The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

There are many kinds of relationships, and sometimes marriage does not quite fit the connection which exists between two people. Within our community, a unique form of relationship has developed: that of a vampire and his or her donor. A donor can be a Kitra (Counselor caste), drawn from within the vampire community, or a donor may be a non-vampire who has nevertheless chosen to offer him or herself up to a vampire companion. The relationship between the vampire and donor is something sacred, and it should be treated as such. Promises should be made on the part of both parties, and the occasion of this promising deserves a celebration all its own.



The Rite:



Priest: Friends, we are gathered on this night to solemnize a very special union. Many within our community cannot exist wholly on their own. Our power, our spirit, and sometimes our very health depends upon the offerings of others. Our Counselors, our donors, our Kitra, and our beloved black swans give of themselves to sustain us, and the relationships we forge with such providers can be as lasting and profound as any marriage.



Tonight we gather to celebrate the promising of a vampire and a provider. They have come together to formalize their relationship and to swear solemn vows. Would (donor’s name) please step forward?



(The donor approaches the priest.)



Priest: (Donor’s name), you have offered yourself body and spirit to your vampire. This is not something to be undertaken lightly. The very nature of a vampire is to transform and change. You cannot be touched deeply by one of our number without being altered in some aspect of your being. It is important, before you proceed, that you understand the risks of this relationship. Do you understand that, as a donor, you are offering your own vitality to strengthen your vampire’s vital force?



Donor: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that, by swearing these vows, you are promising to take responsibility for your vampire’s health, providing for him when he is in need whenever this does not endanger your own health and well-being?



Donor: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that you are responsible not only for the health of the one you would swear to, but also for your own health, caring for yourself so the vampire’s demands do not overtax you, and keeping your body free of poison and disease?



Donor: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that when the one you would swear to feeds, he is touching not only your body but deep into your soul so that a connection will linger between you even when your physical bodies are distant?



Donor: I do.



Priest: And do you understand that his kiss may change you in ways no one can predict, opening potential abilities and resurrecting memories that may complicate your life?



Donor: I do.



Priest: Knowing these things, and having been advised of both the joys and the risks by the one you would swear to, are you still willing to proceed?



Donor: I am.



Priest: Very well. Would (Vampire's name) please step forward and stand before me?



(The vampire entering into the relationship steps forward.)



Priest: (Vampire’s name), you have offered to accept (Donor’s name) as your donor. Do you understand that (Donor’s name) is bestowing upon you a sacred trust and that this relationship is not meant to benefit only you?



Vampire: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that in taking these vows today, you take up a responsibility toward the one you would swear to, helping her, guiding her, and protecting her?



Vampire: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that you are obligated to guard her health as if it were your own, to never overfeed, and to only take with her permission?



Vampire: I do.



Priest: Do you understand that you both share responsibility for looking after your needs, communicating openly with one another about your health and your energy?



Vampire: I do.



Priest: And do you understand that the interactions you propose will forge a link the goes deeper than flesh between the two of you, and that you are not to abuse this link to abuse or control her?



Vampire: I do.



Priest: Very well. Before I solemnize this union before the eyes of our community, it is required that you each make vows to one another. (Donor’s name), you will repeat after me:



Priest: I promise to give of myself to (Vampire’s name), so that my life may strengthen his life, and my soul may strengthen his soul.



Donor: I promise to give of myself to (Vampire’s name), so that my life may strengthen his life, and my soul may strengthen his soul.



Priest: I promise to always be discrete about our exchanges and to never talk about them with others without his knowledge and his permission.



Donor: I promise to always be discrete about our exchanges and to never talk about them with others without his knowledge and his permission.



Priest: I promise to offer myself freely and to never try to manipulate or control (Vampire’s name) through his reliance on me.



Donor: I promise to offer myself freely and to never try to manipulate or control (Vampire’s name) through his reliance on me.



