Sorry for not answering you for awhile. Unfortunately I can't at the moment (at least not very well), but once I master entering the projection I would love to know how to gain the ability spiritually shapeshift, specifically shifting into a wolf for instance.
The process itself is ridiculously simple. From your attraction to wolves I can assume you're oriented towards predatory forms? I also advise that you look into psychic vampirism as well.
Shapeshifting aside, I'll give you my instructions once you can astral project, because without that "experience" my instructions won't make much sense.
This "experience" is the perception that you are not your body, your physical senses aren't your only senses, and that the laws of matter don't bind you as much when you are not in your body.
The way I know you project is to meditate or relax, you should feel like you're going to fall asleep, then you can think of falling, floating, or even visualize a rope to pull yourself up. Easiest I found is to lie on your bed and focus on floating to the ceiling. For your first projection, try simply floating to the ceiling, then turning around to look at yourself lying on the bed, and then drift back into your body. Once you get the hang of moving around your room, just think of the Astral and you should automatically be transported there. The plane looks different to different people, I'm usually by a lake, but I've got a friend who visits dragons in a meadow. When you are ready to return, think of your room, then yourself.
Shapeshifting however I haven't really tried, but I feel the concept is similar to projection. Take your time and when you feel ready, visualize yourself as a wolf, or a faerie, or whatever you wish to transform into. I am told it takes a lot of spiritual energy to do this, but I'm not too sure about that, so just try one transformation, return home, and record how you feel. You wouldn't want to drain yourself.
@MagicAlpha
You can physically shift, I am not not sure you can astral shift. You would be trying to change your soul into something it's not, I am pretty sure you can't do that, you can change your body though.
Actually, the astral body is not the soul. It is what's in between the physical body and spirit body, so it wouldn't do any harm. Physically shape shifting, though, I'm sure is impossible. Unless you were born otherwise, you'll be human forever.
Also, Cabdace, I just noticed that I replied to a forum post by you on a similar topic. Just to make things clear, I am not singling you out and have just been going around on different forums. I apologize if it seems like I am being excessive towards you.
