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The central principle of Vampyrism is the creation of an Essence which can survive the shock of death. The process by which this creation occurs is called Initiation. Generally speaking, Initiation is less about rituals and overt magic (though those things do have an important, luminating role to play) as it is about encountering Life as the Initiatrix. As this encounter occurs, the sensitive psyche will begin to apprehend the Essence getting stronger and stronger, giving clearer and clearer guidance to the psyche. The more this guidance is heeded, the more one's psyche aligns with the Essence which, in turn, infuses the psyche with more refined forms of consciousness and, eventually, immortality. Because the LHP Initiate is immersed in the sensual, the guidance which comes from the Essence will set "real world" tasks for the Initiate. It has never been enough just to do the spiritual, inner work (an approach very much aligned with RHP traditions), the LHP Initiate uses the outer world as a tool in the transformation of the inner.
Vampyrism is only one aspect of the LHP. Despite the recent popularity of the pretty, neutered vampire, even the most hormonal teen wouldn't choose to align with a Vampyre in reality. A Being characterised by intensity and Presence, who is given to moods and dispositions virtually extinct in humans, who plays with the aspects of Life not shown by National Geographic, doesn't make for an easy to control "life partner". Even within the Left Hand Path, most reject the Vampyre because their self-image balks at anything thought unserious. These gates serve a purpose. This way is not for everyone, in fact it is only for those who's emerging Essence reveals this way to them. Any attempts outside of that sacred revelation are just play acting.
When the Essence does communicate Vampyrism, you are invited onto a path which calls for an increase in the worldly manifestation of your Being. This means mastering arts which give the Essence tools so that it can act with ever greater power in the world. Different schools will offer different emphases and different Initiates will show talent in one or two areas with the rest, those which most need development, constituting Work. I have isolated five areas of study for the rising Vampyre:
Energy
Energy is the core paradigm of the Vampyre. It is by evaluating one's existence in terms of giving and receiving energy that allows the Vampyre to increase in strength. For those at the less mature end of Initiation, energy might be taken directly from others. This is really more akin to a zombie needing the brains of others than a Master able to draw energy from Life itself. When the Vampyre wishes to draw energy from others, humans give it because they're attracted to the Vampyre. Also at the more mature end, an alchemy of energy occurs where the body's natural ways of generating energy (especially sexuality) are transmuted into higher, refined forms of energy. The same approach can be applied to life in general where the Vampyre engineers circumstances to give herself energy. This can range from creating an energising living space to producing art for the consumption of thousands of people.
Strength
In one of the areas where the Vampyre current agrees with the Bible, the body is the temple of the spirit. The body is the temple through which sacramental offerings are made, often pleasure but also sometimes sacrifices. These are the sacrifices involved in training the body, especially when it doesn't want to be trained. Your body is the translation of your Essence into three dimensional terms. As your Essence begins to gain control over the faculties which you offer to it, so too will your body transform to reflect your Essential Self. A well controlled body is both a source of pleasure and an effective weapon in the world. This is the hidden meaning of the vampire's supernatural strength. The Vampyre's connection with the sensual is very deep and so in working on the body, the Initiate is working on their soul. As below, so above.
Lycanthropy
Affinity with animals is the oldest aspect of Vampyre magic and it's closely tied with the body. While the modern world supresses the Beast to the extent that there's a multi-billion dollar industry charged with hiding its scent, the Vampyre honours all the parts of herself, including those ancient evolutionary patterns which still want to run with the wolves. There are lycanthropic shamanic practices that can be drawn upon to develop connection with these patterns. They can also be developed by spending time with and helping those animals which have become totems.
Manipulation
Manipulation (sometimes called "Lesser Magic") is the art of influencing humans using non-occult means. This means the use of (usually little known) psychological laws and tricks to cause another to act in accordance with your Will. This Vampyric gift causes humans the most concern and with good reason, it works, though a form of Lesser Magic is used every time someone dresses up for a date or plays music to remind older folks of a different time. The most explosive results come with the use of mesmeric and stage magic tricks in a non-magical setting. Tread carefully here. Virtue is an essential Vampyric quality. Manipulate them if it increases their sense of the magical, manipulate them if every other option has failed, but don't manipulate for your own amusement; you'd be surprised how quickly the pitchfork mentality can resurface.
