Vampire lifestyle

The vampire lifestyle (or vampyre lifestyle) is a number of customs and beliefs followed (in various fashions and to different degrees) by a subculture of people who are attracted to contemporary vampire lore and seek to emulate it.

Members of the subculture (vampirists) often prefer the spelling vampyre to distinguish themselves from the "fictional" vampire while simultaneously lending a Victorian flair to their activities. They typically appeal to myths about vampires for legitimacy.

Origins and influences

While some older occult and tribal cultures have rituals and customs similar to those described in this article, the vampire subculture is largely a social creation within Western culture, seemingly drawing from the rich recent history of popular culture related to cult symbolism, horror films, the fiction of Anne Rice, and the styles of Victorian England. Additionally, much of the subculture appears to derive from games such as Vampire: The Masquerade and TV programmes such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The subculture is typically delineated by a particular style of dress and decor that combines elements of the Victorian, Punk, Glam and Gothic fashions with styles featured in vampire films and fiction. Although often associated with the Goth subculture, most goths do not enjoy the association with the negative stereotype portrayed in the media and, as a result, actively dislike members of the vampire subculture. The subculture is most apparent in North America and Europe, and to a lesser extent in certain parts of South America and Asia.

Common features

Common to all vampirists is an interest in (and occasionally obsession with) vampires, and a belief that they possess physical and psychical vampiric traits. Their interests include everything from fashion and music to, in extreme cases, the actual exchange of blood. A number of these people believe that they truly are vampires (as opposed to vampire impersonators); from this group, some claim that the drinking of blood is not required, while others do advocate ritual blood consumption.

There are many vampirist websites and organisations, although few (if any) of their claims are independently verifiable, and they often provide different or conflicting information.

Variants

A number of vampirists believe themselves to be the vampires of legend, or some other supernatural entity (for example, a "lost race" of Homo sapiens); see otherkin for further discussion of this type of phenomenon. Self-styled vampires of this sort will often claim that their own personal physical or psychological characteristics, such as pale skin, sensitive night vision, quick reflexes, emotional irritability and instability, and any number of self-professed psychic abilities are direct results of vampirism rather than independent or imagined traits. Many outside this group see this as a result of a mental illness such as disassociative identity disorder, schizophrenia, or antisocial personality disorder.

Most modern practitioners of vampirism do not believe themselves to be undead creatures; rather, they use vampirism as a means of practicing magic(k). For example, they claim that they are taking life energy or qi from another (usually a willing donor who also practices vampirism) to increase their own energy and vitality. Vampirists do not necessarily obtain this energy from blood, but will use other physical, spiritual or psychic means to obtain this energy (for example, there are self-styled "sexual vampires" and "psychic vampires").

Many self-proclaimed vampires believe that they occupy a different and higher position in the food chain than humans do. Many also claim that they often become ill when eating conventional food for humans, most often specific foods including dairy, though none abstain from eating entirely.

Sanguarian vampires

Self-styled "sanguarian" vampires claim they physically require blood of other living beings. However, contrary to traditional mythology, they are discouraged from biting the victim with their teeth, and do not necessarily have fangs or hollow teeth with which to bite. Rather, they are encouraged to draw blood using either a sharp blade (like a razor) or a needle with great caution. They will usually proceed to drink directly by applying their mouths to the cut. Safe bloodletting practices are highly encouraged within the community inlcuding prerequisite blood tests to ensure the health and safety of the donor. There is debate on the usefulness of animal blood, some feeling it is an adequate alternative if it is fresh enough, while others feel it is too "dead" to be of use. It is generally believed that only one or two tablespoons are required for a feeding.

Psionic vampires

Self-styled "psionic" vampires vampires claim that they consume "life force"^[1] as opposed to physical blood. In this case, the feeding is fairly ritualistic, and uses meditation to "channel" or "will" the energy toward the vampire. The perceived need to do so can be so strong that they occasionally believe they have been feeding in their sleep.^[2] They believe that one can either draw the required energy from a crowd or from a specific person, and also stipulate that the best way to do this is contact with the chakras.^[3]

The thirst

Some self-described vampires claim that they are afflicted with "the thirst", a hunger for blood (or energy, depending on the type of vampire). Its symptoms comprise a combination of extreme desire for blood (or water), withdrawal symptoms, and a random and extreme psychosis with episodes of animal instinct referred to as the Beast. These symptoms are said to be alleviated by consumption of a quantity of blood.^[4]

The time between feeding and the onset of another thirst is supposedly inversely proportional to the quality of blood. Blood from animals is often viewed as "dead" and lacking in the vital "pranic energy" needed by the vampire.

