The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

The Five Principles of Strigoi Vii



1. Law: Strigoi Vii are not criminals and remain within the boundaries of mortal corporeal laws. Adherence to the local laws of our various territories, whether we agree with them or not, is essential to provide each of us with the freedom to explore our nature. Such actions as criminal or illegal behaviours is greatly condemned within the Strigoi Vii culture. This does not mean minor infractions such as a traffic violation, but instead is referring to serious criminal activities such as drug dealing, murder, rape, assault, theft, human trafficking, prostitution etc. We are free-spirited and individualists. However, all Strigoi Vii are expected to act with common sense and a measure of social responsibility. It is the responsibility of each Strigoi Vii to act with a measure of respect and honour and to strive to not bring negative consequences to the Community as a whole.



2. Adults: The Strigoi Vii Way is reserved for Adults, and Adult mentality. Minors are forbidden from entering into Our Ways. We must be respectful of the fact that the minds of the young, still have much growth and maturity to accomplish. We must nurture their sceptical, objective and rational thought processes of their Dayside-selves, before we allow them to explore and embrace their Nightside. Those who have not reached the age of majority (generally eighteen years old) shall not be encouraged, nor permitted to explore our Ways, nor shall they be invited within our walls for any reason whatsoever. Those interested in the Strigoi Vii Path should strive to build a strong foundation in knowledge before seeking to delve deeper into Our Mysteries.



3. Blood: Strigoi Vii see Blood as a Metaphor for something more subtle and do not participate in the act of drinking corporeal blood. Unlike the Sanguinarians, the Strigoi Vii view of the Art of Vampyrism occurs on the energetic levels and so, most of us, do not participate in the act of drinking physical blood. For us the word “Blood” with a capital “B” is a metaphoric term for the vital Life-force energy that flows through all living things which has been known by a variety of names throughout various cultures. In order to satisfy Our “Hunger” we have made the choice to bring about our, for lack of a better term “feedings”, on those subtle energies which constitute Life. On the Dayside level, by not participating in the act of ingesting physical blood, we avoid the clear risks that come with its actions, such as legal liabilities and health risks. Those that do participate in such do so at their own risk, and usually under the strictest of conditions, with someone that they are committed to and trust on the deepest levels.



4. Quest: Strigoi Vii respect the free will of all sentient beings and never proselytize, only inspire. The collective duty of all Strigoi Vii is the Quest of Family. We seek those with the potential to be Awakened, but who are unaware of their potential to do so. Because Vampyres are not mindless followers, we never force anyone to take up our Ways, such perspective individuals must be allowed to come to it in their own time and in their own way. The Strigoi Vii are to use the proven tools for supporting the Quest of Family as to not weaken Our Mysteries. One such manner, is to provide the Seeker with a subtle hint, let them feel the Calling, and come only if and when they are ready. We are never to join or associate with any group or association that actively opposes Our Quest. We refuse to enter into debates with those that do not understand Our Ways, nor try to convert them, as such behaviour is in conflict with the Glamour and a waste of our time and energy.



5. Secrets: For the Strigoi Vii, what happens within Our Circles remains within them. Secrets bind and protect the Strigoi Vii. Our Ways are Our Own, and those that are seeking to enter into them, should do so on their own, through perseverance and initiative. Strigoi Vii are those that are “hidden in plain sight”. We never reveal to outsiders who is a Strigoi Vii, nor do we reveal personal information of anyone that we know to be Strigoi Vii, even within Our Circles, without the expressed permission of said individual. The only circumstance from which this can be broken, is if the information is required by the proper authorities under their legal jurisdiction. Public discussions about Our Ways, such as with media, public forums, or in public with those that are outside of Our Ways, is an obvious violation of this Principle as well as of the Black Veil. At all times, we are to speak only for ourselves and never act as a representative for the greater Vampyre Community (whether online or offline), this is something that is left for the Elders of Our Circles. This is to be respected at all times and falls outside of the 4th principle. Supporting the Principle of Secrecy furthers the Glamour and protects Our Ways. And finally, the most important aspect of this principle is to avoid discussions with outsiders who have not had the time and opportunity to research and reflect on the Vampyric Ways. Let them draw their own conclusions of Our Ways, because if all you are doing is telling them, then they are just mimicking your opinions and beliefs, rather then forming their own.



(Note: The above Principles are altered versions of what is found through the Sanguinarium.net)

The Black Veil



1. Discretion



This lifestyle is private and sacred. Respect it as such. Use discretion in who you reveal yourself to, and make certain that your motives are to truly communicate about our culture and to engender understanding. By no means should you talk to others about yourself and our community when your motives are for selfish reasons such as self-promotion, sensationalism, and attention getting. Do not hide from your nature, but never show it off to those who won’t understand.



2. Diversity



Our paths are many, even though the journey we are on is essentially the same. No single one of us has all the answers to who and what we are. Respect everyone’s personal views and practices. We cannot let petty differences of ideology prevent us from maintaining a unified community; there are enough who would attack us from the outside. Our diversity is our strength, Let our differences in viewpoint enrich us but never divide us upon ourselves.



3. Safety



Use sense when indulging in your nature. Do not flaunt what you are in public places. Feed in private and make certain your donors will be discrete about what happens between you. Donors who create rumors and gossip about us are more harm than they’re worth. If you engage in blood-letting, put safety and caution above all other things. Blood-borne diseases are a very real thing, and we cannot risk endangering ourselves or others through irresponsibility. Screen donors carefully, making certain they are in good health both mentally and physically. Never overindulge or get careless. The safety of the entire community rests upon each member’s caution.



