Author: Vivienne D’Avalon

Excerpted from an article written for the October issue of the Instant Magick newsletter (http://instantmagick.com).

Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Series. Vampire: the Masquerade. History channel documentaries about “real vampires.” It seems literary vampires are more popular than ever, and there are more real vampires walking among us than most “normals” ever realized. They are coming out of the woodwork in greater numbers with every passing year – becoming more vocal on the internet, making TV appearances in documentaries, forming houses, holding conventions, and steadily increasing visibility as a community. The vampire subculture is experiencing a revitalization similar to that which Wiccans and the gay community have experienced in past decades. But who and what exactly are the vampires who walk among us?

Modern day vampires are a form of Otherkin. “Otherkin” is a blanket term for a variety of people including many who feel they have a non-human spirit in a human body. Otherkin include vampires and other vampiric beings; therians, which are were-beings like werewolves and were-leopards; faery-kin; angel-kin; dragon-kin; and many other varieties. Vampires are not to be confused with Goths. “Goth” is an artistic movement encompassing a “dark” aesthetic. Some, but not all, vampires are Goths. Some, but not all, Goths are vampires.

The vampire subculture encompasses many varieties of vampiric beings. The major delineations are: sanguine vampires, who consume life energy by consuming small amounts of blood; psy vampires, who primarily draw on psychic, emotional, or magickal energy; sexual vampires, which include incubi, succubi, and leannan sidhe (an Irish faery version of a vampire, succubus, and muse all in one); and of course, the donors, who are sometimes vampiric themselves, but often suffer from the opposite condition, having an overload of energy that they are constantly trying to siphon off.

Vampires are not simply playing a Live Role Playing Game (LARP or RPG) such as Vampire: the Masquerade; nor are they merely people who like to dress up in costume. Such individuals are called “vampire lifestylers.” Lifestylers do not have a physical need for blood or energy to maintain health and well-being, they just enjoy the vampire mystique. There is also a basic difference between vampires, who need energy from an outside source, particularly human, and those who are vampiric, who can take energy from other sources but don’t necessarily need it to survive and stay healthy.

Vampires may suffer from an energy deficiency for several reasons: they may be unable to access the natural, ambient, or universal energy that others have access to without thinking; they may be unable to “digest” or utilize that energy fully, like being unable to make the most of a particular vitamin; or they may naturally expend energy at a faster rate than they can take it in. This tends to be the case particularly with powerful magick users, who find themselves drained and needing to recharge after a big, sudden, or unexpected expenditure of magickal energy.

People who self-identify as vampires do so because they are conscious of what they are, and the vast majority of these choose to live by a set of rules and ethical standards designed to ensure their well-being and that of those around them. One of the best known codified versions of such a set of rules is The Black Veil.[1] Others are in the process of “awakening” or discovering what they are, which usually means taking some time to realize and acknowledge their vampiric tendencies so they can control them properly.

Most vampires are capable of harmless “ambient” feeding, drawing on the excess energy that floats around the room in large crowds of people, who naturally emanate such energy. Others “surface feed,” drawing lightly from several different individuals in a social setting (though many vampires frown on this being done without the individuals’ consent). The most intimate form of feeding is one-on-one feeding from a donor, and this must always be a consensual relationship. Deliberately targeting someone to feed from them without their consent is considered worse than rape by most in the vampire community, and one reason for this is the incredible intimacy of such a psychic connection and energy exchange. Donors often experience a kind of euphoria from sharing energy during a feeding, and many vampires are adept at refining the energy they take in, circulating it through their system, and feeding some of it back to their donor through their connection. Vampires are often donors for each other, especially when each is capable of taking in and using one particular kind of energy that their partner can offer, and easily outputting another, that their partner needs.

I recommend Michelle Belanger’s excellent book, The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual of Magick and Energy Work (Weiser Books © 2004) for a more in-depth exploration of the history of the vampire community, and for an introduction to modern vampirism, generally.

[1] One example can be found at Michelle Belanger’s House Kheperu site at: http://www.kheperu.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=41&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

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To read the full article go to the October issue of the Instant Magick newsletter (http://instantmagick.com).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/the-truth-about-modern-day-vampires-612887.html

About the Author

Vivienne D’Avalon is the owner of Persephone’s Haven – Lifestyle Support for Daywalkers and Dark Denizens (www.persephoneshaven.com) and a regular contributor to CroneSeraphim – no longer a “silent” majority (croneseraphim.com). She is an Eclectic gothic Wiccan, leannan sidhe, and co-founder of the Sanford/Casselberry Vampire and Shadowlore Meet Up. She is the author of “The Patriot’s Spellbook” (available through 11/4/08 with the purchase of “On the Care and Feeding of Spirits”) and “On the Care and Feeding of Spirits” (available for purchase as an ebook at www.careandfeedingofpsirits.com).

