"Am I a Therian?" you ask with a quizzical expression.

"I like bathing in the sun. I hate taking baths. I'm highly active at 3am," you explain, and so you conclude, "I must be a cat therian!"

Why?

Don't humans also like sitting in warm sunlight? Don't some humans hate the sensation of baths? Aren't some humans more active at night than at day?

Aren't those normal human behaviors?

"I like to howl, bark, and growl! I like to dig in the dirt and play tug-a-war!" you shout excitedly, and so you conclude, "I must be a dog therian!"

Why?

Don't humans also like to be vocal; shouting, hollering, and yelping? Don't some humans love digging in the dirt to see what's beneath? Do you not see the kids playing tug-a-war? Aren't those normal human behaviors?

"But..." you pause and you think. You finally state, "I feel a call to Nature. I feel at home among the trees, when my bare feet touch the Earth. I feel a pain in my heart when looking at my body, like it doesn't feel right. Surely that means I'm a Therian."

Why?

Aren't there humans who feel a call to Nature? Who live by themselves in the woods? Aren't there humans who also feel like something is missing with themselves?

Aren't those normal human behaviors?

"Then how do I know if I'm a Therian?"

Why... are you asking me?

You clearly know yourself better than I do. You have already given so many reasons as to why you must be a Therian, right? So why ask me what you are?

"Cause you're a Therian, too, aren't you?" you ask.

"I am," comes the answer.

"So then tell me," you urge with impatience. "Am I a Therian?"

"I can not tell you," comes another answer. "Because I do not know. I do not know your identity. I do not know what bristles beneath your skin or echoes in your heart."

There are no set rules to define someone who is a Therian. There is no checklist to go through to determine who is a Therian. There are no guidelines to follow under to know who is a Therian.

"Are you an animal?" comes the question. "Are you, in any sense or form, an animal?"

You pause. And you think.

You already know the answer.

"I am an animal."

Then congratulations.

Theriantropy comes from a long time ago. All over the world, at all ages, it has always been there. There have always been therians. Humanimals, or non-theriform animals.

On November 16, 1996, if I'm not mistaken, the first Howl took place. The founders of the current community came together to be creatures, together, without judgment, without fear. To celebrate this identity that is both mysterious and authentic.

It is now time to celebrate our history, greymuzzles, and ourselves!

Plan at least one little thing for yourself today, you deserve it and it's non-negotiable. Be wild, be free, be yourself and take care <3

And also : look at the moon a bit, it's a supermoon, it means that it's bigger and shinier than usual ! It's magnificent !

- a mask does not make you a therian

- a tail does not make you a therian

- quadrobics does not make you a therian

- vocals don't make you a therian

- shifts don't make you a therian

You are a Therian.

Your experiences make you a Therian.

Don't let others tell you any different, whether you're Therian, alter human, nonhuman, or whichever label you use to define yourself.

You are you.

You are valid.