Question for Chris (though he might not be the guy to ask)

[ProphetofOccam]

I sent this as a private message, as I didn't see anywhere in the forum to ask about this area of the paranormal. You seem to know JC Johnson, who has a lot of experience with the subject, and also seem to maintain contact with the pueblo folks in your area. I figured you'd have at least one related story.

From the message:

I've read a couple things from other sources, but I wanted to get your take since you seem to maintain contact with the culture that originated the lore.

Have there ever been stories, to you knowledge, of a skinwalker donning the hide of a dead person and then going about acting as that person (as they would any other animal)? I'm asking about specific stories, that you may or may not know.

Are there any sources available on the internet that I might check out that are close to your view on it or report on stories you've been told?

Thanks

 

[Christopher O'Brien]

I sent this as a private message, as I didn't see anywhere in the forum to ask about this area of the paranormal. You seem to know JC Johnson, who has a lot of experience with the subject, and also seem to maintain contact with the pueblo folks in your area. I figured you'd have at least one related story.

Sorry if I missed that PM... NO, I've never heard of this "donning the hide of a dead person" scenario as it relates to "skinwalkers." The only reference to this act would be Aztec priests ritualistically skinning and wearing the hide of a sacrificial victim. As described, this ritual would feature the priest dancing around the altar in a lewd or suggestive manner, but not attempting to act like, or as, the victim. Why, have you heard of this type of behavior?

 

[ProphetofOccam]

Only in modern stories presented as fiction. I wondered if they had any classical relevance. The cannibalistic nature of the initiation process sometimes described in the classical lore made me wonder. Having never come across it outside of modern fiction, I thought there could be some really interesting classical stories I'd never heard.

I'm always down for new stories.

Thanks for the Aztec imagery. I'd say I got my thread's worth out of that.

 

[Christopher O'Brien]

"donning the hide of a dead person and then going about acting as that person" Only in modern stories presented as fiction...I'm always down for new stories..

Check out Gary Jennings classic book Aztec and the follow-up, Aztec Autumn that have imaginative descriptions of this sort of sacrificial behavior...