Truly, Madly, Deadly_ The Unofficial True Blood Companion - Becca Wilcott [34]
If this sounds completely out in left field, Belanger offers another way to look at her vampirism, suggesting that if we can open ourselves to such “‘esoteric’ concepts as Reiki, feng shui, and the world soul, vampirism really isn’t as far-fetched as you think.” She continues, “Everything must have its opposite to balance it out. For every light worker who gives energy to heal, there is one of us who must take energy for ourselves. It’s yin and yang.”
But do “real vampires” possess any “real” powers? And what of garlic, holy water, and sunlight? That’s for the fictional vampires. Some real vampires claim to experience heightened senses, such as light sensitivity and a nocturnal sleep cycle, but they’re just as willing to suggest that that could be because so many community events are held at night. However, many say that they experience psychic abilities such as enhanced empathy and clairvoyance.
Alix Fox of Bizarre magazine pops fang at an event celebrating the UK premiere of True Blood. (Courtesy Alix Fox)
Vampire Crib Sheet
Awakening: The moment one becomes conscious of their vampirism and embraces it.
Beast: The primal nature of a frustrated vampire.
Black swan: A non-vampire who accepts the vampire lifestyle. May adopt a vampyre-fetish lifestyle.
Blood drinker: One who drinks blood, regardless of motivation.
Blood fetishist: One who drinks blood for erotic pleasure, but does not need it to sustain physical or spiritual well-being.
Blood junkie: A derogatory term for one who experiences a physical need to drink blood, known as a Sanguinarian.
Bloodletting: The act of cutting flesh to extract blood for purposes of blood play, fetishism, and feeding.
Bloodplay: The act of using blood for sexual or fetishistic scenarios.
Clinical vampirism: One who experiences an urge to drink blood. Can be satisfied by drinking their own. Also clinically known as Renfield’s Syndrome, named after Dracula’s insect-eating assistant in Bram Stoker’s novel.
Coming out (of the coffin): Living openly as a vampire.
Coven: Groups of individuals who identify with and participate in a vampire/vampyre lifestyle.
Donor: One who offers their blood freely.
Elder: Long-time, devoted member of a vampire/vampyre community who has often contributed to the sustainability of the community.
Embrace: Roleplaying term for turning one into a vampire.
Energy signature: Each person’s unique energy pattern. It’s believed that vampires can recognize one another via a specific signature.
Energy vampire: One who experiences a need to feed upon the life force of others, typically the chi or psychic energy rather than blood.
Feeding: To consume pranic energy (blood) or psychic energy (emotional and elemental energy).
Hematodipsia: Strong form of hemophilia, a condition in which even the slightest wound can result in profuse hemorrhaging.
Human: Non-vampire. This term is not universally accepted in the vampire community for the suggestion that vampires are non-human. Sometimes also referred to as “mundanes.”
The Hunger: Psychological and physical need to feed. Also known as the Thirst.
Hunter: One who hunts, threatens, or does actual harm to one who identifies as vampire.
Immortal: Used loosely in vampire communities to describe those who appear to escape effects of aging, disease, and injury.
Latent vampire: One who is vampire, but has not awakened.
Leech: Derogatory term used to describe vampires.
Mentor: One who makes another a vampire, or aids in his/her awakening.
Mundane: Non-vampire.
The Nephilim: Some in the vampire community believe vampires to be descendents of the Nephilim, children born of a union between an angel (Watcher) and mortal women.
Of the Blood: A vampire.
Porphyria: Medical condition often referenced as a possible source of traditional vampire myths. Those with the affliction