Therinthropes

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Permalink Reply by Whisp on July 5, 2009 at 1:13pm

Well I've heard a ton of things about this, this is probably one of my favorite topics actually x] I've heard of therianthropy though as non-physical shifting? Shamans have used it for a longggg time now as a means to get new information or get in touch with their animal brothers and sisters I think. I've also heard that some people who astral project shift that way as well. Then lycanthropy is physical. Werewolves, weretigers, and other werecreatures all fit in this category. I'm not totally sure about all this though xD There's also clinical lycanthropy but that's something a bit more different than the real shapeshifting...

I believe that there's more to lycanthropy than what is just there as seen. There may or may not be physical shifting I feel, I've never seen it but that doesn't mean it can't happen... ;] If there is it could be hereditary, from being passed down with the ability. You see a lot of people who own businesses to where they would want their children to help it continue running. Eventually it becomes a "natural talent" to most of the family if you see what I mean? Although another technique has to do with a lot more than what's just physically there, like rituals. I've heard of merging with animal spirits before, so maybe it can do with a little bit something like that? Although I feel it would not be right without its permission and without knowing if it's one with good intentions***

Permalink Reply by 18th Century Tears on July 5, 2009 at 6:07pm

I have heard of the Shaman thing, but I never thought that was therinthropy. I always though therinthrophy was where an animal of some sort was connected to you. Not like a guardian though. Although both may help out, the person who has therinthropy has an animal that is more permanent. Lycanthropy, I have always been led to believe, is a subcategory of therinthropy relating to wolves alone. Like each animal as a subcategory, but lycanthropy is the only one I can remember.

As for physical shifting, I believe it may be possible, but is very, very, VERY rare, and the creature must be very powerful to do so. Also, it would need a strong power or strong reason pushing it to do so for the first time. Supposedly, they can shift whenever after that, but it's near impossible to get that first shift. Most, however, are able to metaphysically shift though.

Permalink Reply by Emairelhd on July 16, 2009 at 6:50pm

well here's my 2 cents, lol:

"Clinical Lycanthropy" is a phrase typically taking a mundane meaning to what we are talking about here, so it is basically defined as a rare psychiatric syndrome which involves a delusion that the affected person can or has transformed into an animal... way to go world!!! don't understand it? label it a disorder, lol.

The word Therianthrope does refer to any animal. Its derived from the Greek therion, meaning beast, and anthropos, meaning man. Colloquially though, it can mean a couple different things: most commonly it means exactly what we are talking about here - shapeshifters of any kind of animal-man combo (physical OR psychic). The word just defines as a beast of some kind, and does not specify how the man reaches that beast. The other way its used is as a description of half man/half beast Deity or other supernatural creature (like Anubus or Horus, also mermaids and centaurs... you get the idea)

The other specific branches (that I know of) are as follows:
Lycanthropy - werewolves and all other versions of wolf-men (from Greek licos meaning wolf)
Cynanthropy - all other dogs, also sometimes Kynanthropy (from Greek cynos meaning dog, which interestingly enough is also where the word cynic also originates! those dogs!)
Ailuranthropy - is any feline creature - (from Greek ailouros meaning cat)
I know there are people who represent just about every possible animal on the planet in were-form, I doubt they all have specifically assigned names to them - but looking up the Greek word for that animal and tacking thropy on the end seems like a great idea to me! LOL!

Personally, I know that anything is possible in this world, since this reality is an illusion, there is no reason that its physical nature could not change. I believe that this would take extreme dedication and control, and that a true-form shapeshifter *probably* does not exist in the world today for this reason, but I of course could be wrong. I am certain that many ancient cultures had living true-form shifters, and since we are heading towards a more psychically aware world, I think that one day we may be able to re-attain this.

As far as bloodline goes, I understand this theory, but generally disagree. I think that shifting is something that is entirely contained in the higher-self; and that physical or psychic shifting occurs from this same place. I think that the feeling or notion that you are a shifter comes from your higher-self actually belonging in that animal during one of your carnations, probably a significant one. For that reason I think that everyone has the potential of having this type of animal connection within them, since I also believe that all people reincarnated through a series of physical existences, building carnal experiences necessary before becoming human. But I do not think that all people had a significant enough experience in one or more of those previous life animal forms to merit it being carried over to this life. So, what I'm saying is, that rather than it being hereditary, related to who your physical parentage is, it is more related to the parentage/previous incarnations of your higher-self.

Permalink Reply by 18th Century Tears on July 16, 2009 at 7:52pm

"Personally, I know that anything is possible in this world, since this reality is an illusion, there is no reason that its physical nature could not change. I believe that this would take extreme dedication and control, and that a true-form shapeshifter *probably* does not exist in the world today for this reason, but I of course could be wrong. I am certain that many ancient cultures had living true-form shifters, and since we are heading towards a more psychically aware world, I think that one day we may be able to re-attain this."

