These are Father Todd Sabastiaans New Black Viels, published in the year 2020 in his book “Black Veils: Master Vampyre Edition” which you can purchase @ https://vamporium.shop/products/copy-of-black-veils-master-vampyre-edition-pre-order-ships-fall-2020
Vampyre vs Vampire:
This book spells vampire with an “I.” in my previous books I have used the older Victorian spelling of vampyre with a “y.” This originally differentiated lifestyle from literature, fiction, Legend, and fantasy, but those lines are now blurred. Old schoolers still use the old Vampyre spelling, but to the new generation of the spouse of Vampire with an “i.” (Much like how Aliester Crowley added the letter “k” at the end of Magick to differentiate between occult magic and stage parlor tricks.)
Philosophy:
The philosophy of the Black Veil Vampire acknowledges and trusts their animal instincts and Primal nature to guide them. The Black Veil Vampire seeks to awaken the most inner element of their dragon buried deep under layers of human conditioning and allow this Primal nature to flourish. The dragon is a symbol of the magical evolved Noble predator who is very much in touch with their animalistic nature. For the living vampire it is the symbol of our highest selves. The core of vampire philosophy is embracing ones Primal nature destroying the victim mentality and accepting the laws of self as a guide for survival. This is the core of zhep’r. The evolved vampire does not believe in torturing or abusing humans or animals. To be truly adept in Black Veil Vampirism, it is required to fully accept this fundamental principle.
Black Veil vampire philosophy similar to Social Darwinism. From the perspective of the vampire, it is clear that’s nothing and no one is created equal. As Charles Darwin noted variation (difference) a balance in nature as well as the human world. Living things that possess variations most favorable to their survival will succeed and pass those advantages to their offspring. Within Human Society the concept of “favorable variation” is more complex than within the animal and plant kingdom. Humans have the ability to adapt to their circumstances and change weaknesses into advantages what develops into powerful tools of mastery.
The most successful people are those who use both their inborn talents and develop important skills such as exceptional musicians, philosophers, artists, and professionals. Consider athletes such as Michael Jordan who are born with a superior body type but must train to master the game. Stephen Hawking had a genius-level intellect yet suffered from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Hawking survived beyond all predictions for his life expectancy and was one of the most brilliant theoretical physicist in history. Best selling writer Stephen King endured years of discouragement and rejection slips until he published his first novel. The noble predators of society succeed through inherent advantages, creativity, cunning, determination, and constant hard work, test of the Predator must do in the wild.
Modern Vampire Mythos:
The Vampire Mythos is defined in Black Veils as the collective impact of all of the Legends, film, literature, fantasy and mythology related to the vampire from all time periods. From ancient times almost every culture has included some sort of vampiric mythological figure in their superstitions and lore, ranging from the Lilitu Demons of ancient Sumerian and Jewish myths, the Incubi/ Succubi of Medieval folklore, the fairy like Boabhan Sith of the Scottish Highlands, the Strigoi of Romania, the bloodthirsty Gods of Central and South America and the ghoulish predators of Asia and Africa.
These past Legends have collectively given rise to our own modern vampire mythos. One can say that this modern mythos began with the Romantic Movement literary work of author John William Polidori; the short story “The Vampire” published on April 1st, 1819 featuring the suave British nobleman vampire character Lord Ruthvan. This more modern view of the vampire was expanded upon in Victorian literature works such as the lurid serialized Penny Dreadful “Varney the Vampire” (1845-7) and the gothic horror of “Camilla” (1871). Then all radically changed with the publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897 and from there the Modern Vampire Mythos exploded into mainstream culture in a very refined manner.
The vampire Mythos was truly defind and evolved in 20th century through thousands of incarnations in film, television, literature, role playing games, video games, merchandise, and even spawned an entire vampire lifestyle subculture. The biggest influences of the past 100 years on the vampire Mythos aside from Dracula (in films 1931, 1958, 1979, 1992), include Barnabas Collins From the gothic daytime drama “Dark Shadows” (1966 – 71), Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels (Interview with the Vampire published 1975) and the tabletop role-playing game “Vampire: the Masquerade” (released in 1991). All of these interpretations have influenced and Illustrated what a modern vampire can be. That is Regal, aristocratic, Angelic anti-hero, who is Immortal, powerful, and highly social yet extremely independent. The Vampire is a powerful being that many of us wish to become. We can see them reflected in our own Primal desires and as a monster that we can relate to and many times sympathize with. This is the modern 21st Century Modern Vampire Mythos
The Mortal Coil:
As of this writing, with current Medical Technology the average human lifespan lasts an estimated average of 28,000 days (about 78 years). This is known as the Mortal coil, which is one physical incarnation of Soul. Every Mortal coil has an entrance and exit of incarnation through two sets of “Gates.” That begin with the gates of conception and birth and exiting the Mortal coil with the gates of the “Two Deaths.”