The Sanford/Casselberry Vampire and Shadowlore Meet Up was founded in January of 2008 by Vivienne D’Avalon, Lord Mordred D. Ravensword, and Lady Amethyst Ravenna. It welcomes vampires, sanguine and psy; blood fetishists; incubi, succubi, and leannan sidhe; donors; wanna-be vampires; wanna-be donors; the vamp-curious; Goths who like to hang out with real vampires; energy workers; students and researchers; and members of Shadowlore. They can be found at http://vampires.meetup.com/929.

Author: sharonmbs

So, you’ve been bitten by the ‘Twilight’ bug? Join the club! I too have fallen head over heels in love with this romance book. According to me, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan’s love story is different, not because he’s an altruistic vampire and she, a fragile human, but because the entire story is very believable and placed in a setting where you and I could possibly exist. It could actually make you speculate if the person sitting beside you is a vampire too! Other paranormal romance stories never fail to intrigue me, but with “Twilight”, it was love at first bite! (I mean love at first sight!)

Werewolves, shape shifters, half-breeds, zombies, and other members of the living ‘undead’ feature in paranormal romances. And yes, you can always expect some gruesome accounts of their ways of living. Most often, paranormal romances focus on or revolve around a primary character around which these mythical creatures exist. What follows is a suspenseful plotline relating to trials and tribulations faced by them. If the “Twilight Series” by Stephenie Meyer appealed to you, and you’re now on the ‘prowl’ for more such paranormal romance novels, then here are a few suggestions from my side. The “Breed Next Door” by Lora Leigh is a gripping romance between a woman and a shape-shifting lion breed. What follows is a story filled with their hungry passion for one another. If it’s the werewolf’s howl that haunts you, then I must say “Elizabeth’s Wolf” again by Lora Leigh, is a real page-turner. It’s also filled with little tidbits about the life of these semi-canine creatures.

Check out Diesel-ebooks if you’d love to ‘devour’ any of these paranormal romance ebooks! It’s my favorite destination whenever I want to read romance books. So, take your pick from their collection of paranormal romance ebooks and experience these immortal creatures walk amongst us!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ebooks-articles/a-peek-into-paranormal-romance-3552516.html

About the Author

For Paranormal Romance and other romance ebooks visit Diesel ebooks

Author: Janine Barclay

If you’ve managed to avoid the vampire craze that’s currently sweeping through the media, you must have been living under a rock. If it’s not True Blood covering magazines and plastered all over the internet, it’s Twilight. And if it’s not Twilight, it’s The Vampire Diaries – the fiendish bloodsuckers are just everywhere just now.

It’s not certain just why vampires have suddenly become so popular at the moment, but there’s a good chance that hit novel Twilight has more than a little something to do with it. Stephanie Meyer’s vampire romance saga had teenage girls the world over sighing in delight over bloodsucking badass Edward Cullen and his tormented relationship with average human Bella Swan – but is that really where the current affinity with vampires started?

Perhaps not. If we cast our minds back to a little over a decade ago, we may remember the first intrepid steps of a certain blonde vampire slayer portrayed by Sarah Michelle Geller. Although it seems like a long time ago, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a huge craze that had millions of fans the world over. Although it ended several years ago, it’s still talked about and remembered fondly by its voluminous database of fans. Of course, before Buffy there were still plenty of other vampire-related televisions shows and movies. Anne Rice’s novels are still enormously popular and films like Dracula and Nosferatu, the latter of which is fondly thought of by those who have seen its earliest form, go back decades. The novel Dracula itself was, of course, written in 1897 – at the end of Victorian Gothic literature, where creatures of the night danced among much of the writing of the time. <> So it’s difficult to say when and why vampires became so popular, but easy to notice that this has certainly been their decade to shine – literally, in the case of Edward Cullen, who glitters when he steps into the sun.

The good thing about today’s vampires is that there’s something for everyone. For the younger generation who like their vampires more concerned with matters of the heart rather than blood and sex, there’s Twilight movies where each sparkle of every vampire can be seen in minute detail on HD TV. For everybody else, who prefer their vampires dangerous and dangerously sexy, there are critically acclaimed shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries – the choice is yours.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/vampires-vampires-everywhere-2789296.html

About the Author

Janine Barclay writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Makeup is applied only to make her face even more flawless. Apply only the basic cosmetics, and use neutral shades, almost unnoticeable makeups. Here’s a little guide to get Bella’s look.

