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| == Theriantrophy == | |||
| {{short description|Mythological ability or affliction to metamorphose into animals}} | |||
| '''''Therianthropy''''' is the belief of having/when someone has a non-human identity, and it pertains more to '''''Therians'''''. It is part of the Otherkin community. In the Therian community, many different theriotypes can be found. The most common theriotype is Wolf. It is possible to find arachnid therians as well as insects and slugs. To find your theriotype, a lot of self discovery has to be done. Meditation is usually used by therians as well as using dreams. Some therians can remember past lives, but that is NOT at all connected. '''(DO NOT USE TIKTOK TO FIGURE OUT YOUR THERIOTYPE, ALL THE INFO ON THERE IS NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE!)''' It isn't entirely clear as why this happens, but it does nontheless. Therianthrophy is no way a religion, choice, dealing with Zoophiles or related to Furries. Furries are not automatically therians, as being a furry is a choice and a hobby. It is possible, however, for a therian to choose to become a Furry. | |||
| {{For|people who identify as not entirely human|Otherkin}} | |||
| {{Merging to|Shapeshifting|date=September 2023|discuss=Talk:Shapeshifting#Merge Shapeshifting and Therianthropy}} | |||
| Being a therian is a different experience for everyone. It involves usually having non-human urges, shifts, and other animalistic traits. Therian's usually know by noting their urges. For example, a carnivore therian may crave raw meat constantly or a therian that has a tail can feel it move. Not all therians "bark". These are vocals, and are not done constantly. In fact, some therians don't even do vocals! | |||
| == Shift Definitions == | |||
| '''Therianthropy''' is the ] ability or affliction of individuals to ] into animals or ] by means of ]. It is possible that cave drawings found at ], in France, depict ancient beliefs in the concept. {{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} | |||
| Shifts are common in the therian community, but not always experienced. These can be triggered by many things, such as: | |||
| The best-known form of therianthropy, called lycanthropy, is found in stories of ]. | |||
| Meditation | |||
| == Etymology == | |||
| The term ''therianthropy'' comes from the ] ''thēríon'' , meaning "wild animal" or "beast" (implicitly mammalian), and ''anthrōpos'' , meaning "human being". It was used to refer to animal transformation folklore of Europe as early as 1901.<ref name="De Groot 171">{{cite book | last= De Groot| first= J.J.M.| year=1901| title=The Religious System of China: Volume IV| location= Leiden| publisher= Brill| page=171}}</ref> Sometimes the term "]" is used instead.<ref>{{cite book| last=Guiley| first=R.E.| year=2005| title=The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves & Other Monsters| location=New York| publisher=Facts on File| isbn=0-8160-4685-9| page=| url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofva0000guil/page/192}}</ref> | |||
| Other therians | |||
| Therianthropy was used to describe spiritual beliefs in animal transformation in a 1915 Japanese publication, ''A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era''.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_NnsEAAAAMAAJ| quote=therianthropy.| title=A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era| first=Frank| last= Brinkley|author2=Dairoku Kikuchi | year=1915| publisher=The Encyclopædia Britannica Co}}</ref> One source, ''The Human Predator'', raises the possibility the term may have been used as early as the 16th century in criminal trials of suspected werewolves.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation| first=Katherine| last=Ramsland| publisher= Berkley Hardcover| year= 2005| isbn= 0-425-20765-X}}</ref> | |||
| Being around animals/your kintype | |||
| ==History of therianthropy and theriocephaly== | |||
| Therianthropy refers to the fantastical, or mythological, ability of some humans to change into animals.<ref>{{cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Aberrations: A Psychiatric Handbook | author = Edward Podolsky | publisher = Philosophical Library | year = 1953}}</ref> Therianthropes are said to change forms via shapeshifting. Therianthropy has long existed in ], and seems to be depicted in ancient cave drawings<ref name=BritannicaOnline>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica| title=Trois Freres| access-date=2006-12-06| url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9073471/Trois-Freres}}</ref> such as ], a ] executed at the Palaeolithic cave drawings found in the ] at the ], France, archeological site. | |||
| Being in your theriotypes habitat or even outdoors | |||
| '']'' (Greek "animal headedness") refers to beings that have an animal head attached to an anthropomorphic, or human, body; for example, the animal-headed forms of gods depicted in ] (such as ], ], ]). | |||
| Strong emotions | |||
| ==Mythology of human shapeshifting== | |||
| {{Main|Shapeshifting}} | |||
| Memories of past lives | |||
| ]" by ].]] | |||
