
Greetings All! I am delighted to have as my guest this month, the very dynamic Dunya Hopefulsoul, of the Vampire Church Council, here with me as my guest :o) Dunya has been on the VC Council for just about 4 years now, and has contributed a great deal towards the continuity of the VC and the community it is based around. She has answered questions and posts, written articles, edited the zine, and taught, plus so many other things, and we recognise her as a very valuable member of this community, and of the VC family. She can be reached via Dunya30 on AIM, or by e-mailing her on Dunya30@hotmail.com.
Silver: Greetings Dunya, glad to have you as my guest this month. Thanks for being here with me today :o)
Dunya: Thanks for asking me this evening.
Silver: Ok, for those who have not yet made your acquaintance, could you please introduce yourself?
Dunya: Well I'm a 36 year old mother to a 9 year old son. I have been a member of the Vampire Church since Jan 1999
Silver: That's rather a long while. No doubt you have seen some significant changes within this community.
Dunya: Oh yes and for the better. I took some time off and came back to alot of changes.
Silver: Can you explain how you feel things have changed for the better in this community? Do you feel it's down to new information, or maybe how large the community has grown? Or something else you have noticed?
Dunya: I think its the source of information that has given to growth and understanding in the community. And with what LA and Damien did with the articles - putting them out where people can find them easier, that has given even more infomation to people.
Silver: I thought that was a grand idea myself.
Dunya: I give them links in advice email all the time.
Silver: What do you think of the recent development concerning our "Not 18" list for those under age?
Dunya: I think that too was a great idea. That also leads to growth in the community, where the young also can find others to talk with. There are also chat rooms for minors there on the links somewhere.
Silver: Do you think it is especially important for those youngsters to be able to have someplace like that, where they can discuss how they are feeling, or do you think that they will eventually find the information they need in spite of being told they can't participate?
Dunya: Yes I thinks its a great idea for them to have that outlet. It's better then going to the wrong sources, which we can't really stop them from finding on their own...But with what we have it's a start to rightful links for them to learn from.
Silver: No, we can't...And it's unfortunate. And also true on finding ways of learning. Ok, an on that note, what was it like when you discovered that you were awakening?
Dunya: Well I have always had things that I felt were different from what others felt - things I felt from others, and places I went and how I was effected.
Silver: Ok..
Dunya: I was about 9 years old when things changed.
Silver: 9 wow...
Dunya: But I didn't really know much about real vampirism until I was older. I was always into the more magical ways of the world. I guess that's what opened my eyes to the condition.
Silver: So how did you finally discover that you were a vampire?
Dunya: It was though my time of learning here in the VC. Before that, I was just your basic witch that felt more for her surroundings, and did ritual magic to make me feel better. When I knew it was the thing I did ritually, like. I'm a elemental vampire. I do many rituals that use the elements. So it was something I was doing each day anyway. But I didn't know it was feeding that I was doing. See how everything comes together? I'm also a empathic. I feel more sensative to emotions. Even a good sad story makes me cry. I'm ruled by the moon.
Silver: When you were awakening, did you know any other vampires that you could relate to, or talk to about what you were experiencing?
Dunya: No I was an outcast at school. Different hair colors, and some hard times in school. I had other like me outcasts to hang with.
Silver: That must have been difficult for you.
Dunya: Yes I have few friends offline, but that has changed though.
Silver: How has it changed, and in what way?
Dunya: I'm much happer then I was 2 years ago, when I didn't want to be known or seen offline. It was a very hard time in my life. Now I have a happy life, and that positiveness has made me feel very well, and I have met others offline.
Silver: That's excellent :o) Ok, I know you have your own list - can you tell us how long you have had it, and what sorts of things are discussed there?
Dunya: Well I have an e-list called Vampire Life, and I started it 2 years ago, I think. It's not been real active. But it offers people info on things going on in the community. Or a place to hang that hat and say hello. We have talked about some things. But it's a small list, and my time is pretty much devoted to the VC, and offline.
Silver: Ok, seeing as you are mainly active within the VC, how has working within the VC helped you within your own vampirism?
Dunya: It's helped me with understanding of how vampirism affects others, and how I affect others when helping them. It's funny how, when you help someone and they really are grateful to you for it, that you can really feel that, and that is an empathic emotion, and that's why I love what I do, and come back to do it.
Silver: How does it effect you when someone hits you with chaotic energies?
Dunya: I feel like crap. I have real bad shielding skills and don't get to pratice them much. I would have to be around someone that was trying to feed from me to pratice them.
Silver: Do you feel that shielding is THAT important? I mean. do you feel like you need one, or even many for whatever reason out there? Or do you feel that maybe only one good one is necessary?
