First, I think it best to define the essence of the vampire (fictional) before attempting to define the Essence of the Vampyre (magical). In this way, I hope to invite discussion and/or debate on the topic, and to hear from other magicians' experience with this type of magic.
The word "essence," as defined by my Random House Dictionary, is "the basic intrinsic constituent or quality of a thing." It also means "the substance obtained from a plant or drug, by distillation or infusion, and containing its characteristic properties in concentrated form."
When examining the "essence of the vampire," or that which is distilled once we remove various authors' character nuances and personalities, we find certain things in common in most every vampire story: the fact that a living victim had been bitten and killed by a vampire and is now basically a walking corpse with supernatural powers. These powers included turning into mist and shapeshifting, invisibility, mesmerism, superhuman strength, immortality and, of course, a murderous bloodthirst.
In 1819, Dr. John Polidori distilled even further the literary vampire's essence by replacing the ghoulish appearance with an aristocratic one. He further fashioned the personality of his vampire character after the infamous English Romantic poet, Lord George Gordon Noel Byron (1788-1824), for whom he had worked for a time and had grown to dislike by the time he wrote his story. Suddenly, the classic myth of the vampire had become something intriguing and sexually appealing to readers rather than horrific, and the beginnings of the Vampyric archetype was born.
Polidori was the first to utilize the new spelling of "Vampyre," and Polidori's main character, Lord Ruthven, also had the characteristic bloodthirst, as well as more elegant and appealing characteristics. Novelists from then on continued to utilize this breed of vampire in increasingly sexually oriented stories (including Bram Stoker's _Dracula_). Later, screen writers would develop this idea even further with the sensual movie version "Dracula," starring Frank Langella.
For magicians, this Vampyric Essence can be experimented with in many ways. Distilled even further by removing the two remaining negative traits of the vampire, bloodlust and the animated corpse theory, we have an extremely sensual, sexual, aristocratic, magically and physically powerful Being. If one learns to emulate the powers of the vampire while keeping strongly in mind the intrinsic elegance and "Aristocracy of the Blood" that has developed within the archetype over the years, we now have the ingredients for a magical personality/persona known as the Vampyre.
How can these legendary powers be emulated? With only a little magic, imagination and dedication, it is quite easy, actually. "Superhuman" strength can be developed via weight training, using various strengthening and flexibility exercises. "Invisibility" can be learned by studying certain martial arts, such as Ninjutsu. "Shapeshifting" can be accomplished via pathworkings, trance states, and lycanthropic magic, as well as astral projection. Mesmerism can be learned by studying mesmerism and hypnotism, and also through psychology. The "Command to Look" can be practiced by experimenting with styles of dress and cosmetics, and via a projected Will.
Regarding immortality -- well, there are about as many beliefs regarding this as there are individual magicians. Some believe that immortality is achieved by strengthening the Will prior to Death. Some believe "psychic" or "life force" vampirism is necessary. Some believe that all human spirits are already immortal. Some believe all human psyches survive death, but then must know how to survive the "second" or "astral death." The method of this most alluring of the Vampyre's powers must be defined and explored by the individual magician according to their own studies.
Any of these traits taken alone for study and eventual perfection give on an interesting little power to add to their magical "arsenal." However, if one is truly studying the "awakening" of the Vampyric Essence and spends time developing each and all of these various talents, we have the makings of a very powerful magicians. Study never ends, of course, and each new "power" gives the magician just one more tool for self-awareness and evolution. This in turn strengthens the Vampyric talents, which again in turn empower the magician's evolution. This is the evolutionary Path of the Vampyre. (Complexities, and even dangers, of the Path beyond this simple description exist, of course, but are beyond the scope of this post.) The study of the Vampyric Essence is not for everyone. It is merely another Path for personal evolution. The concepts seem to resonate well with some personalities, while the image and archetype are abhorrent to others. Those on this particular magical Path tend to recognize one another, sometimes even before the other magician knows they would find this method intriguing. This is what is known as being "of the Blood." Vampyres tend to recognize kindred spirits.
Your individual Vampyric Essence is what you make of it. Each Vampyre, like each magician, is unique. The Vampyre may be seen as the next stage of human evolution, as the practice of magical Vampyrism (as opposed to vampirism) forces one to transcend common lower human traits and cultivate an aristocratic bearing, eloquence, and pride in Being.
