Therianthropy

Well, I haven't seen any posts here similar to this topic.

Most people never heard of this term, along with others related to it: otherkin, dragonkin, therians, etc. The only way most people understand this term is with one word: weres.

Therianthropy is a term used to describe someone who has such a belief that they have an animal mind or spirit within them. There are many a community on the net for such people, of which I am on many.

Therianthropy, derived from the Greek therion (Θηριον, meaning "beast,") and anthrōpos (ανθρωπος, meaning "human,") refers to beings that are partly human and partly animal, and in this sense is synonymous with the fandom's term furry. It has often been used to describe mythological creatures and deities, and has recently taken on a specialized meaning. Sometimes shortened to "therian," it is today used to describe members of a spiritually oriented subculture.

One way the term therianthropy has been used, as early as 1901, is in reference to transformation folklore of Asia and Europe.[1] Therianthropy was also used to describe spiritual belief in animal transformation in 1915[2] and one source[3] raises the possibility the term may have been used in the 16th century in criminal trials of suspected werewolves.


Scholarly use of the term
In folklore, mythology and anthropology, therianthropy can be used to describe a character that shares some traits of humans and some of non-human animals. The most commonly known form is lycanthropy, from the Greek word lycos ("wolf"), the technical term for man-wolf transformations. Although the precise definition of lycanthropy specifically refers only to werewolves, the term is often used to refer to shape changing to any non-human animal form.

When people believe they change into an animal form (theriomorphosis), or possess supernatural non-human animal traits, the term clinical lycanthropy is often used. This classification is a form of mental illness, though many anthropologists would point out that the belief has extensive religious precedent in shamanic cultures.



Modern subcultural use of the term
In recent times, a subculture has developed that has adopted the word therianthropy to describe a sense of inner spiritual or psychological identification with a non-human animal. Persons who belong to that community are called therianthropes or therians and believe that while they have a human body, some important part of their mind, identity, or spirit is that of a non human animal. Some therianthropes refer to themselves as "lycanthropes" from lycanthropy.

Otherkin

Otherkin is a collective noun for an assortment of people who have come to the somewhat unorthodox, and possibly quite bizarre, conclusion that they identify themselves as being something other than human. It is also the label used by a number of communities both on and off line. (The distinction between the two is not always drawn and can lead to some confusion).

There are a number of ways people reach this conclusion, and a number of possible explanations for it. On the face of it, it is a remarkably difficult conclusion to reach, not only is the evidence scant at best, but to define yourself as not human requires defining what human means - an exercise which philosophers for millennia have failed to complete.

The following is a brief overview of some of the possible explanations. [If someone wants to provide a piece expanding on a section, discussing the overlap and interactions between different perspectives or additional references, the submission form is here and I'll be happy to include things. -Ed]

1 - Appeal to biology
There are a very few people who claim a biological difference from humans. On the face of it this should be the easiest to prove - the biological requirements for species are fairly well defined. Life is rarely that simple and the existence of a subspecies that can occasionally interbreed with humans is at least somewhat plausible. Those that claim this tend to posit an initial technical, magical or deity intervention for the initial pairing. Thus the most frequent (if such a term can be used for such a small sample) such claims are for some form of elves (generally Tuatha de Danaan or Sidhe - for which there is some support in ancient texts), angels (for which there is some biblical support) or oriental dragons (such as the royal line of Japan claims).

To date, the variations encountered (including those unsupported claims made that were not utterly impossible) have been explainable variations and mutations of homo sapiens and unprovable without extensive DNA testing. (For which, if anyone ever volunteers an appropriate lab, there are a number of volunteers).

Those claiming such tend to expect even less belief from the general populace.

2 - Appeal to spirit
By far the most common explanation from those who fit the definition (even if they don't claim this specific label) is that whilst their physical forms may be human, their essence, soul or equivalent term is not.

