Feeding

First of all: Don't feel guilt over the fact that you have to feed. It would be the same as normals would blame themselves over the fact that they need food. They don't, so why should we?

But even though we must feed, it shouldn't be uncontrollable. If you do not learn to control your feeding, you will feed from everything and everyone nearby until you are gluttonous, and then either continue to take more than you need or go on without feeding till you are again starving and then take more till you are again gluttonous and so on... This harms both you and your surroundings. I have known a couple of radikas who do not realize what they are (and I'm not going to tell them, they'd think I'm mad...) and it was very draining to be near them. Not everyone can protect themselves from a radika feeding uncontrollably, so take up your responsibility and stop doing so. It's not so hard to learn.

How to feed

First you should learn to manipulate your own aura. Try to push and pull it, make it denser or thinner, shape it into different shapes. For a radika, this shouldn't be too difficult. Once you have gotten a handle of this, try feeling others' auras. Just reach out with your mind. (Light meditative state could help.) Note the aura's density, texture, shape and size. In a healthy energetic person (and especially on energyproducers) you will notice a certain excess of energy. This is the stuff to take that won't be missed. Then, just... pull. Preferably, pull energy in little sips or pulses, because draining hard can harm the person you're taking energy from. Some feel feeding like breathing in the energy, others feel like swallowing. No matter what you feel, you should know/feel when you're easily getting surplus energy and when there's not much left to take. When you sense that there's not much excess left, stop. I know that can be hard, especially when you're depleted or have just awakened. Try humming something annoying in your mind, or try to visualize your aura withdrawing from other person, anything that breaks the trance.

Feeding methods

Now that I have covered the basics, I'm going to tell you more about feeding techniques. There are basically two methods to feed: feeding by proximity and feeding by touch.

To feed by proximity is simply to feed by line of sight, and not by touch. It is a little harder to master but it is safer for the donor, and it attracts less attention to you. This way you can feed from one person or from groups of people. I come to this later, in section "Sources". There are two types of energy to feed by proximity: life energy and emotional energy. Emotional energy is easier to get, since when feeling stronger emotions, people project a lot of energy outside their bodies. Feeding from emotional energy tends to drain the emotion away, because there is no energy to sustain it anymore. So this would be a good way to stop someone from being angry. But NEVER feed from fear unless you're very, very experienced and know what you're doing! It can cause permanent emotional and mental damage (drive them insane). Feeding from extreme sorrow is not adviced either, those people need their energy themselves. But if you can give them energy, you can take that sorrow away and make them feel better. But remember not to mess with other people's lives too much. Sometimes sorrow needs to be let to run its course.

Feeding by touch is just that. There are many ways we can feed by touch; however, this normally tends to draw attention to who or what we are. To feed by touch can be done in self-defense, casual contact like a handshake, or even during sex. When feeding many people use their right hand (it can be either hand, use what you feel most comfortable with) and drain with the palm. NEVER put your palm over their heart when feeding because the shock could seriously hurt the donor and even kill them if they have a heart condition. Exception to this are some energyproducers, their extra energy tends to gather to heart chakra. If you're not sure, don't do it.

When we are attacked or grabbed by someone in a threatening manner we tend to drain them reflexively or instinctively. We can feed on the aggressive emotions of our attacker as well as the energy they are using to attack us with. When we drain this energy it throws the attacker off balance and weakens them so that they tend to run away in confusion or because they think they bit off more than they can chew. Not every radika even realizes doing this, they just assume that the attacker got tired of fighting. If you feed in self-defense, remember to stay on defensive. Only use enough force to stop and only take enough energy to deter them and try not to hurt them. We are not monsters and we tend to start to think ourselves as monsters if we knowingly hurt others. That leads to guilt and remorse which leads to self-hate which may lead to suicide. So do not harm.

Sources

There are many different sources of energy. You will probably notice after some time that there may be a need for different types equally, or you need mainly one type and a bit of others, or that you can't stand one type at all. I believe that it's best to have a well-balanded diet: a bit from variety of people (if you choose to take from people), or animals, a bit from plants, a bit from elements and even from spiritual sources. If you take only from one source, it can lead to "malnutrition"; you aren't starved, but find yourself being low in energy, depressed, and perhaps even blood-thirsty. So, here are the sources I know of. If you have any more suggestions, feel free to mail them to me.

• People. There is a question of whether feeding from people is immoral. You will have to decide for yourself, but it is not difficult to feed from people without harming them or making them uncomfortable. Then there are some groups of people who deserve mentioning:
• People with energy skills. They will, at some level, usually notice if you feed from them. You can usually recognize them by some sort of shield. And even if there's no shield, they tend to "taste" different. (Thicker and tastier somehow...) There are two reasons why one should never feed from that kind of people without permission: They usually know how to fight back, and if they don't, it makes them feel uncomfortable or creeped out at least. (People without energy skills don't usually even notice radika feeding from them.)
• Elderly and ill people. They have little energy to spare, so don't feed from them if there's any other source.
• Children (pre-adolescent and especially preschoolers). They seem to have energy to spare, but, because of small body mass, tend to drain really fast. Feeding from children makes them very grumpy and could even trigger illness. Exception are groups of children, such as in playing centers. It's much easier to get energy from them without having a severe effect of individual children. Generally, feeding from groups of people is safer for them and easier for a radika. Try concerts, movies, busy restaurants, etc.
• Willing donors. If you have a willing donor (normal or especially energyproducer), someone who you can trust to tell what you are and who can trust you enough to let you take from them, you're very, very lucky.
• Animals, especially mammals can be used as a source. But remember that small body mass may cause them to tire or even sicken very quickly.
• Plants. Especially mature, flowering trees are nice.
• Natural phenomena. Thunder, lightning, wind, moonlight, the earth, large bodies of water, etc. can all be fed from.
• Spiritual sources. Some people say they are fed by God(s). I don't know about it, but if it works, it's good for them...
• Bright White Light. This could be consireded a type of spiritual feeding. If you are familiar and comfortable with this energy source, see a column of dense extremely bright very white light, coming fown from its source onto the top of your head. Then pull it slowly, filling you head to toe. Allow it to pass through the bottoms of your feet, drawing all negative energy into the ground. When you feel purified close off the bottoms of your feet and let it fill you like a glass of water is filled. Once it reaches the top of your head again and you are fully satisfied, see the column rising back up to the source.