Most witches don’t say this out loud — but everyone has imagined shapeshifting at least once. Maybe it was becoming a wolf under the moonlight, slipping into the ocean as a mermaid, or rising above fear in the form of a dragon with wings bigger than your shadow. From modern shows like True Blood, The Originals, and Teen Wolf to ancient folklore across every culture on Earth, shapeshifting has always been one of magic’s most irresistible ideas.
Do Shapeshifting Spells Really Exist?
Here’s the question people whisper (and search) more than they admit:
“Is shapeshifting real? Can magic actually transform me?”
Jayne has a very clear answer — one rooted in truth, experience, and the deeper currents of spiritual power:
Physical shapeshifting is impossible… but astral shapeshifting is completely real, powerful, ancient, and life-changing.
Understanding this difference opens the door to a form of magic that is far more profound than movie-style transformations — and far more useful in your real life as a witch.
The Physical Body Has Limits — But Your Astral Self Does Not
Magic cannot break the laws of physics. You cannot literally turn into a wolf, dragon, mermaid, or mist. Anyone claiming they can physically shapeshift with a spell is either misinformed or intentionally misleading.
But there is a reason shapeshifting appears in magical lore, myth, and witchcraft traditions again and again. Witches throughout history have experienced powerful form transformation in the astral and spiritual planes, not the physical one.
Jayne teaches it like this:
“Your physical shape is fixed. But your astral body — your truest magical form — is fluid, symbolic, emotional, instinctive, and shapeable. When witches talk about shifting, this is the realm they’re speaking of.”
This is the domain of astral projection, lucid dreaming, dream-walking, shadow journeys, spirit travel, visualization rituals, and identity magic. It’s real magic, not fantasy, and it becomes even more powerful when you pair it with grounded spellwork like protection spells and deeper blood-and-shadow work such as your future Blood Magic and Vampire Spells hubs.
Why Witches Feel Called to Shapeshifting
Most of the time, when a witch longs to shapeshift, they are not trying to escape their body — they are trying to reveal something inside their soul.
Different forms carry different emotional and magical weights:
- Wolves often speak to independence, leadership, pack loyalty, and instinct.
- Dragons represent ancient power, protection, boundaries, and deep memory.
- Mermaids embody emotional depth, sensuality, intuition, and water-aligned magic.
- Cats resonate with mystery, shadow comfort, and psychic awareness.
- Birds symbolize freedom, clarity, spiritual sight, and higher guidance.
Jayne puts it this way:
“When a witch desires a form, they’re not trying to escape their humanity — they’re trying to express their soul.”
Astral shapeshifting becomes one of the most natural ways to explore your magical identity, especially when paired with shadow work, self-love rituals, and transformation spells (all of which will eventually live inside Jayne’s upcoming Grimoire hub).
The Three Realms Where Astral Shapeshifting Happens
Jayne teaches three primary gateways where real magical shapeshifting can occur safely and powerfully.
1. Lucid Dreaming: Shape-Travel Without Resistance
In a lucid dream, your consciousness is awake while your body sleeps — the perfect time to shift your form without the heaviness and limits of the physical world. Once you learn to become aware that you are dreaming (a skill you can develop with a solid lucid dreaming practice), you can begin to experiment with changing your shape.
Lucid dreaming is ideal for:
- Exploring different magical identities and forms.
- Working through fears in a safe environment.
- Meeting guides, totems, or ancestors in symbolic form.
- Rehearsing spells or rituals you plan to cast while awake.
It’s one of the safest and most accessible paths to astral shapeshifting — and it dovetails beautifully with dream magic and future RSOM guides on dream spells and rituals.
2. Astral Projection & Spirit-Walking
This is where the deepest form-shifting usually occurs. In the astral realm, your physical body is no longer the anchor. Your form is determined by your intention, your emotions, and your underlying magical current.
When you learn how to project your consciousness intentionally — something we will explore in a dedicated Astral Projection for Beginners guide — you can step into a realm where your shape is as fluid as your will.
