Physical shifts, ive heard people claim stuff but never actually seen it myself or with any other otherkin with my own eyes

I personally always have and probably always will believe physical shifting is possible. I don't believe myself able to and have yet to see any actual proof of it being possible but it just feels wrong when I say "nope its not possible". I also would think if somebody could physically shift, you wouldn't tell everybody you know +, if I could I'd keep it a secret except for maybe a couple people I trusted irl. I wouldn't think you'd be safe if your statement was true, you got people who'd hurt you out of fear and those who wish to use you(like experiments).
I usually don't voice my opinions on physical shifting since people seem so quick to jump you when you say its possible^^' but whatever :P

I am subscribed to the idea that these shifts occur on a sub-planar field of existence in the minds of the kin. Phantom limbs, physical feelings out of the norm, mental states likening to an animalistic change, whathaveyou, occur in the same physical space, in a separate but felt dimension, be it subconscious or in a dream.

I've felt these kinds of mental swaps when I'm in locations that harmonize with me, and I sometimes find myself moving about with my eyes closed, and just feel the earth with my mind's eye around me. Hands touching like they're larger and able to grasp tighter, an aura around my every step, the wind brushing over my with a different sensation.

I've awoken from dreams where I've felt pain in limbs and muscles that don't exist on a physical plane, and was aching all day in over exerted muscles in proximity to wings and such. Sometimes these feelings in shifting are pleasant, peaceful, and meditative, and sometimes they're taxing on the physical body.

I agree completely with this. Thanks to a combination of scientific theory and my religious upbringing, I firmly believe in there being countless worlds, but in dimensions that aren't in this realm.

While I haven't had very many memory recall dreams, and those I did were somewhat fuzzy, I can't accurately state if I've had any flashbacks that leave me with physical reminders in the waking realm. But there is one dream in particular that has left me with definite evidence that in my draconic life, I was quite... large.

The more I think on it, though, the more I'm beginning to realize I may have had a luxurious upbringing in my past life. It would certainly explain why I can't envision myself not being fat.

I haven't really experienced anything that is too significant mentally. usually it comes from me moving and wiggling my ears to mimic that of a pine marten. and sometimes i don't even realize i'm doing it. which is my kin type. i sometimes get these nostalgic feelings when looking at forests as well.

i'd join the forum. i'm involved in a few already.

When I still experienced shifts (I rarely do nowadays for some reason), it was always the phantom limbs (mostly ears and feet), and sometimes mental shifts too - often when food was involved, or while taking nightly walks. Darkness and cool temperatures often made me shift mentally, as well as really strong feelings, especially happy feelings, in which cases I always felt a need to jump around, run very fast and make loud noises (think super happy dog or a cow that's just been let out to graze for the first time in the spring).

My theriotyps were always a mess, there was only really one that I was sure of and that's your regular domestic mutt. I knew from a very early age that I was part dog. Three more species stuck with me during the years, but I'm still not sure they are/were my actual therotypes or just "visitors" or "totems" or whatever you wanna call it. I have a tendency to "absorb" species, it seems, and I've experienced a ton of very confusing cameoshifts. The cameoshifts never feel as real and palpable as when you shift to your real theriotype, though. After a while you learn how to separate them from each other.

In my case, the therianness is/was solely on a mental basis, and I find it hard to understand how it could be physical. I just don't see it, but maybe that's because the simple fact that I've never experienced such a thing myself! I'm very open-minded, though, so if anyone has reliable info on the subject I'd love to read more! n_n

Does this mean feeling astral limbs? Because I always feel a tail, ears, nose and big teeth.
Oh and wings. Feeling my wings is niiiice.

I've heard people claim to be able to, but i don't think its possible. The amount of pain you would be in when your bones break and reform. The pain would be so excruciating.

While I cant say I really believe in the ability to physical shift, mental shifting is something I have been endlessly fascinated with. Some people believe that shifting is a very blunt and direct thing, but having talked with many other dragons of the otherkin variety and having experimented with various meditation practices and minor rituals (nothing too extreme, think along the lines of self-encouragement or routines to get one into the zone) I have noticed there are different levels/ depths to the degree one can experience a mental shift.

