| CONTENTS ON THIS PAGE... |
| 1. So You're Curious About Real Vampires? |
| 2. Do Vampires Really Exist? |
| 3. The Roots of Numerous Vampire Myths |
| 4. The Evolution of Vampires - Exploring Vampire Lore in Modern Media |
| 5. How Early Vampire Literature Formed Vampires of Today |
| 6. Popularity of Vampires in Modern Culture |
| 7. The Dirty Little Secrets of Vampires |
| 8.Real Life Vampires |
| 9. Real Vampire Sightings |
| 10. The Top 10 Most Popular Vampires |
| 11. 4 Tips For Defeating Time Vampires |
So You're Curious About Real Vampires?
What is this preoccupation we have with vampires? It seems as though one can no longer walk into a bookstore, or simply turn on the television for that matter, without being assailed by images of what looks to be leather clad models with a taste for blood. They're everywhere. So called creatures of the night have always had a hallowed spot in our imaginations, but none so much so as vampires.
Perhaps the recent surge in popularity can be attributed to the ever-changing image of the vampire. Who wouldn't want to bump into one of those present day vampires? After all, the men are shown as being edgy yet sensitive (apparently spending their nights hitting both the blood bank and the gym) while the women, whether ethereal or domineering, are downright gorgeous. Much is made of the sexual allure of the vampire and their bite (or vampire's kiss) is seen as a painful yet erotic act. What a departure from the vampires of yore.
Early vampires, especially in Eastern Europe, were thought to be evil creatures that inhabited the bodies of the dead and looked...well...dead. They were most often described as being dark and bloated, with shroud covered heads. Not a very appealing image. By the 19th century vampires had slimmed down into the pale, gaunt figure popularised in the classic film Nosferatu, but had still not achieved present day appeal. Perhaps the turning point came with the advent of the Bela Lugosi films in which the infamous Count Dracula was portrayed as a debonair fiend able to charm helpless victims into submission.
Of course there are those who are more concerned with whether or not vampires actually exist than what they may look like. Those who believe in the existence of real vampires cite the fact that practically every culture has some history of a vampiric entity that drinks blood. Look into it if you doubt that it's true and you'll find references to the Greek 'vrykolakas', the Babylonian 'Lilitu' and the Hindu goddess 'Kali' to name just a few. Others argue that if vampires really existed then surely one would have been found by now. Well, that may depend on what you classify as a vampire.
Vampires are thought to be creatures which survive by extracting something from the living. This is most often blood but it can take the form of energy as well. There is a need for this substance, more of a craving really, and various symptoms of ill-health ensue if this need is not met. Sounds like a drug addict, doesn't it? But then there's that pesky 'undead' part. Well I don't know about the walking dead part, but there've certainly been people throughout history who have had a taste for blood.
Vlad Tepes: Made popular by Bram Stoker's iconic Dracula tale, Vlad Tepes is thought by many to be the first example of the present day vampire. And yet, to date, there is very little evidence that he actually consumed blood. That being said, he certainly seemed to revel in the sight of it and his methods of torture are still known today for their cruelty.
Countess Elizabeth Bathory: Ah yes...the Blood Countess. She was made famous for her supposed habit of bathing in the blood of young beauties in order to retain her youth. This would appear to be untrue, but she did apparently have a pesky habit of biting her charges. It is estimated that she was responsible for the deaths of anywhere from 20 to 650 individuals through various means of torture
Arnold Paole & Peter Plogojowitz: These two gentlemen were inhabitants of small villages in Eastern Europe at roughly the same time and their cases show remarkable similarities. Both died in 1725, both were supposedly seen haunting the village after their deaths (not to mention killing a few villagers) and both were eventually exhumed so their bodies could be staked.
Fritz Haarman: Known as the Hanover Vampire, Fritz Haarman was responsible for the deaths of as many as 27 young men. A petty criminal from a young age, he eventually graduated to murder. His method of bringing about death was a bite to the throat. He later claimed to have a sexual attraction to the taste of blood.
Peter Kürten: This particular gentleman may be best known for his habit of biting the heads off of swans so he could drink their blood. He later graduated to human prey and killed whoever happened to be closest when the need struck him. Like Haarman before him, Kürten claimed that the sight of blood drove him into a state of sexual frenzy.