Priest: I promise to respect (Vampire’s name) and to be mindful of his hunger, so that when he is in need, I am there to provide.



Donor: I promise to respect (Vampire’s name) and to be mindful of his hunger, so that when he is in need, I am there to provide.



Priest: And I promise never to turn on (Vampire’s name), even if our relationship ends, but to always hold him fondly in my heart.



Donor: And I promise never to turn on (Vampire’s name), even if our relationship ends, but to always hold him fondly in my heart.



Priest: Very well. It has been witnessed. And you, (Vampire’s name). There are vows you must swear as well. Repeat after me:



Priest: I promise to care for (Donor’s name) and to cherish the gift she provides for me, so that she never feels I have taken her for granted.



Vampire: I promise to care for (Donor’s name) and to cherish the gift she provides for me, so that she never feels I have taken her for granted.



Priest: I promise to provide what I can in return for what she offers me, so that our exchange is never one-sided.



Vampire: I promise to provide what I can in return for what she offers me, so that our exchange is never one-sided.



Priest: I promise to be discrete about our exchanges, and to never talk about them with others without her knowledge and her permission..



Vampire: I promise to be discrete about our exchanges, and to never gossip or brag about them to others.

(Dedication to the Child)



Children are often a natural consequence of marriage and other unions. This ritual is offered as an alternative to a Baptism or Wiccaning, providing a rite that acknowledges both the child and the responsibility of child-rearing. This rite can also be used to bind a non-related care-giver to the child, as in the case of a step-parent or other individual who is committed to helping raise the little one.



The Rite:



Priest: We are gathered tonight to welcome a new soul into our community. This child represents the greatest potential any of us can achieve: the ability to affect the future. By nurturing, guiding, and gently instructing this new life, we can create positive change that will be felt now and in succeeding generations.



(The parents and/or caregivers are called forth. If both parents cannot be present, it is preferable that the mother lead the child through this ceremony, but there is no restriction that prevents the father from being the main supporter in the rite.)



Priest: (Mother and Father). This little soul has chosen you as his parents. There are things that he feels he can learn from you, and undoubtedly there will be things that you can learn from him.



Through your body, Mother), you provided him flesh. It is thus your duty to nurture that flesh. As his parents and caregivers, you are bound to feed him and to clothe him, to keep him safe, and to nurse him through illness. But your duties do not end there, for this child is not simply a being of flesh and blood. He is a being of mind and spirit as well.



As you must nurture his body, so must you nurture both his spirit and his mind. In this way, you will become not merely his caretakers, but his guides, his guardians, and his friends as well. Henceforth, it will be your sacred duty to teach this child in the ways of the world, to instruct him in his spiritual path, to help him explore and develop his intellect and natural abilities, and to provide him with your compassion, your support, your discipline and your love.



Being a parent is not just about giving birth. In nurturing this little life, you are committing yourselves to great burdens and rewards. I ask you both, do you understand the full measure of what you are committing to? Are you both willing and able to undertake this responsibility to this child?



Response: Yes, we are.



Priest: Very well. There are seven vows that you must swear to this child. These bind you to him, in spirit as well as blood. I charge you both, by all that you hold sacred, to keep these vows inscribed upon your hearts, and to never forget them in all your dealings through this child’s life.



After each, please respond, “So do I swear.”



Priest: Do you swear to care for him when he is sick and to provide comfort for him when he is in pain?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: Do you swear to laugh with him and to teach him how to play so you are a friend to him as well as a mentor?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: Do you swear to be his emotional support when he is going through hard times and to serve as his spiritual guide as well as you are able?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: Do you swear to teach him about himself and the world around him and to help him learn to lead a happy and centered life?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: Do you swear to encourage him to experiment and explore his identity and his gifts, guiding him safely with an open mind?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: Do you swear to provide discipline when it is needed, but always to correct him with love and never with anger in your heart?



Parents: So do I swear.



