[Kachina] So, has anyone here seen or tried to do shape-shifting? How real is that?
[LdyAshlynn] Ok, Shape shifting
[LdyAshlynn] an excellent topic
[Kachina] yes?
[Kachina] I have never tried it any way - but have seen odd things when very young.
[KansasDawg] My shape shifts depending on how much ice cream I eat
[Kachina] I don't know how reliable what I saw then was.
[Kachina] Kansas!! LOL
[LdyAshlynn] Shape shifting is actually consciousness projection
[LdyAshlynn] lol, Kansas!
[LdyAshlynn] One does not, of course, grow fur n fangs
[LdyAshlynn] One creates the illusion
[LdyAshlynn] This is something, I am sure Gan could handle better than I
[greenman-] one projects to others the "Sence", and "feelings" of the creature one would be.
[Kachina] So, do you send out a second replica of yourself, as disguise?
[Kachina] Or do you coat yourself in a shape-shield, and then move around?
[LdyAshlynn] Its a glamour
[LdyAshlynn] You create the illusion of the creature, then project your consciousness 
   into it
[LdyAshlynn] If its good, it will appear real
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, some folks call "borrowing" the eyes of a familiar animal 
   "shapeshifting" as well..
[LdyAshlynn] Im sure Gan can teach it
[Kachina] ok.
[LdyAshlynn] Its his forte
[Kachina] neat!!
[Kachina] We have few animals around my place.
[LdyAshlynn] (among other magickal workings)
[Kachina] Mostly slugs, and they are not too friendly to me, lately.
[GaNeLoN] well, not a forte, exactly.. but i have done a little work with it over the 
   years...
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, no pets?
[Kachina] Do you use the familiar, or a projection?
[Kachina] Yes, I have goldfish.
[GaNeLoN] i have used both..
[GaNeLoN] ok.. the goldfish would be excellent for practice...
[Kachina] really? Okay.
[GaNeLoN] it lives a sheltered and peaceful existence..
[Kachina] yes?
[GaNeLoN] so.. the first step is to enter into a state of deep relaxation...
[aTOMicDawg] what purpose does this shape shifting serve?
[GaNeLoN] rhythmic breathing..
[Kachina] ok
[GaNeLoN] aTOMicDawg, practice, in this case..
[Kachina] will I be able to become aware of the animal-familiars feelings?
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, anyway.. you just relax and let the mind play till it settles..
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, to some degree.. with the goldfish, you might not have enough 
   emotions in common..
[SLADE] that sort of like ESP ?
[Kachina] people generally use dogs and cats, don't they... or wolves and eagles, if we 
   are to believe the tales of north american peoples.
[GaNeLoN] then you allow yourself to become aware oy so you 
[GaNeLoN] any pet you feel true affection with tends to "bond" a bit..
[Kachina] A study, a few months ago, showed that dogs and cats could tell when their 
   masters were coming home.
[Kachina] I thought it was rather touching, and beautifully psychic. I think they must 
   have been looking through our eyes,then.
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, and many pets sense emotional stress of their human 
   companions.. even at a distance..
[Kachina] Yes, that cat I was talking about, she could sense a headache in people, and 
   would come running, even if she were in another room.
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, anyway.. the resistance is usually not impossible even with wild 
   animals.. it's more a matter of being non-intrusive than wether the animal knows you..
[Kachina] ok.
[GaNeLoN] as you get better at being a "guest" you can "hitch a ride" with a bird on the 
   wing, etc..
[Kachina] I guess that is why some people can talk to strange animals, and get a 
   response rather more quickly.
[Kachina] what do you find works best Gan, what isyour favourite animal to work with?
[GaNeLoN] and if you get a definite "unwelcome" feeling.. break off the attempt.. build 
   trust...
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, animals with which one has an emotional bond and trust, such as 
   pets.. and wild animals that one feels kinship with are the best..
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, there ARE a few cautions...
[Kachina] they are?
[GaNeLoN] 1.)You will tend to build a "bond" with animals that you work with.. and if 
   they suffer, you will feel it on emotional levels that may not appear rational to other humans..
