Meow :3

I get what they're trying to say, but I want to share a different perspective.

I made my first piece of gear when I was 11, in a time not just before TikTok but before most people had internet in their homes, period. I didn't know what a furry was, let alone a therian, but I knew that the tails and costumes in Super Mario Bros. 3 made me feel a strange longing.

I made that first tail out of felt, superglue, fabric scraps for stuffing, and a safety pin to attach it to the back of my pants. With the materials I already had in my house, it couldn't have cost more than £5 and was probably a lot less. It wasn't an act of shameless consumption or an attempt to get likes or views; I did it because I felt bad that I didn't have a tail and felt better having one. I was dysphoric.

When I first discovered the online therian community (at the time it was called the were community, as in werewolf), I found that most people had negative attitudes towards tails, ears, and what we now call "gear". It was associated with the furry community, and furries were "gross perverts" who were "just roleplaying" animals. If you were really an animal, you didn't need any of that stuff, you were just a poser.

As a result, I ended up spending a lot more time in the otherkin community, where things like costuming and even getting your ears pointed were more accepted.

When I see young therians today, with their cardboard masks and yarn tails- things that probably didn't cost any more to make than my own first tail- I don't see rampant consumerism. These are mostly people putting in effort to handcraft their own appearances, or in some cases, buying them from small makers. In them, I see myself at 11 trying to feel better about my body.

Plus, I see a wonderful way for people to share photos and videos of themselves that are affirming, without doxxing themselves. Showing your face on camera is a huge risk in this age of surveillance, and it's especially risky for young people. If it's a trend for folks to wear face coverings when posting pictures and it makes them feel euphoric, it's a trend I wholeheartedly endorse.

I'm glad they have that outlet. I'm glad it isn't "cringe" anymore to wear a mask or a tail, or to draw lines on your shoes with permanent marker to look like paws (another practically free trend that I see a lot). I'm glad therians have more ways to recognise each other in public. I'm glad if, in this world where we'll probably never have the bodies we long for, we can at least have something.

Alright I will be real with you all. I am so tired. I had a long day. So I will be updating this post with proper text that goes into what is in the image tomorrow. For now, I wanted to get this made and make sure people who need it have access to it!

🦴 – What's your theriotype(s) or kintype(s)?

🌕 – Do you experience shifts (mental, phantom, etc)? What are they like?

🌲 – Do you feel more connected to the wilderness or a specific biome?

🐺 – Do you have a pack or do you prefer to be solitary?

🐾 – What helps you feel more connected to your animal/nonhuman self?

🌌 – How did you discover you're alterhuman/therian?

🪶 – Do you create art or writing related to your kintypes/theriotypes?

🌧️ – What’s the hardest part of being alterhuman/therian for you?

💎 – What’s your favorite part of your identity?

🔥 – Do you associate your kintype with any specific emotions or instincts?

🌿 – Any kin gear or accessories you like to wear?

🌀 – Do you believe in spiritual origins for your identity, psychological, both, or something else?

🌙 – Do you have a kin name or special name for yourself in that form?

🐚 – Do you have other nonhuman-related identities (e.g., otherlink, hearttype, copinglink)?

🧭 – What advice would you give to someone newly discovering they’re alterhuman or therian?

from my understanding, kardiatype has a lot to do with how current values and personality are shaped by a past life, which being an echoform doesn't specify. it's a bit of a broader term.

I haven't really talked about art here, but I reallly want something rn so

Hello! I am trying to save up for something, so I am lowering my commission prices to work towards it :3 if you are curious its a specific plushie to be a future emotional and disability support plush I'm pricing things around 10-35 depending on what you want though if you want something very complicated or more than one thing it may go over that Message me if interested! (I would just give you my discord there lol) Though keep in mind I cant draw humans (im trying..not there yet lol) and can only take payment through Venmo sadly 😞 (if you really want them I would be fine with either a Amazon gift card with the equivalent of what you owe or am fine with making a custom etsy slot for you, but keep in mind if you want the etsy slot it would cost more to cover etsy funds)

Feel free to comment any questions (or go to my ask box, do whatever you want no ones stopping you)

Heres some of my recent art!