Therian identity

[chthonic-me]

I read over your post but I find myself trying to figure out just what are you asking.

Therianthropy is part of the Otherkin category of things. The main difference I have found is that the Therian community equates their other spirit or soul part as being of an animal kind while the otherkin show it as being angelic, demonic or non-human creature such as elf or similiar.

In many ways the most common form of Therianthropy I am aware of it a form of Lycanthropy where the person firmly believes they are part wolf and turn into such a creature. Those calling them selves Wolf-Kin from those I've spoken to.

Yet what your speaking of does not seem to be part of the Therian community nor the way they identify themselves. One significant factor being all of them have known right off the bat what animal soul they possess and are joined with.

Yet asking about rituals or ceremonies makes me think of seeking one's Animal guide, Power Animal or Spirit Animal, perhaps even a totem as used in modern pagan practices and usage of the term. Something that is far different than a Therianthrophy type situation or belief.

I suppose for me one may join or become part of their guide, totem, power or spirit animal but it is never a fragment of thier soul makeup. Yet for a therian thier animal is always part of thier soul makeup from my understanding.

Yet a small part of your post also makes me think of Shape-Shifting or Shift-Shaping. That is the process of taking on the form of your guide or totem and acting upon thier medicine or strengths. It can be a process that occurs in the mind only or one that occurs in both the mental and physical realm. It can be induced through magical and mind altering drugs or brough upon oneself through ritual.

This again points back to some forms of lycanthropy (werewolf) or other forms of creature such as Were-rats, Were-Jaguar, Were-Bears, etc. For instance Were-Jaguar is found in South and Centeral America where the Jaguar is the main creature, Were-Bears are at times associated to the Berserkers of Nordic lore and Odin himself.

At times equated to the wearing of skins to assume the form and mindset of the animal in question. The typical wolf in sheep's clothing line of though and practice. Possibly cross connected to tales such as the Selkies who wear skins but shed them to take human form, Undines and Kelpies somewhat similiar from what I recall.

Also quite common in many shamanic type practices where the practitioner wears a regalia composed of animal skins and bones. Tying the practitioner to the medicine or energy of the animal spirits whose body parts are worn or connecting the practitioner to thier power animals or guides.

But as I stated above your usage of the term Therian does not fit with what your asking in my understanding of the term. Therianthropy is not something found via ceremony or ritual but something the person experiences all their lives as they believe they are inhabited by a specific animal soul that forms part of thier own soul makeup.

To discover your animal guide / spirit guide or power animal can take many forms though journey is the one most often seen in my experience. However, that is not a vision quest as was referenced though that is a topic for a different discussion I'd think.

This thread is becoming more and more helpful the more I read of it.

I've had a recent animal experience as well. I've always felt as though my soul was out of place in a human body (if that makes sense and doesn't sound too cheesy...), but up until this month I always assumed it was part of my anxiety and...quirkiness.

I've always been very feline in personality, but not in the same way friends of mine are. They meow and let others "pet" them in the ways of house cat.

I've always felt stronger, more powerful, and far too large for my body. Because I doubted myself, I was never able to identify that part of myself (as with many other aspects of myself, because of my anxiety issues).

Over the past 2 years I've been battling my anxiety with such determination and more of these traits began to present themselves. In my mind during meditations to work through anxiety I would battle a demon (the anxiety) as a Tiger fur-clad Amazon woman roar whenever I was victorious.

In a drum meditation I went to the deepest part of myself and saw the Tiger there. We mimicked each other's moves perfectly and I realized we were one.

Would this be considered Therianthropy? Or would it be considered something more like Shape-shifting?

It isn't the same feeling I have with the Octopus, which is one of my spirit guides, so I don't think it would be that.

[monsnoleedra]

..
Over the past 2 years I've been battling my anxiety with such determination and more of these traits began to present themselves. In my mind during meditations to work through anxiety I would battle a demon (the anxiety) as a Tiger fur-clad Amazon woman roar whenever I was victorious.

In a drum meditation I went to the deepest part of myself and saw the Tiger there. We mimicked each other's moves perfectly and I realized we were one.

Would this be considered Therianthropy? Or would it be considered something more like Shape-shifting?

It isn't the same feeling I have with the Octopus, which is one of my spirit guides, so I don't think it would be that.

I would't think the tiger clad amazon is a therianthropy facet. Especially in the humanizing facet of the situation. You see the "Tiger" as a human element or manifestation vice seeing the "Tiger" as an animal force unto itself. My experience with Therian's is they always see that facet of their soul as the animal and seldom does it animorph into a human combination or drapery.

To me that would almost be more of a shadow totem / shadow teacher issue that is faced and the medicine or energy that one calls upon to face it. What some might call a facet of shadow self work in meeting a shortcoming or debilatating issue they find within themsleves.

Think about Tiger, she is strength and ferosity rolled into one manifestation. She shows no fear yet inspires it in those that look upon her. She is pretty much in your face when she decides to step from the shadows and shifting distortions of her environment. But she is also hidden and unobtrusive, melding into the environment to pass un-noticed and un-observed to the outsider.

She is also the cuddly creature manidested as a lovable cub, yet the killer when seen as the adult. She is love to those that belong to her yet holy terror to those that she would strike out against. She is power in shape and form and projects that outward, yet she is equally passion and compassion without limit towards those she cares for.

