The Complete Idiot's Guide to Werewolves

by Brown Robert

  The Sins of the Father

  A second form of the cursed werewolf is the “familial curse” type. This is an individual who is from a family that, for one reason or another, has been marked by the werewolf’s curse. Usually some tragic event, blasphemous sin, or terrible crime was committed by an ancient ancestor (or by the entire ancient clan). This led to the family being cursed with lycanthropy. Most of the time, these curses have been placed by means of either sorcery or divine intervention.

  For example, some lore might claim that, long ago, the cursed clan enlisted the help of a dark sorcerer in order to secure victory in battle. When the battle was won, however, the head of the clan refused to pay the sorcerer the agreed price. (Sometimes, the popular price in such stories was the lord’s loveliest daughter or firstborn child.) Sometimes these stories state that the lord betrayed the sorcerer and struck him down instead of keeping the bargain. The sorcerer then cursed the clan with his dying words and, by doing so, ensured that it could never be broken. There is one basic theme that commonly occurs in these types of stories—the clan members or leaders did not keep their contract with the sorcerer. Contracts could be seen as symbolic of civilized society. By breaking their contract, they behaved in an uncivilized manner and were therefore punished appropriately with a curse that would force them to lose their humanity completely.

  In other situations, the clan commits some form of blasphemous sin against a god or some religious order. For example, a warrior of the clan might have killed a priest or perhaps made a pact with the devil in order to secure the love of a certain woman or victory in battle. As a result, a god (pagan or Christian) smote the man’s entire bloodline with the cursed form of lycanthropy.

  As with the bite form of cursed lycanthropy, there is only one known cure for the familial curse—quite simply, the entire bloodline has to be wiped out of existence. Usually this happens in one of two ways. Some of these werewolf clans are said to have forbidden their members from having children and then allowed nature to run its course. Others (more frequently) are said to have been hunted down and killed off by humans, who are usually more than willing to give nature a hand in such affairs.

  The Spirit Werewolf

  The spirit werewolf is very much the polar opposite of the cursed were wolf in that he or she is a voluntary participant. The transformation of a spiritual werewolf is almost exclusively ritualistic in nature. The spirit werewolf invokes the spirit of the wolf, or perhaps the spirit of some type of wolf deity, and by doing so undergoes a kind of possession that leads to his or her transformation. Unlike other forms of lycanthropy, however, this transformation does not always need to be a physical one. Often the spirit werewolf primarily undergoes a spiritual or psychological transformation. At times it is said that this can lead to physical transformations in extreme cases.

  Bark vs. Bite

  Early explorers of certain remote regions in Africa, Australia, and New Zealand claimed they witnessed rituals in which they saw human beings change into wolves or other species of wild canine. Of course, in most cases, the transformations took place out of sight, such as behind bushes or in huts. It’s likely that, in such cases, these men were victims of clever illusions. In later years, no such incredible evidence was uncovered in those regions.

  For the most part, the primary legends of spirit lycanthropy come from two distinct cultures—the Native Americans (see Chapter 2) and the Norse (see Chapter 3).

  The Enchanted Werewolf

  Enchanted lycanthropes fall somewhere between cursed lycanthropy and spirit lycanthropy. These individuals—through the use of enchantment, sorcery, magic, and so on—have the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or werewolf. As with the spirit werewolf, some form of complex spell or ritual is frequently necessary. Sometimes, however, such spells can be condensed into a charm, talisman, or some type of worn garment (usually made of a wolf’s skin) that allows the user to change shape at will.

  Enchanted werewolves are said to retain a certain level of control once they have transformed. They don’t immediately go on killing sprees once they have assumed this new form. However, most of the lore surrounding enchanted lycanthropy warns that there is a danger of losing control. Basically, if enchanted werewolves remain in the wolf-state for too long, they begin to lose touch with their human side. At some point, the animal nature of the wolf will overtake the human side completely, and they can lose themselves forever. Once this happens, enchanted werewolves will forget that they were ever human, causing them to permanently remain in the wolf-state. The good news is they don’t even know anything has happened to them.

  The Viral Werewolf

  Viral lycanthropy bears a number of similarities to cursed lycanthropy. For the most part, the difference between the two is the explanation for its transmission through the bite. When science began to explain the nature of viral infections, it didn’t take long for people to notice that lycanthropy behaved a lot like a virus. First, it is transmitted through bodily fluids, usually from a bite. Second, it seems to undergo a gestation period before becoming active—basically, one lunar cycle. Third, it behaves like a blood-borne virus or a sexually transmitted disease (such as HIV). This is a relatively new part of werewolf lore, the idea that lycanthropy can also be spread through sexual intercourse or other means of blood or fluid exchange. Unlike most viruses, and similar to some of the more extreme sexually transmitted diseases, however, there is no known treatment, cure, vaccine, or inoculation for viral lycanthropy. (Unless we are counting death as a cure … in which case, there is one.)

