Who is he? Who is the man behind the name? Where did he come from? For that matter, how did fate toss him in with Witches and Vampires?

The Graveyard Press goes to investigate.

Interviewer: Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?

Corvis Nocturnum: I am an author of many occult and subculture/pop cultural books for Schiffer Publishing and my own company, Dark Moon Press, started back in 2005. I paint Gothic erotica and fantasy art in my spare time. My background in the fields of Criminal Justice and Business Management has helped in business of course, but I am using the legal aspects to see how I might assist various communities such as alternative religions rights advocacy.

Interviewer: You’re a civil rights advocate for different communities, as you’ve stated. What inspired you to advocate for community rights? Would you consider it a passion of yours?

Corvis Nocturnum: I would guess it comes from being a bully victim as a child. It is a byproduct of having a mind of a rebel and author I guess, in a lot of ways I am inspired by Humanist Voltaire for his scathing pamphlets during the Age of Reason, and Anton LaVey’s book The Devil’s Notebook.

Interviewer: Would you say it inspires your writing?

Corvis Nocturnum: Several things inspire me. I have a curious mind and when I set out with an essay or book it is because it holds some personal connection to me and I want to understand it deeper as well as educate others.

Interviewer: You admitted to having been bullied. Were you considered different, or out of place?

Corvis Nocturnum: I was the quiet geek who sat in the corner reading a book or drawing, did not like gym and so I didn’t make many friends! Being shy pale and thin was not an asset as a child.

Interviewer: Overall, what was your childhood like?

Corvis Nocturnum: Many foster homes, traveling the country with an alcoholic father and being beat up as a kid in school. It maybe the root of me not liking the world as a whole and wanting to learn more about criminal justice field as a side career!

Interviewer: Did strange things happen to you? Did you see strange things? Is that how you developed an interest in vampirism and other subcultures?

Corvis Nocturnum: Not really, but I grew up curious and wanting to know anything about everything spooky. I read voraciously, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Shelly’s Frankenstein, Poe and J.R.R. Tolkien between ages of eight and twelve, along with assorted miscellaneous classics.

Interviewer: Where are you from?

Corvis Nocturnum: My city of birth and place of business is Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Interviewer: When you were a child, did you ever think you’d be involved with Satanism, vampirism and so forth? What did you imagine yourself doing?

Corvis Nocturnum: Sort of! I wanted to be Batman, you know, have a cool dark place to contemplate ways to punish the villains and have a beautiful house full of fancy carved wood staircases. I, in truth wanted to be an artist for comic companies which is part of how I got into doing fantasy art.

Interviewer: Do you have siblings? Is anyone in your family like you?

Corvis Nocturnum: I have two brothers who ended up working for large mainstream corporations. My grandparents were into law and especially my grandmother loved odd things – my grandfather was a Mason so I came by it honestly. My father and a few others in the family were artists and musicians.

Interviewer: Do they know what you do?

Corvis Nocturnum: My uncle and my brother do. The rest of the family is either deceased or moved so far out of contact with us they don’t count. The family that does know is pretty accepting of it and me as a person, not family angst rebellion here. They made more of a fuss when I said I wanted to move to New York to pursue working for Marvel Comics at twenty than at what I do now for a living!

Interviewer: How does your involvement with Real Vampires and similar subcultures affect your life?

Corvis Nocturnum: It effects me in the sense that I enjoy the company of those unique individuals who identify themselves as such. It enriches my life to a deeper and broader understanding that we are all different even if we choose to be classed in a similar manner.

Interviewer: Has your association with subcultures and beliefs changed your world views and attitude towards people?

Corvis Nocturnum: I feel I already was open when I became involved, so growing and learning as I went over the years as a part of the cultures it truly makes it difficult to be outside of the whole. It would be like saying being right handed effects my life positively or negatively, it is not a correlated event outside of life, it is a part of it.

Interviewer: Do you think a person can associate with these subcultures and beliefs, then leave unaffected? Why or Why not?

Corvis Nocturnum: You either are or are not a part of it no matter how you change or adjust. I don’t think it ever truly leaves you even if you wander off into a different path in life. A love of these things is an aspect, an extension of the inner deeper you.

Interviewer: What good things has it brought to you?

Corvis Nocturnum: It has brought me friends, wonderful memories and enlightenment of others.

Interviewer: What bad things has it brought?

Corvis Nocturnum: Narrow minded people who do not want to understand their children despite my best efforts. Fanatic ‘fans’ who insist I am withholding the secrets of being a fictional vampire and get hostile in chatting on Facebook…letters from people who have mental issues. It is an interesting life being a writer of the type books I do. Fame does have its drawbacks.

Interviewer: What do you hope for the communities and religions, as whole?

Corvis Nocturnum: For people to realize their path is for them alone and we cannot force our way onto others. That line of thinking has lead to the majority of all deaths over the centuries for no positive outcome for anyone.

Interviewer: Would you wish your path on another person? Why or Why not?

Corvis Nocturnum: Each person must find their own path. Mine is for the objectivist who grounds themselves into realism. Other people need outside beliefs beyond themselves, so all of us in truth need to seek what works for us as unique human beings. You cannot ‘make’ yourself a Satanist for example, you either are or you are not….besides, it would be a boring place if we were all alike, wouldn’t it?

Interviewer: You seem to have a broad interest (From La Vey to Voltaire). What are your interest, outside of alternative beliefs/practices and subcultures?

Corvis Nocturnum: I love movies, everything from Underworld to Hannibal Rising and Bad Boys.  I have a vast library; I read everything from Ayn Rand and Nietzsche to Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake saga. I paint of course and love shooting. I was in the Army and gained a Sharpshooters medal for my trouble and to this day keep my skills up.

