Who am I kidding, I'm otherkin as hell.
Just the journal of a raven whose wings can only ever be astral. It's a long story. But my soul has ALWAYS astral projected with wings... and I'm happiest when my soul is Projected into the air. It's the closest I'll ever come to really FLYING. Human body: agender, demi-gray everything, 33, shadow witch, neurodivergent, "gothesque". Kintypes from Earth, SU, Yugioh, TLT, HH, and myriad synpathy sources. Main blog: beyondthetemples
Personal: beyondthetemples-ooc
Mystic blog: rwt-mystic-corner
Hello! I've recently learned that mobile app users can't access custom info pages, so I decided to pin the basics.
First of all, I'm Zira! Please use nonbinary pronouns, my favorite set is xe/xir but I'm also fond of xe/xem and ey/em. They/them is fine if you must. (Just don't use it/its, please.)
Secondly: This blog is a sideblog to @beyondthetemples. (It isn't listed in that blog's pinned post because I'm in the 'kin closet with most of my roleplaying buddies.) But that's me!
As for the purpose of this blog: It's to journal experiences I don't want the 800+ followers on my personal blog to see, and connect with others in the otherkin community.
~*~
Main kin experiences:
* Therian: raven (species uncertain)
* Fictionkin:
- Blue Diamond (Steven Universe)
- Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb)
- Lilith Clawthorne (The Owl House)
- Ryou Bakura (Yu-Gi-Oh! season 0, manga)
- Sera (Hazbin Hotel)
I don't use a DNI, but I don't mind using the block button when it's warranted.
Custom links with more detailed information below the cut!
Nexus Roll-Call [x]
In-depth list of my kintypes, "Nexus" experiences (connections I have to other beings that aren't quite on the kin axis), and past lives that aren't kintypes.
About the Blog [x]
Information on who I'd like to interact with, as well as a brief list of tags this blog uses (currently under construction).
Abbreviations [x]
Mostly for my personal reference, this page lists my kinfeels tags on my main personal blog (@beyondthetemples-ooc).
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
look me in the eye young fictionfolk. you don't need to figure out every single small detail about your identity immediately. hell, you don't even need a specific label unless you want one. you have time to figure it out, ok? you don't need to justify yourself to anyone. ok?
The vast majority of it is on my back and shoulders, and carefully rubbing in aloe gel reminds me quite a lot of preening my wings. <:} Slow, methodical, making sure I get every inch... It's almost meditative in this shift.
In raven shifts, the preening is a much quicker, flick-y sort of thing. Cozy and comfortable still, borderline social (allogrooming!), but now it's soothing and quieting my mind. I think maybe as S.era, preening was a bit more private and something I'd trust few with, but would be happy enough to handle on my own.
(I saw an ask/RP blog say something once, that taking care of the feathers on our wings was a spiritual meditation to remind us of our station, and such. It wouldn't surprise me if that was true for me, too...)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
I think it’s really nice that there’s folks who queer the human experience by expressing themselves in animalistic or generally nonhuman ways while being human.
I like that there’s a space for folks who associate themselves with animals, other nonhuman species, and people and species from fiction while respecting spaces for those who are and live those exact experiences.
I don’t feel like my identity being disrespected because there’s human beings who like to explore nonhumanity or fictionhood as an activity, a creative practice or exercise.
One of the first subcultures I became familiar with were furries. Although I left said community for personal reasons, I still somewhat look back on that community fondly. It was the first space where I felt comfortable with presenting myself as nonhuman, albeit in a covert manner. From costumes to video games and other art, I enjoyed seeing so many projects geared towards the Other. I am no longer a furry. Most furries are not nonhuman. Either way, I respect that community for the doors it (unexpectedly) opened up for me.
