Basics of Therianthropy
"Awakening" - when one realises or comes to terms with the fact that they are a therian or otherkin, sometimes discovering their kin or theriotype.
Not all therian/otherkins have an awakening.
Some know from an early age that they are diffrent and find that the terms for therian and otherkin are best fitting.
Shifts:
-A general term for the perceived changes in one's mental state, astral/aural, or otherwise from human to animal.
Types of shifts:
Phantom:
- the sensation of astral or missing limbs simmilar to that of an amputation. Such as ears/muzzles/ paws.
These can sometimes be seen or felt by others.
Mental:
- when ones mental state reverts back to that of an animal.
Dream:
- when one reverts to their animal during sleep.
Astral Shifting:
This is when a person travels to a non-physical plane of existence aided by deep meditation, lucid dreams, or trance-like states. Once in the astral plane, a person can see the shape of their astral body or shift the astral body to that of the theriotype/kintype. While this may be similar to a Shamanic journey, it is thought that Shamanic journeys require one to be much more involved and dedicated to attain.
Sensory Shift:
When your senses appear to match those of your inner animal.
Bi-location Shifting: Bi-location Shifting is when the body supposedly makes a carbon copy of the animal inside the body and travels the lands; sometimes as a spirit and sometimes, others may believe, as a somewhat physical image of their inner animal. (Not Likely)
Aura Shifting:
Aura Shifting occurs when the auric field changes to their inner animal, this often happens subconsciously or when provoked. Many believe that your inner animal is always in your aura so therefore you are always giving off your Therian aura. I notice animals and young children can sometimes see these changes, as with other Shifts.
Physically Shifting:
A visible, physical change toward one's Kin/Type. Widely belived to be impossible, to the point of the concept being considered complete nonsense both by psychological and spiritual therians/otherkin. Doing so would require ignoring too many of the laws of physics, and no evidence of someone actually succeeding exists outside of stories or hearsay, which are all but reliable sources. Worst, a lot of the "methods" you can find about how to do it are actually dangerous on top of being ineffective, so stay away!
"Standard" Therian / Shifter: Someone who identifies as a single earthly animal, and can have various experiences around this type, including mental or phantom shifts.
Polytherian: A therian possessing multiple types at the same time, and can experience anything possible for each of them. Some of these types may appear more important than others, but it's not always the case.
Nonshifting Therian: A therian who does not experience shifts under any condition, but still identifies as non-human through other means.
Contherian: A kind of nonshifting therian that has similar experiences as other therians but who do not shift- rather, they are constantly shifted into an animal state, with no variation. This state can be any one of the shifting types listed below.
Suntherian / Vacillant: A kind of therian who, similarly to the contherian, constantly experiences his nonhuman side and do not experience mental shifts; however, they can experience changes on a sliding scale, or combinations between human and animal mindsets, but generally in a manner that is not as extreme as with shifters. Also called "vacillant" in the case of otherkin.
Cladotherian: A therian who's theriotype is not one specific sub-species. For example, rather than a tiger specifically, they encompass all felines, or a "clade". It is not a temporary or placeholder label for those who are uncertain or haven't yet narrowed down their species. A cladotherian does not think such a narrowing of species is possible or applicable for themselves.
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Some of these are a summary and some are copied. I havent been active in the communities that much latley so feel free to add anything that I missed