Interviewer: You’re a writer, but you rarely speak of other artistic talents. Obviously, from advertising, you’re a painter. Can you tell us about it? How did you get involved with it? What sparked your interest?

Corvis Nocturnum: I have always loved art and many people in my family were professional artists. I learned from books about sketching and watch Bob Ross then started doing oils after seeing the fantasy art of Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Larry Elmore of many Dragonlance saga (whom I meet at a few conventions later) and later when I came across Luis Royo (of Heavy Metal Magazine) and Joseph Vargo I was enthralled. I would say Royo and Joseph Vargo mixed is my personal style of art, heavy Gothic merged with erotica. For my birthday one year I traveled to Cleveland and Joseph was kind enough to share with me how he painted the stonework on his gargoyles! You can see that in a few of my newer works and art pieces I will be doing later this year. Joseph astounded me by writing the introduction to my art book that I hope to put out this fall.

Interviewer:Why did you get into writing? How did it happen?

Corvis Nocturnum: That is an interested aspect of my life I never saw coming actually. I was helping run an occult shop that sold Gothic art and goods and came up with the thought of explaining all the wonderful and diverse people to the general public, as there are and were so many stereotypes and misconceptions out there after things like Columbine shooting and that witches are evil, Satanists are all Devil worshipers. I knew it was false so I did my research, found history in books and interviewed people on their own perspectives. That led me to meet some incredible people out there. Michelle Belanger had just come out with her first book and was traveling with the band URN doing vocals. I spoke to her online and we set up a meeting. She was not only delighted to be interviewed but loved the concept of the book so much wrote the introduction. I simply began doing more books as offshoots of that first idea. With Michelle and others joining, that one book later became a publishing house of many more titles!

Interviewer: Since Dark Moon Press publishes esoteric material, I assume you have an interest in and experience with it. Where did that start? How did that start?

Corvis Nocturnum: I have been fascinated by the non-mainstream paths people take in life for some time. My grandfather and his father before him were Masons of a pretty high degree and my grandmother traveled with gypsies in Vaudeville days so she told me stories as a child. I was opened minded and went from dark paganism to Satanism when a friend in our group introduced me to Anton LaVey’s works back in the year 2003.

Interviewer: Why did you choose to work with Schiffer Publishing? Why not Llywellyn Press, like Michelle Belanger?

Corvis Nocturnum: I actually did pitch Promethean Flame to them, and it was of interest to the acquisitions staff. However it was a bit advanced and academic and not a ‘how to’ work so they passed on it. I discovered Schiffer when Reverend Tim Shaw of The Black Cat Lounge Radio spoke to me about a lot of paranormal writers and scholars doing books with Schiffer. My editor is very deeply interested in all things supernatural like ghosts and UFOs so she welcomed Cemetery Gates and I Lucifer. Their books are beautiful, the paper quality makes the color photos leap out at you and the layout is excellent. I am very happy with the company in bringing my vision to life. Schiffer actually asks for my input on cover design and Lucifer was almost totally my concept so I have no issues working with them.

Interviewer: Why did you choose “Corvis Nocturnum” for a name? What does it mean? Does it have special significance for you?

Corvis Nocturnum: My pen name came about for several reasons. I wanted a screen name back while I was researching my first book, Embracing the Darkness: Understanding Dark Subcultures, for AOL chat rooms. It was important to me to be able to relate to my audience that I was indeed a part of the culture (and still am) and as I continued to write essays and more books, the name stayed. As well I was part of an eclectic group of pagans, LHP and spiritualists, and the name fit my personality. Corvis, derived off of corvus (crow/raven species) is because the birds mannerisms and general characteristics were the same as mine, and being part Cherokee my mother and my significant other at the time both selected Koga as a name for me – which in English means Crow. I opted for Nocturnum as the Latin was Gothic sounding and I am a huge fan of the works by friend Joseph Vargo’s art. His work inspired that part.

Interviewer: Can you tell us about your beliefs? Are you a practicing Pagan and/or Witch?

Corvis Nocturnum: At this point, I am a Warlock in the Church of Satan, and have been a proud card carrying member of Magus Anton LaVey’s order. They represent everything I hold dear in regards to how to push ones self further every day. I rarely do rituals, and so when I do they are more powerful to me because of it.

Interviewer: How does Satanism affect your life?

Corvis Nocturnum: In Satanism it is more about how I affect it. I don’t judge the things I do or think as if they are Satanic in nature. It either is or is not an aspect of who you are deep down, I am therefore affecting Satanism by being true to my own wants, needs and desires.

Interviewer: How did you discover the OVC (Online Vampire Community)?

Corvis Nocturnum: I’ve always been fascinated by vampires in any form. I found out about them after watching Mad, Mad House on Sci-Fi channel when I started writing Embracing the Darkness: Understanding Dark Subcultures. I Googled the show and came across Michelle Belanger and then through her Don Henrie. We all became friends and it opened me up to such a fascinating world of creative and brilliant people!

Interviewer: Do you consider yourself a vampire?

Corvis Nocturnum: I relate to the archetype, and if I had to class myself as lifestyle for the Gothic trappings (black marble tiled flooring, candle sconces all over my bedroom) but as an exact ‘living vampire’, no.

Interviewer: What’s your take on vampires?

Corvis Nocturnum: Well, I went into some depth on that in Allure of the Vampire: Our Sexual Attraction to the Undead, but, to be brief, I will say that it depends on if you are speaking metaphorically of the community and the fictional vampire, or strictly literary one.