ESP
It's for the best if these gifts aren't developed while the Initiate is studying the art of manipulation; it's very easy to deceive oneself and confuse self-manipulation for magic. The panorama of psychic gifts, especially telepathy, are part of the Vampyre's inheritance. These gifts come from a tremendous receptivity to the most subtle currents that are at play. As in all areas on this list, this cannot be learnt from a book but must emerge from an open approach to Life.
Vampyrism is only one aspect of the LHP. Despite the recent popularity of the pretty, neutered vampire, even the most hormonal teen wouldn't choose to align with a Vampyre in reality. A Being characterised by intensity and Presence, who is given to moods and dispositions virtually extinct in humans, who plays with the aspects of Life not shown by National Geographic, doesn't make for an easy to control "life partner". Even within the Left Hand Path, most reject the Vampyre because their self-image balks at anything thought unserious. These gates serve a purpose. This way is not for everyone, in fact it is only for those who's emerging Essence reveals this way to them. Any attempts outside of that sacred revelation are just play acting.
When the Essence does communicate Vampyrism, you are invited onto a path which calls for an increase in the worldly manifestation of your Being. This means mastering arts which give the Essence tools so that it can act with ever greater power in the world. Different schools will offer different emphases and different Initiates will show talent in one or two areas with the rest, those which most need development, constituting Work. I have isolated five areas of study for the rising Vampyre:
Energy
Energy is the core paradigm of the Vampyre. It is by evaluating one's existence in terms of giving and receiving energy that allows the Vampyre to increase in strength. For those at the less mature end of Initiation, energy might be taken directly from others. This is really more akin to a zombie needing the brains of others than a Master able to draw energy from Life itself. When the Vampyre wishes to draw energy from others, humans give it because they're attracted to the Vampyre. Also at the more mature end, an alchemy of energy occurs where the body's natural ways of generating energy (especially sexuality) are transmuted into higher, refined forms of energy. The same approach can be applied to life in general where the Vampyre engineers circumstances to give herself energy. This can range from creating an energising living space to producing art for the consumption of thousands of people.
Strength
In one of the areas where the Vampyre current agrees with the Bible, the body is the temple of the spirit. The body is the temple through which sacramental offerings are made, often pleasure but also sometimes sacrifices. These are the sacrifices involved in training the body, especially when it doesn't want to be trained. Your body is the translation of your Essence into three dimensional terms. As your Essence begins to gain control over the faculties which you offer to it, so too will your body transform to reflect your Essential Self. A well controlled body is both a source of pleasure and an effective weapon in the world. This is the hidden meaning of the vampire's supernatural strength. The Vampyre's connection with the sensual is very deep and so in working on the body, the Initiate is working on their soul. As below, so above.
Lycanthropy
Affinity with animals is the oldest aspect of Vampyre magic and it's closely tied with the body. While the modern world supresses the Beast to the extent that there's a multi-billion dollar industry charged with hiding its scent, the Vampyre honours all the parts of herself, including those ancient evolutionary patterns which still want to run with the wolves. There are lycanthropic shamanic practices that can be drawn upon to develop connection with these patterns. They can also be developed by spending time with and helping those animals which have become totems.
Manipulation
Manipulation (sometimes called "Lesser Magic") is the art of influencing humans using non-occult means. This means the use of (usually little known) psychological laws and tricks to cause another to act in accordance with your Will. This Vampyric gift causes humans the most concern and with good reason, it works, though a form of Lesser Magic is used every time someone dresses up for a date or plays music to remind older folks of a different time. The most explosive results come with the use of mesmeric and stage magic tricks in a non-magical setting. Tread carefully here. Virtue is an essential Vampyric quality. Manipulate them if it increases their sense of the magical, manipulate them if every other option has failed, but don't manipulate for your own amusement; you'd be surprised how quickly the pitchfork mentality can resurface.
ESP
It's for the best if these gifts aren't developed while the Initiate is studying the art of manipulation; it's very easy to deceive oneself and confuse self-manipulation for magic. The panorama of psychic gifts, especially telepathy, are part of the Vampyre's inheritance. These gifts come from a tremendous receptivity to the most subtle currents that are at play. As in all areas on this list, this cannot be learnt from a book but must emerge from an open approach to Life.
