#if you know what otherkin are there's your context

[indornaga]

Hey, Lets Talk About Therian Gatekeeping.

If you've ever seen my work, you know that I'm a very inclusionist therian. People & creatures who have read my work or been to one of my presentations of Therian: Dispelling the Earthen Animal Myth have been very receptive of the information and have passed it on to others in the community that havent been so fortunate as to have experienced and learned along side me. There's still a lot of work to be done in this venture, and every person & creature who shares it is a crucial part of history.

So why does the "therian = earthen animal" belief exist and persist? My favorite theory is that there's a pervasive need to be seen as legitimate. Fictional and mythical animals arent seen as real, in their therian-worldview. Not real enough for exclusionists, and that theory is constantly reinforced by exclusionists who insist that inclusionists are the ones trying to rewrite the term's history.

Let me show you what I mean.

Here's a link to where I got this screenshot. Please note the date in the upper right hand corner of the screenshot. For context, this is from a thread on the community's originating website, Alt.Horror.WereWolves. This is the thread that originates our current usage of Therian/thrope/y. (The censored info is the members' real names. You can see them uncensored at the link, unfortunately. I've censored them here for privacy.)

As I see it, therianthropy applies to *any* human/animal form, regardless of history, powers, or other attributes.

The original defining discussion thread of therianthropy includes "any human/animal form". Gatekeepers are the ones in the wrong here.

There's an argument amongst exclusionists, "if therianthropy can extend to include non-earthen animals, what's the point of therianthropy as a concept?" For those who arent aware, although therianthropy and otherkinity significantly overlap in their experiences and the way those experiences are described, the two communities developed separately, with overlap in experience and terms used, depending on which of the two a member found first. It's so deeply ingrained in these exclusionists that therians can only be real animals, that they choose a narrow inclusion or non-existence.

On top of this, it's incredibly disturbing that these people & creatures are encouraging revisionist history by completely denying original, first hand sources that tell them they're wrong. They delete messages that inclusionists reply with, giving them these primary sources. So I'm here showing you the truth.

If you've been led to believe, threatened even, that you're "not a real therian" if you believe therians can be non-earthen animals, then I'm here holding your paw, telling you that your inclusion in a term/experience doesnt hinge on how well you uphold the standards of a few.

If you would like more reading about this, I have a whole essay, linked at the beginning of the post, with dozens of citations to primary sources about this issue. If you agree that "therian = earthen animal only", I challenge you to read the essay. Read and really analyze the sources linked there. Engage with your history in it's purest form, not from others telling you things. Learning and expanding your worldview is the most powerful way to grow as a person.

[fangthroat]

also- i have been seeing a lot of creatures posting about therapy and being too scared to come out to their doctors! and that’s so valid. it is SO scary. but i had an experience and wanted to share because i think it’s important to know that you CAN kinda come out while still protecting yourself, not feeling like you have to divulge your entire identity to a somewhat stranger while also being honest about what you’re going through

i work with a nutrionist, for years now. she’s amazing and not only did she help me recover nearly entirely from my ED (i’m telling you, if you struggle with an ED or food trauma; see a nutrionist. if you have insurance they are almost always FREE! i never paid a copay once. it’s like a best friend to talk about food with that helps you repair your relationship with food. anti diet culture and body shaming. it’s amazing but that’s for another post)

she also helps me with issues regarding personal feelings, she listens to me and helps with ADHD, autism, depression and stressful life events because ALL of these things affect how you feel about and eat food. but idk why, maybe it’s because i’ve known her for so long and trusted her, but i simply started with this

for context: we were talking about inner childs and trauma therapy. inner child work or talking about how you process feelings (art therapy, poetry, journaling) is a great bridge to a convo like this

“ever since i was a kid my anxiety manifested as a rabbit. and my anger; my rage; my inner anger at myself manifested as a wolf. its developed more since then but it has stayed consistent even until now. i think in pictures and picturing myself as these animals and assigning them to my feelings, or using feeling like these animals to justify my experiences has always helped me”

and she wasn’t freaked out. she was interested, said it was so cool and amazing that i thought that way. that she struggled with seeing in pictures and that in doing that it is a great coping mechanism. i left that appointment knowing i didn’t really tell her i was therian, otherkin, etc. but i did leave being more honest. feeling like i had shared a little bit more of my real self with someone. it was a good feeling, and lifted some weight off me.