I feel like the case could be said of otherpaw and fictionpaw communities. Their experiences may not be the same as ours, but we each understand and explore what being Other consists of in our own ways. That could invite humans (both orthohuman and alterhuman alike), nonhumans and all manners of people in this world to commune together more. I welcome otherpaws and fictionpaws wholeheartedly.
alterhuman means an alternative to being human, it's an identity that encompases many, many things: otherkinity, therianthropy, plurality, nonhumanity, fictionkinity, etc. it's basically anything that's slightly different from the "normal human experience", the idea of society of being human, or something like that.
some experiences of being alterhuman (I'm completely making this up and I can be wrong):
not feeling human at all
feeling like multiple people in one body, plurality, and even median systems. even dissociative disorders can fall under it, too
feeling like an animal or mythical being, aka therians, otherkins, theriomythic, etc
feeling a bit human, but not completely
feeling spiritually something different than completely human
anything related to spirituality, really
feeling like your body is not human
I think furries are also alterhuman? I can be wrong tho
being any label that the community uses like therian, otherkin, otherhearted, etc
Fun fact: The original coining post of this term also included furries, trans folks, spiritual mediums, and people who identify with past lives as other humans under the alterhuman umbrella, too! Paleo folk count too. And factkin. Anyone whose experience of being human doesn't fit set expectations.
Other alterhuman experiences can be feeling completely human but occasionally having shifts of different ears or claws unrelated to a kintype, feeling othered by human society for whatever reason, feeling like your neurodivergency makes you experience humanity in an alternative way, feeling so connected to a fictional character (in a non-identifying way) that it affects your sense of self, or feeling both completely human and completely your kintype.
It is not a synonym for otherkin, plural, or therian. It also isn't just a combination of 'kin and plural. It's an umbrella term, and it's a HUGE one that extends well beyond the kinmunity!
Also, it is strictly an opt-in label. You can't armchair diagnose someone as alterhuman; if they don't want to claim it, it's not their label. Some kin folks might not feel human at all, and don't want a word with "human" in their label list. Some people want to be known as completely 'kin and not alterhuman. Some people are plural but don't experience that as a shift in their humanity.
Orion Scribner wrote a really good post compiling explanations from its coiner here:
Folks have been getting confused about the meaning and purpose of the umbrella term and identity label "alterhuman." Often, people wrongly c
You always will be. You are valid, you are respected, and you are wanted.
Your creativity with masks and other gear is inspiring, and your physical strength with quads is extremely admirable (especially coming from a disabled wolf).
You have a place in this community, and 1813M finds the wave of hatred towards otherpaws, quite frankly, deplorable.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
An upcoming anniversary in the otherkin community: On July 9, 2012, the word “otherkin” will have been coined 22 years ago. It was coined in the Elfinkind Digest, a mailing list which is active to this day. On that date in 1990, one participant, Torin, used the word “otherkin” as a variation on the earlier word “otherkind.” Both phrases were casually improvised as an abbreviated way of referring to people who identify as other kinds of creatures.
(Source: Elfinkind Digest #71. The archive of this document is still extant, and I have read it. Thanks to the mailing list moderator R’ykandar Korra’ti for making this primary source available to me while I was researching our community’s history book, the Otherkin Timeline. Thanks to Torin for permission to share this information.)
Right now, the word “otherkin” is nearly 22 years old. That means that any otherkin who are currently in their teens weren’t even born until after the word had been coined. There are lots of otherkin who have considered themselves to be otherkin, of a kind, even years before the word had been coined. Detractors sometimes claim that otherkin is merely a passing fad popular among youth, but this is evidently not the case.
Any thoughts on the significance of this passage of time? Where were you at, as an otherkin, 22 years ago? Anybody want to make plans for the 9th, to set it aside as a day for thinking about otherkin things? Maybe a party for reminiscing, maybe even with costumes and artistic “glamour-bombs”?
This year, the word “otherkin” recently turned 32 years old on July 9, 2022.
The top post in this thread from 2012 is where I first proposed observing it as Otherkin Day, unless if anyone can find earlier references to that. The original post is gone, so I was grateful to find this particular post had been archived on someone else’s blog.
And so did the word otherkind, being otherkin’s elder sibling by a a few months.
I’ve now got a page on my website titled A Brief(ish) History of the Word “Otherkind” based on my reading of the contemporary Elfinkind Digest, which talks a bit about the coining, trends in usage, whether it included elves at first, and whether it included animal folk (today’s therians).
Inky Paws is a nonhuman anthology zine for original fiction writings by nonhumans and alterhumans about nonhumanity, alterhumanity, and similar, related themes.
This zine is primarily literature focused, but will also be open to more illustrative methods of story-telling such as comics. The zine’s focus is on fictional pieces that are centered around nonhumanity, alterhumanity, therianthropy, and similar (see Submission Guidelines section for more details).
And more! If you're unsure, just ask! Seriously, please just ask. I promise I would 10000% love to hear about your idea even if you're unsure about submitting it, there is no such thing as a bad idea and I cannot stress this enough.
