************************************THE "CORE" FAQ************************************

Archive-name: werewolves/core-faq
Posting-frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 02/03/97
Version: 97.1
URL: ftp://ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu
Maintainer: katmandu@negia.net

How To Use This FAQ Collection

The Frequently Asked Questions file has been broken up into three major
parts. The first is the Core FAQ, containing the most basic questions about
AHWW, and is intended to acquaint the reader with the newsgroup and its
purpose. It has been drastically shortened and simplified so that the reader
can get the gist of the group without having to read through the other two
parts. The second part is the Resource FAQ, containing the various bits of
information and minutia collected over the years by AHWW members. It
contains the various ways held to effect physical shifting, humor, Internet
resources, books, songs, movies and other media relating to shapeshifters,
and much more. It is interesting but rather lengthy. The third part is the
collection of MiniFAQs, the essays pertaining to various phenotypes of
shapeshifter and the legends specific to them. All three parts will be
available from a variety of locations, but only the first part will be
posted regularly on AHWW. The other two may be gotten by emailing 
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET; via anonymous ftp to ftp://ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu;
or on the web at http://www.negia.net/~katmandu/ahww.html. The resource FAQ
contains many other locations the files may be found. Additions,
suggestions, gripes and kudos should be sent to the keeper of the FAQ,
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET.

Introduction - The Core FAQ

Welcome to alt.horror.werewolves! This newsgroup is probably a little
different than most groups you've come across in Usenet. If you're reading
it based on the name, then chances are you have an interest in werewolves
and horror-genre fiction. So do we... but there's more to it than that. We
do discuss werewolves in movies, literature, and art... but we also discuss
windigos, werebears, wereleopards, weretigers, ravens, werebats, wererats,
polymorphs... any shapeshifter at all. We talk about theriomorphs, both
physical and spiritual; about methods of changing, about personal
philosophies, and about fun. What were all those terms up there? Read on;
everything will be explained in time. But be aware that AHWW is more than is
seems at first glance! 

A little etiquette before we continue: Whenever entering a new newsgroup,
it's a good idea to lurk for a while, and try to fathom from posts by folks
who have been there a while what sorts of things are okay to talk about and
what topics are forbidden. By reading this FAQ, you've taken a big step in
that direction: A FAQ is the group's official declaration of being; it tells
everyone who read it what the group is about. Most all usenet newsgroups
have a FAQ of some sort; asking for it before you post is considered good
manners. Also: Even if you don't agree with a group's purpose, flaming them
is enerally a very bad idea. Especially a group like AHWW. *toothy grin*

A little history

AHWW was originally grouped November 16, 1992, as a logical extension of the
alt.horror hierarchy. As such, it was intended for discussion of
horror-genre movies and books dealing with werewolves. It received very
little traffic; on the order of 2 or 3 posts a day, if that. 

It began to attract folks with an intense interest in werewolves and
hapechangers in general. Gradually, the conversations shifted to discuss
what werewolves meant to these people personally, and how they entered into
their worldview. Some of the original posters resented the change and eft...
which is unfortunate, because we have had many detailed discussions about
werewolf flicks in the past three years.  As the discussions grew more and
more philosophical, a concept known as spiritual therianthropy was formed
(more on this later). More and more folks joined in, and soon AHWW was
njoying almost a hundred posts a day. This led to some confusion...
specially during the "winter of our discontent" recently, when some nasty
words were exchanged and confusion reigned. This revised FAQ is one of the
positive things to come from that. 

What does the future hold? AHWW, its participants, and its discussions will
always stay with me, personally. Who knows what will happen to the Internet,
and the alt. groups, as time goes by? But the friendships started here will
last, I suspect; even if the "information superhighway" decides it no longer
needs us. 

What is a Lycanthrope? A Theriomorph?

Lycanthrope \'li-ken-throp\ n (NL lycanthropus, fr. GK lykanthropos
werewolf, fr. lykos wolf + anthropos man) 1:a person displaying lycanthropy
2:a werewolf

Lycanthropy \'li-kan(t)-thra-pe\ n 1: a delusion that one has become a wolf.
2: the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be
possible by witchcraft or magic - lycanthropic adj. 

Theriomorphic \'thir-e-o-'mor-fik\ adj (GK theriomorphos, fr. Therion beast
+ morphe form - more at treacle): having an animal form (~gods)
                              
  -- Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary

In this context, lycanthrope would appear to include only werewolves.
owever, it has come to refer to any shapeshifter, whether it be werebear,
wolf, bat, panther, raven, fox, what have you. A more accurate term, and one
that's being used more and more, is theriomorph; as it doesn't connote any
specific animal. Both lycanthrope and theriomorph are used interchangeably,
though. 

Do you actually believe you're a werewolf?

You'll find that there is no one answer to any question on AHWW. The concept
of lycanthropy is held by some to be just an interesting myth, and to others
as a means of explaining their worldview; with many gradations of belief
in-between. I personally have never seen a man transform physically into an
animal, and cannot do it myself; but I'll never rule that possibility out.
When folks here call themselves werewolves, they generally mean that they
find the characteristics of lycanthropy intriguing and see examples of such
in themselves. What those characteristics are and the extent to which they
manifest themselves are, again, very personal and will no doubt vary from
individual to individual. We'll deal with this in more detail later on.
Patience!

Ysengrin has this to say:
To me, being a were is having a strong animal nature  - mannerisms, mindset,
social habits, and so forth - usually of a particular animal, and usually
*in place of* a more traditional human nature. It's not voluntary, and it's
filtered through our human upbringing, but it's still there. Many weres
visualize themselves internally as their were animal, or some anthromorphic
form, and are uncomfortable with people who don't think of themselves as
animals. Some weres - myself included - are uncomfortable enough with even
our human *form* that we strive to change into our internal, were images of
ourselves.

Are you guys for real?

Oh, my, yes; we are very much for real. 

Many of us like to role-play. We enjoy D&D, or Whitewolf's Werewolf: The
Apocalypse, or live role-playing games. But we do not role-play on AHWW...
we reserve that for groups where it's expected and condoned; like on a good
MUD or FurryMUCK. We may talk about arcade or RP games that deal with
shapeshifters, but we don't bog the group down with the minutia of rules and
such: that's best left to groups like alt.games.whitewolf and the like. And
while many of us are "furries", and enjoy good anthro artwork; alt.fan.furry
and related groups are best for that. (More on furries in a later section).

What we discuss here, fun and games aside (because we DO like to have fun as
much as the other were), is very serious and real to us. For some of us (not
all; again, it's a very personal thing) it's tantamount to discussing a
religion. It's not a role, it's real.  

What are "Howls"?

Speaking of conventions... The first "Howl", the 1994 Harvest Howl, was
organized by Smash Greywolf in Ohio. A Howl is basically a gathering in the
flesh (or fur) of readers of AHWW to socialize, get to know one another,
howl at the moon, leap over raging bonfires, and to generally share the
camaraderie that exists amongst members of the cyberpack. Camped out in the
woods, as far from civilization as possible, watching the full moon dance
over shimmering heat waves from the bonfire, surrounded by folks of a like
mind... it's truly a recharge for batteries drained my mundane human
xistence. Howls are organized by whoever has the land and time to put one
on. ask on the group when and where the next one is; they're worth it, no
matter the distance traveled to attend.

Why not change the name of the group?

It's been suggested before that alt.horror.werewolves is no longer an
appropriate name, given the groups' change of focus. It is true that it is
no longer strictly about werewolf horror fiction. However: making a new alt.
group, like alt.therianthropy or the like, while easy to do, runs the risk
of losing readership. Not all university news servers carry alt. groups; and
those that do are usually loathe to add new ones without a considerable
amount of hassle. The likelihood that large numbers of folks would lose
their access is too great. Grouping a rec. or soc. group is difficult.. It
is possible that we now have the readership and activity to pull it off; but
the fear of some sites not carrying the new group is still a large one. 

Also, there's some safety in the name. It's in such an obscure section of
the usenet world that folks who have no real interest in werewolves are
likely to skip it altogether; and that fact alone has undoubtedly saved us
from a lot of hit-and-run flamers. Something like alt.spiritual.werewolf is
likely to garner more attention from the wrong types of people than it's worth.

I thought werewolves were bloodthirsty killers.

Wolves in general have had a bad reputation. Seen as evil killers, used to
embody the worst traits of men, harassed and eradicated as dangerous
menaces. Is it at all surprising, then, that humans who can turn themselves
into wolves face the same bad press?

In a lot of cases, that's exactly what it is: Bad press. Hollywood,
especially, has done more to distort and vilify the werewolf than any
church. While a lot of original legends and myths hold the werewolf to be a
savage, animalistic killer; there are, in fact, many legends that portray
him as a kindly soul... although they generally view lycanthropy as a curse
rather than a blessing.

The impetus behind such labeling is probably fear: Fear of the unknown, the
unexplainable, the unthinkable. Were I to be faced with a snarling,
fur-covered manlike shape, I would be enthralled... but I doubt the general
public would. Shoot first, ask questions of the corpse later. When the
farmer loses his livestock to predation, better to blame the wolf; and by
extension, the were.

So what is it? Are shapeshifters vicious animals? I suppose that depends on
the personality of the shifter and how his mind functions while shifted.
Listen to Ron the Werebat, while I go refill my drink...

So, what are werewolves like, then?
	--Ron the Werebat ^*^

This question has been the topic of many discussions here on A.H.W., and
although each of us probably has our own answer to this question that we are
most comfortable with, we are all able to accept other viewpoints on the
myth (although most of us don't like the "ravening beast" idea, I think...)

The major ideas given for the mentality of the werewolf (and werebat, and
other lycanthrope) while transformed are presented here. I believe all have
been supported or at least posted by members of A.H.W. in the past.

1. "Mind of a Wolf" - when the werewolf transforms (for whatever reason) he
loses his human mind and takes on the mentality of a normal wolf. This means
that while the werewolf would not go out of its way to commit heinous acts
of evil, it might for example attack a small child and eat it if it were
hungry enough.  Similarly, the noise and confusion of the city might scare a
werewolf into a frightened frenzy, where it leaps about ripping out
throats...  It is more likely that a werewolf in wolf form with this
mentality would flee to the woods, however, if any were available. The
territorial nature of the wolf might prove interesting here - should
transformation occur in the house or apartment of the werewolf's human form,
it might (if it retains any of its human memory) stick around and "guard"
its "territory." Should the transformation occur while walking through
unfamiliar territory, the werewolf might be extremely cautious, as it knows 
that it may well be on someone else's (read: "another territorial wolf's") land.

Exactly how much of the human form's memory is carried over to the wolf
form's memory is debatable.  Subsets of "Mind of a wolf" might include
"memory wiped" (the wolf form has no memory of the human form, no
recognition of familiar places/faces), "vague memory" (enough to give the
wolf a sense of security in the human form's house or apartment, a sense of
trust and connection with one's spouse and loved ones, etc.), and "complete
memory" (albeit interpreted through the mind of a wolf). The movie
_Ladyhawke_ portrayed a werewolf (and werehawk) with this mentality.

2. "Mind of a Beast" - Similar to the Stevenson tale "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr.
Hyde," the werewolf (while transformed) loses all inhibitions and goes on a
wild ID-spree, expressing as many repressed urges as possible before
reverting back to human form.  This werewolf could be the "ravening beast"
who slaughters her cheating husband, her whining children, and her abusive
parents in one fell night, or perhaps the disgruntled lawyer who stalks
parks on the nights of the full moon to rape and mutilate attractive young
women.  As with "Mind of a Wolf," the werewolf may or may not remember his
or her actions in wolf form after the change.  This is the werewolf of
classic Hollywood horror.

All of us generally repress violent and sexual urges throughout the course
of our lives, although there might be plenty of other things held back by
our Egos (or Superegos?  I keep forgetting...) regarding those two. Perhaps
the homosexual werewolf, repressing his true nature for years and years due
to the pressures from his family or church, finds the change enabling him to
break free and express his love interest in a coworker or close friend.  Of
course, given the fact that all other barriers are down as well, this poor 
fellow might find himself raping his love interest... Oh, well.  This is not
the kind of werewolf mentality any of us on A.H.W. would WANT to have, I
think.  These lycanthropes are typically violent and destructive, more so
than normal humans or animals. Name a Hollywood werewolf film (_An American
Werewolf in London_, _Silver Bullet_, etc.) and you can bet it will portray
werewolf mentality in this manner.

3. "Super-hero" - this is the lycanthrope who remains completely human in
mentality after the change occurs.  It could just as easily be labeled
"Super-villain," since not all humans would use lycanthropic powers for
good...  Still, it is probably the least horrific of lycanthrope mentalities
(at least for the individual lycanthrope). The White Wolf game _Werewolf -
the Apocalypse_ seems to portray werewolf mentality this way, although
werewolves are slightly affected by their wolf nature depending on what form
they are in and can still frenzy on occasion... a better example of a
lycanthrope with this mentality would probably be Kirk Langstrom as Man-bat,
after he perfected his formula and could retain his sanity while he changed
(before this, Man-bat had possessed a "Mind of the Bat" mentality).  It is
not one of the more exciting mentalities to talk about, since we already
know it in human form - however, even a normal person's psyche may be
considerably altered on looking into the mirror and seeing the reflection of
a wolf, having to walk on all fours, and receiving a cornucopia of sensory
stimuli in the form of new scents and sounds.

These are the three main viewpoints, although I must stress that rarely do
we find a lycanthrope that expresses only one of these mindsets.  Usually,
the lycanthrope is primarily one of the three types, with aspects of one or
both of the others apparent from time to time.  A "Super-hero" werebat might
use his sonar to hunt live pigeons and eat them on the wing (Who? Me?
Nah...  Well, maybe...).  A "Mind of the Wolf (Bear)" werebear might be
outside eating berries when he catches his wife making love to another man
on a grassy knoll, and fly into a rage (Mind of the Beast), killing them
both.  You get the picture.

Thank you, Ron! *fresh Coke fizz sounds* Well, if that old saw is mostly
just legend, what about the others? Like: 

What's the moon got to do with it? (and other misconceptions)

Again, this is going to have MANY different interpretations. The moon didn't
always figure into the equation in a lot of myths, and silver is a fairly
recent adaptation... The moon has long been held to cause insanity or
otherwise affect human thinking. Many of us feel energized on nights of the
full moon, and spend long hours gazing at its face. In legend, the effects
of the moon range from nil to being the only time a were can change; and
often forcing that change. I prefer somewhere in the lower middle: It can
facilitate the change, but isn't necessary.  
Silver is one of those metals that's held to have mystical properties, for
various reasons; not the least of which is its relative scarcity and value.
It's generally regarded to hold religious significance, being a "pure"
metal; and therefore be able to effect such "satanic" creatures as
werewolves. It's appearance in werewolf mythology, not surprisingly, seems
to be after the rise of the catholic church. Again, it's influence ranges
from zero to being the only thing that can injure or kill a were. If you
still want to try it, silver bullets can be made; but casting them is
reported to be difficult, and the were is not likely to appreciate the
attention.
 
So what about longevity and health? Some hold that werewolves are
invulnerable to mortal insults; that it would take some supernatural
influence to injure or kill one. Others say that a werewolf is no tougher
than a human to kill. I personally like the idea of increased healing
ability and slightly lengthened lifespan. Some also hold that werewolves
turn into undead (ie, vampires) upon their expiration: the group has decided
that this is a fairly rare idea; based on a slavic myth.

Finally, there's some thought that werewolves naturally hate vampires.
Again, this is probably mostly Hollywood myth. In real life, however; just
as we call ourselves werewolves, there are folks that call themselves
vampires... some weres find that the very idea of being a living dead
creature is an anathema; werewolves are the very embodiment of energetic
vitality. Having met many vampires, both on AHWW and groups like
alt.vampire, I can proudly say that some are my friends. There are some
vamps, yes, that would get on anybody's nerves; but there's no real reason
why a were HAS to dislike a vamp.

Virtually every culture has some sort of mythos regarding shapechanging.
Specific animal mythos are covered in the collected MiniFAQs. As I collect
different culture's views on therianthropy, I'll add them in.  

I thought you guys were crazy.

Aaah, I see you've hit upon another bit of the werewolf mythos... relatively
recent, "scientific" mythos. Lycanthropy has long been held to be a sign of
insanity; a precursor to psychosis and/or schizophrenia. Indeed, there are
documented cases of individuals who claimed to be werewolves who were
extremely mentally ill. But was their lycanthropy due to their illness or
vice-versa?

With modern psychology and society holding such a view, it's not uncommon
for someone who feels they are a werewolf to be uncomfortable with those
thoughts, and to think themselves crazy. I don't think it has to be so,
however. I'm pretty sure I don't have the corner on sanity... I'm pretty
eccentric, if I do say so myself... but insane? No. Certainly not by the
legal definition of the word. Read on, you may find  the information on
mental shifting enlightening; and don't short-change yourself. Judge for
yourself if the cyber-pack is insane...

What is the "cyberpack"?

I don't know where the term first came from. The cyberpack is basically
anyone who reads AHWW and finds a bond with the others there. It's an
extended friendship circle, a source of moral (and sometimes physical)
support. It's a bunch of people who like each other's company and find
common traits amongst themselves. It's the social and emotional side to AHWW.

There is no leader of the pack, no alpha, no hierarchy. There's no need for
it. There's also no entrance exam or secret handshake... if you find you get
along with the group on AHWW, and feel a kinship with them... well, then,
you're a member. Welcome, friend.

Mental Shifting.

The first thing to remember when reading this section is that the ideas
expressed here aren't necessarily held by every reader of AHWW. This subject
is a very personal one, and opinions on it will vary from individual to
individual. The second thing to remember is to keep an open mind...

What's "spiritual therianthropy"?

Physical Therianthropy has been defined as the ability to shift from human
to animal form and back again. Spiritual Therianthropy, then, is the ability
to mentally transform from the normal human mode of thinking and reacting to
an animal one. Each one of us identifies with an animal whose haracteristics
we feel reflect our own. For example, I feel strongly attracted to both the
wolf and the cougar... one is a pack animal, truly comfortable only in a
group setting, relying on its packmates for everything. The other is a
solitary hunter, only meeting others of its kind to mate. I feel that there
are aspects of both animals in my psyche.

Humans are animals. Most of humanity, however, has tried to deny this fact.
Humanity has sought to remove all aspects of animalistic traits from its
behavior; to the point that being called an animal is considered an insult.
It evokes images of uncivilized, impulsive, hedonistic behavior; acting
completely without thought or restraint. Humanity has attempted to remove
itself from nature as well as remove nature from itself; by subverting and
subduing the land, bending it to suit humanity's purposes, attempting to
conquer it rather than coexist with it. As a result, humanity has had to
deal with a number of ecological problems caused by it's attempts to kill
the very thing that sustains it.

All humans are animals, but very few these days can look into themselves and
find the animal remnants. We who believe in Spiritual Therianthropy feel
those animal remnants very strongly. We exist in the human world, but long
to seek connections with the animal one. It contacts us through totems,
through dreams, through our very souls. We cannot completely leave the human
world, nor completely enter the animal one. We are in-between, half animal
and half human in psyche... mental, or spiritual, shapechangers. We seek to
balance the two halves of our nature, so that someday we can teach the rest
of humanity how to balance its drive to conquer with the reality that it
needs nature to survive.

What are "totem animals"?

Totem animals are animals that best reflect the qualities and needs of a
person. How totems are used varies greatly... some shamanic traditions place
great importance on totems and have many different totem animals, colors,
directions... some barely mention them in passing.

Most commonly, it's believed that their are two kinds of totems... the
central totem, the one that defines who you are; and "outside" totems,
spirits that surround and guide you. The central totem is the animal you
most strongly identify with, that reflects who you are. As I mentioned
above, I strongly identify with the wolf and the cougar... reflecting the
two sides to my nature.

Outside totems are commonly called upon  to guide a person. How they are
called and how they manifest themselves, again, depends a lot upon the
particular tradition you follow and what you believe.

What do dreams have to do with it?

Dreams, with a capitol D, are messages from your soul, or sub- conscious, or
whatever you wish to call it. Not everyone Dreams.... scientists say that
everyone has dreams; but not everyone remembers them upon waking. The Dreams
that we're talking about here are dreams that are exceptionally vivid and
memorable, that make a strong impression upon the dreamer, and seem to have
something to impart of importance.

A lot of my experiences with therianthropy are through my Dreams. I don't
have them every night; sometimes it's months between them... but the really
vivid, technicolor, interesting dreams I try to remember and write down and
decipher. Sometimes I shift into different animals in the dreams. Sometimes
I just know that they have something important to say. I cherish every one
of them as a message from my elusive animal spirit.

It sounds like I'm attaching a lot of importance to these Dreams... and I
am, really. But one can feel a strong pull to know their animal side without
having them. They are not a pre-requisite for being a were-creature. They
are, however, a valuable tool for discovering what that spirit has to tell you.

I usually rely on my Dreams to come on their own. There are ways to go
looking for them, however. One involves autohypnosis; Asikaa has volunteered
to tell us more about it:

Autohypnosis
	--Asikaa

It is a learned skill, and fairly easy to learn at that.  First you need to
learn how to relax physically.  It's best to get hold of a compact disc (or
continuous tape cassette) and put the player on infinite repeat.  Oh sorry,
I forgot to mention what should be on the CD!  Not Iron Maiden or Aerosmith!
You can get relaxation soundtracks from health stores and similar places.
They contain "nice" sounds, such as birdsong, the gentle trickle of river
water over rocks, the wind through the trees... 

Now all you have to do is put the CD player on infinite repeat like I said,
and lie down flat on your back, with your legs out straight, arms by your
sides.  Let your hands curl slightly into their natural relaxed position,
and make sure you are absolutely comfortable. 

Breathe in slowly and steadily, filling your lungs completely.  Hold the
breath for two seconds then release it.  Don't blow it out, just let the
weight of your chest gently descend, emptying your lungs.  Try to breath
like this for the rest of this "session".  It doesn't matter if you forget
the breathing later on, just do whatever feels comfortable.  

Now you can start relaxing your body.  Start at your face, and work down.
Breathe in, concentrate on the muscles of your face and neck, *feel* the
muscles, explore them with your mind.  Let the breath out, and as the air
leaves your body, imagine all the tension being drawn from the muscles of
your face and neck and floating away. 

Do this a couple of times for each part... your chest, your arms and
shoulders, your stomach, thighs, legs and feet.  Once you've got down to
your feet, mentally check for any feelings of tension left behind, then go
back to that part of your body and relax it a little more. By now your body
should be fully relaxed... a nice warm feeling of well-being.  This is the
first stage of autohypnosis, and will take a little practice to master. 

Now we concentrate on the mind.  Imagine yourself lying warm and comfortable
in your favorite place.  Perhaps lying on warm sand, or on the edge of a
forest next to a lake.  Clear your mind of all unnecessarythoughts, and
concentrate on that place.  Let your mind enjoy the feeling of total
isolation, with no worries or stress.  Float along with your calm thoughts,
and you should notice that you have no awareness of your physical self.
Honestly, you really cannot feel your body any more. You have become just
your consciousness, nothing more.  Your body is so relaxed it may as well
not exist. 

Now you should be able to start Dreaming.  You mind is free of all physical
restraints, and your body has assumed the type of deep relaxation usually
found only in alphawave sleep.  It is up to you what you do with this mental
freedom, but with practice the possibilities are endless.

Isn't this some kind of New-Age pseudo religion?

No. Not on it's own. The concept of Spiritual Therianthropy means a great
deal to me, personally; and might be seen as my religion.... it certainly
forms the core of my belief system. But we have no intention of starting a
church or cult here. Most of us have an intense dislike of any _organized_
religion, in any case.

But not all... there are Christian werewolves out there. This sounds like an
impossibility; but the basic tenets of Christianity aren't so far from many
other religions... and nowhere in the bible does it condemn werewolves!
Spiritual Therianthropy should work well with many different beliefs; even
atheism.

So there'll be no cups of spiked kool-aid at the Howls, and stop looking for
the BATF. *grin*

How do you mentally shift?

I can tell you how I "shift". It may not be this way for others. I welcome
any additional comments on this subject for addition here.

What I mean by "shifted" is the state of mind that I'm in when I feel
closest to my animal spirit. It's a feeling of heightened awareness, a sense
of prowess and well-being. It's what defensive-tactics instructors call
"Condition Orange"... that state of hyper-readiness and alertness that means
one is ready to handle whatever crisis might get thrown at him. It's the
state that I envision a healthy animal being in at any given moment... ready
to fight or flee, ready for anything a hostile world might conjure up. I
might add one additional thing that I'm ready for.. fight, flee, or party. :)

I achieve this state unconsciously whenever I'm in an area or situation that
might prove to be harmful to me. Most all humans have felt this at one point
in their lives or another... Whether they admit it or not, it's a wonderful
feeling. Adrenalin junkies spend their lifetimes looking for this feeling
and beyond. I noticed this feeling accidentally and connected it with my
fascination for animals and began looking for a way to bring it on
voluntarily. I found that if I concentrated on visualizing myself as an
animal, those thought patterns would return to me and I'd get the ol'
predator feeling again. Now I find myself slipping into it at odd moments...
when I'm driving, under particular full moons, while listening to evocative
music.

Most people can sense an outward change when I'm shifted inwardly. Perhaps
this is the first step, for me, to physical changing... we shall see.

Where can I go for more help?

If you still have questions after reading the three parts of the FAQ, or you
just want to talk. Check out the IRC suggestions in the Resource FAQ. IRC is
a good, real-time place to ask questions of others. Or, post them to the
newsgroup. we're patient, and will endeavor to answer whatever you ask. Or,
pick someone who's writings you've admired and email them. They should make
an effort to answer your question or direct you to someone who can.

