SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT TURNING?23:46 Jan 19 2016
Times Read: 445
January 15, 2016 by theamadorvampire
Closeup on hands of medical doctor holding blood sample and making notes
Recently, Alexia Ashford and I were discussing the possible causes of the various forms of Vampirism. The topic of the possibility of a viral factor came up. And from there, we found ourselves discussing the controversial topic of Turning, unintentional and accidental. We exchanged quite a bit of information about it, then decided that it might be interesting to share our respective viewpoints about Turning, as a whole. Here are our thoughts on the subject–from the position of a Psychic Vampire and a Sanguine, in the Global Vampire Community…
**My viewpoint, from the perspective of a Psychic Vampire–
Should we talk about turning? Where should we start on the topic? All references from fictional vampirism and mythology aside, the topic of turning comes up regularly in forums and group discussions. Both potential Turnees (those who aspire to become Vampires) and Vampires bring up the subject from their perspective positions.
When I first came into the GVC, one of the statements that came up from the established Vampires was that Turning is impossible. It is completely fictional. It was treated as a dictate–if you were a real Vampire, you would embrace the idea that Turning was an impossibility and defend this fact.
To give the proper context, I should share my position. I came into the GVC as a Psychic Vampire. Most of the groups that I came into were of the idea that basically all Vampires are Hybrids. Whether we choose to embrace all aspects of feeding, we are basically able to feed on all things–blood and energy. I currently identify as a Psychic Vampire, because of my experiences. I have not ingested blood to date, but it is something that will happen at some point in the near future. Depending on my reaction or lack thereof, will decide my possible identification as a Hybrid or Sanguine. If there are no benefits to any blood drinking, I am okay with continuing to identify as a Psychic Vampire….until a more comprehensive explanation for my experience comes along. In short, my LIFE experience to date has been as a Psychic Vampire, with much respect and friendship towards the Sanguine sub-community within the GVC.
The concept of Turning is generally accepted to be that of performing actions on a person who had not previously exhibited commonly-defined Vampire-like characteristics/traits. The Turning is considered successful if the subject exhibits the characteristics of a Real Living Vampire, as defined by that very group that the Vampire belongs to.
Broaching the subject itself is controversial. Many types give a hard, fast “it doesn’t happen” in response, as they slam their fist on the table for emphasis. But, is it really not possible to Turn someone else….or is this one of those sacred cows that we’ve been told to believe in without question and to defend….or we are not part of the “real” group?
We are usually careful in our treatment of our mythology, folk tales and legends….they are our version of religious text. Some is symbolic, some is literal, some is literal, but exaggerated….there are references to Turning in much of our stories. We do not (need to) tear into our Donors–biting into anyone’s neck and drinking from that wound is more than likely going to kill them. We don’t take that part literally. Should some of us take the concept of Turning symbolically, as well? We need to address Turning as it applies to the two main types–Psy Vamps and Sanguines. We need to discuss both types of possible Turning, because we need to be clear that they are not the same process. Just because one type of Turning naturally reverses itself–does not mean that the other type will reverse itself as well, or not take in the first place. There are indirect warnings about accidentally turning Psy Donors or Victims into new Psy Vamps by accidentally.draining the Donor/Victim/Subject until they are at a deficit for energy….or somehow damaging their energy system, because of the extreme draining .
Psy Vampires are deficient in the amount of vital energy that they should naturally produce, hence the need to draw on this energy from other sources–including human sources. We are sufficiently warned to never take so much energy from a Donor that we damage their energy systems in any way….producing the need for the victim to instinctively draw on energy, themselves. Thus, producing a state of temporary vampirism in the victim, until their energy systems recover and they are back to normal.
In the theory of Psychic Vampirism, it is possible to create a temporary Psychic Vampire. The skills that we have in drawing energy from outside of ourselves exists within all other humans. Energy drawing and manipulation are psychic skills inherent within all beings, according to many spiritual philosophies and schools of psychic thought. Within our philosophy, any human who wishes to cultivate these energy skills can practice them….if they are called to do so and can relate to the philosophy. One doesn’t need to have the self-defining energy deficiency to be able to draw and manipulate vital energy.
