New Age hiedelmek cyber-köntösben: az energiavámpír

Abstract

In this presentation I try to trace the ways and processes how entirely new supernatural beings emerge, and function and at the same time, how old notions gain new interpretations in current popular belief in Hungary. Post New Age discourses on physical and mental health / healing, namely the so-called energy-healing methods form the broader context of my examination. The extremely popular methods of energy-healing are based on three major 'theoretical' principles: 1) in each creature of the universe there exists a certain inner energy of cosmic (or divine) origin; 2) this cosmic energy is in constant flow, since each creature is able to absorb it from and then recycle it into the environment; 3) the fundamental cause of any kind of mental or physical illnesses is the disturbance of acquiring and / or utilizing this energy. Within the above mentioned discourses there exists a psychologising quasi-theory, called ' energy-vampirism', which seems to be a rather effective tool in explaining certain forms and patterns of human behaviour, or special situations or conditions in everyday life (including also illnesses, personal conflicts, etc.). Developing the basic ideas of energy-healing, energyvampirism considers the exchange of energies as ultimate goal of social communication. Furthermore, it differentiates between three types of human behaviour on the basis of energycycling and recycling abilities: 1) energy-supportive, 2) energy-consuming; 3) and neutral (from this 'energetic' point of view) types. Since the shortage of energy may lead to serious mental and physical symptoms, one spontaneously strives against it. There is a strange creature constantly referred in this situation: the energy-vampire, which is charged for blocking the flow of cosmic life-energy. According to relevant narratives energy-vampires are malevolent demonic beings, which possess humans occasionally and like parasites devour their life-energies causing serious illnesses. Its supernatural, non-human characteristics are supported by further synonyms, like 'being', 'astral-body', 'demon', 'üdére', 'spirit'. Not only in the semantic field, but also in the context of beliefs energy-vampires are strongly resembling of certain supernatural beings of traditional Hungarian folk belief, like the above mentioned 'üdére', the devil, the witch, and the malevolent Dead. Merging the characteristics of traditional supernatural beings with post New Age ideas, the figure of the energy-vampire is a typical creature of current popular belief.