Greetings to all! Well, this month, I have Lordess Gypsy from the House Scarlet Moon as my guest. Gypsy has been in the community for quite some time and has quite a fascinating background! Her site can be found at http://www.housescarletmoon.org/

Silver: Greetings Gypsy :o) Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet up with me.

Gypsy: Hi Silver, it's my pleasure - I assure you

Silver: Righto...For those who do not yet know you, can we begin please, with a short introduction..

Gypsy: Are you saying I'm short? hee hee :o)

Silver: :oD I dunno, are ya? :o)

Gypsy: Sorry, I suffer from a deplorable excess of personality - The vamp community sorta isn't sure about me, and yes - I'm 5/5.

Silver: Well that's ok, there are times I am unsure about the vamp community :o)

Gypsy: *Touche*

Silver: And I am 5' 9" and 1/2 :oD Indeed :oP

Gypsy: What does the vamp community need to know?

Silver: Well... You can begin by telling us all a bit about you, and how you got involved in this wondrous community :o)

Gypsy: Well, I am now 40... My psi quirks began around 22. I am very latent in awakening and the prolonging of it caused more problems than most experience, I believe.

Silver: Really? Are you able to elaborate, or would you prefer not to?

Gypsy: Therefore I take vampirism very seriously but not myself. Many awaken completely over an 8 month period - Mine seemed to start and stop for about 10 years - till I was 32. In that time: I thought I was going crazy - Depression anxiety, insomnia, my senses increased, but only enough to make me question my own sanity and seek medical help.

Silver: Do you think there is a particular reason as to why that happened?

Gypsy: Witches, and metaphysically inclined individuals, etc. seem to experience similar problems. I think it's a geographical think - ley lines.

Silver: You think ley lines are responsible for delayed awakening? I'm not sure I understand..

Gypsy: If I had a dollar for eveytime we heard "you Alabama vamps are SO different" (I'd be rich. All of us have labored awakenings here) Usually dragging us through the emotional and psychological wringer. Most of us lose jobs, first spouses, custody of children, their homes, college careers, etc.

Silver: Ok but this tends to happen to many vampires regardless of where they are. Not every one of us, but I know this happens to a large percentage anyway.

Gypsy: But over 10 or multiple years? We're not sure - We know we are pretty messed up before we find each other. I've seen more "fashion and lifestyle vamps" than real ones to make me really believe that - One reason I enjoyed meeting Damien.

Silver: Well, taking myself for an example, I have gone through just about all of those things at some point. I can't be 100% sure and say they are because of vampirism, but I am pretty sure it has alot to do with it, or at least contributed to it in some ways. Oh that's true. There are many who enjoy dressing up, and they feel this is all part and parcel. I have said many times it is like having a white cow stumble into a herd of purple cows, loudly proclaiming to be purple as well, when all the purple cows can plainly see it is white.

Gypsy: I guess you are right, maybe it's the fact that we don't bounce back as well, then - Everyone else seems more adjusted than us.

Silver: Hmm...Maybe in some ways, those who don't go through this are perhaps able to cope in ways we cannot.

Gypsy: I like that - purple cows - Maybe we should change the house name.

Silver: But I would not go so far as to say more adjusted, because mundane folk sure have their own set of issues that they suffer with. Hehehehe :o) I am a very purple-inclined woman :o)

Gypsy: I totally agree with the fact that they don't seem as marked for life or as bitter.

Silver: Ok. Let's discuss House Scarlet Moon...

Gypsy: That's not healthy, I admit, but it doesn't seem to fade so easily. Oh what a great bunch!!

Silver: When did you start this house, and what services do you offer to this community?

Gypsy: HSM started officially Yule 2000.

Silver: Ok, so it's relatively new..

Gypsy: We are building a site that offers a practical approach to being a vamp.

Silver: Is it mainly online or do you also have offline public meetings?

Gypsy: Health information: Diets, discussing ill-diagnosed depression. We are all local, we are together daily. We are with each other more than our own families, sharing the Alabama Curse of the Vampire...LOL!! We do movies, constant impromptu socializing, and lifting each others spirits.

