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Learn Shapeshifting

A guide by "whole_and_healthy"

Products sampled from this guide:

Shapeshifters' Resources
The Magic of Shapeshifting is the best all-around resource, but it doesn't go into enough detail to actually allow you to learn shapeshifting unless you are already a fair amount along. To truly learn shapeshifting, you will need a balanced magical education and a fair number of other books, as many as possible listed in this guide. Shapeshifting: Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation is another resource. It is more about story than technique, but it helps to know that there are still people who have preserved the traditions of shapeshifting into jaguar form. The Art of Shapeshifting is a hands-on resource that includes maskmaking. Ted Andrews is such a great author on the subject of animal magic.


Animal Totems & Familiars
This type of magic is not always necessary in order to learn shapeshifting, but it sure helps. The best books to start with are Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small, about animal energies and omens, and How to Meet & Work with Spirit Guides (Llewellyn's Practical Guide to Personal Power), because animal totems are a kind of spirit guide. Other resources include:
The Once Unknown Familiar: Shamanic Paths to Unleash Your Animal Powers
Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter
Deerdancer: The Shapeshifter Archetype in Story & in Trance (Arkana)
Totems: The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem
Power Animals
Animal Totems: The Power and Prophecy of Your Animal Guides
Animal Magick: The Art of Recognizing and Working with Familiars
Animal Spirit


Shamanism Resources
Since true shapeshifting is a part of the magic of shamanism, you need to ground yourself in shamanic knowledge and wisdom before calling on the powers of nature in such a way. Magical recklessness is dangerous, as we are told in the book Before You Cast a Spell: Understanding the Power of Magic. You should also look at books about spiritual protection and cleaning your psychic energy, such as Spiritual Cleansing: A Handbook of Psychic Protection and White Light: The Complete Guide to Spells and Rituals for Psychic Protection, before you try anything else. Next, look at some classic books of shamanism to start your education:
The Way of the Shaman - a classic that has stood the test of time.
Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit - another tested classic of shamanism.
Urban Shaman - a famous primer in the Huna (Hawaiian shamanism) system.
Secrets of Shamanism: Tapping the Spirit Power Within You - a simple, but thorough, beginner's book.
Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy (Bollingen Series (General)) - a classic about the scholarly, historical side of shamanism.


Astral & Etheric Realms
By now you might be wondering how shapeshifting is actually done. It is accomplished by manipulating the levels of reality, specifically by creating thought-forms and magical entities on the astral plane. This is advanced magic, so don't be discouraged if you can't do it right away! Start your education with two essential books: Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment and Creating Magickal Entities: A Complete Guide to Entity Creation. Continue your education with as many astral travel books as you can find:
Astral Dynamics: A New Approach to Out-of-Body Experiences
Mastering Astral Projection: 90-day Guide to Out-of-Body Experience
Otherwhere: A Field Guide to Nonphysical Reality for the Out-of-Body Traveler
Out-of-Body Exploring: A Beginner’s Approach
Projection of the Astral Body
Out-of-Body Experiences: How to Have Them and What to Expect
The Art and Practice of Astral Projection
Astral Travel for Beginners: Transcend Time and Space with Out-of-Body Experiences (For Beginners (Llewellyn's))
Flying Without a Broom: Astral Projection and the Astral World
Etheric Anatomy: The Three Selves and Astral Travel
The Astral World: Its Scenes, Dwellers, and Phenomena (Occult Manuals)


Folklore Resources
The following books can help you find your way in the world of shapeshifting, if you will let them. You need the skill and/or instincts to see which things are metaphors and what is fact:
White Wolf Woman (American Storytelling)
The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa
Werewolves
The Werewolf in Lore and Legend
Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves and Related Creatures
The Fox's Craft in Japanese Religion and Culture: Shapeshifters, Transformations, and Duplicities (Religion in History, Society and Culture-Outstanding Dissertations, 7)
Kitsune Tales
Dance of the Dolphin: Transformation and Disenchantment in the Amazonian Imagination
Myths of the Dog-Man
In Search of the Swan Maiden: A Narrative on Folklore and Gender
Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter
Of Wolves and Men
Women Who Run with the Wolves
At the Bottom of the Garden: A Dark History of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Nymphs, and Other Troublesome Things
Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth


Last but not Least
The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution Of Human Nature does not fit in any of the above categories, but it is very helpful. It is about the powers of the body, how the body can truly change under mystical influences. Read it for some advanced material.

