© 2009 by Sithlady
[Note: The world is made up of people who
“know” that Shapeshifting is a fact and those
who “know” it is not, so for ease of discussion,
an assumption is made here that Shapeshifting is
possible and, while difficult, also do-able.]
Shapeshifters (known by various names) have
been part of the ancient way since time imme-
morial.
It is often believed that most modern day Shape-
shifters (especially those who find it “easy” in
comparison; the word ‘easy’ definitely being
relative) have also been Shapeshifters in times
past. Indeed, those who are even interested in
the phenomenon and who do not find it strange,
creepy, frightening, or disgusting (the idea of
“turning into an animal” as they put it, due to
misunderstanding or misinterpretation is off-
putting to some people) most likely have been
Shapeshifters in at least one past lifetime.
It is difficult if not impossible to describe an
exact process. Not only does it vary between
individuals depending on one’s belief constructs
and cultural influences, it is also an integral part
of what makes up the part of the unique “me”, as
in “this is part of me”, but here’s an admittedly
over-simplified shot at it …
SKINWALKERS
When people think of Shapeshifting what often
comes to mind is the infamous Skinwalker, now
made even more notorious thanks to some rather
bad movies loosely based on the theme. The
Dené (Navajo) nation call them ynaldlooshi—
“he who trots along here and there on all
fours”—their word for a certain type of “super-
witches” who are inevitably evil. Not being
Dené I cannot speak with authority on their par-
ticular brand of Skinwalkers, however, to them
and other societies this is not a mere legend but
is very real and very dangerous. Even though it
is a subject not openly discussed, especially with
strangers, hair-raising accounts of encounters
with Skinwalkers have been documented by re-
liable, credible people such as police officers.
Shapeshifters appear in native cultures through-
out the world (in Europe—among the Norse and
the Celts in particular—and also in the Ameri-
1
cas, Africa, Asia) and survive to this day. En-
counters with them, however, are not limited to
native people nor must you be an aboriginal per-
son to become a Shapeshifter, although if you
explore your past lives you will likely find one
or more where you were of at least one of these
cultures.
Because some Shapeshifters can be totally evil,
however, does it necessarily follow that all are?
Does it not come down to choice; where each
individual makes a conscious decision about
how to use his/her power, whatever that power
may be?1 The power to Shapeshift does not
automatically mean the Shapeshifter is either
good or evil. It is a skill that can be learned if
one is willing to commit to years of arduous
study and practice (often extremely frustrating).
They can go either way. In most cases, it is used
for good: for healing, for exploration, and some-
times to foil an enemy. Accounts of the preda-
tions of Skinwalkers in the Four Corners area of
the USA (and other places) by credible people
create the not unfounded assumption that such
nasty characters exist, nevertheless, to categorize
all Shapeshifters in this manner is missing the
point.
Some Shapeshifters or Skinwalkers were Norse
—the berserkers, a word meaning “bear shirt”,
were a form of Shapeshifters or lycanthropes—
and the Celts have also passed down a tradition
of Shapeshifting. It is worldwide and so perva-
sive in the history of so many nations and peo-
ples that, upon even a little research, it seems
obvious that there’s something more to Shape-
shifting than crazy “werewolf tales”.
1
Many believe that most Shapeshifters and all
Skinwalkers (yes, many do differentiate between the
two) are males; possibly because they are often
lumped into the catch-all category of “medicine
men”. This is untrue. Although it would seem the
majority are male, it is not exclusive; females also
Shapeshift and there are many “medicine women”.

The following is the verbatim Wikipedia entry
on Norse Skinwalkers:
In Norse folklore, a skin-walker is a person
who can travel in the shape of an animal and
learn secrets, or take on certain characteristics
of an animal. The person is then said to be
wearing that animal's hide. The most well-
known example of the latter is the warrior who
takes on the strength and stamina of a bear,
called "bear shirt" or ber sarkur, the origins of
the word berserker; similarly, there were wolf-
based warriors, called ulfheðnar or "wolf-
coats". They were said, aside from the battle-
rage the animal spirit granted, to have the abil-
ity to send out their soul in the form of their
animal, in a practice called hamfarir or "shape-
journey".
According to Mythology, the Norse hero
Sigmund and his son Sinfiolti became Skin-
walkers for a short time, discovering two
magic wolf skins that turned them into wolves
when they put them on. When they became
overcome by their animal instincts and began
fighting over meat, Sigmund almost killed his
son and so they decided to burn the skins.
The use of an animal shape for other purposes
was considered unholy, and people accused of
having such abilities were frequently cast out
or summarily executed. Females so charged
got off more lightly.
HOW IS SHAPESHIFTING DONE?
One must shift awareness or consciousness in
order to allow part of or all of the soul to leave
the body. Learning to go into a trance state is
necessary. Many use the rhythm of drums and/or
rattles to accomplish this. Others use music of
various types which helps them raise and focus
their energy.
