The Moonstone Pack

Hey there, this is Cassi/Fawn on my new livejournal account. If any of you Santa Cruzian shifters wanna join my new pack, dawnsmoon, skip on over there! Also, there will be a web pack thing if you feel like joining that, sooo anyways, all this and more! hehehe!

Dawnsmoon Pack will meet once a week at a park or beach in Santa Cruz, CA. Members limited to 7. Logistics to be discussed privatly. The web part will be Q and A kinds of stuff.

http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=dawnsmoon

So far three people have gotten back to me about memebrship, although they have forgotten to post on the lj community thing but aw well, we cant have everything. Hurry up if you wanna join!

This place is so quiet lately...so.....I'm making a post. Whee!!! ^_^

To Cassi and Lauren: I still feel really bad that you guys thought I was offended or something by your poem a while back. I'm really not. I know I've said that already, but...heh....^_^;;;; I love your poem! Write more! =D

To everybody: Although I'm unsure (...honestly very doubtful, unfortunately...) of my belief in magic, I'm very curious about it, and would like to start doing it myself. I have a LOT of questions.

Does one have to believe in magic for it to work?

...If so, how would you explain magic done upon an unbeliever that seemed to work?

Does one have to possess natural magic capabilities to perform magic in the first place?

...Is magic something that one KNOWS one has, or can it be discovered?

Assuming that I, an unbeliever with no known magical capabilities, CAN do magic.....is there a simple spell/ritual/etc that you could suggest that I start out with? Sort of a "Baby's 1st Spell" thing? *sheepish grin*

Um....any (other) advice? Or places where I could go to help me on this journey?




Thank you!!! =D

So did any one Do any thing intresting for Beltide?

I had a small party with some of my friends we had a may pole and did a little public ritual involveing feeding each other.

Than latter me and three of my friends had a small privet ritual at sunset and called the direcktions, it was good.

But I whant to hear about others beltnes, so post some thing.

wayli

This is where I am going tomorrow afternoon!!!


OMFG, I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!


In the second book I wrote, I spent at least one entire chapter talking about living in a cave....and now I get to go visit my first cave!!!!! WHOO!!!!!! ^_^

Oooh.....either I'm a lot more drunk....or a lot drunker?....than I think I am, or....something. =P

I'M EXCITED!!!!!!!! ^_^

Lone is pleased as well. XD


I intend for this to be a spiritual trip for me. Hopefully my writing muse will kick in, or I'll feel *SOMETHING* happen to make me feel not so dead anymore. =P

Hey who out there is a polyware, as I believe it is called?
I believe my self to be one for several reasons and was looking for details on the subject.
I need to get a hold of the book cassie keeps reminding me to find a copy of, the magic of shapeshifting.
anyways any info on the subjeckt would be greatly appreciated,

inquisitive in a laid back way as usual,
wayli

What are the differences between weres and shifters? Are they the same thing? Are they furries? Are they Otherkin?

Hello there loves!

I thought I would just pop in to ask how you all are doing! Round of applause for anyone who celebrated or promoted our little holiday in whatever way they were able! I thought you all may like some more homework, can't let you get bored out there right???

~In this world, a lot of things are really screwed up. But let's face it, how messed up is it that you find it strange/out of the ordinary for someone on the street to smile at you or ask good day? We are surrounded by throngs of people all our lives, why do so many of us feel alone? This has every thing to do with shifting, animals don't look down at their feet their whole lives. Thet interact with other animals, they growl if they feel threatened (not suggesting that though! ~_^)
So, why not see if you can change that, even a little? Smile at people, or if you feel threatened turn right around and stare at whoever it was that cauused the feeling.

~March 20th is Organic Foods Day. It's very important for shifters to eat good, healthy food, so on that day, buy and eat only orgainc products. Also, if you really want a challenge, eat only non-processed foods!

~Cassiopia Chandi

Abandoned Wolf Hybrids In Need

Click here for the story and Info.....
http://www.livejournal.com/users/theredwoodpack/2688.html

thank you dowser,
I'm cheking in here and mayby some one will move it up.
Tonight is the full moon, I did little prowling but I tend to get to lonly and miss haveing a pack to much to do much of it. The full moon is beuteful though. latter I will go out and think of howling at it. I find little joy with out a courus of pack song to meld with.
wayli

Hi everybody! This is astral_dowser under my other name since my astral_dowser account won't let me on right now.

Just wanted to give everybody a heads up. The Full Moon will be tomorrow. Don't forget to howl at it. Or if anybody has a pressing problem, look and ask the man in the moon. He'll know the answer...

Okay, this really has nothing to do with anything, BUT... I was wondering if any of you have synesthesia? It just seems like something my friends would have (and no Zoe, no killing me). And no, I don't have it.

It's where two of your senses are joined together- you might taste stuff when you listen to music, have your letters have colors, shapes have textures, numbers have personalities, days of the week have sounds.... you get the idea.

Even if you don't, go to Mixed Signals, and maybe even join the forum because it's so AWESOME.

Even our dear Cassi has got it (^^)- her letters have personalities and genders (hope you don't mind me sharing that). My friend Karina's emotions have colors. My friend Hannah's (not you Hanna, I don't think) letters have colors, etc, etc. So check it out?

Posted to the Shifter site too- to make up for lack of check-in and because I *pwn*

*Big loveable grin*

So... I'm almost two weeks behind on checking in!

Anyhow, I keep meaning to go out during the night, and play in the snow; but alas, it keeps snowing and I can't go out without the dog. That would make it singularly difficult to enjoy my shifty self in the snow.

So, I've been stagnant.

Hey, this looked like a good little community. Let me tell you,I prefer small over big, really.I was looking for a community that was interested in a game that I'm interested in right now, which happened to be Age Of Mythology. I have a suggestion for this community. I was hopeing we could just try it. Maybe base it of Age of Mythology for the first time. Please go to o-b-w.org. Click on Forum. This is an old forum I used to be in. As you can see, there is a forum for group stories and role-playing. Click on the topic "Some helpful adive." I was hopeing we could do something like that. A group story or role-playing sorta thing. Ya dig? I was thinking about just starting one, but I don't want to without an Okay. I'm also crap at making them, but I love playing them. That topic should tell you it all. Please reply, pretty soon.