  As werewolf lore evolved into its modern form, it came to be seen in what are today considered more reasonable, or at least relatively believable, terms. As a result, the potential ways in which one could become infected with viral lycanthropy are more diverse. The accepted potential avenues of infection are as follows:

  • Being bitten by a werewolf (and surviving, of course)

  • Other forms of fluidic exchange, such as sexual intercourse (you get the idea)

  • Ingestion of infected blood, flesh, brain matter, saliva, and so on

  • Drinking from water that has pooled in a paw-print indentation of a werewolf (though this is not widely accepted)

  In recent years, the pop culture lore surrounding viral lycanthropy claims that a werewolf’s ability to control his or her actions or abilities is directly related to the length of time he or she has been infected. Basically, the idea is that the longer a person has had lycanthropy, the better he or she has learned to deal with it. Another point of contention in viral werewolf lore is on the subject of immortality. Some believe that lycanthropy also grants immortality, while others believe it only grants enhanced regeneration and an extended life span. A small percentage of lore insists that viral lycanthropy offers infected individuals neither immortality nor regenerative abilities, and that it only grants them the ability to transform into a wolf or werewolf.

  Common Threads

  Though each type of lycanthropy is unique, there are some common threads between them. These commonalities are as follows:

  • The belief that one’s humanity is lost, jeopardized, or at least altered by the state of lycanthropy

  • The belief that (except for spirit and enchanted werewolves) lycanthropy can be spread through a werewolf’s bite

  • Aside from the lycanthropy of spirit werewolves, the belief that there is no known cure or remedy for werewolf-ism (unless, once again, you consider death to be a cure)

  You may be wondering which one of the aforementioned types of lycanthropy is the “real deal,” so to speak. Well, the answer to that really depends on your personal definition of “werewolf.” Since there aren’t exactly any werewolves available for scientific study, this is not a black-and-white issue. Some feel that the spiritual/psychological, change-of-spirit werewolves are just as real as the physical transformation of the more visually stunning werewolves of other lycanthropy types. Others believe that only those born of werewolf blood
(for example, from a cursed and/or infected bloodline) are true werewolves. Still others believe that lycanthropy is an evil force or curse, a bane upon human existence, and that it would be better left to fade into the shadows of the past. Which of them is real? It would be best to decide for yourself.

  The Least You Need to Know

  • Cursed werewolves should be considered the most dangerous, as they have no control over their shapeshifting abilities or their actions once transformed.

  • Cursed werewolves are almost never voluntary lycanthropes.

  • Spirit lycanthropy does not require a physical transformation to occur.

  • Enchanted werewolves may have more control than cursed lycanthropes, but a prolonged time in the wolf-state can lead them to lose their humanity.

  • Viral werewolves are fairly similar to cursed lycanthropes, with minor differences regarding their abilities.

  Chapter 2

  An American Werewolf in … America

  In This Chapter

  • The universality of Native American wolf totems

  • The significance of the wolf in Native American culture

  • The skinwalkers and their relationship to lycanthropy

  • The significance of the Ya Ya Ceremony of the Hopi Indians

  • A closer look at the Mexican Nahual

  • Discussion of the Wendigo

  The Native American perception of the wolf is a vivid example of just how extremely their view of nature differed from that of the Europeans who eventually pushed them from their own lands. Native Americans have always viewed nature as a divine entity, worthy of the greatest possible respect. Anything less would be blasphemous. The incoming Europeans viewed nature as something to be conquered and exploited. To become one with the wolf, a part of the divinity of the natural realm, would be something to embrace in the Native American view. They saw wolves as wise teachers to be treated with reverence. The Europeans, on the other hand, viewed the wolf as a dangerous adversary, a savage beast that needed to be hunted down and destroyed.

  Sometimes, however, those with the power to shapeshift were viewed by Native Americans as dark and evil witches, as in the case of the skinwalkers. They are thought of by most Native Americans as an ancient enemy of which only a handful remain. Nevertheless, even one of them is thought to be formidable.

  Wolf Totems

  The face of the wolf can be found in the totem of nearly every Native American tribe of the Iroquois, Algonquin, Pueblo, and the Northwest coastal groups. This makes the wolf one of the most universal members of Native American totems. Native American tribes credited wolves with a number of impressive powers and miracles, from the origins of certain tribes to healing the sick. Every tribe tells the stories of the wolf spirit, and the stories of his great deeds are many.

  Shamans of the Crow tribe claim that a wolf skin has the power to save a person who is at the brink of death. The Inuit tell a myth about an elderly woman left to die in the freezing cold. In order to survive, she transforms into a wolf. Some Great Plains tribes claim that a deity/ spirit named “Wolf-Man” created the Great Plains especially for them. A number of tribes in the Great Plains have myths telling of how “Wolf” taught them how to hunt, as well as the importance of familial unity.