As for the community members, they are like anyone else. They are part of a family of their blood, and also of extended family – one that truly does accept them for who and what they think and feel they are, despite most of the world thinking they are mentally disturbed. If you look at it in a metaphysical context, things like vampirism has been around in one form or another for generations, and the various occult practices surrounding it has since been the Knights Templar and other secret societies that lead to the creation of The Golden Dawn.

Interviewer: As vampires mainstream, what do you see coming for them? Especially with Merticus’s research floating around?

Corvis Nocturnum: I’m not sure exactly. I know the extensive research may indeed prove invaluable as no one before him has attempted to seriously collect such information about people in the community before this. I think it may be the subject of further sincere testing by professionals who seek to explore the possibilities. After all, even the military experimented with astral projection and other mental clairvoyance in the past. Who knows what might be the next stage of things to come?

Interviewer: Do you think physical evidence will be discovered to support vampirism?

Corvis Nocturnum: It has been looked into by many scientists who found out about it, such as Michelle Belanger and Don Henrie partaking in examinations by doctors televised. It is such a hard thing to pin down on what ‘it’ is in general so therein lies much of the difficulty in the first place.

Interviewer: What do you think mainstreaming is doing to subcultures like Vampires, Otherkin and Therians?

Corvis Nocturnum: It is both helpful and harmful – the typical double edged sword. As fictional vampires coming at us from Hollywood, the subculture gets more media coverage so some individuals get harassment. While it also causes a growing awareness to those seeking advice from older, wiser members from the community which they would not have located as easy before.

Interviewer: Do you agree with mainstreaming?

Corvis Nocturnum: I of course enjoy keeping up with the fiction and film of vampires, provided it is well done, but I feel when things such as “Goth” become too trendy everyone jumps on the bandwagon and saturates it to the point it pollutes the true core of sincere community. That makes it to the point where people who have made it a part of who they are want to hide until it quietly slips away from the masses attention. Most of us simply are what we are and do not want the majority to be connected with them.

Interviewer: What advice do you give to newly mainstreaming vampires?

Corvis Nocturnum: Don’t be a part of something if it is not who and what you are. The elders are running out of patience and so it makes it harder for the truly sincere people from getting what they seek.

Interviewer: What are your professional goals?

Corvis Nocturnum: I want to make Dark Moon Press the polar opposite of Llewylln, sort of dark occult meets Feral House Book Company. Edgy yet educational books, classics reprinted, and for fans of horror. Personally, I am shopping around a future book concept to several television production companies, such as Sci-Fi but I may go with Discovery Channel instead. Unfortunately, due to my contract with Schiffer, I can’t publicly reveal the nature of the show for another year or so. Keep an eye on my Face book in the next year for clues though!

Interiewer: As an established writer and artist, do you have any words for aspiring writers and artist?

Corvis Nocturnum: Do what you love, not for the money. That comes later if the passion to create is there. True talent and hard work will get you exposure, especially if you network. Most of all, believe in yourself, master public speaking and listen to advice of those who you look up to.

Interiewer: What are your favorite tools or brands to paint with? What types of painting do you enjoy most?

Corvis Nocturnum: I use Windsor Newton mostly, and soft acrylic brushes. Stiff yet highly flexible hairs make the painting less chunky and blend for softer tones. I like using very fine brushes for detailing and fan brushes do clouds, hair and smoke very well.

I usually do oils only, but sometimes for faster working of heavy shadows will do washes of black acrylic paint as it dries fast then do layers of oil over it. Thinning the oils down with thinner or linseed oil is a handy trick to get exact levels of color and tone.

Interviewer: How do you see yourself?

Corvis Nocturnum: I see myself as a writer, artist and someone who loves the darker side of  life. Primarily a scholar of a great deal of subjects, because everything I write is a curiosity that I wanted to explore.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Corvis Nocturnum for his interview. We hope to see more books by this author.

Disclaimer: The following interview was done for educational purposes. We do not condone any behavior depicted here. We have no affiliation with Roxy.

Roxy has no affiliations with Real Vampires, Otherkin and similar subcultures. Her conduct does not reflect on any community. She is a predator by choice.

We will not participate in any disagreements, lawsuits and criminal proceedings. The following interview was conducted under confidence. The Graveyard Press (and it’s staff) is neutral.

For many years, society has seen predators as serial killers, child molesters and especially rapist, but many never apply that term outside of that box. When mentioning “Psychic Predators,” a majority of people think of frauds and con artists. There are very few that believe a genuine Psychics (commonly stereotyped as a pro-nature, vegan-eating hippy) is capable of an unsavory nature.

A “Psychic Predator” is not a con artist or fraud. These people are genuine Psychics that use their unique abilities to prey on others. The following is a candid interview with a real Psychic Predator.

Interviewer: Please tell everyone a bit about yourself.

Roxy: Well, my name is Roxy. I am from Checy, France and I’ve been into metaphysics practice for 8 years now. Psionics have been under my direct studies for 5 years now, I’ve seen and experienced with both techniques and methods and the many variants of the terms of such studies.

Interviewer: So, you’re a psychic?

Roxy: Yes, I am.

Interviewer: How and Why did you get involved in Metaphysics?

Roxy: Because of my curiosity. Since a very early age, I had an interest in science. Before discovering Metaphysics, I was reading many variants of science. I favored philosophy as well, which linked to Metaphysics.

Interviewer: As a psychic, what’s your specialty?

Roxy: My specialty is mostly telepathy more than anything. I do have quite the intuitive with empathy but it is not my native skill such as telepathy. I am also quite skillful in the astral projection spectrum as well.