If you look at my journal, you will see that my journal is basicly for strategys in some games and video games. Please leave a comment this, or email me at platt.thegreatone@gmail.com if you have a suggestion on what I should do sometime in my life.

Some songs (mostly slower, darker-toned music) seems to resonate with my soul. For example:

"Black Hole Sun" -- Soundgarden
"Here in My Room" -- Incubus
"Give Me Novacaine" -- Green Day
"Whiskey Lullaby" -- Brad Paisley
"3 X 5" -- John Mayer (not really "slow" but semi-dark...ish)
"Ocean Avenue" -- Yellowcard (same as above)
"Echo" -- Incubus (same as above)
"Home" -- Smash Mouth
"Saturday Night" -- LMA
"Clocks" -- Coldplay

...You get the point. ^_~

I realize that this isn't simply a 'Kin/were/etc trait, as my boyfriend has noticed this in himself, and I seriously, seriously doubt that he's 'Kin/were/etc.

Second of all, every once in a while I get this *need* to migrate...and I always see myself needing to migrate in a westerly direction across a desert. And when this migrating instinct kicks in, I always see myself and/or shift into a brontosaurus. Yes, I know it's technically called an "apatosaurus," but old habits die hard.

With this migratory instinct, of course, comes the herding instinct. My place in the herd is always either herd-leader, like the matriarch of elephants, or near the back end of the herd, on the side. Except I'm a bronto, not an elephant.
Likewise, when the pack/hunting instinct kicks in, I'm in the same places. Either leader, or near the back of the pack, on the side.

I don't know what that means, but that's always where I am.

heh.....I guess this is my check in. No one else checks in anymore. =p (Just playin'...^_~;; )

Better check in for me...

It was snowing and windy at times today. On my way to math class, I passed by two ravens and a third that flew over to join them today. The first one walked by me, and as I was looking down, it startled me. But while I moved aside to avoid it (in my fright thinking it was a person I was about to run into), it just kept on walking by me. It was so close! The second raven just kinda stood there a couple of feet further away, under a small, skinny tree.

So, I'm not assuming that these birds are trying to communicate with me or anything, but I have seen a lot of ravens show up and seemingly watch me lately. Or are they crows? I can never tell the difference. >_<

My boyfriend (well, we're both technically single, but we have dated for 2 years and still have extremely strong feelings for each other...we're just on a break....but ANYWAY!!!! =D ) had a dream about me about two nights ago. I was wearing a black cloak, a sickle, I showed up at his school to hunt down this person I wanted to kill, and I had a pet raven that came to me.

So....I'm wondering....since I don't feel like a raven or any other kind of bird (although I think I have wings....maybe even bird/feathered wings and would LOVE to be able to fly!!!!!!)....maybe the raven is just a spirit guide or something over me? What do you guys think?

Stressful, but boring.

*CHECKING IN*

Found a white duck feather but I'd kinda like to just go buy a feather that's clean.. I mean...it looks clean, but it's just the principle of the thing, you know? Also need some yellow yarn or something...

Like I said, I've been so stressed out lately with exams and relationships (or lack thereof...) and such.

My question is: do you guys experience a change in amount/intensity/types of shifts during good/bad/relaxed/stressful/etc times? What are the best conditions for different kinds of shifts?

REMEMBER- WEAR FAETHERS ON FEB 24 AND TREAT YERSELF TO A HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!

 

Coughcough

 

Actually that isn't far from the truth, the coughing that is. I have been horrbly siiiick, very sad, I know yer all crying for me. Anyways, I'm at the university with my sister and brother and such etc, and there on the lawn, are three deer. I can't help it, I walk over to the cement steps really close to them and sit watching for forever. One walked across the street, and the way it moved, it's hooves on the asphalt, I dunno, it was just so frightening because I mean, look what we as a race have done. Where there used to be forest for deer and other animals to live in, now there are parking lots and stuff. The animals arer now intruders in their home.

Anywho, I was watching a gorguous two pronged stag, mum and all were crowding towards it like the stupid un-understanding people they can be at times. I stood up to go tell them off, when the stag got nervous. It turned away from them and came run/walking over to me! I don't think it relized I was there. He stopped short, about three feet or so away, and his eyes were so be black and lovely, and pulled his head back in surprise- just as I did the same thing. I kinda wanted to laugh, it seems I have more deer reactions than I knew of, we both stepped back with the same foot too-well, except he had a hoof and I had a foot but lets not go into that. He looked at me for a few moments, not frightened, but, surprised, like he didn't know what to make of me. It seemed like we stood there forefver, frozen, and I can remember exactly how he looked. His furm eyes, antlers, I doubt I'll ever forget, even though it was a small and insignifigant happening on all accounts except for the fact that it happened to me, and it was the first time that I looked into a herla's eye, and had the deer look back into mine.

Than he turned and left, ran after his does into the wood across the cement and expensive student owned cars and neatly arranged plants, and out of sight.

 

~Cassiopia Chandi/Fawn of Moonlight

Hello everyone! It's Wednesday, and since I've been relatively non-shifty this week, I thought I'd just be academic instead.

( Bear InfoCollapse )

All right, I finally have something to post about!

I just bought myself a YMCA membership - it's the only place to work out away from the cold within thirty miles. I have a tattoo on my left calf of a bear paw, because a bear is my primary shift. I wasn't thinking much of it, you know? I've had the tat for months, and it's thoroughly nonoffensive.

Well, this woman (another member, I think), walks up to me while I'm checking in and starts lecturing me about how tattoos and piercings are desecrating the temple of the Lord. I'm not Christian, but I let her talk for a few minutes anyway. She never made a point except to say that she believes that tattoos and piercings are wrong.

I believe, right to the core of me, that getting that tattoo was one of the most spiritual exercises I've had in a long time. I think it was RIGHT.

What do you all think?