The tiger might be a shadow teacher that will be present for as long as it takes to overcome that issue. However, it could also be a power animal that inspires and gives one strength and focus or purpose and desire.

My "Gut" instinct would be it is a shadow totem type thing that shows you which medicine to draw upon to defeat and overcome some inner fear. But in the end it really is up to you to decide.

[chthonic-me]

I would't think the tiger clad amazon is a therianthropy facet. Especially in the humanizing facet of the situation. You see the "Tiger" as a human element or manifestation vice seeing the "Tiger" as an animal force unto itself. My experience with Therian's is they always see that facet of their soul as the animal and seldom does it animorph into a human combination or drapery.

To me that would almost be more of a shadow totem / shadow teacher issue that is faced and the medicine or energy that one calls upon to face it. What some might call a facet of shadow self work in meeting a shortcoming or debilatating issue they find within themsleves.

Think about Tiger, she is strength and ferosity rolled into one manifestation. She shows no fear yet inspires it in those that look upon her. She is pretty much in your face when she decides to step from the shadows and shifting distortions of her environment. But she is also hidden and unobtrusive, melding into the environment to pass un-noticed and un-observed to the outsider.

She is also the cuddly creature manidested as a lovable cub, yet the killer when seen as the adult. She is love to those that belong to her yet holy terror to those that she would strike out against. She is power in shape and form and projects that outward, yet she is equally passion and compassion without limit towards those she cares for.

The tiger might be a shadow teacher that will be present for as long as it takes to overcome that issue. However, it could also be a power animal that inspires and gives one strength and focus or purpose and desire.

My "Gut" instinct would be it is a shadow totem type thing that shows you which medicine to draw upon to defeat and overcome some inner fear. But in the end it really is up to you to decide.

Excuse me while I take a moment to be sappy:

Those words, the way you described Tiger, it really moved me. I just wanted to thank you for that and your advice as well.

[outlaw393]

Are you hesitant maybe because you're worried that he'll think you're just trying to fit in with him or something? Has he made you feel like your experiences or insights are inferior?

I did tell my boyfriend, by the way. I don't think he was surprised at all. He did not reject me or anything. He accepted me. I told him about my P-shift, and he said when he shifts his fur itches. I said, mine does not itch, it just tingles a bit.

[GaiaDianne]

This is sort of a cross thread question, aimed at Wiccans or Pagans on the board, but does anyone know of any sort of ritual that can be done, or meditation, to find one's Therian animal identity? I know I have one, but I don't know what it is or how to find it.

Thanks!

GAIADIANNE:

Hi and Merry Meet, Outlaw --

I think you're wise to nurture a certain degree of skepticism and questioning.

I'd like to offer some information that i hope might be helpful, but i want to preface it by saying that i mean absolutely no offense whatsoever to anyone or their spiritual paths, whatever they might be and however they may believe or practice.

FYI:

The idea of Totem Animals has become quite popular, especially among NewAge and "Solitary-Eclectic" pagans who have perhaps read (generally) NewAge materials (rather than actual historical, cultural, anthropological or ethnolgical) studies) on "Shamanism", and who are therefore generally unfamiliar with actual Native / Indigenous principles and practices of different Tribes/ First Nations.



In light of that, i'd like to offer you a link with the following quote:


ON TOTEMS:

From http://realpagan.net/forum/topics/yo...tual-teammates
Quote from “Makoons”:
http://realpagan.net/group/firstnati...orum/topics/sp...

This is the information on totem and spirit animals. While spirit animals could be open to different interpretations based upon belief and culture, totem animals ARE as they are defined in this entry. The word "totem" is even derived from the Anishinaabe language, the word "dodem." If you change the concept at all, it is no longer a "totem animal."

To give a short answer, totem animals are determined at birth. If your father was fish clan, you will be fish clan. Because it is passed down through lineage, if you do not have First Nations ancestry, there is no way for you to have a totem animal.

As for the rest of your questions, it really just comes down to what you *believe* the voices to be. Some might even describe them as a symptom of mental illness if they're not spiritually inclined. I was taught they are spirits of my ancestors, spirit animals etc. and follow the guidelines culturally provided for me to determine which is which."

In fact, many Native Americans are (quite understandably) fed up with NewAge misconceptions and co-optation of their spirituality - -especially the tendency to sell their spiritual beliefs and practices -- or the MISTAKEN notions about them -- in hundreds of books, articles, workshops, seminars, etc. There is even a name for this phenomenon: "Plastic Shamanism", and those who practice it are called "Plastic Shamans".

NOTE: For just one important example: Actual Native peoples seldom if ever use the term "Shamanism", because there was never any single "Native American religion" -- there were instead, over 500 different Native Nations, cultures and religions, many of which conflicted with each other --
And each Tribe had its own word, in its own language, for its unique spiritual practices and practitioners.

For more on this problem of Plastic Shamanism and how it's (unfortunately!) seeped into many NewAge and Pagan beliefs, please see any of the following links/ sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/.../New_Age_...lastic_Shamans
http://www.newagefraud.org/
http://www.williams.edu/go/native/natreligion.htm
http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/american_in...4.3aldred.html
http://www.religiousforums.com/.../1...c-shamans.html
http://www.search.com/reference/Plastic_shaman


I hope that's helpful; and that you are able to find good, reliable information to answer your questions!

Blessed Be ~ GaiaDianne