I quite agree with this and not just with therinthropes, but with all supernatural creatures, and sadly humanity (or otherkins even) aren't as dedicated to the spiritual aspect as much anymore. Hell, just growing up has shown me that. I don't know about the rest of you, but I know I was able to do more spiritual to physical things when I was a kid.

Permalink Reply by Talen on July 17, 2009 at 3:26pm

Though I haven't done much study into shamanism, my studies in Celtic Myth and History often speak of the Druids shape shifting and taking on animal aspects and abilities. Some of these abilities were particular skills that one either learned of inherently knew, others were by use of items such as mantles, cowls, or cloaks. In personal experience, I have often used shape shifting of the psychic nature, though the visualization can sometimes cause the physical feeling. My two I used on a regular basis were wolf and gargoyle. I had to run alot in the army, so when running for time, I would visualize the partial shift to wolf, My hands would curl as if claws, my center of gravity lowered, and my stride would change to a long lope. It increased my speed and gave me great pleasure at the feel of the wind on my face. My other was visualizing sprouting the bat-like wings of a gargoyle from my shoulder blades. These wings would come out whenever I felt threatened or felt the desire to be hidden.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Surdam on October 23, 2009 at 12:07am

I share Em's opinion.

As a side-note, in my soul-group, we're still looking for the Shaman, who wasn't completely elfin, nor was he actually human. We didn't actually know exactly what he was, from what I can recall. I know that I saw him shape-shift on several occasons, and I took him places with me a time or 2. I can remember a particularly... interesting... ride he and I took to some place out in the woods without my rider. It was odd, but he didn't go back with me. I remember him shape-shifting and flying back, but I know he shape-shifted into a number of different creatures. I can't really tell you what this means, but I can tell you that this was an ancient gift that we did once have available to us as creatures, or at least some of us did. What creatures had it available, I can't comment on, but I know it was possible at some point in the past.

Permalink Reply by 18th Century Tears on August 5, 2009 at 10:02pm

This is something that has recently come to my attention that I found interesting. Well, you know how in the books and movies lycans tend to be hotblooded? Well, according to my lover, my body temperature went up during the full moon.It was first noticed on the largest waxing gibbous, and it grew even hotter the next night (the full moon). And no, I wasn't sick at all. We are actually wondering if my internal temp rose as well. Does anyone else know of this happening to any other therinthropes? What are your thoughts on the matter?

Permalink Reply by River on September 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

I don't know if my body temperature rose, but the last shift I had a few months ago, my boyfriend noticed that my scent smelled different. He didn't know that I'd been in a Mental Shift most of the day and he commented that I had a "wild, woodsy-earthy scent" about me. I then told him of how I'd been feeling shifty all day and that made sense to him.

So something I was also curious about was if shifting makes our scent change as well.

Permalink Reply by Siobhan O'Connell on August 6, 2009 at 9:29pm

I'm a Snow Leopard therian and I have only ever mentally shifted usually in dreams but occassionally I'll slip into the mindset if I get mad or its a full moon. Usually when I'm meditating. Even when I don't shift I can usually, as in day-to-day basis, feel a phantom tail, ears, fangs, and claws if I feel like them, normally they just kind of are unfeelable, not a nuisance.

Permalink Reply by Michele (Luna) on May 10, 2010 at 2:41pm

I know a lot about the shift shapping powers, and yes there are many other powers then just werewolves for example my friend can shift shape into a cat. I am a werewolf in training and I am being taught by my father on how to use my powers wisely. For if i dont I could easly be killed. Oh and that whole thing about werewolves can only be killed by a silver bullet this is not true we can be killed any way just like humans and vampires. we are all the same even if we have different abilities.

Permalink Reply by Rechelle Houston on May 10, 2010 at 6:51pm

I believe that it is possible to physical shifting. It might be painful but after the pain it would be so incredible to feel. But only people that can withstand pain can do it, others can to but after the first or second time they might not do it anymore becuase they can't stand the pain.

Permalink Reply by Brain on May 25, 2010 at 12:03am

Being raised on a Native Reservation and being full blooded Native American (Navajo /Dine)I can say that it is possible, we call them “Skin Walkers” where I live. Now some people will tell you that its just a person wearing an animal skin, but that’s only true to a certain extent. They put on animal skins (one form of the practice, there are different way they do things deepening on the skill of the person) and take its form, I’ve seen some that have taken on a full animal form looking just like the animal, the only way of knowing that it’s not a actual animal is when it walks it makes a trotting sound like a horse on pavement. Or it will have a strange mist flowing around its feet as it walks. Now another one I’ve seen which is more shocking to look at is when there part animal and human. Looking something like a faun or satyr and covered in paint or blood. Some if not most Native Americans will call them witches which is not true, there more like Evil medicine men or women. If you look on you tube some people have very poor quality videos of there encounters with them. Now I'm not saying that all Shape Shifters look like this or have these same practices these are just my experiences.

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