if you have a good doctor you trust; this is a great way to test the waters. i want my fellow creatures to know there’s hope. there’s people out there who will listen. baby steps are important to preserving your safety and testing who you can trust. this helped me, i hope it can help you. i understand people feel otherkin/therian things differently on a wide spectrum, and maybe the way i worded it doesn’t resonate with you and that’s 100% valid. but if it does- you aren’t alone. and you can do it! just unravel a little at a time 🩶

love your local hellhound that wants to see you grow. always be safe with people you don’t know.

[a-dragons-journal]

Hi! Putting this on anon because it's a really weird thing even in kin circles, but it's not something I've seen many other people mention in the community.

I know phantom shifts are really quite common among otherkin. (I even get them very occasionally myself.) However I have only ever heard people talk about body parts that should be there but aren't--ears, tails, paws, etc. What I haven't heard anyone else mention, and I think I've been experiencing for quite some time (even if I only started labelling it as a 'phantom shift' very recently) is...a phantom ability, the slight sensation of being able to do something that, of course, you are unable to in your current body. For context, one of my highest kintypes has the ability to 'eject' their soul from their body, and for several years now when I'm feeling a particularly strong shift or emotion for any of my kintypes I'll get a phantom feeling like my spirit is tensing and quivering, trying to escape its current shell.

Have you or anyone else heard of this or something similar with another ability happening? It's such a strange thing, I'm not quite sure what to make of it...

(Apologies if this is rambling and slightly incoherent, I'm usually quite articulate but when it comes to kin things I've never been particularly good at expressing my experiences.)

I have actually heard of that once or twice - the deep sense that you should be able to do a certain kind of magic, for instance - but never a term for it. Not the only person I've heard talking about it, though.

[greenunoreversecard]

A/N: some lovely people explained in reblogs. I hope I do ur ask justice!!! Also I'm gunna do headcanons bc it wasn't specified, but I'm willing to make a one-shot as well, just lemme know! :)

Humans are boring->Alastor x platonic! Reader

Ok, so the title actually plays into how alastor reacts when you tell him

You fr go;"Yo alastor, I'm a therian/otherkin."

He responds;"what's that" and then after you explains goes "Yeah that's understandable, humans are boring and shitty"(Alastor, you realise you were human at one point, right?)

Anywhizzle

Luckily when you got to hell you manifested the animal you feel/identify with

If there's a couple your mix and matched

I also feel like demons can control how animalistic they look, like when al goes full demon he gets more deer characteristics

so same goes for you

I can Def see you lounging full animal and al walking in and just starts talkin to you. Only after he gets on you for getting fur (if furry) on the Furniture

but if theres many animals it's a Lil more tricky

i feel like if its more predominant to a species type like canine, feline, reptile etc etc, then you'd take a more basic form of the species, and then depending on the subtypes, like house cat, small lizards, etc, then you get more specific features so on and so Forth.

But if it's like.. two distinctly different types, like how husk is cat with bird wings, then its a mixy-match without really being able to go full animal mode.

Either way alastor is helping with getting the care items you need

oh, your species needs a specific shampoo? Done. Preening? He'll help but he won't be to fond of it bc of the elongated touching.

Want a item that will help dysphoria (is that the right term in this context?) About not having enough of the features? Dw pookie, he gotchu

I feel like those were more therian centered

So! If your a otherkin, I feel like it's not to Likely you'll manifest with a lot of characteristics, bc a lot of mystic creatures are a lil op, ngl

So you'll definitely look more human-esque

Think like ears, eyes, horns, wings and tail.

if it's water based youll prolly have gills and finger fins, as well as minor scaling and different colored skin

But i see the dysphoria worse with otherkins than therians, just bc of how manifesting seems to Look

Alastor stil helps with any and all care products you may need, even preening and when scales get funky.

If dysphoria kicks in bros cooking you food and peeling fruit but dont expect him to be a shoulder to cry on and for him to pat your back.

if your animal is more water based he totes gets you a pool to swim in. Like in ground, deep as shit and lighted, heated and with nice walls.