Some self-described vampires believe that those who are also energetically or mystically aware, such as practitioners of "magick", or those with an amount of creative skill^[5] provide stronger levels of energy. Some individuals prefer the blood or energy of fellow vampires. Many view this as more "candy" than "meal", providing a short-term rush but without being filling in the medium term. Vampires do not target any particular group or subgroup for their feeding.

Creation of new vampires

Members of these groups have different theories about the creation of vampires. Most involve a biological link, such as having (purported) vampire parents. While being fed upon is not generally considered a means of transmission, most are said to have some connection with blood.

Some claim that if a vampire intravenously administers a portion of their blood to a non-vampire without the aid of needles, the non-vampire will be considered a "turn" who is automatically awakened. They will then supposedly inherit a portion of the parent or master vampire's power. Some claim that the use of hypodermic needles or any other technology nullifies the vampirism-carrying properties of the blood. However, for the turning of psionic vampires, nothing more than an exchange of "life energy" is required.

Some vampires claim that, due to the inconvenient symptoms associated with vampirism, it is unethical to attempt to turn anyone, and that sect members should instead try to talk people out of being turned.

The vast majority of the community feels that vampirism is part of their nature, similar to otherkin in that they possess a vampire soul within a human body. In this view, it is utterly impossible to turn someone else into a vampire.^[6]

Other psycho-physical features

Many members of these groups believe themselves to have some form of sensory amplification or extrasensory perception, such as:

Improved night-vision, to the point of being able to see without even moonlight.
Stinging of the skin when exposed to sunlight.
A sense for other vampires.
Broader range of senses.
Prescience. Some claim that they are able to instinctively predict the immediate future with 100% accuracy, and thus act very quickly by instinct.
Perception of auras.

Most self-styled vampires do not have long or sharp fangs. Some say the reason for this is dilution via the prolonged interbreeding of vampires and humans. Others say the fangs are retracted when not in use. They do not usually claim that blood should be drawn through or using the teeth, or claim to have hollow teeth for this purpose. Some even have permanent or temporary prosthodontic devices to complete the illusion of vampirism.

Role-playing versus vampirism

Due to the fantastical nature of this community, many of the people believing themselves vampires are constantly at odds with those they see as "lifestylers", who are said to be just pretending to be vampires. The effect of this on the community is twofold. As people who are masquerading as things they are not are prone to do, it is a concern that these people are too public with their "vampirism", drawing much unwanted attention to the community. The second effect is that the resource of blood, already scarce due to a lack of people willing to donate it, is tapped unnecessarily by these people who do not actually (in the eyes of others) require it or benefit from it in any way.

It is hinted by many websites that these so-termed "lifestylers" are threatened by members of the self-styled groups, even facing the possibility of murder.

Criticism

The vampire lifestyle has been criticised on a number of grounds. Christians, Jews and Muslims tend to believe the consumption of others' blood is related to cannibalism, paganism and many other sins. There is concern in the general public for those who are found to be participating in what is often perceived as a cult.

For some self-styled vampires as well as outsiders, the proliferation of groups aggressively pushing trinkets, books, jewelry and other vampire merchandise (as a ways by which teenagers may become "official" vampires) is viewed as blatant money-grubbing and disdained for spreading false information, as well as endangering children by encouraging them to meet impossible fictional vampire standards.

Vampirism has also been criticised for fuelling the fantasies of people who are psychotic or otherwise severely mentally ill. Some self-proclaimed vampires have murdered in order to drink human blood, such as Brisbane's notorious "lesbian vampire murderer" Tracey Wigginton. There have been some reports of crimes commited by deranged people who believed themselves to be vampires: for example, the "Kentucky Vampire Clan" was a vampire role-playing group in Kentucky whose activities spiralled into murder.^[7]Activity of this manner is variously encouraged^[8] and discouraged.^[9]

Finally, for one person to consume another's blood presents a serious hygiene risk to both parties, with a major risk of sepsis from human bites and the transmission of blood-borne diseases including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.^[10][11]

External links

News stories:

Small fringe jumps from hobby to cult The Globe and Mail, Canada, Feb. 17, 2005 via religionnewsblog.com
Florida v. Rod Ferrell "The Vampire Cult Slaying Case", June 22, 2001
BBC News story: Teenager guilty of 'vampire' murder
BBC News story: 'Vampire obsessed' man raped girl
BBC News story: 'Vampire' murderer dies in jail
BBC News story: Rapist drank his victim's blood

Sites claiming to be about or by "real" vampires:

Citations