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Finding your identity
Am I Alterhuman (A therian/Otherkin/etc)?
You figure out that you're Alter-Human when you experience non-human behavior and often a non-human connection to a specific creature. Being alter-human is always about your own identity. You are the creature yourself. It is not a different way to describe your favorite animal. Most alterhuman identites are an involuntary experience.
How do I find out if I am Alterhuman and what my type is?
To figure out if you are Alterhuman or what your type is, you will have to dig into yourself and acknowledge your non-human experiences. You have to be honest with yourself that if you have no such experiences, you're likely not alterhuman. It's often recommended to write down your experience and then look into the animals you feel fits your experiences the most. Always look into as many creatures as you can, don't stick to one. When you have a list of possibilities you can narrow it down to what fits best.
Recommended: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOmgT0YIbo
Does meditation or inducing dream shifts work to find my type?
It is debated whether or not meditation and dream shifts work to find your therio-/kintype, and some members will recommend this. If your Alterhumanity is spiritual, and if you are experienced with meditation (you've taken a few meditation classes, or you've been meditating regularly for months) this might be a possibility for you. But it is important to note that the subconscious is very suggestive, and you are very likely to sense what you *want* to sense. Meditation and dream shifts might therefore be very deceiving. It's better to acknowledge the non-human behavior you show involuntarily.
How do I know whether I have a therio/-kintype or a kithtype (otherhearted)?
The overlap between kin/theriotye and kith/otherhearted can be a bit blurry for some. Many find trouble differentiating between identifying *with* or *as*. Another way it's explained is using it in family terms. Figuratively, a theriotype is blood relative to you, family by blood. While a kithtype is a friend who isn’t blood related, but is considered apart of your family anyway. So it's not a matter of connection, but rather if you see yourself as part of the species or not. Are you the creature yourself? Do you experience its non-human behavior involuntarily? Then it's kin. Do you simply have a very strong connection and love for the being? Then it's kith.
Why are there so many wolves and cats in the community?
There are different theories as to why so many people identify as these two specific species. Spiritual theories include the fact that humans have always been connected with wolves and cats (for example: the Native Americans). There is a reason why humans have dogs and cats as pet.
Psychological theories may include the fact that the behaviors and social engagement of wolves and cats aligns the human one, and therefore therians may often experience human things that to them is deemed wolf or cat. The real answer is unknown to this day.
What is the difference between Therian and Otherkin?
Both communities have been created in separate times and spaces throughout the years, but as they emerged and agreed upon the fact that the experience is very similar, people began concluding that therianthropy means you identify as an earthen non-human animal, and otherkin means you identify as a non-earthen creature. Yet the terms are loose, and one who identifies as a dragon can still call themselves a therian instead, for example. Some compare the communities in their focus, as it seems the Therian community talks more about experience, and the Otherkin community more about the identity itself.
People also use the term Theriomythical to describe themselves as a non-earthen animalistic being.
Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QpWQ6O5l8o
Debunks
Is a Therian/Otherkin the same a furry?
No. Furries are people who are interested in anthropomorphic animals, animals that have human traits. This is a mere hobby. Being a Therian/Otherkin means you identify as a specific animal on a spiritual or psychological level. It is not a hobby but an identity. You actually think you are the creature. While some Alterhumans may find comfort in expressing their experiences through the furry community, the two subjects are not related to one another.
Resource: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVDYsocLyaw>
Can Alterhumans physically shift?
Physically shifting (also known as P-shifting) is known to be a taboo within the Alterhuman community because it's scientifically proven that physical shifting is impossible. All members, sellers, etc. that claim they can help you physically shift are scams.
Actually believing you are able to physically shift is called Clinical Lycanthropy and is a recognized mental disorder that needs to be treated by a professional. Alterhumans can have this disorder, but most don't. The two cases furthermore are not related to one another
Resource: https://forums.therian-guide.com/Thread-The-Realities-of-P-Shifting
Is the Alterhuman/Therian/Otherkin Community a cult?
A cult is where 1 person or more is followed by a group of people who all share the same belief, and where they oppose themselves from the rest of the world and deem everyone else to not live as people should. The leading group manipulates the followers into acting how they want, etc.
Therianthropy is an identity based on one's own experiences. The community is merely a place for people to talk about these experiences. There is no leading group that tells people what to do, but we do have a shared set of terms to have Alterhumanity keep its definition consistently.
Resource: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBhxC6AJhw>
Is a therio-/kintype a past life?
Some people may have the theory that their therio-/kintype is their past life. But believing you have a past life inherently does not make you Alterhuman. Only if you experience non-human behaviors of this type in your current life, it makes you Alterhuman. Not all people feel as if their therio-/kintypes are past lives. There are many theories about why people experience their own Alterhumanity.
Does being a therian mean you do quadrobics?
No. When one identifies as an animal, they may feel uncomfortable walking on two feet at times. Some therians find relief by practicing quadrobics, walking on all fours can make them feel more connected to their theriotype. To some therians & non-therians it can also simply be a hobby/sport. Although this trend has mainly risen on TikTok, being a therian does not mean you do quadrobics.
Shifts
Can I create a shift consciously?
Yes, this is also known as a self-induced shift. It means you try to connect to your therio-/kintype with the goal to shift to a more non-human state of mind. This usually works if you trigger yourself with items or situations that are ideal to your therio-/kintype. Triggers that work for a lot of people may include listening to specific music, visiting a place that resembles your natural habitat, and expressing your alterhumanity through gear or being creative.
It is important to note that self-induced shifts are not reliable informative sources when looking for your therio-/kintype, as you may just be inducing a cameo-shift.
How do I stop a shift?
