Vampire-Identified People who call themselves "Psivamps" (or "Psychic Vampires," "energy vamps," "energy-feeders," or "psi-feeders" among other similar terms) state that they are human beings who need to draw, absorb, or "feed on" some kind of "energy" in order to maintain their health and well-being.

Most Psivamps claim that the energy they require is life force, or "pranic energy:" a specific type of energy produced by individual living things and the biosphere as a whole. While this is the most common "energy" craved by Psivamps, other types of "energy" that are identified, and differentiated from "pranic energy," include sexual energy, psychic energy, emotional energy, magickal energy, negative energy, astral energy, "deep energy," "soul energy" and atmospheric energy (for example, thunderstorms). There are others mentioned, as well. These "energies" are given conflicting and overlapping definitions, however, and the explanations of exactly what "energy" is (in this context), why it's needed and how the Psivamp benefits from it vary considerably.

Most Psivamps "feed" primarily from other human beings, but a great many report being able to "feed" from non-human living things and inorganic sources (for example, thunderstorms). In some cases, this is an emergency substitute, but some Psivamps attempt to "wean themselves" away from human sources altogether for ideological or moral reasons. Some Psivamps hold the opinion that it is more "evolved" or advanced to progress beyond feeding on humans.

Some Psivamps report an ability to absorb "energy" from material sources, including fresh vegetables, rare meat and blood. However, "pure" Psivamps never consume blood and usually find the idea of blood-drinking both distasteful and unethical. Vampire-Identified People who state they need, or crave, both blood and "energy" are currently called Hybrid Vampires.

Like Sanguinarians, Psivamps feel that they must "feed" on the energy they require on a regular basis, and many report physical feelings of discomfort if they are denied access to a source. Symptoms of "energy deprivation" include extreme fatigue, depression, mood swings, immune system suppression with an increase in illnesses, uncontrollable "draining" of non-targeted sources, negative reactions from others in close proximity to the Psivamp, insomnia and anxiety.

Psivamp fora often discuss methods of finding energy sources and "feeding" reliably and harmlessly, and these methods vary to a high degree. Some examples include Psivamps who "feed" during sex, those who "feed" on large crowds, those who draw energy from the natural world and visit parks or wilderness when "hungry," and those who "feed" by finding people in highly energized states and either calming or further provoking them.

Subjective clues that one is a Psivamp include mood swings, dizziness, alternations between high energy and fatigue, headaches, a distinct feeling that one is pulling or drawing energy or emotions from other people, and similar feelings. But more and more people are being "diagnosed" as Psivamps by other self-defined Psivamps, on the grounds of numerous criteria. These include observed effects of the suspected Psivamp on others (fatigue or depression in the presence of the Psivamp, a sensation of phantom "tendrils" or attachments, a sensation that something is being pulled or drawn out of the body or aura) and direct psychic perception of the aura or energy field of the suspected Psivamp.

Since the late 1990s, Psivamps have developed a completely independent subculture of their own within the Vampire Community and have their own acknowledged leaders and their own vocabulary. They have developed a consensual agreement on what being a Psivamp feels like, both to the Psivamp and to others around him or her, especially psychically sensitive others. Some Psivamps identify what they call an "energy signature" that allows them to interpret whether another person is a Psivamp, as well as what specific type they are and how they function. Such signatures are often read and interpreted during direct contact over such media as online chat or the telephone. Training methods adopted from modern magical traditions, standard psychic development disciplines, meditative paths such as Taoism and other sources are used to help Psivamps learn to control their "feeding" and learn to "manipulate energy."

For more information from the Psivamps' point of view, see these websites and books:

House Kheperu: seek your own truth

Psychic Vampire Resource and Support Pages

The Psychic Vampire Codex by Michelle Belanger

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