lycantheon

[lycantheon]

My brother and I were talking — well, I was talking more, as usual. (My mother says I “scramble his brain.”) We were trying to define what we’ll call “species�� for the sake of clarity. He clung to biology: DNA, genetic classification, what’s written in our cells. I argued for anthropology, philosophy, social definition. He spoke in spanish, I spoke in english, and in the end we both spoke spanish.

It began with a question.

“What is your opinion on the concept that species-ness can be taught?”

At first, he brushed me off — not rudely, but with that face he makes when I’ve lost him. I tried again.

If being “human” is truly inherent, then what about children raised by wild animals? If humanity is innate, why must it be taught?

What I meant — though I’m not sure I said it clearly — was this: if species is something we are meant to be, how is it possible to not become it? My working hypothesis: species is not inherent; one must become it.

Of course, I was kissing my guinea pig’s fur while saying this, and he was playing chess on his iPad. This was not an academic symposium. Just two stubborn siblings and two animals. I overlapped between definitions.

The quarrel took shape. He said I misused the word “species” — that it is a strictly biological term. I argued that even biology is framed through cultural lenses; our ancestors did not call themselves “Homo sapiens,” they were children of the sun, born from lake water, clothed in gold threads.

He has always been more logical, cold blooded. I believe he could cut cancer before it began spreading.

I’ve always been emotional, crying over a missing limb I hadn’t lost yet.

“You’re talking about culture,” he said.

And perhaps he was right.

He maintained that species terminology doesn’t dictate upbringing; culture does. I argued that in anthropology, species and culture are intertwined. He disagreed — older brothers always hold the truth, or at least think they do. He reframed my example: a child raised by wolves has wolf culture; a cat raised by a hen has chicken culture.

Species, culture — neither word quite fit. We tried “life-way,” “phenotype,” “ethotype,” “interspecies enculturation.” None of them sat well in our mouths.

Then I asked: “Are we not talking about identity?”

Identity: belonging and understanding what you are. If “human” as an identity can be learned, then it can also be unlearned. If identity is not inherent, why must I be only human?

By the end, we agreed — in our own words — that what we call humanity is not simply given at birth. It is taught, absorbed, performed. Which led me to a sharper question:

“What is someone who is not taught an identity?”

“Dead,” he said.

I thought he was being poetic. (He wasn’t.) He told me about an experiment where infants deprived of interaction died. But my question was about the living — about those who only absorb fragments of an identity.

I told him identity is like a jar. Most of it fills with mimicry of interaction, but the rest is shaped by environment. And if that environment fails to teach identity, what fills the emptiness?

“Nothing,” he said.

To him, that “nothing” was somber. To me, it was freedom. With no fixed identity, I have no fixed limits. Perhaps that’s why I find pieces of myself in every animal, every story, every prayer. I carry a rosary, a Buddha statue, and my mother’s bracelet; I speak to all of them.

It is lonely, yes — to feel you might never find an equal — but I am no longer obliged to be something. I can be nothing. And in the quiet between us, I found definition in him.

[lycantheon]

while i do appreciate non-'kin and non-therian trying to make positive posts about/that include us, it rubs me such the wrong way when it ends up just being a "its okay to do this childish thing" like. from posts that are like "let teenagers be teenagers" to "its okay if you're an adult but do this."

and like, im not confusing posts that are trying to say "this is not something that is childish even though it is sometimes viewed as such, keep doing your thing." i mean that there are posts out there trying to be positive posts and end up further adding to the idea/concept that our identity is a weird, childish thing. i understand the point is to say these things are okay, and i do seriously appreciate people outside of our communities trying to support us, but i wish people would be a little more mindful about how they go about it. like, yes, do encourage people to do what they want, including things that are often seen as childish behavior, but dont try to continue to add to the idea that theriantrophy, otherkindity, fictionkinity, etc. is "childish but okay." its not childish, period.

[lycantheon]

Safety PSA

I've seen a lot of people talk about getting harassed while publicly gearing and the advice they have given on how to handle it is not safe. First and foremost, if someone is verbally harassing you, do not engage. I know its tempting to say something back but just keep on walking, don't look, don't talk.

If that doesn't work and they start following you. Go somewhere public with lots of people, a police/fire station, a store, anywhere. Do NOT go home if you are being followed. Don't lead them to where you live.

Dial 911 (or whatever your emergency line is) if you think you are in immediate danger.

If you don't think you need to call emergency services but you still need/want help, call a friend to come and pick you up.

This one is for minors (cus ya shouldn't be going up to random adults): If you need help and its unsafe to call someone, find a family or an adult with a child and tell the adult that you are in danger and need help.

Don't go alone, take a friend or a family member with you. If you're going out after dark tell a trusted adult where you are going and when you are coming back.

