Seventh Sons

Werewolf Seventh SonFolklore in Galician, Brazilian and Portuguese folklore tell that the seventh son in a line of sons; but sometimes seventh son in a line of daughters; will become a werewolf. This belief which is called "lobizon" is so regarded as true that in Northern Argentina that the seventh son was often abandoned, sent to adoption or even killed. In 1920, a law was passed in Argentina declaring the President of Argentina to be the godfather of every seventh son. The son is given a gold medal at baptism and a full scholarship until his 21st birthday.

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Werewolf InfectionIn modern fiction it has become usual for werewolves to become werewolves by simply being bitten by another werewolf, thus making the werewolf curse nothing more than a virus/contagion that is spread to the surviving victim. This is rare in legend as most werewolf attacks seldom left any remaining survivors.

In werewolf films it is not always clear whether the werewolf infects the victim with the disease or the person must be under some curse. Some claim that simply having food prepared by a Lycanthrope is enough to transfer the infection.

Old folk tales of a God's curse mix with the modern disease of rabies. The situation states that a person is bitten by a mad dog or another animal and over time becomes mad and savage thus taking on the characteristics of a mad animal/beast. In the movies, this sort of transference is seen from the bite of a werewolf similar to that of the bite of a mad dog infected with rabies.

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Werewolf IncantationsNote: These incantations are supplied as examples to support its relationship with magical practices. They are known ineffective without the ointments, magic salves and other parts of the rituals.

Quoted by Sacharow from an old Russian charm, which is to be spoken by one who wishes to invoke the Moon-goddess and become a werewolf:

"On the sea, on the ocean, on the island, on Bujan, on the empty pasture gleams the moon, on an ashstock lying in a green wood, in a gloomy vale. Toward the stock wandereth a shaggy wolf, horned cattle seeking for his sharp white fangs; but the wolf enters not the forest, but the wolf dives not into the shadowy vale. Moon, moon, gold-horned moon, check the flights of bullets, blunt the hunters' knifes, break the shepherds' cudgels, cast wild fear upon all cattle, on men, on all creeping things, that they may not catch the gray wolf, that they may not rend his warm skin! My word is binding, more binding than sleep, more binding than the promise of a hero."

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This method of becoming a werewolf is the end result of a magician casting a spell to change someone into a wolf. A similar case was that of St. Patrick of Ireland changing Veretius, King of Wales, into a wolf.

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Black Magic and Witchcraft

Werewolf Magic and Witchcraft CurseOlaus Magnus stated that the Livonian werewolves were initiated by drinking a cup of specially prepared beer with a repeated set formula.

Ralston in his songs from Russia has incantations in the form still familiar in Russia.

Livonians say witches occassionally transformed themselves into wolves by walking through a magic pool of water, another form of baptismal with the rebirth in animal form.

South America believe holds true that certain sorcerers and witches know how to shapeshift themselves into animal form such as serpents, leopards, panthers, jackals, bears, coyotes, owls, foxes and other feared creatures. They often transform to do evil things or kill their enemies usually by drinking their blood like savages.

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The Magic Salve

The wolf was thought of as evil in the Middle Ages and produced wild hysteria in Europe. Thousands were accused of being werewolves and much like the witch trials, many were tortured and executed for such crimes. Often mentioned in werewolf trials and witch trials were magic salves. After rubbing this magic salve over the body, the person would come under the influence of this strong hallucinogenic drug. The magic salve contents were absorbed into the bloodstream in which the effects were compared to LSD. Under the influence, these people thought they were animals or that they could fly on broomsticks.

Sample recipe ingredients on becoming a werewolf :
* fat from disinterred children
* hemlock
* aconite
* poplar leaves
* soot or cowbane
* sweet flag
* cinquefoil
* bat's blood
* deadly nightshade
* oil

Other ingredients would mention narcotics such as: Solanum somniferum , aconite, hyoscyamus, belladonna, opium, acorus vulgaris and sium. These items were boiled down with oil or the fat of little children who were murdered for this purpose. The blood of a bat was added but seem to have no effect. Other foreign narcotics may have been added as well.

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Pact with the Devil

Werewolf Pact with the DevilPopular European superstition states that the Devil appears as a coachman whose carriage is drawn by black steeds and offer a means for the revenge that humans seek out of anger for the death of a loved one. A potion is given to the person that grants strength to exact the revenge in exchange for the only currency that the Devil requires, their very soul. The contents of the vial, a potion that must be rubbed upon the skin under the light of the full moon. Transformation into a werewolf will then immediately begin and the human has sealed his fate to walk as a beast under the full moon forever.