Moral of the story: hell is actually good for therians and otherkins bc their all silly Lil animals guys (:

[mxmorbidmidnight]

Hullo! I am midly confused on what defines a shapeshifter? Is it uncontrollable cameo-morphs or controlled morphs of whatever you want?

(Asking because I can summon phantom-limbs, but I thought that was normal until I looked into otherkin more)

I greet thee friend! As to what defines a shapeshifter. I shalt talk into my experience and perhaps compare it with thine.

I am a shapeshifter in that no one form, name or concept can hold me. I find that change in my surroundings such as who I am accompanied by, where I am, how comfortable I am can influence change. I can shift to my whims content, but if I feel distinctly like a certain one of my forms I cannot force myself into another that will make me feel less comfortable. If I feel distinctly masculine one day I cannot force myself to be female. There are times where I am less bound to physical aspects of my identity, rather almost entirely fluid where I may shift rapidly between forms. If I wish to shapeshift at will then I shall do so, however if I feel tethered to a certain form I cannot force myself out of it. I feel as if I am not articulating well, hopefully you do understand what I’m attempting to say.

I shift in tune with the earth as the cycles of the moon and the goings of the tide. Where the migrating birds strike against the sky. It is within me, shapeshifting to my core. It is both doing as I please and moving in a dance with magic and nature that I could not resist even if I tried.

The definition of “shapeshifter” in itself means to change forms. Any form changing creatures in mythology can be classified as shapeshifter (werewolf, selkie, vampire, gods and goddesses).

Then there is the identity of being a shapeshifter rather than one who is able to shapeshift. I am a shapeshifter in that my soul is fluid. I am not a singular species that can shapeshift, my soul in itself is a shapeshifter.

As is the nature of shapeshifting there is no one way to be a shapeshifter or experience the identity of shapeshifter. We who are fluid are as kin and each of us our own ballad.

By technicality one who changes forms, regardless of will or not is a shapeshifter. In all honesty I know little of shapeshifter in a therian/otherkin context. My identity as shapeshifter had come from mythological and folkloric research. As for the official meaning of “shapeshifterkin” in the context of alterhumanity I cannot give a concrete answer.

But as I see it the nature of a shapeshifter is that there are no restrictions on what one must be in order to call themself as such. If you feel the word shapeshifter encompasses you then it is yours for the taking. If it does not then there is no need to force yourself into it.

The nature of shapeshifting as to change and evolve. Shapeshifter is something you call yourself, not something to be forced into, meet the requirements of or earn. Every shapeshifter walks their own path and will create their own definition of the term.

Prithee good tidings my dear. I do hope this was of some assistance to thee, if thou does have other questions my ask box is open to inquiries.

[tellurian-in-aristasia]

Source Deep in the elektraspace archives, on what is probably one of the earliest Aristasian elektrasites, is a page called "Invisible Dollies". Aristasians were known for throwing everything at the wall and seeing, well, not what sticks, but which girls bend down and pick it up. Otherkin, lolita fashion, BDSM, religion, science fiction, fascism, stockings, aliens, fairies, the 1950s, just about anything was posted about as a thinly veiled attempt to catch just the right girl who wanted to join Aristasia. While this page seemed to have been made deep into their Wildfire Clube era, which was more known for BDSM and stockings than anything else, you can clearly see they were fishing for a different type of girl than one that the Wildfire Club might attract.

All this "there is a girl who wants to be good, deep inside you" talk is something that was often repeated by Miss Martidale when she discussed dressing the girls who showed up to her schoolhouse in vintage fashions and giving them new personas for their time visiting. The answer to the first magical task, which Google has helped me answer, is that "The Miracle of Any Century" is a lyric from the song "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby". This particular magical task asks "Can you put it in context by quoting the preceding lines?" Well, the preceding lines are:

Does your mother realize the stork delivered quite a prize The day he left you on the family tree?

Does you dad appreciate that you're merely super-great The miracle Of any century? If they don't then send them both to me This paints a very strange picture of what type of girl they were hoping to catch with this post. Clearly they weren't fishing for an actual child, what child would know about the pop hits of the 1930s to 1950s? But rather it seems they were searching for other older women who desperately longed to revisit their childhood, but relive it with a new, magical, family.

