… Humans who are not Quite Human

[Philosophy] one who feeds on life forces; negative energy generators; one who takes in and manages energy from the environment, often from living sources, and employs that energy for self maintenance, Magic and other efforts. [Belanger, 2004] This belief might be enhanced or based on apparently pertinatural senses or abilities, and a deep sense of need.

In my educated opinion, there are only two types of Vampires, Folkloric and Real. The folkloric Vampire arose across the human landscape from our innate death anxieties. I say across human landscape because similar creatures and stories are told in every culture I have encountered directly or indirectly. 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; 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 then to stoop for its great weight. For the real vampire, the label is an adequate though poor identifier for some people who are awakened to a particular, energetic reality. (By adequate though poor, think of someone running around dressing in a loincloth. It is adequate for modesty sake, though poor for protection against the elements of social disapproval.) Much maligned the image of the real Vampire is unjustly served in literature from Spiritualism, Paganism, and Satanism.

The Vampiric identity, like any other ego/shadow expression is just that, an expression of the ego. The ego is the mental construction created within the psyche to differentiate the self from the other, and to express the self to that other. It is also the point of focused awareness, and with its shadow, filters our range of awareness to a point where the universe can become manageable. For the Vampire, there is something very different — managing energy systems like a fish manages water, a need for more energy than one produces on one’s own — and the moniker is the closest, best fit for whatever that difference really is. The only question I, as minister and counselor would ask, is the identity stable, effective, graceful? Next might be how far have they developed their talents, and am I qualified to help them find their path.

I believe all real Vampires are psychic; those who desire blood are using it as a medium of ritual to gather energy. Vampires are “Negative Energy” generators. Note that Negative here is used in the same context as found in physics or 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 malevolence.

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, draining the life out of a room. If they are paying attention to what is going on, however, 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.

I would ask my reader to understand one truth about Vampires above all others. Vampires are very much humans, just with a tremendous talent for managing energy, and a need to consume more of it that most humans would. Vampires might, in the package of talents, better remember past lives even as old as 5,000 years like it was yesterday (and yesterday like ... oh, that’s senility). So what does that really mean?

Humans have complex relationships with other beings; less sapient animals, humans, kin, gods, demons, and ancestors. Some of us like to own or be owned, use or be used, love, lust, and be loved and lusted. Now, add to that the Vampiric identity and you have an added dynamic to each relationship. Also, add to that the greater psychic sensitivity inherent in an energy manager of any degree, and I think the answers will start to fit into place. Is it true that one Vampire will own another to such a degree that ownership is sensed by other’s? I suppose. Would it be any different from a similar relationship where Vampirism or other Energy Manager is not a factor? Perhaps there is a difference in degree, though not in kind.