There is a form of drawing energy from human and non-human sources, taking this energy into one’s self and using that energy to amplify one’s own personal energy or taking that energy to use in psychic or magickal practices. One doesn’t need to have the need born out of personal deficiency to practice the skills of a Psychic Vampire. This is all performed on an energetic, non-physical level.
The metaphysical explanation works for energy workers. This is our framework of reference. Some Sanguines and Hybrids are metaphysically-oriented. Those who are metaphysically-oriented might relate to the concept of Vampirism being energetically-based. And then we have an entirely different framework of reference in medically-based science.
There are some camps in the GVC that view Vampirism from an entirely physical perspective. These are the medically-oriented, physically-oriented Sanguines. Some running theories in the research and supposition of the medically-oriented Sangs is that Vampirism is caused by a genetic disposition or a virus with the genetic predisposition to express it.
Psychic Vampires perform their own informal experiments with energy work. We often keep track of the effects of our actions on others–again, however informally. As individuals, we often have a wealth of information that we each draw on and can pass to others, as needed. There is not so much information on the Sanguine-effect on Donors that is made available. With the recent influx of medically-oriented articles on the health and well-being of the Sanguine, we now have the beginnings of of a wealth of information on the Sanguine, themselves. But, we lack information on the effects of Sanguine feeding and interaction on the Donor.
To date, we have assumed that the part of the Donor begins and ends with the donation, itself. In the perfect donation, the Donor is treated with loving respect, under sterile and pleasant conditions. There is focus on the blood, itself…..the ingestion, then the cleanup of the Donor, the tools and the area, as necessary. But, what about the Donor?
Because we have been in the shadows for so long, we have sometimes romanticized the act of the Blood Feeding….we might have been influenced by urban legend, literature, movies. Newly awakened Sanguines that have never been picked up by respectable, knowledgable Mentors and Houses are left open to experiment, attempt procedures born out of fiction or simply guess about what a proper feeding is supposed to consist of. Knowing as much as we do about human behavior, it is not a hard stretch of the imagination to wonder if every fictional version of blood feeding has been played out in real life.
This means that blood EXCHANGE has probably been attempted. (The same sort of Donor-Vampire-Donor exchange that we have read multiple times and watched on movies/television in explicit detail.) We don’t have a lot of scientific documentation on the attempted process; but humans being what they are, it is not hard to accept that it has probably been attempted numerous times.
There have been rumors and discussion about how Donors have sometimes expressed Vampiric characteristics, after having donated a number of times. These donations were not attempts at Turning, but were instead normal feedings which SOMETIMES resulted in the Donor experiencing Vampiric characteristics for a usually temporary, sometimes permanent, set of time. Without proper observation and documentation, this phenomena was left as an afterthought, something noted after the fact….because it was not the primary intention of the feeding.
Is this Turning? Does this offer any clues into the Sanguine condition being caused by a possibly contagious physical factor–which possibly affects only those few that have the predisposition to the physical expression of whatever the causal factor might be? There are going to be some medically-oriented Sanguines, the more scientifically-oriented of the groups that are interested in exploring this idea. Without observing this possibility from here on out, we might still be left with the accidental occasional Turning that relies on a haphazard set of conditions. IF this is the case, we will still be left with rumors and sketchy reports of what might have been happening for as long as there has been a history of Sanguines and Vampires.
Should we talk about Turning? IF Turning has already been happening–under a very specific set of conditions, to a very specific set of people who are predispositioned to Turning…..Latent Sanguines?–then, the rumors of Turning are going to persist, just as they always have. Not only because of the wishful thinking of some, but because it might actually be as real as the rumors of the Blood Drinking humans and the Energy Sapping humans that were once regulated to myth and legend, before.
What are the ethics in Turning? Same as they should have always been. If someone wants to be Turned–keeping in mind that since it doesn’t happen every time a Turning has been attempted….so the clues at this juncture (without the documentation that is to come) could point to some latent condition in the Donor [which COULD classify them as some sort of unawakened vampire]–should be informed as to the reality of the Sanguine. Which physical conditions they can expect. De-glamorizing the reality, by pointing out that no movie powers come with the condition. All of the standard community warnings and advisements that come with being a Sanguine, and a Vampire of the GVC. And the possibility that the condition might be temporary, as we collect information in this new area of exploration.
