pale vulture

I want to believe so so bad but I don't understand

I get the privacy thing but you're telling me not a single soul has wanted to share even a little bit

Well dear anon, have you ever considered that perhaps the proof is sent but nobody believes them?

Happened a lot in the past. Not to mention cgi, ai, and photoshop is so good people wouldnt put it past them to claim the aforementioned upon seeing such proof. People who are able to take photos, get the proof, and send it online are more likely to be *less* believed then **more** believed. Especially publicly with strangers on a large platform.

Furthermore, to say theres a lot of pressure and nervousness about trying to record yourself. You may not see any results at all because of the pressure. We for sure would never be able to capture ourselves p-shifting on camera, its just too stressful for us. P-shifting is really private, and is more for the shifter than the internet; we as a community arent a sensation to go viral. (respectfully dear anon we do not mean it in a harsh or rude tone :blobby:)

We know its hard to believe but proof online just doesnt exist. We mean like, it does, thats true people have shared it. Its the simple answer to give to say it doesnt exist. It just circulates in private spaces with friends and maybe even family, within old cyberpacks and in strange places people hide in the back corners of the internet. We assure you it does exist online, but its a different story between it being easily found, and more privately given.

And, many p-shifters dont need proof after all, we experience and live it and lots have concluded that if they dont fully p-shift then thats okay. Being a shifter is more than the physical transformation that is well sought out and requested for. Oh, the thrill of escapism in so many different ways and forms.

If we also look at the largest "scandal" of proof - Kissingmidnight, a mermaid shifter from 2008-2011. It came out in 2016 that she had openly admitted to photoshopping the full tail photo everyone is likely familiar with. However to this VERY DAY she insists that the scale photos she posted are real. You could say she is just lying about the scale photos, but like. why. Her credibility is already gone when she admitted she lied abt the full tail photo. She isn't even active in shifter communities anymore. What clout is there to gain. There is no logical reason to still lie.

1. wings that are grown (ie, independant of shifting) cannot be retracted / hidden (as wings capable of flight are Very Large)

2. if wings are shifted (providing you have enough mass to do so) - they would shift away. wings really don't weigh that much, a shifter who is say 30-40lbs overweight would be able to shift and unshift wings and fly.

3. wings could be "shifted down" to a smaller size to be hidden. largely theoretical. unsure of optics here. would likely involve "regressing" the wing growth. seems a tad insane to me.

wings capable of lifting, say, a 100lb person would vary in size between 18ft to 22ft in span, with a width (top of wing to edge of secondaries) going to about the middle calf (on a human form) this is impossible to simply "hide" by binding them, unless you were clipping them, and even then - could you hide 2 18-22+ft long arms? probably not.

I did some research on it and am still a bit skeptical. I'm a very "see it to believe it" type being. For a second I considered trying some of the methods listed just to see if it was real, but I found it can take a while to physically shift and there's probably some sort of "if you're doubtful, it won't work" thing so I figured it might just be easier to make a post abt it.

So, pshifters, what are your experiences? Is being able to shift a genetic thing or can it be gained? What do you like to do while shifted? Etc etc

Also, I do not want to make beings defend their identities, so this question is fully optional, but how would you prove your ability to pshift?

at this point it’s kind of common knowledge around these parts that guides and stuff aren’t one size fits all, let alone fits any.

many of our own doubt the legitimacy of our experiences. but if you’re looking for something like completely undeniable photographic proof, you won’t find it.

for example: phantom shifting and/or permanent phantom shift trains your brain for moving and knowing limbs (ie, a tail or animalistic ears) that aren't there. Mental shift prepares the mind to experience instincts human forms and minds have subdued. The visualization aspect of pshift guides are less for the actual shift and more for the desensitization of the brain towards body horror and the act of the shift.

Doubt and shifting do not play a role together. Doubt however can make you overlook or look past obvious physical changes, if they occur. Plenty of shifters have shifted while having doubt, only to lose that doubt when something unbelievable happens.

