therianterritory

[therianterritory]

Hello 👋

Recently I've been looking into the whole therian/fictkin (I can't spell)/alterhuman ECT communities because at first it was just for fun and to see what the internet has been doing lately but it's started to feel less like a polite exploratory thing and more a thing I've been considering in myself.

I don't really know why it's all of a sudden become a thing I'm personally interested in but it has and I'm very confused.

I don't think I'm a therian because I got basically none of the "criteria" ( I know it's not like a list you check off but I'm nothing like any of the therians Ive seen online) and it's mildly distressing when I think too hard about it.

Ive been asking around but no one has been responding and I'm hoping maybe you can help as you've stated that you are an educator.

I have a list of things I felt like may fit along the lines of the aforementioned identities (sorry if that's the wrong word to use. I'm really nervous and trying to be as respectful as possible)

- When I was a kid I used to wish I could build a den/nest and used to get really sad when I had to take down my pillow "nests"

- I had a fascination with things that could fly and always wished that I had wings. Not necessarily that I was a type of bird but more like a hybrid human with wings.

- sometimes now I wish I had wings and it's almost like I can feel them stretch when I flex my back

- I had a fun idea to create horns once and I couldn't sleep thinking about how much I couldn't wait to make them. And when I made them it just felt so right to have them on. They felt natural.

- Sometimes I'll just run around my backyard whilst no one is home and it gives me an amazing sense of being free.

- Ive always been fascinated with the forest and ever since I was a little kid I used to imagine living in the forest all on my own and making a treehouse to live in away from society.

I honestly don't know if any of that means anything and I'm really really sorry for such a long message but I just really need some answers or guidance right now. Literally anything could be helpful if you have the time to read this.

Hope you have a good day

Hi! I am of course never able to tell people whether they are alterhuman of any kind or not. This is simply something that you can only tell for yourself. All I can do is give advice on how to look into your identity more accurately. So I will just review the things you've mentioned and give advice if I see fit. You can do with this what you want. My advice is also not the answer to everything.

While it's good to take your childhood into account, it's also very important to realize that as kids, we have a way bigger imagination. Unless you really feel like your urges and behaviors from the past weren't completely human, wanting to do things as a kid usually does not say much. I often recommend for people to mostly look at what they experience now, unless the past holds any significance despite childhood imagination (I'm therewith not stating however, that what you experienced is imagination and not alterhumanity. That's something I cannot know). I'm just saying that in my opinion, what you experienced as a kid isn't always one-hundred percent reliable. But do surely take it into consideration alongside your current experiences!

Feeling phantom wings is definitely a potential alterhuman experience. What's mostly important is to think for yourself whether you focus on the phantom wings on purpose when you believe you feel them, or if they are simply there naturally. While even natural shifts may sometimes occur when you consciously focus on it, any sign of consciously inducing a shift might mean that the experience was not an involuntary experience (and therianthropy is of course mostly determined by that). So the question is rather if you ever experienced such phantom sensations or other types of shifts, behaviors, instincts, and/or urges without thinking about it at all. Or if something somewhat unrelated triggered you into such a state.

Having an affection for nature and deliberating actions are debatable things. Because humans are instinctively also drawn to nature, and running around would probably be a freeing experience to anyone. It's always important to nuance your experiences with human instincts to at least some extend (while sometimes, of course, it may overlap) The question is rather how it made you feel on the inside. Do you feel like you aren't your human self when you do these things? Or do you feel like your human self mixes with something else? Etc.

In the end, it's really about how you define yourself and the nonhuman experiences you have naturally. And be mindful of the other alterhuman terms as well. You say you might be a humanoid creature in some way, so do not be afraid to look into Otherkin and the like as well! Therianthropy is really about that natural animalistic experience. If you do not have that, that doesn't mean you cannot identify as alterhuman/nonhuman!

[therianterritory]

People with PLS find the use of "phantom limbs" by the alterhuman community offensive

NOTE: This is a repost of an ealier post with more of an own-opinion/giving people with PLS a voice-approach rather than a community announcement, after having received critique from it that I agree with. I am completely fine with people having different opinions on this.

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a statement I've received from people with PLS.

The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is said to be vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiencing PLS and the like have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so I am of the belief that this should not be done again. I personally recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform), and who agree with this statement, to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

This is a critique point I can understand. And I apologize if my approach was wrong! I will alter my message to make it more a self-opion-based message, and let's hope this will cool down the heat a little. In my defense (which isn't an excuse but just the reason why the approach was wrong), is because this message stems from an announcement I made in my discord server, where we have decided to put this out more as a statement from the staff than a debate (hence the use of "we" instead of I).

