Vampires

Actual Vampirism including drinking of blood is a much more different story. I have received various e-mails about people asking me what it is to be a vampire, how blood affects you, and if I personally believe in the many myths and legends. Well, I'll start off with a very simple fact. It is most dangerous to go around pretending to be a story-book vampire when you indeed are not one. As soon as you end up breaking your legs jumping off of a building, or being jailed for attempting to bite someone, you will find this out. Being slightly vampiric or perhaps somewhat gothic is one thing, but let fantasy be where it belongs. If, however, you truly are a vampire- then go ahead and do what you want. As far as drinking blood goes, here are some general rules which you should take into consideration:

Please remember that people use terms differently. Because I use a term differently then you does not mean that either of us is wrong. Nor does it mean I'm putting you down or forcing you into box. Labels are to aid communication, they are not reality. No one fits neatly into a label and should not be constrained to it limits

That each coven must have its leader and only he might order the working of the Dark trick upon a mortal, seeing that the methods and the rituals were properly observed.

That the Dark Gifts must never be given to the crippled, the maimed, or to children, or to those who cannot, even with the Dark Powers survive on their own. Be it further understood that all mortals who would recieve the Dark Gifts should be beautiful in person so that the insult to God might be greater when the trick is done.

That never should an old vampire work this magic lest the blood of the fledgling be too strong. For all our gifts increase naturally with age and the old ones have too much strength to pass on. Injury, burning -- these catastrophes, if they do not destroy the Child of Satan will only increase his powers when he is healed. Yet Satan guards the flock from the powers of old ones, for almost all, without exception go mad.

In this particular, let Armand observe that there was no vampire then living who was more than 300 years old. No one alive then could remember the first Roman coven. The devil frequently calls his vampires home.

But let Armand understand here also that the effect of the Dark Trick is unpredictable, even when passed on by the very young vampire and with all due care. For reasons no one knows, some mortals when Born to Darkness become as powerful as Titans, others may be no more than corpses that move. That is why mortals must be chosen with skill. Those with great passion and indominatable will should be avoided as well as those who have none.

That no vampire may ever destroy another vampire, except that the coven master has the power of life and death over all of his flock. And it is further his obligation to lead the old ones and the mad ones into the fire when they can no longer serve Satan as they should. It is his obligation to destroy all vampires who are not properly made. It is his obligation to destroy all those who are so badly wounded that they cannot survive on their own. And it is his obligation finally to seek the destruction of all outcasts and all those who have broken these laws.

That no vampire shall ever reveal his true nature to a mortal and let the mortal live. No vampire must ever reveal the history of the vampires to a mortal and let the mortal live. No vampire must commit to writing the history of the vampires or any true knowledge of vampires lest such a history be found by mortals and believed. And a vampire's name must never be known to mortals, save from his tombstone, and never must any vampire reveal to mortals the location of his or any other vampire's lair.

Taken from "The Vampire Lestat" (c) Anne Rice

Anyone who preys upon others can be seen as a psychic vampire. A person who exploits or ruins a lover is a psychic vampire. On a global scale, ageism, sexism, racism, abuse of human rights, international terrorism, and so-called "ethnic cleansing" are among the many faces of psychic vampirism.
Fortunately, we now know enough about psychic vampirism to halt it in its track. Step-by-step strategies specifically designed to confront and overcome the threat of psychic vampirism are now available to everyone. Psychic Vampires: Protection from Energy Predators & Parasites details scores of totally new strategies and psychic tools, each laboratory tested, that can effectively empower the potential victim of psychic vampirism. We can prevent a one-on-one psychic vampire attack or promptly end it. Groups can effectively inoculate themselves against the onslaught of psychic vampirism. We can effectively counteract parasitic vampirism and break its vicious cycle by unblocking corroded internal energy channels and opening up new ones. We can act decisively to erase the effects global vampirism and protect the earth from future harm.
Understanding psychic vampirism is critical in our quest to realize our growth potentials and achieve our highest level of personal and global actualization.

Psychic vampirism is alive and flourishing in the world today. It exacts a heavy toll-it demands life-force energy and in some instances, it literally destroys lives. At a personal level, it wastes our energies, dampens the immune system, and undermines the body’s natural defenses against illness. At a global level, it can literally drain the earth of its survival resources and interrupt its harmony and balance. It follows that finding ways of preventing psychic vampirism, or successfully counteracting it, must be among our top priorities.
There are several forms of psychic vampirism, each of which demands a host victim.

One-on-one Attacks
In the one-on-one vampire encounter, the psychic vampire taps into the energy system of a selected host victim for the express purpose of extracting energy. Typical one-on-one psychic vampires are not agents of evil bent on the destruction of their victims. Furthermore, they possess none of the supernatural powers attributed to folklore vampires. They function instead from a position of profound weakness. Deficient in energy, and with their own energy system usually impaired, they seek other energy options-the energy system of a host victim.
Almost everyone has experienced the common vampire interaction that left them both mentally and physically fatigued. Unfortunately, the psychic vampire’s energy system is only temporarily replenished, thus requiring repeated attacks. For the host victim of recurring attacks, the consequences can be extremely harmful.
In the group setting, psychic vampirisrn can involve multiple vampires and victims. It can occur within groups and between groups, with power, wealth, and control being among its major goals. Highly competitive groups whose goal is to subdue or defeat the opposition, along with heated political campaigns, seem particularly vulnerable to group psychic vampirism. In its most dangerous form, it can include the organized activities of predator gangs, criminal groups, and drug trafficking networks.

No, not necissarly. Most vampires tend to doubt they are for a very long time, off and on. Some never accept it, some never know (latent vampires).

Not allergic, per-se, but more sensistive to it then the average person. We sunburn more easily, and it affects our eyes worse (headaches/migraines).

Some vampires feed solely on animal blood, or make do solely with blood-substitutes.

Really, you can't. Most vampires are normal people who have normal jobs and look like everyone else.

Once our eyes have time to adjust, many vampires see much better in dim lighting and near-darkness than the average person, but we cannot see in pitch black. There needs to be at least a small amount of light -- light filtering in from beneath a door, star or moon light, etc. -- for us to see. On the flip side, a "normal" level of lighting is much brighter to us than to your average person; if they think it's bright, to us it's blinding. Many vampires report the same, although this does not seem to be universal.

Vampires also tend to rely on their other senses when it's dark.

Generally the need for blood/energy is the only vampiric quality...the rest are secondary. Including things like sensitivity to light/sound, sensitivity to the sun, increased tendencies toward migraines, excessive thirst/hunger, and a nocturnal cycle.

Some vampires need blood, some just need energy, whatever type. Others can use either blood or just energy. It all depends on what works for the individual vampire.