Do not engage physically unless you absolutely have to, laws on self defense are super strict on what actually counts. Plus its just not a good idea to fight. Fighting should only be the last resort if nothing else is available. And also, please for the love of god do NOT pull out a knife or a weapon, that will just escalate the situation and make things worse.

And even before you go out, consider this: Is it safe for me to go out? Do I live in a safe enough area to do this?

Always carry your phone or a way of contacting help and make sure it has enough battery life.

[lycantheon]

I normally don’t speak on this subject by choice, just because I’m not a therian, and my opinions have previously been echoed by many folks in general, but something clicked in me upon seeing a post about it just now, and I’ve realized that the issue of quadrobics being seen as a default or a requirement for being therian (it’s not) doesn’t actually come from the whole tiktok perception of therianthropy as much as it originates from a lack of understanding surrounding two key things:

The involuntary desire, urge, necessity or act of embodying your theriotype (or other ‘type)

Proving to others that you are “therian enough”

I’m 30. Back in the day (I feel so old saying that), most of the community was criticsm, unsolicited advice, religious and spiritual discrimination, and trend-following. I know that the younger side of these communities have only seen the current infighting, but in the past, people were really nasty to each other, and for some reason were dead-set on dictating what others did and how they felt. Sure, there was community, but it was mostly with very specific types of people (white, able-bodied, non-religious, etc) and there wasn’t much room for diversity.

The current therian community is a lot kinder and plenty more accepting. The biggest consensus is that people wish everyone would stop being unkind (a good sentiment to have!), but the community is better off than it used to be!

But in the past, quadrobics wasn’t spoken about the way it currently is in fear of being “cringe.” It was referred to in different ways, but the terms I heard were “wolf runs,” “shifting,” “shapeshifting,” “physical shifting” and “embodiment.” (Yes, even more of a reason to be tolerant and accepting of physical nonhumans — physical shifts used to be seen as a mental state that is completely involuntary and results in the individual acting physically like their ‘type.) Personally, I think anyone can do quadrobics whether you’re therian or not, but I also don’t think that acting as your quadrupedal ‘type is inherently quadrobics.

Quadrobics is a sport. If I got down on all fours and simulated the way I would walk as a golden jackal (one of my kintypes), to me, that’s not quadrobics. I’m not doing that to exercise, I’m not doing that for athleticism, I’m not doing it for muscle, strength or agility training, I’m not doing it for a competition, I’m not doing it for show. I’m just being myself and expressing that by walking a different way.

I think a lot of the disdain for “tiktok therian” culture comes from the fact that tiktok just sucks, and the way it’s designed is ultimately to make you addicted to attention, no matter what type of attention that is. So they are doing quadrobics. Which, honestly, again, isn’t a bad thing. But when you conflate a sport, an athletic activity, with a cultural, identity, psychological and spiritual experience, that’s going to erase a lot of people, and they’re the ones who created the sport and gave it a platform in the first place.

It’s up for personal interpretation, of course — if you feel that your deep experiences are considered quadrobics, I’m not gonna stop you from feeling the way you feel and describing your feelings the way you see fit. But I do think we should draw a bold line between quadrobics and just general therian/alterhuman/nonhuman behavior and way of life.

[lycantheon]

staying up until 1am with your friends is like. wow we’re so fucking cool we’re so fucking badass we should go on a road trip or become famous or maybe hang out here forever because i dont wanna be anywhere that isnt with you guys im so full of love and joy and a live fast die young mentality. and staying up until 1am by yourself is like. for the third time this year i am genuinely contemplating suicide. good thing i dont have the executive function to clean up my room

[lycantheon]

Quiet reblog - I've been thinking about this a lot.

Ɐ + N/AHAA - Together in Difference

Ɐ (derived from the mathematical symbol meaning 'for all', and pronounced as 'Turned A') is a symbol/term for any and all within our overlapping communities.

We (those involved in coining this term) realised there was no actual term that encompasses all identities, seeing as not everyone identifies with alterhuman or nonhuman.

EDIT 10/08/25 - Another important clarification - while we know this label is, on the surface, very similar to alterhuman and other available labels, it was made specifically to not centre humanity as the default or central point of reference. This is not to say a connection to humanity is a bad thing at all (and this label is welcome to be used by human adjacents, those who are partially human, fiction folk, etc) but it removes it as a whole from being the centrepiece of an alternative label.

This symbol is for:

Anyone and everyone who doesn't identify with the traditional definition of humanity. This involves alterhumanity, nonhumans, therians, human and nonhuman fictionkin, otherkin, endels, holotheres, clinical zoanthropes, linkers, otherhearted, and ANYONE else who has an addition to their humanity, isn't human in the slightest, and everything in between.

