The Therian Guide

Therianthropy

What is a Therianthrope?

• Definition: A person who experiences being and identifies as a non-human animal at a personal level.
• Some therianthropes identify as mythical creatures, like dragons (theriomythics).
• Theories explaining therianthropy include reincarnation, scientific or psychological reasons, and more.

Can I be a Therianthrope?

• No rituals or initiations are required; therianthropy is not a religion.
• Identification is self-realized, often through feelings associated with one's theriotype (animal identity).
• Community discussions can aid in self-discovery.

Therianthropy & Religion

• Therianthropy is separate from religion but can be integrated into personal spiritual beliefs.
• Some religious therians adapt their beliefs to accommodate therianthropy.

Common Words & Definitions

• Awakening: Realization and acceptance of being a therian or otherkin.
• Shifting: Changes in mental or astral state from human to animal.
• Were: Another term for therianthrope.
• Theriotype/Kintype: The animal or creature one identifies as.

Types of Therians

• Standard Therian/Shifter: Identifies as a single earthly animal, experiences mental or phantom shifts.
• Polytherian: Possesses multiple types, experiences various shifts.
• Nonshifting Therian: Identifies as non-human without experiencing shifts.
• Contherian: Constantly in an animal state without shifts.
• Suntherian/Vacillant: Constant non-human state with sliding scale of human-animal mindset changes.
• Cladotherian: Identifies with a clade of species, not one specific.

On Shifting

Types of Shifting

• Mental Shifting: Mind reverts to animal form; heightened senses.
• Phantom Shifting: Feeling or seeing limbs of inner animal.
• Dream Shifting: Inner animal stimulates dreams.
• Cameo Shifting: Shifts of another animal not one's theriotype.
• Astral Shifting: Non-physical plane travel, shifting astral body.
• Sensory Shift: Senses align with those of inner animal.
• Bi-location Shifting: Body creates a duplicate of the inner animal.
• Aura Shifting: Auric field changes to inner animal.
• Physically Shifting: Considered impossible; no evidence supports it.

The Idea of Physically Shifting

• Generally rejected as impossible and dangerous.
• Promotes unrealistic views and can lead to mental harm.

Shifting Techniques

Inducing Shifting

• Techniques include meditation, interaction with animals, strong emotions, dreams.
• Levels of shifting: full, partial, barely shifted.

Controlling Shifts

• Stay aware of being human in public to prevent unwanted shifts.
• Use meditation techniques in reverse to suppress shifts.

Voluntary & Involuntary Shifting

Voluntary Shifts

• Occur when one chooses to shift, often in private or trusted company.

Involuntary Shifts

• Triggered by shocks or certain stimuli, often seen in children discovering their theriotype.

The guide provides an overview of therianthropy, its definitions, types, and experiences, alongside practical advice for managing and understanding shifts.