Silver: Oh that sounds fun though :o) I bet you all have a blast! Ok. I noticed from having a look into your site, that the majority (if not all) of your members, have a spiritual path of some kind as well. Does HSM promote spirituality and vampirism?

Gypsy: Not at all - We have a few catholic vamps in the house, one or two deist, agnostics, uhm a charismatic christian...

Silver: Right you are. Ok, going back to your awakening - You say it was a real eye opening experience..Did you have anyone else around to help guide you through it? Or did you have to go through all that on your own?

Gypsy: Oh definitely on my own. I was in Chicago at a record release party (a not quite totally awakened vamp) someone on the internet came out to the party - Stayed for 30 minutes, drained me like I was in a bed of ants and it seemed to finished my awakening with a vengeance.

Silver: How so?

Gypsy: She introduced herself as a vampire and I was like "yeah right, and I'm Madonna". We were both early 30s, I thought she was delusional. She said let me know if you start tingling (I denied it the whole time) And the more I denied, the more I tingled.

Silver: That's really very bad form for her to have done that...

Gypsy: When I woke up the next day - The colors were like "whoa!! what the fu...???" And it's a long drive home from Chicago - *Listening and looking and feeling NOT myself at all!!*

Silver: It can be disastrous getting hit by a psi vampire, especially one who doesn't care about excercising control.

Gypsy: She knew that I felt suddenly "compelled to research vampires" and I wasn't a horror fan. Incomplete changes keep evolving but none would bloom entirely

Silver: Yeah, but doing that on someone with such a vengeance is unacceptable.

Gypsy: I was stuck - Stranded inside myself and confused and scared and totally preoccupied.

Silver: I think after that ordeal, I'd have felt the same.

Gypsy: I was miserable; yes. She set me free; yes. But didn't leave the instruction manual

Silver: Hmm...That's a strange way of being set free.

Gypsy: I agree, what else can I say?

Silver: I'm not sure how to respond to that one, I'm afraid. Ok..Does anyone in your family know of your vampirism? And if so, how have they reacted?

Gypsy: I believe natural psychicism is hereditary, now and then there's a black sheep: a vamp. Mom knows who is calling on the phone, when we are sick, and has sisters the same, all past 70s.

Silver: Well, I have said this all along that everyone is psychically talented, it's a part of our makeup, our survival instinct if you will...When you get a gut feeling, that's part of it..When you see someone you know, a loved one maybe, who is ill and then they become so, that's part of it.

Gypsy: My brother had something similar (He's in his 50s) But does not wish to hear of modern vamp theories.

Silver: As far as your mother knowing these things, that's what I am talking about - that's all built - in. I don't believe it's learned.

Gypsy: Exactly - She has the energy cleansing and calming talent - Very light and angelic.

Silver: Well then maybe you could explain that this is not a new theory, It has been affecting people all throughout the lifespan of humanity. Although...Some have no wish to see past what they can be physically shown.

Gypsy: He and I both experienced fear, and I stayed in my house, never leaving, but for a few days here and there, for about 2 or 3 years.

Silver: Agoraphobia?

Gypsy: My record is far better than my brothers at 18 years. Yes.

Silver: That's pretty heavy..Were you able to extinguish the phobia?

Gypsy: I thought I was going to hell, I was afraid of myself, my awakening was serious while others were happy - No one had answers on any e-lists. Finally I met another vamp one night when my husband dragged me to a club where he was doing sound.

Silver: I have said often, that the awakening process is like reliving puberty all over again - Everything suddenly goes to hell, where it was all nice and fine before..

Gypsy: Exactly - Makes one wonder about humankind actually having free will.

Silver: Some people come to us in doubt as to whether they are suffering from vampirism..Is there a way they can know for certain they do suffer from it?

Gypsy: I've noticed a check list of traits that are always the same, variations at best - And when serotonin - type drugs make your vamp condition worse instead of better (it's not depression, right?)

Silver: Vampirism and depression are not one and the same, but more often than not, they walk hand in hand. Serotonin - uptake inhibitors are supposed to uplift you. This is why Prozac is called "the happy pill".

