Sanguinarian: Difference between revisions
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A '''sanguinarian''' is someone who feeds on blood. Taken from the Latin ''sanguineus'' meaning "blood-thirsty, Bloody or reddish in color", a sanguinarian is someone who has a physical thirst, need, or craving for blood. This need is generally non-erotic in nature and distinguishable by the greater quantity required from the minimal amount consumed by [[blood fetish|blood fetishists]]. Many [[Energy vampire|Energy Vampires]] are able to sustain themselves on pranic energy or [[chi]] alone, while sanguinarians need to combine this with actual, physical blood in order to get any benefit from it. A sanguinarian or "sang" vampyre feels a strong craving to meet their energy needs by consuming blood. Normally this comes from other humans. They feel that their strength cannot be maintained at a high level in any other way. |
A '''sanguinarian''' is someone who feeds on blood. Taken from the Latin ''sanguineus'' meaning "blood-thirsty, Bloody or reddish in color", a sanguinarian is someone who has a physical thirst, need, or craving for blood. This need is generally non-erotic in nature and distinguishable by the greater quantity required from the minimal amount consumed by [[blood fetish|blood fetishists]]. Many [[Energy vampire|Energy Vampires]] are able to sustain themselves on pranic energy or [[chi]] alone, while sanguinarians need to combine this with actual, physical blood in order to get any benefit from it. A sanguinarian or "sang" vampyre feels a strong craving to meet their energy needs by consuming blood. Normally this comes from other humans. They feel that their strength cannot be maintained at a high level in any other way. |
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Some see sanguinarians as [[Otherkin]], others find the suggestion offensive. There is little agreement on whether sanguinarians fall into the category of Otherkin. The majority of sanguinarians consider them perfectly human with a perfectly human condition. |
Some see sanguinarians as [[Otherkin]], others find the suggestion offensive. There is little agreement on whether sanguinarians fall into the category of Otherkin. The majority of sanguinarians consider them perfectly human with a perfectly human condition. |
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==Sangomancy's relation to sanguinarianism== |
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[[Sangomancy]] is in no way related to sanguinarianism. Sangomancy is derived from the same word 'Sanguine' but it deals with blood magic (possibly '[[blood ritual]]'). This root word connection is the only tie between the two. |
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==Facts and References== |
==Facts and References== |
Revision as of 05:42, 31 January 2006
A sanguinarian is someone who feeds on blood. Taken from the Latin sanguineus meaning "blood-thirsty, Bloody or reddish in color", a sanguinarian is someone who has a physical thirst, need, or craving for blood. This need is generally non-erotic in nature and distinguishable by the greater quantity required from the minimal amount consumed by blood fetishists. Many Energy Vampires are able to sustain themselves on pranic energy or chi alone, while sanguinarians need to combine this with actual, physical blood in order to get any benefit from it. A sanguinarian or "sang" vampyre feels a strong craving to meet their energy needs by consuming blood. Normally this comes from other humans. They feel that their strength cannot be maintained at a high level in any other way.
Sanguinarianism is a unique case
Sanguinarianism is not Renfield's Syndrome (also known as clinical vampirism) since the urge achieves no end in Renfield's Syndrome, whereas it tends to have a profound affect on sanguinarians. Sanguinarians also have no desire to drink their own blood, whereas those with Renfield's Syndrome do. It is also not Self-Mutilation Syndrome, a pathology which in some cases is based around the need to watch oneself bleed.
Contention
Some people believe that the sanguinarian condition is simply an addiction to blood. Whilst others believe it is a creation of the mind (psychosomatic) and not a medical condition. Both of these viewpoints are derived from the belief that the condition of sanguinarianism is a want and not an acutal need.
How does one become a sanguinarian?