To optimize within a mortal coil, the individual living vampire must make every single day count. Minimize of the waste of energy, reduce stress, increase the quality of life, all while slowing down enough to plan for your future. This is achieved through the techniques of Mastery of the path of Day. Block Veil vampires Embrace Life sober and in a sense are “Renaissance people,” globally minded with many talents and areas of knowledge.
Zhep’r/ Xepher:
Zepher is the central power word of the Black Veils, and refers to the metamorphosis of vampiric Awakening, Evolution, and transformation of the self. The term, spelled as “Xeper”, was brought into modern esoteric usage by the Temple of Set (TOS) And inspired the concept of the Black Veils as Zhep’r.
The word comes from the Egyptian Kheper, Which can be translated as “to come into being,” or “to become” and “transformation.” Another source of the word is Khepera, a name for the modern incarnation of the sun god in Egyptian mythology. Although the term of Zhep’r has a slightly different phonetic value than the Original Egyptian word (the Egyptian word is pronounced khef-fer, and our term is pronounced Zhef-hur), It carries a similar definition and meaning. The Zhep’r of each individual joined in Chorus is what empowers the spiritual current of Elorath.
The associated Egyptian symbol or hieroglyph is a scarab beetle. The scarab beetle lays its eggs in carrion, which gave the ancient Egyptians the impression that these insects were born from Death. Thus, the Scarab came to represent rebirth. Zhep’r is about self-empowerment, raising vibration, positive energy, creation, material Mastery, personal glamour, Spiritual Awakening, and living a long, prosperous, healthy, and vital life. For the black veil vampire, Zhep’r is not just a goal, but also a never-ending constant Journey.
Awakening:
Awakening is a process that happens over time;it is not a single moment but a series of steps. When the Black Veil Vampyre Awakens, they realize thay are truly a vampyre and fully acknowledge their calling to the current. Within the Black Veils, “The Awakening” is the most important revelation. It often comes when the Vampyre looks into the mirror and see their fangs for the first time. This can be a major step in Zhep’r. Vampiric Awakening is similar to someone accepting their sexuality or a religious person finding their faith. Some jokingly call it “Born Again Vampyres.” The Vampyre can only truly Awaken to the Nightside after they establish the Dayside philosophy as a personal path. Be cautious: many individuals will feel the calling to rush to the Nightside and become lost or burned out.
The Awakening is an element of Zhep’r that is never over for a Vampyre. The most difficult hurdles of the Nightside Awakening are often breaking the chains of mortalism and embracing Vampyre Philosophy. Each individual Awakening is different. Some Vampyres quickly embrace their nature and move forward, while other Vampyres have a difficult time with various points of Zhep’r. There are many catalysts for awakening. For some it happens spontaneously. Others are awakened by being deeply fed upon by another vampyre or through applications of the family quest. Many are sponsored by a patron ancestor spirit, who has subtly guided them throughout their process of awakening through dreams, visitations, and inspiration.
There comes a day when a Black Veil Vampyre can look at themselves in the mirror, with love and loyalty in their heart, and proudly state “I AM a Vampyre.”
There are many further points of Awakening; only those who “Open their Vampyre Eyes” and see a reality hidden to the masses of the mundane discover these secrets.
Legacy:
The Legacy in the Black Veils is a reference to the story, lineage and history we all share. After Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and Vampire: the Masquerade, the Sabertooth Legacy is the greatest influencer in the Vampire Culture. The Legacy is also the immortality that we share with each other. The Second Death in ancient Egypt was when the name and identity of an individual was forgotten. Weaving a legacy together aids one in achieving and participating in this Collective, thus leaving your mark on the world. So: contribute, create, find your Vampyre gifts and support the Legacy.