Just to let everybody know, two days from now (Tuesday) will be the New Moon. A perfect chance to go for a walk and make friends with the stars. All the predators will not have the moon to betray them to the sharp eyes of their prey. You who are prey, listen to the earth and the air and be weary of that which you may not see on that night. Stay together with those who can protect you.

~Aura

Hi! I joined a while back. But this is my first post.
I’m not a shifter quite yet. I’m in the process of finding my animal and could use all the help I can get. I only started reading about shifting last December. And when I did, it was like a light bulb going on in my head. I have always held animals as my closest friends. I understand them. I can tell their thoughts, movements, and emotions more than most people can. I don’t know what animal I am yet. But I’m positive that it’s something predatory. I’m sure of that because of how my mind seems to change into a stalking type mode the moment I step outside. I’ve always had fun trying to stalk up on various wild animals in the woods.

Can anybody recommend any books I should read right now? Books for helping one find their animal?

Thank you all so much!

~Aura

First, I owe you each an apology - Wednesday was check-in day, not Saturday, and it slipped my mind. So... I'm checking in late!

This week was very good; I got in contact with my Jeremy again after a "hiatus", and it's very satisfying to have a shifter I know so well to talk with.

I'll check in on the appropriate day from now on!

My [late x.x] check-in!

Have you always knowen you were different even before you knew about shifting/otherkin/labels etc?
Um.... I'm kind of a hypochondriac (sp????), so I've always been extremely obsessed interested in finding things that set me apart from everyone else.... So yeah, I guess. >.< On a less crazy pschology note, then yes. I have always had a "different side"
Could you go on if you woke up one day and realized you weren't? OR

If one day you simply couldn't feel your animal? Like it was gone?
I honestly don't know. Proabably very very strange.

And Cassi, I don't eat flowers much, but lots of people do. And would you eat violet or lavender (Cassi, I don't mean lavender like THAT) candy if I made it?

Been trying to astral project, figured out that I'd better make friends with the spirits in my house first. (There are lots!)

Persoanly I have allways known I was difrent.

No I wuld not abel to go on or at least have a very hard time to go on if I turned out to be like the masses. now if I found out the masses where all like me I wuld be thrilld.

I tend not to eat flower piriod because thay dont taist good.
*mumbles to him self* Friggen deer.

I have a gas forge. Its so wonderful, I can finaly get long things hot so I finaly managed to finish my broat sword blade. I just need to polish and sharpen it, give it a handel, name it and bleed it.

huzza!

I also started work on a knife today. The pummle anamal is a very bemused looking grass eater. its cute.

wayli

Uuuuuuummmmm............well.....nothing really happened this week. *thinks* Typical random shifting happened a lot, but that's usual. Um...yeah.

I'm trying to think of a place to get a feather...I know I haven't seen any lying around on the ground....and they'd be kinda obvious, since the ground's been covered with snow all week. ^_^

Wings-areas hurt today, then again it could just be my stupid back acting up again. I'll blame it all on wearing heavy bookbags and (still) having bad posture. It still hurts. -_-;; Oh well, used to it!

Yeah, I plan on celebrating the shifter's day, when I get my feather & yellow string. ^_^ Can't wait!

Later.

~*~Lone.~*~

UPDATE: Moved these answers to Moonfira's questions here:

Q: Have you always knowen you were different even before you knew about shifting/otherkin/labels etc?
A: Yes, always. Somehow. Mostly through the memories of my/Lone's (we're One and separate beings at the same time...I think...*LOL*) slave life with Xroth (Or X, if you've known him as long as I have ^_~;; ).

Q: Could you go on if you woke up one day and realized you weren't? OR If one day you simply couldn't feel your animal? Like it was gone?
A: Most likely, yeah. I could go on. I'd be a very different person, I think, though. Not nearly as much imagination, and maybe even my personality would completely change. I go through these stages where anything related to otherkin/shifting/anything not "normal" (and I use that term loosely...) is/feels completely stupid to me. For example, in here when I posted my story of awakening/visions/etc. the first part was written during a "good" stage (where I accepted shifting and Otherkin-ism and magic or whatever...and such), and the second, shorter part was written during a "bad" stage (where everything seemed stupid and foolish). I go through these stages quite frequently....so if I say something that comes across as bitter or otherwise negative, just let me say I'm sorry in advance. ^_^;;;; Anyway, my point is that during these bad-stages, I don't typically feel any of my animals, etc.

Q: Am I the only one who eats random flowers from people's yards <*>_<*>
A: Nah, I do it, too. Well, dandelions....if I don't suspect them of have being sprayed with something poisonous. <_< Oh, grass and honeysuckles, too. Hmm....maybe those little puffy white clover flowers, too. Not sure about other flowers, though. I don't remember. ^_^;;;

My check in, Yup, I AM WRITING ONE! >_>

Myne is a question.

Have you always knowen you were different even before you knew about shifting/otherkin/labels etc?

Could you go on if you woke up one day and realized you weren't? OR If one day you simply couldn't feel your animal? Like it was gone?

AND

Am I the only one who eats random flowers from people's yards <*>_<*>

Nine out of Ten Llamas Agree,

 

YOU STILL NEED TO CHECK IN!!!

 

(The Tenth Llama was Exectued and Made Into A Burger For Treason)

I've always had a fascination with undomesticated animals. I can remember being a child and begging to go to the zoo for my birthday, which is in March. We went in June instead. And the part I remember most, to this day, was seeing an owl ("by chance", my mother said) during the daylight, perhaps ten or fifteen yards from the bears' enclosure.

For as long as I can remember, I've worn an animal charm or pendant of some kind and felt attached to the wilderness.

And then, my senior year of high school, my whole life changed.

( I met Jeremy.Collapse )

Hello All!

Whoa, I leave for a week and I find a new member when I return! :GRINS:

Welcome!

 

My name's Cassi, or Fawn of Moonlight, either one's cool. For anyone interested, there is a thread somewhere around here labled Info For All, with a lot of shifty info. And I am going to be more active now, I swear ^^

 

So, here is a little list, for those interested, nothing that's  mandatory 'o course

 

BUT, If you want a challenge or something,

• Next full moon is going to be a holiday, for us, at least! Anyone who wants to should celebrate it by...