Priest: And finally, to love him unconditionally, no matter what, and to always welcome him back into your heart if he chooses to stray?



Parents: So do I swear.



(The Priest weaves energy between all parties swearing the oath to bind and witness the vow.)



Priest: It has been witnessed. Now, place your hands over the child’s heart.



(Those who are dedicating themselves to the child step forward and join the mother, each placing a hand gently upon the child. The priest lays hands over the hands upon the child.)



Priest: I bind you to this child, not with ties of blood, but with your own vows and dedication. In heart as well as in spirit, this child is now a part of you, to be treated as you would be treated yourself.



(Names of Mother and Caregivers), may each of you become a mentor to this child during his youth, and his friend once he has grown. Keep sacred the vows you have made tonight. Remember that you do not have to be a perfect parent, but you should strive to be perfect in your love.



(The Priest sends a warm wave of energy through all their hands, blessing the Mother and Caregivers. There is a moment of silence as all reflect on the ties sealed here this day.)





The Naming:



(All step away but the mother.)



Priest: Now, Mother: you have borne this child from his first moments. You shared with him your body, and it is by your choice that he was brought into this world. By what name shall we call him?



Mother: I name this child (Child’s name).



Priest. Very well.



(The Priest gathers energy into his left hand and touches the child on the forehead, the lips, and the heart.)



Priest: (Child’s Name). I greet you. I bless you. I call you by name. May you meet the world with an open mind, a questing spirit, and a loving heart. May the secrets of the world be clear to you, and may you always find your way along your particular life’s path.



Now, for all those who have gathered to witness this rite, I present to you the child (child’s name), his mother, and his father. Please welcome this child into our community, and give everyone here your blessings and your love.



(The family and caretakers are presented around and each person present can greet them and offer blessings or advice. When all are finished, the Priest draws the ceremony to a close.)



Priest: This ceremony is ended. Let us all go forth and celebrate, in darkness and in light.



All: Forever.





Rite of Familial Bonds



By the descriptions that appeared in the 1998 Vampyre Almanac, the Sanguinarium tradition recognized several types and sizes of groups within the vampire community. These ranged from clutches to courts, differing both in size and in the nature of the connection between the individuals involved. Ultimately, as things grew and changed, the primary vampire unit became the House, a collection of individual bounds by similar beliefs and practices that is comparable to a Wiccan coven. However, a House is more of an organizational group, and many of us within the vampire community feel closer bonds then even our shared symbols and beliefs. The tight-knit groups founded by vampires who live in close proximity to one another hearken back to the ancient tribe or clan, establishing extended families that rely upon one another and provide mutual support and love. When such a group is particularly close, calling it a House does not seem quite enough. For those who feel that their circle of friends have indeed became their Family, this rite exists.







Preamble:



Priest: The world is changing, and with it, our definition of family must change. Sometimes the families we are born into do not suit us. We may find that there are differences that cannot be surmounted. Our life choices may be rejected, or we may simply feel nothing in common with those to whom we are born. As we venture out into the world, we sometimes find brothers, sisters, and even parents among those who have no relation to us through blood. Although the relationship thus shared is something that the world might not recognize, we know the truth: family is where you find it, and love does not adhere to those boundaries imposed upon it by culture and society.



In our community, especially, we often choose to redefine the boundaries of family. We find new children in those that we teach; we find new parents in those who guide us through the discovery of self. Over time, such deep connections are built that we cannot avoid the fact that we have become family to one another. Despite the opinions of the rest of the world, we must feel free to accept our family where we find it, to enjoy the love and support of those the world might consider strangers, and to honor the connection we share with those who are our spiritual flesh and blood.



This is a ritual to honor such found family, so that their bond may be recognized and formalized by the community. For, whatever shape it may take, the bonds of family are sacred, and it is through love and support of others that many of us are able to make our way in the world. Would those entering together into this ritual please step forward?



(The family steps forward and stands in a semi-circle in front of the Priest.)