[GaNeLoN] 2.)You can get a bit 'lost' in the experience.. (even a goldfish is a fascinating 
   creature).. and may become obsessed with their well-being..
[GaNeLoN] 3.)If the animal suffers physical hurt while you are tagging (even more if you 
   are controlling it) the hurt may psychosomatically affect your physical body.. nightmares and 
   guilt in less severe cases..
[GaNeLoN] example.. if you were "hitching" with a falcon... and a hunter shot and killed 
   it while you were "along for the ride"...
[GaNeLoN] it might even cause physical shock symptoms.. (not likely death, though..)
[GaNeLoN] and you would be VERY irate at the hunter's actions..
[Kachina] okay. 
[GaNeLoN] it's not physically dangerous, in so far as i know..
[Kachina] So, this would be an extension of the energy ball exercises we were working 
   on a few weeks ago  - to pass that same energy ball to another living creature.
[GaNeLoN] but i have known a person who had probs with it from running with a deer 
   who was shot (poached)...
[LdyAshlynn] It is not quite the same
[LdyAshlynn] The creation of form is more akin to that exercise
[GaNeLoN] yes.. it is a sharing of energy and conciousness though.. a bit more involved..
[LdyAshlynn] Aye, but never stopped many
[Kachina] when the energy is moved up to the third eye, does it change somehow from 
   the energy that we gather at our fingertips for energyballs?
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, yes..
[Kachina] how would I recognize the change in the energy, when to let it out?
[GaNeLoN] the 3rd eye is used for passing sensory impressions.. mostly, but not strictly 
   limited to visual..
[Kachina] ohhhhhh.
[greenman-] so could one start by focusing the energy in the hands and then carry it to the 3rd 
  eye?
[Kachina] good question.
[GaNeLoN] greenman-, indirect.. but it would work...
[greenman-] so starting at the 3rd eye would be prefered?
[GaNeLoN] easier to just start by gently noticing the physical sensations at that center..
[GaNeLoN] then the awareness flows there naturally.. no need to "push the river"...
[SLADE] it's like an martial artist breaking a brick you look at the bottom of the brick as 
   your target and strike that but by going through the brick to get there
[greenman-] aye... 
[Kachina] when I want to increase the resistance and size of the energy ball within my 
   hands, I push my fingertips together, slowly. Can you use your fingertips on your eye, to draw 
   the power out that way, too?
[GaNeLoN] a trick i was given is to place a silver dime at the 3rd eye.. the coolness of 
   the bit of metal will focuss the awareness easilly.. it helps the first couple of times...
[Kachina] I could use my pentacle, I guess.
[Kachina] yes, we do!
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, better to just move it direct from the eye... what you are moving 
   with the fingertips is prana..lifeforce.. more than awareness..
[Kachina] ok.
[Kachina] I guess that was what was confusing me - so they are quite different?
[GaNeLoN] greenman-, check your change.. or visit a coinshop.. or whatever..
[greenman-] would a silver pentacle suffice?
[greenman-] I have a pendant that would be perfect
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, well... energy is energy.. but the 3rd eye is used for this type.. like 
   you use your nose to smell.. your ears to hear..
[LdyAshlynn] The point is the coolness, to focus awareness
[greenman-] aye, but silver was noted also.
[GaNeLoN] greenman-, indeed it would.. other metals.. (steel for instance) seem to 
   hamper the flow..
[greenman-] well, I am partial to silver to begin with.. :) I have my target piece. :-)
[GaNeLoN] ok, so silver is difficult to find.. here's an alternate.. try a drop of 
   water...that wouldn't disrupt the energy..
[Kachina] can you jump into people, as well?
[GaNeLoN] charged or blessed water would be even better.. but plain water will serve..
[GaNeLoN] Kachina, yes.. but i can't really reccommend it..
[Kachina] too wily and untrustworthy?
[GaNeLoN] especially not as an early exercise...
[GaNeLoN] people are far more complex than animals.. and have MUCH better 
   "automatic defenses"..
[Kachina] ok
[GaNeLoN] animals have fewer levels of concious thought..
[Kachina] yes, fud fud fud, pet me.
[GaNeLoN] they don't "imagine" on as many channels as we do..
[LdyAshlynn] Excellent