Products mentioned include:
Shapeshifters' Resources
1.  The Magic of Shapeshifting  by Rosalyn Greene
$16.20 Used & New from: $2.97
3.4 out of 5 stars   (28)
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2.  Shapeshifting: Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation  by John Perkins
$10.17 Used & New from: $3.84
4.7 out of 5 stars   (30)
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3.  The Art of Shapeshifting  by Ted Andrews
$17.90 Used & New from: $4.00
1.0 out of 5 stars   (1)
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Animal Totems & Familiars
4.  Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small  by Ted Andrews
$14.93 Used & New from: $7.67
4.6 out of 5 stars   (130)
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5.  How to Meet & Work with Spirit Guides (Llewellyn's Practical Guide to Personal Power)  by Ted Andrews
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6.  The Once Unknown Familiar: Shamanic Paths to Unleash Your Animal Powers  by Timothy Roderick
Used & New from: $1.95
4.2 out of 5 stars   (5)
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7.  Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter  by Yasmine Galenorn
$12.71 Used & New from: $0.85
4.6 out of 5 stars   (10)
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8.  Deerdancer: The Shapeshifter Archetype in Story & in Trance (Arkana)  by Michele Jamal
Used & New from: $2.98
4.0 out of 5 stars   (1)
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9.  Totems: The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem  by Brad Steiger
$14.78 Used & New from: $1.33
4.5 out of 5 stars   (15)
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10.  Power Animals  by Steven Farmer
$16.47 Used & New from: $11.86
4.1 out of 5 stars   (17)
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11.  Animal Totems: The Power and Prophecy of Your Animal Guides [Illustrated]  by Millie Gemondo
Used & New from: $4.60
3.0 out of 5 stars   (2)
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12.  Animal Magick: The Art of Recognizing and Working with Familiars  by D. J. Conway
$10.85 Used & New from: $2.25
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13.  Animal Spirit  by Patricia Telesco
$13.25 Used & New from: $3.61
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Shamanism Resources
14.  Before You Cast a Spell: Understanding the Power of Magic  by Carl McColman
$13.59 Used & New from: $6.81
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15.  Spiritual Cleansing: A Handbook of Psychic Protection  by Draja Mickaharic
Used & New from: $1.95
4.5 out of 5 stars   (28)
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16.  White Light: The Complete Guide to Spells and Rituals for Psychic Protection  by Diane Ahlquist
$11.21 Used & New from: $5.30
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17.  The Way of the Shaman  by Michael Harner
$11.51 Used & New from: $3.23
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18.  Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit  by Thomas Dale Cowan
$14.03 Used & New from: $2.99
4.1 out of 5 stars   (17)
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19.  Urban Shaman  by Serge King
$11.20 Used & New from: $3.69
4.9 out of 5 stars   (27)
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20.  Secrets of Shamanism: Tapping the Spirit Power Within You  by Lena StevensJose
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.71
4.0 out of 5 stars   (20)
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21.  Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy (Bollingen Series (General))  by Mircea Eliade
$19.77 Used & New from: $9.95
4.5 out of 5 stars   (28)
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Astral & Etheric Realms
22.  Magical Use of Thought Forms: A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment  by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki
$11.53 Used & New from: $5.45
3.9 out of 5 stars   (10)
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23.  Creating Magickal Entities: A Complete Guide to Entity Creation  by Taylor Ellwood
$11.53 Used & New from: $9.54
4.2 out of 5 stars   (38)
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24.  Astral Dynamics: A New Approach to Out-of-Body Experiences  by Robert Bruce
$13.57 Used & New from: $5.39
4.5 out of 5 stars   (85) | 1 customer discussion