              ~Wearing feathers tied with yellow string, ribbon or thread somewhere on their person.

              ~ Eating a good shifter's diet that day, AKA no processed foods, refined sugar, or McDonald's

              ~being with a group of other shifters, creating a shifter circle, or going prowling with a trusted friend.

             ~ Howling at the moon

              ~Watching the sun set AND rise, and spending as much time out doors as possibal

             ~Dressing in the colors of your animal

Anyone willing to promote our funday or find out exactky WHEN the next full moon is, would be a very cool person indeed.

• I would like to make a gallery thread, if someone could organize it, consisting of pictures people drew of their animal
• Laurel, Myself, Wayli, and Lone have all been good little spirits and posted nice long "How I Found out I was  A Shifter" things, but the wonderful new members, and Nightshade, brooke, RHIANNON, you stilllllll neeeed tooo Before I can reveal, "The Surprise"
• Would someone please be in charge of announcing Full moons, New Moons, and Eclipeses??

 

WHeW! I Think That'll keep ya'll busy fer awhile. Let's welcome our new friends and get ta work, ya?

Greetings all...
Today is Sunday, and I just joined. I know that Wednesdays are check-in days, so I'll leave my first check-in post to be my "getting closer to myself" post that you asked for, but I thought I'd introduce myself anyway.

To the public my name is Mary; and to others I am Echo. It doesn't matter which you call me =). I'm primarily a therianthropic (mental) shifter, but I've begun to astrally shift as well. I identify closely with two animals: first and foremost the brown bear, and secondly larger species of owls. My current romantic interest is also a shifter - he is also a wolf. More on Wednesday.

Blessed be!

Typical day, full of ups and downs. Mostly downs. But one or two very big ups!

So...got in a fight with my ex before class, was late to class, keep up and understood most of what was being taught, although my mind wasn't focused/couldn't concentrate. On my way back, I saw some dog pawprints in the mud beside the art building. I instantly thought about Lone (my main 'Kin), and although everyone and their brother walks dogs around here at the school and those pawprints were really nothing special, I thought about when I used to be Lone, and what I would do as her in my predicament today. She'd be the peacemaker. I got back to the room, and while previous peacemaking-attempts had failed miserably, this one was a huge success.

...Thank you, Lone, for coming to help me in my time of need. And Asikari, for calming me. I knew I could count on you guys. ^_^



How does everyone here sleep? On back? On stomach. What position are your arms, legs? Your head? Neck exposed? I sleep all sorts of different ways, but I was thinking about how *how* you sleep might provide a clue to some people about their animal(s).

Don't be discuraged, It took me alot longer to get there than I thought it would. I am naturly a very strong person in this sort of stuff, It took having a dream of how to do it to get there. You will manage too if you keep trying.

Anyway, speaking of dreaming, I'm going to use this post to check in because it used to be Wendsday. I dreamed last night that I was in a Triatholon and that it was easeier to run on all fours than upright.
It started I was running and had to keep up with people but culdn't. I was too slow and tired, so I started to run on all fours. Suddenly I could keep up with them and for once my back legs where the right length. than some one a middle aged man who was runing next to me asked if I was ok? and I sayd yes. Than I thought Its a good thing these poeple don't know what the disease Lycanthropy is or else thay would lock me up, not knowing that I am a true lycanthrope in the good way.
Also I have several people telling me recently that I a a wolf. At least one of which has no clue what I am so I am inclined to beleave that I am a shifter or at least that my original form was a wolf.
Ahhh dreams. I love them.
wayli

...Because I haven't in a while. =P

Cassi sent ...Mukandi?... to try and help me get into the astral realm last night (Tuesday). It didn't work yesterday, but I still have her tonight and tomorrow night. Maybe it'll work. Maybe it's just stress blocking me....boyfriend troubles, school stuff, and such. Ugh...life. I hate it. I think a big part of it is that while I want to believe in cool stuff like astral stuff and magic and stuff....I don't. That's a pretty big freakin' obstacle to overcome. But!!!! I *DID* specifically ask her, so....that's taking a big step towards scaling that wall, right? ^_~;;

Anyway....yeah. That's all I've got for tonight. Wish me lots of luck...I'll definately need it. =P

1.) Copy/pasting from an old journal entry (May 9th, 2004):

My Awakening/Visions I've had/etc.

Ok, I had a good childhood. Not a particularly adventurous, exciting one, but a good one. Wonderful loving family, and more friends than I could possibly keep up with. So I know I'm not one of those sad, depressed outcasts who is looking for a place to fit in. Not saying that it's a bad thing to be, just saying I'm not, and never have been, and never will be.

When I was very young, perhaps 2 or 3, maybe younger even, I had visions from when I was an angel, and was living and playing high up on the tops of clouds. Those were some nice, peaceful memories. ^_^

When I was a few years older, anywhere from 4 to 8 years old, one evening while eating dinner I had visions come to me of when I was a fairy/pixie/fae. I remembered being at a gigantic feast/party one night in the woods where the fairy-village was. I think something happened and I was exiled that same night. I remembered feeling very betrayed by the other fairies. I remember also that we lived in peace with the lightning bugs (fireflies), and they were at the party, flying around with the fairies. I think I had two friends with me. I know my fairy-species glowed like the fireflies. The three of us had yellow, blue, and pink lights. I think I was the yellow one. We played tricks on humans sometimes, buzzing around their ears and such. Maybe that's why we all got thrown out of the village--we called too much unwanted attention to our existence there, and that endangered the village.

Also, when I was about 4 years old, I had just finished watching The Land Before Time, and I was lying on the couch alone, and this very vivid vision of a desert scene popped into my head. It was almost surreal in it's nature: in the desert, with a tall dark brown/red mountiain/cliff range in the background, there was a portal. When you came out of this portal, you saw a giant cube solid-structure to your right. I think it was pink/maroon in color. There was a giant yellow pyramid solid-structure to your left, and a giant aqua blue sphere solid-structure next to the pyramid (if you kept walking forward, you could see it). Not sure what this whole thing meant, but it keeps coming back to me even today.

