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Interview with Ashmodai Nephil
Interviewd by LA Judge
I first met Ashmodai this past winter at an MVA meeting in his hometown of Richmond, VA. I found him to a warm, sensitive young man with good understanding of vampirism and a genuine concern for the vampire community. I was delighted when he later applied to become an Associate member of the Vampire Church. His own online group, Order of the Triple Flame, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Order_of_The_Triple_Flame , is a place where those following a vampiric and / or magickal path can discuss and exchange ideas. I hope you enjoy reading this month's interview as much as I enjoyed my chat with him.
LA.: Greetings Ashmodai. Thank you for joining me this evening. Please introduce yourself to the VC Magazine readers and tell us a little about you and your vampirism.
Ashmodai: Well' I'm 23 and have been aware of my vampirism for about 2 1/2 years or so. I'm primarily sang. That is my preferred method of feeding. I have been fortunate enough to have two people in my life that I trust as donors - my fiancé and one of my best friends.
LA.: Very fortunate indeed - sanguinary energy sources are some of the toughest to achieve and maintain. Do you take energy via any other energy source?
Ashmodai: I do feed Psi and skim off energy from crowds when I'm at clubs or at concerts. I've tried elemental feeding and didn't do much for me I still feel very new to this.
LA.: 2 1/2 years is not a very long time to have been aware of your vampirism - you may still be awakening. How is that going and do see changes or other levels of awareness that are occurring with your vampirism?
Ashmodai: I am definitely becoming more aware of energy shifts around me. When someone has a sudden change in mood, I can feel it. Also, I am finding that I need to shield more as I grow more empathic.
LA.: Then you at least sensing a level of empathy - that is common to most vampires. All however do not use it as an energy source. What brought you to the Vampire Church?
Ashmodai: Well I checked out every group I could online. I was originally drawn to groups with the "darker" mystique because that fits me. But I don't follow dogmas well, or being told how I should act. I had heard about the Vampire Church on a documentary on TV. I came across it on the net and decided to check it out. It wasn't until I met you, Damien, and Linda and the MVA meeting that I decided that the VC may be the place for me. The Vampire Church also seems to be drama free and a lot more well organized.
LA.: That was quite a meeting. You were the only one there for it that was not Vampire Church
Council at the time.
Ashmodai: Yup. That was a lot of fun
LA.: And drama free is one of the things for which the Vampire Church is noted. The only thing that is asked here is that you stick to real vampirism. The Council is noted for having open minds, but all refuse to get heavily into dogma and "levels" of expertise, etc. that some groups seem to do.
Ashmodai: That was the draw for me. I can appreciate the scope of what some of the other groups are trying to do but it's not always sincere.
LA.: You have become active in the community in other ways as well joining the MVA and starting a small local group. Tell me about that.
Ashmodai: Well I originally planned to start a group that was open to magicians, vamps, otherkin, and pagans of all paths. It's called the Order of the Triple Flame. The three flames of the Triple flame are, Knowledge, Will, and Change. The offline aspects have kind of been put on hold for now. But the online group is doing well right now. I'm also in the process of organizing a local vampire meet up through MeetUp.com. That should be happening in 2 weeks. I have found 2 local Goth nights to support. Ha.
LA.: How is that going in your area, Richmond, VA? Do you find that there is a local community or do you find a lot of interest, and no real vampires?
Ashmodai: There have been a few people to show interest. But there is not a community to speak of as of yet. I'm hoping to change that.
LA.: Cool. Sometimes there is overlap and misunderstanding between all those various groups that you are incorporating - how do you handle that?
Ashmodai: So far it's gone a lot better than I thought it would. Instead of skepticism, people have showed interest to learn more. I suppose it's all in the presentation you know? If I were to start of by saying I was immortal, or the childe of who ever, than I would get looked at like a nut job.
LA.: Are finding folks open to the vampiric non-magickal interpretation of energy and how do you define and separate the two, yet practice at the same time?
Ashmodai: Well the topics tend to lean more towards magickal interpretation. It's an occult group and basically a venue to explore those aspects of vampirism and the like.
LA.: From having met you - you I know that you dislike a heavy ceremonial approach, what form of magick would you say that you practice and how long have you studied?
Ashmodai: I have studied magick in general for the last 7 years or so. I don't practice one particular form. I do take a chaos magick approach to my studies. The IOT proverb of, "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." defines my approach. If it works for me then I'll use it. I also tend to emphasize the power of will over elemental or celestial entities. I'm somewhat left-hand path in that aspect. That's how the triple flame came about.
LA.: Vampires NEED energy and very much have to deal with energy on a physical level. Magick can delve into the metaphysical. Magick USES energy - but the raising and releasing of the charged energy is wherein lies the magick. Do you agree with that statement?
Ashmodai: Yes I do. But I do believe that some of the techniques learned by feeding from, sensing, and directing energies are closely related to and aid one in effective magickal practice. Feeding isn't magick because there has been no change made in accordance will.
LA.: As a magicks practitioner myself, I can certainly understand why learning and applying the techniques from one to the one naturally crossover. How do you separate them to yourself and explain it to others?
Ashmodai: I don't really separate the two. I feel that they are both part of me and my path. But I suppose I've never really put a lot of thought into it honestly.
LA.: Then you feel that they are both part of how you identify yourself and have found and accepted your own level of personal balance?
Ashmodai: Exactly
LA.: Balance and personal acceptance are always the best path to take. You are young and gaining experience all the time where do you see yourself in say 5 - 10 years?
Ashmodai: Hopefully as a rock star!
LA.: Lol - but seriously - still active in the community? Teaching?
Ashmodai: I would love to be more active in both the vampire and the magickal communities. I don't think I would ever consider myself a teacher but I would hope to be able to guide people to their finding their own paths with help from my experiences. I'm not doing it for the recognition but at the same time I would not mind being known and respected as viable member of either community.
LA.: Well you are certainly an asset to the Vampire Church community and its good to have you as an Associate member. This month in the cartoon section, you are sharing with the VC Magazine readers one of your other passions in the form of a cartoon. Tell me a little about that?
Ashmodai: Well I've always wanted to do comic books and have a knack for designing characters. I don't usually do cartooning in a strip form. But after being part of the community for a while there are a few characters and stereotypes just begging to be parodied. Fortunately, sarcasm and humor are my specialties and go well with a cartoon.
LA.: I think it is fun and hope you continue to delight us.
Ashmodai: I hope so too. It was fun doing the first one. The next one is hilarious. All will behold "Lord Black Blood" the lifestyler.
LA.: Ooo I cant wait! I know that you have been off and on the Vampire Church main e-list for more than a year. What things have you learned there?
Ashmodai: I think the main thing that I've learned is that even though everyone has their own take on how things are from the own experience. Vampirism is a very personal thing and you have to learn what it means, and how it applies to you.
LA.: Very much so. Are there any final thoughts you would like to share?
Ashmodai: "Take care of yourselves, and each other"....I guess Mr. Springer took that one huh?
LA.: Always good advice anyhow - thanks for sharing your personal side with us.
Ashmodai: I'd just like to say thank you to you and the whole VC. No other group has made me feel this welcome.
LA.: Well thank you - and I hope to see you here for a long time.
Ashmodai: I hope so too.
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