The Path of the Vampyre is based on personal evolution. It's methods and trappings are sometimes Gothic-Victorian, though without the restriction and repression of these times in history. Emphasis is placed on the love of life, and conversely, the Understanding that Death is not to an experience to long for, but is merely a moment of great change. Vampyres tend to believe in immortality of the psyche, and live their lives based on this knowledge. And with this realization of the reality of continual evolution, an ever higher and exhalted state of Being is continually sought.
1047
- The word upir (vampire in Russian) first appears in written form, referring to a Russian prince.
1428(29?)
- Vlad Dracul's son, Vlad Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler, is born.
1477
- Vlad the Impaler is assasinated.
1484(?)
- The Malleus Maleficarium, known as the witch hunter's bible, is authored by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. How to hunt and kill a vampire is discussed in the work.
1560
- Elizabeth Bathory is born.
1600-1800
- Europe and Russia are plagued with superstition about the vampire.
1610
- Elizabeth Bathory is tried and sentenced to life imprisonment for her vampiric crimes.
1727-1732
- Arnod Paole wreaks his vampiric havoc on the small town of Meduegna.
1748
- The first modern vampire poem, "Der Vampir", is published.
1813
- A vampire appears in Lord Byron's The Giaour.
1819
- The first vampire story in English, The Vampyre by John Polidori, is published.
1847
- Varney the Vampyre begins its serialization as a penny dreadful.
1872
- Carmilla, by J. Sheridan LeFanu, is published.
1897
- Bram Stoker publishes Dracula.
1819
- Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker is published.
1928
- England sees the first printing of The Vampire: His Kith and Kin by Montague Summers.
1931
- Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, is released.
1958
- Hammer Films revolutionizes the vampire film with The Horror of Dracula, starring Christopher Lee.
1964
- The Munsters & Addams Family (both feature vampire characters) debut on TV.
1967
- Vampire Barnabas Collins makes his debut on Dark Shadows.
1970
- The Vampire Research Society is founded by Sean Manchester.
1972
- Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu release In Search of Dracula, linking Vlad the Impaler as the inspiration for Stoker's Dracula.
1976
- First book of Anne Rice's vampire series, Interview With A Vampire, is published.
1977
- Dracula hits Broadway, starring Frank Langella.
1979
- Frank Langella reprises his role in Universal's remake of Dracula.
1991
- Vampire: The Masquerade is released by White Wolf.
1992
- Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is released.
1994
- Interview With a Vampire comes to the big screen.
Blood
Blood has been a symbol of life since very ancient times. The blood in our veins has always been iconic of our continuing life. To lose too much blood is to lose consciousness, breath, and eventually, our very lives. If a person or animal is already dead and is cut open, blood does not flow. Only the living have blood that flows. Blood has been used throughout the ages as a ceremonial sacrifice. In pagan times our forefathers worshipped their gods with blood sacrifice. And today, indeed, we are not so different. Even in modern times, in our churches, there are those taking communion or the Eucharist, and drinking of the wine that symbolizes Christ's blood.
It seems appropriate, then, that this creature who is an antithesis of both death and life should gain his strength from feeding from the life's blood of humans. For the vampire, the drinking of blood is its life, its sustenance, and the single thing that makes it identifiable all around the world, regardless of the culture in which you were raised or the language you speak.
As the scientific nature of man progressed, he began to abandon his God in favour of logic and reason. In this the vampire tale was no different. As the nineteenth century drew to a close and the twentieth century approached, reason began to enter vampire literature. Scientific reasoning was applied in an attempt to justify the vampiric need for blood. In many literary instances it was linked to anemia, and blood loss. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, Van Helsing prescribed a blood transfusion for Lucy, in an attempt to divest her of the vampire blood in her body.
Fangs
Most vampires (although not neccessarily all, depending on whom you ask) require blood to survive. Fangs, it is commonly thought in the animal kingdom, make it easier for mammals to tear open the flesh of their prey. In terms of the vampire, it would make feeding far easier. Yet not all folkloric or even fictional vampires are fanged. Historic accounts of vampires rarely mentionfangs, and even Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula in 1931 was done sans fang.
As cinematic prowess increased and the movie industry was able to do more with special effects, a new vampiric ability evolved. In movies today it is common to see the vampire with retractable canine fangs. This allows him to circulate with humans more easily; with the fangs retracted, he is more easily perceived as human. In the Canadian television series Forever Knight, the main vampire character, Nick, has fangs that only protrude when his dark, vampiric nature is unleashed.
