Skinwalkers are not mere myths. They originate from Navajo legends and are considered humans who were once medicine men or witches who reached great power but chose a dark path known as the Witchery Way. Unlike healers who use their abilities to cure and protect, Skinwalkers channel their magic into malevolent acts. To become a Skinwalker, a person must commit an unthinkable act, usually murdering a close family member such as a sibling or parent. This act symbolizes a complete severing from humanity and moral connection to the community. The pursuit of this power is often driven by revenge, the desire to spread disease, manipulate others’ minds, or achieve immortality and extraordinary speed.
The most terrifying feature of a Skinwalker is its ability to transform. The name itself comes from their use of animal skins as conduits for their shape-shifting powers. They can wear the hides of wolves, coyotes, bears, owls, or other animals, with coyotes being the most commonly reported form. When transformed, Skinwalkers exhibit unnatural characteristics. Their eyes may glow red or retain the human gaze of their original form. They can move at impossible speeds, sometimes reported running alongside cars on empty highways. Skinwalkers are also able to mimic human sounds, such as the cry of a child or a friend calling for help, luring victims into dangerous situations.
For the Navajo, Skinwalkers are a real and present danger. Talking about them outside the tribe is strictly avoided, as simply naming or thinking about a Skinwalker is believed to attract its attention. Eye contact is considered especially dangerous, as Skinwalkers can enter a person’s mind, controlling their actions or causing illness and death. According to legend, the only way to kill a Skinwalker is to speak its true name while it is in its animal form. If the true name is revealed, the Skinwalker will die within three days, struck down by the very evil it has committed.
It is important to distinguish between medicine men and Skinwalkers. Medicine men are respected healers who protect and guide their communities. Skinwalkers, in contrast, represent the absolute perversion of this power, embodying imbalance and pure evil. Reports from Arizona and New Mexico describe terrifying encounters with creatures that appear part human and part animal, running at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour alongside vehicles at night. Witnesses often describe a chilling combination of intelligence and menace in the glowing eyes of these beings, a reminder of the dark power that Skinwalkers are said to possess.
The legend of the Skinwalker endures as a cautionary tale, warning against the corrupting influence of power used for selfish or evil purposes and reminding communities of the delicate balance between humanity, morality, and the unseen spiritual world.