Let's hope I can bring this critique into the video I was planning to make as well. But I will still stand by my opinion. And even if it may not be perceived as well by others, I would find it wrong to completely ignore the outreach of people with PLS, etc. EDIT: as a new Tumblr user I was not aware that reblogged posts will remain the same even after editing the original post. Sooo I suppose I could repost the version? Link to the new post: https://www.tumblr.com/therianterritory/736639770775764992/why-people-with-pls-find-the-use-of-phantom?source=share

Why can't we call phantom shifts "phantom limbs"?

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a recent development in alterhuman terminology. The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiences PLS have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so this will not be done again. We recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform) to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

The kinshaming tag was just an example. And since this discussion apparently has a lot of high emotions involved from your side, I will respectfully take a step back and end this discussion if assumptions are made like "playing the 'spiritual alterhumanity is more valid' game" while I am literally a psychological therian myself (mostly). I cannot make my points clear and listen to you with full overview if all I see is anger.

My whole point in this discussion that I tried to make clear is that I am NOT the judge of things, but neither are you. I hear your side of things, and I will keep things into account, but I will continue to look into the topic and allow people to express an opinion if it seems important like this. You are completely free to disagree. Let's end it there.

Why can't we call phantom shifts "phantom limbs"?

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a recent development in alterhuman terminology. The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiences PLS have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so this will not be done again. We recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform) to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

I am surprised by the amount of assumptions made within your message. I reacted to messages that stood out to me and that I felt the need to reply to. Not replying to anyone's message literally doesn't mean anything, not to mention that I was a little bombarded by replies both positive and negative.

It is important to note that phantom shifts can be experienced on many levels, and while for some alterhumans it may be as real as a phantom limb (as far as they can tell), to others it will never go further than a slight sensation. So while I totally do not mind if some alterhumans actually do experience supernumerary phantom limbs and may therefore call it phantom limbs, it's important to think about the fact that a LOT of alterhumans also don't. I cannot classify my phantom experiences to be as defined as one would experience a phantom limb, for example (And that doesn't make my experience any less real btw).

So it's good that you point out that some alterhumans may experience it to a more severe level, I am not claiming that those who experience it to that degree are exaggerating. But ESPECIALLY since alterhumanity as a whole is not anything of medical significance (at least to most it's not), I feel like it's disrespectful to claim that ALL physical shifts are comparable to phantom limbs/pain (as a lot do, and as have I in the past) and that people can therefore call it a phantom limb. To most this will just not be the case. I have never personally met anyone who experiences phantom limbs to that degree (but will not deny that it exists or anything, just stating most probably don't).

If by any chance I can contact the person who you've spoken to, to get both sides on things for my video interview, that would be beneficial!

You are completely entitled to your own opinion on this topic, but I'd prefer if we left out the accusations (such as kinshaming) and just kept this as a civil discussion. Maybe ask questions before pointing fingers.

Why can't we call phantom shifts "phantom limbs"?

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a recent development in alterhuman terminology. The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiences PLS have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so this will not be done again. We recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform) to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

If an alterhuman amputee directly comes to me to note that several amputees are offended by the fact that we use such a medical term, and that the experience is inherently different than phantom shifts, then I see no reason not to listen to them. It's not the same as dysphoria, because dysphoria is quite literally way more than just gender-related. Phantom limbs are directly from amputees or people who experience Supernumerary phantom limbs.

Just as I cannot directly speak for amputees, non-amputees cannot speak against them either: we do not know what it's like to no longer have a limb.

Why can't we call phantom shifts "phantom limbs"?

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a recent development in alterhuman terminology. The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiences PLS have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so this will not be done again. We recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform) to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

This is a statement I've heard directly from an amputee who is also alterhuman. They've also mentioned that they've heard several other amputees who also had an issue with it. I cannot talk for them directly, but I will allow for them to use my platform to spread this message. I am looking into interviewing the person in question if they allow me to.

Why can't we call phantom shifts "phantom limbs"?

I might make a video about this in the future, but I'd like to make you all aware of a recent development in alterhuman terminology. The use of the medical term "phantom limbs" is heavily tied to Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) which is a medical condition that affects amputees and those born with congenital differences in anatomy. It can be similar but is vastly different from what otherkin and therians experience during phantom shifts. People experiences PLS have made it known that comparing phantom shifts to the actual loss of a limb or PLS is offensive, so this will not be done again. We recommend using the words phantom shifts, parts or appendages, or specify that appendages such as phantom paws, wings, tails, etc. instead.