It is thought that most sanguinarians believe sanguinarianism is a natural (but poorly documented) medical condition, one you are born with. Sanguinarianism also state that the condition is not hereditary, actually in most instances the parents are not sanguinarians themselves. Some believe that they generally 'awaken' during puberty, sometimes earlier, sometimes later, but each case is unique. Others believe one has to be 'turned' (converted) into a sanguinarian through one of the processes mentioned in modern vampire mythology (also note that some sanguinarians also believe that you cannot 'turn' someone into a sanguinarian7). The majority of the ‘turned’ group is accused of 'faking' their condition and attempting to deceive people to further their own aims (such as their standing in a gothic social group or to promote their own blood fetish.)
Historical origin
In some sanguinarian communities the term vampire is used interchangeably with sanguinarian. This is due to many sanguinarians believing they are the closest 'real' link to the vampires presented in vampire mythology and that they are in fact the initial origin of Vampire myth. Some believe that vampire mythology is derived from a surge in vampire folklore at the very end of the 19th century. They feel that those sources were taken from sanguinarian studies and then given a fictional gloss to make them more appealing. These people believe books such as Dracula helped portray the blood-drinking vampire myth, whilst stories such as Good Lady Ducayne were explorations into the idea of psychic vampires.
The vampire metaphor is so deep and complex that any group sharing common characteristics with the many different guises of vampires in literature could call themselves vampires. This makes the issue very complex and makes it difficult to explore every possible avenue of history and every variation of 'real vampires.'
'Side effects'
Since many sanguinarians view themselves as being the source of vampires myth, some believe that sanguinarianism brings with it some of the features present in vampire myth.
These can include:
- Long canines
- Aversion to sunlight
- Pale complexion
- Large pain threshold
There are many studies about this inside the sanguinarian community. A majority have come to the conclusion that although these are certainly present in sanguinarians, it has little or nothing to do with the condition. Some feel that by mentioning these features the sanguinarian community is held in less respect due to their closer association with the vampires of myth.
Safety
Due to many risks associated with drinking blood, safety is considered paramount to the sanguinarian community. Many articles are available on the internet detailing safe methods of the bloodletting, the importance of checking for diseases before drinking another's blood, methods of getting blood from common animal meat, information about the diseases that could be contracted through blood and more.
There is no general belief in the sanguinarian community that one ever has a requirement to bite into their donor (see below). The most common method mentioned involves the use of a sharp, thin, un-serrated, sterilized knife that is used to cut open the skin away from any dangerous points that could result in the (potentially fatal) damaging of parts of the human anatomy. The cut is usually as small as possible and the blood taken is rarely more than a couple of teaspoons worth at most. Ideally, the wound is then cleaned and dressed
Donors (or bloodsharing partners)
A donor is someone who provides blood to sanguinarian. They usually do so out of understanding of the condition, a fetish for blood, a fetish for subservience or similar reasons. Donors are almost invariably friends of the sanguinarian, since trust is essential in such as intimate and dangerous act and they must also take the time to get the donor's blood checked for common diseases.
A small minority who do it for the desire to feel like they are serving the sanguinarian do it regardless of danger, as the risk only enhances the emotional feeling they receive from the act. These people are sometimes referred to as 'Blood Dolls'.
Some donors prefer to be referred to as blood sharing partners, as they feel the term donor belittles their status.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies suggests as a general guide:
- The donor should be in good health.
- They should weigh more than 45 or 50 kg (about 100 or 110 pounds).
- They should be aged between 18 and 65.
- They should meet the guidelines necessary to protect the health of both donor and receiver.
- Donate about 450 to 470 ml maximum
Sanguinarianism as a religion
Despite what some outside entities believe (such as radical elements of the Christian church), no sanguinarians consider themselves a religious cult and some find the accusation offensive, since they believe their condition is natural and is not belief driven. Many sanguinarians have their own religious paths (Christianity, Buddhism, Wicca, et cetera) completely separate to their status as a sanguinarian.
"Within vampyrism are found followers of all of the major religions, as well as secularists, freethinkers, and followers of alternate spiritualities." [1] - Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
The creation of groups such as the Synod has resulted in the accusations of many groups that sanguinarianism is in fact a cult becoming more commonplace, although the Synod is in fact a group within the sanguinarian community and does not reflect the views of the entire community.
