any of my members. I find it a personal insult that you would have to tell a person how to behave in public. We are not degenerates we have common sense we can comprehend words like privacy or discretion.
|
 |
| Lucien von Wolfe (Marquis) |
|
| I am Lucien von Wolfe. Most within the community know me as the
Marquis, patriarch of Tantric Vampires and her Court, Kalika Noir. I
have been a member of the community for over 5 years. I am a studying
Occultist and active Left Hand Path practitioner. I am German born and currently reside in North Carolina with my family.
|
 |
| Lukas Kane |
|
| I am Lukas L. Kane, 26 years old and live in Niedersachsen, Germany. I
am a Schatten (Shadow) and you would define me as a hybrid. I live
together with my girlfriend and have two cute snakes. My best friend is
a vampire too but denies it! I try to find out more about the different
"races" among the vampire community. I am the webmaster of
Lono's sistersite "Das Zwielicht" since February 2007 and have created a huge
community with vampires of all kinds as well as otherkin. I practice energy work
and chaos magick and try to find out what happens behind the veil.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I think there are different races in our
community. We all know that there are psychic, sanguine, and hybrids. And
lots of them have different names for themselves. It's interesting to
find out more of these "races“ and their origins.
What I See The Community As:
I think it is a long hard way to establish a
community where we find all these different groups of vampires.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
It
should be a place where all vampires can find answers to their problems
and become the feeling of beeing "home“. It should be a free and honest
place with much respect.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Everyone
needs ethics and everyone has his own point of view. Some of them are
much more radical and some of them are peacefull. I think everyone has
to find his own way and rules. But it's important to give some clues to
that and this different Ethics (Veil etc.) are a good base for that.
|
 |
| Mairi |
|
| My name is Mairi. I live in Northern Virginia where I work part time as
a meeting and event coordinator with my own firm. I've been awake for
approximately 30 years and been involved with the online community
since 1999 when I started BloodLines International. In Oct of 2002
after a difference of opinion BLI changed hands and ShadowLore was born. I’m administrator for the ShadowLore egroup; ShadowLore_GLBT_Kin, a discussion and support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members of the Kin community; Kin with Kids, a discussion and support group for parents with children in the Kin community. I’m editor for Shadow Tymes, a ShadowLore newsletter for and about the community. I’m co-administrator for the ShadowLore message board. I'm a moderator for Vampires-AMOK and Vampire- Discussion for Sanguinarius. I host a gathering in Eagles Mere every fall for members of the community, their family and friends. In
2004 I appeared on Taboo ep “Blood Rites”, a vampire documentary for
National Geographic and I am a contributing author for Vampires In
Their Own Words.
|
 |
| Melissa |
|
| My name is Melissa, I currently reside in the Midwest. I've been
involved in one way or another with the OVC for quite a few years now,
either by maintaining my own site or administrating on others.
currently I run my community site, Aquilus.net Real Vampire and Occult
Community and I'm also an Administrator over at Darkness Embraced. I've
always been fascinated with vampire folklore and myths and it seems
that since 1996, I've had a presence on the net, which included some
kind of vampire related content, whether that be real vampirism
information and support or vampire folklore and entertainment. I have
been running a vampire and pagan/occult community on and off for 4 or 5
years now.
|
 |
| Melissa Brown |
|
| My name's Melissa Brown. I'm 22 and have been involved in the vampire community both online and off for about a decade. I
organize several local vampire gatherings, have done numerous
interviews (Newspaper/Magazine and college students) and have also
lectured on the subject of modern day vampires at local colleges, some
including Fullerton JC and Otis Art's college. I also publish the
Kindred Tribune. A quarterly published e-zine/print magazine for the
Occult, Vampire, and Otherkin communities. I am also working on
several other "side" projects that have to do with the vampire
community.
|
 |
| Merticus |
|
| Merticus has been a member of the Vampire Community since 1997. He is a founding member of the Atlanta Vampire Alliance (House AVA), co-founder of the vampirism and psi-related phenomena research company Suscitatio Enterprises, LLC, the co-organizer for TWILIGHT, the current administrator for Voices of the Vampire Community (VVC), organizer for the Atlanta Vampire Meetup Group, and a principal contributing author and researcher for the Vampirism & Energy Work Research Study (VEWRS & AVEWRS). A native to Atlanta, GA, Merticus is active in both the online and offline Community; consulting not only with fellow members of the Community but also with academicians and the media on matters relating to modern psychic and sanguinarian vampirism. He has contributed to several academic and general media articles regarding vampirism; including an October 2007 interview with TAPS Paranormal Magazine, to an October 2008 interview with ABCNews.com, an November 2008 interview with the Washington Post, and interviewed by and consulted with Joseph Laycock on a paper delivered before the annual conference of the American
Academy of Religion in November 2007 and for book; Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism. He has also attended and presented at gatherings throughout the U.S. and is a member of numerous forums and discussion groups.
|
 |
| Michael Ford |
|
| My name is Michael W. Ford, known also as Akhtya. I have been a practitioner of what I term Vampyric
Magick since 1993. I am a founder of the Black Order of the Dragon from
1993-94 and have been a serious student of the Left hand path and what
I term "Luciferianism" ever since. I am also a musician periodically
and work on numerous avenues of art including painting, digital and
building spirit-pots, fetishes and totems. I am the current Magus of
The Order of Phosphorus, we have a sub-guild "The Black Order of the
Dragon" and soon "Order of Azariel" which is focused on my works with
AKHKHARU - Vampyre Magick and other works. The core focus of
Luciferianism and its connection to Vampyrism is the predatory
instinct. This is what I find ties these elements together. I do not believe in "Lucifer" as a literal being, I find this a useful title "encircling" the Adversarial Current. The
core aspect of the Luciferian current is utilizing light and dark
avenues of study and practice related to human nature, Will and the
intention of continual self-transformation through the deific mask of
the Adversary. In effect, it is neither athiestic nor theistic. Subjective experience and inherent approach will dictate that interpretation. The
Black Order of the Dragon has long been focused on the Adversarial
current through Babylonian and Yatukih (ancient adverse Zoroastrian
cults) from a Vampyric perspective. This is of course not the full
scope of our focus, merely two mentionable examples. I live in
Houston, TX, co-own a left hand path supply shop, edit a magazine
(the TOPH IBLISS-Black Light Magazine - issue one will be my only
editing, after another TOPH Priest will assume this responsibility) and
have five snakes which are like children along with dogs and one cat.
|
 |
| Michelle Belanger |
|
| Michelle Belanger is an author and lecturer best known for her work, "The Psychic Vampire Codex." She is the founder of House Kheperu and head of its Priest Caste. Michelle frequently works with the media and is often sought as an expert on the vampire community. Her non-fiction works include the best-selling Psychic Vampire Codex, (Weiser, 2004) Sacred Hunger, (Dark Moon, 2005) and Psychic Dreamwalking (Weiser 2006), The Psychic Energy Codex (Wesier 2007), Vampires in Their Own Words (2007), and The Necronumina (Llewellyn, 2008). She is co-author of The Vampyre Almanac (Sanguinarium Press, 2000), and V: the Book of the Strigoi Vii, (Aangel Publishing, 2003). Her fiction includes The Enchanted Wood with artist Kimberlee Traub (Shadowfox, 1996), The Jewel of Desire (Incubus Chronicles, 2006) and a collection of supernatural short fiction, These Haunted Dreams (Dark Moon, 2006). She routingly gives lectures at colleges throughout the U.S. and frequently appears on A&E's Paranormal State and various paranormal-based radio programs.
