OBSERVATION
To be a good shapeshifter, you must master the art of observation. It is impossible to shapeshift into an animal's body, even in the mind, if you do not know how the body works. If you live in an area where you can observe animals in their natural habitat, you can start the process of learning to imitate them. Go to the zoo, or a nearby park or forest. Observe how the animal moves. The way it moves its ears. Watch the muscles flex as it walks. Observe the pattern of the wings moving. Take notes. Mimic the movements and sounds. Read up on the animals and learn their ways. Begin to think yourself in the part of the animal. Think how it is to be the animal.
SHAPESHIFTING EXERCISE
1. Create the sacred space by dancing clockwise in a circle. This circle is made to allow you to experience the energies surrounding you.
2. After you have established the circle, begin to spiral slowly
into the center. This will be the
point where the animal forces can be met.
3. Once you have reached the center, pause, and feel the sense of
unformed energy around you.
This is the energy of the animal spirit. You should begin to make
your movements and postures
that you have associated with your animal. As you do this, feel the
energy of the animal becoming stronger within you and all around
you.
4. Sit in the center of the circle. In your mind's eye, build the image of your animal. You shouldbe able to see it growing and taking form over the area of your solar plexus.
5. Once you are able to imagine the animal fully in front of you,
allow it to enter. Visualize it
being absorbed into your body through the solar plexus region. Allow
the full essence of the
animal to enter.
6. Starting at the feet or hands, feel them begin to change. See
claws or talons or paws forming. Fur, scales or feathers where there
was once skin. Let this change move slowly up your body. The last
area should be the head. You do this to allow yourself control over
the change. It is
important that you follow this step.
7. Visualize a door forming for you. Engraved on the door is the
image of the animal you are
becoming. This is the door to the inner world; the shamanic state of
consciousness. Since it is
easier to maintain the form on the inner levels of reality than the
outer, see the door open and
pass through it as the animal.
8. Your first experiences will likely be taking place in the imagination, but as you become more experienced, it will become alive for you. It will feel like a very vivid dream. You will not just be observing yourself doing this, you will be experiencing it. You are now the animal. You may wish to explore its world. Use your animal form to travel to the inner levels of reality.
COMING BACK
9. After a time, you should imagine yourself coming back through
the door. It closes solidly
behind you. Allow the change to reverse, starting with the head. You
should not be in a hurry to make the change back. The
fur/feathers/scales become skin. Feel the form of the animal body
changing back to your own.
10. Once you have changed form back to yourself, allow the image
of the animal to fully
withdraw, again, through the solar plexus region. See it completely
outside of you.
11. Now let its image slowly dissipate until it becomes the
unformed energy in the middle of
your circle. Open your eyes. Stand.
12. Now you must honor the spirit of the animal for allowing it to
join with you. Perform some of the animal's moves. After you have
honored your animal, reverse your dance circle, moving
counter-clockwise. Spiral out to the edge of the circle. Use the same
number of revolutions as
you did when entering the circle. Finally, dissipate the sacred
space, and feel yourself grounded and balanced. Massage your
shoulders and limbs. Breathe deeply to cleanse the system.
PRECAUTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
If it feels like your mind is changed or scattered after a day or
two, stop the activity. If you see,or others see changes in your
demeanor, stop these activities immediately. Be flexible in this
exercise. Adapt and experiment. For it to become truly magical, you
need to apply your own
creativity. ALWAYS USE THE DOOR. If you should become temporarily
lost in the
transformation, you have already trained your mind to use the door to
trigger the reversal.