Therianthropes: Earthly or Not?

[Taylarn]

Therianthropy is the metamorphosis of humans to animal forms via shapeshifting, and modern therianthropy is commonly defined as identifying as a non-human animal, often in a similar manner to therianthropes of the past. This means that most therians today only identify as Earthly animals, and that any mythical or otherworldly being is classified as otherkin by default. Once the label of therianthropy was more open to otherkin who felt they were animalistic, but now it is reserved for Earthly animals.

However there are many otherkin who feel more akin to therians due to therianthropy having more of a focus on animalistic creatures and the needs of such. From this the term "theriomythic" came into being, but even now many otherkin who are more animalistic feel that they would best be included under the therianthropy label, instead of "theriomythic". Currently there is a push to alter the label back to being inclusive of those who may have animalistic experiences but not be Earthly creatures.

Do you think therians are only Earth animals? Or do you think therianthropy applies to anything animalistic, with otherkin being for less animalistic creatures?

[Liudan]

In my experience with therians, they're a race in their own right that have the form of an earthly animal, not that they're an earthly animal that has died and reincarnated. As for the psychological aspect of therianthropy it could be applied to those who feel or psychologically feel animalistic.

However, given there are werecreatures, dragons, and such who are otherkin, no I don't believe otherkin is something less animalistic creatures. Especially given there are otherkin races that are a bit more primal than therians and even therians who are more civil in a tribal sense than some otherkin races.

[Zanblade]

I thought otherkin includes animals that Earthly + other entities that aren't animals. I mean my definition may be wrong, but that's just how i categorise this I guess

[Liudan]

Therians are part of the otherkin label, same with starseeds, but some people like to separate them for some weird pride reason or just to distinguish them for simple reasons.

[eshtar]

I am an earthly since I am a greyhound. So i guess I am not in the otherkin category..

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