|
 |
| Mike Future |
|
| Mike Future awoke as a Sanguinarian in early 1999. He has been active
in the Online Vampire Community since 2002 and has been a member
of several Vampire communities. He is currently an administrator at the
Vampire Community Message Board (VCMB). Mike is a naturalist and nature
photographer and currently resides in southwestern Connecticut, where
he was born in 1977.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I am a scientific person so I view vampirism as such. I believe
Sanguinarians have digestive issues and the answers to our questions
will be found within dusty old medical journals. I think we are on the
verge of exposing the truth about vampirism and we may find the answers
to be very simple. Psi vampirism continues to puzzle me. I believe that
many are confused when it comes to Psi vampirism. There is a real need
there but I believe that the mechanism involved is extraordinary by
current scientific standards. I believe we are not at the point in our
knowledge of human biology to understand how Psi vampirism works.
What I See The Community As:
The Vampire Community is a chance for education. Nothing is more
interesting than learning of personal experiences and sharing with
others. On the other hand, I see the community as overrun with ego and
manipulation by unsavory individuals. The line between fantasy and
reality is very fuzzy right now in the community at large.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
I want the community to be a safe haven for the newly awakened. I
want it to be an educational resource for not only us, but those
outside of the community who wish to learn more. I also want our
community to be taken seriously by those who can help us find the
answers. It is up to us to create, or reinforce, that type of
community.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Common sense should prevail. Donor and privacy issues are first and
foremost. The manner in which we expose ourselves to the public is
important. We are all individuals but how we act often reflects upon
the entire community.
|
 |
| Mistress Mikyla |
|
| My online name is Mistress Mikyla, but my real name is Laura Michaela.
I have been involved with the OVC for about 10 years now, through
various forums, groups (Vampire Church), and databases. In the past, I have been brash
about my opinions, but I believe for the most part that I have calmed
down a bit. I've not held an administrative position in any group, but
neither have I actively sought one. Occasionally, I go through lapses
of extended away time. This can be due to no internet access at the
time or no actual time as I am currently working two jobs, going to
school full time, and occasionally volunteering for my local animal
shelter.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I am not 100% comfortable with the label "vampire". Not only am I not a
predator, but I think using this term is detrimental in our search for
acceptance. That being said, it is the currently accepted term so I do
use it. I believe vampirism is a condition where people do not generate
enough energy on their own, through the means used by others, to
sustain a healthy, "normal" day-to-day lifestyle. To make up for this
lack, we are able to gather that energy from different external
sources. I started on the scene as a sanguine vampire, because that was
what I knew worked; over the years, I have learned I am also able to
gather this energy empathically and through environmental energies.
What I See The Community As:
I see the community as rather disorganized, being comprised of
different people with different views. On one side is the "this is how
it is, everyone else is an idiot" camp and on the other is the
"everyone's point of view is valid, so we accept them all, regardless
of how different and obscure or ridiculous" camp. I believe that I, and
the majority of others, are somewhere in the middle - the "vampirism
has a basic definition although everyone will say it differently and we
accept most points of view".
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
At times I think, "Why do we need a community at all. Isn't that like
diabetics having a community all their own?" Then I realize, they
really do - there are online forums and resources for diabetics, so why
not us? I would like to see the community become more cohesive, with
less in-fighting over terms used or positions of "power". I don't
believe we need positions of "power" except where appropriate - all
online forums need moderators and list owners. More respect for all,
not just a handful, would be awesome.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Frankly, I think we shouldn't need them. If we ever want to be taken
seriously, we should need nothing more than the laws of our country,
state, city. Call them guidelines, call them codes of conduct, I don't
care - they shouldn't be necessary at all. If all members of the
community could just behave within the law, I think we could do away
with these guidelines altogether. Until such a time, they serve the
purpose of showing we are not all law-breaking freaks wreaking havoc on
the innocent around us - and perhaps they help us avoid something
similar to the Satanic Panics.
|
 |
| MNoir |
|
| Please call me Marcus. I have been involved with the Community now
since the mid Nineties. I originally started in Los Angeles, often
frequenting the Fang Club, seeking answers to questions that had
possessed me since childhood. Eventually, I moved back to the East
Coast at the end of the decade, and found made my way to notorious
Gotham. I am a former member of a known House, and of an infamous
Order. When common interests and ideological pursuits were no longer
shared and honored, I left them both of my own volition. Now, I pursue
my own Path, along with my beautiful mate and artful partner Sibyl. I
make no bones about the past, instead I now choice to live a glorious
future. I am currently residing in Boston, but my home will always be
dear New York City. While I have taken a respite as of late to pursue
my career and personal interests, I am still active within the
Community.
|
 |
| Morpheus |
|
| I am Morpheus and I have been a Celtic pagan for roughly twelve years. I have served, and am still serving, the pagan community as a Druid for three years as a teacher and liturgist. I have been a part of the vampire community since 1998, primarily through the VCMB found on Sanguinarius.org where I have often times had to play the voice of reason and practicality, thus making the occasional enemy. I am what some call a hybrid because I can feed on both blood and spiritual energy.
|
 |
| Musidora |
|
| Hello, I'm Musidora. I've been a friend and supporter of vampires since
1998 and a donor since 2001. I co-host Les Vampires, a real vampire
support and information group, comprised of a website, forum and
chatroom, along with my partners, Blacklight, Shortgoth, Zeta, Khan and
Arryshanna, three vamps, a vampiric and a fellow donor, all folks who
each contribute greatly in their own way in hopes of making our
environment a better place to come for information, support and
fellowship, a candle in the darkness for those seeking refuge and
enlightenment. This group was founded by a vampire named RavenNighte
in 1997. I'm a member here at VVC, a great 'think tank' of experienced
people across the vampire community worldwide. I am an admin for Dark
Nations, a noble project I compare to a UN for our Kind. I spend much
of my time in the community these days doing support and education,
networking and conversing with many vamps, donors, supporters, the
interested, always trying to temper those interactions with
intelligence, humor, goodwill and civility. I try to be available to
help anyone, answer questions or point people in the right direction -
to help them find the answers they seek. I'm at the mid-century mark,
and hail from Texas, although I spent a couple of years in NYC in
recent years. I'm a healthcare professional, which surprisingly led me
to my first encounter and friendship with a vampire and am always
available to answer questions as they may pertain to medical and
holistic considerations.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
Again, I take the holistic approach - vampires need and require
specific forms of energy (by whatever name you choose to call it) in
order to function optimally in their daily lives for their sense of
well-being, in every regard - physically, mentally and spiritually and
to evolve to one's higher self. Maslow's hierarchy of needs about sums
that up. My longstanding viewpoint is that a vampire is a vampire is a
vampire, regardless of the way in which they obtain this energy and
what defines a vampire is this need and their ability to transform this
energy in a way to utilize it for that need.
