Ever since seeing the first Dracula movie with Bella Lugosi as a teenager, I have been fascinated with vampires. In that movie, Dracula had such a strange combination of characteristics, blood-lust, cruelty, seductiveness, and even sensitivity. He was definitely a villain, but also oddly appealing. I both loved and hated him, but I had a hard time explaining my interest or feelings to myself. It was just a story, and a pretty disgusting one at that.
Vampire myths and stories first became popularized in the early 18th century and have been found in many forms ever since. But you can hardly fail to notice that vampires are a really big thing right now, from Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series to TV shows like True Blood. We’ve had these stories for 300 years, so why the surge in popularity today?
Myths and stories capture our attention and become popular because they concretize or bring into reality an idea or situation that is so subtle it eludes conscious awareness. The story or myth takes these phenomena and gives them form and structure so that we can begin to understand what is really happening. We may never really become consciously aware of why we are so fascinated, but the story seems to help us make sense of our lives on some level.
Vampire stories are metaphoric references to energy stealing. They give form and structure to something we have all experienced, but which can be very scary because it’s mostly below the threshold of consciousness and therefore unprotected by societal rules. We don’t understand consciously what’s happening, why it’s happening or how to stop it, so it becomes very frightening. Vampire stories use the metaphoric image of the vampire to give that scary energy form, and then explain through narrative what is happening, and how to protect ourselves from the danger.
The vampire (energy sucker) appears human, and in many cases can be very appealing, so anyone could be one. You never know when you have been exposed until it is too late. Although excessive energy sucking can kill you, most often you can save yourself if you can just get away in time and replenish what has been taken. Therefore, once bitten, you become an energy sucker too, preying on those around you just like you were preyed upon before.
Traditionally (so the story goes), you can protect yourself from vampires by holding up a cross in front of you (once you know who they are, of course), a recognition that calling on spiritual energy can protect one from becoming a vampire. There is real truth in this part of the story as well, since once you learn to access spiritual energy and manage your own energy supply, you need never be depleted again, no matter how many energy suckers are around you.
Although older versions of vampire stories paint vampires mostly as cruel and scary villains, there has always been something seductive and even sympathetic about them. They lure their victims with manipulation and trickery, and then feed on them, but only because they have to suck blood (energy) to keep functioning. It is a lose-lose proposition for the poor vampire – either he feeds or dies, just like energy sucking is for us. We need to kill him to protect ourselves, but we are also aware of his dilemma, because it is our dilemma too.
Modern versions of vampire stories, however, are treating vampires much more compassionately. Today’s vampires are sensitive, intelligent creatures who often know they have a problem and try to set rules for themselves so they can live in human society without doing harm. This change in treatment demonstrates our culture’s growing subconscious recognition that energy sucking is a universal human problem and we need to be gentler with ourselves as we become aware of this inherent need, while at the same time coming to grips with its reality and setting rules for ourselves about how to move forward.
I believe that vampire stories are popular today because we are beginning to be more conscious of our need for energy, and on a subconscious level, concerned about how we get it. Modern versions of vampire stories help us come to grips with this dilemma and offer some hopeful thoughts on the subject. Not all vampires are evil, nor do they necessarily have to endanger those around them, but it is solely dependent on individual choice. Just like these new vampire characters, we also have choices about how we get what we need.
What do you think about vampire stories? Have you been fascinated by the Twilight series, or wondered what your teenage daughter could possibly see in these books? Have you experienced energy vampires in your own life, and if so, what do you do about it? Have you ever reflected on how you acquire needed energy? Stories help us understand ourselves. Please add yours to the mix.
For more on energy and energy reality, see my book “It’s All About Energy: Adventures in Expanded Reality”, available on Amazon, at local bookstores and on my website: wwwtransformationalexpansion.com
Sorry, I am not familiar with Vampire stories. This is a learning experience.
Vampire stories have been around for a long time, but at the beginning of the 21st century, there seem to be many more books, movies, and TV series about vampires than ever before. These modern stories also have a new twist, vampires and werewolves etc., are not the absolute villains they used to be. In today’s stories, they have many more human characteristics (emotions, desire to avoid evil, etc) and exhibit many positive characteristics, even becoming the “good guys” in an increasing number of stories. This is the trend I was referring to in the blog.
RE: Vampires II Discussion of Vampires–Energy strikes a note in the system I have been thinking of recently. Vampires recogniz vulnerable prey – those who are needy to give and thus allow the stealing of energy — love.
I ned to think more about your blog. I find it very chalenging. Thank you.
Barbara
I think you have nailed it. Energy stealers, just like vampires, recognize prey very easily. They seek out those of us who are natural helpers, who are nurturers and want to serve. This is why we suffer so much burn-out unless we are aware of what is happening and choose to limit our vulnerability.