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Post by Dean Winchester on Apr 14, 2008 21:04:37 GMT -5
The Shapeshifter is common in folklore throughout the world, and comes in many forms. These include werewolves, were-crocodiles, selkies and fox spirits. In it's simplest sense, shapeshifting means to change phisical form. Other terms used to describe the proces include metamorphosis and transmogrificication, although these tend to apply to a more permanent change in appearence while shapeshifting usually refers to a temporary change in form. One of the most commonly referenced shapeshifters is the skinwalker. Unlike Lycanthropy, where those cursed transform from humans into werewolves whenever their is a full moon, skinwalkers don't change into animals. Instead, these creatures kill humans and assume their shapes. The shifter, as it shapes into another human form, can access that persons memories. No one quite know why this is but Native American mythology believes that when a shapeshifter changes into it's chosen form, the changer and it's chosen person's souls become interlocked for one brief moment, making the changing experiance for the shifter a very powerful emotional one causing them to have their chosen persons memories. This could explain why werewolves become animalistic when they shift - they are accessing the wolf 's memories. Shapeshifters can be identified on photographs and video by a retinal flare and they can be destroyed by conventional hunting means, namely a silver bullet through the heart.
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