This will probably be my last post on semantics for a while, since I want to focus on other things, but I know a lot of people really dislike “otherkin” being an umbrella term and want something else, so a while back I wrote up this little idea. Please note to take it with a grain of salt and, if you don’t like it, please feel free not to consider yourself part of it. This is simply a suggestion based on common complaints I have seen in various communities - it is in no way absolutely flawless. In general, do what makes you comfortable - if this isn’t something that makes you comfortable, don’t feel that you have to use it!
Alter-human/Alternative Humanity Personal Identity “AHPI”
A category of personal identity which encompasses identification that is alternative to the common societal idea of humanity.
For the sake of this categorization, the “common societal idea of humanity” is classified as such:
The common human identity involves:
-Identification with the body in the sense that the body is part of the self, unrelated to a sense of gender or any form of personal expression; at the basest level, a common human identity is an identification with the mechanical human form, bodily function, etc - feeling correct in a human body, the one given to the self at birth, when gender, race, and societal concepts are removed; not feeling that the body is not one’s own.
(Simple/Example: A transgender person is not/may not be AHPI because they still consider themselves human, and still consider the body to be theirs - just incorrect. Of course, transgender people may be AHPI, but being trans is not an AHPI identification, unless the gender of said trans person directly correlates to a nonhuman concept of gender.)
-Identification involving a singular persona within a body present from birth and which has not differentiated from the original-born persona which is attached to the body.
(Simple/Example: A multiple system would be AHPI due to multiple persons existing in one body. A walk-in (which occurred after birth, or by their own identification this way) is also AHPI as they are not the “original.” A median who experiences their multiplicity as facets of self or other similar but still non-singular sense would be AHPI.)
-Identification as a human with no supernatural personal basis BY SAID PERSON’S OWN DISCRETION.
(Simple/Example: A person who identifies as human and as their born persona in this life but who has an identity involving past lives may be considered AHPI if they so decide their experiences dictate as such. A person who believes themselves to be human in this life but spiritually angelic would be considered AHPI, assuming they identify as their angelic spirituality and not as a human. Some religions and spiritualities might include reincarnation but those who follow said spiritualities may not feel they fit in this category.)
-Identify as human regardless of personal subculture.
(Simple/Example: A furry would be human if they consider themselves to be, but a furry who identifies as a furry more than anything else may be AHPI due to identification as a member of said subculture as part of one’s overall personal identity.)
AHPI identities may include, as per personal discretion:
-Therian, phytanthrope, otherkin, and fictionkin identities
-Multiple, plural, median, and walk-in identities
-Spiritual self-identities which may still include degrees of humanity such as angelics, celestials, starseeds, god shards, reincarnated gods, vampires, etc
-Identities involving shared self-identification with nonhuman or other alternative human entities/concepts such as animal-hearted, godspouse, soulbond, and spiritual medium identities
-Identities of alternative humanity through disassociation, trauma response, or non-neurotypical mental status
Of course, all of these may either agree with or deny identification as AHPI, depending on personal discretion. Don’t feel a need to subscribe to any one label just because it exists. Do what makes you feel good!