| ''Shapeshifting'' in ], mythology and ] generally refers to the alteration of physical appearance from that of a human to that of another species. Lycanthropy, the transformation of a human into a wolf (or werewolf), is probably the best-known form of therianthropy, followed by ] (transformation into a canine) and '']'' (transformation into a cat).<ref name="Greene 229">{{cite book |last=Greene |first= R. |year=2000| title=The Magic of Shape-shifting |location=York Beach, Me |publisher=Weiser |isbn= 1-57863-171-8 |page=229}}</ref> ]s are present in the stories of several ] and ]n cultures. Ancient ] legends from Asia talk of form-changing ] known as ''kurtadams'', which translates to "wolfman".{{Citation needed |date=September 2014}} Ancient Greeks wrote of ''kynanthropy'', from κύων ''kyōn''<ref>; Woodhouse's English-Greek Dictionary; (1910)</ref> (or "canine"), which applied to mythological beings able to alternate between animal form and human form, or who possessed combined animal and human anatomical features.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} | |||
| Dreams | |||
| The term existed by at least 1901, when it was applied to stories from China about humans turning into dogs, dogs becoming people, and sexual relations between humans and canines.<ref name="De Groot 184">{{cite book |last= De Groot |first= J.J.M. |year=1901| title=The Religious System of China: Volume IV |location= Leiden| publisher= Brill| page=184}}</ref> Anthropologist David Gordon White called Central Asia the "vortex of cynanthropy" because races of dog-men were habitually placed there by ancient writers. The weredog or cynanthrope is also known in ]. It is described as a human-canine shapeshifter who is capable of transforming other people into animals, even against their will. {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} | |||
| There are many types of shifts, which are explained below. It is important to always remember that shifts do not make you a therian. Some therians don't ever shift. | |||
| European folklore features ]s, who can transform into panthers or domestic cats of an enlarged size.<ref name="giant werecat">{{cite book |last = Greene |first = Rosalyn |title = The Magic of Shapeshifting |publisher = ] |year = 2000 |page = 9}}</ref> African legends describe people who turn into ]s or ]s, while Asian werecats are typically depicted as becoming ]s.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} | |||
| ===Skin-walkers and naguals=== | |||
| {{Main|Skin-walker|Nagual}} | |||
| =====Voluntary Shifts===== | |||
| Some ] legends talk about skin-walkers—people with the supernatural ability to turn into any animal they desire. To do so, however, they first must be wearing a pelt of the specific animal. In the folk religion of ], a ''nagual'' (or ''nahual'') is a human being who has the power to magically turn themselves into animal forms—most commonly donkeys, turkeys, and dogs—but can also transform into more powerful jaguars and pumas. {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} | |||
| Voluntary shifts are when an indivdual therian allows their animal mindset to take over. Therians do this when they are comfortable in their surroundings. Younger therians usually embrace this shift and express them openly, while older therians tend to hide them due to bullying or even just because they don't wish to express them. These can be surpressed easily. This can be triggered by the therian's willpower, too. | |||
| === |
=====Involuntary Shifts===== | ||
| Involuntary Shifts | |||
| ], the ] could transform into swans.]] | |||
| Involuntary shifts are when an indivdual therian shifts due to being startled, hurt, etc. These shifts can either be good or bad. Younger therians experience these more, while older therians have more of a control on these as well. Examples of these shifts are | |||
| -A wolf therian howling in pain when they stub their toe | |||
| Stories of humans descending from animals are found in the oral traditions of many tribal and clan origins. Sometimes the original animals had assumed human form in order to ensure their descendants retained their human shapes; other times the ] is of a human marrying a normal animal. | |||
| -A cat therian hissing when being startled | |||
| North American ] mingle the ideas of ] ancestors and ursine shapeshifters, with bears often being able to shed their skins to assume human form, marrying human women in this guise. The offspring may be creatures with combined anatomy, they may be very beautiful children with uncanny strength, or they may be shapeshifters themselves.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pijoan |first= T. |year=1992 |title=White Wolf Woman & Other Native American Transformation Myths |url=https://archive.org/details/whitewolfwomanna0000pijo |url-access=registration |location= Little Rock |publisher= August House |isbn= 0-87483-200-4 |page=}}</ref> | |||
| -A predatory therian (therian with a predator theriotype) getting defensive over food | |||
| P'an Hu is represented in various ] as a ] dog, a dog-headed man, or a canine shapeshifter that married an emperor's daughter and founded at least one race. When he is depicted as a shapeshifter, all of him can become human except for his head. The race(s) descended from P'an Hu were often characterized by Chinese writers as monsters who combined human and dog anatomy.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first= D.G. |year=1991 |title=Myths of the Dog-Man |url=https://archive.org/details/mythsdogman00whit |url-access=limited |location= Chicago |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |isbn= 0-226-89509-2 |page=}}</ref> | |||