What I See The Community As:
it is indeed a society unto its own, whether it be online or 3space,
all useful mediums for meeting others and exchanging ideas and for
fellowship among our kind. In the past decade, I've seen this community
evolve and I'm very pleased with the progress that has been made. I
believe it will continue to do so.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
I'd like it to be a cohesive group of people who come together for a
meeting of the minds. We need our own 'think tanks'. There's an
expression that getting vampires to come together on anything is like
herding a bunch of cats across a river. (lol I didn't say this, but
I've heard several vampires say it). That may be true. We're not all
going to agree all the time but we can agree to disagree when need be,
exchange ideas, and communicate with one another and it can all be done
with an air of civility and tolerance towards each another.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
From sheer observation, I know that every vampire has their own code of
conduct, and this code changes with each vampire over time. I don't
think it's something you can regulate but I do think you can point out
on an individual basis when behavior is not acceptable and to whom it's
not acceptable, and alternately what is generally acceptable and what
is not. By and far, most of the vampires I know behave honorably and
also have a sense of protecting those who needed to be protected. As a
donor, I believe in protecting our donors as both human beings having
inherent rights and as being one of our most cherished resources. And
this is coming from me who's been communing with vampires so long, I
see both viewpoints and I understand the need to find a happy medium
that works for both donor and vamp. I've written my own guide for
donors that I perceive encompasses most of the pitfalls and benefits
of being a donor and I revise it as I evolve in that understanding.
|
 |
| Naamah |
|
| My name is Naamah, but some people call me Mistress Naamah or just Wendy. I am originally from Fort Worth, TX where I was born and "grew up"... if I ever really did. I moved to NYC in January 2003 and have been here ever since. I joined the Court of Lazarus in barely a year after its inception. I attempt to do as much as I can to advance the vampire community and after working so long with Nefarious and Magdalena, I succeeded to the Regency of the Court in August 2007.
|
 |
| Nikluz |
|
| My name is Nikluz Dragon d'Argent, but most just call me Nikluz. I
started to hear about the vampi(y)re community in 2001. Discovering it,
I really felt like founding the way I was seeking for a long time
through many occult ways (going from Wicca to Luciferism through chaos
and more traditional or pagan ones). In those first times, I just
set myself as an observer of the vampire scene, mostly because of the
geographical distance I was from the main part of it. Indeed, I'm
French and French people were really few in those times. But
after 5 years just staying tuned online, the French community sprang-up
letting me become more active through the first French forums and IRL
meetings. I'm the webmaster and administrator of the Manerium Lamiss, which now remains the older typically French-speaking vamp' forum, and a kind of virtual core of the French scene. More
personally, I could define myself as a Ronin-Kherete: my personal way
is such an individualist one, but inspired by some of the Kheperu
viewpoints.
|
 |
| NyteMuse |
|
| I'm NyteMuse, or I also go by Morgan Felidae.
While I've been aware of the vampire community for almost a decade,
I've only been really actively involved or a part of it since 2006. I
also stick my nose in a bit in the Otherkin community off and on. I
identify as vampiric fey. Most of my time has been spent in the Pagan
community, so I'm focusing a lot of my work lately on countering a lot
of the misinformation and fears I find there (as pertains to vampires
and otherkin). I am a teacher and past administrator at the Grey
School, an online school of secular magic aimed at youths (but open to
anyone). I haunt many of the OVC and OVC-related forums (including HK,
VCMB, AVA, Suscitatio, NOX, Darkness Embraced, BlackSwanHaven) and I am
an administrator on the PsyVamp.org forums and one of the founding
members of House Rosa in Reno. I often wish I could be more outspoken
and appear on the various documentaries, but my field of employment limits that, so in the meantime, I do everything I can over the
web or in writing to help.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
In
my view, a person who identifies as a vampire is someone who is unable
to produce through normal means sufficient vital energy to fuel basic
operating functions and must take it in from elsewhere, somewhere
that's not the typical way of getting energy. I do not count those who
feed without needing to, I do not count those who are out of energy
because they don't take proper care of their body or do excessive
amounts of magic and energy work, tapping out their normal resources
beyond a healthy point. I do not count those who do not experience a
true need when they are unable to feed. I believe that people can be
temporary vampires, and have a temporary need to vampirize energy, but
that period ends at some point and vampirizing is no longer necessary.
I believe that vampires are almost always born that way, not
made or turned, though there are rare cases. "Vampire" is not my
identity, it is my condition of being.
What I See The Community As:
At
the present time, I don't see a community; I see a collection of people
who try to say they share an identity or characteristic, but then turn
around and back-bite and form cliques for the sole purpose of excluding
others. I see power-over games, and "Us vs. Them" mentality. I see a
subtractive group, not additive.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
In
a perfect world...honestly, I'd like the community to be what it's
starting to try and be now: a place for anyone to find support and help
for those who seek it, as well as guidance and education. I don't want
to see a police force or government, just a collection of great minds,
great hearts, and great diversity.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I believe that ethics are a good idea. But I think people should have ethics, not communities, religions, or subcultures. The Black Veil (the version that appears in The Psychic Vampire Codex)
I believe has some nice basics that are generally agreeable to a
majority of people, but I don't think that's the ONLY code. It is a
good start for those who are new to the community and vampirism as a
whole, but some may choose to develop beyond that, which is fine. I
stand by respect, for the rest of the community and non-vampires as
well, and I stand by common sense.
|
 |
| Perce Coeur |
|
| Perce Coeur; a 35 year old French woman - "Energetic Researcher" Always in the shadow of the french vampire scene since its "official" birth 3 years ago from now. Co-translator of the Vampire Codex into french with Niklüz & Co-creator of the Manerium Lamiis, the french vampire forum, with Niklüz.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
First of all, I am not comfortable with the V word (as I dont consider myself as a predator). Each and every person is different in the common society. Different minds, different needs, ect... In many subcultures, like the vampire one, everything is emphasized. Besides,
I dont like to put a name on something or on somebody, so this is a
really hard question to me, especially to answer in English!
In
order to be as general as possible, I would start by saying there are
many physical symptoms of vampirism, many behaviour lines and a strong
spiritual path. Vampires are condemned to live several births
(interpret this like you want). Some can call that a curse others would
say its a blessing. Vampires are among people I call "the
awakened" because for the most of them, they are more aware of what is
surrounding them than the common mortal. In fact they dont have the
choice of ignoring whats around them if they want to feed! If
they manage well, Vampires can be a part of the missing link between
the actual too cartesian society and the future spiritual society.
What I See The Community As:
As every gathering of people, it is capable of doing the worst as well
as the best. The border line between the two is so tiny ! Its each one
responsability to act as a responsible adult for the good of all. As
long as people tend not to understand primary things like RESPECT,
there will be work to do...
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Different groups of people ready to gather in order to talk seriously, respect each other and have fun together!
