
### **⚠️ CULTURAL NOTE:**

The **Yee Naaldlooshii** (anglicized as "skin-walker") is a **deeply serious and taboo subject** in Navajo (Diné) culture. Many Navajo people **do not discuss this topic** with outsiders, and some believe that even **speaking about it can attract attention** from these beings.

This article treats the subject with **respect and seriousness**, acknowledging that:
- This is **not entertainment** for Navajo people—it represents **real evil** within their worldview
- **Talking about it is discouraged** in Navajo culture
- This information is presented for **educational purposes** about Navajo beliefs
- **Non-Navajo people should not appropriate or trivialize** this tradition

We proceed with respect.

---

### **The Witch in Animal Form: When Sacred Lines Are Crossed**

In **Navajo tradition**, there exists a category of person so **evil, so corrupted, so taboo** that their name is **rarely spoken**: the **Yee Naaldlooshii** (Navajo: "by means of it, it goes on all fours") or "**skin-walker**" in English.

These are **witches**—people who have **chosen to violate sacred laws** to gain **dark supernatural powers**, chief among them the ability to **transform into animals** by **wearing their skins**. But this transformation is **not natural shapeshifting**—it is achieved through **profound evil**: **murdering a close relative** (often a sibling), engaging in **corpse desecration**, and **breaking every taboo** that holds Navajo society together.

Skin-walkers are **not misunderstood** or **morally gray**—in Navajo belief, they represent **pure evil, deliberate corruption**, and the **worst of what humans can become**. They use their powers to **harm, curse, kill**, and spread **disease and misfortune**.

And they are **feared**—deeply, seriously feared—because in Navajo tradition, **they are real**.

### **What a Skin-walker Looks Like**

Skin-walkers appear differently depending on circumstance:

#### **Human Form:**
- **Ordinary person** during day (could be anyone)
- **May be respected community member** (hiding their nature)
- **No visible marks** usually (though some traditions mention signs)
- **Avoids direct eye contact** sometimes
- **May smell wrong** (faint odor of decay)

#### **Animal Forms:**
Most commonly:
- **Coyote** (most common)
- **Wolf**
- **Fox**
- **Owl** (particularly ominous)
- **Crow**
- **Dog**

But the animal **doesn't look quite right**:
- **Eyes too intelligent, too human**
- **Size wrong** (too large or small)
- **Movement unnatural** (like human imitating animal)
- **Skin doesn't fit properly** (visible seams, loose areas)
- **Smell of death or wrongness**
- **Sometimes walks on hind legs** briefly

#### **The Transformation:**
- **Puts on animal pelt/skin**
- Transformation is **instant** (upon wearing skin)
- The **real animal was killed** for its skin
- Multiple **skins owned** = multiple forms

#### **Night Behavior:**
- **Active at night** primarily
- **Seen near hogans** (traditional homes)
- **Peering in windows**
- **Scratching at doors**
- **Walking around property**
- **On roofs** (creating sounds)

### **The Powers of Skin-walkers**

#### **1. Shapeshifting (Via Animal Skins)**
- **Transforms by wearing** animal pelts
- Can **own multiple skins**
- **Takes on animal abilities** (speed, senses, strength)
- Returns to human form by **removing skin**

#### **2. Supernatural Speed**
- Can **run faster than cars** in animal form
- **Keep pace with vehicles** on highways
- **Appear and disappear** quickly

#### **3. Mimicry**
- **Imitate human voices** perfectly
- Call people by **name** (to lure out)
- **Mimic** family members' voices
- **Animal sounds** to confuse

#### **4. Curses and Hexes**
- **Corpse poison** (ground bone powder blown at victims)
- **Causes disease, madness, death**
- **Bad luck** and misfortune
- **Nightmares** and sleep paralysis

#### **5. Mind Reading/Telepathy**
- Can **know thoughts** (some traditions)
- **Sense fear**
- **Track** those who speak of them

#### **6. Incredible Strength**
- **Superhuman strength** in animal form
- Can **break through** barriers
- **Hurt livestock** easily

#### **7. Paralysis**
- **Lock eyes** with victim = paralysis
- **Cannot move or speak**
- Vulnerable during this time

### **How Someone Becomes a Skin-walker**

The transformation into a Yee Naaldlooshii requires **committing the ultimate taboos**:

#### **The Requirements (Vary by Account):**
1. **Murder a close blood relative** (sibling, parent, child)
   - This **severs all kinship ties**
   - Makes them **dead to their clan**
   - **Ultimate betrayal**

2. **Desecrate corpses**
   - Grave robbery
   - Using human remains in rituals
   - Creating **corpse powder** (ground bones)

3. **Engage in incest** or other sexual taboos

4. **Practice witchcraft** (evil magic)

5. **Initiation by other skin-walkers** (taught the ways)

#### **Why Anyone Would Do This:**
- **Desire for power**
- **Revenge** (using power to harm enemies)
- **Greed** (gaining wealth through curses)
- **Pure malevolence**

It is **always a choice**—no one becomes a skin-walker by accident.