How to participate:
You can submit your pieces in this Google Form!
OR
Email invisibleotherkin(@)gmail(.)com with your submission, and please title the email "Inky Paws Zine #4 Submission". With your submission, please include:
The piece's title or name,
A name or pen name to attribute the piece to,
Any content warnings that you feel are necessary for the piece,
Any social media handle or personal website you’d like to be published alongside your name with the piece (optional), and
Any relevant author notes or author biographical information (optional).
Anonymous pieces are also welcome.
Once submissions have been collected and the deadline has passed, these submissions will be put into the zine and it will be posted online as a free PDF. Submissions are due by November 30th, 2026.
Please see the Submission Guidelines, and Submission FAQ, below cut.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Each individual may contribute up to 3 accepted submissions to be published in Inky Paws; individuals within systems may each submit 3 pieces, that is to say 3 pieces per systemmate/headmate/preferred term.
Comics and similar multi-part pieces count as one submission altogether: if you submit a single story that has been divided into two sub-stories for dramatic emphasis, or if you submit 10 pages of a single-story comic, or if you submit a written piece of fiction and an accompanying image that you drew or otherwise created to go along with it, that would still only count as one piece.
Submissions must fit the thematic criteria of:
Being explicitly about or based on nonhumans, otherkin, therianthropes, fictionkin, alterhumans, or similar groups, or;
Having strong themes or describing experiences strongly reminiscent of or related to nonhumans, otherkin, therianthropes, fictionkin, alterhumans, or similar such as (but not limited to):
Characters experiencing nonhumanity or alterhumanity as being a part of themselves/their identity,
Characters experiencing anything similar to a shift (including physical shifting),
Characters struggling with (emotionally, socially, or otherwise) being both human and nonhuman or alterhuman in some way,
Characters having a past-life as something nonhuman or alterhuman that strongly still impacts their current life, or
Characters desiring to be nonhuman or have nonhuman attributes.
TL;DR - Your submissions have to relate to or be about alterhumans or nonhumans in some way, shape, or form.
Written submissions must not exceed 7500 words, and must also use a reader-friendly font with a text size of or exceeding 16 pt.
For stories that use multiple different fonts, such as pieces meant to imitate newspapers and similar, every effort will be made to preserve the general "feel" of your piece but fonts may not be transferred over 1:1 due to potential conflicts with font copyright, readability, and overarching zine style.
Multi-part image submissions must not exceed 10 pages in length, and must also use a reader-friendly font with a text size of or exceeding 16 pt if they include text. Images larger than 8.5 x 11in. will be scaled down to an appropriate size; please take that into account when creating and submitting your images. It is also recommended that images be vertical or square in their orientation.
Written submissions should be submitted as a .docx file. Images and mixed media pieces should be submitted as either .jpg or .png files.
All submitted pieces should be your own work. Individuals caught plagiarizing or using AI within their submissions will be barred from participating in Inky Paws, including in any potential future volumes.
SUBMISSION FAQ:
Q: Where will this zine be hosted?
A: The zine will be hosted for free download on Itch.io, where issues 1, 2, and 3 of the zine are already hosted.
Q: What is the cap on submissions?
A: At this time, we are not looking to accept more than roughly 25 submissions at most, in order to keep numbers and expectations manageable.
Q: Can I update my application after submitting?
A: Yes, so long as the updates are submitted before the submission deadline!
Q: What is your policy on content moderation and content warnings?
A: If you feel your piece needs content warnings, please include them in the submission, as we are hoping to include relevant content warnings and maturity ratings alongside all pieces. We are at this time accepting pieces of all tones and ratings.
With that said, It should be noted that any items submitted with soapboxing intent and anti-nonhuman, anti-alterhuman, anti-fictionkin, or similar leans are largely not welcome, as this is a zine geared towards all aforementioned groups and then some.
Q: Can I submit an in-progress draft or sketch? Can I claim a spot in the zine before sending in my submission?
A: We are not currently accepting WIP pieces for submission at this time, though feel free to send us your WIP if you have questions related to its future submission. We also cannot reserve or guarantee a spot in the zine pre-submission, regardless of any existing drafts or WIPs.
Q: Can I submit a piece of fanfiction?