Face:
Bella’s dramatic ivory skin is absolutely flawless. So first step after cleaning and moisturizing your skin, is to apply the makeup base that will make your perfect spotless look. Use concealer to avoid dark circles, and foundation if necessary, to hide your flaws. For the best result, this makeup is recommended for the pale, light skin toned girls, because Bella looked stunning with her extra light goth skin. For a perfect finish, make a matte look by applying a translucent powder.
Eyes:
For those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, use two neutral shades of eye shadow for the most natural look. Use vanilla as a main eyeshadow, and taupe or matte brown to the outer corners of your eyelids. It is almost like a smoky eye makeup, but it’s left more natural, with less eyeshadow but in fabulous earthy shades. If you still feel like you need more accent to your eyes, you can apply an eyeliner, but in brown or gray shades to keep the natural look. The mascara should be slightly visible, so apply only one coat in a brown shade. Curl your lashes and your eyes are ready to look into a vampire’s eyes. Remember to keep it as natural as possible. Kristen Stewart looked as she was wearing no makeup.
Lips:
Apply a brownish plum lipstick with a creamy texture to make your lips soft and desirable. Make a soft contour of your cheeks with an earth toned blush.

Bella Swan’s makeup is really simple. Just keep in mind that she isn’t a girlish character. Her look is natural, with the most appealing no-makeup look. Bella has a gorgeous pale skin tone, but if your skin is naturally darker, don’t try to make it light. Enjoy the beauty of your natural look. Use the less makeup as possible and don’t try to copy her. Feel good about yourself, wear comfortable clothes that make you feel happy. Keep a natural looking wavy hairstyle and charm away your vampire.

Twilight is a series of vampire-based fantasy/romance/horror novels by American author Stephenie Meyer. It follows the adventures of Isabella Swan, a teenager who moves to Forks, Washington and finds her life turned upside-down when she falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.

The series is currently one of the most popular books written for young adults, with 50 million copies sold worldwide and over 7.7 million copies sold in the U.S. alone. The series has been translated into over 20 different languages around the world.

Film Adaptation: A screenplay for Twilight was written by Melissa Rosenberg and has been adapted into a film by Summit Entertainment. The film is being directed by Catherine Hardwicke, with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in the leading roles of Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen, respectively.

Book 1 – Twilight (2005)
Twilight is a young adult vampire novel written by author Stephenie Meyer, originally published in hardcover in 2005. It is the first book of the Twilight series, and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella “Bella” Swan who moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington, and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen.

Book 2 – New Moon (2006)
Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won’t be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The “star-crossed” lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy’s reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

Book 3 – Eclipse (2007)
Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer’s riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Book 4 – Breaking Dawn (2008)
Breaking Dawn is the fourth and last novel in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Divided into three ‘books’, the story is told from the perspective of Bella Swan, except for Book Two which is from the perspective of Jacob Black, Bella’s werewolf friend. Breaking Dawn was released on August 2, 2008 with a special midnight release in many bookstores.

Book 5 – The Host
Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won’t surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie’s memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body’s longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it’s unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing.

Also Included the Partial Draft of Stephenie Meyer’s “Midnight Sun”, which is Twilight from Edward Cullen’s point of view, revealing details of his own life and existance that were to us unkonown, since all the other books are told from Bella’s perspective.

Twilight may well owe its success to the intriguing and gothic romance between a normal teenager, Bella Swan, and an intoxicatingly charismatic vampire, Edward Cullen. Just like Romeo and Juliet, the tie binding Cullen and Swan are even more strengthened by the obstacles they had to face due to the opposing existence they tread—Swan as a mortal, and Cullen as a vampire, one of the scary creatures of the night known to have roamed the world of the living for centuries.

Vampires and other scary creatures of the night have been a famous character since the early 1800s. These dark creatures possess an eerie combination of beauty and lethal danger. Both repulsive and attractive, vampires are a borderline between monstrosity and humanity. Capitalizing on these scary creatures’ grim and fascinating characteristics, Stephanie Meyer has created a world like no other—A world where love between a mere mortal and an enticingly dangerous scary creature of the night is within the bounds of possibility and reality.

