The supposed change, usually temporary, of the essence of a person from human being to that of another living creature. The most famous myth of shapeshifting is that of the werewolf. Although some people claim the appearance change is physical, most acknowledge that it is spiritual. Inwardly, this changes the mind-set of the practitioner, enabling the person to experience all of the benefits and disadvantages of being another animal. For example, you can experience the strength, speed, and enhanced senses of a lion by shapeshifing into being a lion. The chosen animal also appears in a person’s aura, so others—even if they can’t see auras—may get the impression that the person is the animal and not human. In the movie “Altered States,” the main character shapeshifts from human to pre-human form. The myth of the vampire, according to Bram Stoker’s book Dracula, indicates that the vampire can shapeshift to wolf, rat, spider, or mote of dust on a moonbeam. Shapeshifting is most commonly practiced by shamans.