Belanger, Michelle; The Psychic Vampire Codex: a manual of magick and energy work; York Beach, ME; Weiser; 2004; isbn[1-57863-321-4].
Labels are wonderful and dangerous when they serve to shortcut some thought processes. They are wonderful because they reduce the amount of communication needed. They are dangerous when the image the label invokes is flawed, making the label itself faulty. Flawed labels can hinder proper communication, reasonable ones can contribute to its flow.
There are only two types of Vampires, Folkloric and real. The folkloric Vampire arose across the human landscape from our innate death anxieties. The folklore explains the changes made in a corps while it decomposes, such as groaning and movement. The Vampire was also made into a romantic hero by writers like Brahm Stoker and Ann Rice. Still these are only stories, however well written and inspiring. They express our passion and anxiety with Grandmother Death. Sure, some real Vampires dress up as folkloric types, but that is like a Satanist or Witch dressing up in black and red with horns or pointy hat and a Sigil of Baphomet or other pentacle that causes them to stoop for its great weight. For the real vampire, the label is an adequate but poor identifier for some people who are awakened to a particular energetic reality. Much maligned, the image of the real Vampire is unjustly served in literature from Spiritualism, Paganism, and Satanism.
The difference between the sanguine Vampire and the psychic Vampire is the medium of preference for gaining the soul-energy we need. This is really how you can tell a sanguine vampire from any other hemophage; give him dead blood. Anyone who can tolerate blood will be able to eat the dead blood. The Sanguine Vampire, however, will only gain the nutrients found in the blood, and still be hungry for would energy. Each has its value, and I expect the sanguine gets more, if for no other reason than the intimate proximity, and the sensual enhancement of both vampire and donor. Vampires are “Negative Energy” generators. Note that Negative here is used in the same context as found in Taoist writings as simply being the opposite of positive, not as the opposite of good. (As an astrologer noted, if Jupiter expands, you don’t want him landing on your debt.) A Vampire, if awakened, can choose to manage energy ethically, then again even “Positive Energy” generators can use their gift in a malevolent fashion.
A Vampire is just as likely to be ethical as anyone, and for all the same reasons. An unawakened Vampire may not know what they are doing, as they drain the life out of a room. But even if they are paying attention to what is going on, they will choose a room or group where they can get what they want without affecting the room too badly. If the Vampire is awakened, they can do as much good as any other energy manager. Think about the poor manic who is so hot he is cutting off fingers and other things. A Vampire comes in, drains off some of that heat, and the medics can take the fellow in for a 51/50.
In her book, The Psychic Vampire Codex, Ms Belanger covers the movement that has come to call ourselves Vampires. After what I am sure is an abbreviated history of her part in it, she summarizes the different types of Vampires, and addresses the reason the label seems the best fit for this type of awakened being, and why it does not. This first part to her work is valuable to the unawakened being of any type, but especially of the unawakened Vampire. It especially helps us to choose our friends and enemies based on merit, rather than on labels.
The second and main part of this book addresses the knowledge base for the psychic Vampires. While it does focus on her Culture of Expression, she is aware that non-Khephrians are reading the Codex. She has also offered some lessons for non-Vampires in her book for shielding, and energy management.
The book ends with some references to web sites and word meanings as she found them useful. On the whole the book is useful to anyone interested in managing energy for Magic, or whatever you want it for. The Vampire Codex provides a knowledge base that would serve the Sorcerer or Magus who would rather swim the currents of life, rather than being tossed about by them. This knowledge covers the “how to’s” to energy manipulation, and a suggested moral compass to manage them nobly and honorably. It has proved a valuable refresher source, and taken me into the upper division class of study that will further my skills in this life.
Potter, Thomas; BronzDragon; ; March 2006.
This page was last updated for the The Guild of Avalon Writers: from Hemet, CA.