  The Curse

  One must understand that in the native languages, mindsets, and perceptions of the Native Americans, there is no distinction between the Wolf Spirit and an individual wolf. In their native view, all are one and the same entity. There is no need to make a distinction between the Wolf Spirit and “this wolf” or “that wolf” because they are one. They are all simply “Wolf.” This concept is sometimes difficult for outsiders to grasp.

  The Wolf Spirit’s mythic counterpart, Coyote, is known for being frequently rash, foolish, mischievous, violent, and deceitful. However, Wolf is seen in quite an opposite way, representing the attributes of wisdom, strength, loyalty, and freedom. When Wolf speaks to a human being, Native Americans believe that he should be seen as a sacred, spiritual teacher. His words are divinely inspired and must be heeded with the utmost attention. Wolf, in some stories, has the ability to grant his powers to people.

  Secret Wolf Rites of the Northwest Tribes

  A number of tribes from the Pacific Northwest are of the belief that they were originally wolves and later chose to assume the human form. This is why it should not be surprising that some of these tribes have preserved their traditions of ritualistic lycanthropy. These ancient practices would more than likely fall into the category of spirit lycanthropy. Of course, one would have to know the rituals to properly categorize them … and these tribes aren’t too big on sharing this particular part of their culture.

  The First Tribes of the Northwest Coast—namely the Nootka, Quileute, and Kwakiutl—are known to still actively teach certain forms of traditional lycanthropic rituals to their young men as a rite of passage. Little to nothing is concretely known about these teachings, and to this day they remain a closely guarded secret. The subject is not supposed to be discussed with outsiders, especially not whites, except in very specific wordings and in only the rarest of possible situations.

  The Savage Truth

  The Quileute tribe of the Pacific Northwest is small, with a population of only about 750. The tribe, however, has recently received a new swell of attention due to the presence of Quileute characters in the popular Twilight vampire-romance series. One of the main characters, Jacob, is a young member of the Quileute tribe. In the books, the Quileute are actually werewolves and the enemies of vampires. They have sworn an uneasy truce with the Cullens, a family of peaceful vampires who do not prey upon humans. As long as the Cullens do not come onto Quileute land, the tribe agreed not to expose what they are to the humans.

  All that is known for certain about these rites is that the initiates are taken deep into the forest to a very secret and still completely unknown location (at least, it’s unknown to outsiders). It is there that the initiates are instructed in the tribal lycanthropy traditions. This is thought to be a time for the elder generations to pass on their tribe’s ancient heritage, which is rich with secret rites and ceremonial initiations. Most speculate that, during this time, initiates are instructed in the proper lycanthropic chants, songs, dances, and meditations.

  The Ancient Enemy

  According to the myths of many southern tribes, a group of powerful magic users called the Yeenaaldlooshii, or “skinwalkers,” became a widespread terror in a time long ago. Technically, skinwalkers are not lycanthropes but therianthropes since they are said to be able to assume the form of many different animals (one of which, of course, is the form of a wolf or other canine). Therefore, if one were to witness a person transforming into the form of a wolf or canine, there is at least a minute possibility that one has encountered a skinwalker and not a werewolf. Unfortunately, the only way to find out would be to ask … and this is definitely not recommended.

  Beastly Words

  Yeenaaldlooshii roughly translates as “skinwalker” and refers to a group of powerful sorcerers who were once feared by every Native American tribe that encountered them. The term refers to their ability to assume different “skins,” or appearances. In addition to animals, they were also said to be able to assume the appearance of other people. Therianthropy is a term that is related to lycanthropy. It refers to the “were-state,” in which a human assumes the form of an animal or a human-animal hybrid. Basically, lycanthropy is a specific form of therianthropy.

  In certain regions of the United States (mainly in the Southwest) and in parts of northern Mexico, the subject of skinwalkers is still discussed in hushed tones. The few remaining descendents of this ancient and powerful people are believed to live in these areas and are usually either feared or revered. However, those they live among usually prefer that these skinwalkers remain anonymous.

  Skinwalkers are now believed to be a part of an ancient tribal group called the Anasazi, which means “ancient enemy.” This tri
bal group is believed to have been hunted down by other tribes and nearly wiped out. They were feared and hated for their powers and for the violently bloody rituals they were known to perform. These skinwalkers are believed to be all that remain of them.

  Beastly Words

  Anasazi has a number of possible translations, depending on an individual tribal group’s usage of it. It is most commonly translated to mean “the ancient enemy.” However, it can also mean, “ancient ones,” or “the enemy of the ancestors.” Members of this tribe are now thought to be almost extinct. However, it is believed that a small number of them remain.

  Today, not all skinwalkers are considered to be inherently evil. All of them are thought to be powerful, of course, and most would rather give them a wide berth. However, the current general opinion is that their individual personalities determine whether or not a skinwalker is evil. For example, in the Navajo language, the word for skinwalker has come to simply mean “witch.” One might compare the Native American view of skinwalkers to the Haitian view of a Voodoo priest or priestess or to the Hispanic view of practitioners of Santeria.