| ===== Mental Shifting ===== | |||
| In ], the wolf is a revered animal. The Turkic legends say the people were descendants of wolves. The legend of ] is an old Turkic myth that tells of how the Turkic people were created. In the legend, a small Turkic village in northern China is raided by Chinese soldiers, with one baby left behind. An old she-wolf with a sky-blue mane named Asena finds the baby and nurses him. She later gives birth to half-wolf, half-human cubs who are the ancestors of the Turkic people.<ref> Turkey Interactive CD-ROM; 2007-08-11.</ref><ref>T.C. Kultur Bakanligi; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404172049/http://www.discoverturkey.com/english/kultursanat/h-nevruz.html |date=2007-04-04 }}; Ministry of Culture, Republic of Turkey; accessed 2007-08-11</ref> | |||
| Mental shifting is when a therian's mind turns to their animal form. They get animal urges and start doing vocals, making dens, hunting things, etc. Some will even do quadrobics. | |||
| === |
=====Phantom Shifting===== | ||
| Phantom shifting is when a therian can feel or see their animal limbs. This is not a physical shift whatsoever, so others cannot see their limbs. However, other therians could sense them. The limbs include usually paws, tails, ears, legs, etc. | |||
| Ethnologist Ivar Lissner theorized that cave paintings of beings with human and non-human animal features were not physical representations of mythical shapeshifters, but were instead attempts to depict ] in the process of acquiring the mental and spiritual attributes of various beasts.<ref name="Steiger 1999">{{cite book |last=Steiger| first= B.| year=1999| title=The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings |location=Farmington Hills, MI| publisher=Visible Ink |isbn=1-57859-078-7}}</ref> Religious historian ] has observed that beliefs regarding animal identity and transformation into animals are widespread.<ref name=Eliade>{{cite book |last=Eliade |first=Mircea |title=Rites and Symbols of Initiation: the mysteries of birth and rebirth |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1965}}</ref> | |||
| === |
=====Dream Shifting===== | ||
| Dream shifting is when a therian falls asleep and their inner animal stimulates their brain, causing their dreams to reflect their theriotype. | |||
| ]'', a painting by ].]] | |||
| In ]n cultures there exists the belief in the ''tamaniu'' or ''atai'', which describes the animal counterpart to a person.<ref name=":1" /> Specifically among the Solomon Islands in Melanesia, the term ''atai'' means "soul" in the Mota language and is closely related to the term ''ata,'' meaning a "reflected image" in Maori and "shadow" in Samoan. Terms relating to the "spirit" in these islands such as ''figona and vigona'' convey a being that has not been in human form<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ivens |first=Walter |date=January 1934 |title=The Diversity of Culture in Melanesia. |journal=The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland |volume=64 |pages=45–56 |doi=10.2307/2843946 |jstor=2843946}}</ref> The animal counterpart depicted may take the form of an eel, shark, lizard, or some other creature. This creature is considered to be corporeal and can understand human speech. It shares the same soul as its master. This concept is found in similar legends which have many characteristics typical of shapeshifter tales. Among these characteristics is the theory that death or injury would affect both the human and animal form at once.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Hamel |first= F. |year= 1969 |title=Human Animals, Werewolves & Other Transformations |location= New Hyde Park, NY |publisher= University Books |isbn= 0-8216-0092-3|page=21}}</ref> | |||
| =====Cameo Shifting===== | |||
| ==Fiction== | |||
| This is when a therian experiences a shift that isn't their kintype. This doesn't happen often. | |||
| In ], the ability of a fictional character to transform into an animal or ] is called '''animorphism'''. It is a common ]. In some cases, the transformation is involuntary, caused by magic, a ], or some other ] force,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reddleman |first=Claire |date=2015-05-04 |title=Vampires, Foetuses and Ventriloquism: Metaphor as a Representational Strategy in Capital Volume 1 |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08854300.2015.1037604 |journal=Socialism and Democracy |language=en |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=25–40 |doi=10.1080/08854300.2015.1037604 |s2cid=142976229 |issn=0885-4300}}</ref> while in other cases, the transformation is voluntary and controllable. Animorphism may be used to explore ] of ]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anderson |first=Nicole |date=2020 |title=Humanimal Politics |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27092960 |journal=Mosaic: An Interdisciplinary Critical Journal |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=125–137 |issn=0027-1276 |jstor=27092960}}</ref> and belonging. It has also be used to examine the relationship between humans and animals,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/wein17214 |title=Posthumous Life: Theorizing Beyond the Posthuman |date=2017 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-17214-1 |editor-last1=Weinstein |editor-first1=Jami |doi=10.7312/wein17214 |jstor=10.7312/wein17214 |editor-last2=Colebrook |editor-first2=Claire}}</ref> and to drive considerations about wider issues relating to animal rights.