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Who did say "rules are made to be broken?" No I am kidding.... Before thinking of making rules for everybody (even basic rules) people should have their own ethic! That is the basic thing. Even
if I really like my freedom and cant stand rules, the "she-wolf-mother"
I am can understand why such Codes are written: to protect and to get
protected. As long as there are no abuse of it, I mean like "power abuse", I agree with it.
|
 |
| Raine |
|
| I am Raine. I have been floating around the online community for a little over 8
years, though I have never been officially affiliated with any houses
other than Bit Nibiru, which I founded about 5 years ago. Bit Nibiru
has come into it's own more in the past couple years, and currently
exists as a small exclusive "family" characterized by a certain state
of mind and being, centered upon ancient cultures, especially that of
ancient Shumer. I am building a business as part of our
house, that will become a multi-million dollar working, and as the
house grows, I hope to allow many individuals within the community to
be able to work as themselves, without the need for pretending to be
anything other, just to make a living. Though some say I have "big
dreams" syndrome, I am well on my way to implementing them. Currently,
I have a degree in Jewelry design/fabrication, and am working on
another in Accessories/Apparel.
|
Ravena
| I am Ravena Lee. I am of House Lost Haven based in California. I'm
located in Canada and I have been around the online vampire community
since the late 1990's. I am not vampire, but a pagan, and have written
some articles on vampirism. I appeared in Michelle Belanger's Vampire
Voices anthology. My site is DarkerThanThou.net. I have no claim to fame, in fact, I prefer to remain in the shadows rather than in the public eye.
|
 |
| RavenHarte |
|
| RavenHarte is a "damned yankee" New York transplant now residing in NC.
The HPS of Clann Caladvwlch (a Western Mystery style coven) and
Organizer of Path of the Moon Collective (a Pagan networking
organization), she has been a practicing Pagan for 15 years and she has
also been a practicing Jewish Mystical Kaballist for about 6 years, and
is student or member of other esoteric schools/orders. She has been
participating in the public vampyric community since 2004 as an Abbon
to House of the Dreaming and Affiliate to House Dark Haven vampyric
houses, most recently at Twilight II in Atlanta. She has also been both
a sang and psi donor.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
My
personal definition of a vampyre is a human who must draw upon the
lifeforce of other life forms to sustain their own energetic balance
and physical harmony. Vampirism is an inate human condition. Perhaps
its evolutionary and has a specific function, perhaps not. Perhaps its
a chromosomal anomaly, perhaps not - time will tell - and I'm sure it
wont be in my lifetime that its figured out. I really dont subscribe to
the idea of it being an "illness", and have had far too much proof of
the physicality of it to beleive its a manifestation of someone's
psychological fascination. I think vampyres, and whatever I am,
energizer bunnies let say, are just different "breeds" (for lack of a
better word) of the human race, like some people are born blind, or
with dwarfism, or as prodigies or geniuses. Theres no rhyme or reason -
none are better or worse, we're both the same as & different from
other humans.
What I See The Community As:
Though
I am within the fold in many ways, I mostly deal with the "Vampyric
Community" from an outside perspective, as one from the Pagan
Community, so I'll answer based upon my experience and the opinions of
those I've talked with who are also from the Pagan community "looking
in" or participating from the fringe. For us, Community is a poor word
to use. The connotation of that word implies that everyone is somehow
on the same page, has some kind of unity. I see the Vampyric Community
it more as a Collective. Individuals who are drawn together through the
personal affinity for the aesthetic, passion, courtly manner, and
predatory nature of the Vampyric mystique and myth, but who may not
necessarily physically vampyric themselves. Does it bother me that all
of the community like to call themselves "vampyre", it actually
does.... and me not even being one. Black Swan is a lovely word for
those who are just drawn to the arena, but are not actually vampyric.
There are a million House names for "friends" of the community. I don't
get why one would call themselves "vampyre", dress the part within the arena
if they know they have no real need. I love the fangs too, but think it
would be completely disrespectful to wear them. But I digress....
Regardless of whether a participant in the community is actually
vampyric, I do beleive every person within the arena, is important to it. All of us make it what it is - unique, diversified, and exciting.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Well
I'd like it to be a Collective who doesnt constantly put each other
down for starters. I am seeing in the Vampyric Community now, the same
kind of dissension the Pagan Community suffered 15 years ago when the
internet & Llewellyn publishing exploded Wicca into the world.
Every teenager who found a Pagan chatroom or a Scott Cunningham book
decided they were witches. Didnt make them anymore witch than your
RPGers are vampyres. However what we eventually figured out (after many
a witch war I'll tell you) was these people were drawn to us for a
reason! When we stopped fighting about whose Tradition was legitimate
or better, stopped judging and condescending to each other, we saw
EVERYONE had a valid part to play in molding and shaping of what we
wanted for ourselves. We found that when we stopped fighting and
started listening, our community finally began to grow and BECOME. I am
hoping this is what will happen in ALL the Nightside communities,
eventually.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I
think that all communities, collectives, subcultures, etc have to have
some parameters for behaviour. Chaos might raise energy but it also
causes fear. People withdraw from things they fear, and a mass exodus
would seriously reduce your feeding pool wouldnt it??? Humans are just
generally more comfortable in any situation when they know the "rules",
even the ones who enjoy breaking them. Do the rules have to be long
involved and wordy, no. The simpler the better. However just to sustain
the community's safety alone it behooves the community to have some
general rules. I like the Black Veil, first set of rules I learned
within HotD. I really love HotD's Bastions. But personally the
only rule I have ever thought the vampyric community really needed was
"OBTAIN PERMISSION FIRST". Easy, keeps you safe from trouble, and
neatly covers all sorts of areas a vamp might need a rule for.
|
 |
| Rev. Vicutus |
|
| I am Rev. Vicutus; Dominus de Ordo Sekhemu, III* Ramkht - founder of Ordo Sekhemu and a 32* Scottish Rite Mason. Although we are born with the Vampyric Gift and can date our Inner Selves far into history, I wish to maintain focused on this lifetime so that you may better understand me as the person I am in the Now. At first glance, I am quiet and may appear somewhat shy until we begin to speak. Then my essence begins to flow and you’ll know that I am no better than you, only different.
|
 |
| Sable Twilight |
|
| I'm Sable Twilight. I am currently a student attending the Metropolitan
State Collage of Denver, double majoring in public relations and
psychology. I am one of the co-founder of House Vespertine in Denver
and one of people involved with the Kherete project. I identify as a
psychic vampire, and have been active in the online vampire community
since 2005.
|
 |
| Sanguinarius |
|
| My name is Sanguinarius (Sangi). I am 38 year old female sanguinarian who awakened in her teens. I am the founder of Sanguinarius.org for Real Vampires / Sanguinarius: The Vampire Support Page (in the spring of 1997) and #Sanguinarius the IRC channel (chat room) on dal.net, among other resources. I'm also the author of The Dictionary of Sanguinese: Terminology and Lingo in the Vampire Community. a contributing author to Vampires in Their Own Words, and I've also written a number of articles and information for both mine and other sites. At one point, I was a member of COVICA and also the GVN. I was the Head for the Kansas Branch of ShadowLore, which is a network and group for vampires, donors, otherkin, fae, elves, dragons, therianthropes (were-creatures), and witches, as well as those who are interested, to meet and get to know one another. Since I recently moved to Arizona, I will be one of the Branch Heads for the SouthWest group. I was one of the early online vampire resource providers and helped network many groups and individuals early on. I'm gothic/spooky but also funny as hell sometimes. I love chocolate,
coffee and my cats: Boo, Scooter and Socks. I like the paranormal, and
unexplained mysteries, history, archaeology and science. My favorite
holiday is Halloween. My favorite music is old school gothic, although
I enjoy a variety of different genres, including reggae, swing and
classical. I collect vampire books and halloween & black cat
decorations to pretty up my little lair.