Of those, the majority make their claim based on reincarnation - what they have been in a previous incarnation so strongly affects their current incarnation that they still identify with it. Obviously this requires a belief in reincarnation, and in the transmigration of souls. Both are reasonably common in a number of religions and spiritual beliefs across the world.

The less frequent explanations are "nature of soul" (where one is created as a specific entity, but failed to incarnate as such - sometimes including the "ooops! missed!" theory of incarnation), and "walk-in" (where the original spirit inhabiting a body vacated it for one reason or another - frequently near-death or severe trauma - and a separate entity took over).

Obviously this is a lot harder to prove, especially as the evidence for reincarnation itself is rather sparse (some are documented to varying degrees of veracity, such as the Dali Lama and a number of cultural mythologies). It is also more open to both intentional and unintentional abuse (see below).

People in this category sometimes (but by no means always) show signs of maladaption. The two main symptoms appear to be:

Problems not dissimilar to trans-gender issues - discomfort with the physical form not because of gender but because of species. This seems to be more common amongst younger people. (Many of the psychological arguments for and against transgender apply here, though for the most part the biological ones do not).
Phantom limbs - much as an amputee often gets sensation from the missing limb, so do some who claim species that have appendages that humans do not (wings and tails being the main ones). The conventional explanation for amputees is misfiring nerves and obviously this is implausible in this case. That such problems are psychosomatic seems possible, however some do have physically observable side effects that have to be handled (such as back muscle problems from 'supporting' wings).
3 - Appeal to psychology
Another explanation posited is that of using the concept of other species as a tool for self exploration. Thus one is not a member of that species, but takes on the traits of that species to learn from it. This could take the form of (at least the westernised distortion of) Totemic belief, or of Jungian Archetypes.

For the most part those using such techniques deliberately know what it is they are doing and do not claim the label. However, there are many people who have not been introduced to the concepts (or have inaccurate information if they have) and if they should find themselves in the position of having a Totem (if such can happen outside the appropriate culture) they may well mistake the effects as them being that creature rather than having an association with that archetype.

4 - Escapism and mental aberration
The vast majority of people on encountering the concept (and a fair proportion of those who subscribe to it) will favour this explanation - it's certainly the easiest one. Anyone who has actually claimed a label that fits under the 'otherkin' category has seriously considered this option (or should have).

The most frequent accusation is that all otherkin are lost in fantasy, they've played one too many D&D games and gone over the edge. Personal study seems to indicate this is actually one of the least frequent explanations. Most roleplayers know they are roleplaying, even if they are also otherkin, and roleplaying can be a very useful tool in self exploration.

Escapism from what is seen as an increasingly hostile and unpleasant culture (especially in the United States) is somewhat more plausible and more common. The irony there is that modern society is becoming increasingly magical - in what other era could you speak instantaneously with someone a thousand miles away with a simple ten digit incantation, see images from the past or distant present or rain fiery death from the skies from half a world away? The potential for being one step further than a mythological SCA is certainly there however.

Not being "like them" is a much more common cause, whether "them" is classmates, family, coworkers or everyone you meet. For some it's perhaps real - otherkin really *are* different. However the relationship is not reciprocal - being different does not make one otherkin. The alienation that many teenagers go through, both as part of normal human development and the social aberration that many high-schools seem to be, can easily have people looking for an explanation. For some it's that they are the only goth in a conservative area, others have less obvious affiliation, but take a deep interest in dragons and extrapolate.

The other side of that particular coin is looking around you and seeing the many terrible things that humanity is capable of and deciding that you are not like that and thus cannot possibly be human. (ref "behaviours - differentiation by repudiation").

There are also those for whom it is simply wish fulfillment - is being an elf not so much better than being Joe Smith who flips burgers at McDonalds?

5 - All of the above
Whilst the above explanations are presented as distinct categories, people do not necessarily fall into only one of them. There are those who claim physical differences, and past lives. There are those who are both in therapy for mental health problems and otherkin (and which is cause and which effect is debatable).