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Bogna |first=Konior |date=2018-01-24 |title=Animorphism in the anthropocene: nonhuman personhood in activist art practice |url=https://scholars.hkbu.edu.hk/ws/portalfiles/portal/55052895/OA-0504.pdf |publisher=Hong Kong Baptist University |access-date=2023-08-08 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=LeeAnn |first=Derdeyn |date=2018-11-26 |title=Trauma and the Anthropocene: Fear and Loathing in Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk |url=https://academic.oup.com/isle/article/25/4/767/5210276 |access-date=2023-08-09 |journal=ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=767–785 |doi=10.1093/isle/isy059|doi-access=free }}</ref> | |||
| =====Astral Shifting===== | |||
| == Psychiatric aspects == | |||
| This happens when a therian is meditating. It helps the therian see their theriotype. | |||
| Among a sampled set of psychiatric patients, the belief of being part animal, or '']'', is generally associated with severe psychosis but not always with any specific psychiatric diagnosis or neurological findings.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Keck PE, Pope HG, Hudson JI, McElroy SL, Kulick AR |title=Lycanthropy: alive and well in the twentieth century |journal=Psychol Med |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=113–20 |date=February 1988 |pmid=3363031 |doi=10.1017/S003329170000194X|s2cid=27491377 }}</ref> Others regard clinical lycanthropy as a delusion in the sense of the ] found in ] and ] disorders, or as a symptom of other psychiatric disorders.<ref name="Garlipp">{{cite journal | title=Lycanthropy—psychopathological and psychodynamically aspects | journal=] |date=January 2004 | volume=109 | issue=1 | pages=19–22 | last=Garlipp | first=P |author2=Godecke-Koch T |author3=Dietrich DE |author4=Haltenhof H. | doi=10.1046/j.1600-0447.2003.00243.x | pmid=14674954| s2cid=41324350 }}</ref> | |||
| =====Sensory Shift===== | |||
| == Modern Therianthropy == | |||
| This is when a therian's senses reflects their kintype. it includes senses like sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. | |||
| '''Therians''' are individuals who experience therianthropy, an involuntary identity as a non-human animal on a non-physical level. Some may experience involuntary animalistic behaviors/urges, but this is not required to be a therian. While therians mainly attribute their experiences of therianthropy to either spirituality or psychology, the way in which they consider their therian identity is not a defining characteristic of therianthropy; as long as a person identifies their sense of self as being that of a non-human animal, they can be considered a therian.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1525/nr.2012.15.3.65| title = We Are Spirits of Another Sort| journal = Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions| volume = 15| issue = 3| pages = 65–90| year = 2012| last1 = Laycock| first1 = Joseph P.}}</ref><ref name="Cohen 104">{{cite book| last=Cohen| first=D.| year=1996| title=Werewolves| location=New York| publisher=Penguin| isbn=0-525-65207-8| page=| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/werewolves00cohe_0/page/104}}</ref> The animal which a therian identifies as is known by the community as a "theriotype", and this can refer to either the animal they identify as or, more specifically their own non-human animal identity. For example, a therian who believes in reincarnation may use the word "theriotype" to refer specifically to their past life or, more generally, to indicate that they are speaking about the animal species they identify as. Therians often use the term "species dysphoria" to describe their feelings of disconnect from their human bodies and their underlying desire to live as their theriotype. Species dysphoria is common but not present in all therians.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=A Field Guide to Otherkin|last=Lupa|publisher=Megalithic Books|year=2007|isbn=978-1905713073}}</ref> The concept of species dysphoria has often been compared to ], in that there is a similar sense of incongruence between the person's physical body and their internal sense of self. Some non-human identifying people oppose this comparison, stating that "they are separate ... identities". Others intentionally parallel the two, highlighting the similarities.<ref>{{Cite journal|first1=Venetia Laura Delano |last1=Robertson |date=2006|title=The Law of the Jungle: Self and Community in the Online Therianthropy Movement|journal=The Pomegranate|volume=14 |issue=2 |at=page 274 of 256–280|doi=10.1558/pome.v14i2.256 }}</ref> Species dysphoria, or species identity disorder, has been proposed as a mental disorder.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Gerbasi|first1=Kathleen|last2=Bernstein|first2=Penny|last3=Conway|first3=Samuel|last4=Scaletta|first4=Laura|last5=Privitera|first5=Adam|last6=Paolone|first6=Nicholas|last7=Higner|first7=Justin|date=2008-08-01|title=Furries from A to Z (Anthropomorphism to Zoomorphism)|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228468848|journal=Society and Animals|volume=16|issue=3 |pages=197–222|doi=10.1163/156853008X323376}}</ref> A now-defunct therian website suggested a criterion for a diagnosis, based on the diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Gerbasi et al. noted the "striking" similarities between species and gender dysphoria, leading them to tentatively suggest a medical diagnosis of species identity disorder, however being a therian is not a disorder. | |||
