Mission Statement

House of the Black Moon is a serious Household  for real vampyres.Know that is a real part of your life. If you are a vampyre you can not simply brush away what is in fact a real part of you.
While we do follow the black veil guideline of the vampyre community we see them as guidlines,and we do not agree with all of them entirely therefore we are devising our own code of ethics, which we feel more benefits our House.We have not strayed to far from the black veil as we are still apart of of the vampyre community  and are working with rather than against the community to promote and help it grow in a postive way.

We seek to find those of our Blood,and bring them back within the fold of our Family,so that they may learn who and what they are,and seperate the truths from the fictions,and help them overcome any self-loathing that they might have.

Vampyre Hierachy

The hierarchical structure of Vampyre culture is referred to as The Three Pillars. The lowest level consists of Fledglings who are either new to the lifestyle, inexperienced, or who are children of Vampyre adults. They are signified by having no prefix before their name and no stone in their sigil. After a period of initiation Fledglings can become Calmae, which signifies experienced members of the Clan, coven, or circle, and they wear a red stone in their sigil. The highest level is that of the Elders who are the most experienced and influential members of the Sanguinarium. They consist of leaders and founders of clans, owners of havens and fangmakers (dentists who make permanent fangs for members), and they have a purple stone in their sigil. Elders can be Makers or Sires (they guide and protect a new person in the scene during their Awakening, and later) whilst the Family Dentists are responsible for getting people in touch, and encouraging connections between Covens and Clans. A Sire is a Vampyre parent, including parent and child, lovers, friends--anyone who guides a fledging to his Vampyre nature. A Childe is a fledgling who is apprenticed to a "Sire" and taught the Black Veil and the ins-and-outs of the Vampyre scene. Once they have learned these rules, they can be presented to the Elder of their household or Court through a ceremony of recognition. Mundanes signify non-Vampyres and people who do not support the lifestyle. Swans refer to those who are aware of the culture but choose not to partake. Black Swans are people who are tolerant of the lifestyle while White Swans are those who disapprove and try to persuade family members or friends to get out of the scene. Invisibles are those members of the community who, having been ostracized and stripped of their name, are treated as if they no longer existed. Invisibles have committed some great crime in the eyes of the community, and for this they are no longer allowed to associate themselves with the rest of vampire culture.

The Caste System

A growing number of vampiric covens and households make use of a specific caste system to help define the roles of their members. Originally utilized by the Kheprian Order, the caste system is derived from similar caste systems used in ancient societies and make great use of pseudonyms derived from various historical, mythological and biblical sources.
The vampyre castes include Priests, Concubines, and Warriors. The Concubines are lovers, donors, advisors, and altars (the center balance of a ritual for sangomancy). The Priests are the leaders, scholars, organizers and practitioners of magick, such as Sangomancy or Vampyrecrafte. Finally, the Warriors are the strongarms, protectors and guardians of the Coven.
 Prefixes such as Lord, Lady, Marquis, Marquise, Mistress, and Master denotes status in a clan.

The Vampyre Scene

The Vampyre Scene or simply the Scene is a general term for the social aspects of the vampire subculture including nightclubs, havens, events, businesses, societies, and even the online part of the subculture. The Scene is quite tolerant against their own needs and related topics and often intermixes with the Gothic scene, the S/M scene and others.
The Vampyre Scene evolved from a combination of cultural myths, legends and the romanticized Hollywood image. Modern Vampyres signify themselves by spelling vampire with a "y," which distinguishes them from Hollywood, mythological, and fictional references.

The Vampyre Scene is a serious and growing phenomenon that holds gatherings where thousands of Vampyres attend. The largest gathering is called "Endless Night" and is held in New Orleans throughout Halloween. Equivalent European gatherings include Vampyria and the Monstrous Festival.
Members congregate at Havens (Vampyre nightclubs) and Courts, which are social events or "town meetings" held in specific geographic locations.
There is a sophisticated system of Courts and Havens throughout the United States and Europe. For example, The Court of Gotham includes all of metro New York City and the following Havens: Long Black Veil, The Bank, Alchemy, Contempt, and Mother.
Another example is the Court of Lost Angeles which encompasses Los Angeles and Southern California and whose havens include the Fang Club in Los Angeles, Bar Sinister, Coven 13 and Absynthe in Hollywood, Vampiricus and Release the Bats in Long Beach, Repent in Anaheim and many more.

