I am Sebastian Valentin from Romania. I am 23 years old and I am learning English. I am a Dhampyri and for those who know what that means feel free to message and add me.
The Black Veil V 2.0
Discretion
Respect yourself and present yourself so that others also respect you. Take care in who you reveal yourself to. Explain what you are, not to shock, but to teach and inform. Do not fluant what you are, and know that whether you want them to or not, your actions will reflect upon the rest of the community. Share your nature only with those with the wisdom to understand and accept it, and learn to recognize the people.
Diversity
Among us, there are many different practices and many points of view. No single one of us has all the answers to who and what we are. Respect each persons individual choices and beliefs. Learn about them and share what you know. Our diversity is our strength, and we should not allow misunderstandings to weaken our community. Find the path that is right for you and uphold this freedom for others.
Control
Do not allow your Darkness to consume you. You are more than just your hunger, and you can exercise conscious control. Do not be reckless. Always act with a mind toward safety. Never feed because you think this makes you powerful; feed because this is what you must do. Be true to your nature, but never use it as an excuse to endanger those around you.
Elders
Give respect to those who have earned it. Anyone can claim a title, but a true leader will prove hims or herself through dedication, hard work and great deeds. Even so, Leaders should be guides and not dictators. Look to them as examples, but always decide for yourself what you must do. Respect the person, not the position, and understand that your choices are always your own.
Behavior
Know that there are repercussions to ever action, and that you alone are for your decisions. Educate yourself about risky behaviors, then always act with wisdom and common sense. Do not allow others to abuse you, but also, do not selfishly abuse. Respect the rights of others and treat them as you would be treated.
Donors
Feeding should be done between consenting adults. Allow donors to make an informed decision before they give of themselves to you. Do not take rapaciously from others, but seek to have an exchange that is pleasant and beneficial for all. Respect the life that you feed upon and do not abuse these who provide for you.
Community
Reach out to others in your community. Exchange ideas, information, and support. Be hospitable to others and appreciate hospitality when it is extended to you. Do not engage in illegal activity, for this can endanger us all. Seek to nurture our community and support all those who do the same.
People I Look Up To;
FATHER SEBASTIAN
born in San Diego, California and has been involved in the vampyre subculture as a fangsmith, author, publisher, webmaster, Primus of the Courts of Gotham & Lazarus, Ramkht Impsissimus of House Sahjaza, the founding Father of the Sanguinarium and a priest of Elorath within the Synod. He serves the Sanguinarium as a publisher, webmaster, speaker, fangsmith, and event coordinator in the gothic, fetish and vampyre events since 1992. Originally drawn to the vampyre scene from the role-playing game Vampire: the Masquerade (V:tM); his experience with the community evolved and diversified, as he met many members of the vampyre subculture through his various projects. Eventually, his spiritual interests evolved and he found his formal Awakening in September 1997 at the hand of his Adra, Goddess Rosemary. Under her guidance, he learned the necessary skills to help Strigoi Vii teachings become established.
A lover of gourmet foods, art, history, role-playing games, nature, the occult, performance art, theatre, the fetish scene, and traveling; Sebastian recently moved from New York City to Europe to pursue a different perspective, while coordinating events, fangsmithing, and building his publishing press Rakasha Books. His main goal is to promote Strigoi Vii as a uniting “language and philosophy” for members of the vampyre subculture.
The author welcomes your comments and can be reached through e-mail at: sebastian@strigoivii.org. Father Sebastian’s photo is by Lukas Zpira of Body-Art.net.
LAYIL UMBRALUX
has been an active member of the NYC vampyre scene since she moved to the city in 1998, first as a member of the original Clan Sabretooth, then as part of the Synod and House Sahjaza, achieving Kharrus (priestess of Strigoi Vii) within the Synod and elder status within Sahjaza. She prefers not to have a formal title, but if you call her Lady, you’ll probably get a smile in return. She is the nadja of Father Sebastian, the founder of both groups and a strong personality Sanguinarium Gotham Halo, in New York, and all over the world. Preferring to remain in the shadows, on the fringe of things, she has often managed to remain a neutral voice of reason in a maelstrom of chaos.
