Rosewicket Wicca Coven

a few wiccan books i have read have meantioned that very skilled shamens (long ago, obviously) connected with animal energies/spirits to the extent that they could transform into thier totem animal phsically (not just in the astral plane) does anybody have any expierences with this? or any other general comments about connecting with animals?

Well, I'm very interested in Shamanism and from what I have heard, shape shifting is only possible in the otherworlds (they travel to otherworlds instead of what we call the astral plain, though some think they are the same). Being a shaman is mostly dependent on their journeying to the otherworlds, they are the spiritual leaders of the community and travel to the otherworlds to retrieve lost soul fragments of other less experienced, it doesn’t really have to do with shape shifting but it's not impossible.

As for having experience, I don't think any shamanic methods could have been applied in a long time. What people don't realize is that shamanic traditions vary by tribe, most of which have lost their language or been culturally assimilated completely in the united states. Most of the shamanist paths that exist today are blend from other tribes, cultures, and the new age movement. Unless they are a hugely popular yet authentic tribe, I doubt there has even been a traditional Shaman of any such Tribe that can do such a thing for a long time.

i suppose that information varies...

i discussed this with an old women today who has studied it for along time, and she says it is possible (nature shapeshiftes all the time, after all) but it takes immense concentration and it certainly isn't something anyone can do without time and practise. (she meantioned it was beyond her)

its something i think i would like to try myself, and try to learn the skill..dont really know where to start searching for clues on how to actully do it, because like i said, information is very sketchy

(then again, it is something that is supposed to be impossible, to general society)

Researching shamanism isn't like researching Wicca. There aren't books published on (authentic) shamanic ways, defiantly not specified by the tribe you want to follow. and you can't really Google search all you need to know. I think, to be a shaman, you need good resources, in both this world and the otherworlds. By that I mean you need resources here, you need to know your path and its traditions. Second, I think you need to be drawn to a Deity that is followed in your path, you need a divine connection. And third, you need to have very good relationships with your spirit guide, so that they can help you journey through the otherworlds. I would suggest fiorst the middleworld, then the upperworld, then the lower/underworld, as risks are posed in varying degrees in roughly that order. If you have a good relationship with your spirit guide, they might be able to help you shape shift in the otherworlds (or at least help you be more in tuned with nature). Then, maybe after practice, as in years and years with intense self-discipline, you may be able to do it in this world.

And I don't say that to be discouraging, I just think for these things, there is a very narrow line of success. And that's assuming you have authentic information that is specific to the tribe/region. Keep in mind, tribes were relocated and Christianized all over history, so there isn't a ton of specific or authentic information out there - authors mix and match. I think if you were to pick up a book on the subject, look into cultural anthropology - they know about tiny (but important) cultural differences between tribes and may understand ceremonies and shamanic rites.

Sounds good Chi. Always appreiate your input

So, do you have any ideas about communicating/having a better connection with animals in general? (anyone)

VictoriaMoondance at January 12, 2010 at 4:10 AM

So, do you have any ideas about communicating/having a better connection with animals in general? (anyone)

Well I say get closer to the animal and if you feel your as close as posible listen to the animal watch its habits and try to speak to it and hang around with it follow it around sit outside with it if you feel confident and have done everything you can you can sometimes sense if its in pain just by looking at it my old hound dog has arthiritis and i can tell just by looking at him that he is in pain or sad. I can tell where my rabbits are at ay time i need to know. does that help or am i just off the subject?

well i can do it in an astral form and i can also get into their heads and such it's really cool and exciting i'm usually a cat or now a raven. but really you just have to find a connection with an animal and feel attached to it.

I guess yeah pretty much.

If you really want to try out being an animal, there's a wayy with blood magic, that can get you into the animal's skin. Of course the drawback with bloodmagic as always is that you need the animal's blood for it, so unless it's your pet and you use a seringe or well...I'm not sure about the or but I reckon you shouldn't do it with a very dangerous animal unless you want your arm bitten off.

And well if you want to know stuff about shamanism my step grandfather was one (don't know if that makes sense, he was like, my grand mere's third husband -or maybe fourth) and i've got some good basics, so ask away.

I personally have never considered the possiblity of shapeshifting. I too have heard of Shamans becoming their totems (my animal is a squirrel, so not very interesting). I certainly believe it is possible, you just need the right time and focus, but more importantly, you need to believe.

To be honest it isn't far fetch. I had quite a few dreams of turning into a wolf and one day I was just sitting around and I remembered something I told a friend. When you change you must forget all humanity you have or at least just enough to change. I tell you that it is possible to change but not exactly physical but more a mental state of mind that engulfs you soul and shoots you off into the great unknown. How do I know? I semi-shapeshifted when I was heading to a friends business. They noticed the changed and recommended that I stopped before I let it take complete control. If you don't know what you are doing the mindset you develop will over power you until you are exhausted. I would love to train as a Shaman and all but I worry about whether I could do the meditation without actually losing focuse like I did that time. I felt great and all but well... you get what I am saying right? Shapeshifting is via dream and or mental/spiritual transformation.