Interviewer: How have you used your abilities?

Roxy: Out of curiosity, I’ve used my abilities on people to spy and most likely cause them to do things they wouldn’t normally do.

Sometimes, though, I didn’t have a choice. Then again, there were times I had a choice, but I did it anyways. For an example, I caused my ex-girlfriend (Gina) to become suicidal by exploiting her fears. I was able to manipulate her by forming a empathic and telepathic bond. I would form something inside of myself and turn it on her.

Interviewer: What did Gina do to you?

Roxy: Gina simply met me at the wrong time and place. I was at arms with myself and against other people as well. When it came to my rebelliousness, I was at my max. My emotions were rapid, so a relationship was easily for me to get into. The only price was that my partner had to be aware of my explosiveness.

She was sadistic.. or what have you…She treated other people as if they where below her. She met me at a time of trouble and decided to consider me a “hero of her life.” She saw I was a rebellious and jealous person,  which I never deny.

She tried to exploit that and it back fired on her horribly.

Interviewer: Was she your first target?

Roxy: No, she wasn’t.

Interviewer: Who was your first target?

Roxy: His name was Charles. He was just some random new kid.

Interviewer: Can you describe what happens to your targets?

Roxy: I usually feel them as I speak to them. I break down who they are and what they do–their interests. I start from basics.

Their lifestyles, desires and demands. What they wish they had and know they will never get.

I feel them for pain and what’s going on in their current and/or past lives. To see what caused them any painful changes or any successful changes. I do not discriminate in what I find. The more the better.

I connect to them.

It allows me to slowly materialize a form of reality amongst them, in a way. Piece by piece slowly and each piece affects them in ways unimaginable.

Sometimes, I have to stop because I don’t want to get too far ahead.

Interviewer: Can you explain that? Why wouldn’t you want to get too far ahead?

Roxy: Alright, let me give you an example. It’s a short, but very real example.

You met me last 2 weeks ago and we ended up friends. Well, let’s say you expressed depression to me, but overall you suddenly started liking me as more than a friend. I would give you all the comfort you need to settle your depression. You would trust me more and talk to me more. I would memorize everything you say. I would open myself up to you and display an exploit of mind to show you I’m not perfect. In return, you would express more to me. Basically, pouring yourself out to me. I would close up slowly to you. After showing only a small side of my vulnerability to you.

Then, I would take all that I know and manipulate you. I would use my empathy and telepathy to help me.

I would wait for you to start an argument with me—something to strike your frustrations. I would set you up and I would delude your pride and frustrations.

Once I delude your frustrations and pride, I would cause your pride to go into overdrive. Your dependency would go through the roof. You would disconnect from most friends. Frustrations would make you hate whats left of your friends. I would watch that and manipulate everything as it’s happening.

It’s a very simple way to screw a person up.

Interviewer: Is having power over people a high for you?

Roxy: Yes.

Interviewer: Is that why you do it?

Roxy: Yes.

Interviewer: What is your favorite thing to do to people?

Roxy: My favorite thing to do would be to feel them. When I feel them, it’s sort of like touching them in person, but with an extra twist.

Interviewer: When you target people, how did it affect them? Can you be detailed?

Roxy: Yes, my first victim.

I caused him to turn against his friends and then his community and then finally against himself by first listening to him and feeling his emotions. Being able to put my own self on the back burner, and putting him as the main priority. And sorting through his abilities as well as times went on I learned to fluctuate him empathically followed by telepathically.

I’ve learned to constantly receive from him instead of always sending to him from my own on all levels. I acted as a server to him. I only had the resources he provided but on other cases I concealed most of what I received and amplified “the matter,” which had any effect that i received from him and amplified them.

Interviewer: What did he do to you?

Roxy: Nothing. He was just an experiment. He was suppose to be a friend, but my “better half” saw him as an animal. An Experiment.

Interviewer: Do you feel your actions were justified with your first victim?

Roxy: Yes.

Yes with him and with every other victim.

Nothing comes of an empty purpose. I’m deserving of each action I serve to. No matter if it’s positive or negative. I know I’ll push to the nearest end to be successful.I see myself as someone “in the middle.” I do have emotion, though, they must be earned in order for me to feel pity.

I do not take on a title of “bad or good.”

Interviewer: How do you pick targets?

Roxy: Shit, if I knew! They were just random targets.

Interviewer: How do you separate who you manipulate and who you don’t?

Roxy: Yes, I do separate them. There are some I care about and others I don’t.

Interviewer: Would you consider what you do psychological torture?

Roxy: Yes and I’m good at it.

Interviewer: Do you enjoy it?

Roxy: Yes.

Interviewer: Do you think you could stop?

Roxy: No. It feels too good. It’s like a drug to me. I can’t.

Interviewer: If you weren’t psychic, would you still prey on people using mundane methods?

Roxy: Yes.

Interviewer: Have you met others like you?

Roxy: No.

Interviewer: Have you ever met someone stronger and better than you?

Roxy: Not really. I haven’t met anyone that showed me their strength. They just initiated fights with me.

Interviewer: Have you ever been challenged to prove your abilities?

Roxy: Only once.

Interviewer: What happened?

Roxy: Not much. Just that I used my abilities against them so all questions were answered. It’s sort of like asking, “Does that stove get hot?” Of course, I’m going to say, “Why not put your hand on it for a bit?”

Interviewer: Would you consider yourself a predator?

Roxy: More or less. I do consider myself a mage with an endevorous mischievous prospective.

Interviewer: How did you end up preying on people?