| <ref name=":2" /> Others have compared species dysphoria with ], terming it "species dysmorphia" instead.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Clegg|first1=Helen|last2=Collings|first2=Roz|last3=Roxburgh|first3=Elizabeth C|date=2019|title=Therianthropy: Wellbeing, Schizotypy, and Autism in Individuals Who Self-Identify as Non-Human|journal=Society & Animals|volume=27|issue=4 |pages=403–426|doi=10.1163/15685306-12341540 |s2cid=149663734 |url=http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/34612/1/12131_1131a_Roxburgh.pdf }}</ref> A participant in Proctor's paper stated that they would consider it a form of ], rather than a medical diagnosis, "unless it had major and negative impact on someone's life".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Proctor|first=Devin|date=2018-09-29|title=Policing the Fluff: The Social Construction of Scientistic Selves in Otherkin Facebook Groups|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327969897|journal=Engaging Science, Technology, and Society|volume=4|pages=485–514|doi=10.17351/ests2018.252|s2cid=55833371 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The identity "transspecies" is used by some, furthering the similarities between identifying as a different species and a different gender.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grivell|first1=Timothy|last2=Clegg|first2=Helen|last3=Roxburgh|first3=Elizabeth C|date=2014|title=An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Identity in the Therian Community|journal=Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research|volume=14|issue=2 |pages=113–135|doi=10.1080/15283488.2014.891999 |s2cid=144047707 |via=Routledge}}</ref> | |||
| === |
=====Physical Shifting===== | ||
| This is the idea that therians can physically become their theriotype. This is in NO WAY possible. You sadly cannot shift to your kintype. Be careful when therians who "can do this" interact with you. | |||
| In an online community survey of 523 non-human identifying people, 75.1% said they experienced species dysphoria, and 8.2% were unsure.<ref>Who-is-page, 2021, The 2021 Nonhumanity & Body | |||
| == Quadrobics == | |||
| Modification/Decoration Survey Results Breakdown, https://invisibleotherkin.neocities.org/files/BodyModification-DecorationSurveyResults.pdf</ref> In four surveys of ] (n = 4338/1761/951/1065), depending on the sample, between 25% and 44% responded that they consider themselves to be "less than 100% human", compared to 7% of a sample (n = 802) of the general American population.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Plante|first1=Courtney, N|url=https://furscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fur-Science-Final-pdf-for-Website_2017_10_18.pdf|title=FurScience! A Summary of Five Years of Research from the International Anthropomorphic Research Project|last2=Reysen|first2=Stephen|last3=Roberts|first3=Sharon E|last4=Gerbasi|first4=Kathleen C|publisher=FurScience|year=2016|isbn=978-0-9976288-0-7|location=Waterloo, Ontario, Canada|language=English}}</ref> | |||
| Quadrobics are something therians do, which involves walking, running, cantering, etc. but on all fours. HOWEVER, this doesn't make a therian at all. This can be done by non therians. It is recongnized as a sport because a human body is used to walking on two legs. When doing quads, therians train their body to do this. It takes FOREVER to learn flawlessly and not get exhausted. | |||
| === Shifting === | |||
| Many but not all therians describe experiences of temporarily feeling more in touch with their animal/creature-self than they do at other times, and this phenomenon is known by the community as "shifting", with the experiences being known as "shifts". Shifts can vary indefinitely in the length of time for which they are experienced, and the intensity with which they are felt. They can also be triggered intentionally, or unintentionally, usually by stimuli relating to a person's theriotype. While shifting is often regarded as a positive experience, the disruption caused by unintentional triggers, and heightened feelings of species-dysphoria, can also lead to therians experiencing shifts as negative experiences too. Shifts are normally experienced in a state of consciousness, although dream shifts (in which a therian has the body of their theriotype) are an exception to this. Some therians attribute their knowledge of their own therianthropic identities to their experiences of shifting. For example, a coyote therian most likely will begin to identify as a coyote after experiencing dreams in which their body takes the form of a coyote. Types of shifts include: | |||
| == Conclusion == | |||
| - '''Mental shift''': A shift in the thought pattern of a Therian/Otherkin individual from human to one more of a therio/kintype. | |||