In the end, without further evidence, it comes down to a matter of personal belief. As personal beliefs go, it's relatively harmless.


i want to know what you guys think

 

:confused Where do Muppets fit in?

 

not sure. have you ever met a person who is human/dragon/tiger before???:-D

 

I met a few slimy snakes and a few weasels before....

 

i think we all know a few of those *giggles*. But, i'm the dragon/human/tiger. Which means that i believe i have a dragon and tiger spirit along with my own.

 

I think medication is in order.

 

thanks *rolls eyes* that makes me feel good.

 

my wife calls me a beast all the time :-D

 

Well, dragons are cool and all, but ya know.. fiction is fiction and fantasy is just that... so to say that one believes he has a dragon spirit inside him begs the question: "What planet are you from? ". Unless, of course, you are speaking metaphorically and are just trying to say that you are a strong willed person.. in which, why not just say "I'm a strong willed person" ?

I suspect that it would conform better to people's understandings of the world around them rather than saying you have a dragon spirit inside you.. or.. did I miss something here and you really meant.. Komodo dragon

 

no,i really meant that I have a truedragon's spirit. but i don't expect to have the normal human to understand this belief. i have faced many a human who ridicules and insults me for my belief. how would you like it if i was to insult you for a strong belief you may have? how do you think i feel that normal humans aka non-kin, have to act stupid when faced with an interesting theory.

 

Personally, I think it is taking something everyone feels once and a while (feeling "not yourself") and perhaps a feeling of wanting to be somewhat special and combining those together.

 

well, science is full of theories right? well, this is another theory. and i thought it would be nice to post something inteligent to discuss. i understand the physics of the scientific mind, but, can there not also be a more spiritual theory mixed in? that is what i had hoped to accomplish, but apparently i was wrong.

 

How can we define "normal"? The "norm" is what people at a certain time and place are in agreement with (judgement) and that changes with and has changed over the centuries, even within generations. Anything that is considered out of the "norm" at a given time and place can be considered "out of the norm" or "abnormal" by the "judging" party. We as people are all the same yet unique and wear colored glasses as how we perceive and "judge" others. Personally, I try to stay away from judging anyone.

Everything is in the eye of the beholder.

 

In addition to my previous post that I forgot to write:

A "Normal" is someone who conforms to the ideals of a society. As we know societies change over time, so their ideals change with them.

 

We are indeed all individuals in so much as none of us are exactly the same as each other. But we are also all human, and presumably have a considerable 'overlap', in many, physical, mental, sociological, and perhaps spiritual, or whatever you want to term it, aspects in common.

Beliefs in sharing, or having a somewhat kindred spirit with animal, non-human, or just nature in general spirits is not uncommon. What I would be interested in reading, would be your reasoning, (maybe evidences), or experiences in general that has led you to this belief, mindset, or perceived state. Just curious.

 

Just age.... and therefore lots of experiences, too numerous to mention. I guess one mellows a little as the years go by.

Additionally, we change every single moment even though we may not be aware of it because we learn something new every single second just by living our experiences.

 

Theories (at least in the scientific world) have a basis in science, math, or something in the realm of real, that can be found via our current understanding.

Everything outside of that is speculation.

The word theory gets thrown around very loosely, with people not really understanding its true meaning.

Thats why religious topics don't fly so well here either. You are on a forum that consists of many logical, and analytical minds.

I am not surprised at all that you met with such responses that you have thus far.

 

I am not a NORMAL person. I am an individual.

And I believe I have a bit of Bear and Dragon in me.

 

If you find yourself offended, then it's because you sought to be offended. You can't knowingly post something like that and not expect to be " WTF'd.. " That's just common sense.

So, if I offended you, I'm not sorry. You should just say "Hey, that's cool , I don't expect you to understand.. " and move on from there.

What other things do you enjoy in life? because, I quite honestly, have no issue with you believing that you have a dragon spirit in side you.. could care less actually.