Roxy: Curiosities. Me wondering how things worked. I sure wasn’t going to test them on myself. I didn’t really care how it effected other people.

Interviewer: Why not?

Roxy: Why not? It wouldn’t hurt me, when I hurt them. So long as my safety isn’t in question or harms way, I didn’t care. The focus was on seeing the effects.

In short, I’ll say:

I’m very self-centered and contrary. I don’t care about other people’s safety or their lives. When I need a test rat and I see one, I’m going to use it.

Interviewer: How do people feel about you?

Roxy: People usually feel intimidated by me or either curious with a mixture of hatred because I’m seen as complex and random, but they do know that I’m mischievous. They want to trust me. If they interact with me at all, they’d do it from a distance.

Interviewer: How do you view yourself?

Roxy: Someone that’s curious and likes to try stuff.

Interviewer: Can you tell us about your family?

Roxy: My family wanted to be viewed as generous and of high priority. Their actions were careless without a doubt. It was more like a cult.

They had their own “vision” and so on of how they were suppose to be. They were people that wanted to be impenetrable. They had pride and believed in numbers. They always were close amongst each other.

When you threatened one, the majority of them would be there to fight together.

Interviewer: What happened if you deviated from their vision?

Roxy: You would be disowned. Unfavored. Possibly hated.

Interviewer: How would you be treated?

Roxy: You would have been tossed out. Everyone would be contacted and warned not to accept any contact from you and to look out for you.

Interviewer: What was your family’s lifestyle like?

Roxy: Spoiled, high class and competitive. Protective and elusive.

My family would give me money and all sorts of stuff to keep me with them and at bay. They knew I liked certain things—like money. My people believed in having many things. They never believed in having to “hustle” for anything.

They never begged and taught me never to ask for anything. If I ever desired anything, I just had to ask for it.

Interviewer: What sort of things did you get, besides money?

Roxy: Material. Mostly electronics, name brand cloths, shoes…

Interviewer: So, whatever you wanted you received? No questions asked or problems encountered?

Roxy: I never encountered any problems or refusals. One of the main reasons was my mother. She was last of 11 children and everyone spoiled her. I was treated the same way. Till this day I’m seen as a baby.

Interviewer: Are you still with them?

Roxy: No, I’m no longer with them. I’m somewhat glad, but I miss them severely.

Interviewer: What happened?

Roxy: Because of what I am. What I believed in.

They didn’t believe that I was setting a good enough example for my younger brother and other young relatives. My mother feared what I was would cause a lot of conflict and turmoil, so she kicked me out.

Interviewer: What are you? What do you believe in?

Roxy: I’m a transgendered female. That was one of the main reasons my family saw as antagonising. They didn’t want the public to know of me in that “condition.”

They had a lot of pride and didn’t take lightly to any “gays” or any of that sort. They were somewhat traditional. However, if you weren’t related to them, then they didn’t care and just laughed at you.

My mother was Pagan, but she hid that from me and others because of how my family was. She introduced me to a lot of my interests.

Interviewer: As a transgender, how did your family treat and view you?

Roxy: They treated me…like an outcast…somewhat.

I remember my mother coming to me thinking it meant I was just a gay male. I explained it as much as I could and as simple as I could to her. Overall, my mother noticed the majority of my changes.

She came to me telling me all the dangers I would face living a certain lifestyle. She didn’t want to lose me due to that. My family didn’t really approve of it because many of other people amongst my family looked down on it.

My family believed in the old tradition.

Man and woman. Getting married. Having a few kids and raising them and giving them the best without any hardships.

You show them the world and visa versa.

Interviewer: What was your relationship with your parents like?

Roxy: We argued a majority of the time, but we made up for it by talking it out and going out some place. They pretty much buttered me up even when I didn’t deserve it. They believe that after showing some sort of hurt that I had enough and learned my lesson.

Interviewer: Was anyone in your family like you? (A predator.)

Roxy: My mother was more like me than anyone else. People would call me her “twin.”

Interviewer: So, she was a predator? Like you?

Roxy: Yes. How do you think I got into everything?

Interviewer: She taught you how to prey on people?

Roxy: One of her examples was my father. That’s what she pointed out to me.

Interviewer: Can you describe your father? Tell us a bit about him?

Roxy: Quiet and sensitive. He was into himself a good bit of the time. He kept to himself. I liked what he liked.

He had an ego, but it wasn’t as loud as the rest of my family.

Interviewer: Can you describe his relationship with your mother?

Roxy: Shy, quiet, emotional, intuitive, random and unhonest are words to describe what went on between them. My mother always made sure I knew what was happening. Out of all my siblings, she wanted me to know.

Interviewer: What happened?

Roxy: One was more competitive and wanted to be in control.

My mother was dominant. She wanted ownership of every situation and wherever she lived. My father was similiar, but my mother kept it in check.

Interviewer: You said your father was an example for you. How did your mother set him up as an example?

Roxy: He was her victim. She caused him to do things he wouldn’t normally do. My father, being somewhat dominant, always wanted control of the family business. She always toned him down one way or another.

My father loved money and material things. My mother manipulated him into giving it all to her and drained him on the side. She even made him give her some of his earnings.

Interviewer: You’re close to your mother, but you rarely mention your father. How did you feel about him?

Roxy: My family never cared much for him and neither did I. He spoiled me, too, but not quite as much as my mother. He believed in treating me “more like a man.” My mother’s family was pissed with him because he got my mother pregnant. (Laughing) He got her knocked up twice.

They wanted full blooded French babies. At least, something close to that. They barely talk much english.

The reason I moved to America was my father. They followed him and my mother. My family didn’t want him to move my mother too far—some place they couldn’t keep track of him.