In the astral, you may:
- Move as a spirit animal or totem.
- Shift between forms depending on the situation.
- Appear as a younger or older version of yourself.
- Glow, grow wings, or take on symbolic features.
This is the experience most witches mean when they talk about “real shapeshifting.” It’s not about pretending — it’s about allowing your astral self to show you who you are beyond the body.
3. Deep Visualization Magic (Jayne’s Specialty)
Visualization is one of the most vital skills in all magic, and it sits at the heart of astral form work. When you strengthen your ability to see, feel, and sense with your inner vision, you strengthen your spellwork, your energy work, and your ability to shift forms on command.
Jayne teaches her students that:
“Visualization is not imagination — it’s the language your magic speaks.”
Through visualization, you can “become” the form you are called to — wolf, dragon, mermaid, spirit, or something entirely unique. Your senses shift. Your instincts change. Your magical presence alters. You gain the symbolic traits of the form you step into.
This is where identity magic, glamour magic, confidence spells, and transformation rituals all intersect. Eventually, this entire territory will be supported by a dedicated RSOM piece on spells for confidence and personal power and a deeper dive into glamour magic.
Practical Witchcraft: Mystic Arts Handbook
Unlock the secrets of everyday magic with this hands-on guide to enhancing your craft and embracing your mystical journey
Product information
$12.99 $12.03
Product Review Score
4.41 out of 5 stars
137 reviewsProduct links
What Shapeshifting Spells Actually Do
A real shapeshifting spell — the kind Jayne is willing to put her name to — does not turn your physical body into something else. Instead, it:
- Strengthens your visualization muscles.
- Alters your self-image in magical and astral space.
- Helps you embody totemic traits like courage, sensuality, instinct, or freedom.
- Deepens your astral presence and spiritual senses.
- Aligns your everyday behavior with your magical identity.
- Supports shadow work, healing, and manifestation.
This kind of spellwork is woven through many magical disciplines — from shadow work and self-love magic, to protection, dream work, and eventually the more intense energies of vampire spells and advanced identity rituals.
Jayne’s Astral Form Shifting Spell
The following ritual is safe, beautiful, and revealing. It is designed for beginners and experienced witches alike and can be used on its own or as part of a larger path into astral magic.
Purpose of the Spell
To step into your astral shape — the form that mirrors your magical identity and instincts — and to begin integrating its wisdom, power, and traits into your waking life.
What You’ll Need
- A quiet, dark or dimly lit room.
- A comfortable place to sit or lie down.
- One candle (white, silver, or black all work well).
- No phone, no distractions, and at least 10–15 minutes.
- Optional: an image or sigil of the form you feel drawn to explore.
Step 1 — Set the Candle & Enter the Liminal World
Light your candle and sit comfortably. Breathe slowly and deeply, in and out, until your thoughts begin to slow. Let the world outside your ritual space fade for a while.
Jayne’s guidance:
“Let the world soften. Let your thoughts slow. Let your edges blur. This is how you step between.”
Step 2 — Call Your Astral Self Forward
Close your eyes, and see the candle’s flame in your mind’s eye. Then, in a soft whisper, say:
“My form is fluid. My spirit is ancient. Show me who I am in the astral.”
There is no need to force anything. Simply hold the intention and allow your awareness to drift deeper inside. You may feel warmth in your chest, tingling in your hands, or a subtle sense of presence awakening within you.
Step 3 — Let the Shape Reveal Itself
Now ask, gently:
- “What am I when I am free?”
- “What shape reflects my spirit?”
- “What form carries my instincts?”
You may see fragments at first — fur, scales, wings, glowing eyes, flowing hair, talons, a tail, or a luminous humanoid figure. Whatever appears is meaningful. Do not judge it, and do not try to control it. This is your astral identity beginning to show itself.