Individuals level of connection depends on the contract and involvement they have with the Legacy and the current. Some have gotten their fangs, attended an event and left. Others have become heavily involved in the Legacy for a lifetime. These individuals contribute to the flame and the others are casual fans who enjoy the experience but live their daily lives very separately. Sadly there are those who become “discordant”, those who have gone against the flow of the current and obstructed flow and will intentionally or unintentionally.
Together all of the interactions of the Sabretooth clan members Disciples of the Black Veils, the patrons of endless nights events, our black swans, krewe and fans each contribute to the story and current of the Legacy.
Dayside:
The Dayside is objective reality of the mundane and profane world as experienced by the five senses. Here science, rationality, reason, and logic are the prime rule. However, in Black Veils tradition, to have a strong foundation in the Dayside one must master several universal life dynamics. These include a focus on Self, Creativity, Glamour (a part of Lesser Magick), Wellness, Solvency, Preservation, and Perpetuity (the Quest of Immortality).
These dynamics cover the fundamental basics of mundane life such as handling money and taxes, physical and psychological health, social skills, street smarts and so on. When referring to the “Dayside Family”, Black Veils perspective is a reference to biological birth/mundane /blood family. The ultimate goal of Dayside is to focus on the optimal mastery of the “Mortal Coil.”
Nightside:
The Nightside is the subjective and subtle reality beyond the five senses and the profane world. This is the “Vampyre Culture,” in which a Vampyre can assume and awaken to their genuine nature, free of mundane restraints. Most Black Veil Vampyres ritualistically enter the most basic levels of the Nightside by changing their style of dress, choosing a “Nightside” or “Vampyre Name,” and keeping a balance so their Dayside life is kept separate. However, some Vampyres seek more of a connection with the Nightside, and venture beyond the basics into the deeper meanings of magick, spirituality, esotericism, the paranormal, and the supernatural.
Elements of this paradigm include spirits, magick, dreams, occult ritual, sorcery, subtle reality, aura, reincarnation, chakras, and energy work. In order to master the Nightside perspective, one must have solid Dayside to objectively gauge results and not get lost in the Vampire Mythos. The Nightside Family is the spiritual or “Vampyre Family” where an individuals connection to others is through the spiritual and philosophical instead of the physical blood. Most vampyres only slightly touch the Nightside realm through basic feeding and energy work techniques; truly advanced Vampyres move deeper into this paradigm through various forms of initiation and ascension.
Twilight:
The Black Veil of Twilight is not about sparkling vampires lost in teen romance; it is about something much deeper. Twilight is about contrast and balance, the equalibrium between the Dayside and the Nightside, where only results matter. Both Dayside and Nightside exist separately of course, but when both are combined in a state of equalibrium, the result is “coming forth by twilight.”
The most simplistic example of twilight would be when a Vampyre who is ill and wishes to get better efficiently and quickly. First, they will work from Dayside, going to the doctor to make sure that all normal scientific procedures are attended to, whilst they will simultaneously go and meditate and seek holistic and spiritual healing. Together both sides will result in a Twilight, which leads to covering all bases. The goal of the Black Veil Vampyre is to live in a balanced Twilight, not just limited to the Dayside or Nightside, but both.
Sanguinarium:
The Sanguinarium refers to Vampire Culture as defined by the Black Veils and descended from the Legacy. It also includes those who have obtained fangs, embraced the traditions detailed herein, attended the Endless Night events, and having been touched by the Vampyre Current, embrace the Black Veils as their own personal philosophy.
The Sanguinarium is not the Vampyre community in its entirety but is a highly influential nexus of ideas. It is, more or less, a subculture within a subculture defined by Black Veils. There are many who are not in agreement with out traditions or who do not share our experiences. The origins of the Sanguinarium began in the early 1990s. It has evolved over the years into one of the most prominent communities related to the vampire archetype, setting forth traditions fully realized and adopted by many groups. It is a living, breathing experience and a true culture unto its own.