Eventually, my father left my mother because her brothers attacked him.

Interviewer: How did your family treat you?

Roxy: They spoiled me. Since my mother was someone with a good job and good education, I was treated with respect. They wanted me to be the prime future example of her.

Interviewer: Are you bitter towards them?

Roxy: Not really, just a bit rebellious. Other than that, I’m very respectful and honorful of them.

Interviewer: Did your family prey on people?

Roxy: In general, no. My mother did, though.

Interviewer: Was your father her first victim?

Roxy: No, not her first.

Interviewer: Do you know who her first was?

Roxy: No idea, but I do know that she had several friends that she did things to. She never got into what she did to them, though.

Interviewer: Did you think (at any point) that what she was teaching you was wrong?

Roxy: No, I took it as a life lesson.

Inteviewer: Does your mother know what you’ve done to people?

Roxy: Yes, she does and is happy I was successful.

Interviewer: Did she use psychic abilities against people?

Roxy: Yes.

Interviewer: Would you call your family elists?

Roxy: Yes. They’re elitist. They care for themselves and only themselves.

Interviewer: Have you ever killed anyone?

Roxy: I’ve come close to doing so, but that person survived.

Interviewer: Did you go to jail for it?

Roxy: Not at all.

Interviewer: Why didn’t you go to jail?

Roxy: There was no proof. My parents knew some of the cops in that division, too. In fact, my parents went to school with a few.

Interviewer: Who did you try to kill?

Roxy: A “friend” of mine. He was just at the wrong place and time.

Interviewer: When they survived, were you upset at all?

Roxy: No, I just learned from my experience and action. If I wanted to be successful at taking someone out, I had to do it a bit better. It was clearly experimental.

Interviewer: Did your family ever kill anyone?

Roxy: Yes. My mother’s uncles have, anyway.

Interviewer: Were they caught?

Roxy: Yes, but my family settled it.

Interviewer: Are you afraid that your family would kill you?

Roxy: They wouldn’t because I’m seen as one of their babies—the baby of their baby. It’s something my family takes seriously.

They only wanted the best for me. They wanted me a part of their network; To not have to seek others. When my mother said or did something, the whole family would be silent. Everyone would listen. The only one that was above her was her oldest brother.

Or her mother and father.

Interviewer: Roxy, why did you agree to an interview? Furthermore, why are you answering my questions? Especially sensitive ones?

Roxy: I’m open, to a degree. I don’t mind talking about (some) stuff. There are things I don’t mind revisiting because it’s not really all that painful. It’s more or less cute to me.

Interviewer: Roxy, do you have any affiliations with Real Vampires (Online and Offline community) Otherkin and similar subcultures?

Roxy: No…

Offline? I’ve always been a lonestar type. I don’t communicate well with others. I’m often found by myself. More or less isolated.

I’m not really inoto the library setting. People, in general, make me feel weary.

Interviewer: So, you’re a predator by choice?

Roxy: Yes.

Acknowledgments:

I would like to offer thanks to Roxy for agreeing to an interview. She answered questions honestly, which was much appriciated.

I would like to offer thanks to Deacon Gray and Mikyla Abigor, who helped think up questions to ask. The support and encouragement given was priceless.

Thanks to everyone else that helped me with research and contacts. You know who you are.

Further Reading:

Confessions of a Psychic Predator – Archived Widdershins Magazine

Psychic Predators vs. Psychic Vampires – J.V Krakowski (Personal Website)

I leaned forward at my desk, idly tapping a pencil and hoping for a spark of anything to show. There was a quiet ding and a message box popped up.

Another message has been posted to Graveyard Press Staff.

I’d been doing a bit of research for a potential people to interview, but I dropped everything to see that new message. I held my head up on a folded arm, skimming replies and hoped for something new. The previous interview suggestions were interesting, but hadn’t inspired me at all.

Venger Satanis, founder of The Cult of Cthulhu.

An interview with a Satanist! That was an interesting and thought-provoking assignment. There were many possibilities with him.

I accepted it without hesitation.

What sort of person was Venger Satanis? What were his motives and background? In my experience, the Left Hand Path frequently attracted people with a god complex, selfishly power hungry and/or negatively ambitious.  Perhaps he won’t be bad as that, I thought to myself. Afterall, he was suggested interview subject.

What direction should my article go? Would people be interested in The Cult of Cthulhu or Venger Satanis? What would leave readers with deep thoughts and a dash of curiosity?

While it took me longer than I liked, I managed to work out a direction that seemed interesting. After drawing up a few questions, I contacted Venger Satanis.

Interviewer: Why did you choose “Venger Satanis” for a name? What does that name mean to you?

Venger Satanis: I liked the sound of it. Venger came from the 1980′s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Venger – a single horned, winged black horse riding, tall, pale, and robed creature with a shadow demon servant – was the force of evil within the realm of Dungeons & Dragons. Venger was like a D&D Sith Lord. He was my favorite character.

Satanis came from the first Anton LaVey / Church of Satan documentary. A bit later, I decided to add a middle name. As’Nas seemed appropriate because that was a Persian name for poker which had its origins in France – Ace being the highest and best card. I have a lot of French blood in my veins and the Mythos has a lot of Arabic influence. Plus, I’ve always loved poker, especially no limit Texas Hold’em. That’s what I play now, and I’ve been doing fairly well. It’s good for the mind, like chess.

Does Venger As’Nas Satanis mean anything when it’s all said or written together? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. I wanted something that fit me personally and had a certain flow.