Our History
	--Windrunner

Forget about the Michael Jackson album.  Forget about the university course.
But never forget us.

People, do you realize what is happening here? WE are making history. Every
single day that we exist,every single day that this GROUP exists. History is
occurring right before our eyes. And I don't think a lot of us see that. 

This letter is being sent out not only to the newsgroup, but also to those
who once were its backbone; as Smash accurately calls them the gray muzzles.
Their muzzles are gray, not out of physical age, but simply the fact that
they have been a part of this group longer than the rest. And the grayer,
the wiser, has been my experience.  

I am not one of them, but oh, how I wish I was. From the stories I have
heard, this virtual bonfire never burned as bright as when it was the
original few. But those days have passed, passed on long ago. As many have
pointed out, it was only this past winter that alt.horror.werewolves started
to truly be recognized for what and who was in it. But it happened in a sad
fashion, drawing attention from the wrong kinds of people. People who
thought that "Hey! Here's a chance to play with a bunch of werewolves,
frolicking in the snow, and get a bowl of virtual chili." Many were they who
came seeking fun. Many were they who left when the truth came to light. But
some, like myself, stayed. Why? I think it's because we came in with
ourselves (so to speak), and at first, it WAS all fun. Throwing snowballs,
and all that. But finally, when the fun was ended out of, well, annoyance,
we were still here. Because, while the fun was great, it wasn't the only
reason we decided to reveal ourselves. We longed for contact with those who
might understand, who might actually know what we were talking about when we
spoke of lycanthropy in our lives. 

Life moved on. The ones who stayed gradually integrated into the pack, no
matter what their animal was, be it bear, raven, wolf, dog, cat, lion,
panther. And they have shown themselves to be truthful, and wise. While we
still have fun, it isn't as totally rampant as it was. Many interesting
subjects were brought before the fire, and all were discussed as much as
possible. I was here when Gevaudan admitted what he truly was, and watched
as he was not chased, but comforted by others saying "Don't go; stay". (To
those who do not know, it has nothing to do with games or flames; but it is
not my story to tell). I was here when the first flamewars erupted. I
remember efridine's first post, as well as PainEater, the recently-returned
"Lord" Kelkemen, and Savak.  

We got over them, since they were no different from other flamers, bothering
us then leaving (except perhaps L.K.; but I won't go into that here). And
again, we returned to our conversations via the net. The other big event was
the Spring Howl.  I had not attended the one in the fall, since I did not
know of this group then. But as Spring rolled around, the idea was formed to
throw another one. And after it was over, all those who had attended could
not stop howling in joy and revelry. It was a renewal for those in
attendance, and a source of envy for those who could not go. But not one
person who had attended had wanted to leave. The sense of closeness that was
created there, I can only speculate at. But had I the means, I would have
been there in a second. That feeling is mutual for many of us. But that has
come and gone, and will not happen again (ie the spring of 1995 will not
repeat itself). 

Time passed, bringing us up to where the group is now. Many have left for
reasons beyond their control. Many have grown disillusioned with the way
this group is going. But a lot of us have decided to stay, no matter what
our inner feelings tell us. There are a lot of new faces that do not even
know of the old ones. How many of these new ones will stay, and how many
will leave, is impossible to tell. But we continue to grow, and the group
changes with each new face. What it was, and what it is, are very hard to
compare. One does not mirror the other. But, as has been said many times,
that's a fact of life on the Internet. Things will inevitably change since
it is impossible to prevent new people from finding us. And we wouldn't want
that, since there are still so many of us out there, looking for a ray of
hope in a dull sky. 

  I guess what I'm saying is, look at us. To anyone reading this right now,
I want you to stop for a second. Just stop, and look at yourself. Then look
at where you are reading this. Consider what you are, and why you are here.
If being here, or having been here (meaning ahww), feels/felt right, then
know that your life has been worthwhile. Everyone, WE, are creating a
portion of history. RIGHT NOW. Though I do not believe it has ever been
discussed, look at what has become of alt.horror.werewolves. *We* have
created a place unlike any other. Never before have so many come together in
one place, even if it is technically non-existent, sharing many ideas, but
with one thing in common. Whether we are werewolves, werebears, werecats,
whatever, or simply people who are in very close contact to our animals
spirits, LOOK at where we are from. This, this place spans the globe. There
are weres here from Germany, Norway, England, Ireland, Australia, The U.S.,
Canada. I am sorry if I missed anyone's home country, these were all I could
remember. But even if I did, look. We have no borders here. All are welcome,
provided they are honest with us. Not all of us here are were; some are
humans, some are vampires. But one thing we all share in common is
acceptance. The majority of people who have visited this fire (and stayed
for a while) have accepted that yes, we are indeed what we claim. We are
spiritual theriathropes, shifters in one method or another. Whether it is
through Spiritual Dreams, or a mental process, or physically changing shape.
I know of very few here who have ever gone around, finger waving, accusing
someone of being false. And that's incredible. To my knowledge, something
like this has never before happened: a meeting of beings such as us. I am
fairly certain that anyone reading this now, whether new or old, would never
have met so many like him/herself if alt.horror.werewolves did not exist. I
sure wouldn't have. 

Many of us who have been around here for a bit, and even some who haven't,
have strong feelings towards this group, or more specifically, its members.
To turn to a sad note: what would happen if  tomorrow, you woke up, and the
group no longer existed. Through infighting, or this Exon bill, or just
simply the removal of the group from existence, what would your first
feeling be? Personally, I think my depression would last a long while. But
not forever. Why? Although having this newsgroup is important to me, simply
knowing that the beings behind the text exist gives me hope. We have broken
a barrier that no one thought existed. We have formed friendships, and
deeper relationships that have no name. 

  We do not keep written records of what has happened here, in this
newsgroup, since it fully became what it is today. Our history is only the
one where each individual joins, stays, and starts to learn. Learn not only
what the current topic is, or what we are about, but also of those wiser
than you. There is no hierachy here. But there are people who have been here
long enough to see more than they let on. Smash, Vladwolf, Firewolf,
Katmandu, Dreamwolf, Asikka, Gevaudan, Wolfshadow, Windwolf, Medicine Wolf,
Hiker, Snowlock, Winterdreamer, Dean R., Rimblesah, Wolfbard; as well as
many, many more. These, to me, are important weres. They are some of those
who helped create what we now take for granted. Every day, I wake up, on log
in to read what's been posted. I expect it to be there, with names which I
recognize. But most of the names I have just listed are not here anymore. I
will admit, some have left due to the summer. But their presence, and it was
a PRESENCE, is sadly missed. 

I do not post much. I do not have the voice to post most of my opinions. And
this may be my death, or my rebirth. I have felt what Smash feels. And, in
my mind, I must find a way to re-vitalize what was once a powerful group. It
still is. But the power has changed. And I am not used to it yet. Please, I
am not writing this as something personal. It is meant FOR ALL. All in this
group. I sing it into the air, hoping that at least someone here will
listen. Perhaps I am too melodramatic. Perhaps I will be chased off because
of this. But even if that happens, I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT HAS HAPPENED
HERE. Simply because I cannot. It is too important.  

I will end this now. But not on a sad note. I want each and everyone reading
this to realize one thing: YOU HAVE BECOME A PART OF HISTORY. It may be a
history that will never be known publically. You will hopefully never hear
about it in the media. But in my mind, and the minds of those who have ever
been a part of this group, it will be hard to forget. I will personally
never forget anyone I have ever met on this group. We have, in effect,
created the one thing no one ever thought of, or even dreamed about: this
newsgroup IS a haven, for ones of our kind. You do not need any more reason
than that. If you see the group for what it is, and are glad it is there,
then you should be happy. There are many ideologieshere. May no one EVER say
that theirs is the "one true way". History has taught us otherwise, that
there can never be only one way. And now, we are a part of history. 


I Am Not What You Think (A Were's Song)

The Jaguar and the Wolf,
The Dolphin and the Centaur,
The Phoenix, the Crow and the House Cat;
They all mingle within me.
They are me and I am them;
The Wolf,
The Cat (Jaguar and Domestic),
The Dolphin, the Phoenix,
The Centaur adn the Crow.
These are all parts of me.
The me that I am,
The me you don't know.
Lurking close to the surface of Human, that must hide them from you
You say I am crazy,
I am not, not in that way.
If you went through what I do,
(better now than before),
You would be too.
"But," you say, "to think that I am not all Human?
That is surely crazy."
But you are wrong
I am crazy, yes, but by choice
More different then crazy,
I am not what you think.
I am stronger than you.
You call me crazy and I don't care
I know you are wrong Wrong to judge what you or science cannot comprehend.
But I am right.
I am not crazy.
I am not what you think.
"They should put me awy," you say
Ha! You fear what you do not know,
What you do not recognize or comprehend.
I am not what you think.
I can be worse than you
Or I can be better.
It is not your decision,
It is mine.
I am not what you think.
I am not Human,
I am Were.

Peace,
Katie "Wakko!" Bubenik

And, as an addendum, some info on avoiding flamewars on the group:
Originally, this was brought up on rec.games.frp.dnd, but it has as much
relevance here.  Read and be enlightened!

There are (very broadly speaking) two ways in which a discussion can be
carried on. The two (or more, of course) people involved can seek the truth,
both having open minds and a willingness to try to see the situation from
the other person's POV, or one person can hold fast to his own position and
use any means at hand to attack anyone who disagrees with him, in particular
taking advantage of their willingness to be reasonable.

The person who initiates the first type of discussion (and there are many
going on in this group at any given time) is honestly looking for knowledge,
answers, and truth. The person who starts off the second form is just trying
to stir up trouble.

Signs of Type 2 threads -- i.e., flamewars:

1) It is started by a statement, generally provocative, rather than an
honest question. Example: "RP games are evil!!!" instead of "Are RP games
evil?" (that's what a troll is, btw)

2) The provoking person attacks other people, rather than defending his
ideas. (note: sometimes, but rarely, the "accelerant" in the flamewar is
someone who joined the thread later)

3) The only interest the provoking person has in other people's sources and
the foundations of their points of view is to examine them for a possible
point of attack. In a truth-seeking debate, all participants eagerly examine
any support for an opposing POV, because it might contain something they
don't know...and want to. In a flamewar, references are merely a target.

4) The provoking person makes snide comments to other participants,
belittles them, invents demeaning names or titles for them, criticizes them
for typos, and generally acts like a badly impacted lower intestine, with
the intent of making participation so unpleasant for the poor naive fool who
thought that they could have a civilized discussion that the latter pulls
out in disgust.

5) The person who is fueling a flamewar frequently invents a set of victory
conditions known only to himself, and calls upon them to declare "I've won!"
In a genuine discussion, the "victory" is a consensus of all involved, even
if only an agreement to disagree.

Eventually, of course, someone brings Nazis into it, and it's officially
declared dead. Meanwhile, a lot of bandwidth has been wasted...a lot of
people have been riled...and NOTHING has been accomplished.


************************************THE "MINI" FAQs************************************

How To Use This FAQ Collection

The Frequently Asked Questions file has been broken up into three major parts. The first is the Core FAQ, 
containing the most basic questions about AHWW, and is intended to acquaint the reader with the 
newsgroup and its purpose. It has been drastically shortened and simplified so that the reader can get the 
gist of the group without having to read through the other two parts. The second part is the Resource 
FAQ, containing the various bits of information and minutia collected over the years by AHWW 
members. It contains the various ways held to effect physical shifting, humor, Internet resources, books, 
songs, movies and other media relating to shapeshifters, and much more. It is interesting but rather 
lengthy. The third part is the collection of MiniFAQs, the essays pertaining to various phenotypes of 
shapeshifter and the legends specific to them. All three parts will be available from a variety of locations, 
but only the first part will be posted regularly on AHWW. The other two may be gotten by emailing 
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET; via anonymous ftp to ftp://ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu; or on the web at 
http://www.negia.net/~katmandu/ahww.html. The resource FAQ contains many other locations the files 
may be found. Additions, suggestions, gripes and kudos should be sent to the keeper of the FAQ, 
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET.

Introduction to the MiniFAQs

The MiniFAQs are collections of lore and fact relating to various phenotypes of shapeshifter. They are 
written by folks on AHWW who have a particular interest in said phenotypes. Currently, there are four 
MiniFAQs; I'm working on one for wolves to add into the next version of this document; and have some 
information on Kitsune saved up. If you have a particular interest in a type of shapeshifter, cobble together 
a MiniFAQ and send it to for inclusion.

The Wendigo
		-Windigo The Feral (NYAR!)

This is the Wendigo Mini-FAQ, compiled by our own net.wendigo. Eventually, I'd like to have mini-
FAQ's representing all of the werephenotypes... if you know a lot of folklore and fact about your own 
were-animal, or just feel an urge to do some research and writing, put something together and mail it to 
me.

Windigowak (that's the proper plural) are Shifters, like werewolves and the like...they tend to take the 
(natural) form of either a wraithlike being, a 2-3 meter tall skeleton of ice, or an emaciated 2-3 meter tall, 
hairy, slightly felid-looking-inthe-face critter with _very_ large fangs and claws.  They can also go dim, 
and can (and very often, do) take their original human forms, the sole thing giving them away in the latter 
guise being the eyes (which tend to glow red).  Windigowak have hearts of ice, visible in the ice- skeleton 
form, and voices that can be alternately soft as a whisper or loud as a tornado.  Oh...and they tend to dine 
on anything they can catch, due to an eternal hunger...including the occasional meal of "long pig", if any 
of you know what I'm getting at... :)

There are variants on this--at least one myth claims that windigowak also have animal-like feet, while 
another states they have but one toe.

Other common names are Kokodjo and Atcen (pronounced AT-shen); the myth was all over, even if the 
names were different (In fact, the really proper name is _witiko_:  it means something to the effect of "He 
who lives alone".  I make no claims on knowing anishinabeg, so if I'm wrong, please correct me on the 
translation).  Even the French- Canadians adopted the myth. As to how one becomes a windigo, there are 
several ways.  One is to dream of the windigo spirit calling one's name (or even better yet, dreaming one 
IS a windigo).  Another is to be lost in the forest and be called by the windigo spirit.  A third is to violate 
tribal custom of the anishinabeg (Ojibway) by committing a transgression (such as eating human flesh) 
and being cursed to go windigo by a mide' shaman. A fourth way is to undergo a ritual that will affect the 
change.

As to killing windigowak (note: windigowak are our FRIENDS, even though they eat human 
flesh...DON'T try ANY of this :), the most effective way (well, the _only_ effective way) is to burn it, the 
theory being the fire will melt the heart of ice.  There are also stories of windigowak being cured; one 
involved pouring hot suet down the poor windigo's throat till he puked up the heart of ice, the other being 
one where (upon the first symptoms of vomiting "normal" food and looking upon one's neighbors as 
snacks) the mide' shaman attempted a cure using migis shells (ritual shells that had curative properties, 
and were blessed by the gods themselves).

Now, to windigowak in myth and folklore:  The best book of windigo myths I have seen is a book called 
_Windigo Psychosis_ (a psychology text that explored "windigo psychosis", which is much like the 
medical definition of lycanthropy).  It lists all the major stories...quite a good book if you can find it.  If 
not, any book on Ojibwa mythology should have a few of the original windigo stories in it.  (You could 
also try Cree, Lakota, or any other northern tribe; it's pretty universal.)

As far as fiction goes, the most famous windigo story is Algernon Blackwood's "The Wendigo"; it is one 
of the wraith stories, and is hands down the most imitated (Derleth's stories of Ithaqua in the Cthulhu 
Mythos are perhaps the most famous Blackwood inspirations).  The Blackwood story ended up in a 
television show in the 1960s, and was in a comic in the 1940's.  Also, recently a children's book was 
released ("Call OF The Wendigo") that was based heavily on Blackwood. Ogden Nash did a poem about 
the windigo (part of it goes "The wendigo/the wendigo/it's eyes are ice and indigo/it's blood is thick and 
yellowish/it's voice is hoarse and bellowish..."), and there are several good stories in the "modern" 
depiction of windigowak such as "Sins Of The Flesh", "The Unseen" (Joseph A. Citro. Warner Books 
1990.), and "Where The Chill Waits" (sorry, can't remember the author's names)...there is supposedly a 
song about windigowak that someone told me they learned in school, as well.  Also, John Colombo put out 
a collection of windigo stories back in 1980; however, I can't find it, and it may well be out of print. 
There's crap as well in the fictional realm...the worst is Stephen King's "Pet Sematary", which so 
bastardized the legend the creature bears little resemblance to a windigo (and I refuse to call it such). I 
also have a personal beef with stories such as Slade's "Cutthroat" which make windigowak out as nothing 
more than overgrown apes! Alas, most of the RPG's are, well, crap.  Shadowrun makes windigowak out to 
be vampiric orcs (eukkk!)...White Wolf does something unusual by making a Wendigo clan (tho' in a way 
they had made windigowak a separate race), and Dark Conspiracy does the finest job of the RPGs that has 
attempted to do a windigo IMO.  For those who like the Blackwood windigowak, Call of Cthulu is quite 
good as well.  (They all need work, tho'... :)

And finally, windigowak in comics, and the "They Don't CALL it windigo, but if it slashes critters to bits 
like one, and eats people for breakfast like one..." category:  In comics, the only two "official" windigowak 
I've seen were the ones in Eerie Comics #10 (circa 1940), which was a good Blackwood imitation (but 
weren't they all then? :), and the one in the X-Men comics, which is utter and unmitigated crap. (And 
doubly inexcusable IMO...the original creators were Canadian, and should have known better.)

As for the "walks like a duck, quacks like a duck" category...there are LOTS of contenders.  There is a 
creature in the comic _Poison Elves_ that is called a Doppelganger, that is much like a windigo in many 
ways; there's Feral Jackson in _Strontium Dogs_, who looks _so_ much like the way I've always pictures 
windigowak (minus the height and the body hair) that I swear Alan Grant, Garth Ennis, and/or artists 
Harrison or Pugh _had_ to have heard of windigowak somewhere (and if I ever see 'em at a comics con, 
you bet yer sweet Aunt Agnes I'm askin' them :); there's the "manitou" in the "Shapes" episode of _The 
XFiles_ that for all intents and purposes was a windigo (and yes, windigowak ARE considered manitou, 
or spirits); and I even see some similarity in the story of Grendel in Beowulf (there are reportedly windigo 
stories as far west as Iceland, and "grendel" means "frost giant")...

                More on Windigowak - by Spyder Everhunger

This is my attempt at further clarification and expansion upon the collected information of shifters known 
somewhat generically among the cyberpack as windigowak or wendigos, which I will hereafter refer to by 
their proper name of 'witiko' (I use this name because in a dictionary of Native American lore, all other 
names for these creatures simply listed 'See witiko' for their definition.) 8)

I would like to note that I fully support each and every thing that my sibling Wendigo-the-Feral said in the 
previous section; this is merely and addendum to what s/he has said already. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"I WAS trying to tell you about the fact that the animal kingdom is dying, and because it is dying it is 
beginning to take heroic measures to save itself.  That's why the spirit of the wolves beguiled your 
husband. The animal kingdom is after the mind of man." 

"IN the West, it used to be thought that there were seven types of personality.  There are more than seven 
types! A type for every beast in the animal kingdom.  We are reflections of the whole of reality. Among us
there are shrew types, porcupine types, owl types, frog types, lion and zebra types, eagle types.  On and on.  
Often people change types when they get dogs.  That's why old people and their old dogs look alike.  A 
bulldog owner becomes a bulldog type.  You have to understand the universe as it really is.  A hall of 
mirrors, and we are the mirrors.  I hate to sound like a broken record, but I would be able to do this better 
if I had a beer in my hand." 
                 - Joe Running Fox in 'The Wild' by Whitley Strieber
                              
                               -=-=-

While of a northern Native American origin, the names witiko and windigowak have in these days to 
signify a wider range of creature than strictly the original Native creatures they once did: the witiko of 
today are instead of numerous racial and cultural origins from around the world.  So the term 'witiko' has 
come to refer to the conglomeration of all such creatures, much in the same way that Celtic has come to 
refer to the amalgam of information and ritual associated with hundreds of Western European tribes, or 
that Native American has come to refer to any member of the numerous tribes of the Americas. 

In truth, the fundamental components of the windigowak occur in the lore and 'mythology' of nearly every 
culture across the globe: Redcaps and similar malicious fae can be found in Ireland and Scotland, the 
Grendel of the Scandinavian regions, the Wild Hunt in Britain and Wales, ogres and trolls of the Black 
Forest and Germany, as well as a wide variety of dragons and dragon-like creatures throughout Europe.  
In the East, there are the Rakshasa to be found in India, the Oni and Goblin Spiders of Japan and China, 
and literally hundreds more of which I am as yet unfamiliar. 

All my tribe share a few common threads: a monstrous appearance that is not simply abnormal, but the 
kind of thing that haunts the nightmares of the normal human herd; all witiko also possess certain 
animalistic traits of appearance, often incorporating multiple traits from several animals but being not 
wholly of any one specie's appearance - an important fact which separates them from others of the shifting 
breed; and all witiko from around the globe prey in one form or another upon humanity, be it innocents 
and children, sinners and the unjust, or any of the vast flock of the human race.  And most if not all share 
a singular angst toward humanity which ranges from disgust to hatred to blind rage, at what humans do to 
the world, themselves, or their children. 

So while all windigowak are unique and often of vastly differing appearance from one another, all are 
siblings under the skin or in the blood.  We are all brothers and sisters, related peripherally to the other 
skin-shifters and therianthropes. 

But just where do the windigowak in all their multitude and forms fits into the scheme of things?  Each 
clan or tribe of therianthrope is linked with their species: the werewolves of the world are representative of 
the lupine species, the werecats of the felines, the foxes of the vulpines, and there are even reptile and 
avian species of therianthrope.  But where do the atcen fit in?  Who do we represent?  What are we, 
really? 

As I and the others I have talked it over with see it, the windigowak in all our chimerical variety have no 
one species to watch over, being both all and none; instead we concern ourselves with safeguarding the 
welfare and future of all the Wild, the embodiment of nature itself in all its violent splendor.  A witiko is a 
spirit of the wood and wild, seducing men and women away from their campfires to run amok through the 
trees and prey upon their brethren.  We are more concerned about the limiting of Man's power and return 
of the wilderness to the Wild than any one species of animal. 

The Werebear
		--Gary (Werebear) 
Howdy.

Well, over the past few weeks, I have put together--in my spare time-- this MiniFAQ which gives 
information on Werebears and Bear myths in general.  I hope someone gets something from it.  Special
thanks to Wolfshadow (Dave Aftandilian) for his help in the shamanic references and in editing.


     What are some historical legends associated with werebears?

The Scandinavians

     In Scandinavia, there was a firm belief in the ability of some people to change into or assume the 
characteristics of bears.  Our English word "berserk" comes from this legend.  It was thought that if a 
warrior was to don a bear- skin shirt (called a bear-sark) which had been treated with oils and herbs, that 
the warrior would gain the strength, stamina, and power of the animal.  These people would be driven into 
a frenzy in battle and were said to be capable of biting through the enemy's shields or walking through fire 
without injury.  No matter how much of the legend is true, the thought of a group of rabid Vikings made 
up as bears is sobering.

The Greeks

     The pre-Classical Greeks also believed in the ability of men to become bears.  One of the most 
commonly told stories is that of Callisto, who bore a child of Zeus'-- Arcas.  Hera, Zeus' wife, became 
jealous and transformed Callisto into a bear as punishment.  Arcas, out hunting, came upon his mother 
and shot at her.  Zeus, taking pity on the mother and son, changed them into Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, 
the two great bear constellations.  From this one myth comes a whole score of others. For instance, Arcas' 
name comes from the Greek word for bear--Arctos.  By extention, the "Arkades" of Arcadia are 
supposedly decended from Arcas.  Their name means bear- people.

     The Callisto myth also blends very well into the werewolf myth of Lycaon.  According to legend, 
Callisto was Lycaon's daughter.  Arcas was the individual who was supposed to have been served to Zeus 
as a test of the god's divinity, but he managed to escape.  Even one of the synonyms for bear used by the 
Greeks, bee-wolf (for the bear's love of honey), managed to make it into legend.  A legend, in fact, which 
was the first great work of the English language.

The English

     The story is titled "Beowulf".  And almost every high school English class reads it.  It is basically the 
story of a Geatish hero who vanquishes several evils from the world. Beowulf supposedly had the strength 
of thirty men in his left hand.  He is a powerful swimmer and has tremendous endurance.  All these traits 
are commonly associated with the bear.

The Native Americans

     These are not the only legends of bear shapeshifters. In fact, one of the earliest legends in human 
experience concerns a bear-shapeshifter.  This legend, that of the Bear Mother, is found in the traditions 
of many peoples throughout the world, including several Native American tribes.

     The cleanest version of it comes from the Haida people of British Columbia.  According to this 
version, some women from the tribe were out gathering huckleberries.  All but one of them were singing 
to appease the bears.  She chattered on about her own concerns, and it angered the bears--they felt that she 
was mocking them.  So as the berry- pickers headed home, the chatterbox was the last to go, for she had 
spilled her berries and had to gather them up again. As she worked, she was approached by two men 
wearing bear- fur robes, who looked like brothers.  One of them offered to help her if she would go with 
him.  She agreed.      She followed them to a large house.  Inside were several people, all of them dressed 
in bearskins.  One of them told her that she had been taken to a bear den and that she was now one of 
them.  She noticed that she too was wearing a bearskin robe.  The chief of the bear-people took her as his 
wife and she gave birth to twins which were half- human and half-bear.

     One day, her brothers came looking for her.  They found her, and murdered her husband.  Before the 
Bear Husband died, however, he taught her the songs that her brothers must use over his corpse to bring 
good luck and speed his soul to the afterlife.  The Bear Sons lived with the tribe as humans until their 
mother died.  Her death ended the twins' connection with humanity; once again they became bears and 
returned to live with the Bear People. 

     For some peoples, this myth was extended into that of creation itself; some myths went so far as to say 
that the entire human race was decended from the children of the Bear Sons.  And many, many peoples 
believed in deep spiritual connections with bears.

     What are some spiritual beliefs about bears?

     It really depends on whom one asks.  Almost universally, the Bear is represented by the constellation
Ursa Major, the Great She-Bear.  It is composed of fourteen stars, seven of which shine with extreme 
brightness.  Most of us in the west know the constellation better as the Big Dipper--the rump of the bear 
appears to have a long "tail" extending from it, which looks exactly like the handle of a saucepan.  This 
"tail" no longer exists in modern bears, but the cave bears had them and to the early peoples there was 
nothing at all strange about the shape of the sky-bear. 

     Many people used these stars as an indication of the seasons.  As winter drew near, the Bear would 
slowly dip lower in the sky, looking for a place to "bed down."  These stars would slowly spiral around 
Polaris, the north star, following the same path night after night.  They acted as a clock that was so 
accurate that many indigenous peoples still use them to tell the time.

     Many of these same peoples looked at the bear as "brother," or "great grandfather."  To them, the bear 
was very human in its manners and ways.  It could stand on its hind legs and walk like a man, it ate the 
same food they did, walked the same trails, and cared for its cubs in a fiercely protective way.  The 
skeleton of a bear, if stretched out, looked very much like that of a man.  The bear became a companion in 
the path of life and a model for the living of it.  This oneness of man and bear is clearly represented in the 
Grizzly Bear Song of the Tlingit Indians:

               "Whu!  Bear!
               Whu! Whu!
               So you say
               Whu Whu Whu!
               You come.
               You're a fine young man
               You Grizzly Bear
               You crawl out of your fur.
               You come
               I say Whu Whu Whu!
               I throw grease in the fire.
               For you
               Grizzly Bear
               We're one!"

     In a spiritual sense, the Bear is seen as a totem of healing, or of strength and introspection.  She is the
Spirit of the West.  She represents rebirth and regeneration.  In an imitation of death, the bear goes into
her den and is gone through the cold months of winter. Then, as spring comes, she returns, reborn.  
Usually, she comes out with cubs, serving as a symbol of birth.  The Shaman would often dress in the skin 
of a bear, and call upon Her medicine to heal the sick or guide him to what herbs should be used to cure 
an ailing tribesman. 

     Today, followers of modern Shamanism look to Bear for the same reasons.  As Spirit of the West, She 
is one of the Four Great Powers.  She encourages Her followers to consider their actions, to think about 
the decisions that they are about to make.

     What about books about werebears?

     Well, in the fictional realm, there are several authors who have written of characters who could change 
into bears into their novels.  Most notable is the late J.R.R. Tolkien. He created Beorn, who turned the tide 
in the last battle of _The Hobbit_.  There is also Dennis L. McKiernen.  McKiernen wrote _The Eye of the 
Hunter_, a story about a group of heroes on the trail of an ancient evil.  One of the characters, Urus, is 
called a "cursed one" because he can change but has no guarantee that he will be able to change back.  
Finally, there is David Eddings.  In his Belgariad series, there was a character, Barak, who was fated to 
turn into a bear whenever the protagonist was in danger.

     Even in comic books there are characters who can become bears, or at least, bear-like.  In the Image 
title "New Men," there is a character named Kodiak who can turn from a geeky teenager into a huge, 
bearish humanoid.  Marvel has two.  The first is Ursa Major, a Soviet government agent who can change 
into a large bear-man.  The second is Ephraim Dees, whose power manifests itself as a spectral bear 
superimposed over his aura.  Neither one of them is well portrayed or even worth the time to look into.  
They are mentioned here for the sake of completeness.

Fiction's good, but what about fact?

     There are a number of good books on mythology.  The non- fiction works make for much better 
reading.  The ones that I recommend, both on bears and werebears, are:

*Shepard, Paul and Barry Sanders.  The Sacred Paw.  New
York, NY:  Arkana, 1985.

     This book is, without question, the best book on the
     subject.  It explores, in great detail, the biology of
     the bear, the spiritualism that many peoples associate
     with the bear, and bears in literature.  A fabulous
     read with the most complete bibliography on the subject
     there is.  Also has some great stuff on spiritualism
     and shamanism in general.

*Brown, Gary.  The Great Bear Almanac.  New York, NY:  Lyons
     & Burford, 1993.
*Elman, Robert.  Bears:  Rulers of the Wilderness.
     Stamford, CT:  Longmeadow, 1992.
*Savage, Candice.  Grizzly Bears.  Vancouver, British
     Columbia:  Sierra Club, 1990.
*Rockwell, David.  Giving Voice To Bear.  Toronto, Ontario:
     Roberts Rinehart, 1991.

     These four are all very good books on bears in general,
     with a heavy emphasis on the symbolic.  Savage's work
     is a brilliantly executed photo essay that covers
     mythology as well as truth.  Brown's work is an
     encyclopaediac reference to little known bear facts
     including mythology.  Elman's work is another photo
     essay, but the pictures are wonderful.  Not quite as
     nice as Savage's work, but they cover a wider variety.
     And Rockwell explores Native American beliefs about the
     bear.

*Andrews, Ted.  Animal-Speak.  St. Paul, MN:  Llewellyn
     Publications, 1994.
*Meadows, Kenneth.  The Medicine Way:  A Shamanic Path to
     Self-Mastery.  Dorset:  Element Press, 1990.

     These two books are good references for information on
     shamanism.  And not just for information about bear as
     a totem, either.  There is information on quite a
     variety of totems and their meanings.

The Felines	
		--Walks-Between-Worlds

Howdy and welcome to the Feline FAQ. I've tried my best to include information on a variety of cats, both 
great and small. If you've ever felt drawn to cats but thought Werewolves were more up your alley because 
of their shapeshifting nature, fear not. There are Werecats, and you just might be one of them. 

This FAQ is divided into two sections:
1.) Legends and myths surrounding normal cats and Werecats
2.) Are you a Werecat? (includes twenty ways to know you're a Werecat)

First, though, a list of resources that went into the making of this FAQ:

_Werewolves In Western Culture_ edited by Charlotte F. Otten
_Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers Of Creatures Great &
Small_
  by Ted Andrews
_Meet The Werewolf_ by Georgess McHargue




Part 1: Myths and Legends
---------------------------------

   As long as transformation stories have existed, so too have stories about humans changing into cats. In 
1588, a horseman was passing by the Chateau de Joux in France and saw several cats in a tree. He 
approached and discharged a carbine which he was carrying, and a ring with several keys attached to it 
fell from the tree. The horseman took them to the village, and when he asked for dinner at the inn neither 
the hostess nor the keys to the cellar could be found. The horseman showed the keys to the host, who 
recognized them as his wife's. Meanwhile she came from the kitchen, wounded in the right hip. Her 
husband grabbed her and she confessed that she had just come from the Sabbat, where she had lost her 
keys after being shot in the hip from a carbine. 

   The Inquisitors also tell that in their time villagers saw three large cats near Strasbourg, which 
afterward resumed the shape of women.  

   In India, Weretigers were believed to house the spirits of the dead who were being punished for evil 
deeds. I personally don't believe the evil part, but who knows? ];-)

   In Africa and South America, the power of shape-shifting is often seen as a gift from some spirit or God 
and is for the purpose of getting revenge. Werejaguars, Wereleopards, etc., don't run around killing for the
hell of it, they only attack those who have harmed them in their human form. 

   The following's a Werejaguar story from the jungles of Brazil: 

   A Dutch trader named Van Hielen went on business to an out-of-the- way Native village. He was fond of 
nature and decided to take a walk toward the forest early in the evening.

   At the edge of the clearing, far from the village itself, Van Hielen found an isolated hut. He heard shouts 
of anger and the sound of blows from inside. Suddenly a nine-year-old boy ran out the door. He was
followed by a woman who was beating him with a peice of wood. Van Hielen liked children and stepped 
between the woman and the child. In the Native tongue, he asked the woman why the boy deserved such a 
beating.  

   "Done?" cried the woman. "Why, he has done nothing. That's why I beat him, the lazy lout. Not a stroke 
of work will he do. His sister is just as bad. Ah!" she broke off. "There's the wretched child now. She too 
will get what she deserves." 

   With that the woman lunged for the thin girl of about ten who had come running from the forest at the 
sound of her brother's cries. Van Hielen was so upset at the children's beatings that he offered the woman 
money if she would let them alone. She took the money greedily and disappeared into the hut with a glare 
at the children. 

   "Poor things!" The trader said,  "How can a mother be so cruel to her own children?"

   "Oh, but sir," exclaimed the little girl, "she is not our mother. She only makes us be her servants. You 
are kind, but do not trouble yourself. My name is Yaranka. My brother and I are the true children of the 
Forest Spirit, and she will help us to our revenge. We have suffered enough from that woman. We will get 
help from our true mother tonight in the Secret Place." With this speech, the two children made for the 
forest, leaving Van Hielen somewhat bewildered. 

   Keeping to the shadows, for the moon was bright, Van Hielen hid himself near the hut. He heard the 
woman snoring, and not long after he saw two small shadows creep from the doorway and enter the forest. 
Van Hielen followed them, thankful that his many years in the country had taught him how to move 
silently through the jungle at night. Even so, he nearly lost sight of the two children many times. They 
seemed to slip through the tangle of vines and bushes like elves. 

   After some time they came to a small clearing where a waterfall plunged into a pool in a shower of 
silver. In the center of the pool grew a single large, white water lily. Yaranka and her brother knelt down 
by the edge of the water and began to chant in an unfamiliar language. Then the children picked flowers 
from the bank and tossed them into the water.  

   The motion of the tossed flowers made the trader dizzy. Everything seemed to be spinning, and the rush 
of the waterfall was joined by the rush of a strange dark wind. Out of the earth a vast figure reared itself, 
shapeless and towering. Then, in a mere flick of time, the figure vanished, the sickening motion in the 
clearing stopped, and all was as it had been before. Except that where the two children had stood, there 
now stood a pair of large jaguars. They were so close to Van Hielen that he could count the spots on the 
sleek heads and even the whiskers of the snarling lips. 

   Van Hielen was a brave man, but he knew he had no chance against two such ferocious hunters at such 
close range. He saw the two pairs of green eyes gleam as the beasts scented him. Suddenly one jaguar 
checked its leap and shouldered the other one aside. The two furred bodies rushed past him on the narrow 
trail, so near that he could feel their breath. Then they were gone. Shaken, Van Hielen pulled himself 
together and made his way back toward the village. He arrived at the clearing just as dawn broke . 
Everything appeared as usual - except for the woman's hut, which had paw prints leading into the 
doorway. From within the hut came the most horrible sound he had ever heard. It was a soft *crunch*, 
*crunch*, *crunch*, as that of a large animal (or animals?) gnawing on bones. 

   Certain that the woman would no longer beat the children, Van Hielen left without a backward glance.

   Domestic and wild cats represent magic, mystery, and independence. In Scandinavian lore, the domestic 
cat was associated with the Goddess of fertility, Freyja. In the Hindu tradition Shasthi, the Goddess of 
childbirth, is depicted riding a upon a domestic cat. And the Egyptian Goddess Bast (or Bastet), patron of 
cats, was most often presented in Werecat form. The Egyptians worshipped the cat perhaps more than 
almost any other culture.  The cat was thought to be sacred to the goddess Isis, thus when Isis and her 
husband, the sun god Osiris, had a daughter the cat- goddess Bastet (Bast or Pasht) emerged.  Originally 
Bastet was lion-headed, like the goddesses Tefnut of Heliopolis and Sekhmet of Memphis with whom she 
is often confused. Although it was in her later cat-headed form that Bastet became so immensely popular, 
she never ceased to be worshipped as a lion-headed deity. Bastet personified the life-giving warmth of the 
sun which encouraged the growth of vegetation.  Because of this as well as being associated with Isis (as 
Mother Nature) Bastet was often worshipped as a fertility goddess. Tefnut, the lion-headed goddess of the 
Old Kingdom who was known as the "Ethiopian Cat" personified the cruel, searing heat of the equatorial 
sun, perhaps because the cat is seen as cruel in many cultures.  No one can doubt the cats ferocity, and the 
Egyptians coveted that as well.  Thus Sekhmet, "the Great Cat", which was twin sister to Bastet, "the 
Little Cat" was very a ferocious and warlike goddess that emitted flames against the enemies of the gods, 
for her aspect was the fierce destructive heat of the desert sun.  When people wanted a fierce goddess to 
protect them they called on Sekhmet; and when in need of gentler and more personal help, they turned to 
Bastet.  A text referring to the solar goddess runs: "Kindly is she as Bast, terrible is she as Sekhmet." The 
Egyptian Trinity was known by the composite name of Sekhmet-Bast-Ra. 

   The lion was a symbol for the sun-God Mithra. The Egyptians believed the lion presided over the annual 
floods of the Nile. Early Christians believed it to be the earthly opponent of the eagle. The midieval 
alchemists associated th lion with the fixed element of sulphur, and a young lion was often the symbol of 
the rising sun and all that is implied by it. 

   In the Scandinavian and Norse traditions, the lynx was sacred to the Goddess Freyja, and her chariot 
was sometimes depicted as being drawn by a lynx. The Greeks believed the lynx could see through solid 
objects. In fact, it was names for Lynceus, a mythological character who could also do this. In 1603 Italian 
scholars formed the Academy of Lynxes, dedicated to the search for truth and the fight against 
superstition. Galileo was a member, and its symbol was that of a lynx tearing Cerberus with its claws.The 
implication was that knowledge would end darkness and suffering.     The panther has been associated 
with Jesus. In the *Abodazara* (early Jewish commentaries on the scriptures), it is listed as a surname for 
the family of Joseph. It tells how a man was healed "in the name of Jesus ben Panther". The panther was 
also associated with the Greek God of wine, Dionysus. One story tells how Dionysus was nursed by 
panthers, and he is sometimes depicted riding a chariot drawn by them. To the Natives of North and 
South America, the jaguar - especially in the form of a black panther - was endowed with great magic and 
power. It was seen as a symbol for mastery over all dimensions.To the Tucano Indians of the Amazon, the 
roar of the jaguar was the roar of thunder. The black panther was seen as To the Arawak, becoming the 
man-jaguar was the ultimate shapeshifting ritual. The Olmecs created monuments to the jaguar, and the 
Aztecs and Mayans spoke and taught about the power in becoming half-human, half- jaguar. Even in 
Egyptian rituals, a panther tail was worn about the waist or knotted about the neck to help protect and 
strengthen. It was used in a process called "passage through the skin" - their own version of shapeshifting 
to engender themselves with the panther's power.  

   In Central Asia there arose a belief that the snow leopard does not eat the flesh of its victims, but sucks 
their blood. This belief probably stemmed from the puncture marks left when the snow leopard suffocates 
its prey. Another story is that of Milarepa, Tibet's poet-saint, who was stranded for six months in the 
Great Cave of Conquering Demons. When his followers went to find him, they found he had been 
transformed into a snow leopard. 

   In Korea, the tiger is the king of beasts. In the Hindu tradition, the tiger is sacred to Kali, the Goddess 
of creation and dissolution, sexuality and death. In Greece it was connected to Dionysus, God of wine. In 
China, the tiger is both a symbol of darkness and the new moon, as well as brightness and the full moon. 
There are five mystic tigers in Chinese lore. The red tiger is a symbol of the south, summer, and fire. The 
black tiger is a symbol of the north, winter, and water. The blue tiger is a symbol of the east, spring, and 
vegetation. The white tiger is a symbol of the west, autumn, and all metals. The yellow tiger is supreme 
among all five; it is the ruler of Earth and all energies upon it. 

These represent just a few of the "breeds" currently involved in the Cyberpack. To those whose breeds 
weren't included, I humbly apologize. I couldn't find any stories or lore regarding them!


Part 2: Are you a Werecat?
----------------------------------
    Discovering one's feline nature is an individual and deeply personal thing. Often Werecats exhibit a 
"loner" attitude, and feel uncomfortable in groups. Werecats tend to value freedom above all else, the 
freedom to come and go as they choose, the freedom to be able to think and express ideas without anyone 
peering over their shoulder. Some Werecats are social and Pack-oriented, just like a lion or a beloved 
family cat. 

   In the days of the Inquisition, women with "supernumary nipples" (more than two nipples, marked my 
faint dimples or freckles under the breasts) where accused of shapeshifting into large cats and feeding 
their familiars from their supernumary nipples. Men who acted particularly feminine or women who were 
assertive were termed "catty".  

   Some Werecats are vain in their appearance and "preen" themselves, taking great care in their hygeine 
and style. Other Werecats are too wild to care for fashion and formalities. 

   Werecats exude a sexuality and sensuality about them, primarily derived from the sleek, graceful nature 
of the cat itself. While not all Werecats should or do feel this way, many are rather amorous and 
occasionally lecherous or teasing. 

   Cats are regarded for psychic and channeling capabilities, and this applies to Werecats as well. 
Werecats usually are empathic, and see things that others may not. Sometimes Werecats can astral travel 
more easily than others. A Werecats eyes are often important in seeing auras, or the kinetic impression of 
moods. This makes it difficult to hide intentions from a Werecat, and often (sadly) leads to the other 
person fearing and avoiding them. 

   The biggest misconception is that Werecats are too selfish and aloof to run with a Pack. This is silly, as 
Werecats are part human and humans need companionship. 

As a fun aside, here is a list depicting 20 ways to know you're a Werecat:

1.) You panic when your mom talks about spaying or neutering the house cat
2.) When you walk by a sandbox, you have the urge to relieve yourself
3.) When you hear a catfight in the neighborhood, you puff up twice as big
4.) At the zoo all of the big cats sit still and stare at you...
5.) You can't get from your car to the front door without the neighbor's dogs chasing you
6.) You feel more comfortable sleeping in tree limbs than in a bed
7.) You would rather lick yourself from head to toe than take a shower
8.) When Spring rolls around you can't stop peeing on furniture and caterwauling
9.) Mice suddenly seem like a tempting gourmet
10.) The "Meow Mix" theme song suddenly makes sense
11.) You shed everywhere
12.) During Spring the neighborhood cats won't leave you alone
13.) You get chased up trees a lot
14.) The dogs that chase you see you shiftshape and retreat, yipping, holding their tails between their legs
15.) You've been sharpening your claws on the furniture
16.) People in the neighborhood are disappearing and you wake every morning with the window open and 
blood on your hands (just a joke!)
17.) You have an uncontrollable urge to sashay as you walk
18.) You lament at the lack of Werecat films and books
19.) Being "catty" takes on a whole new meaning
20.) Mouse - mmmm, tastes like chicken!

The Nahual
Lobocursor Lyceus (Gerardo Rubio) - AHWW packmember
* Comments, howls, fleas and more to:
[ webman@indiana.acatlan.unam.mx and webman@apolo.acatlan.unam.mx ]

NOTE:  The english in this mini-FAQ has been corrected with the permission of the author, who is not a 
native english speaker. Any errors are probably my own.

The Nahual: The mexican werecreature

Ocultist theories about the origin of human race said that men must have evolved across different animal, 
vegetable and mineral forms before reach the actual state. 

This is a primitive from to explain the werecreature origin.

Mexico is known for their shamans, wizards and "curanderos" (tribal doctors), sometimes called Nahuales 
o Naguales. All cities and towns in Mexico have at least a Nahual. 

The aztec voice for Nahual is "Nahualli" that means "lo que es mi vestidura o piel" (Something that is my 
cloth or skin). And it refers to the abilty of the Nahual to morph himself into a werecreature (wolf, jaguar, 
lynx, bull, eagle, coyote, ...) That voice also refers nigromancy, secret and mailce. 

Before the rise of the great Perhispanic civilizations like aztec and mayan, The yakis, tarahumaras and 
seris indians, who lived in the North of Mexico and South of US, around 900 A.C. had Nahuales. These 
civilizations were sited in part of the US states of California, New Mexico and Texas, and the Mexican 
states of Chihuahua, Baja California, Sonora and Sinaloa. They belived that if a man can know his 
primitive spirit or Nahual, he can use it to cure the people and practice magic. Many primitive drawings  
in old caves show people like werewolves. 

In the aztec empire the Nahuales are protected for Tezcatllipoca: The aztec god of the war and sacrificie. 
The legend said that a Nahual can put away his skin and transforma into a werecreature. Many aztec and 
colonial hunters said that in the night they killed an animal and the next day it
turned into a man.  

"The Nahual only can morph in the nigth and he attack our babies with hellish spells" - said the people 
since the Colonial Time (1500-1800 A.C.). The Santa Inquisition (the catholic tribunal that punished 
jews, witches, and the generally non-catholic) hunted Nahuales for many years. But people beleive in their 
power and sometimes protect them, especially in the indian towns. 

In modern days Carlos Castanneda, an Southamerican anthropologist that study the Nahuales, published 
many books about they since 1960: Las ensennanzas de Don Juan (The teaching of Don Juan), Una 
realidad aparente (An apparent reallity) and Viaje a Ixtlan (Voyage to Ixtlan). But nobody has confirmed 
Don Juan's existance; many people say that he is only a fraud. 

He only knows a part of the secret rituals and herbs to morph into a werecreature, and the forms of how to 
know our inner Nahual. The books are very confused and have less info than the publicity shows. A 
Nahual have many spirits that protect him like the Native American indians. Basically all rites are more 
or less the same in all American civilizations.  

Today many people especially in the rural parts of Mexico believe in Nahuales, the topic was gaining 
interest from 1982, because the American geneticist Frank Greenberg of the Baylor College of Medicine 
discovers a Mexican family with a disease that show them as werewolves: their bodies have covered with 
hair like the classic werewolf film of Hollywood "The Wolfman" (1945). 

That family was segregated from Mexican society, they were forced to hide in thier home in Loreto's town, 
and can only obtain work in the circus. 

The legend of nahuals have dark parts hidden on the past, on the mexican magic cosmology. Maybe the 
truths about this topic will shown, but, until that moment all is possible. 


************************************THE "RESOURCE" FAQ************************************

How To Use This FAQ Collection

The Frequently Asked Questions file has been broken up into three major parts. The first is the Core FAQ, 
containing the most basic questions about AHWW, and is intended to acquaint the reader with the 
newsgroup and its purpose. It has been drastically shortened and simplified so that the reader can get the 
gist of the group without having to read through the other two parts. The second part is the Resource 
FAQ, containing the various bits of information and minutia collected over the years by AHWW 
members. It contains the various ways held to effect physical shifting, humor, Internet resources, books, 
songs, movies and other media relating to shapeshifters, and much more. It is interesting but rather 
lengthy. The third part is the collection of MiniFAQs, the essays pertaining to various phenotypes of 
shapeshifter and the legends specific to them. All three parts will be available from a variety of locations, 
but only the first part will be posted regularly on AHWW. The other two may be gotten by emailing 
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET; via anonymous ftp to ftp://ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu; or on the web at 
http://www.negia.net/~katmandu/ahww.html. The resource FAQ contains many other locations the files 
may be found. Additions, suggestions, gripes and kudos should be sent to the keeper of the FAQ, 
KATMANDU@NEGIA.NET.

Introduction to The Resource FAQ

The resource FAQ is divided into four basic sections: Multimedia, with books, songs, games, and video 
information; Fun, with various silly bits the group has come up with, as well as information on costuming; 
Changing, with collected information on ways to physically shift and become "un-cursed"; and Odds & 
Ends, with various names for shapeshifters, Internet resources, furries, and a blank werecard. 

Multimedia
Games about shapeshifters

There have been but a sad few video games dealing with shapeshifters in past years. Following are some 
excerpts from AHWW discussing those few out there:

:         A few years ago, I heard of a video game out on the struggling Sega CD 
: system entitled "Wolfchild." It was said to have a five-minute long 
: introductory story, including a PS. Does anyone have this game? If so, was the 
: PS worth watching?

I had said game on the Amiga. It was okay, one of the better platformers I've played, with a nice PSing 
scene - lightning strikes kid, lightning lifts, wolf's head reappears. :)

If you've played Brutal Paws of Fury, there's a character called Kendo. A coyote actually, but still very 
canine.

There was an old 8-bit Nintendo game simply entitled "Werewolf." (I think I mentioned this in a post 
before... God, do I have to get a life or what?)

I recall a C64 game called werewolf in london or something. I remember trekking round the  underground 
trying not to get 'lectricuted in my hunt for crosses anyway ... :)

Also, there's a PC game called ... called ... begins with an E ... Ecstatica! That's the one!  That's a pretty 
freaky game actually, lots of atmos. Cool beasties, if not particularly pleasant.  Check it out ;)

Hey... anyone remember a game called "Altered Beast?" It was an arcade game, but I think they also did a 
home VG version.

I Also Have Wolfchild for Sega and On an Amiga format  its from JVC and also used copies float around.
Another is Werewolf "The Last worrior" Have that in Nintendo format but would like a Sega version 
myself.

