pshifters and modern therianthropy
as much as most of the modern therian community loves to demonize and throw physical shapeshifters out of their spaces, I want to take the time to remind the therians of today that their community was built on shapeshifting, werewolves, and other wereshifters. "therian" was also used to describe physical shifters or weres in some cases in the 90s, 2000s and sometimes up until the early 2010s. there was really no distinct separation between the two terms until later.
shapeshifting practices have existed long before any of us have been alive, and sightings of shifters over the centuries have been recorded as well. though I suppose that the ancient claims of wolves being evil creatures translating to werewolves being evil too is equivalent to the modern way of the therian (and other communities) saying that pshifters are "evil" just because of some bad groups and individuals that hurt and ruined others, and the overall reputation of the physical shifter community. just as farmers would demonize wolves eating and attacking their livestock and tell tales of wolves having dirty spirits or tales of "demonic" dog-people, individuals from the pshifter community that have done many of us wrong have been the face and first thought that comes into people's minds when they think of us.
though, in other cultures, wolves have been seen as powerful and wise spirits and honorable creatures, and the wereshifter counterparts in these cultures being honored as well. (i am sure there are other animals with similar stories, but wolves/werewolves were the most memorable and recorded.)
i'd like for the overall modern nonhuman communities (therians, otherkin, alterhumans, etc) to not forget where the roots of their communities and identities come from, to not judge a book by its cover, to unlearn fear and hatred. after all, separation and misinformation are the dividing forces that result in stigma and is what fuels hatred, mistrust and fear. you don't have to believe in physical shifting, but overall respect and agreeing to disagree civilly is kind enough.
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some of my sources and references where I got this information:
The Werewolf and Shapeshifter Codex: Fact, Folklore, Lycanthropy
alt.horror.werewolves - Google Groups
Types of Shift (from Were Information)
Lessons - RTA Razgriz Therianthropy Academy
the book "The Magic of Shapeshifting" by Rosalyn Greene
Home - Crystal Moon Wolf Pack
other links and resources can be found in my document here: Nonhumanity: A history - Google Docs
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