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25.  Mastering Astral Projection: 90-day Guide to Out-of-Body Experience  by Robert Bruce
$16.47 Used & New from: $13.50
4.3 out of 5 stars   (35) | 1 customer discussion
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26.  Otherwhere: A Field Guide to Nonphysical Reality for the Out-of-Body Traveler  by Kurt Leland
Used & New from: $22.50
4.4 out of 5 stars   (14)
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27.  Out-of-Body Exploring: A Beginner’s Approach  by Preston Dennett
$11.92 Used & New from: $3.48
4.0 out of 5 stars   (7)
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28.  Projection of the Astral Body  by Sylvan Joseph Muldoon
$11.21 Used & New from: $1.69
4.6 out of 5 stars   (17)
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29.  Out-of-Body Experiences: How to Have Them and What to Expect  by Robert Peterson
$11.16 Used & New from: $3.74
4.2 out of 5 stars   (47) | 1 customer discussion
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30.  The Art and Practice of Astral Projection  by Ophiel
$14.49 Used & New from: $4.93
3.7 out of 5 stars   (15)
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31.  Astral Travel for Beginners: Transcend Time and Space with Out-of-Body Experiences (For Beginners (Llewellyn's))  by Richard Webster
$9.32 Used & New from: $2.70
3.8 out of 5 stars   (16)
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32.  Flying Without a Broom: Astral Projection and the Astral World  by D. J. Conway
Used & New from: $1.00
4.0 out of 5 stars   (19)
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33.  Etheric Anatomy: The Three Selves and Astral Travel  by Victor H. Anderson
$10.20 Used & New from: $2.95
4.0 out of 5 stars   (7)
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34.  The Astral World: Its Scenes, Dwellers, and Phenomena (Occult Manuals)  by Swami Panchadasi
$10.75 Used & New from: $6.94
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Folklore Resources
35.  White Wolf Woman (American Storytelling)  by Teresa Pijoan
$11.95 Used & New from: $0.01
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36.  The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa  by Alexander McCall Smith
$15.84 Used & New from: $0.47
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37.  Werewolves  by Elliott O'Donnell
$22.00 Used & New from: $10.50
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38.  The Werewolf in Lore and Legend  by Montague Summers
$11.96 Used & New from: $8.33
2.8 out of 5 stars   (4)
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39.  Half Human, Half Animal: Tales of Werewolves and Related Creatures  by Jamie Hall
Used & New from: $21.78
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40.  The Fox's Craft in Japanese Religion and Culture: Shapeshifters, Transformations, and Duplicities (Religion in History, Society and Culture-Outstanding Dissertations, 7)  by Michael Bathgate
$84.27
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41.  Kitsune Tales  by Woodrow Phoenix
$4.95
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42.  Dance of the Dolphin: Transformation and Disenchantment in the Amazonian Imagination  by Candace Slater
$25.00 Used & New from: $3.36
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43.  Myths of the Dog-Man  by David Gordon White
$25.20 Used & New from: $11.57
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44.  In Search of the Swan Maiden: A Narrative on Folklore and Gender  by Barbara Fass Leavy
$23.00 Used & New from: $0.79
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45.  Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter  by Barry H. Lopez
$10.10 Used & New from: $0.01
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46.  Of Wolves and Men  by Barry H. Lopez
$14.04 Used & New from: $0.68
4.7 out of 5 stars   (27)
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47.  Women Who Run with the Wolves  by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
$7.99 Used & New from: $0.01
4.5 out of 5 stars   (120) | 1 customer discussion
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48.  At the Bottom of the Garden: A Dark History of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Nymphs, and Other Troublesome Things  by Diane Purkiss
Used & New from: $14.70
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49.  Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth  by Carol Rose
$14.93 Used & New from: $11.27
4.6 out of 5 stars   (14)