Songs about shapeshifters

There are generally very few songs specifically about shapeshifters per se; but there are LOTS of songs 
that either evoke a certain mood that some find conducive to shifting, or seem to deal with the subject in 
some manner. Everybody's got their favorites... here's the list we've come up with so far, in no particular 
order, and far from final (note that these are taken from many sources, and the original authors' 
comments have been left in):

Warren Zevon - "Werewolves of London" (the classic.  If this  isn't on the *Wolf* soundtrack, somebody 
screwed up)

Metallica - "Of Wolf and Man" (overplayed album, but great song)

 Cure - "The Hanging Garden" (from *Pornography*, easily their best album; dark and really creepy)

CCR - "Bad Moon Rising" ('nuff said)

Belly - "Low Red Moon" (Tanya Donnelly.  sigh...)

Joe Satriani - "Big Bad Moon" (vocals almost a growl. Cool.)

Golden Earring - "Clear Night Moonlight" (showing my age, I guess, but it is a cool song)

Sisters of Mercy - "This Corrosion" (on days like this/ in times like these/ I feel an animal deep inside / 
heel to haunch on bended knees...)

Rush - "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" (distorted growling sounds & and an epic battle.  What more could 
you want?)

Grateful Dead - "Dire Wolf" (don't murder me)

Sam the Sham and the Pharoes - "Little Red Riding Hood"

There are several songs by Glenn Danzig that deal with werewolves/lycanthropy, such as "Am I Demon" 
("Am I beast or am I human/Am I just like you?").

Also, Glenn Danzig's "Black Aria"... one particular song deals with shapeshifters; the whole album is 
fantastic for setting a dark mood. Instrumental.

Venom - "Cry Wolf"

Sting - "Moon over Bourbon Street" from the Dream of the Blue Turtles album. Liner notes say that it's 
inspired by Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire", but there's a wolf howl there right in the last few 
seconds... and it sets a great mood.

Duran Duran - "Hungry Like the Wolf"

A-Ha - "Cry Wolf"

Ozzy Osborne - "Bark at the Moon"

Nine Inch Nails - "Closer"

Genesis - "White Mountain"

The Cult - "She Sells Sanctuary", Howling Mix--one of oodles of remixes of this well worked song, it is 
almost eight minutes long.  It begins with electronic howls and has two of those howls inserted into the 
song at varying points. No other wolf connections directly, but still a neat song, and the howls are great.  
The lyrics are hard to make out, and just as hard to understand even when you do read them printed out. 
This song is not on any album, but is available in England on a single off She Sells Sanctuary, or on a CD 
entitled "The Love Mixes." In the US, it is only available as an import, so be ready to special order and 
shell out. Also, "Brother Wolf, Sister Moon" of the _Love_ album, this song is a must hear for any 
lycanthrope out there. 

Walter Egan - "Full Moon Fire" Mtv used to show it around '82 or so. Pretty typical crappy video, but has 
the singer watching "The Wolf Man" in a movie theatre and turning into a Lon Chaney Jr. type o' 
wolfman. Also, although the song has nothing to do with werewolves, Real Life's "Send me an angel" 
featured a wolfman riding around in the woods on a horse (note:  this is the original, not "Send Me an 
Angel '88" or whatever it was).

The Tragically Hip -  "I'm a Werewolf Baby" Also pretty obscure and only noteworthy due to the title. 

David Bowie - "Cat People" by from the Cat People Soundtrack. I think this one should be pretty obvious.

Coil - "Snow-The Drift Mix" from the single of the same title. Very  evocative industrial track simulating 
a snowstorm and the first song I  ever heard which really provoked much of a response.

Siouxsie and the Banshees  - "The Lighthouse". In one portion of the song all you can hear is the growling 
of the rest of the group in the background.

Seraphim Gothique 

Swans - "Jane Mary cry one tear" and "Mother/father"(and others) Even though everyone knows Michael 
Gira is an ancient vampire, he's written a few songs about werewolves.  Also, Jarboe's howl on 
"Mother/father" is rather nice.  "Let it come down" also mentions shapeshifters in one verse.

 Syd Barrett - "Rats" A bit of creative interpretation, not hard to do since the man was way off his rocker, 
and this is all about werewolves.  Btw "Wolfpack", like at least half of Syd's songs, is about vampires.

Cranes - "Leaves of summer" I can't understand a word of it, but it's the best song I've ever heard, and 
therefore has to be about werewolves.

Sunshine Blind - "Is there" (and most everything else) There's no need to explain this to anyone who has 
heard it, and if ya haven't, ya should.

Current93 - "KillyKillKilly (a fire sermon)" This is all about militant misanthropic weres.  The rant in it 
has caused me to shift before.  Other C93 pieces may also be on lycanthropic themes ("To feed the moon", 
perhaps?) but it's very hard to tell.

Curve - "Doppelganger" It doesn't make too much linear sense, but with all these shapeshifting - related 
lines, it's more than a bit difficult to ignore.

Colourbox - "Tarantula" (also covered to good effect by This Mortal Coil.)  Take the word 'tarantula' out 
of the chorus (maybe it was planted there for deception...) and the song is applicable to all shapeshifters.

 KMFDM - "Brute"  I won't vouch for this one, but a friend of mine who's listened to it many more times 
than me maintains it's about lycanthropy and the accelerated healing powers of weres.

Miguel Bose - "Como un lobo (Like a wolf)". Romantic (Yuk!) but good for you were girlfriend: A 
Werewolf fall in love and describe him girlfriend like only a wolf know. 

La Union - "Un hombre lobo en Paris ( A werewolf in Paris )" This song is based in the novel "The wolf-
man" and talks about a imaginary trip of Denise (a wolf that can convert in human) to Paris. 

The Werewolves - "Hollywood Millionaire," (RCA 11283)--a late '70s/early '80s track off the group's                    
rather unsuccessful album "Ship of Fools."

The Wolf Man - "Strange" (Okeh 7269)--1950s blues.

The Five Man Electrical Band - "Werewolf" (Polydor 14221)-Spring 1974 rock song.

The Fourth Way - "Werewolf" --early 1970s "progressive" album, with all tracks being instrumental 
performances.

The Frantics - "Werewolf" (Dolton 16)--Winter 1960 instrumental from the Pacific Northwest.  Charted 
nationally at #83.

The Wolfmen "Watusi Beat"  (Bobbette 380)--1987 psychedelic rock in the '60s tradition.

Christian Death - "Hour of the Wolf" This is by the Rozz Williams version of C. Death, so the lyrics make 
no sense, but the word "wolf" occurs quite often and there's lots of wolves howling and growling.

Pain Teens - "Bannoy"  A highly disturbing story of an abused little boy who thinks he's a dog... a were  
horror story that will scare even weres. 

The Cramps - "Teenage Werewolf" occasionally seen under the name "(I Was a) Teenage Werewolf."  
Rereleased on Elvira's Hallowe'en compilation.  I've never heard it in its entirety-sorry.

Books about shapeshifters

Non-fiction first; then the fiction stuff. Like all the lists, this is far from complete; feel free to email me 
and suggest new entries. Phaedrus's excellent list of transformation stories, available from ftp.halcyon.com  
as /local/phaedrus/translist/translist.text; and a much nicer HTML version at 
"http://www.halcyon.com/phaedrus/translist/translist.html"; is not included in this shortened FAQ due to 
space limitations.

Non-Fiction

Shamanism.  Mircea Eliade. A basic reference on shamanism all over the world. Also Michael Harner's  
Way of the Shaman (I think that's the right title).

Seek out also The Celtic Shaman by John Matthews [Element books, ISBN 1-85230-245-3]; note that the  
totemic animals used in this may be unfamiliar to those grounded in the North American tradition. [Celtic 
shamanism tends towards salmons, eels, boars, dogs, badgers etc rather than bears and wolves and 
ravens...] 

Wolves and Werewolves. John Pollard (c) 1964 Robert Hale Ltd (UK) PB 1991
ISBN 0-7090-4388-0. Tales of Wolves and Werewolves in history going back as far as the 10th Century 
up to 1990.

The Illustrated Werewolf. Stephen Jones. Titan books. Sells  for $24.95. It's broken down by decades 
starting with silent movies.  There's also a section in the back covering television shows and  episodes. It 
doesn't just cover werewolves though. Any transformation of  man (or woman) into any animal is listed. It 
even covers foreign films. 

Transformations  by the editors of Time-Life Books. (I know, I know; just trying to be thorough.) Time-
Life Books, c1989

A Lycanthropy Reader : werewolves in Western culture. Edited by Charlotte F. Otten Syracuse University 
Press, 1986

Were-wolf and vampire in Romania. Harry A. Senn. East European Monographs, 1982

The werewolf : in legend, fact, and art. Basil Copper. St. Martin's Press, 1977

Human-wolves among the Navajo. William Morgan. Human Relations Area Files Press, 1970

The Werewolf. Montague Summers. University Books, 1966

Man into Wolf: an anthropological interpretation of sadism, masochism, and lycanthropy. (Sounds 
interesting, eh?) Robert Eisler. Philosophical Library, 1952

Zoological Mythology or The Legends of Animals. Angelo de Gubernatis (1978 reprint of an 1872 text). 
New York: Arno Press LC Call #: GR825.G9.1978

El perro negro en el folklore. Rafael Jijena Sanchez. Ediciones Dolmen, 1952

Greek Wolf-lore. Richard Preston Eckels. Philidelphia, 1937

Vampires, werewolves, and demons : twentieth century reports in the psychiatric literature.  Richard Noll. 
Brunner/Mazel, 1991

The Werewolf of Ponkert. H. Warner Munn. Grandon Co, 1958

The Story of Werewolves. Thomas G. Aylesworth. McGraw-Hill, 1978

The Beast Within.  Adam Douglas.   (1992, London). 

PY: 1989
LA: FRENCH; NON-ENGLISH
CP: FRANCE
AB: After a short historical review of the contemporary medical literature,
the authors analyze a new and original observation of lycanthropy. He is a 28
years old man, imprisoned for deadly violence, who has been showing, for many
years, the belief of being transformed into a werewolf during
depersonalization episodes when he presents a lycanthropic behaviour. Our
observation is closer to hysteria and mythomania on an antisocial personality,
although it seems difficult to place the mental pathology of this alcoholic
recidivist delinquent into a nosographical frame.
MESH: Adult-; English-Abstract; Psychosexual-Disorders-psychology MESH:
*Delusions-psychology; *Personality-Disorders-psychology
TG: Case-Report; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW-OF-REPORTED-CASES
AN: 90054739
UD: 9002

TI: The social biology of the werewolf trials [letter; comment] CM: Comment
on: J R Soc Med 1989 Jan;82(1):37-9
AU: Russell-WM; Russell-C
SO: J-R-Soc-Med. 1989 Jun; 82(6): 379-80
ISSN: 0141-0768
PY: 1989
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
MESH: Great-Britain; History-of-Medicine,-16th-Cent.; History-ofMedicine,17th-
Cent.
MESH: *Delusions-history; *Mythology-
TG: Human
PT: COMMENT; HISTORICAL-ARTICLE; LETTER
AN: 90040618
UD: 9002

TI: Werewolves down under--where are they now? [see comments] CM: Comment
in: Med J Aust 1990 Apr 16;152(8):448
AU: Yellowlees-PM
AD: Broken Hill Base Hospital and Health Services, NSW.
SO: Med-J-Aust. 1989 Dec 4-18; 151(11-12): 663-5
ISSN: 0025-729X
PY: 1989
LA: ENGLISH
CP: AUSTRALIA
MESH: Anthropology,-Cultural; Australia-; History-of-Medicine,Ancient; History-
of-Medicine,-Medieval; History-of-Medicine,-16thCent.; History-ofMedicine,-
17th-Cent.; History-of-Medicine,-19thCent.; History-of-Medicine,20th-Cent.;
Porphyria-psychology; Psychotic-Disorders-history
MESH: *Psychotic-Disorders-psychology
PT: HISTORICAL-ARTICLE; JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 90081505
UD: 9003

TI: Werewolves, vampires and cannibals.
AU: Fahy-T; Wessely-S; David-A
SO: Med-Sci-Law. 1988 Apr; 28(2): 145-9
ISSN: 0025-8024
PY: 1988
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
MESH: *Cannibalism-; *Mental-Disorders;
*SuperstitionsTG: Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW,-TUTORIAL
AN: 88260757
UD: 8810
TI: Werewolves down under--where are they now? [letter; comment] CM:
Comment on: Med J Aust 1989 Dec 4-18;151(11-12):663-5
AU: Berkley-R
SO: Med-J-Aust. 1990 Apr 16; 152(8): 448
ISSN: 0025-729X
PY: 1990
LA: ENGLISH
CP: AUSTRALIA
MESH: Australia-epidemiology; Mythology-
MESH: *Art-; *Delusions-epidemiology
TG: Human
PT: COMMENT; LETTER
AN: 90231210
UD: 9008

TI: Another case of lycanthropy [letter]
AU: Jackson-PM
SO: Am-J-Psychiatry. 1978 Jan; 135(1): 134-5
ISSN: 0002-953X
PY: 1978
LA: ENGLISH
CP: UNITED-STATES
MESH: Guilt-; Middle-Age
MESH: *Aggression-; *Delusions-psychology; *Libido-;
*PsychoticDisorderspsychology
TG: Case-Report; Human; Male
PT: LETTER
AN: 78058473
UD: 7803
SB: AIM
TI: A case of lycanthropy.
AU: Rosenstock-HA; Vincent-KR
SO: Am-J-Psychiatry. 1977 Oct; 134(10): 1147-9
ISSN: 0002-953X
PY: 1977
LA: ENGLISH
CP: UNITED-STATES
MESH: Body-Image; Delusions-therapy; Middle-Age; Projection-
; Schizophrenia-therapy; Sex-Disorders-diagnosis
MESH: *Delusions-diagnosis; *Schizophrenia-diagnosis TG:
CaseReport; Female; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 77264354
UD: 7712
SB: AIM
TI: Lycanthropy revisited.
AU: Surawicz-FG; Banta-R
SO: Can-Psychiatr-Assoc-J. 1975 Nov; 20(7): 537-42
ISSN: 0008-4824
PY: 1975
LA: ENGLISH
CP: CANADA
MESH: Adult-; Delusions-drug-therapy; Delusions-history; Depersonalization
Disorder-drug-therapy; Hallucinations-drug-therapy; Lysergic-Acid-Diethylamide;
Schizophrenia,-Paranoid-complications; Superstitions-; Thioridazine-therapeutic
use; Trifluoperazinetherapeutic-use
MESH: *Delusions-etiology; *Depersonalization-Disorder-etiology; *Organic-
MentalDisorders,-Psychotic-complications; *Psychoses,Substance-Induced-
complications TG: Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 76090124
UD: 7605

TI: Lycanthropy: a review [see comments]
CM: Comment in: J R Soc Med 1989 Jun;82(6):379-80
AU: Fahy-TA
AD: Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, London.
SO: J-R-Soc-Med. 1989 Jan; 82(1): 37-9
ISSN: 0141-0768
PY: 1989
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
MESH: Delusions-history; History-of-Medicine,-Ancient; History-ofMedicine,
Medieval; History-of-Medicine,-15th-Cent.; History-ofMedicine,-16th-Cent.;
History-of-Medicine,-18th-Cent.; History-ofMedicine,-19th-Cent.; History-
ofMedicine,-20th-Cent.; MythologyMESH: *Delusions-
TG: Human
PT: HISTORICAL-ARTICLE; JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW,-TUTORIAL AN:
89178392 UD: 8907

TI: Multiple serial lycanthropy. A case report.
AU: Dening-TR; West-A
AD: St Crispin Hospital, Northampton, UK.
SO: Psychopathology. 1989; 22(6): 344-7
ISSN: 0254-4962
PY: 1989
LA: ENGLISH
CP: SWITZERLAND
AB: A case is described who exhibited lycanthropy during an acute
psychotic illness. During a short period she experienced herself as four
different species of animal, an occurrence not previously reported. The
phenomenon of lycanthropy is most appropriately regarded as a delusion,
but the abnormal subjective experience is stressed, not just the falsely-
held belief.
MESH: Adult-; Affective-Disorders,-Psychotic-diagnosis; Animals-; Diagnosis,
Differential
MESH: *Affective-Disorders,-Psychotic-psychology; *Delusionspsychology;
*Hallucinations-psychology
TG: Animal; Case-Report; Female; Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 90311541
UD: 9010

TI: A lycanthropic murderer [letter]
AU: Benezech-M; De-Witte-J; Etcheparre-JJ; Bourgeois-M SO: Am-J-Psychiatry.
1989 Jul; 146(7): 942
ISSN: 0002-953X
PY: 1989
LA: ENGLISH
CP: UNITED-STATES
MESH: Adult-; Antisocial-Personality-Disorder
MESH: *Delusions-; *Depersonalization-Disorder; *HomicideTG: Case-Report;
Human; Male
PT: LETTER
AN: 89300931
UD: 8910
SB: AIM

TI: Lycanthropy: alive and well in the twentieth century. AU: Keck-PE; Pope-
HG; Hudson-JI; McElroy-SL; Kulick-AR
AD: Epidemiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178. SO: Psychol
Med. 1988 Feb; 18(1): 113-20
ISSN: 0033-2917
PY: 1988
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
AB: Lycanthropy, the belief that one has been transformed into an animal (or
behaviour suggestive of such a belief), has been described by physicians and
clerics since antiquity, but has received scant attention in the modern
literature. Some have even thought the syndrome extinct. However, in a review
of patients admitted to our centre since 1974, we identified twelve cases of
lycanthropy, ranging in duration from one day to 13 years. The syndrome was
generally associated with severe psychosis, but not with any specific
psychiatric diagnosis or neurological findings, or with any particular
outcome. As a rare but colourful presentation of psychosis, lycanthropy
appears to have survived into modern times. MESH: Adolescence-; Adult-;
Delusions-complications; Delusions-drugtherapy; Electroencephalography-;
Factitious-Disorderscomplications; Psychotic-Disorders-complications
MESH: *Delusions-psychology
TG: Case-Report; Female; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 88204005
UD: 8808
TI: Lycanthropy lives on.
AU: Coll-PG; O'Sullivan-G; Browne-PJ
SO: Br-J-Psychiatry. 1985 Aug; 147: 201-2
ISSN: 0007-1250
PY: 1985
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
MESH: Aged-; Aggression-; Delusions-therapy; ElectroconvulsiveTherapy
MESH: *Delusions-diagnosis; *Depersonalization-Disorder-diagnosis TG: Case
Report; Female; Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 86001205
UD: 8601
TI: [Animal metamorphosis (lycanthropy) still exists]
AU: Sirota-P; Schild-K; Ben-Zui-Levi-Y; Elitzur-A
SO: Harefuah. 1994 Jan 16; 126(2): 88-91
ISSN: 0017-7768
PY: 1994
LA: HEBREW; NON-ENGLISH
CP: ISRAEL
MESH: Animals,-Wild; Carnivora-
MESH: *Delusions-
TG: Animal; Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW,-TUTORIAL
AN: 94193070
UD: 9407

TI: A partial form of lycanthropy with hair delusion in a manicdepressive
patient.
AU: Verdoux-H; Bourgeois-M
AD: University of Bordeaux, France.
SO: Br-J-Psychiatry. 1993 Nov; 163: 684-6
ISSN: 0007-1250
PY: 1993
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
AB: A 45-year-old man was admitted with a hair growth delusion and
depressive symptoms. The delusion persisted for three years and disappeared
after a manic episode. This odd delusion has some similarities with
lycanthropy.
MESH: Antipsychotic-Agents,-Phenothiazine-administration-and-dosage;
Antipsychotic-Agents,-Phenothiazine-therapeutic-use; Delusions-drugtherapy;
Depressive-Disorder-drug-therapy; Hypochondriasis-drugtherapy; Lithium-
Carbonateadministration-and-dosage; LithiumCarbonate-therapeutic-use; Manic-
Disorder-drugtherapy; Middle-Age; Phenothiazines-administration-and-dosage;
Phenothiazinestherapeuticuse; Psychiatric-Status-Rating-Scales
MESH: *Delusions-complications; *Depressive-Disorder-complications;
*Hypochondriasis-complications; *Hypochondriasis-diagnosis; *ManicDisorder
complications
TG: Case-Report; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
RN: 0; 0; 3546-03-0; 554-13-2
NM: Antipsychotic-Agents,-Phenothiazine; Phenothiazines; cyamemazine; Lithium
Carbonate
AN: 94129957
UD: 9405
TI: [Anorexia and lycanthropy ++: grandiosity and fall]
TO: Anorexie et lycanthropie: grandeur et decadence. AU: Vedie-C; Poinso-F;
Hemmi-F; Katz-G
AD: Hopital La Colombiere, Montpellier.
SO: Ann-Med-Psychol-Paris. 1993 Mar; 151(3): 285-9
ISSN: 0003-4487
PY: 1993
LA: FRENCH; NON-ENGLISH
CP: FRANCE
MESH: Anorexia-classification; Anorexia-diagnosis; History-ofMedicine,-19th
Cent.; History-of-Medicine,-20th-Cent.; Mythology-; Psychiatry-history;
Psychotherapy-
MESH: *Anorexia-history; *Delusions-history
TG: Female; Human; Male
PT: HISTORICAL-ARTICLE; JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 94079209
UD: 9403
TI: Psychopharmacology of lycanthropy.
AU: Davis-WM; Wellwuff-HG; Garew-L; Kydd-OU
AD: Orphan Drug Research Institute, Jefferson, Miss.
SO: Can-Med-Assoc-J. 1992 Apr 1; 146(7): 1191-7
ISSN: 0008-4409
PY: 1992
LA: ENGLISH
CP: CANADA
AB: OBJECTIVE: To develop pharmacotherapies for the orphan disease
lycanthropy through the pursuit of the etiologic hypothesis of a genetically
determined hypersecretion of endogenous lycanthropogens. DESIGN: Quadruple-
blind, Rubik's Cube matrix analysis. SETTING: Community practice and
malpractice. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects selected
from inbred Ruficolla populations in Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina and
Minnesota. All who entered the study finished it. INTERVENTIONS: Chemical
screening of blood samples over a hypothesized secretory cycle of
lycanthropogen peaking on the day of maximum lunar illumination.
Administration of synthetic lycanthropogens for behavioural testing.
Experimental lycosomatization through the illumination method of Kirschbaum.
OUTCOME MEASURES: None were post hoc, but some are still in hock. MAIN
RESULTS: Two putative lycanthropogens were isolated from the blood samples.
Structural elucidation and synthesis permitted animal and clinical trials; in
each of these, behavioural dysfunction was observed. Antilycanthropogen
strategies included application of the principle of caged compounds and
generation of a therapeutic immunoglobulin. The effects of a newly developed
antihirsutic agent seemed promising. An interaction of the lycanthropogen-
secretion system and ethanol was noted, which may explain behavioural aspects
of alcoholism. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of lycomania in North America is
underestimated. Soon-to-be-available pharmacotherapies should promote its
early detection and treatment. Full control may depend upon advances in gene
therapy.
MESH: *Delusions-; *Wit-and-Humor
TG: Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE
AN: 92208802
UD: 9207
SB: AIM
TI: [The delusion of lycanthropic transformation] TO: El delirio de
transformacion licantropico.
AU: Rojo-Moreno-J; Rojo-Moreno-M; Valdemoro-Garcia-C; Rojo-Sierra-M AD:
Facultad de Medicina, Valencia.
SO: Actas-Luso-Esp-Neurol-Psiquiatr-Cienc-Afines. 1990 Sep-Oct; 18(5): 327-31
ISSN: 0300-5062
PY: 1990
LA: SPANISH; NON-ENGLISH
CP: SPAIN
AB: The authors describe one case of Lycanthropy and revise the literature
about this theme. They observe that Lycanthropy has received scant attention
in the
modern literature, but appears to have survived into modern times. In some
cases the patient (as a Delusion) has the belief that he has been transformed
into an animal. In other cases there appears only what seems to be behaviour
of an animal. About the first group, the authors make a phenomenological
analysis and present a clinical case of Lycanthropic delusion. MESH: Adult-;
AntidepressiveAgents-therapeutic-use; AntipsychoticAgents-therapeutic-use;
Delusions-drugtherapy; Delusions-psychology; Depression-etiology; English-
Abstract; Hirsutismpsychology; SelfConcept; Social-Isolation
MESH: *Delusions-
TG: Case-Report; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW-OF-REPORTED-CASES
RN: 0; 0
NM: Antidepressive-Agents; Antipsychotic-Agents
AN: 91150521
UD: 9106
TI: Lycanthropy and demonomania: some psychopathological issues. AU: Koehler-
K; Ebel-H; Vartzopoulos-D
AD: University Psychiatric Clinic, Bonn, West Germany.
SO: Psychol-Med. 1990 Aug; 20(3): 629-33
ISSN: 0033-2917
PY: 1990
LA: ENGLISH
CP: ENGLAND
AB: Modern reports on lycanthropy mainly concentrate on the content of
patients' beliefs in being transformed into an animal. By contrast, an
interest in the form of the symptomatology is usually
minimal. This paper draws on Karl Jaspers' phenomenological views and focuses
on some important albeit neglected psychopathological issues related to form
which are relevant to any comprehensive consideration of lycanthropic
phenomena. MESH: Awareness-; Reality-Testing; Self-Concept
MESH: *Delusions-psychology; *Depersonalization-Disorder-psychology; *Magic-;
*Manic-Disorder-psychology
TG: Human
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW,-TUTORIAL
AN: 91046496
UD: 9102
TI: Lycanthropy and self-identification.
AU: Kulick-AR; Pope-HG Jr; Keck-PE Jr
AD: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178.
SO: J-Nerv-Ment-Dis. 1990 Feb; 178(2): 134-7
ISSN: 0022-3018
PY: 1990
LA: ENGLISH
CP: UNITED-STATES
AB: Lycanthropy, an unusual psychiatric syndrome involving the delusion of
being an animal, usually occurs as a transient symptom of severe psychosis. A
review of the historical and modern medical literature, as well as of
contemporary anthropological reports, suggests multiple etiologies for
lycanthropy, including seizure disorders and use of psychotomimetic drugs. A
clinical illustration is presented in which the delusion of being an animal in
human form has persisted for over 15 years and has been refractory to
treatment. The authors speculate that disturbances of self-identity may
combine with neurological abnormalities to produce some cases of this
syndrome.
MESH: Adult-; Delusions-drug-therapy; Delusions-etiology; Delusionstherapy;
Psychotherapy-; Psychotic-Disorders-complications; Psychotropic-Drugs
therapeutic-use
MESH: *Cats-; *Delusions-; *Ego-
TG: Animal; Case-Report; Human; Male
PT: JOURNAL-ARTICLE; REVIEW; REVIEW-OF-REPORTED-CASES
AN: 90132623
UD: 9005
SB: AIM

The Beast Within - Animals in the middle ages . Joyce E. Salisbury. Routledge, 1994 
ISBN:0-415-90769-1
Cost me about 12 pounds sterling [make that $20]. It's basically an analysis of the human perception of 
animal forms since about the 10th century, from religious, sexual, social and economic standpoints.  The 
bit at the end 'humans as animals' and "what is a human", are IMHO really rather good; certainly changed 
*my* way of looking at myself in the traditional sense as a human, to the way I feel now, which is much 
more animal-centered.