Accompaniment is not required, however. There
are no rules engraved in stone; as in so many
other things, one needs to feel free to experiment
and find what works for them. For those who
2
use drumming or rattling, the slow repetitive
rhythm shifts the rhythm of the individual so he
or she can journey. Just as a soothing song can
help someone achieve calm, the rhythm of a
drum or other music puts you into the right state.
The journey is achieved by the person’s intent.
You intend to leave your body as an animal and
do so.
Someone said, “try to describe walking and it is
difficult to put into words how you get your legs
to move.” The same is true with Shapeshifting;
it’s hard to describe the exact process as if read-
ing from a list of operating instructions because
it can and does vary somewhat from one indi-
vidual to another.
KINDS OF SHAPESHIFTING
There are two types of Shapeshifting:
1) Astral
2) Physical
The astral is the most widespread. Most Shape-
shifters ply their art solely on the astral; very
few, even highly advanced and gifted shamans,
claim to be physical Shapeshifters. Apparently,
even if you find you are one of those rare people
who will learn to physically shapeshift, the ma-
jority of your journeys, perhaps for a lifetime,
will be on the astral.
If you were a Shapeshifter in at least one past
life it will likely come somewhat easier for you
this time around, but it is a universally difficult
undertaking and not “fun”. It is daunting, hard
work, entirely serious, and can be terrifying to a
beginner. (It’s reminiscent of a scene in one of
the Star Wars movies where neophyte Luke
Skywalker says, “I am not afraid.” Jedi Master
Yoda sets him straight forthwith: “You will be,”
he says, “you will be.”)
Much of the literature emphasizes the need to
work with an experienced person and/or a
“guardian”.
Remember that Shapeshifting, although univer-
sal, is uncommon and not something that every
single human can accomplish.
WHAT ANIMAL?
If you don’t already know, ask during medita-
tion(s) that your power animal be revealed to
you. It may well take more than one session. The
answer could come in a dream or series of
dreams, by coincidence (for example a bear:
you may dream of a bear, then hear someone
mention a place known as Bear Lake then see an
illustration or logo of a bear, etc., which shows
that the “announcement” can come in one or
several ways.)
It’s likely that this animal was with you in a pre-
vious lifetime, but not necessarily so.
CAN I ACTUALLY BECOME THAT ANIMAL?
Note: As mentioned at the outset, an assumption
is made that this is truly possible. It is what
many people interested in the phenomenon
would like to see happen (and not just those who
have watched too many bad werewolf movies)
and there are those who believe it is actually do-
able!2
But a lifetime of study, practice, and persistence
is the admission price. Again, working closely
with one’s “guardian” is emphasized, as is being
careful and using common sense. (Never mind
the question, for a moment, of whether the con-
cept of Shapeshifting and common sense fit to-
gether.) For instance, you don’t want to change
back to human stark naked in a public place. Nor
do you want to be a panther happily prowling
Main Street until the cops show up with a shot-
gun or Wildlife Protection carts you off to the
zoo. In other words, these and other ‘real world’
considerations must always be heeded.)3
2
Some of the ancient gods were also Shapeshifters:
Anubis (the jackal) and Sekhmet (the lioness) come
to mind, and there are many others.)
3
If you ever get the chance to watch the movie “The
Cat People” it gives you an idea of physical Shape-
shifting. Purely fictional, it’s an interesting movie.
Real physical Shapeshifters, however, are not inces-
tuous, nor do they have to be caged because they are
so dangerous they kill and/or eat everyone they come
across.
Apparently if you are injured while in animal
form, you will carry the injury into your human
form but it is (conveniently?) unlikely to be fa-
tal. Nevertheless, it’s no one’s idea of “a good
time”. (The Dené also make mention of this:
people are said to have inflicted injury on the
Skinwalking “animal” and then have later seen
the identical injury on the suspect person. Re-
member, they are usually members of their local
community, not from far-off areas.)
CONCLUSION
Shapeshsifting has multiple purposes and scar-
ing the crap out of your neighbors isn’t one of
them (depending, I suppose, on what the neigh-
bor has done to you or your loved ones). Shape-
shifting is for spiritual growth, for discovery, to
gather information, to go to places you other-
wise would be unable to go, for destruction and
creation (often it is necessary to “destroy” the
old before one can successfully create the new),
to protect another, for healing, to work through
issues, for communication...and, in short, can
greatly enhance one’s life and is well worth the
long and arduous effort.
There is little information on the web and much
of what there is has been new-aged to death and
next to useless so interested people need to do
their own research. This article is but a very
brief and basic introduction and is in no way
intended as an in-depth treatise or instructional
manual. If it has piqued your interest in looking
beyond the everyday, beyond what we have
been “educated” to accept as normal, it will have
done its work and you can research further if
you choose.