by Lupa
Throughout history, we have been fascinated by our nonhuman animal neighbors and companions. Early human art includes pictures and sculptures of predators and prey, and even as we settled down into farming, our cultures continued to incorporate animal imagery in art and everyday life.
Usually we are content to coexist with other animals. However, on occasion some of us wish to become another sort of animal, whether a wolf, a horse, a bird, or some other creature. Mythology around the world tells the stories of people who transformed into another being, sometimes through sorcery and sometimes by accident. Sometimes the rituals and practices used are shared, though more often they’re left for us to wonder about.
Of course, there’s a difference between legend and physics. Physical shapeshifting in this world is impossible. However, the practices that these stories are partly based on are still quite accessible to us today. One that I have spent years working with is the shapeshifting dance.
Dancing the Animals
We are human animals, and while we can swim passably well and may fly with the aid of technology, we’re limited by the shape of our bodies. But we’re great at imitation, and with practice we can move like the creatures we wish to emulate. Dancers might spread their arms out like an eagle’s wings, hop like a kangaroo, or run and shake their mane out like a wild horse. (The truly creative sloth dancer could utilize a horizontal fence post or railing for the world’s slowest shapeshift!)
Imitation, though, is just the first part of a shapeshifting dance. By moving like the animal we wish to “become,” we are inviting its energy into ourselves. This energy may be embodied within the animal’s totem (an archetypal being that embodies all the given qualities and behaviors of its species). So, for example, if I wanted to shapeshift into a gray wolf, I would ask the totem Gray Wolf to help me. I would dance like a wolf with the intent of inviting Gray Wolf to lend me some of her energy so that I could “feel” more wolflike.
This won’t, of course, result in me sprouting hair, fangs, and a tail. But if all goes well, my mind and my spirit may shift to be more wolflike. When I wolf dance, I begin to see the world more as a wolf may see it, paying attention to details in the landscape that speak of “shelter” or “the presence of prey animals.” I see myself as a wolf, too, and while I can’t walk on all fours very well, I do try. My energy body changes to the shape of a wolf, and if I close my eyes I can see and feel the fur over my human skin. I do retain enough of my human self to not lose control—a shapeshifting dance isn’t about being in a werewolf movie!
Each animal species offers unique lessons and perspectives. And my experiences with shapeshifting dance may not be the same as yours. Don’t worry if you’ve never tried it; the rest of this article is meant to help you get started.
Pick Your Partner
The first thing you’ll want to do is decide what animal you want to shapeshift into. If you already have an animal totem or guide that you’ve worked with before in some spiritual or magical capacity, that’s a good place to start. However, if that animal chooses not to shapeshift with you, or if you’re starting “from scratch,” you can still find an animal to work with.
How do you go about doing that? By asking, of course! You can invite an animal you’d like to ask—even one you haven’t worked with before—if you have one in mind. Otherwise, you can put out a general call for help and see who responds.
You may wish to turn the invitation into a ritual. Set up a small altar with images or other representations of the animal you wish to work with or wear clothing that reminds you of it. Then ask, either silently or out loud, “[Name of animal species], I wish to know what it is to be other than human, to wear [fur/feathers/scales/whatever is appropriate], and to see through the eyes of another. Will you help me in this endeavor to learn more about what it is to be like you?” You may feel the answer in your heart or get a vision or words in your mind.
If the animal doesn’t respond, wait a few weeks, then ask again. Or if the animal declines, try asking another one. Be patient. It’s best to find an animal that’s a good fit. Keep in mind, too, that any animal is a possible ally in shapeshifting, not just the big impressive ones. You might even end up with an extinct or a mythological animal!
Getting to Know You Better
Before you try shapeshifting itself, get to know the animal that’s helping you. Start by researching its species:
Natural history: This includes the animal’s behavior and environment, what it eats, whether it lives alone or socially, how long it lives, etc.
Relationships with other species: How does this species interact with other animals? With the plants and fungi in its environment? What is its relationship like with humans?
Mythology and folklore: What sorts of stories have we told about this species? What sorts of values and messages do we attach to it as a symbol, and as a real animal?
It’s good to know these sorts of facts, but you also want to spend time with the animal. Observing physical members of this species, either in the wild or in captivity, can be a great way to learn how they move and behave. If you’re working with a pet species, such as a dog, cat, or goldfish, watch how your household critter interacts with its world and everyone within it. If you don’t have access to the physical animals, look for books or documentaries about them.