Sanguinarian groups
Sanguinarian groups, many of which refer to themselves as covens (a reference to the teachings of Gerald Gardner, the father of Wicca), range greatly in their structure, rules and membership.
Some of these groups provide a community for a certain perspective of sanguinarian belief to grow (usually in some way related to vampire mythology). Others are simply communities for sanguinarians to meet, exchange ideas and share beliefs.
COVICA
COVICA, the Council Of Vampyric International Community Affairs, are a (now apparently defunct) consortium that was dedicated to the standardization of beliefs, terminology and the exchange of information between sanguinarian scholars. It was designed to unify the various sanguinarian beliefs, but no longer plays any major role in the sanguinarian community.
The Black Veil
Also known as the "Thirteen Rules of Community" and "Seven Rules of Community" (depending on the version), this has undergone many revisions in the past. It is considered the code of ethics which sanguinarians should, if possible, follow.
The second revision, composed by Michelle Belanger of House Kheperu, Father Todd of House Sahjaza and COVICA has thirteen rules titled:
- DISCRETION
- DIVERSITY
- SAFETY
- CONTROL
- LIFESTYLE
- FAMILY
- HAVENS
- TERRITORY
- RESPONSIBILITY
- ELDERS
- DONORS
- LEADERSHIP
- IDEALS
The Black Veil is somewhat disliked by some, due to its apparent status as a set of rules and 'forced authority'. In fact, it was designed as an ethical code that can be adopted by anyone as a suggestion. [2] - sanguinarius.org
Sanguinarian secrecy
Many sanguinarians have learnt, through experience, that their association with vampire myths can lead them into situations where others look down upon them. Given the discrimination against religious beliefs, personal preferences, color of skin, etc in modern Western society, many believe that it is self-destructive for sanguinarians to give others the knowledge on their condition. A metaphorical curtain has been drawn over sanguinarianism to protect the community from harm.
Some also follow this practice simply to adhere to The Black Veil, without really considering the issues involved.
Autovampirism in Sanguinarism
'Autovampirism' (the drinking of one's own blood) does not provide a sanguinarian with any energy, since the energy is just being recycled back into the system of the sanguinarian. It is frowned upon by many in the community, who see it as a destructive act that provides no benefit.
See: First Law of Thermodynamics (aka Conservation of energy)
Sanguinarians as Otherkin
Some see sanguinarians as Otherkin, others find the suggestion offensive. There is little agreement on whether sanguinarians fall into the category of Otherkin. The majority of sanguinarians consider them perfectly human with a perfectly human condition.
Sangomancy's relation to sanguinarianism
Sangomancy is in no way related to sanguinarianism. Sangomancy is derived from the same word 'Sanguine' but it deals with blood magic (possibly 'blood ritual'). This root word connection is the only tie between the two.
Facts and References
Definition:
- House Eclipse Dictionary: [3]
- COVICA glossary (commonly replicated throughout the web): [4]
- Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: [5]
- Sanguinarius: [6]
Contention
- Sarasvati, "Psychosomatic? I Think Not!": [7]
Source of the word:
- Nocturnal Visions: [8]
How does one become a sanguinarian?
- "Vampire Myths vs. Realities": [9]
- Sanguinarius FAQ: [10]
- "An Overview of Real Vampire Origin Theories": [11]
- Sarah Dorrance, "Embrace Me, Said The Maiden": [12]
- "What is the Cause of Vampirism?": [13]
'Side effects'
Safety
Donors
- House Eclipse Dictionary: [18]
- "Donor/Vampire Relations 101": [19]
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "Health and Community Care": [20]
Sanguinarianism as a religion
- Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance: [21]
COVICA:
- House Eclipse Dictionary: [22]
The Black Veil:
- The Black Veil, 2nd Edition: [23]
- Also available from Michelle Belanger's own site [24] and The Vampire Church [25]
Sanguinarian secrecy