Therianthropy

[CrystalDoll]

Most people do not know what therianthropy is. So, here is a small explanation: "Therianthropy, besides its original use as a term to describe situations and creatures that occur in mythology and folklore, is also used for therians. Therians believe that they have an intrinsic, personal, and integral connection to an animal (or animals). Most believe that mental and emotional shifts can occur as a result" "Persons who belong to that community are called therianthropes or therians and believe that while they have a human body, some important part of their mind, identity, or spirit is that of a non human animal." So a therian is in short someone who believes that some aspect about themselves is a non-human animal. And no, therians do not believe that physical transformation into an animal is possible. While I do not consider myself to be a therian, at least at this point in my life, I have always identified closely with animals. It seems that I can experience what multiple animals feel in body. For example, my arms might feel as if they should be wings or I might get the sensation of wanting to pin my ears back in response to anger of fear. I would assume that these feelings feel like a lighter version of phantom limbs (something that is experienced in amputees). And while I have experienced what seems to be multiple animals, I most frequently experience the bodily feelings of what I believe to be equines and canines. The idea of therianthropy seems like it would apply to me in some aspects, but the idea also seems very odd. Perhaps I am experiencing a type of empathy for animals rather than the animal being ME. While I am an atheist, I have always been a very spiritual person when it comes to the natural world and feel that therianthropy is a possible concept. I'm curious what others think about it. But it is never surprising to me that people see therianthropy as... odd and sometimes ridiculous. But nonetheless, comments are appreciated!

[Kiza]

I have no strong thoughts on therianthropy, but goddamn I love that you have that avatar, party cat is fucking awesome.

[WolfTsunade]

While I do not consider myself to be a therian, at least at this point in my life, I have always identified closely with animals. It seems that I can experience what multiple animals feel in body. For example, my arms might feel as if they should be wings or I might get the sensation of wanting to pin my ears back in response to anger of fear. That is called cameo shifting, which is shifting between animals that you do not consider yourself or identify with. For example, I'm a wolf, but sometimes I shift to a tiger. I would assume that these feelings feel like a lighter version of phantom limbs (something that is experienced in amputees). That is called phantom shifting, some therians can do this at will while some others cannot.

[Hazel]

I'm actually writing a story based on this. Just a silly story, with my friends and I as main characters. I've always been interested with the concept of therians, and while I connect strongly with wolves, I do not consider myself to be one. I sort of wish I was, though.

[grasshoppa]

Most of our ancestors aren't even human. So to think that there is a non-human aspect to your self isn't odd at all. If you want to take it a step further, you could talk about the evolution of consciousness, and how most of your past lives weren't human either.

[CrystalDoll]

Thank you for the replies! By pojmaster17q's and Catbus's replies, I assume there has been previous discussions on this? Sorry if I brought something sensitive up... Forgive a newbie.

[WolfTsunade]

http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=77512

[CrystalDoll]

Interesting thread. But phew! Some of you people are brutal! I don't find that surprising. A lot about souls was talked about. With all due respect, I do not believe in souls, past lives, etc. I think it just shows that therianthropy and how people see it is very, very varied. Some people think it is utter bullshit while other people see it as a valid belief/lifestyle/etc. In either way I think respect is due to all.

[ClouD]

the last time a thread was started on this it degraded into a shitstorm. And it's not going to happen again, please everyone take that to heart before posting in this thread, I will be keeping an eye on it this time around. I'm not getting into this again, so: No. You know, you could just not post. I agree, irrelevant posts have been deleted.