Shapeshifting
I am probably going to be out over my skis a little with this post, but I have always been fascinated by the concept of shapeshifting. The Shape Shifter shows up in mythology and was a part of Star Trek. In fact, I have blogged about shapeshifting before in Obstacles ARE The Path. Then enter Dayseeker’s great song, “Shapeshift.” The chorus says, “You’re turning into a shadow; You fall, but you levitate; I watch you shapeshift in front of me; And drift to the dark.” This got me thinking beyond the myth side of shapeshifting to also thinking about our own experience shifting between our identities.
Dayseeker’s song evokes a powerful imagery of transformation and struggle. The lines “You’re turning into a shadow” suggest a feeling of losing one’s presence or identity, as if the person is fading away. The phrase “You fall, but you levitate” sets up a pretty cool paradox for experiences we sometimes go through when experiencing setbacks or challenges (falling) while also finding a way to rise above them (levitating).
The line “I watch you shapeshift in front of me” implies witnessing someone undergo significant changes, perhaps reflecting their emotional or mental state. Finally, “And drift to the dark” suggests a shift towards despair or negativity, indicating that despite the attempts to rise, there’s a pull towards darker feelings or situations.
For me, this chorus captures themes of change, internal struggle, and the complex nature of identity, particularly in the face of personal challenges. It resonates because we all must deal with self-acceptance and our own inner demons. We need to remember that we have capacity to adapt and evolve. During our entire life we grow, change roles, identities and ways of relating to our world, whether personal or professional. We can do this intentionally, through development and exploration, or inresponse to circumstances that mean we have no choice but to become something new.
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