Many countries and many cultures have their own werewolf or shapeshifter myths and folklore. There are countless ideas and theories all on this one topic (all of which are awesome). One ancient idea was that of donning animal skins in order to get that animal’s powers, as I mentioned in the Native American post. But the Native Americans weren’t the only ones that held this belief.
The idea was that putting on the skin/fur of an animal, be it wolf or other critter, would cause the wearer to adopt the traits of the animal. These pelts would supernaturally develop into a second skin, transforming the wearer into that particular animal. This belief was once very common in Iceland and Norway.
Back in the day there was a group of men know at the eigi einhamr (meaning “not of one skin”) in Norway and Iceland. People believed that these men could take on any form they choose, whether it be animal or human; they could also take on the attributes of the creature. You see, when these guys took on the form of a wild animal, their strength and power increased, and sometimes so did their other abilities such as sight and smell. If that wasn’t great enough, these shapeshifters also choose when and where they would shift, they had perfect control over it (meaning the full moon didn’t force it).
This is how they brought on the transformation – they would first throw the animal skin over their body, their essence or soul would then take on the form of the animal, leaving the body limp and dormant. Other methods involve using spells and incantations, along with special ointments.
The only way to tell these transformed men apart from natural animals is by their eyes. Their eyes are the one thing they can not change since they remain human eyes, not animal eyes.
And there you have it, the skin donning eigi einhamr. I have to say that out of all the werewolf myths and legends out there this is one of my favorites for sure.
- Moonlight
Related Reading:
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Im part Quileute and im trying to learn more about my ancestors and how to become a werewolf and its really intresting.
is the “cold one” myth real?ask the elders.tell me about it.
Ok, stop watching Twilight. The werewolf species is a delicate cycle, if it is broken by a single gene it could effect the coming generations. So only people born with the genes can “change”. There is no way that any spells or antidotes can do. It is not a magical thing, it’s like being unnormal or handicapped.
hi any info on a werewolf known as the varclolac.or is it spelt varcolac.thankyou..
HOM ITS REAL GET UR FACTS RIGHT! i saw one the other night
well hello i loooooooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wolves and werewolfs your like awesome for me im a wolf
I loovvee Werewolves and anything that has to do with Wolves at all. Of course Werewolves are real!
yeah werewolves r real i can agree on wolfgirl the story about the werewolves is beautiful and my sister draws wolves 4 me the WEREWOLVES ROCK.
Oh YEEEEEEEEEES!!! Werewolves MUST be real. I love them. They are so interesting,magic.
I am werewolf
That Picture up at the top….yeah, that’s a feline….Judging by the mask markings and the some what flattened face, probably a Siamese Persian…
i often hae dreams that i am a warewolf and that i roamed the woods prowling for food. but as soon i am going to eat a deer or any animal i wake up. i love wolves and i am a big fan of warewolves. if they are real i would like to be one. a
i just want to know if they are real. thats all. and about my dream what does that mean.
You can read about wolf dreams here http://www.werewolves.com/do-you-dream-about-wolves/
sweeeeeet hey moon were can i find something for a spell bok to transform in2 things like werewolves r that stuff?
Unfortunately, there is no such spell. If there is, which I doubt, I sure as hell don’t have it.