Shifts themselves do take time, as well as energy, if you're exhausted shifting will likely make you sleep, as many guides are more meditative, this relaxed state will result in passing out.

People believe in different things. Some say shifting is genetic, others believe it more magical / supernatural in origin. You will find endless debate about this. The same goes for how shifting occurs - some say it is painful, some say it is painless as the body goes numb.

As for proof - it exists out there. The problem you will face with it is belief in it. People could show video or photo evidence, but would You yourself believe it? Or would you call it photoshop? I have seen and known shifters i trust who have shared photos only to end up with people calling it photoshop.

im also of the firm belief that if we let everyone in who has ever had a physical experience, and if we dont mention historic similarities between shifters (lineage, culture, mythology, magick, biology), we legit will not have a community or culture that is separate from the physical nonhuman/alterhumans. we just wont!

i get it i get it, it feels bad to not fit in, but no one is gatekeeping and no one is removing you from the label - the label was ALWAYS this strict before you even got here. i was the one who had to fight alongside younger shifters in other spaces to include or talk more freely about different ways of shifting, different ideas, and the addition of new kinds of methods and ideas. you think i dont know how you feel when it comes to being left out? i do, and i had to literally force myself to be seen in shifter spaces by being as loud and as consistent as possible because they didnt SEE me as a shifter and many in that amino still dont!

i made resources, i made documents, i spread papers around, and i fought people. im still doing that and im tired..

the pshifter label has always been strict, hard to bypass, and restricted access BECAUSE of how many people take our terminology, reources, words, and our shifting and try to use it themselves. mostly thank harloqui for gathering all of those resources and helping me see that i can open up the gates, but you still need a pass to enter.

its not because i dont want certain people in, its because this commhnity is more than just an identity - it is a cultural existence that spawned far before I was born. i have ultimately made it inclusive enough, and have confused enough older and younger shifters as it is lol.

If we look at some of the older, yet most popular spaces we see how while the label and experiences themselves are broad, all string back to physical shifting or physical growth (for avians).

Like. p-shifter as a term. shapeshifter as a term. are very literal. There is a reason why all of the old webs websites focused primarily on physicality > spirituality. While you can exist fully as a spiritual nonhuman, pshifters have long been defined by the need to shift and the need for physicality. Even if we take these groups for better or for worse:

ragriz and pariah focused on pshifting, despite everything.

emberpack, despite the leader now being a "only werewolves exist" weirdo, focused largely on the documentation of physical results, especially when they had multiple mods who Did Not believe in pshifting.

Sirens cove focused on pshifting, with their unique application and development of the F-shift.

Wingedonez and other avian sites focused on physical growth and body readiness, like strength training.

Mythic shifter sites, from mythicalvalley to shiftingpolaris, all focused on the physicality they could perceive or make work from mythical forms.

Hell, even the "fight against awtok" sites focused on physicality.

This is NOT a bad thing. the single unifier of pshifters, beyond our unique circumstances and beyond our history in the community, has always been physicality. All of the drama and "you're fake" callouts stem from disbelief of someone's *physical* claims. Shifters largely do not give 2 shits about spiritual or nonphysical claims (unless, say, you claim to be a god who determines who can shift and who cant, lmao)

We have forever been fighting co-opting and watering down of words or phrases, from "nonhuman" to "mythical" to any and all of our intercommunity terms. This is largely out of our control as people still Hate Us and call us cults and as a result, the theft of our terms is Good to them.

The Pillars of Shifters

Secrecy __

Not only is this way of life private, intimate, and personal - our language, identity, and beliefs are often looked at with scorn and disgust. Do not make shifting a spectacle, a form of power, or an emotional leverage. Mates who aren’t shifters have little business telling our stories, myths, and lives just as much as a shifter with false information. Our place and history is ours to share.

Color __

Shifter life should be full of color, diversity, and inclusive narratives. We may not be fully human, but we can understand color and race between the individual safety, care, and respect for all and everyone. Most shifters have diverse roots from all over, many are queer, so our identity has always been filled with color and acceptance. Diversity is our lifeblood.