Anyway, I also had visions come back to me repeatedly from when I was about 4 and even to this very day, about when I was a servant of a man named Xroth. He was the owner of a planet called Septhia, which orbited with one other planet around a dying white dwarf star, far off on the Eastern side of the universe. (If the universe was mapped out like our world is.) I may have been a human servant, but I may have also been a anthro-wolf-like being. I have both versions of this vision, so maybe I died as his servant and was brought back in another form as his servant. I'm not sure.

From 6th grade up until maybe my 10th grade year, I was involved in RPGs. Those were fun, and allowed me to explore more into my odd memories. I did a lot of non-related RPGing, but a lot of RPGing I did alone, and those were the ones I used to explore my visions. It was like meditating to me. I also wrote stories of the memories from my servant life/lives. Writing offered me the most insight into that life.

Lately, when I get angry, I take on horse-like tendencies. You don't mess with angry horses. I know this, and I've never ridden a horse, or been around them except when someone would ride by my grandma's house long ago on their horse and they let me pet it/feed it carrots and grass and stuff. I named this horse-like influence on my rage "Blaze." He looks like a black and white Shire (no, not the hobbit-kind) horse.

Although I am Christian, I've once felt the need to make an offering for Gaia or some some Nature God/dess. So I built a mini-alter out of rocks and left the biggest acorn I could find. Strange, maybe, but it was an awesome feeling, trying to win His/Her/It's favor. =)

I was trying to calm myself down once, and so I meditated and got images of a green dragon flying through the sky and clouds. Don't know what this means, but it felt significant enough for me to mention.

I hadn't heard about Otherkin until just last summer, when an RPG friend of mine introduced me to the concept of it. It sounded so much like me that I decided to accept the label. Then I called myself crazy and dropped it. But it's so much a part of me that I've succumbed to it once more, and I'm SO very glad that I did.

Lately, I think my soul is an Ever-changing one than is currently human. It was born from the marriage of the evening/night/possibly early morning sky to the great Atlantic Ocean (or maybe it was the ancient ocean that I forget the name of at this particular moment...you know, the ocean from when the world was one giant continent called Pangea?). My soul passed from form to form, from cells to aomebas to fish to insects and many other things before reaching it's current state of being human.

Most people have only one Super-Ego and one Id. I have two of each. These beings are separate from me (I think, 'cept maybe Lone. Not sure about her, yet.) My Super-Egoes are Lone and Asikari (Lone's goddess form from the beginning of all existance). My Ids are Blaze and Xroth. Blaze tries to take over when I'm angry. Xroth is more playful but still of a very Dark nature. Lone is Xroth's love of his life, he'd do anything for her. Lone and Asikari guide me in important matters, such as doing what is right, and things like that. I call on Lone and Asikari to calm Blaze's raging through me. It helps, a LOT. ^_^ I used to lose control, and things would just get worse. But now, I can think more clearly, with their help.

That's my story of Awakening.



OR

2.) The way I'm gonna put it at the moment:

If I'm melodramatic at all, I regret it. So I'll just put it this way...I just knew that I was different from birth. I'm not claiming crazy powers even though a goddess is either with me or *IS* me, or whatever.....I don't believe (ie: "worship") in her as my goddess...even though she helps keep me calm and helps me think things out calmly sometimes. For me, there is only one God, and maybe He has lesser gods working for Him, or maybe He manifests different parts of Himself into other Gods (like maybe He *IS* Zeus and Hera and Anubis and Thor and Loki and Cassopia and Artemis and Hermes and stuff). Only making this point because for me, religion and spirituality are intertwined, so I'm just clueing you in on that. I don't do any spells, I don't do any rituals, I don't astral travel, I don't even really meditate I guess. I can't. I don't have the ability to. I feel phantom ears and wings and tails, and that's pretty much all the "weird-crazy" stuff that I'm able to do.

That's me.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/moonfira/14325.html 

There is my story of how I found out I was a deer. You know, I have always had odd habits, like when I was little, I could NOT grasp the concept of smiling. I panted in photos, or opened my mouth until at age 7 I trained myself in the art of a lopsided smile. By 10 I had it down pretty well.  *laughs*

When I found my deer side, I was so exstatic, I had always been looking for something, that was not there. I fianlly found it! And the only thing I regret is that my over-enthusiasim aleinated Maria from Shifterism, (Mari's my sister) Which is sad because it's a hereditary thing and I think that she has an inner animal too. But she found otherkin, and that label is comfortable for her so its okay now.

My wolf side, I don't think I've told many of you that story yet? Like so many of the important things in life, It isn't just one story, but many intertwined into the masterpeice (or b grade sob fest) which is my life. Even though I am a vegan, I have always, when I was younger, liked to play hunting, I would stalk my stuffted animals and get so used to crawling that walking was weird. I would growl and wrestle and view things from a wolf's prospective. I was obsessed with dogs.

When I was still learning the art of Astral Travel, when Mukandii was still a red and black sea snake that could fit comfortably in my pocket, when the sun had set and I was alone, I decided to conduct a ritual. (laurel stop that giggling) I placed my candle in front of me and lined up my stones and, as I sat serenly on my pillow, I called the great wolf spirit Ice Leaper, from the northern direction, to guide me in the astral realm in search of self-discovery, I think it was. I close my eyes and there she is, wiating on a snowy hill. Lucky (my tiny dog) barked right than and I blearily opened my eyes, I could alomost see her there in front of me, on the other side of the candle's flame, waiting. The rocks that stood sentinal in front of me sent a wave of energy towards me and I closed my eyes again. Now, I was running, I was a deer, but thinking back on it now, I can almost see myself as a wolf as well, at the same time. But than I was a deer, I was running, there was a pack of white wolves with me, running, the leader, Ice Leaper, breaks from the group, A cave entrance, dark, Ice Leaper tells me, "If you lose sight of me for one instant, go back to your body." Than she's running, I'm running, but she's so fast, I can't keep up, it's sop dark, she turns a curve and I can't see her! She's gone, I don't want to go back though, it's all so real, I don't want to just leave!