Her spiritual background is multifaceted, including Earth-Magick, The Fourth Way, LaVeyan Satanism, Dark Paganism, Yoga, Strigoi Vii, Chaos Magick, and most importantly - good old fashioned common sense and the ability to laugh at herself.
When not keeping her Adra out of trouble and writing vampyre books, Layil pursues her career as a Painter, Writer, and Performance Artist. Her other interests include holistic medicine, cooking, music, and science fiction. She shares her life with two feline companions, ‘Nny and Menoh.
Having left her heart in New York City, Layil is currently chasing her dreams in Barcelona, Spain.
She can be contacted at: layil@strigoivii.org.
MICHELLE BELANGER
is the author of The Psychic Vampire Codex (Sam Weiser, 2004) and co-author of both The Vampyre Almanac and Vampyre: Liber Jahira “The Black Veil”. Michelle Belanger is an expert on psychic vampirism and the modern vampire archetype. A self-professed energy vampire, she has appeared on XYTV’s British documentary “American Vampires,” Cleveland’s Morning Exchange, and more recently on Essential Entertainment’s “Night Bites: Women and Their Vampires.” She can be found in Dr. J. Gordon Melton’s Vampire Book: the Encyclopedia of the Undead (first edition), Jeff Guinn’s Something in the Blood, Mick Mercer’s Hex Files, and the recent Necronomicon Files by Harms and Gonce.
A graduate of Cleveland’s John Carroll University, Michelle writes on a number of occult and metaphysical topics. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and periodicals including Fate Magazine, Dark Realms, PagaNet News, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Trained in Reiki and shamanism, Michelle is also a natural spirit medium. She has lectured on topics including occult history, ghosts and spirits, energy work, and past lives, but by and large audiences prefer her fascinating presentations on the vampire in fiction, folklore, and reality.
An arresting woman of six-foot-one, Michelle is an articulate, intense, and charismatic speaker. She has a special gift for making even the most esoteric topics entertaining and accessible to the average listener, a gift which has put her much in demand among documentarians of the vampire and Gothic subcultures. Michelle Belanger can be reached at her website www.michellebelanger.com or that of House Kheperu at http://www.kheperu.org.
MADAME X
is the matriarch for House of the Dreaming, boasting members from New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, and the UK. She moderates the Household interest e-list, dedicating her social coordinating talents as Chapter Head of the Georgia Bloodlines Chapter.
Currently a Savannah, GA resident, Madame X founded the “Savannah Goth Scene Rescue”, and moderates of the “Savannah_Goth” e-group. She is part of Club Illuminati, a team bringing Savannah a New World of Dark Entertainment, catering to the Goth, Vampyre, Pagan and Underground scene.
Madame X was a vital part in the formation of “The Iron Garden”, a NJ based Vampyre Society, and of “The Court of Lazarus”, in the Gotham Halo (New York City). Inspired by a desire to motivate others, she initiated “The NJ Goth Challenge”; a yearly event promoting NJ Goth Culture, and she was the founder of “The Rift Arts Forum”, a creationist’s guild offering aspiring artists literary/art-related events. For years she was a volunteer performer at the NJ renaissance fair, and conducted special artist interviews for TV and radio; having lastly become the ‘poster-child’ for Transylvanian Tours of Terror.
Madame X’s mystique and influence walks hand in hand with her creative flair, in a pointed effort to cultivate the interests and lifestyle that truly define the vampyric nature. You can reach her via her household’s website www.houseofthedreaming.org or by e-mail at MadameX@strigoivii.org.
THE CELESTINE VAMPYRE
By Katherine Ramsland
AFTER WRITING ‘PIERCING THE DARKNESS’, a book about my explorations of the vampyre subculture, I was interviewed by many people in the media. Mostly, these people were just looking for a sexy or sensational story, but sometimes people got angry at me. One female host of a morning show practically yelled at me when she accused me of being irresponsible as a psychologist if I didn’t diagnose everyone in my book as deeply pathological. Others thought the whole thing was just horrifying and that I was nuts to have gone into that world. Some suspected that I was a vampire myself. One of the few people who “got it” was-surprise! - The host of a religious radio show in the Midwest. He listened carefully and then asked, “What is it they’re getting that the church has failed to provide?” He understood that this interest in the vampire could be a spiritual thing-and that was one of the central reasons that I found my contacts with people in this world so fascinating.