[creatureheart]

hi! forgive me for bringing up an old post out of nowhere, moreso if youve already answered this question before (in which case feel free to just link your answer!) you made a really good post back in april explaining some alterhuman/nonhuman/etc labels and explaining some general facets of it like how it can develop involuntarily - in that post you say thar some people may experience being nonhuman physically or ancestrally and i was wondering what that means in this context? i hope this doesnt come across as rude or anything, im genuinely curious what this means and was hoping you could explain. thanks for taking the time to read either way. ❤️

Never feel bad for sending in questions. I’m always down to try my best at answering them when they’re sent in, but I cannot promise I know everything, and those that fall into these groups are welcome to chime in and correct me when needed!

To what you asked, in basic terms, it’s what it says on the tin. There are people who identify in a physical or ancestral way.

Some identify as their ‘types in all ways including physical. This may be due to the simple mindset of “this is my body, I am this thing, therefore this body is this thing’s body,” all the way to those who experience delusions that cause them to see themselves as physically their ‘type. It very much depends on the person and how they experience their nonhumaness. Some terms that refer to things like this are Holothere and Endel, but there are others!

Ancestral nonhumans are those who believe their nonhuman identity has been passed down through familial lineage. An example being some of the founders of the online Otherkin community who believed they were descended from Elves. I can’t say I know too much about this, but it again depends entirely on the individual as to how their family came to pass this down to their descendants — whether something like a curse, to it having always been that way.

While not the most informative, I hope this is a good start at finding information on these things, and I welcome anyone that falls into these groups to reblog and talk about their experiences.

[hollow-forest-creations]

Label's and Self Perception as an Alter-human:

(posted and written by V)

I wanted to post this drawing I did of my "animalistic looking" from in headspace. For context, I have Dissociative Identity Disorder, and with that as well as being alterhuman, I perceive myself quite differently than how my body physically looks. DID aside I'm sure many alterhumans can relate to that feeling, so I wanted to write a bit about that. (More under the cut for anyone who's interested)

( also please mind the typo's if any, I'm very dyslexic)---

Labels and Their Usefulness:

I feel there can be a tendency for us (not just alterhumans, but many folks nowadays) to want to put our experiences into boxes. Whether we want to explain our personality types, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, etc., we want to be able to sum up ourselves to better communicate to others what we believe and how we feel.

In context of alter-humanity, often times we not only want to understand ourselves, but we also want ways to explain ourselves to others who may be having similar experiences. I definitely understand this, and I think labels can be a fantastic way to explain ourselves, not only to others, but to help us better understand ourselves.

Concerns:

My main concern with labels isn't necessary the labels themselves, but that often times they can unintentionally feed into unhealthy habits of trying to shove our experiences into a select few boxes, or feeling like we need to have ourselves all figured out.

I know I'm only 23, but considering many folks who are active in alter-human spaces online are not yet adults (nothing wrong with that btw), I just get worried that young alter-humans of all kinds, and honestly other adults as well, may be feeling like they have to have it all figured out to be "valid" in their experiences. I know I felt that way when I was younger, even without knowing about all the terms and nuances of alter-human Identities at the time.

The thing is, everyone grows and changes. They learn more about themselves, as well as new ways of expressing their alter-humanity. I know, at least in my life, my understanding of my alter-humanity as well as myself in the general sense has changes quite a bit.

My Point In Writing This:

I guess what I'm trying to say with this, is that its ok to not know everything yet. Try your best at any age to enjoy exploring your identity and what it means to be you. Find ways to enjoy your therianthropy, your otherkinity (Idk how to phrase that lol) , your other hearted identity, etc. and embrace who you are. The more I've grown and changed, the more I've learned about myself, and the more I've learned to love my alter-humanity. It just makes me excited to learn more about myself as I grow.

ANYWAYS, sorry for getting all sappy there at the end or whatever. I just wanted to share some positivity since everything so crazy rn! If anyone actually read all my yapping and gotten this far, hi! I hope you have a great day! -V

[sunflowershifts]

Shifting and Being Fictionkin: My Thoughts

Hi! This is something that I've been thinking about a lot recently so I wanted to just write down my thoughts about it. So I guess I'll start with some context!

