Magical Transformation

WolfEyesMany 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

By moonlight

One of the writers for werewolves.com, as well as vampires.com.

22 comments

  1. Im part Quileute and im trying to learn more about my ancestors and how to become a werewolf and its really intresting.

  2. 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.

    1. Yeah, except most “handicapped” teenage girls, for example, couldn’t beat up the human quarterback of their high school without throwing a punch (claws in the arm and a good kick to the shin would have the average human screaming in pain). While I have never done this and would never physically harm anyone except in self-defense, I do have the ability. So I don’t think of myself as handicapped, but you do have a point. I was actually very sickly as a kid and diagnosed with a couple different mild disabilities because I had received human medical treatment. Did the same thing happen to you?

    1. well hello i loooooooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wolves and werewolfs your like awesome for me im a wolf

  3. 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.

  4. Oh YEEEEEEEEEES!!! Werewolves MUST be real. I love them. They are so interesting,magic.
    I am werewolf

    1. no one belives in werewolf because ever one thinks there face but there real and more alive then ever and I’m a werewolf

  5. 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…

  6. 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

    1. Sorry, but as far as I know, you can’t (well, at least, it’s virtually impossible). And a good thing too, imagine if a serial killer got their hands on a spell like that…sociopath with claws, fangs, and superstrength. They could cause World War Three or something.

  7. Look, if you say you are a werewolf, then give us facts about them. Don’t just say it cause then we won’t believe you. And don’t say you really want to be one because everything comes with a price. My family is Cherokee and has magical origins and I have learned that everything comes with a price. So, yeah sure it would be fun for a while then soon it will become a nightmare. If you are not born a werewolf, then you are not meant to be one. You would know too if you were one.

    1. Actually, a lot of us give details on our experiences, as well as facts on things like diet, exercise needs, natural instincts, the pack bond, etc.

  8. From my experience, the transformation is energetic. We are more energy than physical body, and the energy bodies are around the physical body. The energy body can transform to whatever animal form you are connected to or any form, and that can sometimes appear in the physical. Where they would see the energy form. That is really what shape-shifting is. Werewolves are usually portrayed as evil and want to kill nonstop.
    But that comes from western religion judgments.

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