|
 |
| SapphoWolf |
|
| I'm known as SapphoWolf and my
"awakening", as it were, happened on August 6, 1985--the fortieth
anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima. Actually,
that was the day when months of self-examination and reflection
crystallized for me. I was not yet 14 years old. I hadn't known the
words "empathic" or "psionic" and consequently could not have used them
to describe what I had been experiencing. I knew I was living with a
different and heightened set of senses, and that the whole of me
hungered and yearned for something I couldn't identify. I had
come into the sphere of House Maidenfear, a vampire sanctuary, months
before through initiated friends that seemed to really understand what
I was experiencing. For the following four
years I spent a great deal of time at House Maidenfear, learning and
developing my own abilities. My own initiation was in 1989, once I
turned 18. However, I had to take the Maidenfear Way and my own life as
a vampire on an adventure. I moved away to college, where I studied
history and linguistics and became an expert vampire researcher. I was
able to enhance that skill in graduate school in Florida. I came
home to House Maidenfear in 2001 and I was elected to my current
station in 2003. I'm known affectionately as the "Vampire Philosophe"
for the amount of time I've spent in the more cerebral aspects of the
vampire existence.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
The greatest lesson I have learned is that there is not nor can there
be any one right and correct interpretation of what it means to be a
vampire. Accordingly, I remain open to all thoughts and theories at
the same time I have developed the philosophy that works best for
me--vampirism is about energy play and energy acquisition. So far as I
see it, this encompasses sanguinarian practices as well, as it is the
living energy within the blood that is the treasure.
What I See The Community As:
I have said it before and it bears repeating--I love the vampire
community. I feel that I gain so much and learn so much from other
vampires, things that not only make me a deeper vampire but a fuller
being. In the community I am a leader and I am a teacher, but I am not a ruler. I am here to share my own knowledge and experience with my brothers and sisters.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Ideally the community would be an unbroken circuit of respect and
discussion, each of us looking out for everyone else. Unfortunately,
the great monster Ego comes into our circle time and again. I hope
that we may yet learn to suppress the "I" and the "me" and come to
realize the "we" more fully. The good news is unlike in other
communities I have worked in, we vampires are understanding this and
are addressing it.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I have no business dictating ethics to another. Personally I adhere to
my own moral code, but as I said it is mine and it is mine to bear. I
would only hope that real vampires would seek to treat their brothers
and sisters with respect and tolerance.
|
sarasvati
| I'm sarasvati. I became involved in the online vampire community in 1998, started my own webpage in
1999-2000, has since undergone revisions too numerous to count. In its
current incarnation as "Echoes of Night". I am a sanguinarian and
moderator at Sanguinarius's VCMB. I am in the animal medical field. I have no official house or group affiliation.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I can only speak of my view of sanguine
vampirism, as I have no experience with any other type. I believe it to
be a medical condition involving a deficiency of some sort. I haven't
narrowed the list down much, though.
So either a lack of something a normal person produces, or a lack of a
component of a specific enzyme, hormone or protein, I don't know yet.
But I want to find out!
What I See The Community As:
A
group of similar minded people in the way that everyone who likes
broccoli is similar minded... similar, but extraordinarily diverse.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Really,
I like the diversity. We don't know enough about anything to form any
cohesive ideas, so we need the diverse beliefs and knowledge to keep us
all thinking. But, in the same breath, we need to be tolerant of others
views on a subject with no defined answer.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Eh,
nice idea, but really the relevant parts should be common sense. To me,
its like setting up a list of rules for adults that say "Don't play in
traffic, Don't kill your neighbor, and don't lick dirt."
|
 |
| ShadowMind |
|
| I'm known as ShadowMind. I am a 37 year old vampyre/vampire (the rationale behind these two
terms seems to shift with web sites, seasons, tides, you name it) that
is currently residing in Maine. I am a seeker of truth, though some of that truth may be
subjective and valuable only to me. If I am known, it is by posts and
writings I have contributed over the years. It is my current
feeling that my state of Being is one that has a sense or is in a
symbiotic relationship with the vampyric archetype and that is why I am
in this state. This I have come to over a lot of years of seeking
within as much as without through others within the community. Presently
I spend my time looking through old texts on vampire lore looking for
grains of truth amongst the exceedingly large fields, practicing
internal martial arts and teaching them when students happen by,
keeping my wife and child happy, and working.
|
 |
| Shishain |
|
| My name is Shishain. I have been awake and aware for most of my life, and have been active in the vampire community for about ten years, offline more than online. I ran KinVention North (a gathering for vamps, otherkin, awakened folk, and those friendly to them) in Canada for seven years, and am co-founder of House Quinotaur.
|
 |
| Soulshroude |
|
| Soulshroude is the founder of New Orleans House Solaris, and is an
Ambassador for the New Orleans Vampire Community. He is a chairholder
on the New Orleans Vampire Council (NOVA). He has been a part of the
Vampire Community since the late 90's and has been with the online
community since the start of the millennium. Within various sites,
such as the Vampire Rave, the GYP, Vampire Nest, as well as
several others. He is also a Freemason and does incorporate his life
with the values and philosophies of the the craft.
|
 |
| Sovereign |
|
| Sovereign is an administrator at both Dark Nations and SangSpace. She is also a member of various forums and e-lists throughout the vampire community.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I feel that psychic vampirism is related to the body's inability to metabolize energy efficiently. Therefore, a need to obtain energy from outside living sources becomes necessary. I am not sure if the problem stems from a hiccup on the cellular level or on a chemical level (e.g., neurotransmitter reuptake, hormonal deficits, etc.). My view of sang vampirism is difficult to relate, since I am not sang, although I am sang curious. I recognize that some feel that their vampirism is related to spirituality. Although, I don't share this view, I do not and will not discount any one person's right to believe as they wish. We are all different - there is great beauty in the diversity of opinion. Furthermore, who am I to say how another person's symptomatic expressions are manifested? Until, I can do a body swap, I can't say definitively what is and what is not. Therefore, I can only speak for myself.