Fingernails
In European and Slavic history, fingernails were thought to be one of the tell-tale signs that a corpse was a vampire. Vampires were thought to lose their old nails and grow new ones upon their entry to the vampiric world. An exhumed body that lacked nails or had grown new ones was summarily staked, and very often burned or reburied with garlic to seal the corpse within the ground.
In modern literature, many vampire novels have mentioned fingernails specifically. Two of the most common of these are Dracula and Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. In Dracula, Jonathan Harker notices that Dracula's "nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp point." When Dracula later opened a wound on his chest for Mina Murray to drink his blood, he did so with these sharp, pointed nails. In Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Louis and Lestat both mention the glassy appearance of their fingernails, so different from that of humans. Many times it was something that they take care to hide.
Hair
The histories of both European and Slavic vampire hunts also show hair growth as a sign of vampirism, although this sign was generally not found unless the corpse also displayed many other traits thought to be associated with a vampire.
Modern cinema tends not to deal with the subject of hair, as a rule. One notable exception is Interview With the Vampire. The vampire child Claudia shears off all her hair in a rage, only to find that it grows back in seconds.
Reproduction
The term Dhampir in modern folklore refers to the offspring of a vampire and a human mate, traditionally a male vampire mating with a human female. This offspring was normally male. The dhampir was thought to have special qualities. He could sense where vampires hid themselves from the world, and therefore he had the ability to be a superb vampire hunter. These qualities would be passed down genetically to his offspring, and it was thought to last many generations.
As well, the terms incubus and succubus refer to vampires who perform a sexual attack upon their intended victims, and it was likely these types of vampires who produced offspring. However, references to exactly how (!) this was accomplished is very scarce.
Senses
In modern literature, a vampire's sense of vision is thought to be very acute. This is largely due to the fact that they are a nocturnal creature, and therefore must be able to adapt to their environment. It also explains why sunlight is thought to be so painful to their eye. Their eyesight has often been attributed to a residue from their ability to change into bats .
Many treatments of the topic also state that hearing can be heightened in a vampire body. This allows them to hear mortals from a great distance (far greater than human ears could pick up) and also to discern when another vampire draws near. This is evident in the Canadian television program Forever Knight; Nick can hear over great distances, and this allows him to capture the criminals he chases. Their acute sense of hearing may also be attributed to their nocturnal nature; as night hunters, the ability to hunt quietly and hear well would be invaluable.
Shape-Changing
Although there was a small link between shape-changing and vampires for hundreds of years, it was not until Dracula that the true connection was made. In the novel, Stoker described Dracula as able to change into a rat, a bat, or the very mist itself.
Vampire bats became by far the most common of these shapes a vampire could command at will. This could be because vampire bats, by their nature, are closely related to the vampire itself. They are nocturnal, and feed exclusively off the blood of various mammals and other vertebrates. They have very sharp teeth which they use to pierce the victim's skin, and then they lap up the blood as it flows. It has also been known as an emerging problem; it is a proficient carrier of rabies (not unlike the definition of Nosferatu, which itself mean plague-carrier).
The ability to transform at will into mist has brought many advantages to the vampire, allowing him to escape vampire hunters and other dangers quickly. In addition, mist (in some cases) has allowed the vampire to move great distances at one time.
Skin
Historically, vampire skin was dark instead of the alabaster skin we see today in film. Paul Barber, author of Vampires, Burial and Death, suggests that this is becuase suspected "vampires" were actually corpses decomposing in their graves. Skin naturally turns darker and sloughs off the bone as the body decomposes. This may account for many reports in medieval Europe of vampires "growing new skin".
Today, vampire skin is by nature very white and smooth. This is likely due to the fact that these creatures are nocturnal, and never get to see the sun. Their skin therefore gets bleached over time. Also, the vampire is an undead creature, and unless he has recently fed, there is a lack of colour-giving blood in his body.
In The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice describes the vampire skin as nearly transparent when the vampire is starved for blood. After feeding, they attain a healthier, more human skin tone, but this is a temporary change. Lestat mentions on several occasions having to powder his skin to pass for human.
Strength
The vampire came by its supernatural strength through modern film and literature. Vampires, historically, were not know for their great strength; they normally attacked only "weaker" victims, such as children or the elderly. They never attacked a group of people for fear of being overcome. However, the modern view of vampires have allowed them a certain arrogance, knowing that no mere mortal could overpower them. Many of the personality traits that we have come to so adore in the vampire today are a result of this arrogance, knowing that they are truly immortal but for a few weaknesses.
