* sirian saber tooth *

A gorgeous sunrise above the clouds looking out at Mt. Hood

Breathe 

A small informative guide for community terms recognized by Otherkin.  Non-human Terms Otherkin - Someone who identifies on an integral level as non-human. This identity is commonly spiritual or psychological in nature.  Therian - Someone who identifies as an earth animal on a non physical level. This can range from any animal, including those that are extinct.  Theriomythic - Someone who identifies as a mythical creature that is feral or uncivilized in nature. The identity is animalisitc and generally explained by spiritual or psychological reason.  Phytanthrope/Plantkin - Someone who identifies as a plant on a non-physical level. A phytanthrope spiritually or psychologically identifies as a plant. Cladotherian - A therian who identifies not as a single distinct species , but as an entire family or genus. Fictionkin - (Not technically non-human specific) Someone who identifies as a character or species from a source of media.  Polykin/Polytherian - Someone who has more than one kintype/theriotype. Anyone who identifies as more than 1 being is referred to as polykin or a polytherian.  Greymuzzle - A term recognizing those who have participated or actively done things in the community for a long period of time or has garnered widespread respect from the community. It is a term that is earned by the community and not given to oneself.  Identity Terms Kintype - Otherkin refer to their identity as a kintype. Someone who identifies as a dragon has a dragon kintype or refers to themselves as dragonkin. This wording works for any otherkin identity.  Theriotype - Therians refer to their identity as a theriotype. Someone who identifies as a horse has a horse theriotype or refers to themselves as a horse therian.  This wording works for any therian identity. Fictotype - Fictionkin refer to their identity as a ficotype. Someone who identifies as a fictional character refers to the character as their fictotype.  Shifting Terms Phantom Shift - A shift that involves a ghostly feeling of a limb that is not present. Ex. feeling wings, muzzles, or tails.  Mental Shift - A shift that involves feeling a shift in mental state to the instincts and urges of ones kin/theriotype.  Aura Shift - A shift in one’s aura field from what would usually be their human aura to something other. This is a spiritual type of shift that would require the belief in such.  Astral Shift - A shift whereas the astral body separates from the physical body and changes form while on the astral plane. An out of body experience.  Bilocation Shift - A shift where one self replicates as the being they identify as alongside their human self. The double can appear ghostly or solid but is not actually physically there. It is similar to an OBE, only this happens while awake.  Sensory Shift - A shift where one feels their senses are more heightened and more aware of their body and surroundings. No physical change actually comes of the body.  Cameo Shift - A temporary shift that lasts for only a certain period of time, but is not associated with ones kintype, theriotype, or fictotype.  Shifting Experience Terms Contherian - A therian who experiences no shifting and is in a constant state between human and their theriotype. Their are no fluctuations or changes in state from human to animal.  Suntherian - A therian whose therioside is integrated with their baseline personality with minor fluctuations from more to less animal.  Vacillant Therian - A therian whose animalside and humanside are interlaced. The animalside can become noticeably stronger in the mind as needed or desired.   Other Terms   Awakening - The moment one realizes they identify as something other than human or their present human self. One awakens to their kintype/theriotype/fictotype. Phantom Limbs - Ghostly limbs that do not exist on the current physical body. Astral Limbs - Limbs that exist on the astral plane during astral projection. Terms Unrecognized by the Greater Community Kinfirmed - You can not confirm a kintype. Kintypes are an identity phenomenon that has no valid basis in being proven.  Kinning - Being otherkin is not a verb. You are not kinning, you are otherkin. The word demeans our experience and how we feel about our identities.  Kinnie - A term largely used by trolls and anti-kin. It is often used in a derogatory manner by such to insult otherkin or get a quick laugh. Using this term has a negative impact on those who have been bullied by this. Kins - A term found used in the place of kintype. Otherkin do not refer to their kintypes as “kins”. The plural of kin is kin. Kin = family or blood. The term otherkin means being “kin to the other”.  ID - ID is not an otherkin communty term. It can be used to speak of ones identity, but does not replace nor mean a stronger relation than a kintype. Otherkin do not use it when speaking of their kintype. - - - Being otherkin is not a game or a choice. This community has been in existence and grown and developed over the past 50 or so years. Read and research! Join some groups and learn with those around you!  If you believe you are otherkin, you should be interested in using the correct terms and not making the community look bad!  :)

“The general purpose of the whole universe is for humanity to reach the state where all people will be as one family. Everyone will take others into consideration and will be a guarantor for everyone else.”