I look at my side, and there is a white wolf with green eyes, just like Ice Leaper, but even then, deep down, I knew that something was wrong. It's tongue lolled a second before it sped off and I followed it. Up or down? I didn't see where it went! I go down, up, as I scramble towards the light, my hoof slips on a stone and twists, in my human body on this plane my right wrist goes dead, numb, it almost stings! But, I can'r go back now, it's soo cool! So real! (yes, I was dumb back than) I go up into the light and I am in a clearing, and in the middle, is a bonfire. I am surruonded by wolves, and I am afraid of them! I-I tell myself it's fine, theres nothing to worry about, but...

The white wolf comes up and starts to urge me towards the bonfire, I turn into a human for and I am saying, screaming, No! I don't wnat to! But the wolf says it's ok, it's just to get rid of my fox traits so I can become a fully initiated shifter. I don't really believe the wolf, but suddenly I am in the fire! Nothing is burning, nothing, except suddenly I have wolf ears and a wolf tail! And they are burning! I try to get out, but the wolf snaps at me! This isn't Ice Leaper! I think (yes, I am sooo quick to catch on aren't I?) I yell for Mukandii, help me! A flash of white light, Mukandii is there, the wolf is lunging at me, but she creates a sheild around me. Ice leaper, the real one, is there, too, she's chasing the bad wolves away.

She licks my ears and tail and whispers, "Don't worry, you'll never lose your wolf side, ever."

AND that was the last I thought about it for some time, untilllllll...

(WARNING- i am copying this straight from my original notes. EXTREAMLY MELODRAMATIC LOOK AT CASSI'S PHSYCE, MAY NOT BE SUITIBLE FOR AGES UNDER 1000)

I am a deer. I am a wolf. I am a human. I am one.

As I read the book, I had the un, it was so, I yerned to be a deer, my animal, I wanted to, had to, felt to. I turned each page with growing need, I saw myself, as a deer, leaping, my legs tensed and I felt the ground hit my hooves as I fell. I don't remember closing the book, or my eyes. I was a deer. I was running, yes, yes, this was how it should be! I lept over a boulder and my human body moved accordingly. I was in a forest, splashing, a creek, white flower, each petal pointed out. Leaping, oh god, leaping, how could I not? There was a canyon, so deep, high, I leapt down into it, my human body felt the wind rush past, fear, exhileration, alive. Finally. I crash to the ground, clay, no rocks, a cave. I turn, omigod no, not a cave! The wolf is there! I turn away, Mukandii! The pack, chasing, a sheer wall, waterfall. Trapped. Save me Mukandii! I know that this time she can't. Wolves, I kick them, human body striking out, I can feel the impact of my hooves, my feet. The wolves, biting, Mukandii lifts the leader into the air, wolf is white, blue eyes. Kick, kick, kick, kick, they stop. Mukandii drops her, me, the wolf. God no, I am not a wolf. I am. Also. Painic, no she'll hurt me! wolves healing wounds, licking, her eyes, so blue, so beautiful, soothing, she's me. Deer and wolf. No she'll hurt me! Try to be one, panic, NO! Try again, NO! but I am both NO! Human, Deer, Wolf, seperate and as one, spirits melding. I  float crosslegged above a dark lake, each hand holding a different energy. Yes. My astral green eyes gaze, and my real eyes gaze back.

So, if you understood that, you a genius! That's my post, lets see something from the rest of you slouchers! Rhi, Lauren, Brooke, Nightshade, Lone, come out come out whereever you areee!

Currently I am confused as to how and what kind of shifter I am. I do not feal my self to have two sides to my soul but than I cuold just be so used to it that I do not notice any more. I have allways been more animal than most of my friends but mostly in the climeing munkyish ways than wolfish ways, whish is odd because I do not shift into munky form that I notise. As to finding my animal, well ever since Cassi introduced me to shifterisem I allways fealt I wuld be a wolf. At first I was relucktant about exepting this because it was so cleshey. Some times i am not even shure if i am a shifter, or if I am one of the first tiyp cassi listed in her post. intresting thing that I have done lately... meeting a group of otherkin (fae in this case) and discover that I have only ever met one thing that I was afraid of.

wayli

So here it is. I'll try and be honest and I apologize in advance for the length since many of you may not read this.

For me Shifting was the world's most natural accident. Like any child, I played animal. Like any child, I had my complex imaginary worlds. From the start, however, "using my imagination" was not a game. I have memories from the age of six or so of being a horse, of altering my breathing and pace. I can vividly recall seeing the world through a horse's eyes. It was something I did at first for fun, but then it was something that I needed to do. To play horse was for me a way of life, something I did quietly, but often. I still like to change my breathing, and a canter is faster, more efficient, and far, far more comfortable than a run.

At the age of five I began riding horses. I loved it, but for some reason I never progressed far, although I rode for six years. I didn't care about technique, and I didn't want to bridle the beautiful creatures. I wanted to sit and be with them, to communicate and befriend them myself, without tack and riding teachers and rules. I daydreamed of having miniature horses because nobody would expect them to follow ordinary conventions. I could present myself honestly to the horses of my daydreams and they would understand.

I have always dreamt of flying. I was an eagle in a past life, but I was winged before that. At six, maybe younger, I ran to my mom, crying, and said, "I understand now! I'm not a person; I'm really a bird!" The second thing I ever asked the tooth fairy for were wings.

Several years later I discovered griffins, through the book Gwinna. It was an instant obsession, one that continues today, albeit more quietly. In fourth grade my friend and I would play mythical creatures at recess. I was a griffin, she was a dragon. That summer, I went to camp. I met a girl, named Melissa (likely a Shifter as well), and we went backpacking with some other campers in the Trinity Alps. While we set up camp one day, I felt my mind state altering. I was hungry, but not in the usual physical sense. I wanted fresh meat now, and quite unfortunately, all around were fresh, juicy humans. Luckily, Melissa was trained in Karate and help me down as I was unable to say much more than "blood," "meat," and "humans." I now wonder why it was the violent side of my gryphon that showed itself so much then.

