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The saying goes that if you ask eleven Therians what this thing called Therianthropy is, that youll get twelve different definitions. This long and somewhat daunting word stems from the Greek word therion, translating to beast, and the word for a human or a man, anthropos. So then, by the sheer translation, someone could indeed infer that were a community of beast-people wandering the streets in plain sight of humanity as some deformed mix of animal and human ravaging on human flesh in the night. While the beast-human, part is true in a sensethe thing about us wandering the streets, eating people and whatnot, is distinctly false. There is a fine line between a Therian (or were, a term most use to describe themselves instead of typing out some long winded word) and someone with Clinical Lycanthropy, which is the belief that youre a real-life werewolf with fur and such.
Therianthropy is, to me at the very least, a constant state of self-awareness and the belief that while our bodies are 100% humanthe souls that were born with are entirely different. This is the primary difference between the reality of being a Therian, and fantasy of a clinical disorder. Were human. Its a simple fact that we both accept and understand with surprising clarity for people with beliefs as out there as ours. Humanity though, only extends to a certain part of our being and thats where the beliefs start. Our bodies are human, but our minds, souls, et cetera, arent. Theyre entirely differententirely something more primalsomething more animal. Its the fact itself that you are that makes us, you, different.
The question of How did you/we arrive to such an odd conclusion? is soomething that circulates the community as a whole like a huge air current. Its always going and always there. I personally didnt wake up and think to myself, Hey! Im some sort of fox thing!. Its not that simple.
Like the definition itself, the arrival to the conclusion is one that entertains many theories on how, why, who and other questions that all fall back unto themselves like a wobbly child in the dirt. Even if youve studied everything and know all there is to know about every little detail of the subject with full and complete understandingthat doesnt mean youve affirmed your status as a were. Being a Therian revolves around, completely and wholly, real-life experiencesnot theories or knowledge of the subject. Experiences that, at the time, are perfectly normal; however, it is only when the feelings die down and youre left standing there do you think: Wait a minute... Experiences that make you question, bit by gradual bit, who you arewhat you are.
It is these nagging questions that drive most to search themselves for the answers to these questions. Day bay day these questions pop up in the seemingly most random of times and every time a little part of you thinks that, Normal people dont do that . It says that you shouldnt feel a burning, raging sense of separation when a wolf calls and its pack answers. Shouldnt feel some imaginary set of hackles rise when a dog growls and snarls at you; the part of you that looks back at your childhood and thinks, Should a child really be thinking that? The part of you that takes those uncertain steps back and looks at your life under some imaginary microscope is the part of you that thinks, Hey. Im different. Yet you do. You question.
Being a Therian isnt just about those off times when you feel different. If youre not having some strange feeling of abandonment, some sense that youre more than humanthat doesnt mean you stop being Therian. Just because you feel normal and regularlike every other humanthat doesnt mean you stop being what you are and start up another time like a video game. Its a constant and unyielding thing. It doesnt go up and leave like an unfaithful lover or a random idea. Even if you, in a spurge of denial and disillusionment, tell yourself that youre notif you truly are Therianit doesnt stop being true just because you tell it to.
This is who we are. Its about having these experiences that make us question, this knowledge that makes us think, yet still fitting into the mold of human for the simple reason that we are human. Were about finding the balance between animal souls and minds with human bodies; different and yet somehow the same. Its not all pretty and joyful though. Sometimes its frustrating, others its really boring. Its life. Its not all special. But you know what? Its who we are.
If youre still interested after all this rambling and musing, keep an eye out. I might write a few more essays. Ill try to answer any questions I can, just post them here or if you want to be more private about itsend me a note. Ill get back to youthough seeing as Im a busy little fox I might not get back to you right away. Thanks for reading!
~Keaya
February 2009
Therianthropy is, to me at the very least, a constant state of self-awareness and the belief that while our bodies are 100% humanthe souls that were born with are entirely different. This is the primary difference between the reality of being a Therian, and fantasy of a clinical disorder. Were human. Its a simple fact that we both accept and understand with surprising clarity for people with beliefs as out there as ours. Humanity though, only extends to a certain part of our being and thats where the beliefs start. Our bodies are human, but our minds, souls, et cetera, arent. Theyre entirely differententirely something more primalsomething more animal. Its the fact itself that you are that makes us, you, different.
The question of How did you/we arrive to such an odd conclusion? is soomething that circulates the community as a whole like a huge air current. Its always going and always there. I personally didnt wake up and think to myself, Hey! Im some sort of fox thing!. Its not that simple.
Like the definition itself, the arrival to the conclusion is one that entertains many theories on how, why, who and other questions that all fall back unto themselves like a wobbly child in the dirt. Even if youve studied everything and know all there is to know about every little detail of the subject with full and complete understandingthat doesnt mean youve affirmed your status as a were. Being a Therian revolves around, completely and wholly, real-life experiencesnot theories or knowledge of the subject. Experiences that, at the time, are perfectly normal; however, it is only when the feelings die down and youre left standing there do you think: Wait a minute... Experiences that make you question, bit by gradual bit, who you arewhat you are.
It is these nagging questions that drive most to search themselves for the answers to these questions. Day bay day these questions pop up in the seemingly most random of times and every time a little part of you thinks that, Normal people dont do that . It says that you shouldnt feel a burning, raging sense of separation when a wolf calls and its pack answers. Shouldnt feel some imaginary set of hackles rise when a dog growls and snarls at you; the part of you that looks back at your childhood and thinks, Should a child really be thinking that? The part of you that takes those uncertain steps back and looks at your life under some imaginary microscope is the part of you that thinks, Hey. Im different. Yet you do. You question.
Being a Therian isnt just about those off times when you feel different. If youre not having some strange feeling of abandonment, some sense that youre more than humanthat doesnt mean you stop being Therian. Just because you feel normal and regularlike every other humanthat doesnt mean you stop being what you are and start up another time like a video game. Its a constant and unyielding thing. It doesnt go up and leave like an unfaithful lover or a random idea. Even if you, in a spurge of denial and disillusionment, tell yourself that youre notif you truly are Therianit doesnt stop being true just because you tell it to.
This is who we are. Its about having these experiences that make us question, this knowledge that makes us think, yet still fitting into the mold of human for the simple reason that we are human. Were about finding the balance between animal souls and minds with human bodies; different and yet somehow the same. Its not all pretty and joyful though. Sometimes its frustrating, others its really boring. Its life. Its not all special. But you know what? Its who we are.
If youre still interested after all this rambling and musing, keep an eye out. I might write a few more essays. Ill try to answer any questions I can, just post them here or if you want to be more private about itsend me a note. Ill get back to youthough seeing as Im a busy little fox I might not get back to you right away. Thanks for reading!
~Keaya
February 2009
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On a more serous note, I attempted to explain what Therianthropy is in my own definitions through my own experiences last month.
There are lots more out there more experienced than I about the many technicalities, but I'll answer any questions to the best of my ability.
There are lots more out there more experienced than I about the many technicalities, but I'll answer any questions to the best of my ability.
© 2009 - 2022 Ashen-Fox
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If I just so happen to discover I'm a therian, my animal soul might be a dormouse. Those things sleep for years, only getting up to eat. I'd do that if I could. XD
Plus, it's not wolf or dragon, so there's that too.
Plus, it's not wolf or dragon, so there's that too.