Anyone who is ready to celebrate the overlaps between our communities, and allow us to experience a wider community without trying to put everyone under a human or not human label.

The celebration of being different! To laugh in the face of 'cringe' and embrace your unique experience of life.

We're also, in this post, coining the acronyms N/AHAA and/or ASAA! These are Non/Alterhuman and Adjacents, and Alterspecies and Adjacents! They both mean exactly the same as Ɐ, but are an easier to pronounce alternative.

The symbols in the pictures are completely free to use! They also don't have to be pawprints - we're working on alternate versions for different species.

Involved in coining:

@lycantheon (me!), @koirankusema666, @canis-dentem, @howlinginsolitude and @devotional-devouring !

This symbol and term is NOT for any zoophiles, zootherians, MAPs, pedos, etc. Sanists, anti physical nonhumanity, ableists, and anyone fitting basic DNI is also not welcome to use this. This is a queer and neurodivergent friendly label.

[lycantheon]

You know, that post we reblogged about the lack of visibility for some people in this community, when it can feel very therian-centric, got me thinking.

I should talk about this more, because not everyone can do the heavy lifting and not everyone is comfortable or as assured in talking about their own identity. And that's okay.

Even in therian spaces or the tag itself, I feel forgotten. And I'm a therian. It's just that I'm not a wolf or a deer or even a mammal. I'm a hercules beetle.

Dynastes hercules specifically. And it's just. It's tough out there sometimes. It's tough feeling like you have to censor images of your own species. It's tough because there isn't any affirming gear. I can't eat something to affirm my identity, hercules beetles literally eat wood.

There aren't many cool GIFs or even photos on blogs and those affirming posts about running wild in the woods or flying or hunting just... Don't hold true for me.

Obviously I'm glad for other therians in this community, I love that, I support them, I just... Wish I wasn't such an afterthought in my own spaces. The most I've gotten out of talking about it was a few people mentioning they're also insect therians.

Typing in insect therian and typing in canine therian paint two very different pictures of activity in the community. And the top post in the insect therian search is talking about how we face mistreatment and have to constantly fight misconceptions for being an insect.

I guess my point with this post is that we need more of you. It's completely fair if you feel nervous or don't want to be mistreated, it's up to you! But also?

This is your sign and encouragement to talk about your experiences.

- Cayden

[lycantheon]

Saw it was make a terrible comic day today (June 24 2025) so meet my cats

[lycantheon]

I think ☝️ that all canine therians should get a Treat today. Without even doing a Sit or Stay. It's Treat Day.

[lycantheon]

love this animal……. The shart

[lycantheon]

Shark finning infographic by ripetungi.

[lycantheon]

what i've been up to the past 20 minutes

[lycantheon]

Become a marine biologist. Take meaningful steps to disrupt oppressive capitalist systems. Look at a picture of a baleen whale. Listen to music you enjoy. Create a spotify playlist that is so unhinged that it breaks the algorithm. Disregard the need to have everything nice and shiny and aesthetically pleasing; growth is chaotic and messy, allow it to be so. Read about crabs. Be compassionate to your body even though it’s hard some days. Develop pharyngeal jaws and use them to devour those who restrict the rights of marginalized people. Try not to compare yourself to other people. Abandon gender roles and instead construct a belief system based around baleen whales because they’re just the best. Maybe have a little read before bed.

[lycantheon]

trying not to infodump about my alterhumanity on my friends got me looking like:

[lycantheon]

I made this out of the rage I felt from seeing transphobic, butchphobic and enbyphobic comments in my tl.

Being a lesbian is part of my identity too and I refuse to let other people tell me I am not a lesbian just because I don't fit their binary perception of things. It's so sad to see other lesbians shitting on butches and gender non-conforming or non-binary lesbians.

But hey, we are here and we're not going anywhere, I am not going anywhere. I've always been a loud lesbian and I'll always be.

Keep being loud, proud and gentle with other lesbians and be fierce with the ones who try to erase us.

[lycantheon]

Grrrr you know what brothers me??

Not knowing enough about taxonomy. Like wtf is a subfamily?? Or a tribe?? How am I going to know what alterhuman lables to use... 🤨

I know it doesn't truly matter if someone lables themselves a wolf cladotherian or genotherian cause in the end, we all know what they mean. That they identify as all wolves

But I care. I love lables and I wanna use the "correct" one!!!!! Rrarararaaaaaa

Like am I a caprini cladotherian? Or a genotherian? Or am I caprinae clado??

What even is the difference between caprini (tribe) and caprinae (subfamily)

Does cladotherian even include subfamilies??

Aaaa 😭😭😭😭

[lycantheon]

sorry i cant hang out i forgot how to mimic human like behaviour