And even if none of these are options for you, you can still work with the totem or guide of that species. One of my favorite ways to “visit” a totem is through guided meditation. There are several variations, but they generally boil down to visualizing yourself traveling through a tunnel and coming out into a wilderness area where you can meet and talk to the totem. You can discuss what you may learn from the totem or ask it to show you around its home. You can also ask what it may want as a thank-you gift for helping you with all of this.
Your First Dance
Once you feel comfortable with the animal, it’s time to try your first dance! Pick a place where you have some room to dance, whether around and around, or standing or sitting in one spot. Make sure you won’t be interrupted for at least an hour. If you like, ask someone you trust to be with you while you dance to make sure you don’t trip and hurt yourself or feel overwhelmed—it can be a pretty intense ritual experience.
Make sure the altar dedicated to the animal is set up, including an offering for the animal if you like, and get any music that you want to dance to ready to go. Prepare whatever ritual costumes you may wish to wear; these can be as simple as a single necklace or as complicated as an entire outfit. Some people like to wear a bit of fur, feather, claw, or other piece of the physical animal as a connection, though this is not required. Have some protein-rich food and water available for after the dance, along with a journal or recorder.
When you’re ready to start, sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair. Don’t worry about dancing just yet. Instead, spend a few moments focusing on your breathing, allowing yourself to relax. Let your thoughts drift by like clouds.
Next, ask the animal to join you. Say silently or out loud:
[Name of animal], I am ready for my first dance. I ask you to be my partner in this, to show me how to move like you, see through your eyes, and find the value in the world that you do. I invite you into this sacred space with me!
You may feel the animal’s presence as it arrives, though if it doesn’t show up immediately that’s okay. Some animals prefer to use the dance itself as their entrance into the ritual.
Slowly start to move your body, just a little, still sitting down. Feel your muscles and bones and tendons, and start to move them like the animal would. How would this animal sit or lie down? What would be a relaxed position for it? How would it sleep? Spend a few moments being a quiet animal.
When you’re ready, you can move more quickly and actively. You can either stay seated or get up if you feel comfortable. Think about how the animal moves from place to place, and try to move your body like it does. Don’t worry about getting it “right”; remember, your body is still human and that this isn’t about being the most convincing shapeshifter ever!
As you continue to move, feel the presence and energy of the animal move into your body. Visualize your energy body shifting shape from that of a human to that of the animal you’re dancing. Imagine that you’re seeing the world differently and notice what’s more important to you. What do you want as this animal? Where would you like to go? How does it feel to be in this form?
This can be a very powerful stage in this ritual. You may find that the totem or spirit you’re working with speaks to you at this point, guiding you along and keeping you focused. Don’t worry about looking for signs or lessons in this experience or having some purpose to it—simply dance, and let the animal’s energy flow through you.
When you’re ready, slow down your dance; pull in your wings and fins, lower your tail, settle your feathers and frills. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down and settle in to relax again. Bring your focus back to your breathing, and as you do, release the animal’s energy back to it. Feel yourself becoming fully human again; if you feel “stuck,” start reciting your name, address, phone number, and other “mundane” things.
Once you’re fully back in your human self, thank the animal for its time and help, and give it the offering you’ve prepared. Even giving it the spiritual essence of the food and water you’re going to eat will work, or you might promise to do a bit of environmental volunteering or make a donation to a relevant nonprofit in its honor.
Finally, once you’re ready, write or record your experiences while they’re still fresh in your mind. Include any observations you may have made during the dance, as well as any reflections afterward. This is also a good place to record any questions you may have for future shapeshifting dances and related work. And it allows you to revisit this first dance in the future and see how far you’ve come.
The Whens and Whys of Shapeshifting
You don’t have to stop with just one shapeshifting experience! Here are a few occasions on which you might wish to dance with this animal again, or with another:
• Shapeshifting dance is a great way to deepen your relationship with a particular animal. The more you dance, the more you can understand what it is to be that animal and what it may have to teach you. It’s also a good way to honor the animal by giving it a place in your sacred practices.
• If you ask an animal for help with a spell or other magical act, you can use shapeshifting dance to channel its energy into your magic. If you’re creating a magical item, for example, you can dance around it or even carry it while you dance to let the animal’s energy soak in to it. Or you and the animal can build up energy together and then release it all at once for a particular purpose.
• Some celebratory rituals, especially those of nature-based spirituality, benefit from additional wild energy. If you’re celebrating a sabbat or other sacred holiday and you want it to have a more natural feel, invite the animal to join you and whoever you’re celebrating with. (Just make sure it’s okay to do that before the ritual starts!)