Priest: We gather this day to formally acknowledge the bonds that nature and birthright did not supply. You who gather here before me, (name, and name, and name:) you have come together in support of one another. Your connection has gone far beyond that of just friends. Yet, as you are not all lovers, and you are not blood related, the world still recognizes you only as friends.



There is a word for a group of people that help of one another grow, who support one another, financially, spiritually, and emotionally, who share a bond that will remain in their hearts throughout their lives. That word is family.



You (insert number of people entering into the group) have come before me this night to declare your devotion and to make it clear to the world that, even though you bear no connection through birth or through blood, you are a family nevertheless.



Is this truly your intention?



Family (as one): Yes it is.



Priest: Very well, but before we proceed, let me caution you. This bond is not to be undertaken lightly. You are about to pledge to me and all that you hold sacred that the (number) of you will hence forward be connected, that you will love one another and support one another through all of life's trials, working together to provide a healthy living space, where all of you can grow and flourish. Once forged, this bond should not be broken, so be certain that this is what you want -- and that you are willing to work to nurture it and to protect it. Is this still your intention?



Family (as one): yes it is.



Priest: Very well. You will make your vows together, and then individually so that your duty to one another is perfectly clear. First, place your hands together before me. I will bind you by the ties of spirit and flesh as you swear to me these vows. I will speak each vow, and you will all, as a unit, repeat it back to me.



(Everyone extends a hand to the center of the semi-circle, clasping hands so that they are all touching. The priest then lays his hand over theirs, weaving them together with threads of energy.)



Priest: I pledge you my love, my devotion, and my support.



All: I pledge you my love, my devotion, and my support.



Priest: In the weak times and in the hard times,



All: In the weak times and in the hard times,



Priest: When you cannot bear up alone,



All: When you cannot bear up alone,



Priest: I will be there, I will try to be strong.



All: I will be there, I will try to be strong.



Priest: When you need an ear to listen,



All: When you need an ear to listen,



Priest: a shoulder to cry on, or an extra pair of hands,



All: a shoulder to cry on, or an extra pair of hands,



Priest: I will try to help, I will do what I can.



All: I will try to help, I will do what I can.



Priest: as brother to sister, as parent to child,



All: as brother to sister, as parent to child,



Priest: I will be there for you,



All: I will be there for you,



Priest: so we can weather the storms of life together,



All: so we can weather the storms of life together,



Priest: as a family strengthened for unity and love.



Priest: as a family strengthened for unity and love.



Priest: These things, you swear, and as a family, you swear them together. Now, a family is a group that is made up by individual parts, so you must each take individual vows and swear before one another to solidify this union.



(The priest approaches each member in turn, starting with the mother or father figure, and proceeding through each member in turn, finishing with the newest member of the family. When he approaches each person, the Priest holds his hand over their head, gathering energy.)



Priest: As you swear these vows, you open your mind to thinking as a family. You open your lips to speaking as a family. And you open your heart to loving as a family.



(The Priest touches forehead, lips, and heart, in turn, connecting with the individual’s energy and opening these points to the energy of everyone else in the family group. This is done for each person in turn before they take their individual vows. As the Priest continues to speak, he holds his hand over the individual’s heart, binding their energy with the power and intent of the vow.)



Priest: The vows that you swear should be written upon your soul, so that you carry them with you always. You are bound by these oaths, and your place in this family relies upon your loyalty to these oaths. Never fail to appreciate the power and sanctity of what you swear here this night. After each vow, swear to your new family: “I will be there.”



Priest: In times of weakness and emotional need:



Family Member: I will be there.



Priest: In times of joy and celebration:



Family Member: I will be there.



Priest: For the simple things, those day-to-day tasks so often overlooked:



Family Member: I will be there.



Priest: When the family grows together, when the family fights, and when the family makes amends:



Family Member: I will be there.



Priest: In love, in devotion, and in mutual support, now and all the days of my life:



Family Member: I will be there.