The Black Veil

This code is voluntary and is meant only to set an example for, not dictate or govern the scene. This updated and simplified version of the Black Veil is NOT a set of laws or rules and is no longer the “13 rules of the community,” but was written as an example set of ethics and ideas. It is your individual or group’s choice to adopt the Black Veil. This document may be printed out for personal or non-commercial or community use, only if proper credit and no alternations to the original text are made. Amendments for each household, court or community made be freely added as long as the original test is not altered. Please respect those who have brought the Veil to you.

I. DISCRETION

Respect yourself and present yourself so that others also respect you. Take care in who you reveal yourself to. Explain what you are, not to shock, but to teach and to inform. Do not flaunt what you are, and know that whether you want them to or not, your actions will reflect upon the rest of the community. Share your nature only with those with the wisdom to understand and accept it, and learn to recognize these people.

II. DIVERSITY

Among us, there are many different practices and many points of view. No single one of us has all the answers to who and what we are. Respect each person's individual choices and beliefs. Learn about them and share what you know. Our diversity is our strength, and we should not allow misunderstanding to weaken our community. Find the path that is right for you and uphold this freedom for others.

III. CONTROL

Do not allow your darkness to consume you. You are more than just your hunger, and you can exercise conscious control. Do not be reckless. Always act with a mind toward safety. Never feed because you think this makes you powerful; feed because this is what you must do. Be true to your nature, but never use it as an excuse to endanger those around you.

IV. ELDERS

Give respect to those who have earned it. Anyone can claim a title, but a true leader will prove him or herself through dedication, hard work, and great deeds. Even so, leaders should be guides and not dictators. Look to them as examples, but always decide for yourself what you must do. Respect the person, not the position, and understand that your choices are always your own.

V. BEHAVIOR

Know that there are repercussions to every action, and that you alone are responsible for your decisions. Educate yourself about risky behaviours, then always act with wisdom and common sense. Do not allow others to abuse you, but also, do not selfishly abuse. Respect the rights of others and treat them as you would be treated.

VI. DONORS

Feeding should occur between consenting adults. Allow donors to make an informed decision before they give of themselves to you. Do not take rapaciously from others, but seek to have an exchange that is pleasant and beneficial for all. Respect the life that you feed upon and do not abuse those who provide for you.

VII. COMMUNITY

Reach out to others in your community. Exchange ideas, information, and support. Be hospitable to others, and appreciate hospitality when it is extended to you. Do not engage in illegal activity, for this can endanger us all. Seek to nurture our community and support all those who do the same.

Court

A monthly social event which is much like a "town meeting" for members of the Sanguinarium in a specific geographic area. Court is usually held once a month at a local tea house, lounge or haven, and only Vampyres and black swans are welcome.
This is an opportunity to socialize with others in the Scene outside of the havens or night clubs. News and announcements are made, poetry is read, new households, children, calmae and elders are introduced.
The host of the court is usually a locally respected Elder or Sanguinary Acolyte who secures a date, time, venue, and promotes the event.

Havens

A Haven is a Vampyre nightclub or other gathering place. Considered hallowed ground, the haven serves as the social hub of a given community, providing a place where all the community can gather and socialize.
Often, special functions arranged by the vampiric community in an area are held at the local haven.

Covens

Covens (House/Household/Clans) are groups of individual vampires or vampyre lifestylers, usually but not always located within a certain geographic area, who have banded together under a specific theme, set of ideals, traditions, common Sigil, havens, membership requirements, hierarchy and/or rites.
Covens range in size from as few as three members to as many as hundreds. Covens range in size from as few as three members to as many as hundreds. Depending on their background, size and geographic location, Covens are referred to as Clutches and Circles for smaller groups; and Legacies, Households and Clans for larger groups. Some Covens have "Subcovens", which represent a branch of the family tree.
Some titles given to leaders of Covens include Elder, High Priest, Patriarch, Matriarch, or Coven Master. There are no requirements for forming a Coven other than a group of people getting together, choosing a sigil, name and theme.
The organization and purpose of each Coven varies from fraternal (House Sahjaza); religious (Church of the Vampire -- not to be confused with the Vampire Church); or familial (Clan of Lilith).
Currently, some of the more established Covens are: House Sabretooth, House Omallie, Mavenlore, Della Noir, Blackdove, House Kheperu and Trylesta, House Eclipse, House Sahjaza, House Quinotaur, and House Nekhbet. There are many others, as well.