| Therianthropy has NOTHING to do with physical shifting. If you see something in this article claiming this, get rid of the info immedeatly like I have. If you wish to learn more that wasn't covered, look to other sources. Therian Guide, Therian Territory, PD, and Opal and Friends are good sources of longtime therians. You can find Therian Territory and PD (Pink Dolphin) on YouTube. Opal and Friends is on TikTok and a good source of accurate info. | |||
| Sources and citations: | |||
| - '''Phantom shift''': The feeling of having or expecting to have a specific body part of your therio/kintype that your human body does not have, or the feeling of body part being formed differently than physical part. The sensation can fluctuate from a tingling feeling to a well defined body part that interacts with the physical world, depending on the person and moment. | |||
| https://www.therian-guide.com/index.php/1-home | |||
| - '''Sensory shift''': A shift in the focus of your sensory input to the generally more important or used senses of your therio-/kintype. This, to some, can make a Therian/Otherkin feel as if their senses are heightened and therefore working better than usual. | |||
| https://www.youtube.com/@TherianTerritory | |||
| - '''Perception shift''': A shift in one's perception about outside world factors or self-image. The therian perceives things in a way which is more associated with their animal side and this perception occurs (at least initially) on a subconscious level. The human logic is often replaced by the theriotype's logic, and it's often experienced as a sudden and jarring (de)realization. | |||
| - '''Astral shift''': Mainly seen in meditation and disassociation, this shift is the experience of leaving your human body as your therio-/kintype and entering the Astral Plane. This is a spiritual related shift that requires to believe in the Astral Plane. | |||
| - '''Aura shift''': This occurs when your shape or form of an auric field or life energy field changes to that of the theriotype. This is a spiritual related shift that it requires the belief in auras which are considered paranormal. | |||
| - '''Dream shift''': The experience of being your therio-/kintype, or experiencing any other shift, in your dreams, whether this be first or third person (not second). | |||
| - '''Bi-locational shift''': The feeling of being at two places at the same time, often being the natural habitat of your therio/kintype. It's often experienced as an overlap of sensory input or a vivid daydream. | |||
| - '''Cameo shift''': Experiencing any kind of shift that does not align with your own therio-/kintype. (Recently the unofficial term 'cameotype' was created for those who have frequently returning cameoshifts from a certain species, but they don't identify with/as this animal/creature in any way). This often happens to kithtypes (See: Otherhearted). | |||
| - '''Emotional shift''': Any undefined shift that stems from a peak of any emotion. | |||
| - '''Spiritual shift''': Any undefined shift that requires you to believe your alterhumanity is inherently spiritual, such as the Astral shift and the Aura shift. | |||
| - '''Shift trigger''': Any form of trigger that can cause a shift. Common examples of a shift trigger are listening to certain music, being in a specific habitat or feeling a certain emotion, causing them to react how their therio/kin type would react. | |||
| - '''Grounding''': A term used to describe the conscious effort to go back to a more human state, often by the use of reversing triggers. | |||
| - '''Self-induced shift''': A shift that has been consciously triggered by choice. These types of shifts are not reliable when looking for a therio/kintype. | |||
| The therian community is generally considered to be connected with the ] community, which consists of individuals who non-physically exist as any particular non-human creature on a non-physical level, often associated with but not limited to non-earthen beings. However, unlike otherkin, therians psychologically or spiritually identify as animals, or the being that is themselves in their whole being, and the two movements are culturally and historically distinct. People often mistake therians and furries, but they are completely different.<ref name=":0" />{{Page needed|date=December 2021}} | |||
| == See also == | |||
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| ==References== | |||
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Revision as of 19:03, 10 November 2023
Theriantrophy
Therianthropy is the belief of having/when someone has a non-human identity, and it pertains more to Therians. It is part of the Otherkin community. In the Therian community, many different theriotypes can be found. The most common theriotype is Wolf. It is possible to find arachnid therians as well as insects and slugs. To find your theriotype, a lot of self discovery has to be done. Meditation is usually used by therians as well as using dreams. Some therians can remember past lives, but that is NOT at all connected. (DO NOT USE TIKTOK TO FIGURE OUT YOUR THERIOTYPE, ALL THE INFO ON THERE IS NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE!) It isn't entirely clear as why this happens, but it does nontheless. Therianthrophy is no way a religion, choice, dealing with Zoophiles or related to Furries. Furries are not automatically therians, as being a furry is a choice and a hobby. It is possible, however, for a therian to choose to become a Furry.
