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The otherkin subculture is made up of people who describe themselves as non-human in some way, usually as a mythological or legendary creature. Otherkin should not be confused with role-players

The community grew out of the online elven community of the early to mid-1990s, with the earliest recorded use of the term "otherkin" appearing in early 1996; however, from the context it appears clear that it was already well established. . It was coined when it became clear that those people within the emerging subculture were identifying themselves as a number of different mythological creatures, such as fairies, unicorns and satyrs, and not just as elves. The definition of the term is fluid, sometimes expanding to include animals, aliens, and an assortment of other kinds, but the core definition of mythological creatures is agreed on within the community.

Despite this, the otherkin umbrella has expanded over time, and is often used nowadays to describe a number of communities with similar beliefs. Examples of these are the draconic , vampire and therianthrope communities — all of which share similar core beliefs, but whose members may not consider themselves part of the mainstream otherkin community. There are also elements of the furry community, sometimes called furry lifestylers, that hold such "species dysphoric" beliefs about various animal species.

Otherkin describe their non-human aspects as being either spiritual, philosophical or sometimes biological in nature. The spiritual and philosophical paradigms, especially, are seen as different and valid ways of being otherkin, rather than being in opposition to each other. There is more debate about the biological paradigm.

Sometimes a combination of non-human natures is professed, such as being both elf and werewolf, or angel and cat.

Spiritual beliefs

Otherkin most commonly believe themselves to be human in biology but "other" in spirit, often attributing this to reincarnation or a "misplaced" soul. These otherkin most commonly claim to receive visions and memories from their past lives. The otherkin community also has a relatively high proportion of people who claim to have multiple personalities. These people may describe internal personalities with different otherkin types and sometimes include entirely separate souls amongst their number. A parallel has also been drawn between otherkin and transsexuality, resulting in the neologism trans-speciesism: the conviction that one is in a body of the wrong species.

Philosophical beliefs

As the community has grown more sophisticated, a number of people have begun explaining their association with non-human imagery as a way of understanding and exploring themselves. Another idea otherkin associate with is totemism. Such an explanation for an otherkin's bond with another entity — with the totem guiding or temporarily taking possession of the human body — is especially popular among those involved with Paganism and the New Age movement.

Physiological beliefs

A few otherkin describe themselves as biologically non-human — for example, by tracing their distant, or not-so-distant, ancestry to a non-human. They may claim, at least partially, to have the mentality and instincts of their "other" nature. Some otherkin have expressed a desire to undergo genetic testing to see if they have any extremely unusual genetic traits.

Some otherkin claim to feel wings, tails, and other organs from past incarnations that are not part of their human body. This sensation is described as similar to the "phantom limb" (phantom pain) condition.

Otherkin often describe unusual behaviour traits that would not fit in with the mainstream of their culture. Although none of these traits are common enough to be considered identifying traits, there are some which are repeatedly mentioned by different members of the same otherkin type.

Therianthrope and vampire-type otherkin, for example, may describe unusual cravings such as needing to eat raw meat or to drink blood. Many dragon-type otherkin describe a strong tendency to hoard, although this is a common tendency across Western society.

Awakening: identifying as otherkin

The otherkin subculture describes the process of beginning to identify oneself as otherkin as Awakening. The process of awakening has much in common with that of religious revelation or conversion. Depending on the individual concerned, it can be very sudden or a gradual process. It may be validating or traumatizing. The individual may also believe he or she is recovering past life memories.

Otherkin themselves state very clearly that their perceived non-human traits are innate. In the awakening process, they generally consider that something is being revealed about themselves that had previously been hidden. Otherkin frequently attest to lifelong feelings of alienation or loneliness, or of homesickness for places they have never seen or cannot identify. They may claim higher levels of psychic, magical or spiritual awareness; equally, they may claim none of these things.

Awakening may be triggered by references in the media or literature or by the company of local otherkin. However, it is not uncommon for people to state that they awakened independently of the community or before they had ever heard of the concept of otherkin.

Despite the conviction in the community that otherkin are born, not made, there is no clear definition on what constitutes "otherness." One effect of this is that anyone who asserts mainstream otherkin status is very unlikely to be contradicted by the community itself.

However, those who profess more unusual beliefs are likely to meet with controversy. One example of this is the otakukin (or otakin) community, who associate with Japanese media such as anime or video games. Some otakukin state that the media they have associated with remind them of past lives. There is a tendency for people to be accused of role-playing if their claims are considered implausible; this has been referred to as "subculture intolerance."

See also

• Draconity
• Elenari
• Therianthropy
• Vampire lifestyle
• Were
• Clinical lycanthropy

External links

• Otherkin.net
• What Are Otherkin?
• Otherkin, Labels, and Spirituality
• The Otherkin FAQ
• What does it mean to be a were — and is were is the word to use?

References

1. "Defining otherkin". Kinhost.org : Otherkin FAQ v 4.0.1 (2/8/01). 8 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
2. "Board rules and Information". hiddenlair.org. 20 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
3. "elvenrealities". WebRing: hub. 10 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
4. "Vampyr and elves". Google Groups : alt.vampyres. 10 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
5. "Here and Now". Otherkin.net : Rants and Rambles. 9 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
6. "Defining otherkin". Otherkin.net : Wiki : Manual. 19 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
7. "Otherkin (Spritedust's definition)". Urban Dictionary. 15 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
8. "The Draconity FAQ". tomorrowlands.org. December. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
9. "alt.culture.vampires FAQ". alt.culture.vampyres website. 19 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
10. "Therianthropy: an overview". shifters.org. 30 December. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
11. "What are Otherkin?". Drink Deeply & Dream : Vampiric Forum. 6 October. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
12. "Furry lifestylers". Misplaced Pages. 19 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
13. "What are otherkin?". Otherkin.net : Articles. 6 April. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
14. "Here and Now". Otherkin.net : Rants and Rambles. 9 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
15. "looking for someone who understainds." Werewolf.com Discussion Boards : Therianthropy and Spirituality. 2 June. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
16. "Dealing with the Bloodthirst". Sanguinarius: Vampire Guide. 21 November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
17. "Trans-speciesism". Draconity Resource Project. 2 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
18. "Kinjou Ten's Temple of the Ota-'kin". Otherkin.net. 22 May. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
19. "Otherkin behaviour patterns". Otherkin.net. 5 February. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

• Otherkin
• Spirituality