The idea that we can shift our shapes here on the physical plane is a misunderstanding of shamaic techniques in which the shaman would take on another shape while journeying on the astral plane. You cannot alter your physical shape here on the physical plane.
Truly, I think you need to spend some time studying about what magic is really all about and what magic can and cannot do. From your posts it's obvious that you are caught up in the Hollywood fantasy of magic and those sorts of things just don't happen in real life.
Well, if you're serious about learning how to do magic and with starting from the rock-bottom then you don't start out by casting spells, you start out by learning how and why magic works.
You see, there is no such thing as an "easy" spell or a "beginner" spell. One either understands how magic works and has mastered the basics...in which case the magic will work..or you haven't done that sort of work..and no spell will work no matter how "easy" it seems.
Casting a successful spell involves much more than finding some spell on the internet or in a book, saying some words, lighting a candle, waving a wand of any of that sort of thing. In order for magic to work you need to understand how and why it works in the first place. Grounding and centering, visualization, focus and intent, energy manipulation, etc are all necessary first steps to even begin to have a chance at a spell actually working...and more importantly to prevent a spell from back-firing on you.
So, my advice for anyone who is truly serious is to start by reading a few books and practicing the exercises those books will give you. Once you have mastered the basics you won't need anyone to give you spells, you'll be able to create your own spells that will be far more effective than anything you find on the net. Here's the books I suggest:
"Before You Cast a Spell" by Carl McColman
"Spells and How They Work" by Janet and Stewart Farrar
I am interested in learning traditional witchcraft using my intuition to guide me through ancient/ historical texts. Do you have an recommendations for text that can help me? I am interested to work from the beginning - meaning not contemporary or modern illustrations.