A: While we've now accepted pieces of fanfiction in the past, we tend to prefer to leave them out for legal reasons. If you submit a piece of obvious fanfiction, please know that it may be significantly more likely to be rejected from the zine and that, if the piece is accepted, the piece may be removed without warning from the zine later on if DMCA or legal issues arise. We strongly advise that individuals who wish to write something inspired by fiction make it non-obvious to the outside reader where the inspiration is being taken from.
Q: Can I submit something I've created in the past?
A: You can submit something you've created in the past, but please try to avoid submitting anything that you've published previously and is currently publicly accessible. For example, if the story you want to submit has already been featured in a different anthology, please don't submit it to Inky Paws! We want to encourage people to create new pieces, or to put the spotlight on pieces that haven't previously had the opportunity to be published.
Q: What is the projected timeline for this project?
A: Submissions will close by November 30th of 2026. The publish date of the zine depends on submission amount and size of submissions; in an ideal world, we hope to have the zine published by December, before year's end.
Q: Can I rescind my submission?
A: As long as you request to rescind your submission before the submission deadline, yes. After the deadline passes and the formatting and work towards publishing begins, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to remove your work from the zine due to time constraints and potential formatting issues. Please take this into account before submitting.
Q: Will there be any physical copies of this zine?
A: Due to cost restraints and a lack of printing experience on the part of the zine organizers, we have no physical copies of this zine planned for print. You are, however, welcome to download and print copies of the zine for personal use.
Q: Who are the organizers of this zine? Where can I reach out to ask further questions?
A: Who-is-Page and Noel Sol of the Sol System are organizing this zine. Feel free to send us any questions, comments, or concerns to invisibleotherkin(@)gmail(.)com, or you can always message us on Tumblr at Who-is-Page.
[Image description: Inky Paws Submissions Wanted written around a line art drawing of a dog that's rolled onto its back at the end of a trail of messy black paw prints. End description.]
I think it's somewhere between amusing and strange that while I'm raven-theriotype shifting, with feathers all over my body, the only time I feel Compelled to Preen is after a shower. (I have a nice little ritual where I'll ''preen'' the excess water off using a sort of flicking motion.)
But since this S.era shift, I've been getting Very Itchy where my wings meet my back. (Where the scapular/axillar feathers are, especially. The ones where the wings first start.)
I'm not using new soaps or detergents or anything; the last time I picked up a new soap was May of last year and I didn't experience this shift / these itches until November/December. It's very distinctly Where My Wings Are. I don't think it's an allergic reaction because it only happens 2-3 times a day, and after I lightly scratch it, or even just run my fingers over it, it fades. But also because it's coupled with an instinct to preen that spot, and easily relieved if I kind of work my fingers/nails over it.
(New challenge, just to see how it feels: I think at one point if I'm in a conscious/controlled voluntary True Form shift, I'll try preening THOSE wings just to see what happens. Considering the actual beak...)
I woke up from a long stream of emotionally difficult nightmares this morning, and the first thing I did was curl in, and I felt my wings wrap around myself.
That's one of those postures the wings rarely take, so I thought it was worth recording.
(Also, the wings are so permanently present, I can feel them responding to my emotional state even before I even open my eyes.)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Your tired paws leave deep imprints in the snow as you trudge through the forest, your collar weighing heavy on your neck...
In the near distance, you hear howling. You approach cautiously...
A pack of canines suddenly emerges from the trees; they wear the same type of collar secured around their necks.
They guide you towards their territory, welcoming you...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Created by @collared-pacific, @wulfbones and @otherbodied, this server hopes to create a safe space for radiocollared canines to share their experiences and be with likeminded beings.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀This pack has no tolerance for discourse or discrimination and is open to all. Whether you are just curious about radiocollars or have been collared for years, this pack will welcome you.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀We have a short verification process to deter bad actors and active leaders to ensure everybeing's safety. We look forward to welcoming you to our pack.
Be sure to check the other blogs mentioned in this post, 1813M could not have made this server without them, nor would he have known that other radiocollared canines even existed in the first place.
When/if they post about the server, check those posts out as well. A Tumblr community was also made by 1227M, so those without Discord can be part of the pack as well.
Absolutely, yes! I get voice shifts that are especially strong in my singing voice, so it's fascinating hearing my voice become so much richer in the lower alto range as Sera, when I'm usually a mezzo soprano who struggles to even hit those notes, let alone sound GOOD there.
I'm so glad our source has such good songs to sing along to.