Diana Semenuha: This is one of the more recent cases, having occurred only a few years ago. Ms. Semenuha did not kill her victims, who were mostly street children. Supposedly they were drugged and then blood was extracted. The reason for this was a belief that human blood, especially that of children, was a cure for a muscle-wasting disease.
Were any of the persons mentioned above actually real vampires? If you accept the theory that a vampire is essentially dead then most were not (although some were very sick puppies). If you accept the theory that a vampire is someone with a physical need to feed on blood then most were. It all depends on what you're willing to accept. And therein lays the problem for modern day proponents of a vampiric lifestyle. An individual is usually only popularised if they exhibit criminal behaviour.
Certainly there are quite a few people who engage in consensual blood play. Many will tell you that they need to regularly feed on small quantities of blood or they will become very ill, and some do. Whether it is a truly physical dependence or merely psychological is up for debate. The point is that it is consensual and these 'living vampires' are definitely real. As for the dead ones, perhaps they do exist...or perhaps not.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Do Vampires Really Exist?
Vampires are mythical or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of ruddy) of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a animate person. Although vampiric entities posit been recorded string myriad cultures and according to speculation by literary historian Brian Frost that the "belief in vampires and bloodsucking demons is considering terminated since partner himself", further may go ferry to "prehistoric times", the term vampire was not popularized until the early 18th century, after an influx of vampire superstition into Western Europe from areas where vampire legends were frequent, such through the Balkans and Eastern Europe, although ingrained variants were also known by unequal names, related since vampir in Serbia and Bulgaria, in Greece and strigoi in Romania. This bounteous level of vampire superstition in Europe led to mass hysteria and prestige some cases resulted money corpses actually being staked and people over accused of vampirism.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/The Roots of Numerous Vampire Myths
There are a great number of myths surrounding vampires. Many of these myths find their roots in early Christian doctrine. Others are the result of the superstitious people of the Middle Ages.
Vampires Are Repelled By Crosses And Holy Water
The root of this myth is in Christianity. The early vampire myths that spread across Europe were passed on by early Christians. Bram Stoker is a more modern example, but nonetheless, he was Christian as well. The victims of vampires are almost always Christians. As a result, crosses and holy water offer Christians protection from a devil that has manifested itself in the form of the vampire.
The effect of holy water upon vampires has more to do with purification. As holy water is blessed by an ordained priest of God, it has the power to purify anything evil. Therefore, the power holy water has over vampires can only exist in a Christian vampire context.
Vampires Sleep In Coffins
It is speculated that the root of this myth originates from ancient grave diggers. There was no shortage of stories in the Middle Ages that dealt with vampires rising from graveyard coffins in the middle of the night. The myth would later evolve to include the notion that vampires must sleep in the native soil that they were originally buried in. Traditionally, vampires would crawl back to their grave each night. If a vampire wanted to travel to a new region, the vampire would have to take some soil from his or her grave along. In this manner, a vampire could return to the soil of his or her native grave each night. Later, the myth would evolve yet again to include protection from the sun.
Kill A Vampire By Stabbing A Stake Through Their Heart
The disease consumption, more commonly known as Tuberculosis is a micro bacterial disease that attacks the lungs. In the advanced stages of the disease the host coughs up blood and finally dies. In the Middle Ages both the disease consumption and vampire rumors were running rampant. It became a common belief that if you did not pin a victim of consumption to their grave, by means of a stake through the heart, the victim would rise the next night and become a vampire. A wooden stake was used for this pinning, as it was the most common tool available for the job. Iron was much harder to come by, so traditional nails were expensive.
Vampires Cannot See Their Reflection In Mirrors
Early vampires were portrayed as demons walking in animate dead corpses. These corpses were no longer occupied by their original owners. The souls of these recently dead had ascended into heaven. The demons now occupying the bodies of the recently dead were without a soul. As a result, they could not see their reflection in the mirror.
Vampires Die In Sunlight
The origins of this myth are rooted in the belief that vampires are servants of Satan. Vampires were soulless demons that wandered the night. Their power grew in darkness. They could not thrive in the light, as light is equated with things that are good and holy. God is light and it is light that drives away demons.
