It has existed in the lore of many cultures, around the world. I wonder, if the more EMPATHY a person has towards a specific creature, the more likely that s/he is able to pick up its habits and even some of its communication and physical nuances. A very strong connection would, indeed, exist: I think it would be love. I don't think shapeshifting is easy -- most likely painful, to alter states, so drastically. There would be levels of progression into it -- and discipline.

On the same note, this person could also pick up on the nuances of other humans, almost instantly. The results can be very interesting. However, if the subject is not mentally well, how could it affect the shapeshifter? Probably, it has enough wisdom, to either try to avoid it, help it, or enforce its boundary to exclude it from its territory, if the subject is "seen" trying to force its will onto others producing very unhealthy results. It will be able to read people's faces and know why the face looks the way it does. There are no secrets with this being.

At its natural state, it wants peace and tranquility. The being would be very spiritual. Can you imagine, what this being can "see" and experience, that the majority of humans cannot? Amazing. What a legend!

There already an active post on this.

Is it located in this category of paranormal? Perhaps, I missed it. There was one I found in the sciences, which is not the right category for it. Unless, of course, people have solid proof of their existence -- which is pretty exciting news! Also, they were going in a different direction with it. I am taking it for a different spin from the usual -- a conversation to expand our consciousness and our imagination, based on the lores of old.

Shapeshifters are different from werewolves. Werewolves are changed to meet the needs of their hunger. Shapeshifters are transformed by their love -- which can be healthy (if boundaries still exist) or very unhealthy (if competition and power struggles result).

I know that too well. Good post. I have alot of those qualities. I cant physically shapeshift but i can shift my energy to look differently.so if you can see energy it appears to look like that animal. But i can do it with most animals. My strongest is wolf i have old native american energy that i hold

"fringe"
shape-shifters!!

there is a shape shifting place in our street.
some dark creatures go in there and come out all looking like victoria secret angels.

I Agee there would be levels of progression. Most of all discipline.

Victoria Secret angels .

:D lol

I believe in different levels and realms. Some conspiracy theorists talk about shape shifters amongst us, so called reptilians, and others. I know of a meditation I was tought sitting in a group circle. In part of the meditation you visualise four pillars, each representing east, west, north and south, each connected to the four elements earth, air, fire, water, and then each to transform in to one of the archangels: Michael, Uriel, Raphael and Gabriel. This was a form of shape shifting. Demons can shapeshifter, Angels can do the same. Some animals appear out of know where to just like that, in a microsecond disappear. Our lives shape shift through out the years. Interesting....