(Quick disclaimer: if you don't believe in fictionkin or shifting, please don't leave hate or anything, just ignore this post. I just wanted to talk about my own personal experiences/beliefs, not start any discourse or anything, thank you <3)

So, I identify as Fictionkin (as well as Otherkin) and have done so for roughly the past decade. (I have a separate blog where I post about that stuff if you're curious) But anyway, I have a very multiversal belief when it comes to being fictionkin. I believe that my fictionkin identities are all me in different universes/realities, much like how many shifters view their drs and drselves.

There are other beliefs when it comes to fictionkin origins, such as past lives or purely psychological, but this is just my own personal thoughts. Instead of seeing my kins as a psychological phenomenon or as past lives (which many people do, and are totally valid beliefs), I view them all as lives/universes/realities that are happening simultaneously and the "memories" I get are the same kind of "memories" I get from my drs, where it's snippets of things I know have happened/are gonna happen in that universe/reality.

I was thinking about this the other day and began to wonder about the possibility of shifting to my different kin lives. I was wondering if anyone here is also a fictionkin shifter and views it in a similar way as me, and if you have any experience shifting to your kin lives.

I feel like, for me, it might make the actual process of shifting easier for me because I'm already so aware of that lifetime and memories and stuff. It would also be really affirming from a kin identity standpoint too, as I would get to be me again. I only started thinking about this recently, and I think I'm gonna try shifting to some of my kin lives soon and see what that's like. Anyway,,, thanks for reading all this. I hope it makes sense.

1st divider // 2nd divider

[genderqueerdykes]

do you have any advice for feeling comfortable telling people you’re identity? due to a mix of autism and things related to being otherkin, ive realized i have a lot of labels. those being: bisexual, panromantic demisexual, omniromantic sex positive asexual, and biromantic demiromantic sex repulsed asexual. im scared to talk about them over fear of someone going “YOU CANT DO TAGT!!!!!! OICK ONE!!!!!!!!” and knowing if i tried to explain they wouldnt really. Get it? Basically, any advice for caring less about what they say?

that's a good question, this kind of thing is heavily dependent on context, who you're talking to, and a lot of other factors, so let's discuss that

it'll depend on who you're talking to and how informed they are on queer identities. if it's someone who is cishet, may be queerphobic but you're not sure, or someone who's not familiar with more than basic queer terms, it's best to give them a short and sweet version of your identity so you don't overwhelm them and potentially frustrate them. it's best to help someone learn by giving them a few things to digest at once, then later on you can introduce newer and more nuanced terms to them if they've caught on and are receptive

so for example, most people that i meet IRL who don't know anything about me yet, or may not be familiar with a lot of queer terms, i tell them i'm a bisexual trans guy. if they're more receptive i'll tell them that i'm genderqueer, and i'm bisexual because i'm a gay man and a lesbian. but if someone isn't familiar with a lot of these concepts, i keep it as simple as it can be at first. i told my elderly neighbor that i'm a trans guy and kept it at that, and she was very receptive, but i haven't found a reason to push it any further than that with her since it's not something that's necessary to discuss further unless she's curious or i feel like having that conversation

as long as you're able to introduce the "basics" that can help them refer to you as correctly as possible without confusing someone who's new to this, you may have a chance at softening the blow. other people are just determined to misunderstand you or misinterpret your identity no matter what it is or who you are. i have seen countless people hellbent on misinterpreting me, what i've said, and my identity and taking it in bad faith no matter what i say or do. it's just going to happen. and while it can hurt, and it's okay if things like that do hurt you, it's important to remember you can't control others and that they will do things we don't like sometimes. it's a reflection of how they think, feel and operate, not a reflection of what your identity truly is

if someone just outright refuses to refer to you correctly it's really important to remind yourself that they are disrespecting you and at that point, it's more important to consider how you feel, because you are the one who is being mistreated. it doesn't matter how defensive or indignant the other person gets, the important thing here is you are being mistreated. this is not about them, it is about you, and you are allowed to advocate for yourself when and where possible. you do not cease being important just because someone else is upset, remember that

take it bit by bit, you won't get over how much that affects you over night. try to remind yourself that some people are just going to be mean no matter what, and that them being mean doesn't make them right. people become defensive and abusive over things they don't like about themselves that they see in others. it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them, and it's best to remind yourself that they don't care about your feelings, so you do not have to care about theirs

i hope that helps you, take care, good luck out there. if you have any more questions feel free to ask!