This article was submitted by a highschool student who used Pathway as a resource when researching her essay for school. It's a wonderful beginner's look at vampirism - hopefully it will encourage others to follow the same path of learning and discovery!
Imagine that the year is 1790. Adults and children alike are draping strings of garlic, as well as crosses above and around their doors. They do this because they fear that a vampire will come for them in the blackest of night. Many questions have been asked about the origin and the definition of the vampire. There are also various types and vast amounts of opinions about them as well. Many myths and legends like this have plagued mankind for centuries. The vampire has many definitions describing it. There are also various types and vast amounts of opinions about them as well. The vampire, also known as the walking undead, has been around for many, many years and is probably one of the oldest creatures in the world. Doctors and scientists have even discussed actual medical conditions that may have lead to the belief in vampires.
Among all the creatures and monsters in literature and folklore, the vampire seems to be the most mysterious:
"Throughout the whole vast shadowy world of ghosts and demons there is no figure so terrible, no figure so dreaded and abhorred, yet dight with such fearful fascination, as the vampire, who is himself neither ghost nor demon, but yet who partakes the dark natures and possesses the mysterious and terrible qualities of both" (Summers 1).
The World Book encyclopedia defines a vampire as "a corpse that supposedly returns to life at night to suck people's blood" (Vampire 268). The word 'vampire' seems to catch the attention of people throughout the world. Many people wonder about where the word originated, and very few actually know. The name itself has never been satisfactorily explained:
"In its form of vampire [South Russian upuir], it has been compared with the Lithuanian wepti = to drink, and wempti; wampti = to growl, or mutter, and it has been derived from root pi [to drink] with the prefix u = av, va. If this derivation is correct, the characteristic of the vampire is a kind of blood-drunkenness" (Summers 19).
So, as one can notice the word "vampire" is quite complicated in some ways. Stories of vampires have also been around for centuries. There have been stories as far back as 600 BC about vampires in Ancient Greece, but most of the tales told today began in the late eighteenth century. "In China Tsze-Chan reported in the 'Tsachwen' the existence of vampires in 600 BC. This idea was also prevalent in ancient Babylon and Assyria" (Florenescu 164). Stories of vampire-like creatures have come from many parts of the world. "Most vampire tales originated in Eastern Europe and Balkan countries, such as Albania, Greece, Hungary, and Romania" (Vampire 268).
The vampire has many different names and callings. For example, a vampire might be referred to as a revenant or the classic walking undead. "With a persistent sense of the fitting (and deplorable sense of taxonomy), European scholars have commonly referred to these, and to the undead in far-off cultures-for example, China, Indonesia, the Philippines-as 'vampires' as well" (Barber 2). "Other vampires throughout the world include the Hantu which is Malaysian and the Aswang which is from the Philippines" (Pedigo n. pag.). These two types of vampires are bodiless heads trailing entrails behind them.
As the 20th century evolved, rational man turned to science to explain mythology that had pervaded for thousands of years. How could a man be mistaken for a vampire? How could someone appear to have been the victim of a vampire attack? Science, in time, came back with answers that may surprise you.
Anemia
Derived from the Greek word for "bloodlessness", anemia is a blood disease in which the red-cell count is unusually low. Red cells are the carriers of oxygen throughout the body. When a person suffers from anemia, their symptoms are caused by inadequate oxygen. These symptoms may include:
There are three main causes of anemia: disease, heredity, and severe blood loss. Over the ages, a person suffering from these symptoms may have been under suspicion of a vampire attack. Once again, myth warps to suit the needs of the believer. Although the victim may have contracted a disease or simply have inherited the blood disorder, society would have found it easy to believe that the symptoms resulted from a vampire attack. Indeed, these symptoms may even have suggested to our ancestors that the victim was beginning his own transition to a vampire, marked with a pale complexion and trouble eating food.
Catalepsy
Catalepsy is a disorder of the nervous system that causes a form of suspended animation. It causes a loss of voluntary motion, a rigidity to the muscles, as well as decreased sensitivity to pain and heat. A person suffering from catalepsy can see and hear but cannot move. Their breathing, pulse, and other regulatory functions are slowed to the extent that to an untrained eye, it would seem as though they were deceased. This condidtion can last from minutes to days. Before 20th century medicine came along, there were few diagnostic tests that could be done on a body to ensure it was in fact dead, and so it is possible and even likely that persons suffering from catalepsy could have been declared dead prematurely. Embalming a corpse before burial is also a 20th century idea, so it's very possible that these bodies were declared dead and buried while the person still lived. Upon recovering from their catalyptic state, the person would try to dig their way to the surface. Many myths may have arisen from this single condition alone.