I would love to hear others stories and experiences with mental shifting as I am still trying to figure out what kicks me in that zone, and how I could further my efforts in being able to bring out a more pure dragony self on a more regular basis. ^.=.^

when it comes to physical shifting I believe it is an easy reality to create in the eyes of the person shifting I do not underestimate the mind to actualize one's spiritual reality in their own eyes however that likely means everyone else won't see it. in terms of known human science it doesn't seem possible to physically shift in terms of what little science I remember from my past self yes it is possible but not easy and certainly beyond the powers of a human body. as per mental shifts I haven't felt this phenomena my otherkin mind is always turned on I don't shift between human and non human I'm always mentally non human

I've not really been subject to shifts, although ethereal limbs are something I do feel. I think physical shifting may be possible, but not here and now; the laws of physics as they currently stand do not permit it.

Mental "shifting". I dont know if i could call what i experience "shifting" at all that depictelts radical change mine is more of a murging, a sliding of dominance.

I've never had physical shifting happen before - though mental happens a lot to me during the phases of a full moon

If we can consider dreams as mental shift, I definitively had a lot. Seeing through his eyes flying or stuff like that. The worst is when it comes to physical shift, I feel the phantom limbs on my shoulder baldes, and oh boy, in some nights, they are real trolls so it's painful. Besides this, I often feel horns I don't have ^^

Have felt phantom limbs but no shifts. Mostly feel the wings and sometimes the tail, but hardly anything else.

we're all different. my own experience, well i've been totally formless. no idea what people looked like on other worlds in my previous lives.
i realize the latter isn't the same thing. but the former is, at least sort of.

I have seen reported documentation of eye-witness account testify to seeing physical shape-shifting and this dates back to medieval times. Honestly I believe the physical shift is a possibility and for the most part the physical shifting seems to be tied into Witchcraft/Satanism.
I just think drugs were used to alter the minds and illusions were created. Wearing animal masks and acting like savages to frighten the people under the influence of some drug or spell. Hypnotism?
I cannot see actual physical shape-shifting be a possibility unless the being who shape-shifts is not even Human at all and this can be possible considering extra-terrestrial existence.
Yet this is only what I believe in the case and have no factual or solid evidence to back it up, im just running on speculations and theory.
Physical shifting is very rare to witness which is why I personally believe its tied into Satanism since it is based upon secrecy and black magick.

We hardly know our "Reality" and what is on or goes on this Earth. Its just a mystery and will always be a mystery until one day it is finally exposed which probably will not be exposed.
So in a sense I believe physical shape-shifting is possible, yet very rare to witness and you would be very lucky to survive experiencing it. There are things in this world that like to remain in the darkness and for very good reasons.

As for mental shifting I experience it myself and have studied a lot upon Shamanism to know its a actual thing and its not psychological but kind of both spiritual and psychological that drives the person to disassociate and lower in conscious level to that of a animal and start to visually see themselves as that animal they represent and have animalistic urges to do simplistic things that negate from intellectual thing.
Like climb a tree, chase birds, roll in the snow, etc.
These occurring shifts have to do with the spiritual bonding and ties with the animal spirit your associated with and this could possible be memories of a past life being that animal or even learning to channel the animal spirit through you.
Its very fascinating stuff. Your senses heighten, strength increases, energy and agility is phenomenal, you become more in tuned with the Universe (divine consciousness).
The Naguals Hunters (werecats) would dress in jaguar skin and paint their faces and see themselves as that animal and were phenomenal hunters.

I don't believe the mental shifting is harmful to anyone if anything it can be harmful to the one experiencing it if they do not learn to control it better or learn to know when the shift is about to occur and so should find a safe environment when it does. Unfortunately to those younger the mental shift is a involuntary thing and you learn to gain more control as you get older.

I believe a physical shift is possible, and I agree with SnowFeline. If you could physical shift, you would probably actively hide that you can. You could end up in big trouble if the wrong people found out about it. I think that it is possible to learn how, but it would be incredibly difficult to perform.

I can't say I have experience with mental shifts but phantom limb happens regularly. Wings, tail, teeth, ears, face... I've felt every part. The strange part is that they aren't always the same. I feel like I flip around between several draconic types, sometimes even combining them.