4. Control



We cannot and should not deny the darkness within. Yet we should not allow it to control us. If our beast or shadow or dark side is given too much sway, it clouds our judgment, making us a danger even to those we love. Never indulge in pointless violence. Never bring willful harm to those who sustain you. Never feed only for the sake of feeding, and never give over to mindless bloodlust. We are not monsters: we are capable of rational thought and self-control. Celebrate the darkness and let it empower you, but never let it enslave your will.



5. Lifestyle



Live your life as an example to others in the community. We are privileged to be what we are, but power should be accompanied by responsibility and dignity. Explore and make use of your Vampyre nature, but keep it in balance with material demands. Remember: we may be vampyres, but we are still a part of this world. We must live lives like everyone else here, holding jobs, keeping homes, and getting along with our neighbors. Being what we are is not an excuse to not participate in this reality. Rather, it is an obligation to make it a better place for us to be.



6. Family



We are, all of us, a family, and like all families; various members will not always get along. However, respect the greater community when having your disputes. Do not let your individual problems bring emotional strife to the family as a whole. Settle your differences quietly among one another, only seeking out an elder’s aid in meditation when no other solution seems possible. Never bring your private disputes into public places and never draw other family members into the issue by forcing them to take sides. Like any normal family, we should always make an effort to present a stable and unified face to the rest of the world even when things are not perfect between us.



7. Havens



Our havens are safe places where everyone in the community can come socialize. There are also often public places where we are likely to encounter people who don’t understand our ways. We should respect the patrons of these places as we should also respect the owners of the establishments and always be discrete in our behavior. We should never bring private disputes to a haven. We should never initiate violence in a haven. And we should never do or bring anything illegal into a haven, as this reflects badly upon the community as a whole. The haven is the hub of the whole community, and we should respect it as such, supporting it without business and working to improve its name in the scene so that we can always call it home.



8. Territory



The community is extensive and diverse. Every city has a different way of doing things, and a different hierarchy of rule. When entering a new city, you should familiarize yourself with the local community. Seek out the local havens, learn who is who, and show proper respect where it is due. You should not expect to impose your old way of doing things on this new scene. Rather you should adapt to their rules and be glad of their acceptance. Always be on your best behavior when coming to a new city either to visit or to stay. We are all cautious and territorial by nature, and only by making the most positive impression possible will you be accepted and respected in a new community.



9. Responsibility



This lifestyle is not for everyone. Take care in who you choose to bring into it. Those who are mentally or emotionally unstable have no place among us. They are dangerous and unreliable and may betray us in the future. Make certain that those you choose to bring in are mature enough for this burden. Teach them to control and discretion, and make certain that they respect our ways. You will be responsible for their actions, and their behaviors in the community will be reflected back to you.



10. Elders



There are certain members of our community who have established themselves as just and responsible leaders. These are the people who helped establish local communities, who organize havens, and who work to coordinate the networking of the scene. While their word does not have to be law, they should nevertheless be respected. They have greater experience than many others, and usually greater wisdom. Seek these elders out to settle your disputes, to give you guidance and instruction, and to help you establish yourself in the local scene. Appreciate the elders for all they have given you: if it was not for their dedication, the community would not exist as it does now.



11. Donors



Without those who offer themselves body and soul to us, we would be nothing. We cannot be other that what we are, but it is the donors who sustain our nature. For this service, they should be respected. Never mistreat your donors, physically or emotionally. They are not to be manipulated or leeched off of for more than what the freely offer. Never take them for granted. Appreciate them for the companionship and acceptance which they offer us, which so many others would refuse. This above all: appreciate the gift of their life. That communion is sacred. Never fail to treat them as such.



12. Leadership



When you choose to take a position of authority in the community, remember that you do not lead for yourself alone. Leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege. A good leader must set an example for everyone through his actions and behavior. His motives should be selfless and pure, and he should put the interests of the whole community before his own. The best leaders are those who serve to better to community and whose person and behavior gives no one- even those outside of the community – a reason to criticize them.



13. Ideals



Being a Vampyre is not just about feeding upon life. That is what we do, But not necessarily what we are. It is our place to represent Darkness in a world blinded by light. We are about being different and accepting that difference as something that empowers us and makes us unique.

We are about accepting the Darkness within ourselves and embracing that Darkness to make us whole beings. We are about celebrating the thresholds: Body and Spirit, Pleasure, Pain, Life and Death. Our lives should be lived as a message to the world about the beauty of accepting the whole self, of living without guilt and without shame, and celebrating the unique and beautiful essence of every single soul.

A Vampyre's Creed



I am Vampyre. I kneel before no other creature. I am an intelligent animal who has retained my animal intelligence. This flesh of mine is a gift in which I celebrate. But my lot in the convoluted universal matrix is to exist as a creature of energy. I thrive on the energy of the cosmos around me. That energy exists in many forms. It exists in lifeblood, in psychic forces, in the angry hurling of lightning bolts from cloud to cloud. This diversity manifests on the earth in the many different and legitimate breeds of Vampyre which share the world with mortal humans. Knowing that I am part of this lineage, I seek to mate my personal energy with that of magic and nature as a vital part of my existence. Pounding surf, rustling crisp leaves, magical ritual-all of these empower me, and I take what is offered or what I have made for myself. As a Vampyre, I am a natural being part of the natural universe. I am not confined to this plane or this dimension. I am a cosmic being of fluctuating energy. The matter that makes my flesh and flows through my body drifted down from the stars over millions of years. My sight and my vision are necessarily wider and broader.



Life, death, what are these to me? They dance as close as hungry lovers. This is no two-sided mortal coin but one great continuum.



The impetus of eternity, then, is the power of the Vampyre. It is my power, and I claim that power for myself.