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Other Traditional Incantations








Wolves, Vampires, Satyrs, Ghosts!

Elect of all the devilish hosts!

I pray you send hither, send hither, send hither

The great grey shape that makes men shiver!

Shiver, shiver, shiver!

Come, come, come!"


A boon I ask thee, mighty shade.

Within this circle I have made.

Make me a werewolf strong and bold.

The terror alike of young and old.

Grant me a figure tall and spare;

The speed of the elk, the claws of the bear;

The poison of snakes, the wit of the fox;

The stealth of the wolf, the strength of the ox;

The jaws of the tiger, the teeth of the shark;

The eyes of a cat that sees in the dark;

Make me climb like a monkey, scent like a dog;

Swim like a fish, and eat like a hog.

Haste, Haste, Haste, lonely spirit, Haste!

Here, wan and drear, magic spell making,

Findest thou me - shaking, quaking.

Softly fan me as I lie.

And thy mystic touch apply.

Touch apply, and I swear that when I die,

When I die, I will serve thee evermore,

Evermore, in grey wolf land, cold and raw."


Make me a werewolf! Make me a xxxxx-eater!

Make me a werewolf! Make me a xxxxx-eater!

I pine for blood! xxxxx blood!

Give it to me! Give it to me tonight!





Oh spirit of darkness! oh spirit so drear!

Come, mighty phantom! come, great Unknown!

Come from thy dwelling so gloomy and lone.

Come, I beseech thee; depart from thy lair.

And body and soul shall be thine, I declare.

Haste, Haste, Haste, horrid spirit, Haste!

Speed, Speed, Speed, scaring spirit, speed!

Fast, Fast, Fast, fateful spirit, fast!"

a werewolf"!

"Come, oh Come!"

capped hill. The


Tis night! Tis night! and the the werewolf's might makes man and
nature shiver.


River, River, River



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The Magic Belt

German and Polish folklore believe that anyone can become a werewolf by using a magic belt sometimes called a wolf strap. Whenever the strap was fastened around themself they would transform into a wolf.

It was believed that the wolf strap was a gift from the Devil. The strap could not be given away and whoever accepted the strap was thought to have been in deep council with the Devil himself thus surrendering their body and soul to him.

Polish legend said that a witch could if they wanted, transform a bride and groom into wolves by laying a girdle of human skin across the threshold at their wedding feast. The witch would then send them dresses of fur so they may return to their true human form.

Teutonic peoples thought that wearing pelts of a wolf or the skin of a hanged man that was made into a girdle would stimulate a werewolf transformation. A strip of leather made from wolf skin and tied around the body had the power to turn a witch into a wolf was another believe.

Some believe that by simply calling out the name of the person who had changed themself into a werewolf would change them back to their original form.

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Lycanthropous Flowers

Werewolf Lycanthropous FlowersIt is said that in the Balcanic Peninsula there grows a flower that if eaten has the power to transform the eater into a werewolf and are therfore called Lycanthropous Flowers. These flowers give off a faint and somewhat deathly smell and their sap is pale white and sticky. They are said to be a white and yellow marsh flower and must be plucked and worn right after sunset until the moon is full.

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Native American Mythology

Werewolf Native American MythologyNative American Myth is not only viewed as a curse but also a way to get closer to their animal spirit. Methods that are used to attain this form are often through meditation or dreams. It is believed that this is the source of "spiritual werewolves". Other methods of attaining this transformation shapeshifting ability are listed below:

* Being called by the wolf spirit.
* Having a vision of the wolf spirit in a dream.
* Having a dream that one is a wolf or running with wolves.
* Performing a ritual taught by one's animal spirit.
* Being cursed by a shaman.
* Performing a ritual invoking the wolf spirit.

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Other supersitions on ways to become a Werewolf

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 bloodily murdered on a full moon.
Being the 7th of 7 consecutive sons/daughter (Germany).

Drinking water out of the footprint of a savage wolf (Balkans).
Drinking downstream from wolves or from where a wolf pack has drunk.
Drinking from haunted streams or pools (in the Harz Mountains in Germany).
Eating the brains or flesh of a wild wolf.
Having tasted human flesh.
Getting bitten by a werewolf.

Wearing the enchanted skin of a dead wolf or werewolf.
Plucking or wearing or smelling the lycanthropic flower (Balkans).
Wearing a belt made of the skin of a executed criminal.
Having sex with a werewolf and survive.
Sleeping outdoors at night on Friday while the light of the full moon shines in your face (Italy).
Not going to confession for 10 years.

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How to Become a Werewolf - Werewolves

Werewolves: How to Become a Werewolf