Preservation __

Understand that these methods and theories play a larger role in the belief of shapeshifting and the long-term transformation practices of previous and future cultures. Participation is key, regardless of reward. Strive to archive everything and anything, whether in public or private, strive to share, publish, and create future communities with others when needed. Strive for archiving our mythology and research.

Living __

For shifters and mythicals of all kinds, live your life the way you are intended by your own soul. You are the only one in charge of your mind and emotions, take care of yourself. Our shifter lifestyle and nature exist purely by luck, you must then use it wisely and use it to aid you, other shifters, and your family.

Control __

Never deny who you are as a shifter. Never allow it to dictate your actions. Never allow shifting to become a burden, so that it infests you or creates trouble. Do not become obsessed with being a shifter, do not lose yourself within the supernatural nature. Do not forget what raised you and what world you entered. Shifters are not monsters or liars, practice self-control and passion.

Protection __

Common knowledge in bushcraft, survival skills, cooking, and baking, and technology will save your life. Use sense when you shift and record results. Understand your current surroundings and live now for the future you dream of. Stand for innocent shifters in busy crowds, create art and restrict access to private matters. Your mythology and information should be yours only.

Packs __

Packs, groups, pods, covens, flocks, etc, have a purpose: Safety _ Family _ Responsibility _ Freedom _

Without or corruption of said purposes tarnishes not only our spaces as shifters, but destroys our chances at diplomacy, friendship, community, and respect. As a leader or active member, you have to assert peace and compassion. In our communities, these groups have been poorly used as a means of power. Never let selfishness run our communities. Never let fear of the unknown rule valuable connections.

Territory __

Establish official shifter groups and territory as a means of deepening our cultural impact and safe spaces. Shift from online to offline, engage in physical joy. Respect and obey the shifters of the land you approach, connect and be wary of the owners when needed. Never enforce yourself as authority of a land you don’t know the history of.

Accountability __

Take criticism, honesty, and comments with understanding to their core message. Disregarding your fellow shifters as “haters” for pointing out bad behavior is childish and silly. Become responsible for your issues, and the people you introduce into your circles. Fixate on gaining stress-free maturity, and curating your spaces when troubled. Becoming argumentative towards non-shifters and fools turns you into a clown, a jester who dances for the audience who already see you as the joke.

Theories __

Give space and respect to anyone who could and would believe in any shifting theory for any reason. Our ideas need preservation and development, archival is our only hope. Theories do not need to be fought over.

For any additional rules to be added, all shifters would have to agree to specific and isolated rules that create unnecessary divide. These pillars, as provided in written form, are as undivided and general as possible to allow for freedom within niche groups. If one group does not follow one pillar, what stops them from following the next one? Absolutely nothing, and no group should be forced to abide.

Like @palevulture said, the physical inhuman community is in a ROUGH spot because we simply don't care enough about this to be united. It's another part of us, so it's hard to ever put it into words about what it's like. Go out and ask a human what it's like living with hair. They'll respond with basic answers, nothing too focused on how it feels to live WITHOUT it. And so putting it into words about how our physical inhumanity, something we usually don't "awaken", but more or so "confirm", is hard to do.

And even harder is having a community purely based off of our metaphysical/physical experiences. Because we're often seen as "crazy".

So I wanted to write, and ask, why do we not have a collective symbol? We have sublabels and subsets, but not a symbol for all meta/physical inhumans?

We have symbols like the pshifter symbol by the phenexus weyr in 2018.

Then we have shapeshifter symbols from an alterhuman goodreads group in 2012.

the only way you'd realistically get a universal symbol / people to agree on one is if it just got shoehorned in and a good majority started using it. kind of like flags/emoji/character combos.

another issue is people in these communities like being reclusive, esp with how bad others often react. This poses a unique problem because by using or making a symbol, people arent likely to use it as it more easily allows people to see it and go "oh, youre an idiot who thinks they can physically become an animal".