Words you need to know. (Some things are not on here.)

[Guest]

Glossary of Therian Jargon and Slang

Note: The purpose of terminology is to describe something briefly. A long explanation about anything is almost always going to be preferable than a single term; not everyone fits into neat little categories. Please keep this in mind.

Alpha: The first letter of the Greek alphabet. It is another term for a leader of a pack.  

Animal-hearted: Having a strong connection and affinity for a certain animal/s. Used to describe a person who is not a therian but still holds a connection with an animal. (e.g. dog-hearted, dolphin-hearted, etc)

Awakening: The moment when a person realizes their therianthropic nature.

Contherian: A therian who does not experience shifts, but instead experiences a permanent combination of their human side and their theriotype.

Cladotherian: An individual whose theriotype is not specific but refers to a whole clade, such as the canine family.

Cyberpack: An online therian/were group that emulate some of the characteristics of a wolf pack.

Draconic: A person who identifies as a dragon. The distinction between draconics and dragon therians/theriomythics is a matter of personal choice.

Greymuzzle: An experienced, often older therian. Usually a well-known individual.

Howl: A therian gathering (also called a Yowl, Meow or Meet depending on the theriotypes present). Howls tend to take the form of camp outs or house parties. They have been held in Australia, Canada, Russia, Sweden, the UK and the US, varying between four and over fifty attendees.

Kintype: The non-human creature you identify with. (Otherkin term)

Misanthropy: The dislike of humankind.

Otherkin: The belief that you are not human and identify with any non-human. Therians fit in this category. All therians are Otherkin but not all Otherkin are therians. People refer to Otherkin that are not therians as simply Otherkin as a general term.

Species Dysphoria: The feeling of longing for one’s theriotype form and/or habitat; feeling discomfort and dislike of one’s own body.

Therian: Short for therianthrope; this is the colloquial term and most widely used in the community.  

Theriomythic: Someone who self identifies as a mythical creature; generally a therian with a non-Earth based theriotype such as a dragon, phoenix or griffin.

Theriotype: The animal you identify as. Some therians, known as polytherians, have multiple theriotypes.

*D-Shift: Dream shift. The act of shifting in your dreams.

a.     MILD - Meditation Induced Lucid Dream. Dream shift through meditation.

b.     WILD – Wake Induced Lucid Dream. Dream shift from waking state.

*Lycanthropy – The ability to transform into a wolf physically.

*M-Flare – Mental Flare, A temporary state of extreme m-shift.

*Misanthropy – An extreme dislike of humans.

*MPSF – Most Prominent Secondary Form. Animal you identify with the most.

*M-Shift – Mental Shift, Shifting your thoughts to accustom that of your animal.

*Otherkin – An individual who considers themselves non-human.

*Psionics – The study and interaction with the metaphysical and supernatural.


Types of Shifts

Mental (M-shift): When your natural mindset has been altered to that of an animal’s. It is one of the most common shifts, and is easy to recognise. Sometimes mental shifts accompany other types, or induce other shifts.

Astral (A-shift): When you shift in the astral plane or during an out of body experiance  (O.B.E.)

Phantom (Ph-shift): When you feel the limbs or other body parts of your theriotype when they are not there; this is alike to the sensations that an amputee. Sometimes the shift is so intense that one might be interpreted as a physical shift.

Dream (D-shift): A dream where you are shifting into or are already in the form of your theriotype. It could also be a dream in which you are feeling the sensations of a shift and/or feel the urge to act like your theriotype or be free.

Physical (P-shift): When you shift into your theriotype physically. Thought to be impossible in the wider Otherkin community. Young, naive shifters who believe that physically shifting is possible are frowned upon, and they usually see sense after a while.

Physiological shift: Physiological changes because of a trigger or a particular state are collectively known as physiological shifting. Some of the side effects may be unusual or even alarming, and some may interpret it as supernatural or a sign that a physical shift is happening. Some examples include heart rate increase, hands twisting into clawed shapes and spontaneous pain or discomfort in certain parts of the body.

Meditative Induced Lucid Dreaming (MILD) shift: A mental state attained through meditation where you can “shift” into your theriotype and do things that your theriotype tends to do, all in the mental plane. It is alike to lucid dreaming.

Suntherians aka Syntherians: Similar to Contherianthropy, except instead of being constantly half-shifted, the basic instincts and attitude of your Theriotype are integrated into your human personality.

[Akimori]

Thank you RR for this beautiful glossary :3

[Silver Black]

Jesus Christ. I'm putting that guy moderator for therians. he's too awesome xD

[Guest]

Thank you guys!

[Aurora Wolf]

What about Suntherians aka Syntherians? You didn't add us to the list.

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