Vampires And Bats
A popular vampire myth is that vampires can turn into bats. This is a more recent concept, as earlier myths about vampires have no connection with bats. The connection no doubt exists in the modern era due to the vampire bat. This creature doesn't thrive in Romania or Europe, but rather in tropical and subtropical America, most notably from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. There are three species of vampire bat: Desmodus rotundus, Diphylla ecaudata, and Diaemus youngi. Each species feeds solely on blood.
Vampires And The Blood Of The Young
This myth mirrors the Victorian-era ballyhoo over the sexual awakening of young women. The myth is perpetuated through the life of the Countess Elizabeth Bathori. She was a Hungarian Countess that lived almost 400 years ago. She is regarded as the most notorious female serial killer of all time. She was accused of killing over 600 victims. However, she was only convicted on 80 counts. In her castle she imprisoned young girls. She tortured them, drank their blood, and finally killed them.
After her death in 1614 numerous tales emerged. She was accused of bathing in the blood of virgins in an attempt to retain her youth. She was given nicknames such as The Bloody Lady of Cachtice and The Blood Countess.
More recently there is the case of Friedrich "Fritz" Haarmann, who lived from October 25, 1879 to April 15, 1925. Born in Hanover, Germany, this serial killer killed at least 24 young men. His victims were mostly male prostitutes and vagrants who congregated in downtown Hanover. Haarmann would lure these men back to his apartment and then brutally assault them. He would bite through their throats, drink their blood, and kill them.
Haarmann would later become known as The Butcher of Hanover. His life would add to the vampire myth and the idea that drinking the blood of the young could help prolong your life.
Conclusion
Vampire myths are numerous in nature. Their spread has been the result of early Christian doctrine coupled with the superstitions of the Middle Ages. In modern times these myths are perpetuated and updated via fiction and literature. Today these myths continue to thrive thanks in part to the actions of insane individuals such as Friedrich Haarmann.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
The Evolution of Vampires - Exploring Vampire Lore in Modern Media
Vampires have come a long way in history, despite being supposed mythical creatures. Stories depicting vampires as ruthless, bloodthirsty creatures have had numerous retellings in the form of various media, be they literature, television or the silver screen. As the world turns, so too does the vampire myth.
As one travels further into Asia, one would learn the legends of the Penanggalan and the Pontianak, from the regions of Malaysia and Indonesia respectively (though the Pontianak has been known to "migrate" from its native Indonesia to parts of Malaysia, where it is known as the Langsuir).
For those unfamiliar with the Penanggalan, it is an undead creature that takes on the form of a strikingly beautiful woman, either young or old, and is supposedly one who had resorted to the use of black magic to obtain her extraordinary beauty. The Penanggalan is said to be able to detach her head, which then flies around in search of blood, especially that of pregnant women, after sunset.
The Pontianak, on the other hand, is the reanimated, undead corpse of a woman who had died during childbirth, and often appears as a beautiful woman with long, jet black hair. It is said that it can be driven off if a person is able to fill the hole in the back of her neck with her hair.
It is interesting to note however, that no vampire has been romanticised more than the modern day, New World vampires. Somehow along the way the horror stories and vampire superstitions that led to mass hysteria in Europe of the early 18th century gave way to the more charismatic and sophisticated vampire. Beginning with the publication of John Polidori's "The Vampyre", it wasn't until Bram Stoker's quintessential 1897 novel "Dracula" that vampires became allegories and metaphors for repressed sexuality.
It was the very success of Bram Stoker's work that spawned an entire genre of vampire fiction, a genre that catapulted vampires into the media spotlight. Ever since Dracula was introduced to the public, audiences around the world, particularly British and American audiences, have shown an insatiable fascination for vampires.
In 1922, director F.W. Muranu made "Nosferatu", a silent masterpiece based on Bram Stoker's famed novel that was eventually shut down due to copyright infringement. "Nosferatu" could have been considered revolutionary, with Muranu's use of high contrast lighting and terrifying shadows... not to mention the ghoulish star of the movie itself, the pale, hairless creature with black holes for eyes and thin fingers with menacingly long fingernails.
But the most revolutionary thing about "Nosferatu" was that it was the first time anyone could truly witness the rising of the undead from its coffin.
