velveet-wings definition of "Therianthropy".
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The term therianthropy comes from the Greek therion meaning "wild animal" and anthropos meaning "man". Basically it refers to an 'animal person', someone who is both a human and a non-human animal. Depictions of such creatures can be found in mythology, legends and folk law, woven into history. While many of these depictions refer to human-like creatures with physical animal attributes (such as the ever popular werewolf, shape shifters or the Gods of Egyptian mythology) this is not the form I am referring to.
Therianthropy is, if you will, a 'condition' shared by many people from all over the globe and from many different walks of life. It is the belief that a core and integral part of yourself is a non-human animal. This belief is based upon many different experiences and feelings shared by therians. Though therianthropy is a very personal thing, and while there are certain core aspects we have in common, the experiences and beliefs behind therianthropy are often specific to the individual.
Therianthropy is, if you will, a 'condition' shared by many people from all over the globe and from many different walks of life. It is the belief that a core and integral part of yourself is a non-human animal. This belief is based upon many different experiences and feelings shared by therians. Though therianthropy is a very personal thing, and while there are certain core aspects we have in common, the experiences and beliefs behind therianthropy are often specific to the individual.
Definition stated from another source.
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Therianthrope: therion (greek for "beast) + anthropos ("human being", "man"). Do not confuse "anthropos" with "andros", which means "man" in the sense of "male" in opposition to "woman".
Therianthropy is a constant state of being and way of perceveing/experiencing the world that leads a person to feel and believe they are partially or completely animal inside (in a mental and/or spiritual way). You can't get rid of it and you can't choose it (in the same way you can't choose or get rid of your sexual preferences, the color of your skin, and such as). Most of the definitions you will find about therianthropy describe it as a spiritual concept or a belief, because most of therianthropes see it as spiritual, so don't be surprised if you read many definitions starting with "therianthropy is a belief that...". But again, therianthropy doesn't have to be spiritual.
Therianthropy isn't about having a totem. A totem/guide is a distinct entity, which means it is not necessarily the same specie as someone's animal side (theriotype). You can talk to a spirit guide, they can come and disappear as they want. However, you can't get rid of your theriotype. Also, therianthropy shouldn't be confused with a connection. The word "connection" is used very loosely to refers to a bond with an animal or a category of animals. However, therianthropy is more than being connected to an animal; it is being the animal inside. A connection could be totally unrelated to someone's theriotype. As an example, a wolf therian could feel a connection to tigers or felines in general, and perhaps experience a sense of felinity without having a feline theriotype.
While many therians experience shifts, this is not at all a rule. A shift is described as a mental change into the traits of the therian's theriotype. It can be sudden and chaotic, or it can just be subtle fluctuations between humanity and animality. There are many different kinds of shifts (such as mental shifts, where one's human mindset change to his animal sides's mindest, or phantom shifts, where a therian begins to feel non-existent physical traits such as animal ears or tail). However I am not going to list them; you will find various websites such as the Werelist or Shifters.Org listing various definitions in their encyclopedias, if you want to know more. By the way, non-therians can experience shifts as well; shamans and other people are able to shift into the mindset of another animal, this is what shapeshifting is about.
Therianthropy isn't about surhuman abilities. Being a therianthrope does not make us special, nor it gives us magickal powers or psychic talents. It is not a gift nor a curse and it doesn't make us changing into blood thirsty beasts at night. It is not a cult, and it's not something that can be taught; you can't become a therian. And, above all, therianthropy is not a game. It is not role-playing: we are animal inside, and we are real. Therianthropy doesn't make us cool or smart, it's simply about experiencing things in a different manner, which isn't better than any other.
In fact, each therianthrope experiences therianthropy in his/her own way. There are many different types of therianthropes. Some shift, some don't (contherianthrope are weres whose animal side is constantly blended with their human side, and therefore they cannot shift from a side to the other). Some have multiple sides (polyweres), some are a mix of different species (hybrids). Some wear no labels.
Therianthropy is a constant state of being and way of perceveing/experiencing the world that leads a person to feel and believe they are partially or completely animal inside (in a mental and/or spiritual way). You can't get rid of it and you can't choose it (in the same way you can't choose or get rid of your sexual preferences, the color of your skin, and such as). Most of the definitions you will find about therianthropy describe it as a spiritual concept or a belief, because most of therianthropes see it as spiritual, so don't be surprised if you read many definitions starting with "therianthropy is a belief that...". But again, therianthropy doesn't have to be spiritual.
Therianthropy isn't about having a totem. A totem/guide is a distinct entity, which means it is not necessarily the same specie as someone's animal side (theriotype). You can talk to a spirit guide, they can come and disappear as they want. However, you can't get rid of your theriotype. Also, therianthropy shouldn't be confused with a connection. The word "connection" is used very loosely to refers to a bond with an animal or a category of animals. However, therianthropy is more than being connected to an animal; it is being the animal inside. A connection could be totally unrelated to someone's theriotype. As an example, a wolf therian could feel a connection to tigers or felines in general, and perhaps experience a sense of felinity without having a feline theriotype.
While many therians experience shifts, this is not at all a rule. A shift is described as a mental change into the traits of the therian's theriotype. It can be sudden and chaotic, or it can just be subtle fluctuations between humanity and animality. There are many different kinds of shifts (such as mental shifts, where one's human mindset change to his animal sides's mindest, or phantom shifts, where a therian begins to feel non-existent physical traits such as animal ears or tail). However I am not going to list them; you will find various websites such as the Werelist or Shifters.Org listing various definitions in their encyclopedias, if you want to know more. By the way, non-therians can experience shifts as well; shamans and other people are able to shift into the mindset of another animal, this is what shapeshifting is about.
Therianthropy isn't about surhuman abilities. Being a therianthrope does not make us special, nor it gives us magickal powers or psychic talents. It is not a gift nor a curse and it doesn't make us changing into blood thirsty beasts at night. It is not a cult, and it's not something that can be taught; you can't become a therian. And, above all, therianthropy is not a game. It is not role-playing: we are animal inside, and we are real. Therianthropy doesn't make us cool or smart, it's simply about experiencing things in a different manner, which isn't better than any other.
In fact, each therianthrope experiences therianthropy in his/her own way. There are many different types of therianthropes. Some shift, some don't (contherianthrope are weres whose animal side is constantly blended with their human side, and therefore they cannot shift from a side to the other). Some have multiple sides (polyweres), some are a mix of different species (hybrids). Some wear no labels.
So what is Therianthropy, it is where the human feels an animal side to himself. This is not the same though as for instance Animal Spirit Guides or Lycanthropy. The therian generally doesn't claims to physicaly shift the "lycan" though will claim such capabilities.
The therian feels and sometimes acts like it's theriotype ( phenotype is a word also used but less usefull ), the animal side as some would say. For the therian the animal side is always there, though many people have worked with animal spirits, animal guides or animal souls, the therian is partly the animal. And that has mayor influence.
Think about it as that the shaman can call up the animal and speak with it, lending power temporal from the animal spirit. The therian though being the animal always is influenced by the animal side
