Vampirism

Vampirism generally refers to a belief that one can gain supernatural powers by drinking human blood. It is unclear to what extent contemporary consumers of blood appeal to myths about vampires for legitimacy, or to what extent myths about vampires are based on real people who consumed human blood.

The consumption of another's blood has been used as a tactic of warfare intended to terrorize the enemy, it has been used to reflect various spiritual beliefs; and some have suggested that it is related to the disease porphyria.

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Vampirism in mythology

The term generally refers to some sort of "demonic", or otherwise supernatural, practice; which is centered around the drinking of human blood. In vampiric mythology it is sometimes argued that energy may be harvested through not only through blood, but through any number of sources of spiritual or psychological "energy".

Vampires are not always humanoid, but are sometimes bats, dogs, or spiders.

Vampiric legends have abounded throughout history and are sometimes intermixed with legends of cannibalism, although "true vampires" are generally considered to be mythological, certainly a number of people have not only believed in vampires, but believed they they themself were a vampire.

It is unclear to what extent contemporary consumers of blood appeal to myths about vampires for legitimacy, or to what extent myths about vampires are based on real people who consumed human blood.

Vampirism as a form of spirituality

Some vampirists claim that they are taking energy from another to increase their own energy.

It is sometimes argued that energy may be harvested through not only through blood, but through any number of sources of spiritual or psychological "energy".

See: Vampire, Vampire subculture, Vampire fiction, Dracula, Ann Rice, Carmilla