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Shapeshifting/transformation in dreaming.

  
 
Olulabelle
11:47 / 17.09.03
I've just had a series of odd shapeshifting dreams, three nights in succession, each one from a different point of view but all focussing around the same scene. In each of the dreams I have only become lucid after the transformation.

The dream scene is one of Fallow deer during the rutting season. In the first dream I was a white Fallow buck. I was the dominant deer and I fought with another buck and won. I then chose a doe to mate with, chased her away from the group and mated with her. In the next I was the chosen doe, and in the final one I was the younger buck who 'lost out' to the white buck during the rutting.

In each of the dreams my brain/awareness was more animal than human - only focussing on specific feelings such as mating, fear, fighting or challenging, an awareness of instinct; a compelling power. On waking my recall was limited to thought 'shapes' and feelings (but not obvious emotions,) whereas usually my recall is good enough that I am often word-specific.

I have never shapeshifted completely before to the extent that my thoughts do not appear to be human in form, and any shapeshifting that has happened to me has been after I became lucid, rather than becoming lucid already transformed.

In terms of deer as totems, and the magickal qualities deer hold, I know they tend to stand for innocence and gentle adventure, observancy and expression but the deer is not my totem and I have only had them appear in my dreams a few times – never with any major standing within the dream.

I'm really interested in this sequence of dreaming as it is quite unlike anything I have done before and I wondered if anyone else has had shapeshifting experience, especially if the transformation happened before lucidity. Also, I am unsure as to how best to begin gathering knowledge from these dreams as obviously the three different points of view must bear some significance, as does the transformation to this particular animal.

Any thoughts?
 
 
cusm
15:59 / 17.09.03
I've been known to shapeshift un-lucidly in dreams while working with totem spirits. There was one in particular that seemed somewhat test-like where I was climbing a tree and had to shift into different animals to get past different obsticals. I found that one particularly enlightening on what animals I instinctively chose. But mostly, when pressed into a corner in dreams, I'll just go Dragon From there, everything gets easier for me...

Something to note here is that you don't necessarily have just one animal totem that you can work with. There might be a primary you identify with and use, but this doesn't exclude the possibility of a rotating cast of secondary totems who come and go as you need them. If you are dreaming deer, it means you have something to learn from deer. Each animal has something to teach you. So, don't pass by a lesson just because you don't identify with the animal. Usually, those are the ones you have the most to learn from.

In your case, you had the experience of all aspects of deer. You were the dominant buck, the submissive buck, and the doe. So it is not one situation, but all experiences of the animal that was being taught to you. This should give you a well rounded understanding of this totem. From here, I can only suggest you consider the details of the experience and what it felt like to you, to discover what you have to learn from it. Listening to the animal spirits is as simple as contemplating the details of their perspective. When you are able to translate their experience to your own, you will have learned their lessons.
 
 
Quantum
10:33 / 18.09.03
Cool dreams :-) I never shapeshift, my ego is too strong I suspect. I love the thought of re-enacting a dream from several povs, over several nights. Sounds like the deer are calling you into the herd.
 
  
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