Then in 1931, Todd Browning created what might be the most memorable Dracula classic that most could (and would) identify with for years to come. While it might have appeared that Browning's work was clearly inspired by Muranu's Nosferatu, Browning put his own spin to his Dracula-based film. In Browning's Dracula, Nosferatu wasn't a ghoulish undead creature; the vampire featured in the film was suave, charismatic, yet as dangerous as Nosferatu. Browning's casting of Bela Lugosi as the lead role of Dracula certainly had something to do with how memorable it's become over the years.
It could be said that Browning provided the impetus that gave rise to films and television shows that featured the "modern day vampire"; the beautiful, charismatic undead rather than hideous monsters of horror that had been the stuff of legend.By the 1980s, vampires had immersed themselves firmly into our culture. Movies like "The Lost Boys" made vampires "cool", and while they remained largely vicious and dangerous creatures of the damned, they nonetheless contributed to the inspiration of an entire subculture based on the gothic lifestyle lived by the new breed of "cool vampires". Kiefer Sutherland's portrayal of David, a vampire who looked very much like a punk rock star of the 80s, inspired a whole new perspective on the undead.
Even the film's tagline suggested that being a vampire was cool: "Sleep All Day. Party All Night. Never Grow Old. Never Die. It's Fun To Be A Vampire." In the years that followed, romantic vampires dominated both the silver screen and literature. Anne Rice had written "Interview With The Vampire" in 1976, but it wasn't until 1994 that the novel was adapted into a feature film. Starring Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat, "Interview" made audiences around the world fall in love with vampires all over again as they witnessed the tragic, immortal lives of Lestat and his ever morose Louis (played by the equally dashing Brad Pitt).
No longer were vampires thought of as being the terrifying, bloodthirsty undead creatures of the night; they became sorrowful creatures struggling to cope with the adversities of life as they watched the world evolve, while they remained immortal and unchanging, forever out of sync with nature and the world.
Then, as we approached the year 2000, vampires returned to their more menacing roots. Films like the "Blade" trilogy and "30 Days Of Night" once more featured vampires as creatures to be feared, not sympathized with. While not necessarily reflective of the hideous Nosferatu-like creatures, vampires in 2000 became more violent, more gory, more action-packed than their 1990s brethren. They were the modern day Dracula-Nosferatu hybrids; suave, charismatic, with feral instincts... and they kicked ass.
Audiences everywhere were appeased; they had both their fascinations with action movies and vampires fulfilled. And Hollywood made a ton of money. And now it seems we're back to the age of the Romantic Vampires. The huge popularity of the Twilight saga, written by Stephanie Meyer and now being made into a series of feature films, has resurrected vampires of the 1980s and 1990s, except that they are now being made younger, perhaps in an attempt to have the teenage demographic relate better to their tragic stories.
Yet many who profess to be "true fans" of the vampire genre has found the Twilight saga to be the most distasteful incarnation of vampires. Some abhor the fact that Meyer's vampires not only do not burn in sunlight, they sparkle, which many claim goes against the very essence of what vampires are. Some proponents of the argument state that the tragedy of vampires is that they are unable to walk amongst the living in daylight, and are forever shunned by mortal society because of this.
But who is to say what vampires are or aren't supposed to be? After all, they are mythical creatures, borne of fevered imaginations and urban legends. Whatever the case, vampires are continually evolving through modern media, for better or for worse, and Hollywood is cashing in, in a huge way.
http://ezinearticles.com/How Early Vampire Literature Formed Vampires of Today
The 19th Century is known as the century of the vampire. Vampires were no longer considered evil, ghoulish, dirty beings that one should fear and loathe. Vampires had evolved into creatures of charm, power and sexual beings. Below are a few vampire tales that fed the mania caused by today's super human vampires.
The Vampyre by John Polidori
Today's modern, passionate vampire got its foundation from this short story which was penned in 1819. Aubrey, a young Englishman is introduced to Lord Ruthven, a man with a mysterious background and a newcomer to London culture. As the two begin travelling through southern Europe, many vampire attacks are taking place. However, Aubrey doesn't figure out what's going on at first. Before long, bandits appear and attack Aubrey and Ruthven, leaving Ruthven fatally wounded. However, on his dyeing bed, Ruthven gets his friend to promise that he will not disclose any details of their journey for a week and a day. Once Aubrey returns to London Aubrey returns to London, he happens upon his friend, Ruthven, who is very much alive and without injury. Nevertheless, Ruthven reminds his friend of the promise he made not so long ago.
