vampirism 101
DISCLAIMER: This article is presented as information about real vampires for educational purposes. The information presented in this article should not be used as a checklist to determine if someone is a real vampire or not. Having any of the qualities described within this article does not make someone a real vampire. All other explanations (i.e., medical, psychological, environmental, etc.) should be explored before assuming that one is a real vampire. Also, the information presented in this article is general in nature, and does not go into any details. The author encourages you to do further research into any specific topics.
types
Media has provided the world with a mythological/fictional definition of vampires and any sub-category of them (such as astral beings or demons), but in it's real definition, there is only one type of vampire. A real vampire is a mortal, living human being that requires abosrption of life-force energies from outside sources due to a lack of their own. Vampires are not limited to the Hollywood image of a person consuming the blood of another human, although these vampires, known as sanguine vamps, do exist. There are also other vampires who do not need to consume blood at all, but absorb energy from other methods, and they are known as psi (or psy) vamps. Furthermore, there have been other types that have been distinguished within the psi-vamp category. Below is a list of the types of vampires that are known and commonly accepted within the vampire community.
Sanguine Vampires (Sanguinarians): A person who absorbs life-force energy through the consumption of blood. This is considered the most potent form of feeding and the most fulfilling. One feeding, usually an ounce or two of blood volunteered by a donor, can last much longer than that of a psi-vamp, up to many weeks for some. It is also considered a much more intimate and intoxicating method of feeding.
Psi (psy) Vampires: A person who absorbs life-force energy through psychic means. A psy vamp can feed from a single person or a crowd. Psi vamps can feed from a person without them knowing it, but for the majority of the vampire, this is considered unethical. The donor of a psy vamp is never actually harmed in a feeding. Psi vampires used to be known as psychic vampires, but due to advancements in the behavioral psychology field, the term psychic vampire is used to describe a person who has a psychological need for attention, doing everything in their power to get it, which leaves their audiences drained. Psi vampires avoid using the outdated term psychic vampires to distinguish themselves from this new psychological group. As such, the term psy (as opposed to psi) is being weeded out so as not to confuse people. Psi is used instead, which is believed to stem from the term psionic, another psychic phenomenon. Below are the different methods of feeding a psi vampire may use (However, there are some in the community that claim the following are types of vampires of their own rather than sub-categories of a psi-vamp. General consensus leans towards the grouping of these types because psychic methods are used in all instances).
There are other groups of individuals who identify with the vampire community, but are not actual vampires:
There is also another psychological condition within the field of behavioral psychology known as clinical vampirism, or more commonly referred to as Renfield’s Syndrome, based upon the fictional character of Renfield from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Those that suffer from clinical vampirism, in most cases, are not real vampires either. Renfield’s Syndrome is described as a pathological and delusional disease, fetishistic and compulsive in nature, where a person (usually a male) experiences a psychological need for blood with a strong sexual component. Generally, those that suffer from the syndrome often go through a progression of stages beginning with auto-vampirism (drinking one’s own blood) and progressing to vampirism (drinking the blood of others). The compulsion of the vampirism stage may lead a person to committing criminal acts to obtain human blood, such as stealing blood from hospitals and blood banks or going to the extreme of killing someone.
Sanguine Vampires (Sanguinarians): A person who absorbs life-force energy through the consumption of blood. This is considered the most potent form of feeding and the most fulfilling. One feeding, usually an ounce or two of blood volunteered by a donor, can last much longer than that of a psi-vamp, up to many weeks for some. It is also considered a much more intimate and intoxicating method of feeding.
Psi (psy) Vampires: A person who absorbs life-force energy through psychic means. A psy vamp can feed from a single person or a crowd. Psi vamps can feed from a person without them knowing it, but for the majority of the vampire, this is considered unethical. The donor of a psy vamp is never actually harmed in a feeding. Psi vampires used to be known as psychic vampires, but due to advancements in the behavioral psychology field, the term psychic vampire is used to describe a person who has a psychological need for attention, doing everything in their power to get it, which leaves their audiences drained. Psi vampires avoid using the outdated term psychic vampires to distinguish themselves from this new psychological group. As such, the term psy (as opposed to psi) is being weeded out so as not to confuse people. Psi is used instead, which is believed to stem from the term psionic, another psychic phenomenon. Below are the different methods of feeding a psi vampire may use (However, there are some in the community that claim the following are types of vampires of their own rather than sub-categories of a psi-vamp. General consensus leans towards the grouping of these types because psychic methods are used in all instances).
