#tapi discussions

A human body whos soul is one of an animal. Or whos mind is one of an animal. (or both.) Intertwined with nature. Their spirit bonded to a creature who their body fails to be. Limited by the flesh and form of an animal that is not fully themself.

A being whos calling is away from modern society and belongs to the forest, the savanna, the prairie, the valley, the skies, the mountains.

Whos instincts are mixed with different creatures, giving them both advantage and disadvantages against the world around them.

And shifts, where they can feel where their lost body parts used to be. Where they can let their mind change into the full instincts of another.

“Oh but its cringe!” “Its weird!”

No, it’s beautiful. Its mystical. It’s something that feels straight out of fantasy books.

I’ve seen critters feel ashamed to enjoy their alterhumanity and therianthropy, because of some spreading how much a struggle it is to be alterhuman (valid). Like don’t get me wrong, vent abt it mates, but some take this vent to another lvl by hating on those who find their identity enjoyable.

I may be nonsensically rambling as I am hella tired rn, but my point still stands. You can love your therianthropy, NEVER feel ashamed to be proud of who you are

(also gn critters, ly /p <3)

There is a difference! Hear lemme help you out in understanding these terms!

Furry

A furry is someone who has an interest in anthropomorphic animals. Such as dogs that talk and walk on two feet.

Furries express themselves in a range of ways. Such as wearing fursuits (a costume based off a fursona- or a furry OC/persona), creating art of fursonas, watching furry media, or simply just admiring other furries works.

Theres no requirement to being a furry, except for just wanting to.

Being a furry is a hobby, its not an identity in the way being queer (for example) is, but an identity in the way being part of a fandom is.

Therian

Therians are folks who identify as animals on a spiritual, psychological or physical level (though physical also plays into being non-human, which is another identity.)

Therians are folks who find themselves not being only/fully human. Whether because they believe that they have a connection and bond to a previous life or because they find themselves mentally thinking like/seeing themselves as/being an animal.

Therianthropy can be a result of plenty of things such as Imprinting on an animal at a young age and then growing up identifying with/as one, a way to cope with trauma, a result of a delusion, a spiritual belief, a religious belief, etc.

Theres a wide variety of reasons for being a therian.

Therianthropy is a subgenre of Alterhumanity, which is an umbrella term for all the ‘not totally normally human’ kinda identities. Which are too complex to explain in this post, but if you feel like diving into it, feel free to ask for resources that can explain the complexities better than I can!

Therianthropy is an identity sort of in the way being queer is

Furry is an identity based off a fandom

At the end of the day both Therians and Furries still live their lives the same as everyone else, just with slightly altered experiences. Neither group would bark or snarl like a rabid dog at a random person because of their identities.

Wishing you and your nephew well! feel free to ask for any ways you can support it :3 We’d be glad to help!