Interviewer: From your name, you’re a follower of Satanism and LHP practitioner. Why does it appeal to you?

Venger Satanis: I used to identify a lot with Satanism. I still think The Satanic Bible is one of the great occult texts of the 20th century. These days, I feel that I’m just as much a Satanist as I am a Christian – which is to say that I’m not wholly one or the other. However, the Cult of Cthulhu is most definitely Left Hand Path. The ideas of success, achievement, and progress have always appealed to me. Not sure why… must be genetic.

For those who don’t know, the LHP practitioner strives for Autonomy, Power, and Self-Deification. I feel those are worthy goals.

Interviewer: What misconceptions and stereotyping do you think people put towards you? (Possibly from your name alone, or your cult.)

Venger Satanis: There’s too many to name, I think. I’ve heard every possible misconception. Fortunately, after people read my writing, watch my videos, and engage me in one-on-one discussion they realize I’m not what they assumed.

Interviewer: How did it make you feel? To face stereotypes and misconceptions (or worse)?

Venger Satanis: The same as anyone who is judged before someone gets to know them. Those in the limelight get a closer look, of course. Even a “Z” list celebrity such as myself has to face the ignorant masses. Oh well. That’s not the biggest cross to bear.

Interviewer: How did you deal with it?

Venger Satanis: Not being afraid to confront people and show them what I was really about. People are generally OK with having their assumptions smashed, if done gently and gradually. I also have a thick skin – but that came with time. Now, it doesn’t bother me if haters post malicious comments. I take it in stride.

Interviewer: You said your thick skin came with time. Does that mean people’s viciousness strongly affected you at one time? How did you grow your thick skin? What helped?

Venger Satanis: I was born with a certain amount of sensitivity.  You learn to desensitize yourself when it comes to areas that keep getting hit.  Yes, at one time I was strongly affected by vicious attacks, negativity, and the monotonous drone of so many people telling me I’m wrong or crazy.  It takes time to build up emotional callouses.  But first, one needs to accurately appraise the situation… to look consensual reality in the face and overcome it.  Without the will, there is no way. 

Interviewer: How do you see yourself? (As a man, Satanist, LHP follower and Cult of Cthulhu leader.)

Venger Satanis: As a man, I see myself caught between monkey and God.  It’s not easy being human.

As a Satanist, I sometimes see myself in the likeness of Anton LaVey.

As a Left Hand Path follower, I’m forced to challenge myself all the time.  In challenging myself, I end up challenging others – and that freaks people out a lot of the time.  My fellow LHP practitioners will just have to deal.

Being the Cult of Cthulhu leaders is an ordeal all on its own, but one that I take pleasure in.  Being human isn’t easy, but trying to be more than human is damn near impossible.  Nevertheless, I continually try.

Interviewer: From your videos, you’re a painter. What inspires you, other than Cthulhu? How did you get into it?

Interviewer: When you first started studying Satanism and Occult Arts, how old were you?

Venger Satanis: I began to read H.P. Lovecraft in 6th grade or so. I had always been fascinated by creatures, robots, demons, magic, and weird stuff. Ironically, I was too afraid of horror movies to watch them when I was really young. There was still a fascination though. I used to walk through the horror section of different video stores, looking at all the gruesome and vile video sleeve cover art. I was attracted and repelled at the same time. I was afraid but I also had a need to confront my fears. It didn’t hurt that a lot of horror movies used sex to entice potential renters.

I’ve made up for that since then. I own roughly 1,000 DVDs and most are horror, scifi, and exploitation films.

I picked up The Secret Life of a Satanist about Anton Szandor LaVey when I was a Sophomore in High School. From there I read the rest of LaVey’s works and then went on to study psychology, philosophy, politics, sociology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and everything that interested me.

Interviewer: Did you hold to any common misconceptions, myths or stereotypes?

Venger Satanis: I don’t think so. I knew I was entering unknown territory. That both frightened and elated me, heightening my senses. I went in with an open mind.

Interviewer: During your studies, what was an important or profound lesson or discovery for you?

Venger Satanis: That reality wasn’t fixed; it was malleable. As soon as I read that, it immediately resonated with me and became the building blocks for my own personal development.

I realized, too, that consciousness filtered reality – my senses collected and interpreted data – but a higher conscious state could also be used to alter my subjective reality deliberately. There is a strong, magical connection between subjective and objective reality. One can influence the other, given enough energy and focus.

Interviewer: What appealed to you about LHP and Satanism, in particular?

Venger Satanis: Being able to shape my destiny. It didn’t hurt that I was attracted to all the aesthetics of Satanism since my childhood – from monster coloring books to heavy metal videos. To this day, if I’m looking at blondes in black leather bikinis, blood spattered skulls, flaming swords, foreboding castles, or monstrous tentacled fiends – I get a charge.

Interviewer: How has it changed you? What parts of your life does it influence?

Venger Satanis: I was born this way, so I don’t know if it has actually changed me – except that I’ve continued to travel deeper, certainly opening up a few more doors. The stuff I’m into influences most of my life. Even when I’m at the poker table or watching The Big Bang Theory with my wife… there’s an influence.

Interviewer: There are many people that confess an uneasiness with or hostility towards LHP. Why do you think that is?

Venger Satanis: Either they don’t fully understand the LHP or they are afraid of going against the universe (God). I don’t blame them for being uneasy. As a species, we’re generally not that comfortable with the unknown.

Interviewer: If there were dangers to studying LHP, what do you think it is? Why do you think it exists and what advice would you give to new practitioners?

Venger Satanis: Too much self-love. That’s always a danger. To put it another way, over-inflated ego. When a person thinks there’s nothing left to learn, that they know it all and encompass all that is awesome – watch out! That dude is going in the wrong direction.

