reject humanity, become dragon

so, I think that if you guys want to participate in something like that, I could make it happen, responsably this time. so, I will create a new spreadsheet publicly available to everyone. the first one was just for me, but it's been wonderful to see members of the community united like this, and the (general) positive response it got.

this new spreadsheet would be very similar to the last one, however, this time every creature that wants to be added to the table will have to fill out this form (which I did very quickly, so it's not very elegant or fancy) to give their consent to be included.

The sheet will be very similar to the previous one, but without usernames this time to avoid any potential headaches for me. I don't want anyone to be harassed about this, and because of me. the spreasheet is supposed to be a project for me, but I think that a community project like this, with the consent of everyone to participate, would be nice to have. so, this time, I want to do things right.

I will share the link of the new sheet, and make it public in my blog once I have enough responses. I apologize for any concerns the last spreadsheet made within the community, and I want to take the next step to do things right. Please don't send me asks to be added, just fill out the form and I will add you to the sheet. If you don't want to fill the form, shoot me a dm, but no asks to be added please.

Yes, you ARE a creature but you still need food, water, and hygiene

Written to make excersize feel fun and easy, have at it! Also, 'paws' used instead of the word 'hands', so be aware.

Now, the immersion!!

Any and all creature must be reintroduced to the wild gradually and with supervision after an extended period of time isolated from the same species and natural habitat, so to help in unlearning domestication and such, here is a collection of simple, non-demanding, yet fun physical activities to enjoy with no gear, equipment, or special items necessary other than some space and your paws n claws at the ready!

Feel free to increase or decrease the difficulty level as preferred, keeping it still within a comfortable range for you and encouraging. If you try take on too much all at once, you will get none of it done, so take it step by step, and do not feel upset or guilty if you struggle on one or more of these. You can pick and choose which to do, as they are in no particular order, and you may do all if you feel inspired as such. Be free to go off the script too, if you find something that works better for you, as every individual is unique and has their own needs and requirements!

Stretch towards the sun! Any being under our beloved Sol would surely enjoy the presence of the star's heat, just like a lizard or cat might, so either outside or inside, go onto your tippy-toes and stretch as far as you can, the tips of your paws pointed to the sky. Do this for no longer than 5-10 seconds, take a light rest, and repeat for a few times. I suggest repeating it for however many hours in the day have already passed. If 7am, then seven times. If noon, then 12. if 4pm, then either 4 - or 16, your pick.

Horseplay! Starting on the ground, roll onto your stomach, and then onto your back, alternating evenly, and doing so while trying to minimise the use of your limbs - like a wolf cub playing with their mother, or perhaps a chinchilla taking a dust bath. Repeat however often you want, I suggest maybe 3-8 times.

Warily drink from a watering hole. Crouching low to the ground, preferably on all fours, mime the gesture of taking a nice refreshing drink after a long and warm day, while periodically stretching up to full height, still keeping all limbs set in place, and bow back down to the water. Bonus points if you actually take a bowl of water and place it below you to drink (or even just a cup/bottle to drink at intervals). Like a gazelle or perhaps zebra, you are allowing yourself you replenish your internal water supply while also being at the ready for anything that may come your way. Repeat 2-5 times.

Forage! Taking something small yet recognisable - a marble, pinecone, coin, or bright rock - toss it behind you into a small grassed area (ensuring there are no spikey or poisonous plants directly in your vicinity), and search for it on all fours, engaging your heightened senses like a sniffing dog or even a hedgehog! Do this for as many times as you want, until bored.

Forage for realsies. Find a plant nearby (flower, shrub, bush, tree) and take a sample (leaf/bud/stem) or picture, and using visual cues, identify it to an online or library-borrowed guide on your local wildlife, and if interested, go further by finding out some basic information such as which animals eat it or how it is used in the world (such as dandelions being made into coffee, nettles into tea, blackberries into jam). You can do this once or twice.

There are over 1,000,000 species of insects in the world, and many more which have not been discovered. Go outside and find just one bug, you do not have to know its name, but simply observe its existence. Witness it exist amongst the world that you do too, and appreciate its presence. Well, if you are an anteater, I suppose ants are much more than just pretty..

Scout out your territory! Wolves can travel around 30 miles a day, and it is essential to be constantly assessing the land for anything that may have shown up - both for opportunities of play and food, but also to be aware of any dangers. Go out into your local park or perhaps walk around your street, being mindful on observing everything that is going on, the little details, the scents present, and anything new that may have appeared from the last time you were there. It can be 5 minutes of 50, it is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with. Let your paws feel the various textures, too, from the bark of wood, to the coolness of a river's water.

Bonus one, get a pizza (either storebought and tossed into the oven from frozen or bought elsewhere) and without slicing nor tearing it into pieces, eat the whole thing with your paws. Enjoy digging in and getting messy while figuring out the best way to go through it in the manner that optimises delicious bites throughout.

Sit outdoors for 5-15 minutes and enjoy the sounds and feeling of the ever changing world. Take a few moments to watch the clouds, knowing that exact pattern is unlikely to ever be seen by anyone else again. Enjoy the fresh air, and simply be undisturbed. Alot of clarity can come out of it, and it is no surprise tortoises live that long, they must be wanting to get the most out of their presence here after all!

Prance around like a newborn lamb! Taking a wide circle in any open space/area such as a field or garden, skip either clockwise or anticlockwise - later changing direction, to your heart's content! Do it for maybe 3-5 laps, or for 2-4 minutes. Once again, remember you can do it for longer or shorter sessions if you so want.

Perch like a bird watching over the world below. Finding a small ledge to stand upon - perhaps a garden wall, or even an item such as a book you placed on the ground - stand with one or two legs on it, and balance there for as long as you can. You can crouch or stand. Keep this up for at least a couple of minutes, and with that, you can call it a job well done!

ALSO, bonus one! TW for for animal harm mention, specifically of prey, as this is intended for those with prey drive, such as predators and hunting-inclined beasts. \/

An archetrope is an identity based on an archetype, trope or role which is present through all manners of culture. It could pull from video games, literature, theater, film and television, folklore and mythology, or history. This can range anywhere from jesters and nobility to final girls and redeemed villains. If it has social or cultural presence, it has a fair chance of being an archetrope.

Usually, an archetrope influences one’s self-perception. This can be in the form of embodiment (in which you are personified by this concept), presentation (shaping your appearance, behaviors or other lifestyle choices around this concept), principles (shaping your personal values or moral outlook around this concept), and any other personal quality you can think of. Furthermore, archetropy doesn’t follow a strict voluntary or involuntary framework. Oftentimes, the experience pulls from a diverse array of feelings and practices that ultimately shape one’s archetropy. You can find a little bit of everything in the process!

If you’re curious about learning more, I recommend reading the article on archetropy on Otherkin Wiki, reading @/mogai-corvidae’s coining post for the term archetrope and checking out Vyt’s presentation on archetropy from Othercon 2023!

That brings me to my archetropy. I have a good few archetropes. Some are informed by my hobbies and personal beliefs. Others are informed by my experiences as a fictional character. That said, there is one archetrope I embody the most.

I must preface this section with a warning: the following discusses unreality and intense experiences with psychosis. Read further at your own discretion.

This is a second-to-last reminder, and comes with instructions on how to join if you haven't already!

How to join Othercon

Use the invite link available here, this is the same invite as the one on the website. Just like last year, there is no special invite for artists or panelists! Everyone joins the same queue, so please use it!

Wait! Artists and panelists get in early, while regular attendees get in starting on Thursday, August 13th (US East). If your application is pending, this is normal, there is nothing else you have to do but wait to be let in.

There is a deadline for entry!