The Vampyric Culture
When one hears the word “Vampire” they automatically see in their minds eye a character with long white fangs, black cape, being able to change into a bat. Not to mention the tearing of the flesh at the neck, leaving their prey lifeless, drained of all blood. Whether it is a scene that is horrid or even portrayed as “erotic” the same vision is there: Blood Drinker.
Not all of these Vampryes are in fact blood drinkers or even use blood in their rituals of today. They have it appears the same beliefs as the Wiccans in the Rede (Harm None). Theirs is a world that is ruled by the night. Or is it?
I have been prompted by an associate of mine to attempt to educate the reading audience on being a Vampyre, religious beliefs and even a little of the structure. I am by no means an expert. As I have sat in on Vampyric meetings, been acknowledged as a “fledgling” and understand that most Vampryes are just as normal as the Wiccan, the Pagan and yes, even the Chaotic. What I will present here is not all and absolute. Please remember as with all religious and spiritual groups there are “bad” apples that ruin the apple sauce. Be open minded to their ways is all I ask at this point.
Belief Structures: Do they have any?
Yes, as a matter of fact they do. There are many yet I will only focus on two that seem to be the most highly respected and circulated in the Vampyre communities. While my doing so, it will only be an overview.
There were what is called Children of the Angels. These are your Vampryes. They are believed to be born from the Nephilim’s. These Nephilims are the demi-human beings who were seduced by the Angels. This was told in the Enoch I. Some of the Nephilists believe that the vampyric condition is actually genetically traceable to these other world parents.
The second theory or belief is that the vampyre actually represents a higher kind of being which came down and intermingled with humans. Nephilites of the second order say that Vampyres have this experience because they are in fact more spiritual than most other beings, which they have a higher vibration with their spirit which somehow or the other helps to burn their bodies energy out quicker. Which will make some Nephilites to feed upon blood while others will only feed upon life energy of others. Most seem to incorporate blood into their magick and rituals.
These Vampyres are witches, Wiccans and Neo Pagans which are practioners of magick. They rely upon the natural abilities that they have within their selves. Using energy , manifestations and other psychic abilities and knowledge. They practice with moral and ethical responsibilities. It is as I stated earlier the “bad apples” that give them the terrible stigma that still hangs over them. They believe and uphold the Rede. They are responsible practioners and members of our society.
The modern day Vampyre does little spell working as their counter parts the Wiccans, Witches and N.Pagans. Using visualization to manifest their goals and wants. Using the energy from the outside forces. Which is used in a manner of focusing and then projecting their own energy in a quick and pointed manner. They are not to be confused with the “Psychic Vampyre” that feeds upon those around them either knowingly or unknown to them. Although the Vampyre will use the energy from the outside as a feeding and for magick. Hard to explain that they are not one and the same, do to they sound the same.
Vampyric Spirits
The main Spirit that abounds is Vetala. This is a type of Vampyre that is a very disturbed, angry and well nasty spirit of the deceased. Who is this Vetala? This is, or shall I say was a person that did not receive the funeral rites as they should have been given. They are trapped between life and after life, the Vetalia will show its hostility towards anyone or anything that it comes in contact with. It will go after humans in ways that will turn their hair white or worse yet kill them. They prey on the unborn also to satisfy their hostility. It is said that they will also live in the dead bodies of animals. While living in their bodies they will use their super natural power to have the animal act as if it is still alive. Not a very nice spirit to have around the house.
Vampyric Gods and Goddesses
The same as their Pagan brothers and sisters the Vampryes do have Gods and Goddesses that they devote themselves to. Each of course is the darker attribute of the Pagan/Wiccan Gods and Goddesses but they still worship them with the same love and devotion.
The most popular God it appears is Set and Caine(Caine is not actually a God but you’ll see why later he is paid homage to)
We all know who the Egyptian God Set is so I will skip the details and move right into why he is one of the main Gods chosen for the Vampryes. Set had a ritual that of death and re birth that allowed the soul to become immortal. He chose 72 people to travel with him taking this voyage to eternity as undying spirits which would be eternally renewed. They would die and be re-born once more. Hence the vampyric state was said to be a side effect of the ritual. I do believe that this is the romantic version.
The Setians, believe that Vampyrism is a spiritual condition and only represents immortality as the soul is immortal and capable of reincarnation. Setians feed mainly on life energy and generally, do not partake in blood rituals, such as the drinking of blood to make their lives go on longer. They do have modern rituals that they use mock blood ceremonies(i.e. red wine).
Caine is considered to be the Father of the Vampryes. He is in fact a Demi-God and not a God form. One reason that Caine is held in such a high esteemed position is due to the fact that he was the first man that was a murderer. God punished him by making him walk the earth for eternity, not ever to die. He was cursed with immortality. Although there is no references nor proof that Caine was in fact a true vampyre his followers, the Cainites instill the drinking of blood in their rituals. Often using the life energy feeding process as well as the blood drinking.
Now, we have taken a look at the Gods, what about the Goddesses? The counter part to Caine is claimed to be Lilith. Although this is a debatable duo. There are other claims that the male counter part is in fact Gelal. Gelal is a man like bird for those that are wondering who and what he was.
Lilith, is known to feed off of young males and even infants, drinking of their blood until they are dead. Many followers of Lilith partake in the blood drinking and often try to use the blood into their rituals.
Hecate is associated with vampryes due to her drinking of blood. She is known as the Dark Wise Crone that leaves the Underworld at night to go to cross roads and drink blood from travelers to feed her hunger. Often times there were offerings placed at cross roads to ward of Hecate. These blood offerings were in hopes of satisfying her so she would not hunt and kill humans. Did this work? Probably not, but who knows. Seems to me warm, fresh blood would be better than a cup of cold, stale blood any day.
Hecate had daughters that were also blood drinkers. They were the Empusai. These daughters would come from the Underworld at night and hunt for travelers that were alone and loved to prey on shepherds. Let’s just say they had their mothers . They were well known as shape shifters and would change accordingly to get to their meal. The Empusai had one leg that was a donkeys and the other was made of bronze. Beautiful, sexy, they could always get their meal, sorry, man. The most well known vampyric daughter of Hecate was Empusa.
Let me not forget to add Hera, the Queen of Gods, to this famed crew. She in a fit of jealousy took vengeance on a lover of Zeus by turning her into a creature of the night. This poor woman ends up eating her own children and then drinking her blood. No wrath like a woman scorned that is for sure.
There are more of these Gods and Goddesses but these were the most common.
The Vampryes live their lives with balance. Balancing light and dark. They celebrate the Vernal and Autumn Equinoxes which are the days in which days of light and dark are equal in nature. These times it seem greatly effect the Vamprye with their psychic and physical health. They tend to focus on the balance which they need at all times.
After reading this I hope that the image of the fanged monster who hides in the corners late at night stalking its prey is diminished, There is no fear to be had from them to those that are not of their clans. If you still need to have an image of a vampyre, how about Spike from Buffy?
They do not kill for blood nor do they hunt their prey.
They are practioners, the same as I am a practioner and you are a practioner. They are our brothers and sisters and should be accepted and respected for what they believe in.
Simply put they are people with a different taste for magick.
Ref:housescarletmoon