Back in London, Ruthven charms the sister of Aubrey. Since Aubrey is not allowed to disclose Ruthven's true identity to his beloved sister, he succumbs to a nervous breakdown and passes away. The love birds are then married and Ruthven murders his new bride on the night of their wedding, and then simply disappears into the night.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a fable that was released in 1872. Carmilla is a female vampire who becomes interested in another woman named Laura. Laura lives in the forests of Styria in a castle with her father. She becomes mesmerized by the hold Carmilla has over her. However, she finds herself torn between attraction and repulsion at the same time with Carmilla, but can't seem to free herself.
In the meantime, peasants are falling ill mysteriously along the countryside. However, Carmilla is eventually fought off by a strong man that has experience with vampires, General Speilsdorf and Laura is eventually saved.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
One of the most well known vampire stories is that of Count Dracula, the vampire that falls in love with Mina Murray. Mina's fiancé', Jonathan Harker, becomes distraught over the obsession Mina has for the Count and his mysterious ways. Jonathan recruits Dr. Van Helsing to assist him in rescuing Mina from Count Dracula's hold.
Many scholars today concur that Carmilla was the basis for the Dracula fable. Bram Stoker, an Irish author, wrote Dracula in 1897 and is credited with creating the most recognized vampire of all time. The similarities between Carmilla and Dracula are quite obvious. They both have a love interest, Laura for Carmilla and Mina for Dracula. Both families come from nobility. Additionally, both stories contain a hero that fights off the vampire, General Speilsdorf in Carmilla and Van Helsing in Dracula. To many it would seem that the story of Dracula has many of the characteristics that are seen in the story of Carmilla.
As anyone knows, today's powerful, sensual and blessed (or cursed, depending on how you view it) with eternal life vampires evolved directly from Dracula as he possessed all of these mesmerizing qualities. These authors have brought about a character that was once loathed to the forefront with their powerful and attractive qualities. Vampires will forever be redefined and have become the focal point of today's most telling horror, but sensual love stories.
Popularity of Vampires in Modern Culture
Vampires who exhibit self-control is a new phenomenon that has permeated present day pop culture. The days of morbidly sinister vampires have ended, and a new breed of vampirism has evolved. What has led to the resurgence of interest in vampires in modern times?
Bloodthirsty Television and Fang-piercing Thrillers
Modern day vampires have become a fascinating part of mainstream pop culture primarily because TV writers and big screen producers have promoted the creatures in a new way. Modern day vampires are not all evil. In fact, some of these legendary beings have become self-controlled and compassionate in their design and purpose. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Blade, Interview with a Vampire, Van Helsing, and Twilight have all encouraged a new breed of vampirism. The bloodthirsty creatures have become more sympathetic to humans and have entertained intimate relationships with them. The goal for the good vampires is no longer one that centers on domination and control but on intimacy and respect. The bloodthirsty television series and fang-piercing big screen thrillers have brought an empathetic vampire into the limelight. Modern day pop culture has come to adore the unselfish and disciplined vampire.
Gothic, Emo, and Dark Personality Types
The resurgence of interest in vampires in modern times has stemmed from the popularity of darker personality types. Times have changed and peppy, overly friendly cheerleader personality types are out of style. Modern culture has evolved into a darker and more emotional personality type. If you look around your malls and movie theaters, you will probably find a mix of people, but many of those in the younger crowd will look like a contemporary version of Gothic style. Present day personality types are often ones that are moody, intelligent, and internalized. This emotional personality trait longs for the deeper and more mysterious things in life. As a result, vampires have become a modern day obsession. Vampires are emotional, awestruck by dark elements, and Gothic in style and dress.
Fascination with Mythology
Vampires in pop culture are extensions of the legends that started in the late 1300's. The original historical accounts depict stories of vampires who mesmerized and intrigued humans in cities across Eastern Europe. Mythology that centers on vampires is packed with stories of supernatural beings that loved and controlled human beings. A modern day fascination with vampires is one that encourages creative thought, emotional processing, and a desire for good to preside over evil. Darkness and evil intentions are not always what lies at the heart of faithful vampires. Modern day vampires have brought all of these elements to a new light...