My advice is to laugh at yourself every once in awhile. Realize that you’re on the road to perfection, but you still have a long ways to go. Achieving Godhood takes decades of constant and tremendous effort. The individual must be guided by a conscious school.

Interviewer: There are many people that adapt H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos or believe it a true telling. Why do you think that is?

Venger Satanis: I’m sure they adapt Lovecraft’s stories and create their own original works within the Cthulhu Mythos because of the sheer magnitude of Lovecraft’s cosmic horror. Those in the Cult of Cthulhu see HPL as a prophet. Obviously, not every word should be taken as gospel. Nevertheless, there are deeper truths in his prose; a profundity which 99% of scifi/horror writers cannot match.

Interviewer: Why did you embrace H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos for the Cult of Cthulhu?

Venger Satanis: The Cthulhu Mythos is an artificial paradigm. Lovecraft is obscure, but many have heard of him. The Mythos hints at thousands of nightmarish secrets, yet it doesn’t give too much away. The Mythos has influenced and been influenced by such things as Satanism, black magic, and the LHP.

We should keep in mind that not all Cthulhu Mythos media is consciously aware of H.P. Lovecraft. If the Mythos comes from an external source – something beyond Lovecraft, then it’s easy to see that sensitive writers, musicians, and artists are creating stuff on their own – without realizing there’s a name which encompasses all that hideous blasphemy: Lovecraftian!

No surprise why I chose Lovecraft’s Mythos for the Cult of Cthulhu. “The Call of Cthulhu” might just be the greatest weird tale every written. Why not use that for the basis of a new religion?

Interviewer: You adapted several other structures, works and beliefs for the Cult of Cthulhu. Can you explain a few important points of each of them?

Venger Satanis: My interpretation of the Left Hand Path continues where Stephen Flowers’ book, Lords of the Left Hand Path leaves off. I define it as the struggle for Autonomy, Power, and Self-Deification.

The Fourth Way, as taught by Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, is my way of connecting with or realizing those LHP goals. The Fourth Way explains how we’re asleep, a collection of oblivious ‘I’s, and how little control we have.

Using the LHP and the Fourth Way, I’ve been able to see the parallels between Buddhism, Christianity, Satanism, Chaos Magic, Thelema, and other belief systems. They each have something to offer.

Interviewer: Why did you think it important to adapt more than Satanism into the Cult of Cthulhu?

Venger Satanis: Satanism, on its face, is limited. Unfortunately, most Satanists don’t realize what true Satanism is all about. The movement solidified in the mid-1960’s with Anton LaVey. Before that, Satanism had many different meanings. A lot of information about Satanism came from the Christian church.

LaVey and his Church of Satan allowed people’s imaginations to go wild. Some viewed Satan as a dark force in nature, others saw him as an extra-terrestrial being or adversary to Jehovah, and a few conceived of him only as a metaphor.

That’s why today, there’s no general consensus on what exactly Satanism is and what makes a Satanist. There are a few authorities, but at the end of the day everyone is free to decide what Satanism means to them.

With all that baggage, it’s no wonder why I wanted a paradigm somewhat divorced from Satanism. I needed something dark, primal, alien, and outrageous. It needed to resonate emotionally and intellectually. Satanism has a similar vibe, but Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos is a purer distillation of those adjectives.

Interviewer: Why do you think Satanism is limited?

Interviewer: What inspired you to establish the Cult of Cthulhu?

Venger Satanis: I’ve always felt like a natural leader. I like teaching and helping people. There was a need for more direction, authority, and leadership within the Left Hand Path. Additionally, I had a lot of strange ideas that were coming together in such a way that I needed to give them a platform… to see my incongruous intuitions take shape.

I had created a few Satanic organizations before… with marginal success. I looked around – realized that no one had created a group called the Cult of Cthulhu or Cthulhu Cult. I decided that it was high time someone did.

Interviewer: What are your hopes for it? What future plans do you have?

Venger Satanis: My hopes for the Cult of Cthulhu: seeing our religion Awaken as many individuals as possible. To free man from the prison that is himself. And then, Dread Cthulhu willing, the Great Old Ones shall be loosed upon the earth once more.

Interviewer: How do you think humans imprison themselves?

Interviewer: What do you hope people take away from studying with the Cult of Cthulhu?

Venger Satanis: A better understanding of themselves and their place within this universe. Cultists have a certain way of doing things. We try to examine a problem from all sides, weighing it carefully, considering all the ramifications, going back to study it again and again – a thousand times, if needed. That’s our strength.

Interviewer: Ultimately, what do you think the Cult of Cthulhu gives and teaches people?

Venger Satanis: Hope of seeing the world as it truly is; not how we perceive it. Those who are driven to make progress and evolve… they are the ones who might benefit from our viridescent teaching.

Becoming God is the ultimate prize. I intend to claim it. Some follow in my footsteps.

I would like to offer thanks to Venger Satanis for allowing an interview. He answered each question with careful consideration and deep thought. The interview was intellectually stimulating and very enjoyable. He surprised me with his intelligence, courteousness and desire to help others.

Further Reading:

The Cult of Cthulhu – Venger Satanis

Resources:

The Right Hand Path and The Left Hand Path – About.com

The Right Hand Path vs. The Left Hand Path – Thoughts.com

The Right and Left Hand Paths – Wikipedia.com

H.P Lovecraft Archives

Satanism – Religious Tolerance

The Fourth Way – PDF Document from Firehead.org

Chaos Magick - Chaos Matrix.org