#therianthropy is about identity. while some/a lot of therians like to use gears and do quads

[cringelordofchaos]

I just saw someone say "furry= wearing fursuits, therian = wearing a mask and tail and doing quads" and like... Oh my god... Noooooooo

[pri-viv]

They can be fun to do and draw a person closer to themselves like anything that represents you. However it is not needed to be a therian, otherkin, or any kintype. Items are not needed. You don't need any of that they mentioned. You can do it to connect or have fun but it isn't needed. Sometimes gear eases stress for people but it is still that- an item. What a kintype is- is rather an identity. That be spiritually or mentally. If you believe in rebirth, two souls, or believe it's due to influence. A kintype is what animal or being you identify as. Otherkin, Therian, Fictionkin. It is all related to identity. Not with, not relate too, not coping by. It is I identify as. As being the keyword. You believe you identify as this thing. And may or may not experience shifts with it. Not that shifts happen for everyone, some gets none to almost none. That is what it mostly takes. However it isn't that easy. If you aren't a kintype you most likely will leave the community later and disconnect. It is okay if that happens. If you experience shifts and try to figure out who you are it may take a while. Sometimes it changes a lot and that is okay- you're figuring it out. Identity is a trial none of us share all similarities too. Be humble and just live in the moment. Try to learn about it more if you can- if this is hard to understand. There are great media about therianthropy from others on youtube. Just look up 'what is a therian?' and i'm sure you'll find them. Others on here will be happy to explain it more to you if you ask. They may even have an area to click on their profiles for your questions. There are some really smart people in our community. Have fun and fair wishes

Semi rant but it's kinda annoying how therians immeditaly get coined with quadrobics/walking on all fours. The identity part get's really pushed out of the way for outsiders, not having any other look on the community than younger people wearing masks and doing quads.

A therian is not defined by mobility/a sport. A therian is not defined by wearing mask nor a tail nor any gear, if you don't want or have any. A therian is not defined by age.

I dislike the TikTok part of the community for that, even though I post on TikTok myself.

[chaotic-galaxy-collective]

Alterhuman is a term that refers to someone who does not fit the traditional standard of what is considered human, and/or does not identify as human. This can include non-human system members and introjects, however it also includes singlets who don't quite fit the term human, or identify as non-human to an extent.

Otherkin refers to someone who identifies partially or wholly as something non-human, usually involuntarily.

Mythkin: identifying as something found in mythology, such as a unicorn, merperson, dragon, etc.

Divinekin: identifying as something with divine origin, such as an angel, demon, or other deity.

Faekin: identifying as any type of fae, such as fairies or elves.

Alienkin: identifying as an alien, or any non-earth being.

Robotkin: identifying as a robot, AI, or similar technology.

Objectkin: identifying as an object of some kind.

Conceptkin: identifying as a concept of some kind. This may overlap with fictionkin and musickin.

Musickin: identifying as a song, album, tune, or similar.

Plantkin: identifying as a tree, flower, or other plant.

Foodkin: identifying as a food of some kind.

Polykin: having multiple kintypes; identifying as multiple beings.

Halfkin or demikin: Those who identify partially as another species/a fictional being, rather than fully. A kin identity such as a Werewolfkin could be considered a halfkin under certain circumstances.

Therians or animalkin are people who feel their spirit is non-human, typically being an earthly animal. They are included under otherkin, though they describe those with more earthly-based spirits, and do not include creatures that are mythical, fictional, deities, magical, etc.

Therians may have animalistic impulses and instincts such as biting, hissing, scratching and panting, and they also may 'shift' and feel more animalistic at times, though not all therians shift. Some may engage in quadrobics (depending on the theriotype), wear faux tails, ears, and wings, and join therian packs to meet other members of the community.

Fictionkin (formerly known as mediakin) are those who identify as something found in fiction, including characters, species, glitches, etc. This may or may not be considered otherkin, since fictionkin includes human fictotypes, however it is typically included under the otherkin umbrella.

Some fictionkin believe they are reincarnated, some follow psychological beliefs for their identity, while some follow metaphysical beliefs (such as soul collecting.)

Hearted/Otherhearted/Fictionhearted

For the therian, otherkin and fictionkin community respectively, being ‘hearted is having a strong feeling of connection and kinship with a being. This differs from kin due to the fact that ‘hearted individuals identify with the creature, not as it.

Astral Shift

When someone’s astral body takes on the form of their kintypes during astral projection.

Aura Shift

When one’s aura takes on the shape of their kintypes.

Awakening

When Someone comes to the realization that they identify as nonhuman. This is not “becoming” or choosing to be a therian or kin, it is realizing what they were all along.