Yes, there was blood fetishism. There was role-playing. There was some pathology. There were even naïve attempts to shed an identity. But for many participants, there was something deeper. I may have turned away from the blood sports; I may have approached fetishes with amusement; I may have shown irritation with grandiose claims that had no substance; but I was impressed by those who had carefully considered why they took the vampire as their symbol and could articulate what it meant to them. From hunger for romance, to an appreciation of the invisible to Foucault’s excessive Limit Experience, I was fascinated by the desire to feel more, see more and be more than most ordinary people seemed to want.
There was passion and transcendence. There was creativity and connection. There was community. One person, who was uninterested in the blood aspects of the mythology, said that what interested her was the vampire’s use of energy. In essence, she felt that our cultural concepts of spirituality lack depth. “In the West,” she said, “we have sacrificed the notion that everything possesses vital spirit in favor of living in a sanitized and controllable technological world. It is, however, a world without a soul. In such a world where the natural exchange of energy between all living things is debunked as delusional and esoteric, of course vampirism is misunderstood. It has been marginalized into superstition and folklore.” To her, the fact that some people yield energy and others thrive on it is just part of the universal balance, a cycle of creation, destruction and recreation. The vampire may “feed,” but may also transform that which is taken into something that blooms with abundance. Although it may not altogether capture the fullness of that process, the vampire appears to inspire sufficient resonance to be embraced by those who seek an energy-enriched existence.
Darkness and mystery intensify experience. Darkness contains what we don’t want to see, but if we take the time to look more closely, we’ll find something very powerful that we’ve lost. The vampire gives a name to that nameless part within us that feels connected to a larger source. Those who resonate to the image can explore more fully how that feels. As one person put it, “The vampire is about the search for something genuine in an era when almost anything can be faked.”
There’s boldness in this impulse to contact subliminal lusts, and the gains diminish the apparent risks. Vampires seem to possess the secrets of physical transformation and spiritual epiphany. They are the gods of ancient times, the prism of energy that empowers darkness by conforming to mythic patterns within us. Vampires thrive in the inner abyss. Like the inferno that Dante passed through to find his way to God, they offer rebirth through descent. One man who has been part of this culture for years told me that people who connect with vampires are hungry for a sense of the divine-and they often find it. “It’s a soul movement,” he insisted. Fully present, vampires know the ultimate passion and invite us, if we dare to partake.
Not all of those who embrace the vampire seek this experience, but those who do show something about our mainstream culture that is both enlightening and disturbing: We’re afraid of the shadow. We don’t encourage the creative mind. We want our monsters contained and easily dispatched, and we want anyone who seeks God to go only into the light. Yet our culture is also secretive. Behind the façade of order and respectability is a covert accommodation of the vampire’s most notable traits: power, charisma, enchantment, exploitation, transcendence. As an archetype, the vampire has an allure that is hard to surpass.
This series of books, VAMPYRE is the first expression of that fervor for more than our culture wants us to have. It offers a way to develop a community of people who share this perspective.
DARKNESS
THE VAMPYRE SUBCULTURE is one which lives in darkness; it is an essential part of the personality, aestheticism, and imagery associated with the archetype of whom and what we are. Darkness here refers to the often hidden primal nature that exists within us all; it does not refer to the misinterpreted definition of “evil.” Darkness cannot exist without light, and vice versa, they are two sides of a coin, two edges to a blade, and they are present all around us.
The mundane or Dayside world has been taught to think that darkness equals evil, and to deny this force within. The Dayside world is ruled by a fear of the night, and by the repression of the primal. One only needs to see the violence, false morality, the addictions, and rampant vices prevalent in modern society to know this is true.
Our strength is the fact that we embrace darkness, letting it nurture and succor us. We take advantage of the insights it brings when we face our fears, enabling us to look into those places wherefrom others run away. We understand the strength in the primeval, in the primitive, and in the animal within us all. We have not lost that connection with the whole of nature, though we may live in houses of concrete and steel like everyone else; we have not lost touch with the rhythms of the universe. We dance around the bonfires, celebrate in blood and run under the moon.