Sometimes a shift may occur on a very unhandy situation, as it may lead to people judging your non-human behavior. Just like shifts can be triggered, it is possible to trigger yourself back to a more human state by grounding yourself. How to ground yourself to a more human state depends per person. But performing more human activities often works, as well as listening to specific music or stimming.
Can I lose control over a shift?
Having an uncontrolled shift is also called a Berserker Shift, which means one loses all contact with their human self and experiences themselves as a full non-human creature, mentally and/or physically. This shift is often seen as something that does not belong to the Alterhuman experience and rather to Clinical Lycanthropy. Unless you experience Clinical Lycanthropy, shifts can *always* be controlled by your human side.
Gear
Do I have to wear gear as an Alterhuman?
Not at all. Wearing gear, such as tails, ears, necklaces, or any type of accessories/clothes, is simply a personal way for Alterhumans to express themselves. Some feel connected to this type of self-expression, others may not. Wearing gear can also just be for fun, so identifying as a bird does not mean you're not allowed to wear a fox tail, for example.
Wearing real fox tails, isn't that cruel to the original fox?
Wearing any type of real animal parts is a form of Taxidermy/Vulture Culture. It is a conscious choice and interest in the art of bringing a second life to deceased animals. If you have done proper research, the tail you buy is of a fox/animal that has lived a happy life in well caretaken farm, and hasn't undergone any form of pain when the tail was prepared. You have to realize for yourself that shedding plastic hairs from faux fur tails into nature might do more harm.
How do I know that a tail is from a cruel animal farm?
Almost all cruel animal farms stem from Asian countries, this is because the laws on animal farms and animal rights is not operated in an animal-friendly way.
- This means that sites that are based on Asian trades usually only sell tails from Asian cruel fur farms, such as, but not limited to: **Wish, Aliexpress, EBay & Amazon**. Any shop that shows that it is from an Asian country is probably a cruel fur farm.
- Tails from cruel animal farms are often recognized by the use of Stock photos (White backgrounds, only 1 photo available)
- The tail is often chained to an often used "lobster clamp" (usually Golden). That has a bulky, edged shape, with no thumb hook.
Image for reference: https://tinyurl.com/ythwezhe
- The tails are often smaller, and simply don't look healthy. Their leather, on the inside, is usually poorly scraped too.
Image for reference: https://tinyurl.com/3hrfn5wy
- The whites of the tail is often painted over to prevent it from turning blonde due it bleaching in the sun. But the paint often looks a little blue or even purple-ish.
Image for reference: https://tinyurl.com/t8few54w
- Tails from cruel animal farms are generally a lot cheaper than from healthy farms. A tail under 20 dollars is usually quite cheap, and around 10 is a no go.
Where can I find real fox/animal tails that are NOT from cruel animal farms?
- Etsy. I always recommend this site as it has a lot of Taxidermy enthusiasts. Please still always check the origin of the shop, as Asian companies are also on this site. Etsy is also good for other types of gear!
Link: https://tinyurl.com/4749d44f
- Furtails.com/Furtail.com - This site has a really great stock of healthy fox tails. You can pick a tail from a specific subspecies/fur color, or you can pick a specific tail on their Etsy shop Furmasters.
Link site: https://tinyurl.com/2vcrmytt
Link Etsy: https://tinyurl.com/2mjys4f6
- Wyldertaxidermy - A fellow therian who sells tails through Etsy and Instagram
Link Etsy: https://tinyurl.com/9khtpe68
Link Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/fcsfkb8f
OakenFoxShoppe - Also a fellow therian with a passion for taxidermy, found on Etsy and Instagram
Link Etsy: https://tinyurl.com/2sev4muw
Link Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/m24yfzyb
- Local farms in your neighborhood are often the cheapest way to get tails
- Local markets and thrift shops often have hand-me-down taxidermy and is usually not from Asian fur farms. It is however good to note that these tails might be from foxes that have been hunted and not farmed.
I want to wear tails, but I don't want to wear real fox tails, now what?
Faux fur tails also exist, which means the fur of the tail is fake and made of little plastic particles. It is of course important to know that this fur also sheds, so spreading these plastic hairs is not good for the environment.
You can also look into making or buying a yarn tail. These are, however, often seen as a little less realistic.
WARNING: low quality sites like Wish, Aliexpress and EBay may sell real tails described as faux fur tails, and are likely from cruel animal farms!
Example of real tail being sold as faux fur: https://www.wish.com/product/5a67f97d55235440a983133e?mi=3&share=web
Packs
What are (Therian) Packs?
Packs are online or irl friend groups of alter-humans. These packs are often made for heavier friendships, and are often compared to family, due to the fact that it is a free space where people can express their alter-human selves. There are packs for all kinds of identities, therian or otherkin specific packs, theriotype/clade specific packs, and so forth. Occasionally furries are included as well, but usually it stays within the alter-human community. Theriotype specific packs can sometimes be named after a group of the animal, such as prides, flocks, and herds.
Why do packs often have an Alpha - Beta - Omega structure?
Shortly put, the Alpha - Beta - Omega structure are thought to be from wolves, yet this theory has been debunked a long time ago. Wild wolves actually live in families with normal parents and children. Aside from this misconception, humans actually do have the alpha - beta - omega system in their nature. Especially for teenagers it can be a pleasing affirmation to know what their position is in a group of people.
Resource: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpRnSc7Lfpo>
Can I start a pack? How?
Anyone can start a pack, but there are also lots of packs out there waiting for new members to join. So perhaps you should look for one before deciding to start one. You can, however, easily make packs through group chats and social media. In order to make an irl one, you will have to find locals first.
How can I be a good Alpha?
Being an Alpha is about leadership, but most people associate Alphas as being the strongest, the one who goes first, and so forth. But the best way to be a healthy Alpha is by taking care of their members and actually putting their members first. It's important to make sure they are okay, and that there's no unhealthy tension taking place.
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