Post by Seric Phriam on Sept 20, 2011 17:31:18 GMT -5
General Info
Otherkin are people who identify, in one way or another, with something nonhuman. That thing can be about anything. The most common type of otherkin by far is wolf, followed by felines. There are 'mythical' otherkin, such as dragons, pegasi, and all that. Some believe they are from other planets. I've even heard of insect otherkin, and I've heard of one tree otherkin. Otherkin are also called Therianthropes, or therians for short. The idea is that 'Otherkin' encompasses the entire idea, and 'therianthopes' are otherkin who relate to an animal that either does, or used to exist on Earth. They can also identify as an angel or demon.
There are many, many types of otherkin, and I'll try to list some of them:
Animal Kin
These are therians who relate to one animal that exists on Earth.
Poly-morph
These are therians/otherkin who relate to more than one animal, existing or mythical.
Anthromorph
These are animals that have human characteristics, they might stand on two legs or have human hands.
Mythic kin
These are mythical creatures. Anything that doesn't exist on Earth, such as vampires, dragons, etc.
There are other identities that are different from otherkin, but that are worth mentioning here:
Psi vampires
People who, for whatever reason, need to feed on energy to remain healthy. Some need blood, also. They have generally a close relationship with the otherkin community.
Multiples
People who have more than one personality or soul. Sometimes this causes otherkin, as one soul might be human, and the other not.
Non Kin
People who aren't Otherkin.
What Otherkin is Not
Otherkin is not a mental disorder. It is not a fetish, it is NOT A RELIGION. It is not a disease, it is not an obsession. It is not a roleplay or fantasy.
What Otherkin Is
Otherkin is an identity. There is really no way to describe it beyond that. If you have 10 otherkin and ask them all what otherkin is, you will get at least 11 different answers. I doubt anyone has all the information on otherkin.
Common Otherkin Theories
Reincarnation
Soul mix-up
Different brain structure/psychology
God made them this way
The evolving reincarnation theory, where a soul goes from a less intelligent creature to a more intelligent one in every life
Multiplicity
Totemic
Made this way to learn something
Moved into the body after the original soul moved out (a coma would be an example of this)
Awakening
Most otherkin 'know' instinctively what they are when they are children, but often suppress it later in life. Usually around or after puberty, there is an 'awakening' in which the person usually rediscovers themselves by finding a community like this. They may find that the term therianthropy or otherkin fits them. This is not how it works for everyone.
Complicated Stuff
Many otherkin have 'phantom limbs', much like soldiers who have lost a limb do. They might feel a limb that does not belong on a human body. It might feel pain. It could be wings, a tail, or even ears or fur. Not all otherkin feel phantom limbs, however.
Otherkin generally have animal instincts of some form or another. It might be a strong fight-or-flight instinct, or the want to defend territory or food. Again, not all have this. But almost all otherkin think in a way different from other people. Most otherkin feel they've had to fake it as a human, like they've had to force all their human behaviors and learn how to act like one.
Shifting
There are many types of shifting:
Mental
This is when an otherkin goes into more of an animal mindset. Shifting is on a slider; some days they may feel more human, others, more animal.
Phantom
When an otherkin feels their phantom limbs more, or they feel more real.
Dream
When an otherkin has a dream where they are psychically their kin type.
Physical
When an otherkin physically shape-shifts to their kin type. Completely impossible. Don't go saying you can do that on here.
Not all otherkin get shifts. Some don't shift at all and always feel human but have a connection; some are always shifted to animal and never feel human.
A great resource on otherkin is here: therian-wilderness.proboards.com/index.cgi
Another great resource is a book, 'A Field Guide to Otherkin' by Lupa. It is available on Amazon.com.
Otherkin are people who identify, in one way or another, with something nonhuman. That thing can be about anything. The most common type of otherkin by far is wolf, followed by felines. There are 'mythical' otherkin, such as dragons, pegasi, and all that. Some believe they are from other planets. I've even heard of insect otherkin, and I've heard of one tree otherkin. Otherkin are also called Therianthropes, or therians for short. The idea is that 'Otherkin' encompasses the entire idea, and 'therianthopes' are otherkin who relate to an animal that either does, or used to exist on Earth. They can also identify as an angel or demon.
There are many, many types of otherkin, and I'll try to list some of them:
Animal Kin
These are therians who relate to one animal that exists on Earth.
Poly-morph
These are therians/otherkin who relate to more than one animal, existing or mythical.
Anthromorph
These are animals that have human characteristics, they might stand on two legs or have human hands.
Mythic kin
These are mythical creatures. Anything that doesn't exist on Earth, such as vampires, dragons, etc.
There are other identities that are different from otherkin, but that are worth mentioning here:
Psi vampires
People who, for whatever reason, need to feed on energy to remain healthy. Some need blood, also. They have generally a close relationship with the otherkin community.
Multiples
People who have more than one personality or soul. Sometimes this causes otherkin, as one soul might be human, and the other not.
Non Kin
People who aren't Otherkin.
What Otherkin is Not
Otherkin is not a mental disorder. It is not a fetish, it is NOT A RELIGION. It is not a disease, it is not an obsession. It is not a roleplay or fantasy.
What Otherkin Is
Otherkin is an identity. There is really no way to describe it beyond that. If you have 10 otherkin and ask them all what otherkin is, you will get at least 11 different answers. I doubt anyone has all the information on otherkin.
Common Otherkin Theories
Reincarnation
Soul mix-up
Different brain structure/psychology
God made them this way
The evolving reincarnation theory, where a soul goes from a less intelligent creature to a more intelligent one in every life
Multiplicity
Totemic
Made this way to learn something
Moved into the body after the original soul moved out (a coma would be an example of this)
Awakening
Most otherkin 'know' instinctively what they are when they are children, but often suppress it later in life. Usually around or after puberty, there is an 'awakening' in which the person usually rediscovers themselves by finding a community like this. They may find that the term therianthropy or otherkin fits them. This is not how it works for everyone.
Complicated Stuff
Many otherkin have 'phantom limbs', much like soldiers who have lost a limb do. They might feel a limb that does not belong on a human body. It might feel pain. It could be wings, a tail, or even ears or fur. Not all otherkin feel phantom limbs, however.
Otherkin generally have animal instincts of some form or another. It might be a strong fight-or-flight instinct, or the want to defend territory or food. Again, not all have this. But almost all otherkin think in a way different from other people. Most otherkin feel they've had to fake it as a human, like they've had to force all their human behaviors and learn how to act like one.
Shifting
There are many types of shifting:
Mental
This is when an otherkin goes into more of an animal mindset. Shifting is on a slider; some days they may feel more human, others, more animal.
Phantom
When an otherkin feels their phantom limbs more, or they feel more real.
Dream
When an otherkin has a dream where they are psychically their kin type.
Physical
When an otherkin physically shape-shifts to their kin type. Completely impossible. Don't go saying you can do that on here.
Not all otherkin get shifts. Some don't shift at all and always feel human but have a connection; some are always shifted to animal and never feel human.
A great resource on otherkin is here: therian-wilderness.proboards.com/index.cgi
Another great resource is a book, 'A Field Guide to Otherkin' by Lupa. It is available on Amazon.com.