Shapechanging is an ancient art originating with ancient peoples all over the globe. As such, there are a lot of different ways that you can learn to shapechange. Ancient rituals would sometimes include elaborate costumes, dance, and ritual but we’re going to concentrate on simpler and more every day methods that you can easily work into your daily routine.
Shapechanging is a skill, and, just as with other skills, the more you practice the quicker and more dramatic your results will be. It may be at first that you will spend days bringing an animal’s energy into your life, but as you progress you will be able to draw these energies in more and more quickly.
Decide upon an animal energy that you’re going to want in your life for awhile. We’re going to put some effort into this and we’re going to be building a relationship with this energy, so we’re going to want it around for awhile. There are many resources, both books and on the internet, to help you decide which energy you want to bring into your life. As you do your research, you’ll learn that, while some traits ascribed to animals are universal, many vary from culture to culture, so this is a good time to find what resonates with you. You don’t have a ascribe to a culture in it’s entirety, but this is where you start learning what animals can bring into your life.
The first step in drawing in the animal’s energy is to simply research the animal. Learn about its eating habits – how does it hunt, does it store food, is it more active in one season than another? Do the animal’s habits differ from region to region? Are you interested in bringing in a more generalized energy from across species or a more specific energy. Read the different myths, stories, and fables that involve your chosen animal. Look at pictures of the animal in different life stages and different environments – hunting, with its young, sleeping. If you can, put pictures or other reminders of your chosen animal energy where you can see them on a regular basis.
We’re off to a great start! In the next shapechanging post, we’ll use meditation, visualization, and ‘prayer’ to further strengthen our connection with animal energy. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know!
