Festiva's Interview With A Valley Vampire

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Festiva's Interview With A Valley Vampire

Postby deacongray » Sun Nov 29, 2009 3:22 pm

Festiva's Interview With A Valley Vampire
By Amy Nichol Smith of The Monitor
November 18, 2009

Every few years or so our culture experiences a resurgence in the popularity of vampires. In the ‘80s it was Lost Boys; in the ‘90s, we had Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire. Most recently there has been a slew of vamp-inspired books, films and TV series, including the wildly popular Twilight saga.

Rabid fans pore over the novels by Stephanie Meyer, studying every nuance of each character – especially those of the two (un)lucky-in-love: Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristin Stewart). A quick search on Google nets more than 7.5 million results for Edward (Bella only brings in about 3.3 million).

Fascination with the blood-drinkers may be the product of Hollywood inundating us with movie after movie about the beautiful creatures who live forever. The picture they paint is one of mystery, ethereal beauty, danger, lust, love and a certain kind of romance that comes with being an outcast of society, but not of the pocket-protector-wearing type.

But vampires aren’t real – are they? The undead monsters who avoid garlic and sunlight are likely just fantasy, but there are types of vampires who roam the earth. Some even drink blood. Others only feed on the energy produced by plants, animals and humans. Modern-day vampires choose this unusual lifestyle but often keep their identities secret.

Festiva had the opportunity to talk with a man who claims he is a vampire. He debunked a few myths about the men and women of the night.

Rev. Vicutus Dominus de Ordo Sekhemu is a vampire. His skin is not pale, but his hands are cold. He does not possess ethereal beauty like that of the fictitious Edward Cullen, but some might say he looks young for his age. And he doesn’t claim he has immortality, though he believes in reincarnation – which, in a way, gives him the ability to live forever.

Vicutus’ fangs are for aesthetics only. And he won’t burst into flames if he goes sunbathing.

As a vampire, Vicutus claims he has strong psychic abilities, he can “blink,” and he draws energy and blood from donors.

Blinking could be confused with teleporting. Vicutus explains that thought becomes action and without realizing it, he can be at the opposite end of a hallway without taking a step.


Becoming a vampire isn’t nearly as traumatic as being seduced and pulled into a dark alley to have the blood drawn from a puncture in your neck. For Vicutus, it was a series of blood rites and rituals with his dark master, who is a founder of an elite vampiric order, though Vicutus wouldn’t say which.

There are different types of vampires: sanguine (those who drink blood), prana (those who feed on auras) and tantric (those who feed sexually).

“We teach beginners to embrace their darkness, but also to harness their powers,” Vicutus said.

While Vicutus hasn’t had another’s blood in years, he saves holy days for drinking blood, even when it’s his own, mixed with wine to offer as a sacrifice to God for atonement.

When he does drink blood, it comes from a donor – and not from the neck. Vicutus will lacerate the donor’s chest or lance the fingertip and suckle blood from the wound.

“(Donors) can feed you any way you wish,” he said. “That’s what the donors are there for – they’re your blood dolls.”

But being a vampire isn’t always so macabre. Vicutus said they also serve as healers in a way.

“When we feed, we give back at the same time,” he said.

If Vicutus is in need of a pick-me-up, he will head to the mall or an arena – any place where there are a lot of people – and he will psychically “feed” on a crowd. He does this so there’s no danger of drawing too much energy from one person and leaving that person fatigued. When he draws energy, he gives his own energy back – a sort of recycling system.

Vampires today believe anonymity is necessary because society as a whole isn’t ready to accept their alternative lifestyle. But they walk among us, impossible to detect.

“We have careers. We’re professionals and we have to keep our anonymity,” Vicutus said. “Because people don’t understand. We may lose our jobs or our friends.”

VAMPIRES: Myth vs. Fact

Vampires drink blood.
FACT – sort of. Not all vampires drink blood, and it is rare to find someone living the lifestyle to prey on unsuspecting victims, though some do.

Vampires sleep in coffins.
MYTH. Most vampires live fairly normal lives, Vicutus said, though he does know a few who prefer to sleep in coffins.

Vampires have fangs.
MYTH. If a vampire has fangs, he or she likely got implants or are wearing realistic prosthetics. It’s all to help them play the role.

Vampires can be warded off with garlic.
MYTH. “I actually take garlic everyday. It’s good for the immune system,” Vicutus said.

Vampires can be stopped with a crucifix.
MYTH. “Only in literature,” he said.

Vampires will burst into flames if sunlight touches their skin.
MYTH. “We can function fine in daylight, but it does diminish vampires’ powers,” Vicutus said. “At night there’s less psychic activity, so our powers are more keen.”

Vampire slayers are feared by vampires.
FACT. Vicutus said he receives death threats from vampire hunters by e-mail daily. The most notorious slayer, according to Vicutus, is the Right Rev. Seán Manchester, Bishop of Glastonbury. Manchester is best known for his investigation of Highgate vampire in the ‘70s at the Highgate Cemetery in London.

VAMPIRES IN SOCIETY

If Vicutus lived his life as a vampire 50 years ago, would he have spoken to a reporter about his blood-drinking ways? It’s unlikely that anyone would have accepted his beliefs, and he would have to be more secretive than he is today.

“In this society, we have a lot more permission to do and be who we like,” said Patricia Baker, a sociologist and managing partner of The Big Picture Agency in Massachusetts. “Fascination with vampirism is allowed.”

While vampirism and other alternative lifestyles aren’t as publicly accepted as, say, same-sex couples, they are more tolerated today than any other era.

“We’re moving toward levels of acceptance,” Baker said. “(Vampirism) is considered much more fringe, but it is what it is.”

Much of the fascination is sparked by the huge variety of literature, film and other media that promotes vampires as protagonists, and it’s captured readers and viewers imagination, Baker said.

It isn’t a question of whether vampirism is healthy or normal, it’s what the person’s ultimate goal is. And if a person who lives his or her life as a vampire isn’t harming another, there shouldn’t be concern.

“It’s taking a look at life from a different perspective.”
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