Dunya: I feel one good when necessary. I don't feel anyone around here has the power to affect me that greatly, that I would need to shield more than that.
Silver: Alright, moving on a little bit, how do you feel about houses which promote vampirism as a belief or fetish?
Dunya: I don't think about other houses. I belong to one and promote what we promote, the truth. If other houses want to educate people, then that's great as long as they're working along with the same ideas, and not feeling people's heads with garbage. I have grown out of the envy of others, and there signs. I spend no time looking around. I found my home - Can't say I would ever want to find another.
Silver: Well I totally know how you feel. Ok, so how in depth, magickally, do you go? What sorts of things would you be likely to delve into?
Dunya: I'm a simple ritual worker, earth bound. I do spells mostly from time to time when I'm asked to.
Silver: What exactly does it mean to be "earth bound"?
Dunya: I do spells that are elemental in use - earth, fire, water, air.
Silver: And for what occasions do you make use of them?
Dunya: I use them in all spells I do in some way. When someone asks me to do them, I can do banishment spells , luck spells, love spells..
Silver: Do you feel that having a spiritual side has assisted you in strengthening your ability to draw energy toward you? And how difficult was it for you to be able to apply it to Self, as opposed to releasing it for the benefit of someone else?
Dunya: Yes I do feel it has assisted me. I use it on myself sometimes. More in the form of superstition. Like I have a lucky rabbit's foot, and many wishbones. I am silly like that :o)
Silver: YOU have a rabbit's foot, who owns a bunny farm? *shock, horror* :o)
Dunya: But for someone else, I put much of myself into it. Oh no not my bunnies feet! I would never! I got it a a spirit shop.
Silver: :o) No, I realise they aren't YOUR bunnies' feet.
Dunya: I would never do something bad to my magick bunnies.
Silver: Magick bunnies? Oh DO explain :o)
Dunya: Well I give them so much of my love, and they're white, most of them, with pink eyes and I wish to learn how to pull one out of a hat. I give them my good will so they can pass it along to new owners :o)
Silver: So you have literally loaded them with your energies?
Dunya: Yep and they cycle to me. They give me a lot out of life, and my family enjoys them as well.
Silver: I can totally understand, because we also have a bunny, and she is better than any pet we have ever had. She is so affectionate.
Dunya: Yes so are our 17, soon to be more - minus the scratches :o)
Silver: Oh we have scratches and scars from Booda as well :o) Her claws are sharp as any cat, and she tends to "dig" on you sometimes when you hold her, which of course, isn't pleasant, but there you go :o)
Dunya: Mine too. I cut their toenails often.
Silver: Ok, just to sort of get back on the topic here, do you think personally, that there is anything else you/we could be doing for this community, that you/we are not currently doing? And what?
Dunya: Gosh I can't think of anything..We are doing great so far. I know more is to come with such a great staff working together.
Silver: Ok, I think we do have a good crew as well :o) And I hope we have many more good years together :o) How would you advise other people who seek help, but are too affected by the myths or vampire movies to really get it into their heads, and be able to understand the real?
Dunya: I would advise them to attend the dark bazaar in NOLA each Halloween. There is a great opportunity to meet all the right people, and hear alot about real vampirism. I know this year, things were not the same down there. But now, I'm sure there will be some more going on in years to come.
Silver: Have you been to one of those meetings yourself?
Dunya: No, I am too poor at this time :o)
Silver: Awwww hehehe :o)
Dunya: But I do plan to attend someday.
Silver: Well I can sympathise there :o)
Dunya: I need to meet the people I work with.
Silver: Ok, I have one last question for you.
Dunya: Ok.
Silver: What do you hope to see in the future of the vampire community?
Dunya: I hope to see more understanding and tolerance..
Silver: Do you feel those things are worrisome issues now?
Dunya: With the media attention on real vampirism, I think perhaps we are gettting the right information out, more than the wrong, but there will always be that wrong out there. But we have the right, so we just keep talking and meeting, and there are grateful people out there. I have gotten a few thank yous from people for all that we are doing.
Silver: Well, like you, I hope to see some more changes in the future as well. Well Dunya, I appreciate you meeting with me, and I have enjoyed speaking to you this eve. Thanks again for sharing with us :o) I hope you have a great Christmas with your family. :o)
Dunya: Thanks and good eve to you, and I wish the best for others, and you as well :o)
Silver: Thank you :o)
Silver's Final Thoughts ~
Greetings to all. Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all a blessed and joyous holiday season. May you all be surrounded with love and affection, as you enjoy the warmth and company of family and friends. May Santa bring you all the toys you asked for :o) And may you each be richly blessed. Have a great Christmas/Yule/Kwanzaa/Hannukah/New Year :o)
The Darkest ~
Silver