What I See The Community As:
I'm an incredibly annoying optimist, and I honestly believe that the community is slowly (but surely) getting better minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. Seeing the good in the community does not make the bad disappear. It just makes me want to assist those who are making attempts to do what is necessary to promote effective change. Such a venture may be an infuriatingly slow work in progress, but evolution comes to all things. We just have to withstand the winds of change.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Ideally, a community should be more cohesive, and strive to do things for the greater good rather than for self edification alone. I believe the members of the VVC have congregated to put aside their own egos to do just that. Furthermore, I believe through self sacrifice, better interpersonal communication, and continued pro-activity we can achieve great things.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
The code of conduct that I follow is quite simple, it centers on respect for myself, for others, and for the community at large. It also is steeped in basic common sense. I have no problem with (some versions of) the Veil. If you choose to use it, then please use it wisely. And please, remember to discern all second hand information - written or otherwise.
|
 |
| SphynxCatVP |
|
| I am SphynxCatVP, generally just "SphynxCat" or "Sphynx" in
conversation. I'm over 40 and have been involved in the online vampire
community since 1998, having been a channel operator in the IRC channel
#sanguinarius on Dalnet pretty much since it's inception, and still am
to this day. My website, SphynxCat's Real Vampires Support Page, was
originally an outreach of my work in the channel, as a place to put
answers to topics frequently brought up in channel. Over the years it
has expanded to provide differing viewpoints and information that may
possibly be relevant - if not now, then at a later date. I work
closely with Sanguinarius, and regularly work with other people in the
community to get reliable information out to, well, pretty much anyone,
new and experienced alike, without regard to group affiliation. While I
have no medical training, I firmly believe that the only individual
best able to maintain one's health on a day to day basis is oneself,
and this can only be accomplished by reading and learning as much
medical information as is practical for one's situation. Many health
issues within the community I recognize as health issues that may be
mitigated or avoided with proper nutrition and health, and I strive to
make people aware of this, and what steps they can take to achieve this
on their own.
|
 |
| Stephen O'Mallie |
|
| Stephen O’Mallie, born Sagittarius in 1971, a New York native, quickly found himself questioning the “norm”. Interests peaked in the occult studies by the age of thirteen. By age twenty-five Stephen became an essential element, with title, to this New York (Gotham) scene. Stephen began as one of the first Ronins in the scene, quickly establishing himself and Clan O’Mallie with co-founder Thomas O’Mallie. Clan O’Mallie spanning over six years would eventually become a legacy house, after the siring of the last O’Mallie Mistress Absinth O’Mallie, no more children were brought into the fold due to the change in location and conditions of the scene. These changes made way for and inspired the creation of House Vengeance, a private house, to establish its name and with Stephen and (Sean) Sinner O’Mallie, as its founding fathers. Now with over a decade in the scene and six years in law enforcement, Stephen comes out of the shadows with hopes of informing individuals in the scene of the opinion law enforcement officials hold over it.
|
 |
| Sylverë ap Leanan |
|
| I'm Sylverë ap Leanan...your friendly, neighborhood Leanan Sidhe. I've
been involved in the vampire community since the early to mid-1990s.
In my old age, I've forgotten the exact year; I think it was 1994. I
started out in the OVC in the AOL chat room "Real Vampires No RP" and
was one of the charter members of the Vampire Donor Alliance. I took
part in the GVN (Global Vampire Network), something of a prototype for
the VVC, started by Pandora. I am the group facilitator for the
Real-Vampires Community Alliance; one of the oldest Internet-based support groups for vampires, donors,
and allies of the community. I also help organize a group on
Meetup.com called Gathering Dusk that caters to vampires, Otherkin, and
Goths. I appeared on American Vampires, a documentary for XYTV in the UK, I've been interviewed on the Internet paranormal radio show Nightwatch, and am one of the contributing authors to Vampires In Their Own Words.
In conjunction with several long-standing and respected members of the
community, I wrote the early drafts of the Vampire Ethics document that
was subsequently revised and implemented by the AVA. Most recently, I
took part in an academic round-table discussion addressing Goth culture
as it relates to school dress codes and violence in schools at the
American Criminal Justice Society's annual conference in Cincinnati, OH. I'm engaged to my Beloved Spyder, I'm a mother of two, a university student, and I live in Kansas City.
|
 |
| The Pink Lady |
|
| I'm known as The Pink Lady. I've been a part of the online vampire community since 1997 and the days of AOL "Real Vampires NO RP" chat. I joined the Vampirism E-List on Yahoo in late 1998 or early 1999 and became a moderator about a year later. I run New River Valley Vampires and belong to the Virginia Vampire Meetup Alliance which is run by a friend in Fredericksburg, VA. I also maintain a vampire nonfiction blog.
|
|
| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I believe a vampire is anyone who needs the energy from other living beings for survival. Umbrella term for all kinds of energy takers, stereotypical ones and not. (For example: I recently broke up with an emotional--and monetary--vampire who did his best to suck all the joy and cash out of me.) I think there's a difference between people who drink blood for show and take energy for demonstrated need.
What I See The Community As:
A gigantic clusterfuck. For every group like the VVC disseminating information and education, there are two groups advocating everything from cult secretly to iron overdoses. Even if people do pay attention to the "correct" information, the word vampire is such an overused term that no longer carries practical meaning. Folks say that my Yahoo Group is too harsh, but I say that the online community as a whole isn't harsh enough against idiots and should educate rather than coddle. I'm more willing to work with someone offline because that shows commitment - Lord knows there are enough Twilight vampire day trippers out there right now.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Less on secrecy and more on open information. It's the librarian arrogance talking here, but most people don't know how to search for good information on vampires and can't readily identify information as true or false. If the vampire community wants to be strong and recognized as serious, it needs to identify the false information and inform others why that information is false.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
Rules are good to establish and maintain... but I think the Black Veil in particular was created for a specific kind of vampire. Doesn't make much sense where I am, where all kinds of people are afraid to reveal their true nature. I think every group should address moral/ethical/legal/privacy issues surrounding vampirism but every group should have a code or charter created in some part by the group itself explaining their purpose and addressing various societal issues. Personally, I'm a big advocate of donor protection and blood testing, as far as ethics go.
|
 |
| Vabieon |
|
| I'm the Owner and Founder of an Online Sanguinarian & Psychic Vampirism Family Resource Network called Immortal Covenant. My background is Christian that being said, I don't believe vampirism should be meshed in with one's personal religion. I'm somewhat of an odd ball being that majority of My peers in the OVC are pagan, wiccan, or into the occult. I do believe Vampirism, can be sacred and or spiritual. But I rather view it as somewhat, both sacred as well as being a medical condition. And for that reason I preferred to use the word "Immortal" representing the spirit of one's self and "Covenant" the idea I had for the family's closeness. It actually started years ago when I realized I was the only one of our kind where I spend a great deal of my online time, in chat... there were as you can expect only roleplay vampires and I sought to change that. Overtime I branched out and welcomed more that had a need for a sense of family with like minded people. I think I wanted to feel not so alone in this world. It was then that I discovered there were many before me and then, the true journey for wisdom and growth began.
|
 |
| Vampire Kitten |
|
| I am VK or VampireKitten online, other than that I am Candace, a
psychic vampire and therianthrope. I became involved with the Vampire
(and Therian) community in 2003 and since then have run the TrueForm
Within (aka Vampires of Eternal Night) website. I
am an eclectic Pagan and paranormal investigator, who spends the
majority of her time working. Some of my other work includes being a
lead investigator for Nocturne Investigations. I also co-host a popular
vampire/otherkin podcast/radio show on Planet Paranormal. Personally, I
am an artist, alt model, and freelance webdesigner. Today I
continue to work with modern vampirism as well as numerous other
subcultures, the occult, paranormal occurrences, and metaphysics. You
can see some of my hosting/paranormal work on Ghost Town TV (Queen Mary), Next Dimension (YouTube/13 Pictures), Planet Paranormal,
and The Oxygen Network (an episode of the Bad Girls Club). I have some vampirism, therian, and paranormal
investigation books forthcoming.