I personally take responsibility for having made this comparison in the past, and I'd like to apologize to people who experience PLS or have lost a limb for doing so. It was not my place to make this comparison, as I cannot know what the experiences is actually like.

I urge everyone who may own an Alterhuman platform (whether that be a Discord server or social media platform) to spread the word about this. You are free to use part of this text to explain things.

[therianterritory]

You're finally here... ❄

[therianterritory]

That Therianthropy Day video was so cool!!!

Thank you!

I forgot to mention it here so: I hope you all had a lovely therianthropy day! If you missed it, in my Discord server we have a week-long event where you can reflect on your therian journey in the community so far and share art of your theriotype (You have to be 13+ to join). Link in my pinned post!

I also have a tribute, a gift for the community:

[therianterritory]

love your youtube channel, didn’t know you had a tumblr!

Thanks! And yes it's an attempt. I have so many platforms to post on 😅 I try

[therianterritory]

Just wolf therian things (for fun)

Shaking your entire body when getting out of water despite having no fur

Phantom paws when lying in bed

The urge to continue on all fours when walking uphill

Actually walking on all fours when walking upstairs

The urge to nuzzle your muzzle into soft things

I need a cuddle pile right now

The urge to growl, but instead just pulling up your nose and upper lip

MEAT

Secretly curling up fingers to create paws to create the idea of walking on all fours when you can't

The darkness my beloved

Wanting to sniff something and then realize you cannot smell shit (LITERALLY)

Why do my friends never playfight with me

Sounding like a damn husky when complaining while shifty

In other words: ABOAWOAWOAW

[therianterritory]

this isn't really a question but i made this for you (and the community) but mainly for you, hope you enjoy you helped me find myself when i was younger :D!

(This is a small beat that kinda repeats!)

Thank you for this! It's very cute. I love it when people dedicate songs to me! It's very spacey. Would I be allowed to use it if I ever see a fitting purpose for it? If so, should I credit you (and how)?

Also also, if I AM allowed to use it, could you send it to my email? thorntundra@gmail.com. I don't think I can download it from Tumblr.

[therianterritory]

This year's Therianthropy Day falls on the 27th of November! Let's all celebrate our community

[therianterritory]

I was wondering would it be -fictionkin? Factkin? (I forgot the term for someone identifying as a fictional character)

if an otherkin identified as a Pokémon?

(ex: This otherkin Identifies as a Pumpkaboo from pokemon world)

How would that work?

Hi! Considering Pokemon are fictional characters, identifying as one could be considered fictionkin. (Factkin means you identify as a person that exist or has existed irl, so this is not the same thing).

Whether you want to call yourself a pokemon otherkin, fictionkin or even therian (considering a lot of pokemon have animalistic features) is completely up to your preference and what you believe fits best.

I hope this answers your question!

[therianterritory]

Ayyy welcome to/welcome back to Tumblr!! I hope you'll have a wonderful time here!

I don't have anything important to say, I just wanted to wish you a nice day I think haha

This is so wonderful! Thank you so much! I feel very welcomed :3

[therianterritory]

New hairdo 💇‍♂️

[therianterritory]

An Ode to Snow

I personally live in The Netherlands, which is a place where snowfall during the year is very 50/50. We are lucky if it sticks, but usually we have very wet snow that eventually melts again. As a wolf therian, most likely north-western or tundra, I do not feel more at home anywhere than in the snow.

Not only are wolves used to snow, but their hormonal system changes with colder weather. This makes the wolves more active and more prone to playfight, chase each other, and show pack dynamic displays. This is something that I definitely notice myself as well when I am surrounded by snow (but also generally during colder months) Today I also learned that high levels of snow is beneficial for wolves when it comes to hunting, as white deer aren't as mobile in bigger layers, while wolves do fine.

The wolf and the snow are connected, and so am I. When I think of my natural habitat, all I can see is this beautiful landscape of white, and trees overed into a crystal paradise. When I picture myself as a wolf to help me sleep, I can almost feel how the snow gently falls upon the earth, sounding a lot softer than rain, if even audible at all.

Every year during the second period of fall, I pray that there will be snowfall again. And so long as there isn't, I will keep on imagining myself curled up, watching the snow stick to my fur.