I joined an online group, "The Gryphon Guild," and the obsession continued. I came to believe that I was Rath (Sa'a'lorath S'r'a'nna), who had a golden hoop earring in her left ear because, born as Phoenix's full grown daughter in a storm, lightening struck there and made her its avatar. That was my understanding for quite a long time.

I went to camp once more, but this time, as I Shifted, on one of my Shifts a spirit happened to come through, whose name was Ka'a'reme. I can see him in my mind but describing him eludes me. He and Melissa talked; I don't remember it. It was pretty cool.

I came that year to the conclusion that I was not Rath (realizing that she'd always been referred to in third person), but her half-sister (Phoenix is both of our fathers). I've talked to her since and she is quite charming.

Now, to make a long story that is not related to this type of Shifting and rather painful for me still short, Ka'a'reme's appearance convinced me that having a spirit take over my body was the real sort of Shifting. At first it was very cool, and I guess for a true Shaman it is valid, but I ended up very hurt, so I would not recommend it.

Somewhere along the line here, Cassi and I became good friends and she got the Shifter book. When she showed it to me, I almost laughed at how silly I'd been all along. It's funny how deluded we get, and I'm glad that the Shifting I do now makes me happy and not sad.

Summary? Animal and human have always walked the line in me, and I regret the times I was fool enough to push it away.

Thanks for reading,
Laurel

It seems that Laurel isn't the only packsister/brother a bit confused by all of the labels that have been flying around these days. Here's a run down on um, niche?

THEY ARE ALL BASICALLY THE SAME

The main difference between them is that Otherkin includes Vampires, Fae, and other human creatures, while Shifterism/Theirnthropy/Lycanthropy is about animals only. Otherkin does seem to focus a little more on other-plane animals, but Shifterism/etc encompasses those as well.

There are differnt kinds of Shifters, and that is confusing some people so here is da scoop ya?

1.) Human Soul,

No animal in their soul, this person allows foriene spirits to temporairly enter their bodies, this is not the kind of shifting those in this pack practice.

2.) Half and Half (Like that sugar in restraunts ><)

A person who feels like they have a human side and an animal side. This is the typical case and most members of this pack go under this heading.When we shift, it is only that we are allowing our animal to come more fully to the front of our consciouness, but it is always there because we ARE that animal.

3.) Full animal in a human body

Also, I believe called a furry, this is someone who believes themselves to be an animal trapped in a human body, I don't think many in this pack go under this heading.


But really, don't spasz out or anything, these are just ways to try to come to terms with what we are. They are just names, words, and they mean very little. We are Deer, Wolves, birds, Unicorns, Rabbits, and Humans. That's all we need to know really, right?

Also, it looks like we have a new member! Welcome! Feel free to e-mail or IM me anytime, I'ld love to get to know ya! I'm Cassi, or Fawn or a million other names..Labels really are confuing huh?

Waning MOon!


Would someone out there like the job of posting one or two days before new or full moons, and telling us about um>??

It would really help! ^^

And also, if someone would like to try to scrounge some more useful links and books?


I am planning a plan, a funnnnnn plan. *grin* BUT i can't tell you about it until EVERYBODY writes some long melodramatic post about shifterism, how you found your animal, something you will do to getr in touch with your animal...SOMETHING! There is a write-a-lot minnimum, please everybody hurry so I can tell you my IDEA! IT'LLL BBBEEE FUUUUUUN!

A helpful link (kinda contradictory to my last post!!!!):

http://www.geocities.com/lady_shadowmyst/TWSP/

What is the line? What is the difference between a Shifter or Otherkin or Were or whatever and a "normal person?" I've been considering this a lot lately and come to a conclusion:

There is no difference. Shifters are just the ones who consciously admit to having this part of themselves. We can say that some Shifters are artificial and some are hereditary, but we all descended from the same single-celled organism or were created by the same Deity or whatever you believe. I'm not jaded about this Shifting thing, just confused (like usual) about labels, categorizations, and stereotypes.

Your thoughts? (Just keep in mind that this just came from a Shifter who's not even positive as to what she is!)

-Laurel-

Whatever you celebrate, from yule to solstice, HAPPPPYE HOLLLLIDAYS!

My computer is dieeeeeeeing so I haven't been on much, and neither has anyone else (hinthint) You guys don't need me to tell ya to check in. ANYWAYS, me and the local gryphon..or umm whatever you are now my friend, decided to write a nice little song for you all, a parody of Hark the Harald Angels Sing.

HARK THE HARALD SHIFTERS SING

Hark the harald shifters sing,
Glory to the Faery Queen,
Peace on Earth and witches wild,
Goddess and Christians reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the burning of the lies,
With the paegan host proclaim,
Stop bush from bombing Bethleham.
Hark the harlad shifters sing,
Glor to the Faery Queen.

Gods by various people adorad,
There is no everlasting Lord,
Come or leave, whatever you want,
The Goddess was not made to daunt,
Unveiled in spirit we all can be,
We are incarnate dieties,
In the astral realm we dwell,
None of us shall go to Hell,
Hark the herald shifters sing,
Glory to the Faery Queen!!!!!


We were at my mom's christmas party you see, and everyone was from SRF a church thingy and they were all singing carols, not Let it Snow, oh no, but WE LOVE CHIST and CHIST THE LORD and dammit my family isn't even christian! I was raised hindu, though I am not one now. So yes, hope you like our carol! May your path lead you ever on!


SHIFTER- I believe in NATURAL makeovers ! >

Read my journal for my check in!!!

Checka checka checka checka checka checka CHECK INNNNN!!


I want everyone to suggest a day/days for shifters to wear feathers/yellow thread, and it would also be a good idea for you to tell me weather or not you want an astral maze, if so I'll make you one this week and post it where Gryphon's is kay? And of course tell us what wonderful stuffs you've been up to! ;)

Fawn of Moonlight

Immmmmm BACK!

I know, you just missed me sooo much right? ;) Anyways, I have the most aweness thing to tell you all about! We (my family and I) were camping out in the Mecca Desert wilderness just a little ways from my old home. Wait, no, we hadn't camped there, we were but we didn't, instead we went up to Joshua Tree after a ton of hikes and encountered snow. But that was at night and I am talking about the day here.

