#theriomorph

[a-dream-seeking-light]

BEASTARS digital sculpture by entei ryu

[darkenergyslivers]

beastars digital sculpture (wip) by entei ryu

[siphonyx]

Soul: For the past few days I've been on and off considering therian as a personal label to use again, and it's sorta strange? We're shifters, but why does therian call to me so much?

Yesterday we joined a therian amino - not the main one, but the other one for therians. We're not one, but we were curious and their views on holotheres, physical therians, etc. Seemed good. Unfortunately their views on systems seemed to be a bit exclusionary (so many with endos DNI in their profile) so we just left, but for the brief few moments we were there we felt at home. It felt spiritual, it felt mystical, and yet serious. Similar circumstances have happened in the past - another therian amino in the past was once a haven for us for a time, and in the past we've gotten along in certain select circles. Why is that?

I think yesterday we just realized why. Therianthropy in the old days used to refer to all "shifters" - mental shifters, physical shifters, spiritual shifters, etc. In the past if you were a therian you would have been one of these shifters, but nowadays that isn't the case. If you're a therian you're a person with an "animal spirit" - someone who identifies with an animal mentally and/or spiritually. In the past we could have been considered therians, because a lot of beliefs mesh in perfectly with therianthropy - we feel we have animals souls, we can shift (though physical shifting is not the goal, it's a side effect) and we once experienced dysphoria for our animal forms, although nowadays it's practically nonexistent. But as we no longer experience dysphoria, we no longer have anything tying us to that community, and so we left.

Shifters are fine, but the culture is different - most shifters don't literally believe in totem spirits making them shift or the spirituality like therianthropes do - if you see some of the gatekeepers from either community you'll see differences in how they conceptualize their experiences. One is very spiritual, one is physical. We're fairly spiritual, but we also have this physical side that is disqualifying us from communities we should have a right to be in. I don't want to be a therian (in terms of being a typecast therianthrope that's gatekeepy and ableist and generally annoying) but if the vibes are right and they're cool about p-shifting, I don't mind calling myself one.

Idk... I came in through the p-shifting therian communities and at the time I thought they were childish (I was completely in touch with my physical side at the time), but now with multiplicity being a factor I sort of relate to them more? And the vakalomorphy... But that would be something that they would dismiss so aghhh

I guess I am just my own thing. I feel better about the strange connection if I call myself a theriomorph, so that helps... I don't know what the "therio-" prefix is doing for me, but it's doing something. Maybe letting everyone know I still relate even though I'm different? That these still are "my people" in a sense, even though we wouldn't get along otherwise - animals are still animals, even if they're at each other's throats.

Anyway, I combined the proposed vakalon symbol with the theta delta a while back. I think it came out good.

Perfect visual representation of where I'm at right now.

[siphonyx]

adding to my last ask, can i know that an theriomorph is? again ty!!

Sure! It's a term for animal vakalons, or someone who has a subjectively physical animal identity. Vakalons (or vakalomorphs) are those who subjectively identify physically as another sex/gender, entity, creature or other integral identity that is expressed in morph urges, shapeshifting (morph phenomena) and feeling as if you're physically that identity, among other things.

[siphonyx]

Need to accept the amnesia in order to advance...

I was sleeping with Neckrel downstairs the other day (we're getting a home remodel) and while I was with him, there was a split second where it felt like we were going to switch? And then my memory started going. I ended up realizing that the amnesia (which is vakalomorphic in nature, it's due to our other selves) is necessary for us in order to advance and switch. I'd been wondering why we were having so much trouble, and I think this is how we do it... if we switch, I'll forget temporarily but as our elements sift apart I'll be able to remember again. That's how it should work anyway, from what I remember.

[siphonyx]

So it's been a few days, and I've been feeling very comfortable with the label of theriomorph/theriovakalon. We identify as nonhuman on an integral and internal level, but also occasionally physically shift. Fits perfectly for us.

On that note, since I finally know what I am, I've been debating getting a theta delta:

I'm still not like "other therians" in that I'll never completely agree with their ideas and believe in physical shifting, but I could still wear this and hope it attracts others who may be animalistic in our ways. I love the way the inside swirls look, it adds a nice spacial feel to it that could be used to represent us as aliens.

[chronivore]

Shifting

[onlyhurtforaminute]

THERIOMORPH-REFLECTING SKULL