As an author on psychic vampirism myself, I know the challenges of tackling this complex and contraversial subject matter - especially when writing from a point of view sympathetic to the vampire. Raven Kaldera attacks the topic head-on, daring to delve into territory that many others have shied away from.
Kaldera, an author who has established himself as someone who does not flinch away from touchy subjects and cultural taboos, brings his usual clear, sensible, and sometimes blunt style to the table, offering practical wisdom for those individuals who are struggling to come to terms with their psychic vampirism. In a community that is often rife with politics, Kaldera takes no sides, instead presenting the material simply as he has observed and experienced it for himself. He supplements his own research and insights into the vampiric condition with interviews with other psychic vampires -- several of them fairly well-known. An added bonus is that these are vampires who themselves are known to have radically different approaches to the topic, and so the reader gets a full-spectrum view on values, practices, and personal experiences.
What I liked best about this work is the fact that Kaldera does not brush under the rug topics like sexuality, blood-drinking, and even parenting. The spiritual and magickal aspects of being a psychic vampire are adequately served, but the practical day-to-day concerns are also given their due.
In all, this is a balanced and coherent text, one I will be recommending to my own readers as a must-have for their shelves.
(...)
So, perhaps you've noticed a few odd things going on in your life. You get high from being in a crowd of excited people. Sex leaves you feeling energized and your partner feeling sleepy. You seem to need more contact and attention than other people do - a lot more.
You may be what is commonly referred to as a psychic vampire - someone who takes in energy from people around them. But you don't have to resign yourself to being evil, or to wondering if you're the only one out there. You're not.
This book is a lifesaver. It will help you answer questions like, "How do I get what I need ethically? What purpose do vampires serve in the human ecosystem? How can I use this talent to benefit others?"
Strongly recommended for energy vampires, those who are close to them, and energy workers of all sorts.
