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Various methods for becoming a werewolf have been reported, one of the simplest being the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, probably as a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin (which also is frequently described).
In other cases, the body is rubbed with a magic salve. To drink rainwater out of the footprint of the animal in question or to drink from certain enchanted streams were also considered effectual modes of accomplishing metamorphosis.
In Italy, France and Germany, it was said that a man could turn into a werewolf if he, on a certain Wednesday or Friday, slept outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on his face. In other cultures, individuals born during a new moon or suffering from epilepsy were considered likely to be werewolves.
These differences created several types, somehow incompatible, of werewolves in modern fiction: cursed, enchanted, viral and spiritual.
The 16th century Swedish writer Olaus Magnus says that the Livonian werewolves were initiated by draining a cup of specially prepared beer and repeating a set formula, they routinely transformed themselves into wolves by passing through a certain magic pool, another instance of baptismal rebirth in animal form. Ralston in his Songs of the Russian … Read more
In the Middle Ages, the wolf became a symbol of evil. Hysteria about werewolves broke out all over Europe. Thousands of people were accused of being werewolves and many were tortured and executed. The magic salve is frequently mentioned in witch and were-wolf trials. It is supposed to be a strong hallucinogenic. When rubbed over … Read more
In Galician, Portuguese and Brazilian folklore, it is the seventh of the sons (but sometimes the seventh child, a boy, after a line of six daughters) who becomes a werewolf. In some Latin American countries, the seventh sons of a seventh son is believed to be cursed to be a werewolf, lobizón, Luison (in Paraguay) … Read more
Being a child conceived under a new moon Being born on a full moon friday (Italy) Being born on the winter solstice or Christmas Eve (Italy) Being the elder son of priest Being the 7th of 7 consecutive (Germany). Drinking water out of the footprint of a savage wolf … Read more
The process of turning into a werewolf relates to the realm of magic and the powers of words. Traditional incantations have been recorded from various traditions. Try at your own risks. Sacharow quoted an old Russian charm, to be spoken by one who wished to invoke the Moon-goddess and become a werewolf: “On the sea, on … Read more
The going forth to the Infernal Sabbat Once the sorcerer has undertaken the self-initiation ritual entitled, “A Ritual of Lycanthropy” in both parts, and he has visualized perfectly his werewolf shadow, or that similar beast of sorcerer, he has entered into the pact of the Devil, the black man of the Sabbat. It is the … Read more
During the burning times, in the 16th and 17th centuries, all across Europe, people were being accused of witchcraft. One of the most common charge was lycanthropy: transforming into wolves. It was said that humans who enter into a pact with the Devil himself do so out of desperation and often, in an effort to … Read more
The curse of lycanthropy was also considered by some scholars as being a divine punishment. Werewolf literature shows many examples of God or saints allegedly cursing those who invoked their wrath with werewolfism. St. Patrick transformed Vereticus, a king in Wales, into a wolf; and St. Natalis cursed an illustrious Irish family with the result … Read more