The ash spear holds the power of transmutation – to change the essence of a thing. Compare this with transformation which is change in the form of something –  to change the external form of a thing. This can be as simple as changing one’s clothes – for example changing from wearing jeans and a t-shirt into ritual robes. It can also mean projecting one’s consciousness temporarily into another form such as a rock, tree, or animal. Transformation is a powerful shapeshifting ability in its own right as those who understand the magic and power inherent in self-expression as a form of art can confirm. Transmutation occurs at a deeper level. It’s the type of changes that occur when we go through difficult or profound moments in life that leave us feeling changed from the inside out. It is difficult if not impossible to return to one's original state after a transmutational event. A classic example of this would be a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.