T Y P E S O F V A M P I R E S The classical vampire This type is the best-known and most likely also most occuring variety. A classical vampire is someone who has met another vampire somewhen (the circumstances of this encounter are beyond discussion) and who has been changed by him. This normally happens by a mental initiation and/or by the exchange of blood. Referring to the description of my own view I think that there is no relevent difference between the blood or the pranic energy of a vampire in this sense. The consequence of this ritual is the beginning of a physical change in the receipients body chemistry and metabolism on the one hand and on the other hand severe changes and reconstructions in the receipients psyche. This time is most likely to be a painful, shocking and confusing experience, especially when experienced unwillingly. After the changes have been finished, the receipient becomes an initiator himself, meaning he can change any other person into a vampire. According to the retroviral theory, he can also give birth to a possible inherited vampire. The inherited vampire The inheriter is a human being who carries the genetic sequence of a classical vampire, but who needs to be activated by some outer influence. This can be an extreme physical shock such as an accident or surgery with physical trauma and/or high blood loss as well as a regular change by a classical vampire. The most important difference to a classical vampire is the idea that the genetic structure is existing in every chromosome since birth and is not added by blood exchange at a later time. Inheriters can often lead a normal life as long as they are not activated, most of them even don«t know of the bombs ticking in their cell cores. But every child they give birth to is another possible carrier of this genetic sequence, means another possible vampire. Both types, the classical as well as the inherited vampire in a conscient state of existance have to face the same urges and the same problems. None of them can escape their true nature. In opposite to some Psi-vampires they have to live their lifes active and in full conscience. And this is harder than any wannabe-vampire or folkloristic vampire can ever imagine from an outside point of view. The Psi-vampire The Psi-vampire is very different from the aforementioned varieties, as he is not a physical vampire, meaning not dependent on the consumption of blood, but a mental vampire. Psi-vampires do not feed on blood but on the mental life energy of a person. This energy-draining can be performed even more secretly than any other way of feeding as there is no physical contact needed. Therefore I have watched the tendency that Psi-vampires are often regarded as more hideous than any other kind. This is not really justified, as some researchers tend to split this group into two, sometimes three further groups. Consuming mental energy does not automatically mean to use up a victim until it breaks or to cause any harm to this person, although it happens in extreme cases, I have watched this myself. A Psi-vampire can consume any form of energy, may it be life energy, destructive energy or sexual energy. I tend to go even further and say that every vampire has the ability of psychic draining. But those who concentrate on non-sanguine feeding sometimes even don«t know what they are or do. Their environment often reacts on them with a feeling of antipathy because of their "exhausting" character. The folkloristic vampire This is the most interesting kind of "vampires" I have ever met in my life, in which way this very special kind ever appeared. Folkloristic vampires are normal human beings who behave like vampires and sometimes even believe that they are vampires. But most of them are only "normal" human beings who tend to think that it is "cool" to act like a vampire. A friend of me calls them "mortal blood drinkers". They force themselves to drink blood although it makes them spit. They react to the clichŽs of vampirism, as they think it is required, such as reactions to holy water and garlic. I even met people who claimed to be able to fly, in the full sense of the word (although I yet believe they didn«t really test it...). I think we all know what we have to think of such people and that they need all the help they can get. But those people are those who cause the bad and discriminating rumors about vampirism. They are those who end up in the papers with articles such as "Old woman attacked in the park, villain bit her in the shoulder" and go to talkshows. Yet I have to finish with those clichŽs and myths and set up an attempt to explain how these myths came into being. But generally said I think the so-called folkloristic vampire is more a case for the versed psychologist than for the research in vampirism. Conclusion Actually I tend to distinguish between three types of real vampires, of which fellow researchers say that those single groups can be split into further varieties again. I don«t think that a further division is necessary or useful. With any further division the line between personal fates and real groups fades. All vampires share similarities, such as the urge to consume life energy, in which way ever. The differences have to be made in how these vampires came into being and in which way they consume the required energy. I myself am a classical vampire, and I tend to psychic draining same way as the described Psi-vampires in cases; first I did unconciously, but later in active conscience when I was taught how it works. I did not chose this way of life, but I have learnt to accept, even enjoy it. But I do not appreciate the way in which publicity encounters our ways. Even less I do when I regard the fact that this results from the behavior of some disturbed persons, perverts or myths which have caused misconceptions and persecution for centuries. Real vampires are neither foul creatures nor perverted mass-murders. They can be - just as any other normal person - hideous or really "nice guys". But those people who do not feel the need to take a look on the reality behind myths, sensational stories in the news and fiction will never know. A shame when I think on how rich this existance is, much too rich to be only a source of the fear of man or to be hunted down...