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| Vyrdolak |
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| My legal name is Inanna Arthen, and Vyrdolak is who I really am. I
awakened as a vampire in 1970, resisted the truth for the next fifteen
years and finally ran out of rationalizations. I wrote, by request, the
magazine article "Real Vampires" in 1987. I contributed to Noreen
Dresser's research for American Vampires in 1988. In 1997, I
put up my own website, now known as By Light Unseen. I've been around
the online vampiric community since I put up my site, but I've always
been a solitary and a maverick, so I've never joined an offline group
or gone to a meet-up or event (yet!). I am a Pagan, a magick-worker,
and bisexual and very public about all of my "alternative lfestyles,"
including vampirism. However, I am a very civic-minded person and I
don't affect a more eccentric appearance than the average artist. I'm a
writer, public speaker, graphic designer and generally creative spirit,
and I am presently developing a small publishing company, By Light
Unseen Media, devoted exclusively to fiction and non-fiction related to
the topic of vampires. That's my full-time job until at least 2012. I
live in Massachusetts.
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| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
I regard true vampirism as an inborn, immutable state of being,
characterized by an ability to use the power in blood and other vital
fluids. I don't see vampirism as having anything to do with "need" or
weakness of any kind.
My view of vampirism derives from a long
study of folk traditions and historical evidence related to magical
practices and paranormal phenomena across multiple cultures. I became
aware of a repeated and quite consistent belief concerning non-human
beings that lived within human communities. These beings were usually
born to human families. They had inherent psychic and magical powers,
functioned at a higher level (intelligence, talent, all-round
competence) than the norm (often earning the envy and suspicion of
others), and were believed to literally steal vital fluids from animals
and other human beings to empower themselves. In regions that had a
well-articulated "undead vampire" lore, these "living vampires" were
always thought to return as "undead vampires" after death (as were
related beings like witches and werewolves). But "living vampires" were
believed to exist in cultures that had no clear "undead vampire"
belief. Names applied to these "living vampires" include strigoi vii, kharisiri and tlahuelpuchi, but in many cases these beings don't have a specific name, only a consistent description of their characteristics and behavior.
I
only realized that I fitted the descriptions of these beings after I
had been studying related folklore for years. I didn't base my
fundamental concept of a "real vampire" on my own subjective experience.
What I See The Community As:
Currently, the "Community" seems to be a conglomeration of individuals
who are irresistably drawn here almost in spite of themselves. Their
sole similarity is a strong personal affinity with some aspect of
"vampirism," either blood-drinking, "energy feeding," "donating" blood
or energy, or just being intensely interested in the subject. They
argue, they fight, they drop out, they form their own splinter groups,
but they keep coming back. Everybody seems to want to find some way for
all of us to agree without any single person having to compromise one
iota on his or her personalized self-identity, opinions or "definition
of a vampire." The really remarkable thing about the Community, given
all that, is that people DO keep coming back.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
It would be great if the Community could actually find its own common
ground, which I suspect lies far Outside The Box of where almost
everyone here is still looking for it. I'd like to see members of the
Community maintain real respect for each other. Of course, we're going
to disagree, but there is no reason we can't disagree politely! I'd
like to see us all feel confident enough about what we are to relax,
and talk about other aspects of our lives besides endlessly nattering
away about our vampiric problems, and trying to one-up each other about
who has the worst "need to feed." I'd like to see us achieve a strong
enough degree of unity and common purpose to be able to respond to
social and political threats with some strength of numbers and
consensus. I'd like us to feel safe about exploring scientific,
medical, and otherwise empirical tests and studies of our "symptoms"
and traits, and to have a large enough body of individuals to make such
testing meaningful. What I'd like, more than anything else, is for
vampires to fully acknowledge, and learn to use, their own inborn
power, as a group--but at this point I'm very pessimistic (and
disappointed) about that ever happening.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I hold myself to a very strict degree of personal principle, because I
know what I'm capable of doing if I don't keep myself firmly under
control. I've been aware of "The Black Veil" since Sebastian Todd
posted Version 1.0 to Vampyres List in the 1990s to get feedback. I
always regarded it as a slightly pretentious set of role-playing game
rules (the "game" initially being the nightclub "scene" in New York
City). Unlike some, I didn't see The Black Veil as being "common sense"
because many of its elements struck me as nonsensical, particularly the
proscriptions about respecting the hierarchy of the group.
I
certainly agree that vampires should be ethical and have a code of
conduct--but that "code" can be stated in very simple terms, as far as
I'm concerned. Follow the laws of the human community, state and
country you live in; don't do unnecessary harm; don't take or drink
from humans without permission; don't "out" other vampires or do
anything to put them at risk; take responsibility for yourself, your
actions and your words. Adding all kinds of flourishes and capitalized
archaic terminology only serves to protect the status of a few
"elders." I saw too much of that sort of thing in the Pagan/magickal
community to be fooled for a moment.
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| Wreckmaster |
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| Wreckmaster was born an Aries in 1976 and follows the asatru path of paganism. Wreckmaster currently resides in central Ohio and works is in the specialized heavy haul flatbed industry. He's been a member of the online vampire community since 2004.
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| Xaphaniel |
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| I go by the name Xaphaniel. I have been in and around the online
community now for around 7-8 years and still remember the first chat I
used to hang around in on Bloody Kisses. Since then I have been
travelling the net as well as the UK to find other vampires and to network
and learn from others' ways and ideas on things and then develop my own
teachings for my own house which is on and offline based. Currently I work as a support worker to people with learning difficulties which I
am finding to be an eye opener for many reasons; but as it goes it seems
like a career change for my eclectic work history. Currently I am also
trying to promote and be a minder to a DJ. All in all through my work history I think I have worked with
the underside of a lot of different communities and obviously not all
vampires. I am a hybrid feeder; I switch
between Psi and Sang but would be promoting more Psi feeding these days
as it's an easier source to find. I acknowledge that I have an animal side to which most times I feel we should all do from time to
time but opinions vary and I'm not one for pushing my ideas on someone
unless they want to discuss it. It's not everyone's cup of tea but at the
end of the day it gives me satisfaction that I can acknowledge this
side of myself and it not be a dirty secret.
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| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
Vampirism is a wide and varied topic of many ideas but none can be proved. With myself I take vampirism as being
a spiritual basis; something that is part of us but not something that
is us. In its holistic approach the spirit affects the physical and for
all of us this has similarities but many differences and that's what
makes us individuals and the vampire community so diverse. We need
to do what we do to function but even people who aren't Vampires do this. What makes us different maybe is just how we perceive everything
around us with different eyes or maybe the fact we have all been here
before and something has linked to us. For all the differences
there as similarities we all can't deny and that may be the root of it.
