i am physically human-to-werecanine. i used to be human-bodied until early 2024, when my soul revealed its true shape as a dog-wolf, and spiritually integrating this made me physically transform. when i embraced the morphing instead of running from it, my body became entirely were, and changing shape became more bearable and controllable.
i'm mostly a multi-cross of terriers and companions with a cut of southern chinese wolf. i spend the majority of my time in were form, which has the second pelt color. the rare times my physical morphing goes theriform it hasn't been enough to tell if i keep my reborn coloration or show my past life / spirit coloration, so second pic is me imagining the possibility.
a few divine animals from Tiv lore, holiday present for a beloved whose heritage is his everything.
these are an African leopard, spotted bush snake, Nigerian shepherd dog, and Abyssinian owl ^^
materials used: either Sculpey or Fimo oven-bake clay (those lil square pocket sized packets), acrylic paint, sharpie marker, white gel pen, popcicle stick, pop can tab, gloss acrylic spray
-> see more of my art @cosmicstraysart !! <-
mythological context, research, and sources under cut:
1.) Anyam / Leopard
"Anyam (leopard) is so revered among the Tiv. To this end, the progenitor of the Tiv is named Takuruku Anyam Azenga, meaning Takuruku, the Leopard son of Azenga." (Waapela, 2013.)
2. Ikyalem / Green Snake
"...[In] the beginning of movement by the Tiv from Congo... they had to cross the River Congo which was almost in impossible task. Thus, a mysterious snake called Ikyalem (green snake) formed a bridge across the River Congo to help all the members of The Tiv family cross the river. ...The oral traditions of the Tiv account that... the Ikyalem enabled the Tiv people to proceed on their journey through many forests [to reach] a place called "Swem". The Tiv people to this day regard the Swem as their ancestral homeland." (Nomishan 2020)
3.) Iwya / Dog
"A village elder picked up a white stone and threw it for his dog to retrieve. The stone rolled into a witch's abode. The dog followed it and mistook a burning fire-brand for the white stone. He seized the fire-brand and raced back to his master and from then on the Tiv had fire." (M.D.W. Jeffreys, 1972)
4.) Avungu / Owl
Further in Tiv society, the departed are believed to keep in touch with the living part of their families through their visits in forms of the avungu birds. [...]Under the category of avungu (owls) which are common to the people and are harnessed for such divine purposes are the Akiki (pearl spotted owl), Ivungu (Abyssinian spotted owl), Kpile (barred owl), Mtsaan (African scoop owl). [...T]hese animals are grafted with spiritual powers and are intermediaries between God and ritual experts. (Waapela 2013)
Sources:
Jeffreys, M.D.W., "Fire-dogs of Africa" in African Studies, Vol. 31. 1972. [DOI]
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Nomishan, Terngu S., "African Myths and the Environment: A look at some myths and totems among the Tiv of Central Nigeria" in AKU: An African Journal of Contemporary Research, Vol. 1. 2020. [PDF]
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Waapela, Nina Perpetua PhD., "Animal Symbols as Gateway to the Divine in Tiv Religion" in Jalingo Journal of African Studies. 2013. [PDF]
