Interview by Renee Begley 2007
Welcome
this evening Lady Night! Lady Night is Sixth Chair Elder of the Vampire
Nation. Among her many duties is First Chair of Donateurs, which is the
sub-sector Council for donors. She is Division Head of the Library in
Keepers of Legends and Lore. Also she is the Elder Advisor for our Judge
Magistrates sub-sector Council and writes many of the documents we routinely use
in the VN. Quite often she fills in for the Commonwealth Liaison position and
posts the memos concerning Elder Council activities after meetings to keep the
Commonwealth updated. She is an Elder in her own right for her own House and
other very active groups on and off the internet.
Actually Lady Night’s sign name in Yahoo is Night Eidolon. Before we go further
would you please enlighten us as to why you chose this ID and if it has any
significant meaning?
I chose that name years ago. Eidolon is like a phantom or apparition; an image,
something like a spirit image. It seemed to fit at the time I chose it.
I really don’t have any other explanation for it other than I came up with it
and it just seemed to fit.
Thank you. That’s very interesting!
Could you tell us a little about where you grew up and things you did and
experienced in your youth?
I grew up in Chicago and spent the majority of my life there. I moved out to Las
Vegas about four years ago, give or take. As far as getting involved in the
Communities, the occult or paganism that happened because I was raised Roman
Catholic and had an issue with it. My actual remembrance of getting into
Paganism was when I was around ten years old. Around ten I remember my
parents had bought me my first Oui Ja board and that is what started everything.
I had been able to see and communicate with spirits since I was little and had
never made the connection that they were spirits and not people. To me they were
my invisible friends. I made the connection when I got the board and it started
making more sense to me. I realized they were actually from another realm. I
looked further into Paganism and studying other religions and such. That’s how
it all started for me. How I got into Paganism and the Occult. and where
the beliefs started. Even though I was involved and studying the occult
and paganism and such vampirism didn't actually enter the picture until a
couple years later at about 12 at least consciously.
What have you studied in Paganism and the Occult? Did you have any special
interests?
The first thing I looked into was Wicca but that didn’t last long as I wasn’t
too big on ceremonies. I ended up leaving that and going more toward a lot of
the chaosmagic. I’m very eclectic when it comes to magick and beliefs. I follow
an Egyptian pantheon, Roman, and miscellaneous deities from miscellaneous.
pantheons. like The Morrigan which is among others, elven/Tuatha De Denan.
How did these interests affect your life growing up in as far as making friends
and being accepted amongst your peers?
For the most part it wasn’t an easy thing. I always found a few people that sort
of accepted it. If they didn’t they just sort of let it go. It wasn’t a big
deal. There were very few that actually practiced these things. When I got older
in my later teens about 17, I then got involved with a coven. It wasn’t
something I advertised, as it wasn’t widely accepted at the time.
After High School did you pursue any higher education?
Yes, Actually I have an Associate degree in Science and Accounting, and a
Bachelors degree in Psychology. I am currently working on my Masters in
Psychology in Mental Health Counseling. I also have my certification in
hypnosis and am working on my hypnotherapy certification.
You mentioned magick earlier. What types of magick were you interested in and do
you use godforms and things of that nature?
Actually magick is a big part of what I practice. I use many, many forms and
types. I do use chaosmagic, and candle magic, etc. I work with all
the different spirit realms. I do invocations and evocations, and deity
summoning. I don’t use herbs that much but I do use oils and that sort of thing.
I do various forms of divination. A lot of it is that I don’t use any
pre-written spells or rituals. Most is impromptu or created by myself. I use it
on a daily basis. Depends on how you look at it. Even meditation can be a form
of magick. I do regressions and things like that as well.
When did you realize you were a vampyre?
That was probably around 12 years old. I started really believing there was
something that was very, very different about myself and started doing research
into vampyres and vampyrism. This was something I did not advertise. I wasn’t
completely comfortable with it until many years later. You never know how people
will react to things like this.
Considering you believe yourself to be a vampyre, how do you think that fits
with the Mental Health Counseling aspects? How would you respond to a labeled
schizophrenic who was confirmed they were a vampire?
Actually that’s a really good question. Seems like a conflict. I think part of
the problem is those in the field look for scientific answers for everything. I
would have to hear out their story and see what signs and symptoms are. Usually
you can tell if someone is making it up or not. I have actually run into people
who believe they are something but it’s actually a mental instability. You
can feel it in their energy. I think everyone should be able to be heard. I
don’t know how the scientific community would feel about it. I believe there
should be more counselors that would be more open minded about believing there
are more things out there that can be proved. Oddly enough conditions like
vampyrism will not respond to medication. If they didn’t respond to them
and they ran a gamut of it, obviously there is something else they need to look
at. There just aren’t that many out there that believe in kin and alternative
beliefs. I hope to incorporate things like hypnotism to determine what is going
on in these people’s heads.
How did you become involved with the Vampire Nation?
I had spoken to a friend of mine about the group but before I could talk to
anyone I was sent an invitation into the group (thanks Renee). This was about a
couple of years ago.
Are
you involved with any organizations of your own or others host and if so could
you tell me a little about them?
I run Haven of Kindred Spirits. We are dedicated to promoting unity and
understanding of and among our kind. Anyone who may have an alternative belief
or subculture or someone wanting to learn about what is out there may join. We
went live on the internet May of 2004. We were incorporated as a
non-profit company that year. We have several chapters across the United States.
