September 28: Skinwalkers

Every now and then, my curiosity will get the best of me and I'll spend some time on the Internet researching the supernatural. You know...ghosts, aliens, cryptozoology, etc. I don't why. The stuff just fascinates me. The best is going on YouTube and watching some of the crazy videos that are out there. Small disclaimer...most of them are not real. But, even some of the fake ones can be kind of creepy. Maybe it's the "man-crush" I have on Josh Gates and his show Destination Truth. Or, maybe I'm just a bit odd. Anyway, during my last "expedition", I came across a creature I'd not heard of before: skinwalker. From what I researched, a skinwalker, according to Indian lore, is a witch who can alter his/her shape at will to assume the characteristics of certain animals. The witch, it is said, might wear the hide or skin of the animal identity it wants to assume, and when the transformation is complete, he/she inherits the abilities (i.e. strength, speed, cunning, etc.) of the animal whose shape it has taken. This creature is also known as the yee naaldlooshii to the Navajo tribe, which translates to “with it, he goes on all fours” in the Navajo language. According to legend, skinwalkers are able to read human thoughts. They also have the ability to make any human or animal noise they choose, such as the voice of a relative or the cry of an infant, and often use this tactic to lure victims out of the safety of their homes. Skinwalkers are also known to use charms to instill fear and control in their victims. If you get a chance, drop the word into Google and check out some of the results. It's really quite interesting. Especially, the mysterious Skinwalker Ranch in Utah. Or, if Internet time is not one of your commodities, tap into your Blockbuster or Netflix connection and rent the 2006 film "Skinwalkers". I'm guessing it's a pretty accurate representation.