shamanism (shapeshifting)

[LoneWulf]

I am particularly interested in shapeshifting (shamanism) i am already aware that this skill does not really change your into an animal but changes you in a different way. If anyone can tell me a little more in depth about this and if this skill allows you to get closer to animals more easily by changing to a stealthy animal characteristic or one of the same type??

[Phoenix Blue]

Moving to Magic(k) and Rituals. :)

[Grey]

Who says it dosent really change you into an animal of some sort eh? The laws of physics need not apply you know. Just because I dont know someone who can and you dont know someone who can dosent mean its not possible.

Besides if it dosent chane your shape why would it be called shapeshifting eh?

And while shapeshifting is associated with shamanism it is also associtaed with ancient druids aswell. I dont know about the neodruids of today though, maybe yous hould ask there.

Now if you just looking for shamanism in generall thatll be easier to find. Remember sacrifice is important to any art from painting to magic, and shamanism more than most.

Maybe rick could help. haven seen him online for a while though.

[st0rm]

for more info on shamanism, I would suggest that u look in the druids forum, theres a thread with links to a few sites there.

Theres also alot of books on shamanism, I would suggest that u check the books forum.

As to shapeshifting u could try to read castanedas books(contains some info on shapeshifting), celtic and norse myths also contains a bit about shapeshifting.

[Tranquility]

Well... If i am not mistaken i have read many times that shapeshifting does not physically change you, yet you convince your body and the cosmic energy around you that you are the animal, so much that you inhabit its characteristics, but not physically, with the mental characteristics.

[Tranquility]

And Yeps, druids and shamans were very closely related in their practices, some even think they were almost the same thing or had evolved from one another but in different parts of the world.

[~ Monk ~]

Originally posted by LoneWulf
I am particularly interested in shapeshifting (shamanism) i am already aware that this skill does not really change your into an animal but changes you in a different way. If anyone can tell me a little more in depth about this and if this skill allows you to get closer to animals more easily by changing to a stealthy animal characteristic or one of the same type??

Hi LoneWulf,
Take a look at this link if you haven't already - I think it does a nice job of explaining shapeshifting:

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wyldkat/anmlshft.htm

It definitely helps you get closer to animals as you are taking on their movements, trying to experience things as they do, etc.

Some other good advice I've gotten: Have a reason for shapeshifting - don't just do it for fun. Ask the animal for permission to shapeshift during your meditation and know what you want to achieve with it.

Hope this helps!

**edited to add this link (http://rampant-griffon.net/paganplace/). It's the actual web site of the person who wrote the article I posted above. There are some other good shamanism articles here.

[Rainx]

Yep, as most people will tell you, physical shapeshifting would probably destroy your body or at least put it through immeasurable pain.

This has been covered over at OF... hm...

What Shamanism is and isn't - http://occultforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2031

Also check SheDemonWolf's post about 12 down at http://occultforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=95

[LoneWulf]

thanx for help guys the websites are great =)

[Rick]

I suggest you check out the works of John Perkins. Perkins has spent 30+ years living amongst & studying peoples with deeply ingrained shamanic cultural beliefs (which include shapeshifting), such as the Shu'ar people of South America.

dreamchange.org (http://www.dreamchange.org/dreamchange/)

His books may be available at your local library. He's also done a series of tapes, titled (tantalizingly enough) Shapeshifting (I've only recently acquired this, but haven't had time to listen to any of it).

Do I believe that Shu'ar shamans can physically shapeshift? I believe that they believe they can. Have I ever physically shapeshifted? Maybe...

BTW: From what I gather from Perkins' writings, the Shu'ar seem equally comfortable shapeshifting into plants, as well as animals.

[MidnightSun]

Well..it can be physical. Personally, my astral form is half werecat/half dragon...so up there I can shapshift into either one. Down here, it's generally the cat that comes out. It does have physical changes when it happens. My teeth hurt, generally my fang like ones on the side, along with other changes. My dragon side is only shown by my wings, which are firey, and are on the astral and can be seen in my aura sometimes. *shrugs* So..don't discount it being an actual physical change.

[Rainx]

Originally posted by MidnightSun
It does have physical changes when it happens. My teeth hurt, generally my fang like ones on the side, along with other changes.

Uh, teeth hurting isn't a physical change really. That could simply be caused by an increased awareness of canine teeth due to your focus on feral self.

I'm talking people physically (not astrally either) changing bodies. And before someone says "oh well, what if I've seen someone physically change", most people would say what you're seeing is a glamour produced by the astral self (I think She Demon Wolf says that in her post too, not sure).

[Tranquility]

Yes, i concur with rainx

[Rick]

Hmm... as a practical matter, I probably agree... as a matter of theory, I must disagree. As living things, our physical forms are made of the same atoms & molecules as all other living things... carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. In theory, it's only a matter of the re-shaping the package, so to speak, not changing the contents. Like so many elements of magic, shamanism, etc, this is probably another of area of science that's yet to be 'discovered'.

[Grey]

Or rediscovered as the case may be...

[Rick]

Originally posted by Grey

Or rediscovered as the case may be...
Hehehe... yeah, like Colombus "discovered" America... ;)

[Rainx]

Originally posted by Rick
Hmm... as a practical matter, I probably agree... as a matter of theory, I must disagree.

I'll start by saying I agree with most of what you said. In theory, yes, possible. In reality, I don't think so.

Just imagine the growing pains we go through naturally growing up, just from getting older, growing up, carrying a child, etc... compared to completely changing species. In theory, sure, but as I think SDW alluded to - in reality, ouchie! :)