It occurred to me while I was writing the previous article that perhaps I was using some terms you don’t know, or perhaps have read elsewhere, but didn’t fully comprehend. I hope I cover most of the terms here, however if there is something you’ve read either here or elsewhere, please do feel free to post to the discussion board, and I’ll see if I can help you.

• Auto-Vampirism – a term used for the drinking of one’s own blood or the recycling of one’s own energy. Not recommended, but sometimes necessary.
• Awakening – this term is used for the process by which most of us realize what we are. We’ve gone through some difficulties resulting from the various symptoms (as outlined in the previous article) or even perhaps had someone (usually another vampire, sometimes a donor) help us through it.
• Blood-Vampire/Blood Junkie – a blood drinking vampire. Blood Junkie is more a slur than anything else, however some vampires use the name as a joke, or endearment. Also known as a Sanguinarian, or Sanguine.
• Blood-Letting – generally this involves cutting into the skin with a blade, or the use of a needle and syringe. There are safe practices that must be followed, either on your own or with a donor.
• Blood-Play – the use of blood exchange/drinking during sex or rituals. Sometimes referred to as fetishism.
• Coming out of the coffin – exactly like “coming out of the closet” for gay folks, or “coming out of the broom closet” for pagans/witches.
• Dayside – the everyday, daylight life of the vampire. Mundane tasks such as jobs, laundry etc.
• Donor – a person who may or may not be a vampire, who allows his or her blood or psi-energy to be taken by a vampire. Opinions differ on whether a donor can also be a vampire, but from my own, personal experience, yes – one can be both.
• Elder – one who’s been amongst the vampiric community for an extended period of time, and shares his/her knowledge.
• Energy-Vampire/Psi(psy)Vampire – A vampire that feeds off the psychic or emotional energy of another.
• Feeding – the drinking of energies; either blood or psi.
• Fledgling – a newly awakened vampire.
• Hunger/Thirst – the craving for energy – either blood or psi, but generally blood. If not fed, the Hunger can become all consuming in it’s own right. Blood will fill your thoughts and desires until you become single-minded, focused only on the next feed.
• Mentor – generally an older, or more experienced vampire who takes another, “fledgling” under his or her guidance.
• Mundane – non-vampiric. Also used in paganism/witchcraft for those that aren’t magickal.
• Nightside – the life of a vampire, being part of the vampiric community, non-mundane tasks of life. Sometimes referred to as the dark side, the darkness or shadow.
• Poser – one who claims vampiric line, or such impossibilities as immortality, having been “turned” through a bite, etc. Sometimes referred to as a role player, or “Gaja”.
• RPG’er – those considering themselves vampires only because of a role-playing game, such as Vampires: the Masquerade. Please note some Real Vampires play RPG’s.
• Real Vampire – see Blood Vampire and/or Energy Vampire above.
• Sexual Vampire/Succubus/Incubus – a vampire that feeds solely off the energies created during sexual encounters.
• Vamping Out – an extreme attack of hunger, generally related to blood vampires. Heart rate may change, breathing will either become quite rapid, or slow and shallow, pupils may dilate, sweats, etc.
• Vampire Lifestyler – someone playing a game of being a vampire, by adopting certain “vampiric” ideologies or mannerisms. Often modeling him/herself after an Anne Rice or V:tM character.
• Wanna-Be – exactly what it sounds like -someone who wants to be a vampire, but is making a fool of him/herself while at it. Generally, these are the people who post to message boards and mailing lists asking for someone to bite them, and turn them into a vampire. Someone who’s read one too many books… *wink*

Many thanks to Sanguinarius for the work she put into her glossary, through which I researched mine. I did visit many other sites, however each and every one mentioned Sangi’s list!