Instead of the stereotypical vampires replicated over and over throughout the years, the book has introduced us to a fairly different set of vampires. Rather than being portrayed as pure evil, we are welcomed into the world of conscience-ridden vampires that could choose to feast on human blood or jeopardize their existence by denying their nature. Edward CullenEdward Cullen (Edward Anthony Cullen) was born in June 20, 1901. He was saved by Dr. Carlisle Cullen to grant Elizabeth’s (Edward’s mother) dying wish. However, the only way to do so is to transform him into a vampire—a scary creature of the night that doesn’t eat, sleep, breathe or age. Frozen in his 17-year old body, Edward has survived the century by feasting on animal blood.

He instantly fell in love with Bella as soon as she arrives in Forks. Fighting the urge to kill her because of his nature and wanting to love her, he faces a bout with himself almost throughout the story. Jacob BlackHe is werewolf who is later revealed to be a shape-shifter as he doesn’t transform on a full moon. Being Bella’s best friend, he’s determined to protect and stand by her no matter what.Carlisle CullenHaving brought compassion from his human life, Carlisle Cullen spent most of his early years as a vampire in perfecting his resistance to human bloodlust and becoming a doctor. In the book, we are told of Carlisle’s love affair with Esme and how he transformed her into a vampire to save her life. He also transformed Rosalie Hale and Emmett into vampires. Esme CullenShe is the wife of Carlisle and adoptive mother to Edward, Rosalie, Alice and Emmett. She has no special power, but has a strong ability to love passionately. She committed suicide because she couldn’t bear the pain of her son’s death.

It was in this condition when she was transformed into a vampire by Carlisle. Rosalie HaleBeautiful and alluring, Rosalie Hale is one of these scary creatures of the night adopted by Carlisle and Esme. In the book, we see her as a repulsive character for always undermining Bella. But in the latter chapters, we find that the reason behind such callous behavior is her insecurity towards Bella Swan’s mortality. Wanting to be mortal herself, Rosalie tries to convince Bella to stay as she is and not transform as a vampire.

Emmett CullenHis curls and innocent appearance reminded Rosalie of her dead son. Because of this, she decided to take Emmett back to her father to transform him into a vampire. Emmett is married to Rosalie Hale. Alice CullenThis petite vampire with a graceful gait has a special ability to see the outcome of a decision once it is made. She also uses this ability to help Bella to surpass the dangers that await her. When she was still a mere mortal, she was sent into an asylum for having premonitions. She later learned that she was transformed into a vampire to protect her from another vampire that haunts her. Jasper HaleHe was transformed into a scary creature of the night when he was 20 and soon developed the ability to manipulate the emotions of people around him. Due to his past, where he was able to feed on humans whenever he chose, Jasper lacks strong self-control to feast on human blood. In addition, his body is covered with crescent-shaped scars, after the many years of fighting and training newborn vampires.

The movie will only tell the story of the first book but there are three books after that (and another one on the way!)

The first book is titled simply Twilight and it sets up the story of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. At it’s heart this is a story about the unlikely budding romance between Bella and Edward. What makes it so unlikely? Edward is a vampire who is over 100 years old (although that’s actually quite young for a vampire!) Bella on the other hand is just a 17 year old girl. But while Edward is over 100 years old, he looks 17 too and he will look 17 forever because that’s how old he was when he became a vampire. Yes, that’s how it works!

The second, third, and fourth books are called New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. I do not want to give a synopsis of each book as that would be giving too much away.
There is a fifth novel planned by author Stephanie Meyer. The 5th book isn’t really an extension of the story but rather a different point of view of the story. The four books are told through the point of view of Bella and Breaking Dawn will tell that same story through the eyes of Edward.

While that’s an interesting literary device (have you ever read The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner?) it does seem unlikely to be ripe for a film adaptation but perhaps if the Twilight movies do as well as the Harry Potter movies, the movie studios will go ahead with it anyway!

The movie version of Twilight stars Robert Pattinson as the vampire Edward and Kristen Stewart as Bella. Robert Pattinson has become a heart throb for many young girls (and some older girls who should really know better.)

Pattinson first gained attention as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Kristen Stewart has been in movies such as 2002′s Panic Room (she was Jodie Foster’s daughter) and 2007′s Into the Wild (which is a very good movie by the way.)

If you enjoy “young adult” fiction and in particular romantic young adult fiction then you may very well enjoy these books. They will not be for everyone that enjoyed Harry Potter (which I think has a wider audience) but if you do like the Harry Potter books that may be an indication you would like these books as well.