What I See The Community As:
I presently don't see any community. I unfortunately see many different groups
acting on what they see and gather and sitting in their pigeon hole as
if they are they true keepers of everything. I know
within communities this will happen but I see too much drama and not enough
open minds. Maybe it's just me, but I personally hate rumours and gossip and it
leads to splits on ideas it drains everyone and shows the fact that the
vampire community wont unify. I am
also seeing an alarming rate of young people coming online and viewing
how vampires feel, see, and do things and then becoming an authority on it
thus making themselves Elders with no clue of what the role involves
or how their words affect people just entering the community. This is
why i set up the House of Rising Serpent - to sit in the background and
seek some of these people and at least give them some truth for themselves. After all, if our freedom of will is taken away we will become robots to the idea and a closed mind can be dangerous.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
In essence I would love to see the community flourish and be accepted
for what it is; but with all the drama and stigma it's nowhere near that
point. For myself it's a pin hole of light at the end of a long dark tunnel but at least it's a pin hole and if I can see it there's
hope and faith.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
I think everyone should have a code of conduct or ethics for themselves and this is especially apparent from what we do as in feeding or how we conduct ourselves. Some of us go by writings and some by their own life experiences from
having their fingers burned in the past and learning from this. It's
never a bad thing as long as we know how to conduct ourselves and are
confident that what we do keeps us and those around us safe.
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| Xeurika |
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| I'm known within the OVC as xeurika. I've been involved in The Community since
serendipity/ fate/ being alone in a radio studio on the overnight shift
with an internet connection led to the discovery that there were others
who shared my collection of "personal weirdness" and the punch line was
it was called "vampire" around 2000. I quickly found my way
to #sanguinarius mIRC chat where to my delight I met many great minds,
and friends who I have to this day. I followed my "soul" brother and
sister Narradas and Shishain to House Quinotaur in 2001. I've been a
member and contributer/ lurker of various chats and message boards ever
since. Currently, I am also Deputy Ambassador to Dark Nations for House
Quinotaur, and local offline groups Austin Metro Vampires, and Pumpkin
Order. I have tried to contribute where I can, cool things when they
get heated, and rein things in when they get to far off the
reservation. More recently, I have found and been a part of the local
offline community in my home of Austin, Texas. I love painting,
and digital art (my avatar is an early digital work composited from a
self portraits and a sunset). From years of working in radio, I have
made some great friends in the local music and entertainment industry.
Being a former student, and Austinite, I do also have a weakness for
University of Texas football.
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| View Of Vampi(y)rism:
For reasons still under investigation, we possess an innate need to
take in energy also referred to as chi, ki, prana, and other names.
This need can be fulfilled through various methods. Without this
energy, we suffer various physical, emotional, psychological, and
psychic consequences. Furthermore, in many cases with
psi/psychic/energy vampires lack of conscious feeding can cause
unconscious and involuntary feeding which can effect others adversely.
What I See The Community As:
In a larger sense, I what is know as the Vampire Community as a union
of ethnic vampires who were born with an inherent need to take in
energy beyond what their body natural creates, and vampire culture with
its associated forms and fashions. While many who are part of an
ethnic group, may choose to participate and enjoy with its culture or
adopted culture, being a part of or enjoying a culture does make one
part of an ethnic group. This is not to imply a level of status by
being a part of one group or both. My belief is as Tom Robbins said,
"Equality is not in regarding different things similarly, equality is
in regarding different things differently."
For the part of The
Community that I most closely associate myself with, I would say we are
a collection of people who share an exotic state of being, and we find
in The Community those who can relate. Also, we share a mutual quest
of understanding, answers, and theories about the nature of our
condition. Many of us also share other personality traits, beliefs,
and other similarities that make socializing within The Community quite
enjoyable.
What I'd Like The Community To Be:
Largely we tend to be a quite individualistic group. Instead of
fighting this, I would like to see us serve this. How do we serve the
individual? The stronger each of us are individually, the stronger we
are as a whole. By focusing on the serving an individual through her
or his development as she or he chooses to explore that development, we
can find a goal and a purpose. By serving, and teaching, each
individual becomes stronger, and more enlightened.
Views On Ethics - The Black Veil - Codes Of Conduct:
For the most part, the Black Veil is common sense. Being ethical and
conducting oneself well I think is also common sense. When one has to
justify one's actions with nuance, it is a sure sign one is off that
path.
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| Zero |
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| My name is Zero. I have been an independent member of the Vampire Community since 1993.
I am an Atlanta native and a founding member of the Atlanta Vampire
Alliance, an independent group which was formed with the purpose of
taking on projects which will give back to and benefit our local
community in Atlanta and the Vampire Community in general. I am also
the co-founder of Suscitatio Enterprises, LLC; authors of the Vampirism
& Energy Work Research Study. My academic background
is in cultural anthropology, and I have an interest in languages as
well as in occultism, mysticism, and writing systems. The
Vampire Community faces a significant challenge in that there is a very
low level of acceptance of supposedly “occult” phenomena in the
modernized Western superculture. The religious establishments is
rabidly opposed to any sort of occult science, and the materialist
establishment is largely unwilling to accept the posited energetic
interactions that underlie the (psychic) vampire experience. However,
many other world cultures do not share the same intellectual prejudices
that we are currently laboring under, and “paranormal” phenomena like
Chi cultivation, shamanistic healing, energy exchanges, and
human-animal interactions are ideas that have a very ordinary frame of
reference for some peoples. At the moment, most academic
treatments of our community and related subcultures in the West are
studied in a cultural vacuum – as analysts grasp for ideas they try to
link the “dark” subcultures to extremism of existing Western
aesthetics, religion, or cultural alienation. Some have even analyzed
perfectly harmless cultures as potentially dangerous – breeding grounds
for extreme violence. I believe that cross-cultural studies can help
Western academia put phenomena like mysticism, psychic phenomena, and
the emergence of Otherkin, Therianthropy and modern Vampirism into a
much more familiar, human context.
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| Zilchy |
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| My name is Dwayne Marshall, nicknamed Zilchy about 5 years ago for no
real reason and the name stuck. I live in California and I am working
in the Automotive Industry while I attend Law school. I have been a
part of the vampire community since 2001, but became less active in it
between 2004 and early 2008, during which time I worked extensively
with the otherkin community as an administrator and technical adviser
at OtherkinAlliance.org. Shortly after returning to "full duty" in the
vampire community, I began making a series of videos on YouTube that
utilizes questions asked by the general public in order to promote
understanding of vampirism as it really is, rather than allowing
fictional stereotypes to continue coloring the average person's
understanding of vampires and the vampire community.
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| Zimmerchild |
|
| I'm Zola Tel Zimmerchild, shortened usually to either Zola, Zimmer,
Zimm, or just, Z. I've been floating around the online vampire
community, and a few others, for about 12 years. I spend a lot of time
working with people both in the vampire community and the otherkin
community. I also participate in a few discussion on vampires in some
obscure places. I am a hybrid vampire, I am a sanguine vampire, sexual/tantric/Eros
vampire, lastly a empathic/psychic vampire. I most commonly and often
prefer to be identified as a sanguinarian. Mostly because that is my
dominate way of feeding. I'm also what I refer to as a natural witch. I
currently own and run a forum called Forgotten Breed, it is for those
who need a place to go of understanding, information, support or are
just curious. I am also admin at another long running otherkin forum. I
am not one of the creators but was promoted to admin for having
been there for a long period of time and for my continuous
and growing knowledge. I am also an admin at the sister forum (Nocturnus) that is
in relation to vampires. I like iced tea with lemon and am very fond of carrot
cake with cream cheese frosting.
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