Aside from the more concrete examples of vampyres’ often natural nocturnal sleep cycles, and our attraction to all things dark and spooky, there is something indefinable about those who embrace this way of life. It distinguishes us to one another like a beacon. Perhaps it is that our eyes are more open or that we somehow are more whole for not denying our darksides. One could say that we are, in a sense, more evolved. But even in this, we must be careful not to fall too far to the other side. To let our Nightside envelop us is as dangerous as not having it at all. That is why we have adopted the concept of the Twilight, in which both these sides of our selves are equally balanced. There, we can realize our full potential. It is this balance we strive for, it is our ultimate goal, our ultimate responsibility to ourselves, and as a community, to each other as well.
CHAPTER II. COMMUNITY
Roleplayers/LARPers/etc.
A large portion of the vampyre subculture does not believe vampyres to be real, only just a game. In LARPs, (live action role-playing games) a player creates a character in an improv/theatre-type atmosphere with other players. The players act out their characters within a set of rules and guidelines. Not only are LARPs fun activities, they are a social event in which people often hang out afterwards to meet others of like interests. They combine and develop their skills as writers, artists, managers, and craftsmen, in the making of stories, character development, costumes, and props.
Many tribes’ members actually partake in these games; some have found this part of the vamp subculture as a starting point to begin their awakening. In the early 90’s, this was one of the only obvious social environments where individuals attracted to the vampire archetype could actually express themselves.
There are many in the vampyre subculture who shun and place a stigma on V:tM and role-playing games, because of the influence it has had on the “real vamp” community. When the Sanguinarium started, V:tM supplied terminology and language that enabled an easy parallel. What one must realize is that V:tM is filled with excellent concepts and it was inevitable for certain aspects to find their way into the greater vampyre subculture. Also, since V:tM has drawn from almost the entire body of vampire history and folklore, it makes it impossible not to share similarities. Presently the Strigoi Vii community and the vampyre subculture have developed and evolved enough to enable a strong distinction between them and the LARPers.
Something To Avoid:
Arasi
Arasi are those individuals who only exist on-line; they are cyber-denizens who claim to be vampyres, but are actually lonely, social misfits, or people who have found no other outlet for their anger or fantasies. They sit behind a computer screen claiming “justice for all vamps,” but are the source of a great deal of drama, and thus virtually try to feed off those who actually provide or achieve something worthwhile for the community. Many have a good knowledge of Vampyrism, but have actually never fed, made a real Communion, nor can they back up their undue claims. You will often find these people in chat rooms, running websites, and e-lists; though this does not mean that all internet resources are controlled by them.
Please note that not all vamps online are Arasi, many just wish to remain anonymous or have no other options due to distance or financial restraints. There are many who like to watch from a distance, or do not have the ability to participate in the real world, especially those living far from cities with a strong vampyre subculture.
The Disembodied (Strigoi Morte)
Known as the Undead Gods to the Temple of the Vampire,, or simply the Disembodied to the Kheprians and the Strigoi Morte to the Strigoi Vii and the Sahjaza. The Strigoi Morte are those vampyres who are in a completely subtle state either between incarnations, have chosen not to incarnate, or for some reason cannot. They are our brothers and sisters on the other side, but without flesh, they feed often astrally and we can make communion within them through various processes such as the Sanguine Mass or astral projection.
Like the Strigoi Vii, they can be friendly, good, have personality differences, etc., but each household has their own set of Strigoi Morte who are a part of that family and act as guides and are revered as the Japanese would revere their ancestors.
There are some Strigoi Morte who have achieved this state through during life - training the ethereal body on how to feed from the lifeforce of other human beings. The goal here is to avoid the Second Death, of which the separation of the ethereal and Astral bodies takes place, and the soul moves on to an afterlife or goes into oblivion. These Strigoi Morte usually come from the Ardetha form of awakening.
HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSEHOLD is the most common term used for fraternal or family-like organizations within the vampyre community. The terms “ordo” or “order of” are also becoming quite common in recent years with the more magickal and spiritual influences found in the community. These organizations are groups of individuals who share common philosophies, ceremonies, membership requirements, traditions, belief systems, sigil, hierarchy, and theme.
The term household first came into being as an alternative to the word to coven (which was very commonly tied to other magickal communities) was needed for use within the Sanguinarium and among the Strigoi Vii. With the coming of the Second Age and the evolution of the Strigoi Vii paradigm, the term Order is becoming as common as the community is drawn in a more spiritual and magickal direction.
Households are respected in accordance with their influence, contributions to the community, length of time in existence, depth of philosophy, rituals, wealth or holdings, and quality of their members. Generally the number of people in a household is unlimited, but the Synod advises keeping the Inner circle of the family to no more than 13 members, however, this is not a steadfast rule. Members of a given household are usually not limited to only one geographic location; they will commonly have members from all over the country, or even the world.
Why join a Household?
Households offer unique benefits within the community over being solitaire or ronin. It is not about being followers, or having the need to belong. Households offer community, people of like mind, training, influence, rituals, companions, protection, energy, support, resources, and often, easier access to donors. Many choose to remain ronin and gain their support from a small circle or other local organization instead of formally joining a Household. This is a personal choice, and is not considered a less worthy standing within the community. Most households recruit seekers through sponsorship by a full member. This courting often works for training, and to insure that the individual is right for the Household and vice-versa. It is not uncommon for a household to have a special title known as Abbon, honorary members of the family who might be either Ronin or members of other Houses. The title of Abbon is useful for related households to make alliances and show respect for each other and for select individuals not interested in making a formal commitment to join the family.
The Prospectus is an introduction to the philosophy, organization, laws, terminology, ceremonies, and traditions of the group, which ideally, each household should draft. Within the prospectus there should be several items including the Dictum, Covenant, Glyph, Creed, and Hierarchy. The Dictum covers the statement of purpose for the group. The Covenant describes the traditions and philosophy of the family. The Glyph (described in detail later) is the “coat of arms” or runic design adopted by the family. The Hierarchy describes its organization.
Naming a household is a difficult and challenging task. The more commitment invested in researching and choosing the name of a group, the more commitment there is to their family’s success. The name will often be a deciding factor in whether a new member will be interested in joining. It should reflect the family’s image, beliefs, and theme.
Names derived from White Wolf’s V:tM terminology (e.g. house Tremere, Order of LaSombra, etc.) are unoriginal and too related to role-playing games for those who choose to follow Strigoi Vii traditions. Additionally, these names, as well as the names of other businesses or organizations, are trademarked and cannot be used without the written consent of the owners. Using original, mythological, or historical names such as Kheperu, Sekhmet, Ventear, Sahjaza, Delle Shea, etc. is a much better choice. It is important to make sure no other household has taken the name you are looking to use. Since the vampyre community often draws high media attention due to its unconventional focus, the tradition suggests avoiding names that may focus attention on negative aspects of vampyrism. Put effort into choosing a name that is poetic, obscure, compelling, and intriguing, and will reflect your family as a whole. Good examples of household names include: Sahjaza, Kheperu, Sable Brahmin, Hidden Shadows, Tsjinu, Mavenlore, Trylesta, Dreaming, and St. Eve.
Clutches are found in many larger groups, and are geographically based branches of the family. This happens especially when a household grows too large. These smaller local groups are used for socialization, ceremonies, initiations, and training. Clutches are usually established and lead by three members of the household’s inner circle, and traditionally have a membership ranging anywhere from as few as three to thirteen members. Clutches are often considered similar to witches’ covens or lodges in the lodge system and each has their own designated leader(s). Many larger households using the Lodge system often have a center clutch which contains the most senior members of the family who form the governing foundation of the group. In some groups, this is commonly called the Council.
The Synod suggest from tradition that each house should create a “coat of arms.” This usually contains a Strigoi Vii glyph and this should reflect the name and theme of the family. It is traditional for households to have their glyph put into a pendant and signet ring; these can be obtained through various jewelers within the subculture. Households usually create their own personalized version of the bladed ankh and a corresponding Strigoi Vii glyph. The glyph could be engraved on the top of the signet ring. When designing a sigil take the same care and thought used in selecting a name. Upon making a dedication to a household it is traditional for an individual to obtain the household’s ankh, while becoming a full member they usually will be awarded the household’s glyph on a signet ring.