Gypsy: I agree and that's where alot of people get medical attention instead of metaphysical attention. I think that is why many vamps turn to the energy work of the occult religions. When the average human gets cancer or a terminal disease, they turn to religion for support - I think we often do the same.

Silver: Well, it's ok to get medical help as well, instead of ruling that out. In some cases, problems like depression are already relevant in a person's life, but maybe not full blown until something really heavy is laid upon them, making it hard to cope - vampirism for example. And so this provides a valid reason for seeking medical help. And as far as turning to the occult, do you not think a good portion of them were involved already (in the occult), before their vampirism came out of them?

Gypsy: I was a touring musician, and had a record label. I was all about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll - Big hair and the '80s bands - God was not in the picture at all - LOL!! I thought in my 70s - I'd take off my spandex and get baptized and slide in home to heaven.

Silver: Because I had been a practitioner for many years, I never considered there was anything like this happening to me. It was always on the back burner, but looking back, I can see that it had tried to come out for a long time, but I was on a major spiritual quest for a long long time. Once I finally fell into the place I was meant to be in and got comfortable, then it began to surface, and then I looked at it in great depth over a period of a year. But it was nothing major - It was more like one more thing to get used to, and learn about.

Gypsy: On the road, I had tarot cards, runes, etc. But also a chess game and there was no real difference to me (at that time).

Silver: Ok.

Gypsy: Later, I was like "holy sh*t - this stuff is real?"

Silver: From what I have seen since being in this community, there are a good many who walk in that have a good basic knowledge of occult matters, which makes it easier to understand the concept of energy manipulation Which is important, and helpful :o)

Gypsy: This I can see - But I still separate vampirism from spirituality.

Silver: Oh yeah, I do as well, because they are two separate entities entirely. Beliefs are a choice; Vampirism is not..

Gypsy: *Thank you sister Silver!! - Preach on!!*

Silver: :o) How do you feel about houses which promote vampirism as a belief or fetish?

Gypsy: Oh man, do you really want to open this can of worms with HSM? House Suck Me?? LOL!! At Goth Con - HSM was called "the Sanguinariums most wanted" - LOL!!

Silver::o) What were ya most wanted for? (says this with great curiosity now) If it's X-rated, I'll bleep it :oD

Gypsy: We don't mind the BDSM community - But we openly assault houses that practice it and confuse the newly awakended with it.

Silver: So then you all see that also as being separate from vampirism?

Gypsy: Same for vampire religions and making being a vamp a spiritual thing -TOTALLY seperate- All of us. We have a graphic "whip my ass, I wanna be a vampire", With a BDSM paddle to a females butt!!

Silver: Hehehehehe. Sounds interesting :o)

Gypsy: I know internet vamps were not helpful to me during my awakening - So that's the whole deal.

Silver: Over the internet, you too can be God. :o)

Gypsy: I have a list of those Gods . . .

Silver: Oh REALLY??? Sounds interesting... :o) Any of them worth a look?

Gypsy: I met Damien at Endless Night 2001 - He was the only one I could feel.

Silver: Yes we are all in love with Damien, because he is a gorgeous man :o)

Gypsy: I liked that - Vamp radar!! Pressure in the head and chest - Now that's a vamp.

Silver: Damien has some very vibrant energies.

Gypsy: He came up to me and said "you hate this don't you?", I thought he meant the event. I said, well "you know - getting to meet people... Trying to answer half-assed... "

Silver: Damien is a rather well-versed vampire...He knows all the tricks on shielding and things like that, and he never lets his guard down.

Gypsy: He said "no, I mean being a vampire." - I was like yeah - You're alright!!

Silver: He's the dues , most definitely :o)

Gypsy: I like psychic sparing and over the web psi-connecting for fun and entertainment.

Silver: I find it easy to pull from some people online, though I don't do it very much anymore...I tend to go out of my house regularly now, so I use that opportunity to pull what I need while being out :o) Ok, let's go onward...

Gypsy: Sure thing.

Silver: Sometimes people ask us how we take in energies, can you describe how you gain them and how you feel once you have?

