Originally posted by rp001
This is my first post here (I've lurked for a while), so please bear with me.
This seems like a good explanation to me.
Story (shortened quite a bit): About 6 months ago I was out with some friends on the mesa outside of Albuquerque, NM. Half of the group wandered off
to go sneak up on a party and scare them (a story all on it's own), so I was left with my friends girlfriend. I didn't know her that well at the
time so we were standing around awkwardly not talking when we both heard footsteps about 50 feet away. There's NO light out there so I couldn't see
what was making them and she is practically blind. I sneak off and around to try and see what it is. I get close enough, probably 20 feet, and I see a
coyote walking. I said "oh" or something to that effect quietly and it looked over at me. Which is wierd because as far as I know, coyotes travel in
packs, tend to avoid humans, and have huge ears, which wouldn't allow me to sneak up on one. It starts walking off and this is when the strangest
thing happened. It appeared, very fluidly and naturally, to stand up on it's hind legs. For a couple second it looked very much like a middle
aged native. It walked behind down into a shallow ravine and I couldn't see it anymore. I hauled ass back to the cars, told her to get in and lock
the door, then I left to go find my friend (with the Colt 1911). I just told him I saw someone. He looked around and couldn't find any tracks. I was
very confused at that point. Later I started telling one of my close friends about it and before I finished she jumped in and said "sounds like a
skinwalker".
I've tried doing research on skinwalkers but it is VERY hard to find information. Apparently it's a type of Navajo "black magic", where the shaman
can move his spirit to other places, and manifest as an animal that may or may not be of his choosing. They work outside of the mainstream religion,
and tend to sell their services. I can't find any more info beyond that.
Maybe that helps?
[edit on 17-3-2005 by rp001]
I am a Blackfoot of the Piikani tribe and we have sayings like this too. Napi says "Now, if you are overcome, you may go and sleep, and get power.
Something will come to you in your dream, that will help you. Whatever these animals tell you to do, you must obey them....Whatever animal answers
your prayer, you must listen to him."
So I suppose that if a man were to have a vision of an animal he might be walking the night as one of them to gain insight for an answer he asked.