Stigoi Vii ~ Elorathian Magick:
Elorathian Magick is a tradition of vampiric witchcraft that has evolved within the spiritual elements of the Black Veils. It has its foundation in the chaos magic as defined by Peter J Carroll (Liber Null & Psychonaut), with a primary Paradigm focus on the empowering elements of the Vampire Mythos. Secondary influences include Egyptian magick (Khemeticism), Hinduism, Buddhism, The Thelema of Magus Aleister Crowley, Shamanism, Temple of the Vampire (TOV), LaVeyan Satanism, Temple of Set (ToS), Gnostic teachings, Judeo-Christian mysticism, esotericism, and Hermetic Magick from ancient times. A practitioner of Elorathian Magick is known as a Strigoi Vii, which is the plural for Strigoi Viu, the Romanian word roughly meaning “Living Vampire Witch.”
Disciplines include the study of ceremonial magick, ethical vampirism, Tantra, sorcery, astral projection, (Out of Body Experience),lycanthropy, necromancy, divination, energy manipulation, sigil work and interactions with an egregore known as the “Current of Elorath.” The Strigoi Vii are initiates and Disciples of the Elorathian path, who serve as spiritual guides and mystics, highly trained in the exploration of the metaphysical. The central organization who practices and defines the core teachings of Elorathian Magick is the highly secretive Order Strigoi Vii (OSV), an initiatory order dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the Current of Elorath.
The process of syncretism is defined as reading between the lines and seeing the elements of the Eloratian Mysteries in disparate myths, stories, and thoughts, then putting them back together into more practical and applicable truths. This is what Strigoi Vii do: seek truth and reason through their own inside, as well as that of other wise ones.
The Great Work aka The Quest:
The Great Work of the Black Veiled Vampire comes in two forms: Internal and External. Internal is the personal Quest of Immortality; external is supporting the furthering and prosperity of the vampire culture (VC), family, and community. The Dayside immortality described in the Black Veils is physical immortality. The Quest from the Elorathian mysteries is spiritual and metaphysical immortality.
Mundane religions usually promise some sort of life after death. They offer a variety of “guarantees” for rebirth a continuance if they’re doctrines are followed without any tangible evidence for scientific proof. Reincarnation is one of the most common ways mortal religions promise immortality. However most mortal religion see reincarnation as a process of forgetting. The individual is reborn as a completely different person without any memories or characteristics of the previous self. To the Adept Vampire, this is the Second Death. We seek to preserve Our Self within Immortality. The ancient Egyptians were obsessed with preserving the self after death and took every precaution in their power to avoid or prevent death. Today’s Black Veil Vampire is in agreement with these goals.
The Black Veil Vampire looks through the mysteries for esoteric evidence and teachings that provide them with tangible evidence for immortality of the self. The obvious place to begin is with physical immortality, which means ensuring a long life by keeping one’s body in good physical condition and taking advantage of advances in medical technology to prevent the ravages of Aging.
Religion:
Vampires who adhere to the Black Veils reject the concept of Vampirism and Elorathian Magick being considered as a religion. It is, at first, a philosophy and culture in the Dayside; for the Elorathian Vampire, it is also a spirituality and magickal system in the Nightside. It makes no claims to define an all mighty divinity, that is up to the individual and Beyond the scope of these teachings. Vampire philosophy and tradition based on results that are validated by each individual. However Black Veil Vampirism if not a religion in the common sense of the word. It’s reality is far more complex.
The Black Veils in the Nightside are, on a spiritual level, a “meta-paradigm” or “meta-belief system” which is based on the ability to paradigm shift; to use various belief systems and methods to achieve a specific purpose. For the spiritual Black Veil Vampire, belief is a tool that can be applied at will. Thus, the Vampire may adopt and discard different belief systems and philosophies in order to create a temporary view that will Aid them in Zhep’r then discard the system when it is no longer useful.
Therefore, Vampires of the Black Veils can be Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, Hindus, agnostics, and even spiritual atheists. There is no limit to the diversity of the vampires choice of spiritual paradigms. There are religious leaders who keep their Vampirism a personal secret, such as vampire evangelist ministers or Vampire Catholic priest.
This may seem a contradiction; however, since Black Veil Vampirism is not a religion based on faith or belief, there is no reason that a vampire cannot practice any religion they wish. For example, an individual Black Veil Vampire may find that’s the teachings of the Hebrew faith empower them personally as they pursue their evolution of Zhep’r
The Misanthropic Vampire 