Porphyria
Of all the disorders and diseases even loosely linked to vampirism, the most bizarre must be porphyria. It is a rare hereditary blood disease; its symptoms so closely match the myths associated with our modern conception of vampirism it's eerie. A victim of porphyria cannot produce heme, a major and vital component of red blood. Today, this disease is treatable with regular injections of heme into the body. However, as little as fifty years ago, this treatment was unavailable and the disease unknown. In the past, a porphyria sufferer would show symptoms that include:
This disease would likely cause the victim to only go out at night, in order to avoid the painful rays of the sun. In addition, while garlic stimulates the production of heme in a healthy person, it would only cause the symptoms of porphyria to become more painfully severe. Porphyria was eventually discarded by scientists as a reasonable explanation of the vampire myth that has pervaded our history. Although vampire accounts of the past bear little resemblance to the dashing figure we romanticize today, these qualities may have contributed to our look at the vampire in film and fiction: pale skin, extended incisors, even the fear of the sun!
The Old Testament warns against the drinking of blood:
"But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof,shall ye not eat." (Genesis 9:4)
"Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh." (Deuteronomy 12:23)
Long before the Christian church began to unfold its wings throughout Europe, the vampire was an established myth. Vampire-like creatures had been a part of superstition since ancient Greece. The roots of the vampire were Pagan in nature, and the beliefs were widespread. The relationship that eventually formed between vampires and the Christian God is a tale riddled with irony.
Today, the vampire is as alive and well, if not more so, than any other time in the past. Goths dressed in black roam the streets and boulevards, and readers and moviegoers alike thrill at the presence of the fanged Beast. Emebedded in the vampire lore of today is Christianity and its symbols, all part of the fun. The Beast lives on, and will for many, many years to come. The names of these serious Christian researchers are as well known to dedicated vampire fans as Dracula, Lestat, and others. They must be turning over in their graves. :)
The vampire has long been established as a powerful icon of our culture. Many are tempted to believe that the power and popularity of the fanged beast are simply explained by our collective love for danger.
Yes, the vampire is dangerous. There is no question that he (or she!) has taken his position among horror monsters that will survive the ages. However, few creatures inspire the kind of devotion you find in followers of the vampire. Few people are as fascinated with the mummy or Frankenstein's monster as they are with the creatures of the night.
I agree with the "danger theory" wholeheartedly as an explanation for the pervasive nature of horror in general, but I tend to think the reasoning behind the vampire's vast history has more to do with the most universal and powerful of human fears: the fear of death.
From a folkloric standpoint, the vampire may have served as mythic explanation for a process that few cultures understood historically. Death has always been a mystery, but never more so than prior to the developments of science and medicine that have evolved in this century.
Humans have always tried to understand the world around them; our thirst and capacity for learning are unlimited. Historically, however, something that cannot be understood or explained is relegated to the breeding ground from which springs myth and superstition. How many things are "known" to cause bad luck, for example? Spilled salt, walking underneath a ladder, a black cat crossing our path... the list goes on and on. The vampire's presence in folklore indicates that its purpose may well have been to explain through superstition what could not be understood through any other means: the mystery of death.
In modern times, death is better understood, but not fully; old superstitions are always just beneath the surface. Death still frightens people more than anything else. We're still not sure as a culture what happens after death - which is why we have everything from cryogenic corpse preservation to elaborate Roman Catholic funerals. Stephen King once said, "Burial is a mystery, but death is a secret." Media today (from film to fiction and beyond) is a reflection of these beliefs and fears - which is why the vampire continues to hold us in thrall.
The vampire, to some, is still a representation of a frightening truth in our lives - every living thing must die. The vampire fascinates us because his very nature is the antithesis of that truth. He died in order to have existence, and his existence is fed by the death of others.
To others, the vampire of today represents the ability we all wish we had - the ability to cheat death, to overcome it and continue to exist. It can be a romantic vision - this creature is immortal, and yet no other creature on earth knows death as intimately as he. What a delicious dichotomy.
Vampires have been a subject of study for hundreds of years. Some of these studies have become must-reads for amateur vampire enthusiasts. Here's what some of the professionals have to say...
Vampire the Masquerade
Clan Names
West Wing Calliope's Private Chambers
East Wing Torture Chamber, Prison