What are to be the benefits of consciously Turning volunteer Donors? First of all, it would help the Sanguine/Vampire community get a hold of which factors cause an unwanted/accidental/unintended Turning, as might have occurred in the past. Second, controlled observation of intentional Turning might give us clues into which physical factors can cause certain forms of Sanguinism, which could help remedy some of the secondary symptoms that plague some delicate Sanguine systems. Third, we could eventually have solid evidence to work with when the subject of Turning comes up, again….it could be that we scientifically disprove the possibility. We won’t know until we perform more open research, under scientific observation.
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**Viewpoint of Alexia Ashford, Sanguine and writer–
Turning has always been something I’ve been curious about. I’m a sanguinarian, and I’ve been aware of the Global Vampire Community for a while now. I’ve been active, on and off, since 2004. It has always been the ‘company line’ to outright deny any possibility of turning. Even mentioning it used to invite flaming, outright hostility, accusations of roleplaying. My stance is that until the cause for the sanguinarian condition can be identified, it cannot be disproved or denied. We simply do not know. There could even be multiple causes for it. I get asked about turning semi-regularly. At least one person asks me to turn them per week. People often assume it’s like in movies. They think they will get powers, that it will make them not human, or somehow exempt from the trials and tribulations of daily life. In fact, it is the opposite. It adds complexity and difficulty to your life. It isn’t an easy existence. I often tell people to imagine having to ask friends or family to be stuck with a needle or cut themselves so you can drink their blood, or your health starts to gradually diminish.
Could it be possible? Of course. No one knows the underlying cause of why we are this way. Everyone has their different beliefs and opinions, yet no one can pin point the cause for everyone. Could it be transmitted by blood? Possibly. Many young people come into the community with little knowledge, seeking to learn. I have heard of many accidents, where blood sharing has been done between the sanguine and the donor, only for the donor to have experienced symptoms afterwards; sometimes with the change being permanent. There could well be a viral factor that allows others to be infected through blood, and someone’s genetic pre-disposition/immune tolerance for such transmission. I, for one, would like to know, for my safety and to ensure the safety of others. Without open discussion and education regarding the possibilities and risks, those young people may well emulate behaviour seen in the Vampire fiction – swapping blood back and forth. Knowledge only comes with experience, education and the right resources being available.
This then leads to the ethics discussion. There are many different viewpoints on what the Sanguine Condition is. From a state of being, to a race, to it simply being how one was born, to a disease. How someone views it will drastically colour their perception of what it means to pass it to someone else, if it were possible. If it is a state of being, then why would it be an issue to turn someone else, to make them like you? But, if it’s a disease, it would be viewed more like ‘bug chasers’ who willingly seek to get infected. Even if someone did understand and consent to be changed, how much responsibility falls on the Sang themselves? Only a Sang knows what it is like. The issues it can lead to. The restraint that is required. No one can possibly know these things before they are changed; and once they are, there is no going back. To an extent, that person would become your responsibility. You will be responsible for teaching them what they need to know, showing them how to adapt, control themselves. No one knows how well someone would ‘take’ to being this way. It is ultimately a roll of the dice. My primary donor recently offered to drink from me. I immediately declined, because I cannot chance my primary donor becoming like me. I feed regularly, and need a decent volume weekly. I cannot risk that. Yet, if the opportunity were to come up elsewhere, should I? Could I? These are questions I ask myself at times.
The next question that comes to mind is, why has it been company policy to deny the possibility? If we do start discussing it openly, will it lead young, impressionable people to attempt it for themselves? But if we don’t, will people continue to stay none-the-wiser, openly share blood and lead to potential accidents? If it IS tested in a controlled (as much as possible, at least) environment, and it does work, what will that mean? Or if it doesn’t? Either way could provide interesting for research purposes. Regardless, I think these are important questions that should be asked.
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