Werewolf: a true story of demonic possession.  Ed Warren.  Apparently about a man who was "possessed" 
by a wolf spirit, which is exorcised by a Catholic priest.  On the back cover, they describe seeing him 
change, yet with the included photos, there is not one picture of said change. Methinks they were just 
trying to sell books with a little hype. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992

Curse of the Werewolf. Tim Kelly. Dramatic Pub. Co., 1990

The werewolf miracles.  Oberon Press, 1976

Animal Spirits. Nicholas J. Saunders. Macmillan/Duncan Baird Publishers, 1995
ISBN:           0-333-63846-8
Price:          9.95 pounds sterling.
A strange book; at first it starts with a discussion of "the shared world" the way animals have been 
perceived by humans, discusses soulflight, animals in heraldry, hunter and hunted, food, animal-related 
beliefs, shamanism etc. Then the second part has specific sections on animals [bat, jaguar, wolf, dog, 
shark, fish, bear etc]. The third part is a gazetteer of animal beliefs from around the world. 
But this book's 2-page definition of Werewolves is in the section "Imaginary Beasts".  Huh!  So *I* am a 
figment of somebody's imagination, am i?? Anyway, the picture to go with the Werewolf ('Cannibal, or 
Werewolf' by Cranach the Elder) is worth it, just for all those severed limbs, heads etc! A useful 
introduction.... and a good list of references at the back too!

Of Wolf and Man.  Barry Lopez . 
It is technically only about how people think of wolves and have reacted to wolves throughout history, 
with only a few chapters on werewolves(which are fairly dry repititions of legends from the dark ages) but 
the multi-faceted, mysterious view of the wolf it gives is FANTASTIC, especially the stuff about how 
native americans see the wolf, and the way the wolf is presented as an intelligent being that we can never 
really classify or understand, but that evokes deep feelings in the human soul. 

Dance of the Dolphin. Candace Slater. 
This book is a collection of recently-gathered and supposedly recently happening stories of weredolphins 
along the amazon river. Apparently some people there still believe that they have witnessed weredolphin 
transformations, recently, not in the 17th century or anything, and a lot of them. Unfortunately the author 
goes deep into psychology trying to explain why so many people have these delusions, and treats the 
subject as if all these were delusions. It is the only book I know of that has this many supposedly-true 
recent were stories.

The White Goddess . Robert Graves.  (Faber & Faber)
Subtitled A historical grammar of poetic myth. This is one of my favourite books. It's more a research into
pre-Christian religion than anything else. But a riveting read.

The Golden Bough.  Sir James Frazer.  (Wordsworth Reference) and MacMillan & Co.)
This book was published first in 1890. A lot of Robert Graves' source material comes from this book. 

The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myth and Secrets.  Barbara Walker ( Harper & Row)
This is a feminist approach of most myths legends, saints and sinners. There is an interesting couple of 
pages under the heading Werewolves.

I found an interesting collection of folk tales in the Children Section of my local library. Published by the 
Oxford University Press and retold by different authors, the come under the general heading of Myths and 
Legends in Paperback. About sixteen titles. Myths and legends from  Africa, Amenia. China. England, 
France. Gemany, Hungary, India, Japan, Persia, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland, Turkey, West-India etc. 
Another Oxford Paperback, "The Tain" translated by Thomas Kinsella treats the story of Cuchulain, the 
Ulster Hero. (For the American among you. Ulster is Northern Ireland) Cuchulain means the Hound of 
Culain. Culain was a smith who had a dangerous dog which had to be kept down with three iron chains 
held by three strong men each. The boy Setanta killed the dog in a fight. The smith was heart broken and 
Setanta made up by becoming a watch dog until the next bag of pups was raised. That's how he got his 
name Cuchulain. The story is pre-Christian and more for adults than for children. 

The Mabinogian, translated by Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones. (Everyman's Library) Those are very old 
stories and legends from Wales. A whole population is transformed into mice. It's a classic.

There are many Irish Fairy tales on the market. I haven't found werewolves in them but men and woman 
who are animals by night and people by day or vise versa. Seals, dogs, cats etc. For some it was because of 
a curse, some because they have special powers and the rest just as a matter of  fact without any 
explanation.

The Wolf-man and Sigmund Freud  [#88 in the series "The International Psychoanalytical Library"]
Author: Muriel Gardiner (ed.) Pub:  The Hogarth press and the Institute of Psychoanalysis, 1972
ISBN:   0-7012-0355-2

Silverwolf writes:
I recently found, under the Wiccan section of a book store near where I live, a book set, called The Moon 
Box which contains Were chants and spells as well as other were information. I dont know that these 
work, but I'm very happy with my choice to buy the set in any case. It's $29.95 for 4 hard cover books and 
a box for them. The address of the company is:
   Chronicle Books
    275 Fifth Street
    San Francisco, CA 94103

Deerdancer, The Shape Shifter Archetype in Story and in Trance. Michele Jamal. She apparently has a 
book called  Shape Shifters, too. This one goes into depth in many archetypes -- bear shifters, wolf 
shifters, buffalo, seal, deer, and even tree and deity shifters. 

Shadowfox offers this list of kitsune related books:
Kiyoshi Nozaki - Kitsune: Japan's Fox of Mystery, Romance and Humor
        (This book is an *EXCELLENT* source for Kitsune information.)
Yei Theodora Ozaki - The Japanese Fairy Book - ISBN# 0804808856 - 1970
	(Houghton Mifflin?)
Hadland Davis - Myths & Legends of Japan - ISBN# 0486270459 - Dover, 1992
Grace James - Green Willow & Other Japanese Fairy Tales - ISBN# 0517632101 -
	Crown Pub/Avene Books, 1987
W. Aston - Nihongi - ISBN# 0804809844 - Tuttle Co., 1972 
	(Japanese history & myth)
? Philippi - Kojiki - Princeton Univ. Press, 1969 - Dewey# 915.2 
	(Japanese history & myth)
Carmen Blacker - The Catalpa Bow - ISBN# 0043980082 - Boston, Allen & Unwin, 
	1986  (Japanese Shamanism & animals)
Andrew Lang - The Violet Fairy - Dewey# 398.21 - McGraw-Hill, 1967
	(Various tales including Japanese - not sure if fox related)
John Ferguson - Japanese Mythology - Dewey# 299.51 - pub by Marshall Jones 
	Co., 1928 and by Cooper Square Publishers (could also be under 	
	author Masaharu Anseki)
Juliet Piggott - Japanese Mythology - ISBN# 0911745092 (pbk)and 0600021130 - 
	Harper & Row, 1969 - Dewey# 299
Kunio Yanagita (or Fanny Mayer) - Japanese Folk Tales - Dewey# 398.21 - 
	Toykeo, 1954
Kengi Hamada (or A. Ueda) - Tales of Moonlight and Rain - ISBN# 0048231169 - 
	Tokeyo, 1971 - Dewey# 895.6
* - Japanese Fairy Tales - Hillside Press, 1962
Lafcadio Hearn - Japanese Fairy Tales - ISBN# 0848602188 - Dewey# 398.2 - 
	Core Collection Books, 1979
Hayao Kawai - The Japanese Psyche - ISBN# 0882143360 - Dewey# 298.2 - Spring 
	Publications, 1988 (Japanese views on its culture and folklore-fox 
	related?)
Stephen Addiss - Japanese Ghosts & Demons - ISBN# 0807611263 and 0807611255- 
	University of Kansas, 1985 - Dewey# 704.9 (artwork)
Reiko Chiba - The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan - Tuttle Co., 1966 (assuming the 
	tie between white foxes as the messangers of the Rice god Inari 
Richard G Smith - Ancient Tales & Folklore of Japan - ISBN# 1859580793 - 
	Senate, 1995
Teresa Williston - Japanese Fairy Tales - Rand McNally, 1911

Whither Werewolf? by Lilith Silverhair (Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, 1997)

Fiction

Naked came the Sasquatch.  John Boston.  Published by TSR but amazingly good for a first novel. VERY 
humorous, although alas Mr Boston sometimes repeats characterization to the word, and there is a gap in
the storyline. Still worth the reading. And yes, despite the title, there are werewolves in it.

Steppenwolf. Herman Hesse.  It's fiction, but man does he have the anguish of a dual soul thing down.  
Vlad seconds this motion too...actually I mentioned the book to her, and then she asked me if it was in the 
FAQ, and we agreed that if it wasn't, it oughta be.

Moon of Three Rings
Year of the Unicorn
The Jargoon Pard
-all by Andre Norton
In the first, a space trader gets transformed into the body of a wolflike creature called a barsk at the hands 
of a woman of a Gypsylike people. The second features a were-snow leopard, a half-breed of a shape- 
shifting people who falls in love with a witch, and the third is about a were-leopard who turns out to be 
the witch's and snow leopard's son. Everything works out in the end -- Andre Norton is addicted to happy
endings.

Darker Than You Think. Jack Williamson. An old but classic science-fiction novel in which shapeshifters 
are the last remnants of an ancient race that once ruled humans.

Chronicles of the Cheysuli.  Jennifer Roberson. A series about a people who are bound to one animal, or 
more, into which they can transform, and with they are in close psychic contact.  The first was 
Shapechangers, and I think there were a total of 8.

Wheel of Time Series.  Robert Jordan. I think he's up to 4 or 5 books in the series now.  One of the main 
characters, Perrin, is a lycanthrope of some sort. He can communicate with wolves, sees through their 
eyes, and is in constant danger of turning into one permanently...

Silver Bullet.  Stephen King. 

Lord of the Ring series.  J.R.R. Tolkien. (Beornings are werebears)

Wolf Moon.  Charles de Lint, published by Signet in 1988, ISBN 0-4515487-8
Good story about a werewolf who is being hunted by an evil harper (yup, the were is the good guy :]), and 
by sheer luck escapes him. He ends up in a place he may be able to find some happiness if he keeps his 
were nature a secret. He's already had some BAD experiences with what happened when non-weres found 
out what he is. Then the bad guy shows up and things go to hell in a handcart for a while. It ends up okay 
in the end, but there are some interesting insights into the psychology of being a were and letting others 
know it. Harder than the hobbs of hell to find now though, but worth the search I think.

Larry Niven has written a series of short stories oriented more towards fantasy with lycanthropes of the 
'heroic' or 'mind of a beast' mindset. One of these is "The Lion In His Attic" which concerns a were-
sealion and can be found in the compilation Limits (ISBN 0-345-32142-1).
   
Michael Moorcock's Elric book Revenge of the Rose has as the second story Esbern Snare, Tale of the 
Northern Werewolf. While it's portrayal of lycanthropy is still curse-oriented, still a good read.

Blood Trail. Tanya Huff. Second in a series of fantasy/murder mysteries, this one involves something 
that's been killing all of Canada's werewolves...

The Ultimate Werewolf.  I think Dell published this excellent collection of modern short fiction about 
werewolves.

Wolfen. Whitley Streiber. They made a movie out of this too.  The main creatures aren't quite were, but 
they're not quite wolves, either, and there's some cool stuff about Native Americans performing 
shapechanging rituals.

Elsewhere.  Will Shetterly. Part of the Borderlands shared world series, in a place where Faery and the 
modern world meet.  This one's about a boy who ends up getting cursed into becoming a Weredog.

Drums Around the Fire.  From White Wolf; a book of legends & tales told to the Garou of the Werewolf 
game around the sacred fire by a number of authors

BTW, Nancy A. Collins' Wild Blood does have several hot scenes, and some sexual stuff also appears in 
S.P.Somtov's Moondance. 

Striper Assassin.  Nyx Smith. One of the main characters, Striper, is a weretiger, and a hired assassin for 
a Mage named Adama. Point of interest: at one time, she goes to a club run by Werewolves.  To prove 
she's Were, she cuts herself, then heals it with her saliva.  Very good portrayal of Weres, IMO. Esp. the 
Wolves :), even if they are only featured once.

The werewolf of Fever Swamp. R.L. Stine. (adolescent)

The St. Andrews werewolf: a Liz Austen mystery.  Eric Wilson. (adolescent)

Werewolf: horror stories of the man-beast.  Peter Haining. (a collection)

The werewolf trace.  John Gardner.

Werewolf! edited by Bill Pronzini

Ladies of horror; two centuries of supernatural stories by the gentle sex.  Seon Manley. (adolescent) 

The compleat werewolf, and other stories of fantasy and sf.  Anthony Boucher

The werewolf principle.  Clifford Simak. (adult/adolescent)

The Wild. Whitley Strieber. The Wild is essentially about a man whose desire to escape the Kafkaesque 
nature of his life is the catalyst for his transformation into a sentient wolf.  Also, one of the best endings of 
a werewolf novel I've read. 

Saint Peter's Wolf.  Michael Cadnum.  A psychiatrist whose life is falling apart discovers hope in the form 
a mysterious new lover and a strange pair of silver fangs.  Extremely good book that questions every 
assumption people have about lycanthropy. 

Wilderness.  Dennis Danvers.  The story centers around a young woman learning to control her life and 
her lycanthropy for the first time when she falls in love with her new neighbor.  This book is actually 
more of a love story than a horror novel.

Animals.  John Skipp and Craig Spector.  The crown princes of splatterpunk pull out all the stops in this 
surprisingly good novel with one overriding theme: "Lycanthropy is no excuse for being an asshole." The 
story and the characters have a refreshingly bluesy feel to them, aided and abetted by the Pennsylvania 
rust-belt setting and the blues music that permeates everything.

Lycanthia.  Tanith Lee.  Very very hard to find but an excellent book.  A young lord returns to his family 
estate and discovers that the "horrible monsters" living in his woods are neither, but graceful and very 
sensual werewolves.  Quietly erotic book with a sad ending.

Heart Beast.   Tanith Lee.  Her "raving beast" book, here a young man is cursed to become a werewolf 
after gaining possession of a diamond with a flaw shaped like a running wolf.  The werewolf here acts as 
a symbol of male sexuality, which simultaneously awakens and oppresses the main female character's own 
sexual nature until it's destruction.

The Wilding.  Melanie Tem. (1992; ISBN 0-440-21285-5; Abyss line of Dell Publishing). Follows a 
family of matrilineal werewolves outside Denver.Focus is on coming-of-age ritual where youngest member 
learns what she is and what it means. Really cool!

Howling Mad. Peter David. ISBN 0-441-34663-4. This book has a thoroughly marvelous premise: a wolf 
gets bit by a werewolf and turns into a man at every full moon and is completely pissed off about it! It's a 
*lot* of fun to read.

The Nightwalker. Thomas Tessier. ISBN 0-330-26225-4. This is one of my favourite novels about a very 
sympathetic character who happens to be a werewolf. Highly recommended.

The Bloody Chamber. Angela Carter. ISBN 0-14-012837-9. This collection of short stories is notable for 
including the very Jungian tale, "The Company of Wolves", which the movie of the same name was based 
on, as well as another short story, The Werewolf.

Moon of the Wolf. Leslie Whitten. ISBN 0-380-00285-X. Whitten wrote good old fashioned, straight-
ahead horror stuff. This is a fairly classic and somewhat predictable Hollywood-style werewolf tale, but it's
entertaining.

Snow White, Blood Red. Eileen Datlow & Terri Windlin. (eds.) 
ISBN 0-380-71875-8.
This is one of those books that's becoming popular nowadays where a bunch of writers get together and do 
up modernized, adult versions of classic fairytales. This volume includes a pretty good story by Wendy 
Wheeler called "Little Red".

The Lays of Marie de France. Penguin Classics edition. ISBN 0-14-44476-9. This is a collection of late 
12th century French poetry which includes the classic tale of lycanthropy, Bisclavret.

Rod Serling's Triple W: Witches, Warlocks, and Werewolves. Serling, Rod, ed. New York: Bantam 
Books, 1963.
        
Prince of Wolves.  Susan Krinard.  Prince of Wolves is a standard "Romance" novel. If you aren't in to the
feisty heroine, broody hero, "heat of their passion was like a thousand suns burning" sorta soft-porn prose 
then stay clear. On the other paw, it's a well written example of the genre and the brooding hero is quite a
fine example of a "good" werewolf. I recommend the book but good luck finding it... romance novels have 
a short shelf life.  (Her second book is also a romance, this one with some untraditional vampires. _Prince 
of Dreams_. Not as good and void of weres but okay for a romance...)

The Beast WIthin - Erotic Tales of Werewolves.

The Wild One.  Marion Zimmer Bradley.  In a collection of short stories called The best of Marion 
Zimmer Bradley, edited  by Martin Greenberg...pub. 1985.

The Orphan. Robert Stallman. New York, Pocket Books, 1980
The Captive. by Robert Stallman (surprise!), 1981
The Offspring

The_Jaguar_Princess  Claire Bell.  It's "a Tor.Book/published by Tom Doherty Associates, Inc." and was 
copywrighted 1993. The.ISBN number is 0-812-51516-1.  The Library of Congress Card Catalogue 
number is 93-25920.

Thor. Wayne Smith. (Ballentine Books, 1992) Primarily aimed at mass adolescent market, but still 
interesting to older folk. Werewolf character is, alas, straight out of ravening Lon Chaneyesque I-just-
can't-help-myself-gotta rend serial killer mold, but what makes book interesting is that it's told from 
perspective of family dog. Nice stab at canine psychologizing, dog/human/were interaction. Definitely 
worth a read, if only for the immortal line, 'I'm the moon's indentured servant'. Nice, eh?

I believe there's a Tanith Lee werewolf story (can't remember title off-hand, alas) in Don't Bet on the 
Prince, edited by Jack Zipes. Feminist Fairy Tales. The story might be reprinted elsewhere, perhaps in 
another were-story anthology. Nice little twist (with the accent on the 'twist') to Red Riding Hood. And of 
course, being Tanith Lee, gorgeously tactile writing. 

Werewolf of Paris.  Guy Endore. Very well-written, tho again the unfortunate were in question is of the 
reluctant Jack-the-Ripper type. Lots and lots of werewolf lore distributed in rather scattershot fashion 
throughout--alomst as tho the guy (Guy) is telling us, 'look, I did my homework!' Still, a fab read for the 
gothic fan particularly. Kind of the 'Dracula' of werewolf novels.

The Crossing.  Cormac McCarthy (Vintage, 1994). Not technically a werewolf story, but might be 
interesting to weres. First part of the book (set in New Mexico in the 1930's) deals with a boy who is 
responsible for trapping wolf that is killing cattle on family ranch. He ends up trying to return her to her
original range in Mexico. Along the way he bonds with her in a very visceral fashion.  Funny, 
heartbreaking, ravishingly lush prose/poetry a la Faulkner-almost *too* much sometimes, but who doesn't 
like to get a bit intoxicated on words? I know I do ('so much so, that truth to tell, I'm rarely sober'--thank 
you, Lord Peter Wimsey). IMHO, McCarthy should have ended the book after the first part with the wolf, 
but the rest of it makes for interesting reading as well.

Favorite Folk Tales from Around the World.  Edited by Jane Yolen. (Pantheon, 1986) Has an entire 
section on Shapeshifter stories. *Wonderful* for telling, which is a special passion of mine.

My truly awesome best friend Joy gave me a book for Christmas and I thought I'd share it with you all.  
It's called Women Who Run With the Werewolves; Tales of Blood, Lust and Metamorphosis and is edited 
by Pam Keesey.  It's put out by Cleis Press Inc., PO Box 8933, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 with a copyright date 
of 1996.  ISBN is 1-57344-057-4 (paper).  It's a book of short stories about female werewolves.

Predators, Eric Sauter. (C) by Black Wolf Inc. Publ: US: Pocket Books 1987 UK: Sphere Books Ltd. 1988 
ISBN 0-7474-0007-5

Wolfcurse, Guy N. Smith. C) 1981 by Guy N. Smith Publ: NEL (New English Library) 1981 ISBN 0-450-
05158-7

The Howling, Gary Brandner. (C) 1977 by Gary Brandner Publ: Hamlyn Paperbacks (UK) 1978,78,79,80 
(yes, twice printed in the first year) ISBN 0-600-34564-5

ShadowFox offers:
Anyway I've got a few new things for those who like to read. Firstly in the current (December 96) Realms 
of Fantasy their Folkroots section is on nothing but shifters and weretype critters. They touch on a huge 
variety of different shifter legends from all over the world. Whats better is they also list good reference 
books for some/most of their info... If any one is interested I can either post or email the various list of 
books to ya. 

 Shadow of the Fox  by Ellen Steiber.  ISBN 0-679-86667-1 A Bullseye Chiller from Random House, pub 
1994

And who could forget the Wolfriders in Elfquest? (WARP Graphics) 

When Fox is a Thousand  by Larissa Lai, Press Gang Publishers,  Canada.

And, of course, Cheri Scotch's werewolf trilogy...


Either / neither / unknown

The Book Of Werewolves.   Sabine Baring-Gould.  266 pages, paperback, published by Senate Books, 
Princess House, 50 Eastcastle Street, London, England ISBN 185958-072-6

Prince of Darkness.  Gerald Verner. Rider and Co., 1946

Werewolves.  Elliot O'Donnell. Methuen, 1912

I did not notice, though might have missed, a listing of the Satyricon by Petronius (d.AD 65) which has a 
great Werewolf story.

Shows and Movies about shapeshifters

"Werewolves on the Silver Screen"
compiled by Wolfshadow (aka Dave Aftandilian)

MAIN SOURCES (first two provided most of the info):

_The Scream Factory_ #15 (Autumn 1994) -- werewolves in film review article by Lawrence McCallum 
[top-notch stuff!!]
     Donald Willis -- _Horror and Science Fiction Films: A Checklist_  (Scarecrow Press, 1972)[thorough, 
if opinionated, film notes]
_Fangoria_ #s 129 & 134 (July 1994)
Pierre Benichou -- _Horror et Epouvante dans la Cinema Fantastique_   (Collections Tetes d'Affiche PAL, 
1977)
Adam Douglas -- _The Beast Within_ (Chapmans, 1992)
Stephen Jones (ed) -- _The Mammoth Book of Werewolves_ (Carroll & Graf, 1994)   (introduction only)
_Imagi-Movies_ Vol. 1, #4, Summer 1994


ANNOTATED LIST OF FILMS:

The Werewolf (Canadian; 1913, Bison)
     DIRECTOR: Henry McRae
     NOTES: loosely based on Henry Beaugrand's story "The Werewolves".  Short in
     which a Navajo witch-woman transforms her daughter into a werewolf to seek
     revenge against invading whites.  Real wolf used in transformation scene.
     
The Wolfman (1915, Reliance-Mutual)
     NOTES: lost film

Le Loup Garou = The Werewolf (French; 1923)
     STARS: Jean Marau, Madeleine Guitty
            NOTES: a priest curses a murderer, who becomes a werewolf
The Wolfman (1924, Fox)
            STARS: John Gilbert, Norma Shearer, Eugene Pallette, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Edmund Mortimer
     NOTES: non-supernatural dual-personality melodrama

Wolf Blood (1925, Lee-Bradford)
     STARS: George Chesebro, Marguerite Clayton, Ray Hanford, etc. DIRECTOR:
     George Chesebro, George Mitchell
     NOTES: man turns "half-beast" after transfusion of wolf blood

The Werewolf (German; 1932)
     STARS: Magda Sonja, Vladimir Sokolov
     DIRECTOR: Friedrich Feher
           NOTES: first talkie to feature a werewolf.  From the novel
     _Der Schwarze Mann_ by Alfred Machard.

The Werewolf of London (1935, Universal)
             STARS: Henry Hull, Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson, Lester
     Matthews, Spring Byington, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Stuart Walker
     MAKE-UP: Jack Pierce
     SPECIAL FX: John Fulton
     NOTES: based on Oliver Onion's 1929 story "The Master of the House". First
     mention of "moon-flower" (Mariphasa) in film (?); but here it is the only
     antidote for lycanthropy, not its cause
     
The Wolfman (1941, Universal)
           STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Bela Lugosi, Maria
     Ouspenskaya, etc.
     DIRECTOR: George Waggner
     MAKE-UP: Jack Pierce
      NOTES: the biggie.  Gotta love those crazy gypsies.  "Even a man whos
     is pure in heart..."