SO

It was the day of the full moon, I didn't know that than though, and we were hiking in a canyon, think huge puzzel peice boulders, tumbling down onto one another than frozen in place by I don't know what. The sun was about to set, and the air was starting to get a little cool. Mom, Josh and Russel had gone ahead of me, because I wanted to go through this tunnel that had been made when a huge boulder fell, and landed leaning against the canyon wall. The moment I stepped inside the tunnel, sounds of the outside world dropped away. The air seemed to vibrate with energy and my ears, I can't describe it, they changed. Not physically I don't think, but the inside felt different. And I could hear all these things that I couldn't before, and I could feel them as if they were deer ears. As I walked into the open I saw my deer body, as if it overlapped my own. I remember looking down at my feet as I walked and I could barely control the urge to go on all fours, my center of gravity was all wrong, I was dizzy ish, but when I knelyt down and went on all fours everything was right. Except that I wanted to be a deer, and I couldn't walk right, no matter how I tryed it didn't work. So I stood up, my family was just a little ways away, and I tryed to act normal because they didn't take me seriously when I told them I was a Shifter. I kept one kneeling and picking up dirt and standing up and walking a ways and The further into the canyon I went the more deer came out in me. But my family was there and I couldn't let them see me go running around on all fours. I was almost crying when they decided to turn back. I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to stand up, I wasn't a human like them, I wanted to be alone, most of all (It sounds silly but) I wanted to lie down in the sun and sleep! But I couldn't. As we left the canyon I didn't brush against things I grabbed them, grabbed the dirt, I think I was trying to stop my self from leaving. When I ran, It was with a kind of percision, a speed I didn't know I could run with. I jumped far too, and even though I kept visualizing my human body becomeing my deer one I couldn't let myself shift all the way. Mukandi asked me what was wrong and I told her and she tried to understand but I don't think that she did. When we got to the small dirt raod I fell into the last patch of sunlit sand, and while my parents went for a small jaunt someplace less mystical, I lay there and let my deer rest like it wanted too, my ears perking up at sounds I couldn't p[ossibally have herad, such as josh digging in the ground with a stick 50 feet away.

One day I will be alone in that canyon, and THEn we will see what happens.

Nothing much to report... Stuck at Dad's house with relatives x.x I'm checking in for Cassi as well, she's on vacation visiting her old home. I hope everyone's doing well!

And for a little bit of thematic joy (or something), what are you thankful for?

I'm thankful for music, 'cos it keeps me going when I otherwise might not. I'm thankful for friends and loved ones, and I'm thankful for obscure linguistic properties.

Peace n' stuff,
Laurel

My Check is...l.a.t.e. agian, us homeschoolers just can't keep track of the days ^^
HmMm, I went out last night, granted it was with Ellowen but still, we swung on my swing and walked to my park and went all over my neighbor's roof. It was nice, no it was wonderful! That's what it was! I love the night, tonight I am going to go swing on my swing, just swing. *can't wait* I went astral traveling, accidentally experianced automatic writing, had Ellowen try to guess how my book would end, she's at my throat to let her read more. And yes, all in all, iy's been good!^^

I have a nice little CHALLENGE

Everyone has their day, paegan in september, christians have christmas, why shouldn't we have one too? Lets pick a day and advertise it and get everyone to, I dunno, wear yellow ribbons in their hair! Laurel and I had talked about it, but c'mon, it would be great to see if we can't make this a big thing! There are so many shifters out there who think that they are totally alone, insane, or just weird. Let's show them that they aren't alone! What do you think? ^^

You all know NanoWrImO? The write-a-novel-in-a-month Month? That was sarted by one guy, and his friends who wanted to rite a book each in one month. Some did. So they made a website for it and a few more people tried the next year, and more and more, this year, five years later I think, thousands of peaople all over the world celebrate NaNoWrImO...why can't we do that too?????

I know we thought that there were enough spirits in the pack as it is, but new blood flows freely and I would like to know if anyone is opposed to a new packsister. She is a californian cat shifter, name Catt of the future, or just Catt. She's a new astral traveler/lycanthrope, and a personal friends of mine. She is an ETREAMLY awesom, (as nightshade says, awe inspireing) person and ya? Whaddaya think?


EDIT 1- no one seems to be of the opionion that Catt dosen't belong here, so lets all show her the same welcome and respect that we showed everyong else!

Hola Packsister Catt!

Oooops!

Let's pretend that I actually wrote this on wendsday!!!!! I'm SOOOORRRYYY! Bad Cassi!I am still going to be posting this thread, only check in here if you don't have a livejournal account, aka wayli, sterrif, and brooke. I think everyong else has accounts right? So thanx to all of you who checked in without my telling you to! That was great! And while I'm on my thanking speal...

Round of applause for our local griffon and her most awesom (as nightshade says, awe inspireing) icons! ;)

And thanx to all the people who make this pack work, you the packmates! We really do need to get together some time, those of us who can! ;)


*Check innnn*
Thsi week I have recovered from my full moon episode, finally, and I went and layed in the forest for ever. I also wrote the word SHIFTER on my hand in henna, I don't know if that was such a good idea but there it is you know? I'ma spaz...oh well! I met ____ in the astral realm, and it was once again an intersting experiance. Mukandii is now a fixed furry sea serpant, and I have started a search for my magical name, which is a name that no one but yourself can know and which you use in spells and such. Lauren, a girl who I met last year, is coming to my home to spend the night tonight, we bith think that she has the potential to be a shifter, but we have to find out for sure. It is so hard to find shifters, I mean, type it in livejournal and you see a hundread. But think, a hundred out of what? two million? On paegan sites, you would be lucky to even hear the word shofter mentioned once. It really makes you think, it is so important that we connect with ourselves and find others like us, because there are so few of us out there. My book says that only 1 out of 50 people with animal medicine are shifters. only 1 out of 100 people have strong animal medicine. Think of those stats! Anyway, I gotta go. ;)

New icon!!!!!



This one's made with Nightshade in mind, and no, I don't happen to think you're male Nightshade. The caption just fit.