(These vows are repeated for each member. When each member has sworn these vows to every other member of the family, the priest takes all of their hands and holds them collectively together. The priest then holds his hands over their hands, weaving energy between them, forging a blessing that solidifies the bonds that they have sworn.)



Priest: Spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh, I seal this sacred bond. May you be strong together, may you prosper together, and may you always know love. If any of you have any additional vows or statements to make to one another, please do so now.



(Insert optional declarations from the family members.)



Priest: Embrace, and be one.



(All the family members engage in a group hug.)



Priest: This ceremony is ended. Got forth as a Family in darkness and light.



All: Forever.

Benighted ones rise like the flames of Paradise burning to ruins.

Fallen is the throne with darkness overthrown ...the light drifts away.



Glory to those who raise the Dragons

sign before the altar of chaos and chant the sacred names,

that conjure the benighted.



Forever art thou

Eternal we live.

For there is life in the Blood

AZRAEL - release my immortal soul

I embrace the Angel of Death

through the blood my soul is forever reborn.



The Blood that is forever shall flow throughout these veins.

Awakened, and eternal;

thy kindred shall usurp and reign.



I rise unto the cosmos into the vast astral seas.

I embrace the darkness for all eternity.

Through the gates of rebirth I rise before thy deity whom stirs in primordial Chaos.

Thou art spawned from the sea.



The Blood that is Eternal

of the Chaos Breed

fills thy soul with hunger

to see thy prey bleed



Cold as the depths of winter’s frost,

our souls are ancient.

Awakened art thou to the world of spirits of the plane,

to walk the worlds eternally.

I am bestowed the pathway of the stars.

The path of the Vampyre that guides me unto everlasting life.

I drink the blood that is forever,

embracing the Scarlet Sacrament.





LEAVE COMMENT















Blood and Roses Vampyric Wedding Rites

18:34:44 - Oct 01 2008

Times Read: 38



ADMIN: | EDIT | DELETE |





This came from Lady Kem; I take no responsibility for this passage:









This should be done during a waxing moon. The moon should be in a favorable sign for marriage. A pentagram should be drawn and laid out upon the ground. A banishing ritual should also be done. On the alter should be two black, two Blue, and one larger red candle, two daggers, and one chalice a quarter full of Blood.

High priest/ess:

The bride and groom, both wearing black and holding a black candle, with which each will light the others candle upon the alter with the others name upon it. Open the rite by ringing the bell, and drawing the pentagram upon the air with the sword of the chamber.



Recite: “ina sumsu etu ilu. In the name of the dark lords, we invite the powers of the undead to bestow their infernal power upon us, and grant this couple to ascend towards godhead.”



The participants give a sacrifice of energy and blood to the un-dead gods and the Strigoi Morte



"Under the Veil of night we come together in the name of Love, Loyalty, Darkness, Truth and Passion to celebrate the affirmation of the bond between ( Bride's Name ) and ( Groom's Name ), each being the greatest gift to each other."



"On this night ( insert date here ) They offer each other the most sacred and precious gift of life, their blood. Tonight, both (brides name) and (grooms name) stand before and honor the Ancients, the dark masters and mistress of our past, and their vampyric brothers and sisters to consecrate this candle of eternal unity.

Lord (grooms name) please repeat after me : This circle that we stand in and the circle of this ring represent our endless love, protection, health and devotion. With this symbol of my eternal love and devotion i thee wed- Forever in this life and the ones to come. (The groom puts ring on brides finger)

Lady (brides name) please repeat after me, (repeats above statement after which, bride puts ring on the grooms finger)

Lord (grooms name) and Lady (brides name) you may now make your bond.

(Bride and groom exchange kisses & rings)

By the power of the Ancients and in the name of these two Souls, bound forevermore, I now pronounce Lord (grooms name) and Lady (brides name) as husband and wife for all of eternity."