The Undying Monster (1942, Fox)
             STARS: James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard, etc.
     DIRECTOR: John Brahm
              NOTES: from the 1922 novel by Jessie Douglas Kerruish
                                        
Terror House (UK; 1942, PRC/Pathe Pictures)
            STARS: James Mason, Wilfrid Sutherland, Mary Clare, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Leslie Arliss
     NOTES: from a novel by Alan Kennington

The Mad Monster (1942, PRC)
               STARS: George Zucco, Anna Nagel, Johnny Downs, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Sam Newfield
     NOTES: man turned to werewolf by transfusion of wolf blood

Le Loup des Malveneur = The Wolf of the Malveneurs (French; 1943) STARS: Madeleine
     Sologne, Pierre Renoir, Gabrielle Dorziat DIRECTOR: Guillaume Radot
     
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943, Universal)
            STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Patric Knowles, etc.
     MAKE-UP: Jack Pierce
     DIRECTOR: Roy William Neill

Return of the Vampire (1943/1944, Columbia)
     STARS: Bela Lugosi, Matt Willis, Nina Foch, etc. DIRECTOR: Lew
     Landers
     SPECIAL FX: Aaron Nadley
     NOTES: werewolf is the hero who kills vampire

House of Frankenstein (1944, Universal)
     STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., Boris Karloff, John Carradine, etc. DIRECTOR: Erle
     C. Kenton
     SPECIAL FX: John C. Fulton
          NOTES: first film use of a silver bullet to kill the werewolf
                                        
Cry of the Werewolf (1944, Columbia)
     STARS: Nina Foch, Stephen Crane, Osa Massen, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Henry Levin
     NOTES: first female werewolf in film

House of Dracula (1945, Universal)
         STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Onslow Stevens, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Erle C. Kenton
     SPECIAL FX: John C. Fulton

She-Wolf of London (1946, Universal;= UK The Curse of the Allenbys) STARS: June
     Lockhart, Don Porter, Lloyd Corrigan, etc. DIRECTOR: Jean Yarbrough
     
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Universal)
     STARS: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi DIRECTOR: Charles
     T. Barton
     MAKE-UP: Bud Westmore
     SPECIAL FX: David S. Horsley, Jerome H. Ash

The Werewolf (1956, Columbia/Clover)
              STARS: Steven Ritch, Joyce Holden, Don Megowan, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Fred F. Sears
               NOTES: serum turns accident victim into a werewolf
                                        
I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1956/7, American International/Sunset) STARS: Michael
     Landon, Yvonne Lime, Whit Bissell, etc. DIRECTOR: Gene Fowler, Jr.
     
The Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957, Allied Artists)
              STARS: Gloria Talbot, Arthur Shields, John Agar, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Edgar G. Ulmer
              NOTES: vampire-like, scientifically-created werewolf
                                        
How to Make a Monster (1958, American International/Sunset) STARS: Gary Clarke,
     Robert H. Harris, Paul Brinegar, etc. DIRECTOR: Herbert L. Strock
     NOTES: sequel to I Was a Teenage Werewolf

The Curse of the Werewolf (UK; 1961, Hammer)
     STARS: Oliver Reed, Richard Wordworth, Clifford Evans, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Terence Fisher
     MAKE-UP: Roy Ashton
     NOTES: Hammer's only werewolf film.  Based on Guy Endore's 1933 novel _The
     Werewolf of Paris_.
     
Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory (Italian/Austrian; 1961/3, MGM/Royal; original
Lycanthropus; UK I Married a Werewolf)
        STARS: Barbara Lass, Carl Schell, Maurice Marsac, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Paolo Hensch (aka Richard Benson)

La Loba = The She-Wolf (Mexican; 1964, Sotomayor/Azteca) STARS: Kitty de Hoyos,
     Joaquin Cordero, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Rafael Baledon

Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1965, ADP/Diana; merged footage from Mexican
originals La Momia Azteca, 1957 and La Casa del Terror, 1959)
     STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., Yolanda Varela, Yerye Beirute, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Gilberto M. Solares (Jerry Warren -- US) NOTES: first mummified werewolf in
     film (!)
     
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (UK; 1965, Paramount/Amicus) STARS: Peter Cushing,
     Christopher Lee, Roy Castle, etc. DIRECTOR: Freddie Francis MAKE-UP: Roy
     Ashton
     SPECIAL FX: Ted Samuels
     NOTES: multi-story format; one has werewolf

Dr. Terror's Gallery of Horrors (1967, American General)
     STARS: Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Rochelle Hudson, etc. DIRECTOR: David
     L. Hewitt
     
The Maltese Bippy = The Incredible Werewolf Murders (1969, MGM) STARS: Dan Rowan &
     Dick Martin (Laugh-In)
     DIRECTOR: Norman Panama
     NOTES: minor character werewolf on motorcycle

Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969, A & E Film Corp.)
             STARS: John Carradine, Paula Raymond, Alex D'Arcy, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Al Adamson

The Ancines Woods OR The Wolfman of Galicia OR The Wolf's Forest = El Bosque de
Ancines OR El Bosque del Lobo (Spanish; 1969, Amboto)
     DIRECTOR: Pedro Olea
     NOTES: from a novel by Carlos M. Barbeito.  Epileptic murderer believed to be
     a werewolf.
     
Night of the Werewolf (1969)
     NOTES: in Daninsky series (see next)

Frankenstein's Bloody Terror (1970; original Spanish 1967/8 La Marca del Hombre
Lobo OR El Hombre Lobo cut for US release)
      STARS: Paul Naschy, Manuel Manzaneque, Aurora de Alba, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Enrique Eguiluz
     NOTES: begins series of films involving Waldemar Daninsky, a scientist
     afflicted with lycanthropy
     
Assignment Terror (1970, American-International)
               NOTES: released direct to TV.  In Daninsky series.
                                        
The Werewolf's Shadow (original La Noche de Walpurgis German/Spanish; 1970, Atlas
International/Plata)
              STARS: Paul Naschy, Gaby Fuchs, Barbara Capell, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Leon Klimovski = Leon Klimowsky
     NOTES: in Daninsky series

Fury of the Wolfman (original Spanish La Furia del Hombre Lobo; 1970, Maxper)
     STARS: Perla Cristal, Veronica Lujan
     DIRECTOR: Jose Maria Zabalza
     NOTES: in Daninsky series

Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman (original Spanish Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo; 1971)
     NOTES: in Daninsky series

Werewolves on Wheels (1971, Fanfare Films)
           STARS: Stephen Oliver, Severn Darden, D.J. Anderson, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Michel Levesque
     NOTES: werewolf biker gang -- 'nuff said

Moon of the Wolf (1972, ABC TV)
             STARS: David Janssen, Barbara Rush, Bradford Dillman DIRECTOR:
     Daniel Petrie
The Vampires Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (UK; 1972)
Curse of the Devil (original Spanish El Retorno de Walpurgis; 1973) STARS:
     Paul Naschy, Fabiola Falcon, Vidal Molina, etc. DIRECTOR: Carlos Aured
     NOTES: in Daninsky series
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973, Universal) STARS:
     Kerwin Mathews, Scott Sealey DIRECTOR: Nathan
     Juran

The Werewolf of Washington (1973, Diplomat) STARS: Dean
     Stockwell

Scream of the Wolf (1974 ABC TV)
          DIRECTOR: Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows)
The Beast Must Die (1974, Cinerama)
         STARS: Peter Cushing, Anton Diffring
     NOTES: script based on James Blish's "There Shall Be No Darkness"; 1989
     video release titled Black Werewolf
     
Legend of the Werewolf (UK; 1974)
     STARS: Peter Cushing, Ron Moody, Roy Castle, Hugh Griffith DIRECTOR: Fred
     Francis
     
Night of the Howling Beast (original Spanish La Maldicion de la Bestia; 1975)
     STARS: Paul Naschy
     DIRECTOR: Miguel Iglesias Bonns
     NOTES: another in the Waldemar Daninsky series.  Daninsky meets the
     Abominable Snowman.
     
The Werewolf of Woodstock (1975, ABC TV)

Daughter of a Werewolf (Italian; 1976, Dialchi)
     STARS: Annik Barel, Frederick Stafford DIRECTOR:
     Rino diSilvestro
     
Wolfman (1979, EO Prod.)
     STARS: Earl Owensby

Wolfen (1980/1981)
     STARS: Albert Finney, Gregory Hines NOTES: from a
     book by Whitley Strieber

The Howling (1981, Avco-Embassy)
     STARS: Dee Wallace, Rob Bottin, Patrick MacNee, Chris Stone, Slim Pickins,
     Dennis Dugan, Robert Picardo
     DIRECTOR: Joe Dante
     SPECIAL FX: Rob Bottin
     NOTES: from novel by Gary Brander

An American Werewolf in London (1981, Universal) STARS: David
     Naughton, Jenny Agutter SPECIAL FX: Rick Baker
         NOTES: first four-footed werewolf in film
         
The Craving (original Spanish El Retorno del Hombre Lobo; 1981) STARS: Paul
     Naschy
     
Frankenstein Island (1983)
     STARS: Robert Clarke, Katherine Vicot, John Carradine, Andrew Duggan,
     Cameron Mitchell
     DIRECTOR: Jerry Warren
     NOTES: werewolf minor appearance

The Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1984) STARS:
     Christopher Lee, Reb Brown, Ferdy Mayne DIRECTOR: Philippe
     Mora
     MAKE-UP: Steve Johnson

The Company of Wolves (UK; 1984, Palace)
              STARS: Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury, Stephen Rea
     MAKE-UP & SPECIAL FX: Christopher Tucker
     NOTES: really twisted version of the Red Riding-Hood tale; different video
     copies said to have different endings
     
Silver Bullet (1985, Paramount)
     STARS: Gary Busey, Terry O'Quinn
     MAKE-UP & SPECIAL FX: Rimbaldi (of E.T. fame)
             NOTES: based on Stephen King's "Cycle of the Werewolf"
                                        
Teen Wolf (1985)
     STARS: Michael J. Fox

Teen Wolf Too (1987)
     STARS: Jason Bateman

The Monster Squad (1987, Tri-Star)

The Howling III (1987)
     DIRECTOR: Philippe Mora

The Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988)
     DIRECTOR: John Hough
     SPECIAL FX: Steve Johnson

The Howling V: The Rebirth (1989)

My Mom's a Werewolf (1989)

The Howling VI: The Freaks (1991)
     SPECIAL FX: Steve Johnson

Mad at the Moon (1992)
     STARS: Mary Stuart Masterson, Fionnula Flanagan, Hart Bochner DIRECTOR:
     Martin Donovan
     
Full Eclipse (1993, HBO)
     NOTES: digitigrade werewolf (in some scenes)

Wolf (1994, Columbia)
             STARS: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader
     DIRECTOR: Mike Nichols
     MAKE-UP: Rick Baker
      NOTES: the proof of the man is the soul within, not the beast without
                                        
Howling VII (1994)
     DIRECTOR: Roger Nall
     SPECIAL FX: Roy Knyrim and Jerry Macaluso (SOTA FX)


RELATED FILMS:

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (various versions)

The Island of Lost Souls (1932, Paramount)
            STARS: Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Erle C. Kenton
     NOTES: based on _The Island of Dr. Moreau_ by H.G. Wells.  Mad scientist tries
     to turn animals into humans.
     
Cat People (1942, RKO)
              STARS: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Jacques Tourneur

The Leopard Man (1943, RKO)
     STARS: Dennis O'Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Jacques Tourneur
            NOTES: from the novel _Black Alibi_ by Cornell Woolrich
The Curse of the Cat People (1944, RKO)
             STARS: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Robert Wise, Gunther Fritsch
     NOTES: sequel to Cat People

Catman of Paris (1946, Republic)
             STARS: Carl Esmond, Robert Wilke, Lenore Aubert, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Lesley Selander
     SPECIAL FX: Howard and Theodore Lydecker

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977, American International)
          STARS: Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport, etc. DIRECTOR:
     Don Taylor
     NOTES: remake of Island of Lost Souls

The Crow (1994, Miramax)
     STARS: Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Tony Todd, etc.
     DIRECTOR: Alex Proyas
     MAKE-UP: Lance Anderson
     SPECIAL FX: Dream Quest Images
       NOTES: tragic film based on James O'Barr's tragic graphic novel.  A
     truly gothic love story.

Cat People (1982)
     STARS: Nastassia Kinski, Malcolm McDowell
     NOTES: remake of 1942 original

"MetalBeast" (??)

I do know that there was a British TV series featuring a University professor and an American girl (who 
was bitten by a werewolf).  It was ok; didn't really get to watch it too much.  The point was to prevent her 
from shifting, kinda like Nick Knight on _Forever Knight_.  I believe the show was called "Werewolf in 
London" which is where it took place. The closest I ever saw to a shift was turning her pupils red.  Big 
deal(sarcastically). But it was a kind of X-Files type show that dealt with the paranormal. I'll see if I can 
find out any more on it, and will forward anything that I discover.       --Windrunner
]This is the show "She-Wolf of London," which is playing on the Sci-Fi Channel right now.  It does have 
the occasional so-so transformation scene, just not in every episode.  There's some info about it on the 
Web... check: http://www.nevada.edu/home/4/geno/Web/lc.html            -WizardWolf

....and as a special treat, Ysengrin sends us this info on the TV show "Werewolf": 
USA still runs the 2 hour pilot from time to time (last time was about four months ago), usually on 
Saturday afternoons. It was part of the Fox network's premiere lineup, and was apparently troubled by the 
censors from day one. Two episodes were delayed for almost two months due to their violent content, and 
thus were shown out of sequence.

                      WEREWOLF EPISODE LIST
The dates given are the show dates in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

This is the first run on the Fox network; episodes were shown in a different order on USA and were re-cut 
for three commercial breaks instead of two and in many case were also shortened.

Tristar (1987)
July 11  - Pilot (2 hours)
July 18  - NIGHTWATCH
July 25  - THE BOY WHO CRIED WEREWOLF
Aug 1    - THE BLACK SHIP
Aug 8    - SPECTRE OF THE WOLF
Aug 15   - THE WOLF WHO THOUGHT HE WAS A MAN
Aug 22   -      the boy who cried werewolf [R]
Aug 29   - NOTHING EVIL IN THESE WOODS
Sept 5   -      nightwatch [R]
Sept 12  - RUNNING WITH THE PACK
Sept 19  -      pilot [R] ("WEREWOLF - THE MOVIE")
Sept 26  - FRIENDLY HAVEN
Oct 3    - LET US PREY
Oct 10   - A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE (part one) Oct 17   -
A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE (part two) Oct 25   - THE UNICORN
Oct 31   - ALL HALLOWS EVE
Nov 1    - BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
Nov 8    - NIGHTMARE AT THE BRAINE HOTEL
Nov 15   - WOLF HUNT
Nov 22   - BLOOD TIES
Nov 29   - BIG DADDY
Dec 6    - EYE OF THE STORM
Dec 13   -      spectre of the wolf [R]
Dec 20   -      the black ship [R]
Dec 27   -      spectre of the wolf [R]
Jan 3    -      the wolf who thought he was a man [R]
Jan 10   -      the boy who cried werewolf [R]
Production changes from Tri-star to Columbia JAN 17 - NIGHTMARE
IN BLUE
JAN 24   - SKINWALKER
JAN 31   -      running with the pack [R]
FEB 7    - KING OF THE ROAD
FEB 14   - A MATERIAL GIRL
FEB 21   - TO DREAM OF WOLVES (part one)
FEB 28   - TO DREAM OF WOLVES (part two)
MAR 7    - BLIND LUCK
MAR 14   - GREY WOLF
MAR 20   -      blood on the tracks [R]
MAR 27   -      let us pray [R]
APR 3    -      (no episode)
APR 9    -      spectre of the wolf [R]
                the unicorn [R]
APR 16   -      to dream of wolves parts I and II [R]
APR 23   -      a world of difference parts I and II [R]
MAY 1    -      (no episopde)
MAY 8    -      material girl [R]
MAY 15   -      big daddy [R]
MAY 22   - AMAZING GRACE
MAY 29   -      wolfhunt [R]
JUN 5    -      the wolf who thought he was a man [R]

28 half hour episodes (two two-part episodes), plus the two hour pilot.

The best episodes (in no particular order) were "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf," "A World of Difference," 
"Grey Wolf," "To Dream of Wolves," "Let Us Pray," "Nothing Evil in these Woods" and "The Unicorn."

The two worst episodes were easily "Blood on the Tracks" and "All Hallows Eve".

THE CAST
Eric Cord . . . . . . . . John J. York
"Alamo" Joe Rogan . . . . Lance LeGault Janos
Skorzeny . . . . . Chuck Connors
Nicholas Remy . . . . . . Brian Thompson
Eric/Werewolf . . . . . . Tony Snegoff
Janos/Werewolf  . . . . . Alex Daniels
Producers   . . . . . . . John Ashley & Frank Lupo
Created by  . . . . . . . Frank Lupo
Werewolf makeup crew: (apologies to anyone I missed) Earl Ellis Larry Oden
Stuart Artingstall                 Camilla Henneman Linda Notaro
John Vulich
Kieth Edmier                       Tony Rupprecht
Mitch Devane                       Martha Vanek
Gino Crognale                      Anthony Ashly


Werewolves  designed  by  Rick Baker (The  Skorzeny  werewolf  was originally to have been the Eric 
Cord werewolf, but was decided to look too 'evil'. Baker then drew up the Eric werewolf with gentler 
features.  For  more info on this,  plus some  nifty  stills,  see Fangoria #68) (Rick Baker's sketches were 
included in a traveling 'makeup effects exhibit' that was making the rounds at museums in the early 90's)

Transformations & Makeup by Greg Cannom.

Skorzeny werewolf - dark brown/black fur, black skin, left side of muzzle eaten away from just under the 
eye to the jawline as if  by acid  - the eye is intact. Upper jaw about 1/2" longer  than  the lower; single 
canines. Tall - over 6'6" - in height. Skorzeny rips his  skin off to effect the transformation.  Skorzeny 
seems to  be both more sensitive of when a transformation is coming and able to force  a shift when 
needed,  even to control timing of a  "called" shift. 

Eric werewolf - light brownish-tan fur,  brownish skin.  Shorter perhaps 5'4". Pockets under the eyes on 
either side of the muzzle. Both ears are notched about an inch from the tips.  Full form  has dual upper 
canines,  although the transitional does not.  Is  very recognizent of the memories and desires of Eric, 
although Eric can remember  very little of what happens when he shifts, other  than the euphoria. This 
suit does double duty as Terry in the pilot. 

Remy werewolf - darker brown fur, brownish-black skin.  This suit seems  to be the same one used 
whenever a  "third" werewolf  was needed - the suit is first seen in Let Us Prey,  and the only time Remy  
shifts in To Dream Of Wolves.  It is hard to tell this  suit from  Eric's at a glance.  Remy himself seems to  
shift  partially when angry. Remy can force other weres to shift. Shifting  seems  to fall into two categories 
- "called"  in  which there is much foreshadowing of the shift, including the pentagram, without any 
causative trauma;  and, "self-induced" in which either there  has  been major trauma (being shot,  for  
example)  or  the desire  to  shift  -  these are  not always accompanied  by  the pentagram-blister in the 
palm. Terry (Eric's roomate in the pilot), Skorzeny, and Eric himself all have foreknowledge  of shifting 
at times ("called"), while Skorzeny, Eric, Remy, Brother Mark, Michelle, Grey Wolf, Marta, and Diane all 
can also control their shifts ("self- induced").

The appearing werewolves, in order of "birth"

ZORA PACK
 Grey Wolf (Head of Bloodline? Apparently last member, several thousand
            years old if he is to be believed)

HOWARD PACK
 Nicholas Remy (several centuries old)
     Diane
     Janos Skorzeny (300-400 years old)
          Mary Peterson (around a century old)
          Terry
               Eric Cord
                    Bobby [possible?] - THE BOY WHO CRIED WEREWOLF big daddy's girl
          Brother Mark
          Michelle
          Renfield
          Hank (May have been bitten by a were other than Skorzeny) [unknown]

PACK
 Marta (Head of bloodline)
     Servan Dumball
     the 'father' in the Braine Hotel


A bit of fun.
Costuming

If you ever get a chance, stop by Verdun Manor in Forney, Texas and look at the creations there... 
Ysengrin has constructed some really incredible werewolf suits. There are also others interested in 
costuming, as this list of costuming suppliers shows: 

Cinema Secrets
4400 Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505
818-846-0579

Ben Nye Corporation
5930 Bowcraft Street
Los Angeles, CA 90016
213-839-1984

Cinemagic, Inc.
7492 Republic Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
407-351-3330

Bill's Trick Shop
6217 West 79th Street
Burbank, IL 60459
708-599-4949

Alcone Paramount Company
5-49 49th Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-361-8373

I get dental supplies from Burman Ind.  you know for making those really convincing canine tooth caps.
Caution dental monomers require lots of ventilation. Burman Industries, Inc. 14141 Covello Street, Suite 
6-A Van Nuys, CA 91405 818 782-9833 *Fax 818 782-2863 I just write and request catalogs. 

Alcone Company
(718)361-8373

Burman Industries
(818)782-9833

Cinefex (magazine)
(909)781-1917

Cinema FX
9818)765-4995

National Hair Technologies   (I'd think this ones kinda needed) (508)6862964

Special Effects Supply Co.
(801)298-9762

Makeup & Effects Lab
(818)982-1483

Polytek Developement
(908)534-5990

Sword & Stone
(818)562-6548
Quantel,inc
(203)656-3100

All of these are in the U.S.

You may want to get the July 1994 of Fangoria #134 which boasts "wall to wall werewolves"(Awsome 
cover!) You can back order from an order form in the back of thier issues. It can be obtained by ordering it 
from this address.

NorthWind here,
       Was cruising around because I was bored and happened upon this web page for a company called 
Bone Clones. I'll paste some text from their page:

"BONE CLONES(TM) is a series of skulls skillfully cast from the best 
 original skulls available for each of the animals depicted. The materials 
 of the finished skulls are of the highest quality resin, to capture the
 best original detail and to make them resistant to chipping and breakage." 

"Kronen Osteo's BONE CLONES(TM) skulls are used in comparative educational
 environments, at zoo and museum "experience" exhibits, by collectors, and 
 have been used by special-effects companies in numerous film productions,
 including 'Congo'."

      So basically they make casts out of actual animal bones and you get  an exact replica. Some of the 
animals that they have include a Siberian  Wolf,Maned Wolf,St.Bernard,Great Dane,Cougar,Siberian 
Tiger,Grizzly Bear, Clouded Leopard and some odds and ends like Lion and Tiger teeth. They 
 even have Human skull casts. The extinct animal cast collection they have is also very interesting.
 It includes a Dire Wolf,Sabertooth Cat,Tasmanian Wolf,American Lion and they just added Dinictus,a 60 
million year old fossil. The prices range from $150 to $350. Most of the ones I listed are $150-160. In 
other words,pretty cheap. Definitely check out their web page for prices and pictures.

                        http://www.carmelnet.com/bones/

And to complete that costume, you need genetalia! For male ones, try:
www.forest.com/actaeon/. you can get horse ones and prolly wolf ones too...in that rubber jelly stuff... 
soft, medium or firm.

What do I do if I meet a werewolf?

Count yourself lucky; you may the only one who has seen one in the flesh. :) Just in case, we have a handy 
guide for you:

Howls to the cyberpack! Graham and I were contemplating what a potential victim of a Werewolf might 
do to escape being a late night snack. Feel free to add any new ideas you might have. Enjoy!

1) throw a stick and shout fetch.
2) HOWL! Confuse the bugger.
3) Don't be there.
4) Be kind and nice to all canines, you should be anyway.
5) Don't be a vampire.
6) Don't be human.
7) Definitely don't be a cat.
8) Throw a Frisbee.
9) Be a Wereskunk.
10) Rub the Werewolf's belly and hope for a leg response.
11) Always carry some fresh meat to distract the beast so you can get away.
12) Give the Werewolf a very large, gravy coated, rawhide, chew toy.
13) Point one direction and say "Look it's Elvis!" and run the opposite way.

* Respect their territory. :)
* DON'T TELL ANYONE as a) they'll think you're a nutter and/or b) they'll dissect the poor fella...
* Windigowak: Point in the direction of the nearest well-stocked meat locker (it's nice and cool, and 
there's LOTS of food :).
* Remember who's the boss in the situation. (It ain't you. :)
* ASk them (if they shift to homid form) if lycanthropy is contagious (and if so, would they be so kind as 
to give you a little nip? :)

Top 10 reasons weres make good pets

10. Needs no pet license, walkies, or litter box
 9. Sensitive friends unlikely to be allergic to werewolf
 8. Werewolf can get outside job and pay part of rent
 7. No special bedding required, unlike vampire
 6. A good conversation starter at parties
 5. Weapons carried by typical burglar ineffective
 4. As long as you have neighbors, no need to worry about feeding
 3. Easy to fool landlords who have a "no pets" policy
 2. If landlord not fooled, werewolf can eat landlord
 1. Never lose annual "Biggest Dog in Town" contest again

Top 10 reasons weres make poor pets

10.) The mailman is afraid to deliver.
 9.) Keeps throwing out your silver jewellery.
 8.) The shower drain is ALWAYS clogging with hair.
 7.) Uses a whole bottle of conditioner to "de-tangle" after a full moon romp.
 6.) Invites the pack over on Friday nights and they drink all your beer.
 5.) The 6 month freezer order of meat is always gone in 2 weeks.
 4.) Hogs the T.V. to watch nature documentaries.
 3.) Howls in his/her sleep.
 2.) Always gets blamed when the neighbor's cat disappears.
 1.) KEEPS HOGGING THE COMPUTER TO LOG IN TO A.H.W.!!!


