Observations placeholder
Picts – Basic truths - Shape shifting
Identifier
026547
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Olmec bird man for comparison
Maya bird man from Palenque
A description of the experience
Shamans of old frequently ‘became’ an animal, in that in their trance state or out of body state they perceived themselves to be an animal.
Generally speaking this animal shared characteristics with them – it was how they perceived themselves, brave, strong, family loving, artful, timid, courageous, fearful, clever – a lone wolf, a bear, a crow or a raven. Birdmen are quite common across the world