### **What Skin-walkers Do**

Their activities are **uniformly harmful**:

#### **Cursing and Hexing:**
- **Blow corpse powder** at victims
- Causes **wasting disease**, death
- **Bad luck** befalls families
- **Livestock die** mysteriously

#### **Stalking and Terrorizing:**
- **Circle homes** at night
- **Scratch at windows**
- **Call people's names**
- **Peer inside** (seen as animal or dark shape)
- **Follow people** driving at night

#### **Causing Accidents:**
- **Appear in road** (causing crashes)
- **Chase vehicles**
- **Make people swerve**

#### **Killing Livestock:**
- **Attack cattle, sheep, horses**
- Kills are **brutal and strange**
- Sometimes **partially eaten**, sometimes untouched

#### **Spreading Fear:**
- Their very **presence** creates terror
- **Speaking of them** may draw them
- **Communities impacted** by fear

### **How to Protect Against Skin-walkers**

Traditional Navajo protections:

#### **Physical Protections:**
1. **White ash** (from certain woods)
   - Spread around **home perimeter**
   - On **windowsills and doorways**
   - The ash **repels** them

2. **Sage and cedar** smoke (smudging)
   - **Purifies** space
   - **Drives away** evil

3. **Turquoise** (sacred stone)
   - Worn as **protection**
   - **Spiritually powerful**

4. **Stay inside at night**
   - **Don't answer** calls/knocks
   - **Don't look** out windows if you hear sounds
   - **Keep doors and windows shut**

5. **Bullets dipped in white ash**
   - Can **kill** a skin-walker
   - Regular bullets **won't work**

#### **Spiritual Protections:**
1. **Traditional ceremonies** by medicine people (Hatałii)
2. **Blessing ways**
3. **Protection prayers**
4. **Maintaining harmony** (hózhǫ́) in life

#### **If You Encounter One:**
- **Don't make eye contact** (can paralyze)
- **Don't engage** or speak to it
- **Say traditional protection prayers**
- **Get to safety immediately**
- **Tell medicine person** or trusted elder
- **Ceremony may be needed** to cleanse

### **Cultural Context: Why This Matters**

#### **The Navajo Worldview:**
- **Balance and harmony (hózhǫ́)** are central
- **Witchcraft represents** total corruption of this harmony
- Skin-walkers are **human evil**, not supernatural beings
- They **chose** evil, violating sacred laws

#### **The Secrecy:**
- **Speaking of them** is dangerous (may attract)
- **Details are not shared** with outsiders
- **Names power things** in Navajo belief
- Many Navajo will **refuse to discuss** this

#### **The Fear:**
- This is **not campfire stories**—it's serious
- **Families have stories** of encounters
- **Real precautions** taken
- **Community belief** is strong

### **Modern Encounters and Reports**

Skin-walker reports continue:

#### **Highway Sightings:**
- **Animal running alongside car** at impossible speeds (60+ mph)
- **Keeping pace** with vehicle for miles
- **Peering into car windows** while running
- **Eventually disappearing** suddenly

#### **Reservation Experiences:**
- **Scratching on hogans** at night
- **Voices calling** family members' names
- **Strange animals** near homes
- **Livestock deaths** with unusual wounds

#### **Law Enforcement:**
- **Navajo police** sometimes mention in reports
- **Some officers** have encountered things they can't explain
- **Generally not discussed** publicly

### **Respect and Boundaries**

#### **What Non-Navajo Should Know:**
1. **Don't play with this** (Ouija board style)
2. **Don't pretend** to be a skin-walker
3. **Don't go to Navajo lands** "skin-walker hunting"
4. **Respect that this is real** to the Diné people
5. **Don't trivialize** their genuine fear

#### **Why This Matters:**
- It's their **cultural and spiritual reality**
- **Mockery is disrespectful**
- **Their land, their beliefs**
- Outsider interference is **harmful**

### **Lessons from the Skin-walker Tradition**

- **Evil Is a Choice**: Skin-walkers aren't cursed—they chose corruption
- **Power Gained Through Evil Is Corrupting**: Breaking taboos for power destroys the self
- **Community Values Matter**: Kinship and taboos hold society together
- **Some Fears Are Healthy**: Respect for boundaries keeps people safe
- **Cultural Respect Is Essential**: Not all stories are for entertainment

### **A Final Word: Respect the Silence**

Among the Navajo people, there is often **silence** about the Yee Naaldlooshii. Not because they don't believe—**because they do**. And because **some evils are better not invoked**.

If you are on **Navajo land** and someone says they **don't want to talk about it**, **respect that**. If someone shares an experience, **take it seriously**. And if you hear something outside at night while on the reservation, **don't answer**.

> *"I will not speak as the Yee Naaldlooshii. To give voice to such evil is dangerous. Know only this: we exist in the spaces where humans choose corruption over harmony. We broke every sacred law to gain power. We are feared because we are real, and we are real because evil is real. Do not seek us. Do not speak of us lightly. And if you hear your name called in the night—do not answer."*

May you walk in hózhǫ́ (harmony). May you respect sacred boundaries. And may you never encounter that which walks on all fours.

