27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Something for Psi-Vamp and Energy Worker alike, July 4, 2007
This review is from: The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual of Magick and Energy Work (Paperback)
In The Psychic Vampire Codex, Michelle Belanger discusses the experience of being a psychic vampire, and also gives instruction on various aspects of a vampire's abilities. The main focus in all of this is the Vampire House she started, House Kheperu. Despite this, there is much value in this book for non-Kheprian psychic vampires, as well as -and maybe not so surprisingly- for anyone who works with subtle energy. In this book, she demystifies the psychic vampire and reveals it for what it is: a condition or state, whether desirable or undesirable; not a choice.
She starts the book out introducing herself and her personal story, as well as stating that a lot of this work is intended for use by those psychic vampires who are Kheprians. Then she gives a history of the psychic vampire (or psi-vamp) movement, and then about her own efforts in it. She dedicates an entire chapter to an introduction of the actual Codex, including how to use it, defining certain aspects of her wording, and which parts are applicable to whom (Kheprians, other Psi-Vamps, and anyone working with energy).
Then comes the Codex itself, the heart of the book. In this, she gives practical instruction for the psi-vamp about using their abilities, how-to's on various types of feeding, and even the nature of their need for energy. Indeed, she does define the basis for psychic vampirism as a need for energy stemming from, most often, a lack of ability on the part of the psi-vamp to live off most types of subtle energies. This imparts that need to supplement these energies with the vital energy of other living things, most often other human beings. She even postulates that this can give the psi-vamp various psychic abilities naturally that others without that need might have to work for. She even introduces two aspects of working with energy which, while I'd never heard of before, I found I had done many times before in exercises like the Circulation portion of the Qabalistic Middle Pillar exercise.
After the initial Kheprian and psi-vamp focussed parts of the book, she moves on to energy work. And in this part I was most impressed, as I'm not a psychic vampire and couldn't necessarily make the most use out of the Codex. In this section on energy work, she really provides a complete set of basic to intermediate energy working skills along with practical intruction. I think that a few aspects of the energy work as presented by Belanger were depicted in a slightly limiting way. For example, she instructs on how to do a house cleansing, and tells you to do the cleansing with your hands. I've done cleansings by moving energy with my thoughts. Now, while I thought Belanger's approach to things like that were *maybe* limiting, I can see how it would give more focus, and simplicity for those just beginning. The only other beef I had with the energy work she presented was in her treatment on the section on heightening energy. While the discussion about the concept was good, I just didn't feel there was enough practical instruction from the viewpoint of energy working. But overall, the entire portions of the book dedicated to energy work were spledid and are incredibly useful. I've worked with energy for years, and I learned quite a few things from this book.
For the book overall, I really appreciate Belanger's efforts and I applaud her work. She wrote this book in a really nice conversational style that does not get even remotely condescending. In addition, she doesn't dumb it down nor confuse the reader with obscure words and phrasings. From the aspect of energy work, it's not really for the brand new beginner who has had absolutely no exposure to the concepts of subtle energy and working with it. It can, however, definitely be used by the beginner who has at least become familiar with how to move energy. Like I said, I learned a few things from this work, and I considered myself intermediate. This book is more than worth the price.
If you're interested in knowing about psychic vampirism, if you're looking to advance your skills with energy work, or if you're looking for both; get this book!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 stars, July 10, 2010
This review is from: The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual of Magick and Energy Work (Paperback)
agree that Belanger is pompous and maybe a bit of a media whore...But all and all this is a good book. It came out at a time where there was very little literature for otherkin let alone psychic vampires that wasn't "anti-parasite" For anyone that knows the information in this, the book might be a little long winded but it's a great book for beginners.
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86 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
My BS detector literally broke, December 8, 2005
This review is from: The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual of Magick and Energy Work (Paperback)
Where does one begin? This book is about 90 percent Michelle martyring herself, and 10 percent truth.
To begin, she whisks us very briefly through the 90's Vampire movement. I do mean briefly, when it comes to providing deep facts. Merely, she paints a picture of the vampire culture having to hide. That is already common knowledge to most interested in a book like this.
She definately enjoys painting a picture that she began this movement of Psychic Vampirism, yet it existed far beyond anything she still knows. She isn't the originator, only someone who decided to share her own views.
Therein lies a massive problem with this book. If we listen to Michelle, she began this movement, to the point of liberating a culture. She saved the modern vampire.
On top of it, her "energy workbook" is actually written for her own Vampire "house". So while reading over well known techniques one can learn in coffee houses, she keeps throwing her houses name into each segment of teaching. As if to tell you "We made this".
No, Michelle. You didn't "make" this movement. You didn't make anything new at all. You simply neglect to give credit to those who came before you, and who still exist today, snickering.
To anyone who wants a book on Psychic Vampires, you should take this with a grain of salt. And buy it used, if you buy it at all. I don't even think it was worth 13 dollars just to read such an egotistical book.
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