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/The Dirty Little Secrets of Vampires
Vampires, strong, beautiful and seductive, lure you into their unbreakable spell by a simple thought or gesture. The darkness cloaks them as they patiently wait for the perfect moment to snatch their prey and feed. Their strength is unrivaled by any mere human being or animal. Their bite is fatal. That is not enough I'm sure to end the unyielding attraction to the sexy blood drinkers of our time.
Dracula, Lestat, Louie and Edward Cullen are just a few of the vampires that have turned vampires into the sex symbols they are today. They can bewitch a whole community with their exquisite beauty and placid disposition. With the charms bestowed upon them when becoming a vampire they have no need to hunt, only to wait for their victim to earnestly give themselves over to the wanton desires of the diabolical creature, the insatiable thirst for blood. But, has it always been this easy to live as a vampire? Please, let's take a walk down the dark, dreary history of the ancient vampire.
During the Ancient Mesopotamian and Ancient Greek era, tales of demons and evil spirits were the precursor to the modern vampire. They often would visit loved ones or places they were familiar with. The results of their visits were often mischief and death. Witnesses have described their visiting vampires as wearing shrouds and bloated with a pinkish, bluish or dark appearance. More often than not they would have blood seeping from their mouth and nose which usually meant they had just fed. While in their coffin they would usually have their left eye open. Keeping an eye out for enemies, I presume?
As time went on, vampires were thought to be revenants of evil beings, suicide victims, witches or corpses possessed by evil spirits. The tale of the vampire came into popularity during the 18th Century from South-Eastern Europe, The Balkans, with their oral traditions of recording testimonials from the different ethnic groups throughout. Belief in these stories were the cause of a mass-hysteria in some areas so far as to have graves exhumed and the corpses staked, and people thought to be vampires executed publicly.
But really how were these vampires made? Well here are just a few of the ways one might become a vampire. Get an animal, preferably a dog or cat to jump over your corpse. A wound left untreated with boiling water would put you at risk. If you were a witch or warlock or any sort of sinner or heretic rebelling against the church was a first-class ticket to becoming a vampire. And then of course there is the ever famous "Vampire's Kiss" where there is the transfer of blood and bodily fluids in which the vampire drinks the blood of his victim and in return the vampire pierces his own skin and has his victim drink his blood. Van Helsing refers to this as "the vampires' baptism of blood."
So how do we identify a vampire and what do we do to protect ourselves? The first way to identify a vampire is to find a virgin boy and place him on a virgin stallion and lead them around a grave yard. The horse would then balk at the vampire's grave. Another sign would be holes appearing in the earth over the vampire's grave. When the coffins were opened, the corpses having a healthy appearance with little or no decomposition and even plump from recent feedings were sure signs of a vampire. And where there were mass amounts of livestock illnesses and deaths equaled another telltale sign. So to protect yourself from these menacing creatures known as the vampire, you can do one of many things. The use of garlic is a great deterrent, the use of mustard seeds, poppy seeds, rice and millet compel the vampire to count each one, keeping him busy until sunrise. One may use a cross or holy water to protect themselves against vampires along with your strong belief that this is truly a symbol of god's light and goodness.
And in the end the destruction of the vampire is done by a stake through the heart, removal of the head and burying it between the vampires' legs so that he may not be able to reach it. Pour boiling water over the vampires' grave. Shoot him while in his coffin with a consecrated silver bullet. Take a consecrated silver coin with a cross imprinted on it, break it into four pieces, place it in a gun and shoot the vampire. All these are ways that will destroy a vampire. And remember never invite a vampire into your home, especially for dinner. No matter how persuasive these charming members of the blood sucking family are today, once they're in you will end up the dinner.
Real Life Vampires
As you may know by now, vampires are real and the first person whom you may come across the moment you walk out of your door might be one, yet you may not even notice it.<./p>
More and more vampires nowadays are coming out into the open, some are real vampires who understand vampirism and are aware of their true natures while others are sheer wannabes.