[barking-at-strz]

🦴Woof Bark Woof🦴

Names: Emmi, Sugar, Strz (Stars)

27 Year Old || NB Femme (She/Her or Fae/Faer), Pansexual, Kitchen Table Polyam || Autistic, ADHD, Otherkin/Therian, Quoigenic System || I Am Proud Of Myself And Refuse To Hide Any Sides Of Me.

Blog Theme: Otherkin/Therian Related Content.

DNI: Bigots and Discourse Havers. Context on main (see below)

Tags:

#strzbark for anything I post

#strzreply for just my replies

More Info:

Follow from @sugrstrz - See here for more personal information.

“What Are Your Kins?” I dunno. I’m a dog. Thats all I know, am aware of, or am.

“Ok but what kind of dog?” Mutt. Husky adjacent. White in color. Floofy tail that wag wag wags. Love snow. That sort of flavor.

"What Is Quoigenic?" The definition can be found here but I use it to say that asking me how my system was formed is none of your business. The entire arguement about traumagenic and endogenic is silly if you know the origin of the terms and community.

Credits: petfoodvendingmachine (Bone Spacers), sister-lucifer (Wolf Spacers)

[echothenightfury]

About me

Last edited/updated: June 27, 2025

𓆟𓆞𓆝٭✰🐬✰٭𓆝𓆞𓆟

Hey there! My name is Echo.

She/they/it/he. I am trigender, meaning I identify as male, female, and nonbinary at the same time. I am used to being referred to with female pronouns but I don't mind what you call me.

Some of my disorders consist of anxiety, hypersexuality, OCD, BPD, hyperlexia, pain synesthesia, and paranoia. I've been told by various people that I could possibly have autism. For context I mean friends and family who know me and simply point it out, but I haven't been officially diagnosed.

𓆟𓆞𓆝٭✰🐬✰٭𓆝𓆞𓆟

I post alterhuman stuff, although a few memes or story ideas might show up. Might. Also expect yapping. Lots and lots of yapping.

You can find my other account here: @echothenightfurysart

𓆟𓆞𓆝٭✰🐬✰٭𓆝𓆞𓆟

The following are my confirmed alterhuman identities, with the ones at the top being most prominent and ones at the bottom being least prominent.

Night Fury otherkin, psychological

Orca therian, spiritual

White wyvern otherkin, psychological

Humpback whale therian, spiritual

Caucasian shepherd therian, psychological

Polar bear therian, spiritual

Barn owl therian, psychological

Snow owl funlink, psychological

Catnap fictionkin, psychological

Mommy Longlegs fictionkin, psychological

Mangle fictionkin, psychological

Smilodon Populator paleotherian, spiritual

Spinosaurus paleotherian, psychological

Cheetah therian, psychological

Maned Wolf therian, psychological

Leopard seal therian, psychological

Spider centaur otherkin + funlink, psychological

Stitch fictionkin + funlink, psychological

𓆟𓆞𓆝٭✰🐬✰٭𓆝𓆞𓆟

My hobbies and interests include art (digital and traditional), reading, history, vulture culture, science, biology, horror movies and games, and occasionally I might dabble in a bit of writing (I never end up finishing them though 🥲).

My DNI are zoophiles, pedophiles, proshippers, animal abusers, racists, transphobes, homophobes, anti-furry, anti-therian, and nsfw. Basic stuff. I also block freely. I don't mind spamming because I always have my do not disturb on.

TikTok accounts:

YouTube and Pinterest account:

𓆟𓆞𓆝٭✰🐬✰٭𓆝𓆞𓆟

Other than that, everyone else is fully welcomed to my account, and feel free to ask any questions that you have about me as long as it's not inappropriate or rude.

