Do you know what shapeshifting is? We all probably remember the transfiguration classes at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. It involved shapeshifting that allowed for the transformation of the shape and appearance of objects, animals, and humans, restoring them to their original state, and even making objects and animals appear or disappear. However, this isn't the type of shapeshifting I wish to discuss today.
Shapeshifting: An innate connection with the Animal Totem
Shapeshifting refers to the ability to physically transform through non-natural means. What I'll be discussing in this article isn't in the literal sense of the term. The concept of metamorphosis has roots in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as in ancient literature and epic poems like the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad. It's interesting to note that in French, aside from "métamorphose," there's no suitable term to evoke this ancestral shamanic practice. The shapeshifting I'll be discussing isn't in the literal sense but rather as a deep connection with the essence of our animal totem, allowing us to explore the depths of our being and our relationship with the surrounding world.
My intuitive first steps into shapeshifting
I'd like to share a personal experience from my childhood, around the age of 9 or 10. Intuitively, I was already practicing this without realizing it was part of the common rituals in Native American shamanism. At that age, I enjoyed tapping into the energy of an animal, a practice I later learned could be related to our spirit animal, as I mentioned in a previous article.
Childhood challenges: invoking Animal Totems
Indeed, when boys bothered me during recess, I found that if I invoked the form of an animal, often the lion or the bear, I became much stronger than all the boys combined, and I could always get out of situations where I was physically inferior. Or when I wanted to escape or run faster than everyone else, I called upon the swiftness of the horse, and I galloped away, with no one able to catch me.
Awakening consciousness: rediscovering the roots of intuition
As I grew older, I relegated these things to the domain of my childhood fantasies overflowing with imagination. It wasn't until recently, when Grandmother Medicine Song, the Hopi who teaches me, took us on a shapeshifting journey where she asked us to connect with the bear, that I understood that what I was doing as a child was intuitive.
Reconnecting with shapeshifting: rekindling the bond with nature and your Totem Animal spirit
In the shamanic tradition, metamorphosis or shapeshifting represents the ability to deeply connect with an animal's energy and adopt its qualities and abilities. For Native Americans, especially the Hopis, it's a means to strengthen their connection with nature and the spirits. This practice holds sacred importance, allowing us to draw from the animal's qualities and wisdom, as well as to find guidance and strength in difficult times.
The Hopis used to seek the help of an animal before going to sleep, hoping it would come to them in their dreams and provide solutions to their problems. For example, when faced with an important decision but unable to gain enough perspective to make the choice, one could ask the eagle to guide them with its vision medicine to help see the situation from afar. This intimate connection with spirit animal totems allowed the Hopis to find answers and advice in their daily lives, strengthening their bond with the natural and spiritual world around them.
Rediscovering shapeshifting today: connecting with your Totem Animal to find guidance and strength
Today, as our world becomes increasingly disconnected from nature, it's more important than ever to reconnect with these ancient practices. By connecting with one's spirit animal, everyone can find guidance, strength, and inspiration to navigate life's storms. In this inner journey, we rediscover the power of unity with nature, the ancestral wisdom residing in every living being. May this connection lead us on the path of metamorphosis, where the past blends with the present in a renewal of spirit, and where the soul finds its essence in the eternal song of the universe. To further explore the teachings of the Hopi and delve deeper into the wisdom of their tradition, visit our website.
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