There are lots of people who actually think that they are vampires, but not all who claims to be a vampire and wear vampire clothing are vampires; a vast majority belongs to the Gothic subculture which is mostly composed of artists who into it for the lifestyle and vampire lovers who longs to be "turned".
Real Life Vampires doesn't have to wear capes to be vampires, they are vampires no matter what they wear, and yes, they're still vampires even if they're naked. They say that "clothing makes the man" but it doesn't make a vampire.
A real life vampire is born a vampire, self-realization usually occurs during puberty when lots of bodily changes occurs (no, they don't turn into bats), some realize it during their adult years and contrary to popular belief, this stage is what you may say the "embrace". The embrace of the vampire is simply a vampire's acceptance and awareness of his true nature. It doesn't have to involve bloodshed, any satanic ritual, or the worship of the devil.
There are generally two types of real life vampires, the blood feeders and the energy feeders. They are known as Sanguinarians and Psi vampires respectively in the vampire community.
Blood feeders? Yes, most real life vampires drink blood or are Sanguinarians but unlike the ones you see on movies and read on vampire fictions. None of these vampires are immortal or undead - at least I haven't met one!
Also, the need to consume blood is only to the minimum which means no vampire will hunt a person down to drain his blood unless of course if the person (vampire) is deranged or something.
Energy feeders, on the other hand, feed on energy mostly sourced from people (single person or crowd) though some claim that they can get energy from other sources like the ones generated by thunder.
A true "real life vampire" is a person who lacks either the capacity to produce or sustain his own "chi" energy that he or she has to depend on other sources in order for him to live a healthy and fulfilled life. This is the very special need that every vampire suffers and it makes them more often than not feel easily drained or very tired than the average person for no reason.
Real life vampires are also usually paler than the people of his region and is sensitive to the sun, fangs may or may not occur, and like anyone else, they'd surely die if "staked through the heart" - heck, they're people too!
I'm sure you've watched vampire videos on YouTube and other sites, most wear capes and sleep in coffins, and yes, drink blood. But then again, not all who sleep in coffins, wear capes, and drink blood are vampires, most may only be "lifestylers". Again, vampires have very special needs and if such a need is not present with the person who claims to be one, then the person isn't a vampire at all. But then again, there are real vampires who aren't aware of their true nature and will continue to suffer unless such energy deficiencies are addressed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/Real Vampire Sightings
Real vampire sightings are not just the work of modern day fiction, a skeleton uncovered from a grave in Venice is being alleged as the first recognized case of 'vampires' extensively referred to in present day records.
Matteo Borrini of the University of Florence in Italy discovered the bones of a woman with a small block in her mouth while digging mass graves of plague fatalities from the Middle Ages on Lazzaretto Nuovo Island in Venice which was removed from a mass grave of victims of the Venetian plague of 1576.
During the time period the woman perished, many individuals conceived that the plague was spread by 'vampires' which, rather than consuming human's blood, spread illness by gnawing on their coverings after death. Grave diggers positioned blocks in the mouths of believed vampires to impede them from gnawing the coverings, Matteo stated.
The urban myth depicts Vampires as possessing a variety of supplemental powers and personality characteristics, radically changeable in different traditions, and is a familiar subject of folklore, movies, and present day fiction. Vampires are believed to be enormously powerful, possessing fangs, and an inability to be exposed to daylight or holy water Whilst they enjoy a long existence and have an incredible healing capability, they are not as legend tells it, thought to be outright immortal.
Additional characteristics of the traditional Vampire is the possession of supernatural physical abilities such as, agility, hearing, increased smelling capacity and of course, omitting no shadow. It is believed that Vampires also have quadrochromatic vision; while we humans have just three kinds of conoids in our eye vampires possessed four, the fourth being regulated to be near-infrared. It is understood that they are able to close themselves down for decades, desiccating down to this biologically inactive condition and entering what is commonly recognized as an 'undead' phase whereby they cannot be destroyed other than by decapitation, burning, or puncture of the heart by a wooden implement.
Vampire legend implies that they principally bite the victim's neck, drawing out the blood commencing with the carotid artery. In mythology and popular tradition, the expression usually relates to a ideology that one can gain supernatural powers by consuming human blood. In addition, Werewolves are occasionally thought to become vampires following death, and vampires are frequently believed to possess the capacity to metamorphose themselves into wolves.