Any weird or hate comments on any of my posts will be deleted. Don't waste your time.

[martinshep]

Going by only what I've come across online myself, in comments and forums, and in direct conversation, therians will say therianthropy is not at all correlated with being trans or with being lgbtq as a whole. I've not really understood why that's the case. My own experience has always felt very transgender. Even that I'm uncertain of as I haven't (and don't plan to) socially transition, so I can't properly compare the two, I don't even know what it feels like to be (have?) a gender. Maybe it's just not been explained to me in the right way, maybe my experience is unique, I'm trying to find out.

Therians, trans people, both, please tell me about your own experiences with that if you feel comfortable doing so. Especially if you're both please tell me how they're different for you, or how they're similar for you! I'm trying to figure this out for myself so if you're not comfortable sharing your experiences please reblog so I can hear from more people.

For context on my own experience:

I recognised having dysphoria over being human not long after becoming interested in furry culture. I had heard of otherkin before but assumed that because I didn't want to be fully animal I didn't count, and also because I thought I only wanted to be an anthro, and not that I am an anthro. Currently my belief is that the true self exists in the ideal self, and so wanting to be an anthro means I am one. Because I didn't feel like I was therian, or know much about it to begin with, I didn't look into therian and otherkin spaces. When I got these dysphoric feelings I kept them to myself for the most part as I felt like I was weird and strange, only talking about it to my trans partner (at the time), and she had never heard of otherkins or therians, and so related it to her own trans experience. From her I then figured my dysphoria is similar to gender dysphoria. I even have a trans sister and so learnt plenty about what it means to be trans from my mum telling us both about it.

A year or two later my cis parter convinced me that I do count as otherkin/therian, and only then did I look into those communities. I assumed others would have the same feelings I did that it's like gender dysphoria but haven't yet come across a single otherkin/therian saying that their otherkinity/therianthropy feels similar to being trans/lgbtq. I didn't say or ask anything because I was (and still am) quite socially anxious.

I'm currently sick with something and it's given me time to think and reflect, and introspection doesn't seem to be giving me any answers. Describe your own experiences, say why you think they are similar or not, I just want to hear what people think so I can come to a conclusion on myself.

[nonhumanwithin]

hello, hope you are well. i dont know if this is the correct place to ask this however, i am questioning whether i am some form of alterhuman and i was wondering if you could help me (though its totally ok if not). i feel a really strong connection with birds and often express similar behaviours/ feel the need to, such as nesting and calls. i do occasionally feel like i am trapped in a human body but i dont know if this is due to gender identity or neurodivergence.

thank you for your time

Hi! The short answer is that you are the only person who can decide if you are alterhuman or not.

What you've described does sound like some type of alterhuman experience, likely otherkin/therian (using them interchangeably in this context). The cause of your identity does not matter. Otherkinity is not a disease with specific symptoms and a specific cause that can only be diagnosed under certain circumstances. It's a label and community for anyone who feels it fits them and connects with other people through a shared experience of having some form of nonhuman identity. If viewing yourself as birdkin/a bird therian feels right, referring to yourself as a bird or some nonhuman animal feels correct, you are allowed to use the labels as you wish! :)

[shiftingvoid]

Intro post

This is one of my three sideblogs for @chestersbraincell , this one is for my otherkin stuff. As always with side blogs, this is just for reblogging stuff I post in relation to a topic for people who may not want their dash littered with other stuff I post about. That being said, my sideblogs update later/more irregularly than my main blog, so if you’d like to have a gander at my intro post there and find what I post to your liking, I best advise following that one. Alas I know people prefer blogs related to certain topics so here we are. (Side blogs will not be made for fandoms as I mostly reblog stuff for those anyway)

You may refer to me with any pronouns but I much prefer they/them or neos based around my identity. The best way to refer to me, though? Just call me a creature. A being. Ya know

My current list of kin identities is as follows: Voidkin, Shapeshifterkin, Cryptidkin and Creaturekin are the ones I tag my posts on my main blog with most of the time. Some other kin types that feel approximated to me depending on the mood/forms I take include: Eldritchkin, Monsterkin, Demonkin, Shadowkin, Faekin, Spiritkin, Foxkin, Catkin, Wolfkin and probably some others I haven’t quite explored yet since I take many forms. Those are just some I frequent.