The Lexicon
Words from the Spring Thaw Howl -- Werebear

At the recent Spring Thaw Howl, there were a number of words that were introduced into the vocabularies 
of the folks there.  They came from a number of sources, and have even begun to show up in various posts 
here on Alt.Horror.Werewolves.  I was asked by many of the weres who were at the howl to write up this 
lexicon and post it. 

Now, so that there can be a reduced level of confusion . . . here are the words and their meanings.  If there 
are any that I have forgotten, or that were given an improper definition, please e-mail me so that I may 
correct them. 

The format is simple.  A pronunciation guide, usage, definition, and an example sentence.

MAD \MAD\ adj: wild, passionate "They were _mad scrumpin_"

MUNG \MUHng - to rhyme with dung\ adj: any material which cannot be
     identified.  Usually a liquid, or semi-liquid.  "When we added
     water to the dried remains of Kat's chili, it became a foul
     mung."

SCRUMPIN \SCRUMPIN - to rhyme with pumpin\ a.) v: to engage in sexual
     intercourse.  "No one wanted to go near the tent for fear
     that they would interrupt _mad scrumpin_." b.) An alcoholic
     beverage often served in England.  Often called, "nicking apples"
     "Mind if I have some scrumpin?"

     Scrumpin requires 2 editorial footnotes.  It's most common usage
     is using the adjective mad, simply because sex is frequently
     impassioned, and therefore often mad -- it is almost never seen
     without mad, in fact.

     I was recently introduced to a usage of the word that I was
     unfamiliar with, namely b.) and therefore it caused a moment of
     confusion. On IRC one evening, one of the participants was offering
     "Scrumpin" to anyone who wanted it.  Several of the folks on the
     channel cheerily accepted it.  I was appalled. Scrumpin in public?  I 
     stated as much, and was soon informed that Scrumpin is an alcholic 
     drink, often served in England.  The slang for it there is, "nicking 
     apples."
     Needless to say, that confusion was quickly cleared up.  The use of
     mad to describe a.) is a good indicator of which the writer means.

SPOOGE \SPOOJ\ a.) n.: upchuck, vomit, hurl, the technicolor yawn,
     selling Buicks to Ralph.  "I'm gonna spooge!"  b.) slang. to
     ejaculate.
     "I'm gonna spooge!"

     Another editorial note here.  Spooge is NOT a romantic word.
     In it's b.) incarnation it is VERY unromantic, and generally
     reserved for use in the locker room.

TWEE \TWEE -- to rhyme with gee\ adj: _irish slang_ feminine,
     delicate. "You are a twee little bastard!"

     The final editorial note is reserved for this word.  It is VERY
     unkind to call a male twee unless you REALLY mean it.  Even if
     someone has NO clue what the word means . . . it SOUNDS feminine.
     It is one of the few words that one can figure out the meaning
     PURELY from it's sound.

Well, there they are.  I hope they provided some enlightenment.

I'm certain that future howls and special events will add to this list, and when they do, your faithful 
lexiconographer will be there to compile them.

Odds and Ends
How can I change into a were?

The group has collected a number of ways, outlined in legend and literature, held to effect the Change. 
There are no guarantees that any of this will work... especially if your heart's not really in it. Some of 
them are downright bizarre, and a couple possibly dangerous: Swim at your own risk. 

There are quite a few different legends and theories on how one becomes a werewolf; at least as many as 
there are different werewolf legends-and almost every country in the world has some sort of shape-
changing myth. Most of them, predictably, involve demonic possession or enchantment via witchcraft. 
Note: This section uses wolves as an example.  Any other animal may be substituted, however.

  Be called by the wolf spirit.
  Transformation by the Gods (also appears in Greek myth of Lycan, hence the term "lycanthrope".) 
  Have a vision of the wolf spirit on a dream-quest.
  Have a Dreaming that one is a wolf or running with wolves. 
  Have a dream of the wolf spirit.  
  Perform a ritual taught by one's animal spirit. 
  Be cursed by a shaman. 
  Perform a ritual invoking the wolf spirit. (There is a similar ritual in Khaos Magick involving 
hunting dogs where one mentally becomes a dog)
  Get bitten by a werewolf.
  Wear the enchanted skin of a dead wolf or werewolf.
  Drink water from a wolf's footprint.
  Eat dust from a wolf's footprint.
  Drink water from certain springs, especially in the Harz Mountains in Germany.
  Drink downstream from wolves.
  Possess and wear a moonstone (supposedly not all would do it, perhaps an extra enchantment was 
required?)
  Eat a wolf's brain.
  Sleep outside on a Friday night when the light of a full moon can shine on your face while you sleep. 
This one seems to have originated in Italy.
  The 7th of 7 consecutive daughters was supposed to carry the werewolf strain (from Germany).
  Pluck and wear a rare white marsh flower (the flower's name is supposedly lost, but this method 
comes from the Balkans so it is probably a species that either grows or grew there).
  Children born on the winter solstice or Christmas eve supposedly had a good chance of becoming a 
werewolf when puberty was reached.
  Get cursed by a powerful witch or wizard or god (eg Zeus doing so to Lycaon).
  Have sex with a werewolf and survive.  (This is one of those methods that I believe is a recent 
addition, but many werewolves seem to vouch for it as being valid. I wonder why? ;-)
  Participate in the rituals of a secret society, such as one among the Nootka Sound natives.
  In shamanistic ritual, gain the wolf as your totem animal (or guardian or familiar or whatever applies 
to the tradition in question) and from this the ability to assume its form. This method would also 
proably include those who gain such a spirit through meditation or dreams.  This is the source for 
many "spiritual werewolves".
 
I found this stuff while browsing our university and couldn't resist sharing it with you, although most of 
you old wolves already know this trivia. The source is A.Wuttke: "Der Deutsche Volks- und Aberglaube 
der Genwart", published in 1925, and I'll translate a part dealing with belts rumored to enable their 
wearers to change. It is, as the rest of the book, a compilation of several German folklore sources.

  "People (men, women, even boys) change, mostly just for several hours, into wolves by wearing a 
wolfbelt on the naked body (sometimes also on clothes).  [this belt is made of] wolf's leather or human 
skin, especially the skin of a hanged man, often adorned with the zodiac, and with seven tongues on the 
buckle [which must be put] into the ninth hole; if they want to return to their human form, they open the  
buckle."
  
 Phew, I don't think I got the translation quite right. But those intent on manufacturing such a belt should 
have gotten the picture on how it is supposed to look like.

 And when you're trying this at home, don't forget: one hit to your  belly'd loosen the belt and leave you 
reverted and stark naked.
-Holger

Dementia

There are medical cases of dementia in which the victim believes he or she is a werewolf; and a disease 
called congenital porphyria whose symptoms are very similar to those ascribed to lycanthropy. Science 
seems to be catching up with it: 

The following appeared in the London "Times" newspaper, Wednesday 31
May 1995.

Scientists hunt down the "wolfman" gene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

[by our science correspondent]
"Scientists have pinpointed the gene responsible for "Werewolf" syndrome, an extremely rare genetic 
condition in which patients are covered in dense hair. A team from Texas, which studied a family of 
Mexicans suffering from congenital generalised hypertrichosis, say that the precise identification of the 
gene could provide useful information about the normal distribution of human hair, and could eventually 
have significant application in the treatment of baldness. 

 Many of the victims of the condition have spent their lives performing in circuses. Four years ago, two 
Mexican boys aged 9 and 14 were banned from appearing in a circus in Blackpool after protests from 
child welfare groups.

There have been only about 50 known cases since the Middle ages. The  scientists report in "Nature 
genetics" that they have isolated the gene responsible to the X chromosome. Members of the Mexican 
family volunteered to provide tissue samples, from which the rough position of the gene was identified".

Ergot
By MegaDog and his brother (who has a BS in Organic Chemistry)]

How many of you ever thought of your local bakery as a possible source of werewolf beliefs? Or of 
hallucinogenic drugs?

In medieval times, it could have been both.

Ergot [Claviceps purpurea] is a parasitic fungus that can be found growing on rye or other cereal grasses. 
Rye grass is by far the most widespread species parasitized, though wheat and barley are also commonly 
affected. The 'ergots' appear as a blackish-purple club- shaped growth [sclerotia] on the tops of the rye 
where the seeds are, and are referred to as "heads of ergot"; from these heads sprout the Claviceps 
purpurea fungal fruiting bodies. They have long stems with bulbous heads when seen under a strong glass 
or microscope. See reference [1] for more information.

Ergot naturally produces a wide range of chemical compounds, the ones of relevance here are collectively 
known as the "Ergot Alkaloids", and include ergotamine, ergosine and beta-ergosine, ergonine, 
ergovaline, ergostine, ergotine and beta-ergotine, ergocornine, ergocristine, ergocryptine and beta-
ergocryptine. These compounds all have some degree of psychoactivity; indeed LSD was first synthesized 
from ergot compounds. Their other major medical effect is vasoconstriction [narrowing of blood vessels], 
which, if severe, can lead to gangrene of the extremities. Ergotamine has medical uses; for example it is 
frequently prescribed [often in combination with caffeine] as a therapy for migraine headaches.

Ergot was a widespread parasite of cereal grains in europe in the  middle-ages, growing particularly well 
during excessively damp summers. The psychoactive components of ergot are *not* broken down by heat, 
so it is fair to assume that they would be present in bread baked from flour milled from ergotized grains. 
There was a significant outbreak of ergot-poisoning in France in the early 1950's; this outbreak gives a 
good insight into what may have been experienced in medieval times. 

Symptoms of ergot poisoning include hallucinations [the 1950's French victims reported 'being chased or 
attacked by horrible beasts', 'terror of the dark', and 'feeling that my body was not mine'] together with 
tingling/burning sensations in the extremities & the scalp. These tingling sensations were known in 
medieval times as "St. Anthony's Fire", after the saint to whom sufferers prayed for relief.

It is not hard to imagine how an outbreak of ergot-poisoning, or, IMHO, more likely, an ongoing low level 
of ergotisation, could lead to the development of a werewolf-legend, the 'pursuit by horrible beasts' 
hallucination being probably the most likely cause, however the 'tingling & loss of sensation in the 
extremities' effect could possibly have been interpreted as shapeshifting? For those interested in more 
detail of such things, see references [2] and [3].