Household’s organization and structure vary greatly, but most often are divided into an Outer Circle, which includes sponsored dedicants and affiliate members of the family, and an Inner Circle of fully initiated members and elders.
Outer Circle members are usually sponsored by an Inner Circle member and may go through a series of initiation rites, paths of study, and Ordeals in a household to achieve full membership. These Outer Circle members usually include Abbon (allies), Swans, Prospectii or Seekers, and Pledges (those who are requesting full membership).
The Inner Circle usually includes the Calmae (adepts), Magisters (leaders and Elders of the family), the Primus/Primii (founder, Primii being plural), and the Azra (heads of the roads/castes). The names and levels of membership vary from household to household. Generally members of the Inner Circle should have completed the Calmae Ordeal (see the Ordeals section of this book for more information on the details of the Ordeals).
Households are the foundations of both the Strigoi Vii movement, and the Sanguinarium and the vampyre communities. Their varied ideals, traditions, and contributions maintain diversity and provide options to members of the larger community.
Update: since the original printing of this book most households have moved to a geographically oriented basis. Very much like a pagan coven or fraternal lodge. See the Sanguinomicon for more information.
AWAKENINGS
THE AWAKENING is the most common term referring to the experience of recognizing one’s draw to the Strigoi Vii traditions. It is the onset of a sensitivity to and awareness of pranic energy and draw to the vampyre archetype. One’s vampyre eyes are opened and an understanding of the subtle reality begins to form. This can be achieved through a ritual such as the Rite of Transformation. A specific life experience such as making first Communion (feeding or being fed upon), a near death or mystical experience, entering a highly charged environment, or even undergoing the process of acquiring custom-made fangs can also catalyze the Awakening in those with whom it is a latent condition.
The Vampyric condition is a suite of symptoms that provides evidence of Strigoi Vii nature. After a Strigoi Vii’s Awakening and first Communion, indications of the vampyric nature may begin to show. These symptoms include the Awakening of the Dragon and the first experience of hunger. Some groups, including the Kheprians and those of Sahjaza subscribe to the theory that there are three distinct categories of the Vampyric Condition. Evidence of these is clearer cut in some individuals than in others.
These categories are detailed below:
Dhampyri (Born Vampyres) are those who exhibit vampyric symptoms and feed throughout their childhoods. They are born fully awakened, or awaken well before puberty, and their peers often consider them odd or eccentric from an early age. Of those with the Vampyric Condition, the Dhampyri are the most rare, unique and powerful. Although they do not require a ritual for Awakening, many Dhampyri choose to go through initiation to formalize their ties to a specific Household.
Klavasi (Latent Vampyres) are those who awaken after puberty or after their “mid-life crisis.” These vampyres are born with the predisposition and potential to become Strigoi Vii, but the Condition lies dormant or latent until later in life. Some believe the Vampyric condition sleeps in the subconscious mind of these vampyres, and can be awakened through rituals like the Rite of Transformation. Others believe that the potential can manifest as a result of an epiphanous moment like experiencing Communion, seeing one’s true face in the mirror, or undergoing the process of getting fangs. This is the most common form of the Vampiric condition.
Ardetha (Made Vampyres) believed by some to be created by a powerful form of the Rite of Transformation. Others believe that the Ardetha achieve the Vampyric condition through magickal or spiritual paths, or that they are a type of sympathetic vampyre. Because many in the Sanguinarium community believe all Strigoi Vii are born with vampyric potential, the existence of the Ardetha is a controversial topic. Many dismiss the idea of made vampyres, and believe instead that those who appear to be made through ritual are really Klavasi, whose potentials are less apparent than most.
The descriptions here are only examples drawn from the core Families of the Sanguinarium and do not reflect the entire vampyre scene. Many groups have vastly different concepts of Strigoi Vii, ranging from darker, more predatory philosophies to more Goddess-based or karma influenced beliefs.
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