I think my little explanation from my main blog about my kin identity is warranted a repeat here so, here:

The main “kin” identities I identify with are “Voidkin” and “Shapeshifterkin”. I am like the physical/metaphysical embodiment of, well, space, I guess? That is my “home”, anyway. The void is my home. Where I come from. But sometimes I’m also part of it. Not to get too spiritual with it but I do believe in reincarnation in my own way, and I believe that being part of the “void”, or just general “energy” floating around there is the in-between in which my soul resides in between lifetimes.

I think I’ve lived many a lifetimes which have shaped the main forms I take when I’m more, well, shaped. Most of the time the shape I take is mostly humanoid, with various animal/otherwise features at different times, such is the way of being a shapeshifter. I’m vanta-black in colour, except for the two glowing circles that are my eyes. They’re not always visible/open, but a lot of the time are. Also occasionally my teeth/fangs will highlight in a similar way. Oftentimes as of recent I’ve been covered in fur/my silhouette is “fuzzy” on the edges, but there are times when I feel more cool, smooth. The best way I could describe it is the texture of phone/computer screen. That and I’m semi-corporeal. So. Not entirely tangible. I take a liking to forests and dark spooky hallways/general areas, I think at some points I might’ve been something similar to a cryptid. Generally just like to become one with the darkness I occupy, too. Malleable is my shape is all I want to say.

I sometimes experience more animalistic shifts(in the shapeshifter way, btw, since I know “shifts” is something used by otherkin identities in a different context). The forms I take, then, are most often either feline or canidae in nature. I’ve considered moth and squirrel before but I’m not sure whether I just share some traits/behaviours or whether I have had moments where I was completely shaped like that.

[insanetwocubes]

See, one big issue is that I don't really know what I like, in the context of friendship? Four always recommends joining a club or something to do with a hobby. I mean I like Minecraft? Has that earned me any friends? Not really. I like crocheting, but I can't really talk to people while doing it. I like watching streamers, but the community isn't very friendly to systems. I like Malakai? But there are so few angels in the otherkin community. Also I don't really know much about the community. Our therapist hooked me up with a few other systems. They're not around much and the platform they're on is for kids half my age. *sigh* Forget about even talking to humans.

And then I look at Four and it's already made lyke 5 new friends by just... what? Having a special interest? I don't get it.

I mean, angel, you're kind of stretching the idea of friends a little, don't you think? I talk to people and they're mutuals, and we're friend/ly/ but there are different levels of friendship, y'know?

I can't even get that!

Well, just post about things you like.

I tried! It didn't help!

You kinda have to do it more consistently...

I don't know! It's so... augh!

You gotta just talk. About something.

I can't do it as obsessively as you!

I'm hardly consistent, Em. I have bursts of creativity and then I disappear for months. I don't keep friends, I just make them as I go. It's not this deep support system that you make it out to be. We don't know each other.

*pout*

Listen, honey. Just focus on doing something you like.

I am!

And people will follow.

:(

I promise.

:(

*sigh* Flare!

Hm?

Help me out?

I don't have any friends lol go to school? Work?

*facepalm*

Four, I'm sorry, I don't know what you want from me. I don't have any friends haha... I have an awkward will we/won't we with a childhood crush. Is that something?

:(

Emillie. You'll find your people. I promise.

Augh.

*nudges Flare* Can you at least say something more encouraging to our child?

Oh. Right! Ahem Emillie!

Hm?

Listen, angel. You're not the only one struggling with this. The whole world is having a hard time finding real, meaningful friendships. It's a skill that you just have to keep working on. I know it feels frustrating and it feels like everyone already does it so easily. But real friends aren't easy. Friendship is something worthwhile and anything worthwhile takes effort and trial and error and frustration. But once you'll figure it out, you'll be an expert on it. I believe in you. If anyone can do it, it's our amazing Emillie.

Hm. Really?

Really. And don't mind the way Four does it, you'll find your own special Emillie way.

:J Special Emillie way...

Mhm!

(Thank you.)

Sorry, shoulda done that sooner.

(Eh, we got there eventually)

~Emillie