Step 4 — Step Into the Form
Visualize yourself rising gently out of your physical body, like slipping out of a coat. Then see yourself move, slide, melt, or grow into the new shape that has revealed itself.
Feel:
- Your height and weight in this form.
- The energy in your limbs and your chest.
- The way your senses shift — hearing, sight, instinct.
- Any new powers, instincts, or perceptions that awaken.
Jayne’s words for this phase:
“Do not control the form. Let it move through you.”
Step 5 — Move, Explore, Experience
Even while sitting or lying still in the physical world, allow your astral form to move freely in your inner vision. Run, fly, swim, stalk, drift, or blaze with light. Try different movements. See how the world looks and feels from this shape.
Your astral body is not bound by physical limitation. You might:
- Walk through an ancient forest.
- Swim in a dark, star-lit ocean.
- Glide across mountaintops.
- Explore a moonlit city or temple.
This is not “pretend.” It is a way of letting your deeper self speak in symbols and feelings — a key part of real magic and a powerful preparation for journeys like full astral projection later on.
Step 6 — Return & Ground
When you are ready, bring your awareness back to the candle’s flame, either physically or in your mind’s eye. Whisper:
“I return to myself. My magic remains.”
Feel your body again — your hands, your feet, the surface beneath you. When you open your eyes, hold the memory of your astral form gently in your mind. Over the next hours and days, notice how its traits begin to surface in small ways: confidence, clarity, sensuality, courage, intuition, or emotional strength.
Wicca Wicks Colored Candles 48pk
Brighten your rituals and intentions with our vibrant selection of colored candles designed for all your magical needs
Product information
$27.95
Product Review Score
4.19 out of 5 stars
65 reviewsProduct links
Why This Spell Works
This kind of astral form work is not about fantasy escapism — it is about identity-level magic. It works because it engages both your subconscious mind and your energetic field, allowing them to collaborate rather than conflict.
Over time, this sort of practice:
- Retrains your self-image to align with your true magical nature.
- Sharpens your spiritual senses and dream recall.
- Makes deeper rituals and spells more effective.
- Supports shadow work, healing, and emotional release.
- Prepares you for more advanced spells in areas like vampire magic, glamour, and beyond.
For some witches, their astral form will connect to past-life energies. For others, it will be a brand-new expression of who they are becoming. In both cases, it becomes an ongoing ally in spellwork, protection, dream magic, and personal transformation.
Quick Correspondence Guide: Astral Form Magic
| Form | Magical Meaning | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf | Instinct, leadership, loyalty | Confidence, boundaries, pack energy |
| Dragon | Power, protection, ancient memory | Personal strength, spiritual authority |
| Mermaid | Emotion, intuition, sensuality | Emotional healing, water magic |
| Cat | Mystery, shadow comfort, psychic sense | Psychic awareness, subtle protection |
| Bird | Freedom, insight, higher guidance | Clarity, vision, uplifting energy |
| Serpent | Transformation, rebirth, shedding | Letting go, renewal, deep change |
| Spirit / Fae | Creativity, liminality, otherworldly magic | Astral work, inspiration, enchantment |
FAQ: Shapeshifting Spells & Astral Transformation
Can I physically shapeshift with magic?
No. Physical shapeshifting is impossible. However, astral shapeshifting is real, safe, and spiritually powerful when approached with grounding and respect.
Is astral shapeshifting dangerous?
Not when practiced with intention and proper grounding. If you have anxiety or trauma around control, pair this work with protection spells and gentle shadow work first.
Do I choose my astral form, or does it choose me?
Both. Some forms appear instantly and feel inevitable. Others evolve over time as you deepen your magical practice, heal, and grow.
Can my astral form change later?
Yes. Astral forms can shift, merge, or evolve as your path changes. You might keep one core form and “minor” forms you shift into for specific kinds of spellwork or journeys.
Is this connected to past lives?
It can be. Some witches find that their astral form echoes a past-life identity or magical role. Others find their form expresses who they are becoming rather than who they were.