- Empathic (emotional) Vampires: Individuals who absorb life-force energy through the emotions of others. In general, empathic vampires feed off any emotion that is released from their donor, despite the cause of these emotions. There are a select few who directly conjure up negative emotions from a victim and feed solely on these. While not a subcategory of its own, these people are deemed as chaotic vampires and regarded as unethical due to the nature of the feeding.
- Tantric (sexual) Vampires: A person who absorbs life-force energy generated through sex. This is especially true in the moment of climax, either psychically or through direct consumption of bodily fluids. Female sex vamps are sometimes called succubi (s. succubus), and male sex vamps called inccubi (s. inccubus). Some people/groups refer to sexual vampires as 'pranic' vampires, but there are others out there that use the term pranic to describe a psi vampire and consider a sexual vampire a class of its own, so in theory, it is best to just stear clear from the trouble. Tantric is argued as a more politically correct and less derogatory term
- Elemental (nature) vampires: A person who absorbs life-force energy through earth, air, fire, or water. Some say these types of vampires are elementalists, able to manipulate the energy from the elements and form it into a consumable energy. Others say they feed directly from these elements themselves. Furthermore, some say that the vampires can also absorb energy directly from plants and animals, or electricity through lighting and/or electrical fields. However, it is argued that these types of vampires are a sub-category of elemental vampires and called nature vamps or electrical vamps.
- Soul Vampires (soul devourers): People who absorb life-force energy directly from a person's soul. It is said the vamp can then gain their donor's memories, thoughts, and feelings, and it is considered more intimate the sanguine or tantric vampirism.
- Astral Vampires: Individuals who absorb life-force energy from entities on the astral plane. It is also believed some astral vamps may be able to materialize in astral form and feed on donors who are asleep. There are astral vampires that are said to be able to enter a person's dreams and feed on the life-force energies therein, but are called Dreamscape Vampires.
- Magickal Vampires: Coined to describe individuals who absord and manipulate magickal energies. However, this designation is a bit controversy. The technical definition for magick is someone who simply manipulates the energy around them to achieve a desired result, so in calling a person a magickal vampire because they manipulate magickal energies is a but redundant.
There are other groups of individuals who identify with the vampire community, but are not actual vampires:
- Leeches: People who are able to absorb life-force energy from others, but do it for a sense of euphoria rather than a physical need.
- Lifestylers (Vampyres): People involved with the vampire community that are not vampires, but dress and live similar to the fictional/mythos version of the vampire. It is important to know that it is also possible for an actual vampire to choose to live the Hollywood Vampire lifestyle as well.
- Blood Fetishists: Non-vampiric people who engage in bloodplay, usually in a BDSM setting. They may consume blood but have no need to do so.
- Roleplayers (RPGers): Probably the most looked-down upon group, next to the taboo of a blood fetishist. The most predominant ones are the role players that play Vampire: The Masquerade by White Wolf Publishing. However, role players can be anyone who chooses to play the part of a vampire in any role playing game (RPG). These individuals start to feel that they are becoming these fictional characters. They try to get involved in the vampire community and try to pass themselves off as a real vampire. They usually fail immediately, using certain terminology used only in the RPG, or claiming to be immortal. No vampire is immortal. Every vampire is a human being, and every real vampire knows this. It is also possible for an RPGer to be an actual vampire, and by engaging in the vampire community, they are 'awakened'. Also, some real vampires may indulge in roleplaying as a hobby.
There is also another psychological condition within the field of behavioral psychology known as clinical vampirism, or more commonly referred to as Renfield’s Syndrome, based upon the fictional character of Renfield from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Those that suffer from clinical vampirism, in most cases, are not real vampires either. Renfield’s Syndrome is described as a pathological and delusional disease, fetishistic and compulsive in nature, where a person (usually a male) experiences a psychological need for blood with a strong sexual component. Generally, those that suffer from the syndrome often go through a progression of stages beginning with auto-vampirism (drinking one’s own blood) and progressing to vampirism (drinking the blood of others). The compulsion of the vampirism stage may lead a person to committing criminal acts to obtain human blood, such as stealing blood from hospitals and blood banks or going to the extreme of killing someone.