WARNING
~~~~~~~~~
If any of you are thinking of experimenting  with Ergot at home, I would discourage this most strongly! 
To back this up, here is an abstract from a medical toxicology file I just happened to have to hand....

Ergotamine:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Acute effects:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.

Exposure can cause:
      Nausea, dizziness and headache, stomach pains, vomiting,
diarrhea.

Other symptoms include:
        Thirst, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, tingling
in the extremities and confusion.

Chronic effects:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Oxytocic; in pregnant women may result in abortion or fetal
harm.

Can cause menstrual dysfunction and sterility.

Other effects include peripheral circulatory disturbances and
gangrene. Possible mutagen.


References:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[1]     "Collins Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools" by Morten Lange and F. Bayard Hora.  1978
Description of characteristics of ergot, its distribution & life cycle.

[2]     Fuller, John Grant,_The Day of St Anthonys Fire_, NY: Macmillan, 1968. This is a look at 
outbreaks of hallucinations and other bizarre behavior believed to have been caused by ergot infections.

[3]     Matossian, Mary Kilbourne, _Poisons of the Past: Molds, Epidemics & History_, New Haven: Yale 
Univ Press, 1989. This book covers more ground, from the Middle Ages to witchcraft scares in Europe. 
She has charts, maps and graphs to illustrate her findings.

How can I exorcise a were?
-Rich A.K.A. Trafalgar of #ahww

    All this time we have been talking about how one may become a werewolf....I am going to take a walk 
on the flip side of things for a bit. But before we get going, I must make the following statement:
           
         [[[WARNING]] In NO WAY, shape form or manner shall I claim resposibility for what 
information follows, especially if you edeavor to persue this interest. The following post covers potentialy 
disturbing material and can and will cause physical harm. Caveat emptor, Your mileage may vary, and 
return your seats to their normal upright position....some material has been changed to protect the 
innocent. You have been warned.

          That said and done, let's get to the meat. [Pulling a dusty volume from the shelf and paging 
through]
                                    
Common means for exorcising a werewolf:

     A common thread among all exorcisms is that the person is believed to be possesed of some malevolent 
spirit. So many folks employ the use of some sort of potion and or prayer, or spinkling of holy water, and 
calling the person by their given Christian name.....[Looking up from the volume] Boring!

     Here's one from legend.. "Cast a circle of 9 feet, and a smaller one only 4 feet in diameter. Place a 
series of candles at equal intervals, and place a wooden altar in the south. Within the inner circle, place 
the werewolf....(you are on your own to figure out how to get a hold of him/her) Build a small fire exactly 
opposite of the altar, and 1 1/2 foot away from the inner circle. Place a pot over the fire, containing 2 pints 
of clear water.

     To this add:
          1/2 oz. camphor
          3/4 oz. ammonia
          1/2 oz. hypericum
          2 drachms sulfur
          1/2 oz castorium
          6 drachms opium (!)
          3 drachms asafoetida
*(!)* [Higly illegal, and potentially lethal]

     Mix thoroughly and then add a portion of mandrake root, 1 live snake, 2 live toads in a linen bag, and 
a fungus. (Guess any kind will do...mushrooms, that old pizza that needs a shave that has been in the 
'fridge for an epoch) Bind togehter with red ribbon a wand of three sprigs, each from ash, white popular, 
and birch. (The magickal connotations could easily fill a volume, so I will refrain from explaining) [At 
this point it would be wise to employ the services of your D.O.C.] When the toads cry out from being 
immersed in the now boiling water, the mixture is ready. Take a cupfull of the searing liquid and douse 
the werewolf, as well as lashing him/her with the wand....exclaiming "Foul spirit release this persons' 
soul, return to the great unknown!"  Repeat 3 times." (Lather, rinse, repeat..;) )

     Some forms of expulsion use a boiling mixture of baneful materials, tar, and sulfur. If that does not get 
rid of a werewolf, it will certainly rid one of their hide.

          That was legend....

   Now What follows is mostly theory, and have yet to prove any of it. Look in any dictionary, Look for the 
word lycanthropy. Most likely you will find the same I have. The Greater Webster Encyclopedic 
Dictionary has this entry : "A kind of insanity in which the patient supposes himself to be a wolf." Go 
ahead, take a look, you may have an entry that sounds a lot like that too.

     Lycanthropy *seems* to fall into several categories... "Infective Lycanthropy": The Hollywood version 
of the werewolf. This creature goes about, with an insatiable appetite for human flesh, and those that 
survive the attack become werewolves themselves. Basically, place your favorite story here. If there is an 
infectious vector, it has yet to be discovered.

"Wolfen": Probably the most dangerous phenotype there is. The lycanthropic condition is cause by some 
demonic expression of a creature through a host body. Outward shapes/manifestations vary, but usualy the
creature takes the form of a highly feared creature, and can be an expression of a deeply rooted fear or 
phobia. It can be placed either by magickal rite or curse...and similarly dispelled. Because of the 
supernatural nature of the creature, it is quite possible for the creatue to perfom amazing feats of strength 
and literally be bound by no known physical laws. (ie. changing to mist, and slipping through a crack 
under the door) 

"Inherent Lycanthropy": Most likely the most common form of lycanthropy. In this case the "condition" 
seems to be hereditary. Passed on from generation to generation, and sometimes skipping one, it manifests
itself after the person reaches puberty. Sometimes it is not a full blown case and certain behaviors are the 
only clues that this person may be an inherent. Most of the time it is the poor soul who gets locked away 
because he imagines himself to be a wild ravening creature, or wanders aimlessly, imitating the actions of 
the creature. 

"Astral Lycanthropy": Perhaps the most misunderstood form of all. It is not the physical manifestation of 
a creature, nor is it a mental condition, but rather more akin to the Dream quests that a shaman may take. 
It is believed that the spirit of a person projects apart from the body, and takes the shape of one's totem 
animal/spirit. This is the most freeform of all shifters, because it is only limited to the imagination of the 
individuals mind.

"Magickal Lycanthropy": Like wolfen it entails the use of powers from outside one's self. But in this case 
the ability to shift forms is brought on by the use of elemental forces, or allowing one to be taken over by 
an entity... voluntarily. And although different regions tell different stories, they all have a common 
thread. Like the "rite of exorcism" depicted above..... Except the wording is different. All involved baneful 
materials, a clearing of some sort, and a chant.

     Some are quite simple, like sleeping under the full moon on a friday night....drinking blood or water 
from a wolf's footprint....drinking from a river know to be frequented by wolves....

                   But by far the most interesting....
        "The History Of Magick" -By Paul Christian 1870 A.D.
                              Book II
     pp.450-451
     "....Little can be reliably written on Voodoo, the African magick,
and the reader must be referred to the few works that exist. One aspect
of it however links with similar phenomena reported elsewhere and is
worth note. West Africa has a number of animals said in different
disrticts to be were or *wir*, that is to be a demon or human elementary
transformations: there are the weretiger, the werejaguar and the
werealigator. Now India also has a weretiger, and in Australia amongst
certian tribes is the weredingo. In America there is the werecyote, and
in Europe the evidence for the werewolf....."

     It goes on to say "Ancient Egypt is said to have a werejackal, and nearer home the werecat is reported 
from Scotland".
                        

What are "furries"?		

A lot of participants of AHWW consider themselves "furries". What, exactly, is a "furry"? Well, let's take 
a look at what the FAQ for alt.fan.furry has to say: (thanx to lynx@netcom.com for permission to use this 
text)

* WHAT IS "ALT.FAN.FURRY"?

 Alt.fan.furry is a newsgroup devoted to the discussion of all things "furry" and/or of interest to "furry 
fans".  Of course, tangential discussions occasionally get into things that are very far from being distinctly 
"furry", such as copyrights, cellular radios, meks...  =)

* WHAT IS A "FURRY"?

 "Furry" when used as a noun seems to refer to one of two things:
     a) An animal-like character known as a "furry"
     b) A person who is a "furry fan"

 The latter is easy enough (knock on wood) to define:  A person who particularly enjoys stories, pictures, 
dolls, video games or whatever concerning "furry" creatures.  Defining a "furry" creature is somewhat 
harder, though. There are several definitions depending upon which "camp" in furrydom, for lack of a 
better term, you might be in. 

 The basic definition for a "furry" is an anthropomorphized animal character. In other words, an animal 
character given human-like attributes, such as sapience and often a humanoid form.  The term "furry" is a 
misnomer, as a creature does not need to have fur to be "furry" in this sense. Other terms sometimes   
interchangeable with a "furry" in this sense are "zoomorph", "morph", "anthropomorph" or (debatably)  
funny animal". 

 The core definition of a "furry" seems to include basically humanoid- formed creatures with animal faces, 
fur/scale/feathers/whatever, and often appropriate tails, wings, claws, etc., able to speak, and with a  
human-like personality, though quite often with "quirks" hinting at the real-life animal upon which the 
character is based. 

 A broader definition will sometimes include other odd creatures that simply have some sort of animal 
features in their makeup.  Such would include mythical creatures such as centaurs, manticores, satyrs or
harpies, all of which have human faces though more-or-less animal-like bodies. This broader definition 
might also include the human-like characters that appear in some Japanese animation that have an animal
tail and ears, but otherwise look about as human as any other anime character.

 One of the narrower definitions held by some is that in order for a character to be truly considered  furry", 
the character must exhibit animal-like characteristics in behavior.  Optionally, the fact that the character 
is an "animal" must be a major ingredient to the story. This is exhibited in a frequent criticism of "furry" 
stories by those who hold this view: Many stories, while featuring characters fitting the core definition of 
"furry" given earlier are criticized as being "humans in animal suits" if their behavior isn't distinctly 
animal-like in some way. 

Not all AHWWers are furries, as well... but who can resist a good convention? *grin*

What are some other names for weres?

Here are some terms for werewolves in languages and cultures other
than english/american... This list is obviously far from complete, and I welcome any input..

werewolf-            English
werwolf-             German
Loup Garou-          French
Oberroten-           Russian
WeerWolf-            Dutch
Varulv-              Swedish
Mactire-             Irish (pronounced Mactira)
Okami Otoko-         Japenese
Shungmanitu Wicasa- Native American (one who is wolf)

This is a list of some of the names by which my clan (wendigo) goes in the Northeastern American 
continent. I thought it might be fun to share:

weendigo        weeghtako       weeghteko       weendago        weendegoag
weendigo        weetego         weetigo         wee tee go      wehndigo
wehtigo         wendago         wendigo         wenigo          wightigo
wiitiko         windago         windagoe        windagoo        windego
wi'ndigo        windikouk       wintego         wintigo         wi'ntsigo
wintsigo        wi'tigo         witigo          witiko          wittako
and wittikka
    and then there are some that ignore the `w' sound altogether...
atcen           atschen         sheno           djenu           kokodhem
outiko          and vinkiko

Werecode

WereCode v.0.5
Compiled by Blackfang [kirchfa@azstarnet.com]

Based on the Furry Code by Ross Smith [alien@netlink.co.nz]

General Modifiers

These symbols can be attatched to any of the standard codes (unless indicated otherwise)
to indicate some unusual or uncertain factor.

x?: You havne't decided where you fall in the category, but you know you're in there somewhere.
  This replaces the normal suffix, i.e., S?
x~: An apporximation. Used when you don't feel the given choices adequately describe you.
x/: You fit more than one of the categories or choices given.
!x: Indicates a positive refusal to take part in the category. Unlike x?, which means you aren't
  certain, this means you _are_ certain you want to have nothing to do with it.
x]: Indicates that you want to change your standing in this category. The part on the left is
  your current status; the part on the right (the "lesser than" side) is the category you'd
  like to be in. 
x$: Use this code if this is what you do in real life. It doesn't have to be your only source
  of income, just a signifigant one.
x#: This is none of your business. Use in place of the normal suffix when you want to keep the
  information to yourself.


The Codes

P - Phenotype
Your wereside. What species are you?

Pc: Canine (wolf, dog)
Pv: Vulpine (fox)
Pf: Feline (cats)
Pi: Insectoid
Pr: Reptilian
Pa: Avian (birds)
Pu: Ursine (bears)
Pp: Pinniped (seals)
Pm: Mythical beastie

P?: I don't know what species my wereside is.
!P: I don't have a wereside.
If you have more than one equally dominant wereside, you can separate them with a slash. If you have 
more than one wereside with one more dominant than the other(s), seperate them by hyphens. For 
example: Somewere with an equaly prominent wolf and snow leapord side would use Pc/f. Somewere with 
a dominant seal side and a less dominant jaguar side would use Pp-f.

T - Transformation
What kind of transformations do you experience?

Tsx represents a spiritual or mental shift.
Tpx represents a physical shift.
Choose x from the following code:

su: Aura shifting. Assuming phenotype energy, resulting in a animal mood. Behavior and senses may be 
affected in a general sense.
sm: Mental shifting. Like an Aural shift, but generally much deeper. The wereside is more or less entirely 
in control.
sa: Astral shfting. Your shift involves going into the Astral plane.
sd: Dream shifting. You *are* your phenotype (or another phenotype) in a dream, or you change into an 
animal form.
ss: Spiritual shift. A "totemistic" shift: that is, an external spirit is channeled into your body.

pm: "Molecular shift." All or part of you body is instantaneously changed into an animal form.
pc: "Classic shift." All or part of your body gradually "morphs" into an animal form.
pb: "Biolocational shift." Your human body becomes comatose as an animal materialzes elsewhere.
pk: Magickal shift. The shift is brought on by some sort of magickal (ritual) means.
pp: Possesion shift. You send out your spirit to take possesion of or ride along with a real, live animal.

Degree of transformation. Use the largest shift you've experienced.
T++++: I've become the animal 100%. If the transformation is physical, I am physically indistinguishable 
from an animal of the same type.
T+++: A strong mix between human and animal, with emphasis on the animal: the classical mediaeval 
werewolf archeytpe.
T++: A mix between human and animal. Mostly human, but with some very definite animal 
features/characteristics.
T+: If I have any animal features, they're very slight (maybe thicker hair or longer canine teeth). My 
personality/senses may also have some animal quailty: a tendency to growl or bark, etc.
T: The shift only affects me emotionally. No detectable physical changes or any major changes in my 
behavior.
T-: No one else would have been able to tell that I had shifted.
T--: I'm not even sure it happened. I know its in me, but its buried deep....

T?: I don't know what kind of shifts I've had.
!T: I've never shifted.
T#: Its none of your business what kind of shifts I've had.
T(sx/px)&: Indicates that the shift was involuntary and unplanned.
If you experience more than one of these, connect them with hyphens.
If you experience both spiritual/mental shifts and physical shifts,
use the format Tsx|px. (That looks like an l on my console, but its
really one of those vertical line thingies above the slash.
For example, a were who had shifted spiritually and in dreams, and
physically once, might use Tss&/sd++++|pb+.

A - Art
Many weres like to express their weresides by drawing, especially art
with weres or animals.

A++++: Art is my life.
A+++: My art appears regularly in zines and elsewhere, and people ask me to
  contribute to their sketchbooks.
A++: I have pictures in reasonably well-known zines.
A+: I draw regularly, and someone once said something that could be construed
  as a compliment.
A: I've shown one or two of my pictures to others, and they actually didn't
  throw up.
A-: Tried a few sketches in the privacy of my own home.
A--: Never tried.
A---: Never tried, never will.

F - Fursuits
What would it take to get you into a fursuit?

F++++: I've made plans to be buried in a fursuit.
F+++: I'll wear a fursuit at any opportunity, whether or not costumes are expected.
F++: I'll wear a fursuit anywhere costumes are uncommon.
F+: I'll wear a fursuit anywhere costumes are expected.
F: I might wear one.
F-: I'd wear one, but only if I really had to.
F--: Are you kidding? No way I'd wear one of those things.

Add an m after the F if you've made your own fursuit.

H - Howls
How often do you go to Howls?

H+++: I lost count of the number of Howls I've been to. Organized at least one.
H++: Been to many Howls, and plan to go to more.
H+: Been to at least on Howl, and plan to go to more.
H: Never been to one, but I plan to go to one in the near future.
H-: Never been to a Howl, but I'd like to.
H--: Not really interested.
H---: No way in Hel I'd go to one of those things.

H*: I'd like to go to one, but for one reason or another its impossible.

L - Legends
How close do you come to the "traditional" werewolf myth?

L+++: Thick hair, sharp canines, can't touch silver: I've got it all.
L++: When moonlight makes me want to go down on all fours and howl, I do.
L+: I feel the occasional urge to eat raw meat. :9
L: Never really noticed.
L-: Nothing about me matches the legends.
L--: I make a point of avoiding were "stereotypes."

R - Religion
Rx: Choose x from the list below:

Rb: Buddhist
Rc: Christian
Rh: Hindu
Ri: Shinto(ist?)
Rj: Jewish
Rm: Muslim
Rn: Native American
Rp: Pagan (non-Wiccan)
Rs: Shamanist
Rw: Wiccan

Degree:
R+++: There is nothing more important to me than religion. I observe all holidays and 
services...well...religiously.
R++: Religion is very important to me. I arrange my life, at least in part, around religious 
services/observances.
R+: Religion is fairly important. I try to attend services regularly.
R: I go to synagogue/mosque/church on occasion.
R-: I might go to church on Christmas or Easter.
R--: I only believe how I do because it's how I was raised.

R?: Agnostic
!R: Atheist
Place a tilde between R and the code letter to indicate uncertainy. If you've converted from one religion to 
another, you can put the letter of the orginal religion in parentheses after the current code number. Add w 
after the code if your belief system involves weres or other shapeshifters in some way.
For instance, my code would be Rw(j)~w+

(Use *s instead of +s if you volunterr regularly for some religious  organization; if you get paid for it, of 
course, use the $ code.)

S - Shapechanging IRL
If you had the chance to physically become your phenotype, would you do it?

S++++: "All this is going to cost me is $1,000,000, my dog, and my firstborn child? Where do I sign?"
S+++: Probably, but I'd have to think about it first.
S++: Only if its reversible.
S+: Maybe, but I'm not going to be the first guinea pig (or what have you... ;D)
S: I'd have to consider it carefully.
S-: Thanks but no thanks. I'm happy with my body the way it is.
S--: Un-uh. Not for me. No way.

 W - Writing
Have you ever written anything of note? If so, was it were-related?

W++++: Stephen King is an amateur.
W+++: I've sold a full-length book.
W++: I've sold something to a _real_ magazine. ;D
W+: I've sold something to a fanzine.
W: I've written a story or two that nobody else has read.
W-: I have a few rough outlines, but nobody will ever see them.
W--: Never written a word of fiction (IRS forms excepted).
W---: I'm illiterate.

(Use *s instead of +s if your story(ies) or book(s) are not were-related.)
                                                
rl - Real Life occupation
Unless you're some sort of aboriginal hunter-gatherer (or living at home), you probably have to work for a 
living. If so, what do you do?

rla: Art
rlbm: Business/management
rlc: Craft
rlci: Construction industry
rlct: Computers/imformation technology
rle: Engineering
rlet: Education/teaching
rlf: Farming
rlfb: Finance/banking
rlgp: Government/public service
rll: Law
rllw: Literature/writing
rlm: Music
rlma: Military/armed forces
rlmc: Media/communications
rlmh: Medicine (non veterinary)
rlrb: Retail business
rls: Science
rlth: Theater
rlti: Transport industry
rlvm: Veterinary medicine

rlat: Were-of-all-trades
rlu: Undecided (generally used by students who haven't picked a major yet)
rl-: No qualifications, no job. Life is good.

Add * after the code if you're trained in this field, but haven't actually
found someone who's willing to pay you to do it yet.

a - Age
Pretty straightforward, really. How old are you?

a++++: 60+ years
a+++: 45-59 years
a++: 35-44 years
a+: 25-34 years
a: 18-24 years
a-: 10-17
a--: Under 10 years

You can use a number instead of the codes to give your exact age (i.e., a22). You could also use a#, of 
course.

c - Computers
Just how familar are you with the centerpiece of the Information Revolution?

c++++: I'll be first in line to get a cybernetic interface installed in my skull!
c+++: RL? WTH is that?
c++: Computers are a big part of my life; I spend at least part of every day  in front of one; I've even tried 
a little programming.
c+: Computers are a fun toy. I can even use some software without resorting  to the manual.
c: Computers are really not much more than glorified typewriters, but they can still come in handy.
c-: I get nervous around anything more complicated than a toaster.
c--: Where's the on switch? Better yet, where's the off switch?
c---: They're taking over the world! Smash the machines! Up the Luddites!

If your rating is at least c, add one or more of the following letters just after the c to indicate your 
preferred operating environment:

a: amiga
b: BSD Unix
d: MS-DOS
l: linux
m: Macintosh
n: Win95/WinNT
o: OS/2
u: Unix (commercial)
v: VMS
w: Windows 3.x

d - Doom
Doom, Heretic, Hexen, Dark Forces, Duke Nukem 3D and the like are tremendously popular. What is it 
about running around with heavy-caliber weaponry shooting the crap out of everything in sight
that appeals to us? Or does that question answer itself?

d++++: I work for ID: bow before my might.
d+++: I can solve every level in Nightmare mode with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind by back. I 
make 3 or 4 WAD files a day.
d++: I'm pretty good at these games. I can beat most levels easily; I've even  played a couple of WADs I 
downloaded.
d+: Its a nice diversion on a lazy afternoon.
d: I've played some of these games; I must admit, I'm not that impressed.
d-: I've played these games, and to tell you the truth, I really don't like them at all.
d--: I miss Zork.
d---: Its exactly this kind of filth that's corrupting the moral fiber of today's youth. Why, back in my day...

e - Education
How far have you managed to crawl up the academic ladder?

e++++: Doctorate or the equivalent.
e+++: Master's degree or the equivalent.
e++: Bachelor's degree or the equivalent.
e+: Some tertiary education.
e: Finished High School.
e-: Haven't finished High School.
e--: Haven't started High School.

e*: Learned everything I know from The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Star Trek and Monty Python.
e**: Graduate of the School of Hard Knocks.

h - Relationships with other humans
How do feel about and get along with other humans?

h+++: Humans are the true masters of creation.
h++: Humans are responsible for most, if not all, that is good in the world.
h+: Without humans, the world would be worse off.
h: Humans are no greater or lesser than any other species.
h-: Without humans, the world would be better off.
h--: No other animal has caused so much destruction in the world.
h---: I'd rather be dead than be human.

i - Internet
The Internet and its various sub-media (usenet, e-mail, WWW, MUDs and MUCKs, IRC, FTP, and Gods 
know what else) have quickly become a leading medium of communication among more or less the entire
technologically aware universe. How deeply have you dived in?

i+++: I'm a Webmaster/site sysadmin
i++: I spend most of my free time surfing the Web, and chatting on IRC.
i+: I browse the world regularly, and use many of the other media as well.
i: I have browser and a connection...I think.
i-: Not connected.
i--: Nothing more than a flash in the pan.
i---: The Internet is a dangerous, subversive, perverted abomination that needs to be banned from the face 
of the earth. My preacher even told me so.

Add w after the i if you have your own homepage on the Web. Make it ww if your page at least mentions 
weres.

k - Number of weres you know
How many weres do you know or have you met IRL?

k+++: I live with one or more weres.
k++: I used to/am going to live with other weres or I know many weres.
k+: I know at least one other were well or several weres slightly.
k: I've never met anywere IRL in more than passing, if that.
k-: I've never met any weres IRL, and I don't think I will.
k--: You can just stay away from me, you weirdos.

l - Lifestyle
What kind of housing do you have?

l++++: Married and living with one or more kids (ack!).
l+++: Married or living with your SO on a long term basis.
l++: Living with one or more were roommates.
l+: Living with one or more non-were roommates.
l: Living alone.
l-: Living alone. Try to get out once a week to buy food; all surfaces covered in computers, old pizza boxes 
and old soda cans.
l--: Living in a yurt in outer Mongolia with nothing around for miles except my sattelite dish.

l*: Still living with my parents. :P
l**: I'm not really sure where I live...my workplace seems like home to me.
l***: Homeless.

n - Newsgroups
How involved are you in usenet newsgroups, especially AHWW?

n+++: RL has nothing on usenet...and if it did, there'd be a newsgroup about  it.
n++: Regular poster on many newsgroups; my next batch of posts come in before I finish my first batch.
n+: Regular poster on several newsgroups.
n: Regular poster on AHWW (or one other newsgroup).
n-: I read AHWW or some other newsgroup occasionally.
n--: One visit a month to usenet is a lot for me; I use Netscape for my news.
n---: I've forsworn all newsgroups forever.

(Use *s instead of +s if you don't read/post to AHWW).

p - Pets
If we can't get our species-change operations yet, we can at least get closer to animals by including them 
in our households.

p+++: I have a vast household of assorted furry/scaly/feathery creatures, and my life is organized to their 
benefit.
p++: Several pets.
p+: Two or three conventional pets, or one exotic one.
p: One conventional pet.
p-: No pets as of now, but I may enrich my life in the future
p--: I don't have any pets; my lifestlye/household/schedule doesn't allow for 'em. :(
p---: Filthy creatures! I won't have them in my house!

p*: I'd like to have pets, but my landlord/parents/roommates won't allow it.
p*: I'm allergic to animals.

(Use *s instead of +s if at least one of your pets is your phenotype)

r - Roleplaying games
How do you feel about Roleplaying games, especially White Wolf's Werewolf: The Apocalypse game?

r+++: When I need a break from roleplaying, I play at real life.
r++: Most of my free time is spent RPGing, and some of the time I should be  doing something else, as 
well.
r+: A wonderful thing to occupy a Saturday afternoon...and Sunday..and maybe  Monday...
r: It's something to do when there's nothing else to do.
r-: I might try it someday, but I'm not so hot on the idea.
r--: Role-players are sickos; there's no way I'd *ever* play them.
r---: RPGs are the works of Satan! Burn these tools of evil and corruption!

(use *s instead of +s if you LARP (Live Action Role-Play)

t - RL study of weres, etc.
How interested are you in werewolf (or other shapeshifter) legends from RL history or modern culture 
(movies, novels, etc.)

t+++: I'm a Professor of Lycanthropy at a major universtiy. :D
t++: I have an extensive library of were-related materials...which is actually  redundant, since I've 
memorized them all anyways.
t+: I have preorders for new were-related books half a month in advance.
t: I have a couple books or movies, and I've checked out more from the library/video store.
t-: I read a novel or two about weres, didn't like them that much.
t--: I'd rather read something interesting, thank you very much.
t---: Ick, no thank you. Boring!

w - How many humans know about your wereside?
So, to how many humans (i.e. non-weres) have you managed to explain
yourself to?

w+++: Everyone I know knows the truth about me.
w++: Most of my family/friends know, and they didn't even disown me  (entirely).
w+: I've told at least one person. I'd tell more, if only they'd listen...
w: I've never told anyone, but I could see it happening.
w-: Never told anyone, and I doubt I will.
w--: It would take a lot to make me tell someone.
w---: There's nothing in the whole wide world that would get me to tell something.

w*: I don't know anyone except weres.

s - Sex
Sx: Use this code to describe your your gender and sex life. 

sf: Female
sm: Male

s+++: There's more to life? What is it, and what equipment do you need?
s++: I was once referred to as "easy", but I have no idea where that might have come from.
s+: I've had real, live sex.
s: I've had sex...oh, you mean with someone else?
s-: Not having sex by choice.
s--: Not having sex because I can't get any.
s---: Not having sex because I'm a nun/priest.

s*: I'm married, so I can get it whenever I want (in theory, anyways...)
s**: Where do you *think* these kids came from, huh?

Megadog has some suggestions for codes as well:

P - PHENOTYPE 
Identifies what animal type you associate most strongly with.

        Select x from the following:-
                        c  - canine     (Dogs/wolves)
                        v  - vulpine    (Foxes)
                        f  - feline     (All cats)
                        i  - insectoid
                        r  - reptilian
                        ro - rodent     (mice, rats...)
                        a  - avian      (Birds)
                        o  - Ovine      (Sheep/goat) 
                        e  - equine     (Horses etc)
                        u  - ursine     (Bears)
                        p  - pinniped   (seals etc)
                        m  - mythical beast.
                        @  - Polymorph

T - TRANSFORMATION 
The first letter sx denotes spiritual/mental shift, whereas px denotes physical shifts.

                        s0 - Have yet to experience a Shift of any kind.

                        su - Aura Shifting. Assuming the animal energy,
                             resulting in a Wolfish (or other phenotype) 
                             mood. Behaviour and senses generally affected.

                        sm - Mental Shift. Generally a much deeper Shift 
                             than Aura Shifting. The Animal Side is more 
                             or less totally in control.

                        sa - Astral Shifting. The Shifter goes into the 
                             spiritworld (or astral plane) and Shifts there.

                        sd - Dream Shifting. The Shifter is a Wolf (or 
                             whatever animal) in their dreams, or where 
                             the Shifter changes physically in their 
                             dreams.

                        ss - Spiritual Shift. To those therianthropes who 
                             being a Shifter is a very spiritual thing, 
                             Mental Shift may be regarded as Spiritual.

                        pm - Molecular Shift. Instantaneous physical shift 
                             of the body.
 
                        pc - Classical Shift. The gradual metamorphosis 
                             from human to animal, that usually takes 
                             several minutes.

                        pb - Bilocational Shift. The body (usually) becomes 
                             comatose or in trance and a physical animal 
                             materializes, either in the vicinity or at some
                             distance.

                        pk - Magickal Shift. The transformation is 
                             accomplished through a magickal ritual of 
                             some kind.

                        pp - Possession Shift. The therianthrope send out 
                             his/her spirit to take possession of a real, 
                             live animal.

                        & - Sense Shift. This is used to denote that most, 
                            if not all Shifting is done involuntarily and 
                            that the therianthrope has no or little control
                            over it. It could be placed either after T 
                            (ex. T+++&) or after a particular Shift form 
                            (ex. T+su/sd&)

Degree of Shift: extent (or otherwise) of your shifts may be indicated by use of the + and - modifiers 
between the T and the physical/mental shift variables previously defined.

G - GENDER and ORIENTATION 
Since sex seems to be a preoccupation with some (all?) weres, this letter combination is used to identify 
your gender and personal sexuality or preferred sexual orientation(s). The importance of sex in your life 
can be indicated by use of the - or + qualifiers.

The first letter identifies your physical gender; choose from the following:

                        m  -    Male
                        f  -    Female
                        h  -    Hermaphrodite
                        0  -    Asexual/neuter

Your sexual orientation should be selected from the following:-

                        s  -    straight (heterosexual)
                        g  -    gay
                        b  -    bisexual
                        l  -    lesbian
                        o  -    omnisexual
                        z  -    zoosexual
                        c  -    celibate
                        v  -    virgin

The above can be combined, together with the + and - modifiers, for example if you're a sex-obsessed male 
gay zoophile you could put G+++mgz, whereas a  normally-sexed straight female virgin would be Gfsv.

R - RELIGION 
Identify your religion (or absence thereof) by selection from the following R-attributes:-

                        b  -    Buddhist
                        c  -    Christian (anyone who wants to try and make
                                 sublabels for all the denominations is 
                                 welcome to it....)
                        h  -    Hindu
                        i  -    Shinto
                        j  -    Jewish
                        m  -    Muslim
                        n  -    Native American [is this a religion?]
                        p  -    Pagan (non-Wiccan)
                        s  -    Shamanist
                        w  -    Wiccan
                        !  -    Atheist
                        ?  -    Agnostic

UnaSeal offers this list of Christian sub-demoninations:
ca- Catholic
eo- Eastern Orthodox
oo-Other Othodox
ba- Baptist
pb- Primative Baptist
sb- Southern Baptist
f- Fundamentalist (as a prefix)
mt- Methodist
ms- Missouri Synod Methodist
r- Reorganized, Reformed (as a prefix)
na- new age
ep- Episcopal
sd- Seventh Day Adventists
nd- non-denominational
a- Anglican (as prefix)
ame-African Methodist Episcopal
ac- Apostolic church
bbf-  Baptist Bible Fellowship
bfw- Free-Will Baptists
i- independent (as prefix)
bi- Bible Churches
br- Bretheren
cb- Catholic Byzantine
e- evengelical (as prefix)
ch- Charismatic
dc- Disciples of Christ
cc- Church of Christ
cg- Church of God
lds- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon)
ecc- Ecumenical Church
ccv- Church of the Covenant
itc- interdenominational church
sf- Society of Friends (Quakers)
go-Greek Orthodox
jc- Jewish Christian
hc- Hindu Christian 
bdc-Buddhist Christian
u- United (prefix)
al- American Lutheran
lcl- Lutheran Church of the Lutheran Confession
els- Evangelican Lutheran Synod
lms- lutheran, Missourri Synod
lws-Lutheran, Wisonson Synod
m- missionary (prefix)
sva- Salvation Army
mtp-metaphysical/aquarian churches
mnn-Mennonite
ra-Revivalist affiliation
ntc-New Testament Church
pnc- Pentecostal Churches
prs- Presbyterian
rsc-Religious Science
unf- Unification
unt-Unitarian
uty- Unity
sdb- Seventh-Day Baptists
wsl- Wesleyan
tti- Twelve Tribes of Israel
rst- Rastafarian
nca- No church affiliation
scn- Scientology
jw- Jehovah's Witnesses
wfc- Witnesses For Christ
cdp- Christadelphians
tsp- twelve-step program
occ- Other [unspecified] Christian churches

Example:  If I wanted to designate an affilitation with the United Free-Will Baptists, I would probably 
designate it thusly--
                       R: c (fwb+u) 
Note:  The "prefix" was used as a suffix in this instance to eschew obfuscation.


Internet Resources
World Wide Web

There are literally hundreds of shapeshifter-related web pages out there. I'll list a few here. if you know 
of any you think should be included, let me know.

I suppose some of the pack already know about it, but there's an archive of transformation stories at: 
http://www.t0.or.at/~thomas/tsa/index.html. Most are sex-change stories, but there are four on changing 
into an animal. Warning: they all have sexual content, and "The Island of Circe" particularly wouldn't 
interest many of you. But "The She-wolf" is pretty good. -Lyka

Alt.Shift - the AHWW Journal - http://www.algonet.se/~edge/ahww/alt1.htm. I'm unsure if this is still 
up.

http://ksu.ksu.edu/~slathe/handbook.html (May have been changed by now)

[http://www.uc.edu/~saulsj/WereIndex.html] Please use Netscape 3.0 or Internet Explorer 2.0 (3.0 beta 1 
at this time garbles the tables. *growl*) As of this post, only the index and links section work.

Striker Redwolf: http://www.physics.umd.edu/~kprice and http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1567

Kevin & Kell, that unholy union of predator and prey, has a web page! If you want a regularly updated 
page of Kevin & Kell, try this one: http://www.gmcclel.bossnt.com/kk/master.htm

Moonshadow: http://ka.net/moonshadow

Native Book Center - http://www.9to5.com/9to5/NBC

If you don't see your page here, or know of others to add, drop me a
line... I know there are many that aren't on here yet.

Internet Relay Chat

To link to IRC, you must be running an IRC client on whatever platform you access the internet   with. 
You can set that client to access the server directly, or access whatever server you like
and type /server [server name] to reach the server. IRC is a lot of fun, but it can be quite addictive!

The current official irc server, as many of you know by now, *grin* is irc.catacomb.org 6667. Nuzzles to 
SabreLion (sabre@wild.net) for making it for us.

An #ahww has also been registered on DALnet: check alt.irc for a list of alternate servers besides 
irc.dal.net in order to access it.

There are also various were-related rooms, up and down at the whim of the participants, on the EFNET 
and UNDERNET servers.

FTP

AHWW's official FTP site was, for a long time, run by Lycanthrope (Larry Lyle). Circumstances forced 
him to discontinue it, but a new mirror site is up: ftp://gerulf.acsu.unsw.edu.au/pub/wolf/. There's quite a 
bit of interesting stuff here, including Howl pictures and fiction by AHWWers.

Spyder also has an FTP site. In it can be found: wildlife photos (gifs and jpgs) in the Wilderness directory; 
Werecards (which can also be accessed off the web site) - there are only a few, I think I have more at 
home, and if yours is missing either email me a copy or drop it in the incoming area on the FTP site; 
Furrotica (if you don't know, don't ask.)The address is [ftp://ftp.xmission.com/pub/users/s/spyder/]

I also have some items, although I'm limited by space, at ftp://ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu.

ftp://tau-ceti.isc-br.com/pub/Images/ contains some furry artwork.

Striker Redwolf plans on another mirror of Lycanthrope's site, at http://lobo.dorm.umd.edu.

Also of interest is avatar.snc.edu -  Home to furry art and artists.

Mud / Muck / Moo

Muds, Mucks, and Moos are online games and virtual worlds that can be accessed with a simple telnet 
program or clients that handle a lot of the tedious typing for you. Furrymuck may be of interest to 
AHWWers, and can be reached at furry.org 8888.

I think there are several ahww oriented corners at various MUCKS: I believe that one exists at Virtual 
Vegas and there's also another one in FurryMUCK: hopefully someone who knows more than I do will 
contribute to this subject.

Tapestries MUCK is becoming a bit popular for the mature audiences..[telnet://206.40.34.130 2069]

How do I make the chili?

When making truly evil chili, the important thing to keep in mind is that  hotter is better. I don't mean 
temperature-hot, although that's important too  (no one likes cold chili)... I mean take-a-bite-and-get-your-
tonsils-kicked- out-a-couple-of- seconds-later hot. Spice is all-important. "Long live the  spice!" Also, 
_anything_ can go in chili. _Anything_. Use your imagination and whatever's laying around- chocolate, 
beer, unidentified spices stuck to the rack, dead cockatiels, whatever. The proportions aren't all that strict, 
either.. if it tastes good, it is good.

The below proportions make enough chili for five people or two weres with healthy appetites: 
(TBS=Tablespoon, tsp=teaspoon, lbs=pounds, oz=ounce, 2+2=4)

Salt            	1/2 TBS
Cayenne Pepper  1/2 tsp
Masa Flour      	2 TBS  (corn flour, like for making tortillas)
Cajun Seasoning 4 TBS  *(see note)
Ground Beef     	2 lbs
Tomato Sauce    8 oz
Kidney Beans    8 oz (1 can)
Water           2 cups
Tabasco         big-ass bottle
White Onion     1 (chopped)
Garlic          1/2 clove (minced)

Also can be added:

Beer            1 can/bottle (Red-Wolf, of course!)
Dark chocolate, powdered
Spicy sausage   1/2 to 1 pound
Bell/Jalapeno peppers, chopped
Shredded cheddar
whatever else is handy

* Cajun seasoning is mostly salt, red and black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder... you can mix 
it up yourself or use commercial... commercial is easier.

Brown the ground beef and cook sausage (if using any). Drain fat. Use to make stinky tallow candles. Add 
salt, cayenne, flour (for thickness), cajun seasoning, meat(s), tomato sauce, beans, onion, garlic, and water 
in pot and stir together. Shake in as much tabasco as you think you can stand (add more cayenne if 
wanted). (Add beer and chocolate and whatever else too; except cheddar). Chili will look very watery... 
this is ok. Put pot over heat and bring to fast simmer. Simmer until chili is nice and thick... most of the 
water simmered off. This may take an hour or two if you're making mass quantities! Serve up in bowls 
with even more tabasco and cheddar. Prepare steam blaster to clean pot. Have lanolin-coated toilet paper 
near privy.

Note: If you're cooking over an open wood fire, smear liquid dish soap over the outside of the pots before 
doing anything with them. This way you can wash the soot off much easier when you're done.

Not recommended for those with gastric disorders exacerbated by spicy foods, small children, pregnant 
women, or untreated steel. EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

What are "werecards"?

A werecard is a sort of info-questionnaire; where you can answer questions about yourself and your 
therianthropy, if any. It's basically just a way of telling folks about yourself all at once, rather than 
answering a million little questions. It makes a good way to de-lurk. Here's a blank werecard.snip and 
fill out, if you like; and post the results to the group.

Human Name:
Were Name:
Phenotype: (e.g. werewolf, werebat, etc.)
Shifting Ability: (e.g. mental, physical)
Birthdate:
Birthplace:
Home Territory: (where you live now)
Dream Territory: (where you'd like to live, ideally)
Physical Description, Human:
Physical Description, Were:
Human Career:
Hobbies/Interests:
Favorite Movie:
Favorite Were Movie:
Favorite Literature:
Favorite Were Literature:
Favorite Art:
Favorite Were Art:
Favorite Saying/Quote:
Favorite Were Saying/Quote:
Favorite Personal Quote:
Favorite Song/Band(s):
Favorite Were Song/Band(s):
Favorite Season:
Favorite Holiday:
Preferred Prey:
Hunting Tips:
Preferred Method of Attack:
Favorite Non-Were Mythological Beastie(s):
Feelings Toward Vampires:
Feelings Toward Normal Humans:
Personal Therianthropy: (This is probably the most important part of the card.  What we're after here is 
a few paragraphs explaining what your lycanthropy means to you, how it fits into and affects
your life, your goals, etc.  Tell us about your first transformation / realization of your were nature.  
Describe the therianthropy myth as you see it.  And so on...)