Berserker Shift

A type of deep mental shift where all human awareness is lost and the individual becomes their kintype completely (mentally, not physically.)

Bi-location Shift

A shift in which the shifter leaves their physical body and materializes elsewhere in the form of their kintype. Some people claim that the form is physical and can interact with objects, while others say it can not. This shift is a very controversial concept in the community.

Cladotherian

Someone who identifies as a whole clade of animals, rather than a specific species. For example, a feline cladotherian would identify as all species of felines, (tigers and bobcats and house cats etc...) or could be described as having a feline “essence,” without being able to narrow it down to a specific theriotype. They may have a few main forms, such as being a feline cladotherian that often has tiger and house cat shifts.

Contherian

A person who’s humanside and animalside are fully integrated, so they are in a consistent state of both human and animal at all times. They do not experience shifts because there is nothing to shift into.

Draconic

Describing the community of people who identify themselves as dragons spiritually or psychologically. Most of the old draconic community has merged with the ever-growing otherkin community.

Dream Shift

A dream Shift is when one is, or transforms into their theriotype in their dreams. When still searching for your kintype, dreams should be taken with a grain of salt, as they can often have other, non-literal meaning that’s not so obvious, and animal dreams do not always point to a kintype.

Emotional Shift

A shift that is triggered during certain emotions.

Greymuzzle

Someone who has been in the therian, otherkin or furry community for a long time and has a lot of wisdom and experience. This is not a self-given

Involuntary Shift

A shift that happens without conscious effort

Kintype/Kinself

The word used to describe the species or character one identifies as. Used mostly by otherkin and fictionkin.

Mental Shift

When one’s thoughts and behaviours change to resemble ones kintype. This can be anything from a mild animalistic urge, to a very strong shift in perception.

Paleotherian

A therianthrope that identifies as a creature that is extinct. Also can be called paleokin.

Phantom/Astral Limb

A phantom limb when one feels and receives sensory info from what feels like a limb when no such thing exists physically. This is experienced by amputees who have their limb, as well as therians and otherkin. The type that therians and otherkin feel specifically, are called supernumerary phantom limbs, because they feel limbs such as tails and wings that were never there in the first place, at least not in ones human life.

Phantom/Astral Limb Shift

A Phantom/Astral Limb shift is a Shift in which the kin feels the sensation of the body parts of their kintype, such as a cat therian feeling a tail, although there isn’t one there.

Polymorph

Not to be confused with polykin, a polymorph is someone who’s kintype shapeshifts into a vast array of forms, though they usually have a base form.

Polytherian/Polykin/Polywere

A polytherian, or, polykin is an individual who has more than one therio and/or kintype.

Psychological Therian/Kin

Someone who believes that their therianthropy/kinity stems from a psychological cause, such as abnormal brain wiring or imprinting.

Sensory Shift

A sensory shift is when a kins senses become heightened and more like that of their kintype. This is not a physical heightening of the senses (Senses can not be heightened beyond the limits of the human body,) but rather a heightened awareness of those senses, resulting in the person noticing them more.

Shapeshifterkin

Someone who has a kintype that is able to shift into other beings. This is not the same as actually claiming to be able to physically shift.

Shift

A change in state that causes one to become more like their kintype. There are many different kinds of shifts.

Species Dysphoria

A feeling of great discontentment/discomfort about ones human body. Feeling as if one was born the wrong species.

Spiritual Shift

When someone’s aura or astral body shifts into their kintype

Spiritual Therian/Otherkin

Someone who believes their therianthropy or kinity stems from spiritual causes.

Standard Therian/Otherkin

A therian or otherkin that only has one kintype.

Sun/syntherian

A suntherian is someone who’s theriotype is integrated in their personality. However, unlike contherians, they can have changes in mood that cause them to feel more or less non-human.

Synpath

Someone dwho identifies strongly with and has a deep connection to a creature. This is sometimes used interchangeably with otherhearted.

Therian Gear

Therian Gear are articles of clothing or accessories that some therians like to wear as a way of feeling more like their theriotype. They can be good relievers of dysphoria, but can also just be worn for fun. Some examples of Therian Gear would be a tail, an animal shirt, a therian necklace or a headband with animal ears attached. 

Theriomythic

An Uncommon term used to describe someone who identifies as a mythical creature such as a dragon or gryphon, but feels more wild and instinctual, and often finds it easier to relate to the therian than the otherkin community.

Vacillant Therian

A therian whose therioside is integrated so that shifts occur fluidly as if on a sliding scale.

Voluntary Shift

A shift that is induced through conscious effort.