The above is of course the stuff of urban legend and our movie screens and works of fiction however, this latest find in Venice is probably as close as we are going to get in terms of real vampire sightings.
The Top 10 Most Popular Vampires
The top ten are:
10. Angel from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, and later his own spinoff series Angel.
9. Felipe De Castro from the Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood book and TV series.
8. Lara from the Dresden Files book and TV series.
7. Dracula from the 1897 novel and countless movie and tv renditions.
6. Spike from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series.
5. Lilith from ancient vampire lore.
4. Nosferatu, first appearing in the 1922 movie of the same name, an adaptation of Dracula.
3. Bill from the Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood book and TV series.
2. Alice from the Twilight series of books and movies.
...and the most popular vampire online is no surprise...
1. Edward from the Twilight series of books and movies.
I compiled this list be searching for the word Vampire + the series name + the vampire name on a number of search engines. This ensured that I was indeed getting results for a particular vampire from a particular series. The vampire's popularity was judged by the total number of pages found for them. So, for example to rank Edward from Twilight I searched for "Vampire Twilight Edward", which had millions and millions of pages.
Partly to prevent The Twilight Series from completely overwhelming this list I only allowed any one series a maximum of two spots on this list. The most popular vampires from Twilight were (in order) Edward, Alice, Jane, Victoria, Jasper, Laurent, Marcus, Carlisle, Rosalie, Esme, James, Aro, and Demetri. True Blood also had too many vamps on the list. The complete True Blood list (in order) is Bill, Felipe de Castro, Eric, Jessica, and Gdric.
The vampires who did not make the cut were Selene from Underworld, Darren Shan, Vlad the Impaler from the 14th century, Thomas from the Dresden Files, Lestat from Anne Rice, Jean-Claude from Anita Blake, Lewis from Anne Rice, Count von Count from Sesame Street, Elizabeth Bathory from the 15th century, and Count Chocula.
I was surprised that Vlad and Lestat didn't rank in the top 10, as both of them seem to be pretty prevalent in any serious discussion of vampire lore and media. No idea how Nosferatu made it to number 4, but perhaps that proves the staying power of a cool name.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4 Tips For Defeating Time Vampires
Time is valuable. Actually time is one of the most valuable things anyone can have. This is especially true of business people like you. Once time is gone you can never have it back because you're always working with a fixed amount of it. Therefore it's important to get the most of out of each working day both personally and of course professionally.
Self-employed people tend to have the same general problem though. You can be the most efficient time manager in the world but you will always suffer from at least one time "vampire". Time vampires are those distractions or events that take away from your working day in a very big way. They're frustrating, draining and costly.
The worst time vampires are friends and family unfortunately. When you work for yourself friends and family tend to assume that even though you're earning a living doing this it's not really a "serious" job. Based on that they decide it's ok to stroll in on you at any time of the day without any warning. Now as much as you may love and value your friends and family this is annoying. Personally I've had friends "drop by" for 4 hours. That's almost half a working day! These are your time vampires - they simply suck the time out of your day.
So what do you do?
Establish rules!
This may seem harsh but you couldn't just walk into their workplace for a few hours to chat so they'll need to offer the same courtesy to you. If they don't understand this then you'll need to make things more formal.
Here are some suggestions for controlling time vampires.
1. Have a family meeting and explain that from the hours of 9 - 5 (or whatever your working hours are) that you won't be available for non-business issues unless it's an emergency.
2. Print out your working hours and make them highly visible around your home or office. You could even include your working hours on the signature line of all your emails so that you're letting friends know without making a big deal out of it.
3. For persistent offenders who don't get the message then it's time to be blunt with them. Saything something like "It's great seeing you but I have to get back to work now. In future before you drop in please call me first to make sure I'm free? I'm sure you understand." will let them know that you have work to do. This is being assertive yet polite and gets the message across.
4. Diehard time vampires.
If you wind up with a die hard case who won't listen to reason then simply don't answer the phone or the front door if they decide to come calling. That may seem a bit cold and harsh but will have the desired effect. Some people are just lonely but unless you're running a counselling service then this isn't your job.
If you can't manage your time and your time vampires then your business is going to suffer. That's the very last thing you want right?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