Some things should not be sought.

This is one of them.

**Yá'át'ééh** (walk in beauty).




Skin-walker: The Witch Who Wears the Skins of Animals


### A Land of Spirits and Monsters  

The vast archipelago of Indonesia is alive with unseen forces. In the dense jungles, on windswept coasts, and even in quiet villages, creatures of legend stir—some to guard, others to haunt. Locals speak of vengeful spirits, forest-dwelling giants, and mysterious beings that protect or punish. These are no mere stories; they are warnings for those who dare to wander too far. Step cautiously into this land, where spirits stir in the shadows, and whispers hint at the unseen dangers ahead.

### **1. Kuntilanak**  

A faint floral scent fills the air, followed by soft laughter—it’s her. The **Kuntilanak** is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth, trapped between life and death. Cloaked in a white dress with long black hair covering her face, she hides in banana groves and abandoned houses, preying on men who wander alone. Her charm hides a monstrous truth—sharp nails and vengeful fury. Villagers say her laughter grows louder the closer she is, and only prayers or offerings can send her away.

### **2. Leak**  

In Bali, the **Leak** lurks in the shadows. By day, it appears as an ordinary human, but by night, its cursed form emerges—a floating head trailing glowing entrails. The Leak feeds on the blood of pregnant women and newborns, drawing power from its gruesome acts. Those who practice dark magic risk becoming Leaks, doomed to this monstrous fate. Balinese priests conduct protective rituals to shield families, reinforcing the island’s focus on harmony and balance.


### **3. Nyai Roro Kidul**  

The crashing waves of Java’s southern coast are said to belong to **Nyai Roro Kidul**, the Queen of the Southern Sea. Often depicted in green robes or as a mermaid-like figure, she is both beautiful and dangerous. Travelers are warned not to wear green near her waters, as it is said to anger her, leading to mysterious disappearances. Fishermen and locals honor her with prayers, seeking calm seas and safety. Her legend weaves nature’s beauty with its unpredictable fury.

### **4. Tuyul**  

Small, bald, and childlike, the **Tuyul** may look harmless, but these spirits are known for stealing valuables. Summoned through dark rituals, they serve their masters in exchange for offerings like milk and toys. Tuyul activity is said to bring misfortune to households, and villagers place sharp objects or garlic in their homes to ward them off. Their presence reminds everyone of the price of greed and the dangers of dealing with dark forces.


### **5. Genderuwo**  

Deep in Java’s dense forests and ruins, the **Genderuwo** roams—a giant, hairy creature with glowing red eyes. Known as a trickster, it can mimic voices or familiar faces to lure people astray. While some tales describe it as mischievous, others claim it kidnaps villagers or causes chaos. Villagers leave offerings to appease the Genderuwo and respect its territory. To enter its domain is to risk facing its unpredictable wrath.


### **6. Wewe Gombel**  

With wild hair and a grotesque appearance, the **Wewe Gombel** is a spirit feared and misunderstood. She takes neglected or abused children, sheltering them in her care until their parents atone for their mistakes. Despite her terrifying form, she never harms the children, returning them once their parents change their ways. Her legend reminds parents of the importance of love and care, blending fear with an odd sense of justice.


### **7. Barong**  

The **Barong** is the guardian spirit of protection in Balinese mythology, often depicted as a lion-like figure. He is the eternal rival of Rangda, the demon queen, and their clash is reenacted in sacred dances. Villages call upon the Barong for spiritual cleansing and protection against negative forces. His presence is celebrated as a symbol of harmony, driving away evil and restoring balance in the community.


### **8. Orang Bunian**  

Hidden in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, the **Orang Bunian** are ethereal beings described as beautiful and kind. They are known to help respectful travelers who get lost but punish those who offend their hidden world. Time flows differently in their realm; some who vanish return years later to find everything has changed. Their legend encourages reverence for nature and the mysteries that lie within.


### **9. Jenglot**  

At first glance, the **Jenglot** looks like a tiny mummified figure with long hair and sharp nails, but it is believed to hold dark powers. Owners must provide blood offerings to maintain its favor, as failure to do so brings misfortune. Found in rituals and collections, the Jenglot’s role in Indonesian black magic reflects humanity’s fear of the unknown and the lengths some will go to for protection or power.


### **10. Palasik**  
Under the cover of darkness, the **Palasik** emerges, its head detaching from its body to fly through the night with entrails trailing behind. It preys on newborns and unborn children, draining their life force and leaving families stricken with grief. Villagers speak of protective rituals performed during pregnancies to keep this grotesque creature at bay. Said to result from a curse or dark magic, the Palasik’s presence lingers like a shadow, leaving villagers constantly on edge and guarding against the night it might return.



dark magic

Skin-walker: The Witch Who Wears the Skins of Animals

Top 10 Indonesian Spirits and Monsters: Guardians, Terrors, and Shadows