Being a therian is a different experience for everyone. It involves usually having non-human urges, shifts, and other animalistic traits. Therian's usually know by noting their urges. For example, a carnivore therian may crave raw meat constantly or a therian that has a tail can feel it move. Not all therians "bark". These are vocals, and are not done constantly. In fact, some therians don't even do vocals!
Shift Definitions
Shifts are common in the therian community, but not always experienced. These can be triggered by many things, such as:
Meditation
Other therians
Being around animals/your kintype
Being in your theriotypes habitat or even outdoors
Strong emotions
Memories of past lives
Dreams
There are many types of shifts, which are explained below. It is important to always remember that shifts do not make you a therian. Some therians don't ever shift.
Voluntary Shifts
Voluntary shifts are when an indivdual therian allows their animal mindset to take over. Therians do this when they are comfortable in their surroundings. Younger therians usually embrace this shift and express them openly, while older therians tend to hide them due to bullying or even just because they don't wish to express them. These can be surpressed easily. This can be triggered by the therian's willpower, too.
Involuntary Shifts
Involuntary Shifts Involuntary shifts are when an indivdual therian shifts due to being startled, hurt, etc. These shifts can either be good or bad. Younger therians experience these more, while older therians have more of a control on these as well. Examples of these shifts are
-A wolf therian howling in pain when they stub their toe
-A cat therian hissing when being startled
-A predatory therian (therian with a predator theriotype) getting defensive over food
Mental Shifting
Mental shifting is when a therian's mind turns to their animal form. They get animal urges and start doing vocals, making dens, hunting things, etc. Some will even do quadrobics.
Phantom Shifting
Phantom shifting is when a therian can feel or see their animal limbs. This is not a physical shift whatsoever, so others cannot see their limbs. However, other therians could sense them. The limbs include usually paws, tails, ears, legs, etc.
Dream Shifting
Dream shifting is when a therian falls asleep and their inner animal stimulates their brain, causing their dreams to reflect their theriotype.
Cameo Shifting
This is when a therian experiences a shift that isn't their kintype. This doesn't happen often.
Astral Shifting
This happens when a therian is meditating. It helps the therian see their theriotype.
Sensory Shift
This is when a therian's senses reflects their kintype. it includes senses like sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
Physical Shifting
This is the idea that therians can physically become their theriotype. This is in NO WAY possible. You sadly cannot shift to your kintype. Be careful when therians who "can do this" interact with you.
Quadrobics
Quadrobics are something therians do, which involves walking, running, cantering, etc. but on all fours. HOWEVER, this doesn't make a therian at all. This can be done by non therians. It is recongnized as a sport because a human body is used to walking on two legs. When doing quads, therians train their body to do this. It takes FOREVER to learn flawlessly and not get exhausted.
Conclusion
Therianthropy has NOTHING to do with physical shifting. If you see something in this article claiming this, get rid of the info immedeatly like I have. If you wish to learn more that wasn't covered, look to other sources. Therian Guide, Therian Territory, PD, and Opal and Friends are good sources of longtime therians. You can find Therian Territory and PD (Pink Dolphin) on YouTube. Opal and Friends is on TikTok and a good source of accurate info.
Sources and citations: