“Shifting” is a term used primarily by the therianthrope community to describe when their mentality becomes more like their theriotype.
There are two major types of shifts; Dominant Shifts and Sub-Shifts. They break up into five different categories; Standard, Common, Uncommon, Voluntary, and Involuntary. Standard and Common Shifts are Dominant, while uncommon, Voluntary, and Involuntary Shifts are Sub-Shifts.
This post will discuss the different types and the different categories of shifts!
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There are two types of Dominant Shift; Standard Shifts and Common Shifts.
Standard Shifts are easily the most well known types of shifting; they’re the kind of shift that many therians experience and have in common. The types of Standard Shifts are Mental and Spiritual Shifts– however, some people group Physical Shifts and Sensory Shifts into this category as well.
Common Shifts are, in comparison, slightly rarer than Standard Shifts but still very common in the community. They include Astral, Aura, Cameo, Dream, and Phantom Shifts.
There are three types of Sub-Shift; Uncommon, Voluntary, and Involuntary Shifts.
Uncommon Shifts are less common than Dominant shifts but still occur frequently in the community. Uncommon Shifts include Persona, Bilocation, Berserker, Magickal, and Possesion Shifts, along with Contherianthropy and Sun/Syntherianthropy.
A Voluntary Shift is when a shift is induced on purpose.
An Involuntary Shift is when a shift is forced. This includes Emotional Shifts.
Dominant Shifts - Standard
A mental shift occurs when and individual takes on the mentality of their theriotype. This occurs across a drastic range and can be something as slight as a minor change in attitude to something more drastic, such as walking on all fours or attempting to fly.
A spiritual shift occurs when an individual’s aura, astral body, or spiritual self is in tune with their theriotype. Any person who can astral project can experience this shift because it takes place on a non-physical plane. This is a common voluntary shift.
A physical shift occurs when an individual’s physical body becomes their theriotype. This is easily the most controversial type of shift for many reasons and there is no solid evidence to prove that it can actually occur.
A sensory shift is the most common type of shift. During a sensory shift an individual is immersed in their theriotype’s energy, which results in a more animal-like mood. The individual will generally feel much more alert, aware, and animal-ish. This is very similar to the mindset that people who play intense sports get into during a game.
An astral shift occurs when an individual enters the astral plane and shifts there. It can be difficult for some to induce voluntarily. Astral shifting is a type of spiritual shifting.
An aura shift occurs when an individual changes the shape of their aura to mimic the shape of their theriotype and/or changes the charge of their aura to be more animalistic. This is most often a voluntary shift.
A cameo shift occurs when an individual experiences a different type of shift into an animal other than their theriotype(s). This occurs mostly during dream shifts.
A dream shift occurs when an individual experiences a shift in a dream. This is a type of astral shift and is usually an involuntary shift.
A phantom shift occurs when an individual can feel a limb that belongs to their theriotype but not to their physical body (e.x. wings, tails, ears). Those limbs are usually referred to as metalimbs, otherlimbs, or supernumery phantom limbs. (Note: metalimbs and otherlimbs seem to be tumblr-exclusive terms).
Some therianthropes have a separate ‘persona’/personality for their theriotype in a way that is similar to having an alter. A persona shift occurs when an individual shifts into (one of) their alternate persona(e).
A bilocation shift occurs when an individual, either voluntarily or involuntarily, projects an image of their theriotype outside of their body. Some believe that a biolocation shift is the product of an individual’s etheric or astral form manifesting on the physical plane. Bilocation shifters are often mistaken for possession shifters.
A berserker shift is almost solely an involuntary shift that is induced by the onset of extreme anger. It is usually accompanied with blind rage, increased strength, and a radical mental shift. After a berseker shift, individuals report feeling weak and tired. This is not yet a widely accepted form of shifting.
A magickal shift is a type of voluntary shift which can only be induced by performing a ritual when an individual wishes to experience a shift. This may be where rumors of physical shifts stem from. This can also refer to someone attempting to become a therian through magick rituals, which is very frowned upon.
A possession shift occurs when an individual sends their soul, consciousness, mind, spirit, astral body, etc, into an animal body in such a way that they can perceive the world through the animal’s senses. This is a voluntary magickal shift and is very difficult and dangerous to do.
A contherianthrope is a therian who is in a constant state of being in a shift; they are always both their theriotype and a human at the same time
Suntherianthropy/Syntherianthropy
A syntherianthrope is similar to a contherianthrope but instead of being in a constant state of half-shift, the basic instincts and attitudes of an individual’s theriotype is integrated into their human personality.
Sub-Shifts - Voluntary and Involuntary
A voluntary shift occurs when an individual purposely induces a type of shift. Some shifts– such as a magickal shift– can only be experienced voluntarily.
An involuntary shift occurs when an individual is forced into a type of shift. Some shifts– such as an emotional shift– can only be experienced involuntarily.
An emotional shift occurs when an individual is experiencing a strong emotion, usually something negative such as stress or anger. Strong anger can induce a berserker shift.
We hope that this gives some of you a better comprehension of shifting and the various types of shifts!
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