Gypsy: I seem to run on psi-auto pilot and often don't realize until it's nearly dawn and I'm so hyper, then I think - wow, everyone in the theater WAS asleep when we left - hmmmm??

Silver: Do you find certain times of the month that you are not able to take energy?

Gypsy: Not as much as the year - During the October to spring equinox - Bloodlust kicks in.

Silver: Really?

Gypsy: It's like my psi abilities also die back for the winter, and then seasonal depression easily takes over if I don't make a conscious effort.

Silver: See, for me, during the full moon, the energy out there is too chaotic for me to want to pull in, and largely it sickens me anyway...But I end up actually "starving" myself and this is when I get foul-tempered and headachy.

Gypsy: Fruit, lightning, blood donor - And this year, HSM is gonna try to do Saturday Night psi-feed outtings at clubs.

Silver: Speaking of lightning - We had a great lightning storm the other night..Best I have seen in ages...My kids started buzzing all over the place, and we all began cleaning the house, so I guess it was good for everyone.

Gypsy: Before the full moon - My insomnia is off the charts - And my sense of panic is not fun.

Silver: Sometimes I get that problem as well.

Gypsy: Lightning is vampire cocaine. And it makes me more amourous - *giggles*

Silver: Interesting way of putting it :o) If someone who was questioning their vampirism came to you, what advice could you offer them? Hehehe :o)

Gypsy: Vampirism is a word that causes misunderstanding, but it is only a word - Get past it and be healthy and good to yourself.

Silver: Oi - good stuff!

Gypsy: We are creatures of the same divine energies of the Universe - Just extra needs, extra abilities and extra curses. Get over yourself, and your self-loathing, and don't be afraid to say the v-word. I think that is health.

Silver: Extra needs for sure...Ok, one final question for you.

Gypsy: Sure.

Silver: Where do you see your house/org in the next 5 years? Do you have any long-term plans for your organisation, and if so, what do they consist of?

Gypsy: We hope to be a local family for life. Even when some move away, they are still family, we are not like other houses, and in that we find our strength and confidence.

Silver: In this day and age of sameness between the various houses and organisations, a little uniqueness goes a long way. Well I have to say, Gypsy, that I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with you, and I thankyou again for your time in participating in this interview with me :o) I hope all that you would seek for your house, happens for you.. :o)

Gypsy: I agree - At the end of "Hunt for Red October", Sean Connery's character says "a little revolution is a good thing" - I believe that. I appreciate the opportunity more than you will ever know - Thank you so much. We are here if anyone needs us!!

Silver's Final Thoughts ~

Looking back on all the interviews I have done over the last couple of years, it's extraordinary to see how much help is actually available out here for this community. There are options of online congregation, as well as offline - both are equally important, and complimentary to each other. Each help the other to reach out to those in areas where contact may not be as prevalent, both help each other to thrive, and this is truly important, especially now in the age of "vampire culture" which is forever cropping up here and there, and giving this community a bad name.

This is precisely why we are here, to aid those who are forever swayed into thinking the culture aspect is the true and correct way. More and more become caught up in the glamour that is not vampirism, thinking that it is vampirism because of various aspects of the media and game playing companies...Many of these companies, including, but not limited to the media, the film and television societies that tend to glamourise vampirism to make their products more attractive and sell better..They surely MUST be made to see that this does in fact cause the greatest harm to this community, and fully negates the entire reasons for us being here. They must surely see that they cause severe emotional and mental trauma to impressionable young folk, and then we in this community, are left to attempt to undo the knots that have been tied in their brains as a direct result of propaganda. Vampirism must be made to be seen to be what it truly is - a condition - NOT a lifestyle, for lifestyle implies choice, and no one chooses to be a vampire.

I hope that this finds everyone who reads it, in good health, and looking forward to the coming Christmas holiday, where we spend time with loved ones, who we may not have seen in a long time. As always, I hope that you have enjoyed this interview, that it has been helpful to you, and has educated you as to what real vampirism is and is not. Until next year ~

Dark Blessings
Silver Rainbolt

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