Currently we have meet-ups here in Las Vegas once a week. We also have several
other programs that Haven sponsors. We have the Haven Higher Learning and we
have our Guardians. It is pretty much open to anybody that wants to join.
Is there any age restriction?
An age restriction only applies to the House part of Haven and for the Guardian
program. You have to be 18 but for the general Haven there is no
restriction. If under 18 and they want to participate in the Higher
Learning classes or meet-ups we have to have a signed parents consent form.
Could you tell me about the House aspect of your organization, what its called
and prerequisites to Join?
The House is Nox Noctis Domus Its made up of concentric circles. Each
circle is a different involvement. In the most outwardly circle you have
to be 18. You have to be vampyre, kin or some alternative belief. It
is relatively open in the outward circle anywhere in the country and not just
Las Vegas. As you go into the circles farther it becomes stricter, as far as
location and involvement. They have to be a member of the Haven as well.
Do you belong to any other organizations besides the VN and the ones you
sponsor?
I’m involved in close to 100 yahoo groups and some are different organizations.
There are quite a few in Las Vegas I’m involved with. I don’t have enough time
to go to meetings that much like Metaphysical Las Vegas. I try to keep up on
what is going on in the Community and keep everyone working together. There are
various Houses throughout the country I am actually involved with as well. The
majority of my free time is with involvement with the community and the rest is
with school.
What is the funniest experience you have encountered at one of your meet-ups?
A lot of us have known each other for a while. People come up with some really
funny ideas. Once when we first started going to the place where we first had
our meetings. There was a main waiter and a couple of regular waitresses there.
About an hour into the meeting, the first waitress had quit. The second had quit
prior to our next meeting according to this same waiter. . They were afraid of
us. They thought there was a bunch of witches meeting there. That seems to be
the running joke every time someone quits The main waiter told us that by the
second week we had scared them off. We looked relatively normal and we didn’t
discuss anything relatively frightening. So we just shrugged it off. Took it in
stride and had a good laugh.
Another incident was that, we had for a long time a Republican town hall meeting
prior to our meeting. At the place we first use to meet. When we would
show up, you had never seen a bunch of people leave so fast when we walked in.
The looks alone on their faces were priceless, she laughed. They had to get out
immediately. I don’t know if they still have their meetings there anymore,
as I haven’t seen them there in a long while. Normally we don’t make a big
spectacle of ourselves. Sometimes we have people over who hear our conversations
and join in, such as wait staff, etc. Its only been a few times we have scared
people by our conversations.
Do you have any hobbies or other things you do?
I do a lot of reading and I am an avid learner. You give me a book about
something I will read it. I do some creative writing and poetry. I have a cat
walking across my mic, excuse me a moment she said laughing. Besides that
I don’t have much spare time for anything. I just try to do a lot of reading.
Who is that mischievous cat you have there?
She is walking across my desk. I actually have three of them and I cannot go
anywhere in my house without them. My youngest is a year and a half and
her name is Obi
short for Obsidian. Obi means magick in Haitian or something. My
middle child is Ripley, she is a British long hair. My oldest, I think
five now is a Lynx- point Siamese They are all very magickally inclined too, she
giggle. They are my children.
Have you done much traveling and seeing the world?
Unfortunately not too much, I did when I was younger with family. The only place
out of the country is Mexico and the Caribbean. I have seen some of the US but
not much very far east. That is about it as I haven’t had much chance to do so.
I always wanted to travel, especially over in Europe and such but haven’t had
much opportunity.
How do you see your place in the Vampire Nation?
Really pretty much the same as when I joined. I wanted to help out and
contribute something to the Vampyre community as a whole. I just try to keep
involved and do what I can to keep the community informed, together and
functioning. I believe the VN is an excellent idea. I believe in the idea of it
and the concept of it. I feel it’s an asset to the community as a whole. I
really do believe in the VN and what it stands for.
If you were asked by someone newly awakened for words of wisdom and directions;
what one thing would you tell them if you could only give them one answer?
Wow that’s a tough question. That would probably be that they are not alone. I
know that doesn’t sound like much. The main thing I have run into from
those that I have met concerns wanting some reassurance they aren’t the only one
that this happened to. They want the reassurance that they are not the
only ones out there. That they are going through the same things others have
gone through previously.
How do you see the future of the VN in the next few years?
I would hope that it would be bigger and stronger than it is now. I would like
to see it as a staple in the Vampyre community. Becoming a common name among the
community for those that are looking for help. Perhaps if looking for help a
community that is busy and comes to mind. I would like to see it that strong.
Is there any statement you would like to make to our readers in the community of
your own?
I guess I’m not one that is really big on advertising. To be honest, I think
Community is important. It doesn’t matter what group or community you belong to.
I think its just connecting. It doesn’t matter as long as it is ethical and
moral. It is most important to learn and connect to one another. Everyone has
something to say. Everyone has to find their own way and their own path and they
have to find it on their own. The groups are out there to give a little bit of
direction, education and support. I would love to say join my group it’s the
best out there but it might not be for each person. I just feel everyone should
get involved and do what they can. This is what we are here for. We are here to
help. It doesn’t matter which community. Only so much can be done for a person
but they have to find their way. You can tell them and teach them but only the
individual can find where they belong.
For anyone who is curious, this is our website:
And our web-store:
Your final words are very true for all of us who have been searching. Thank you
Lady Night for all your enlightening words. Lady Night Eidolon is indeed a very
caring and knowledgeable asset to the Vampyre Community. Her door is always open
to give you help. She is soft spoken but strong of heart and commitment.