wayward-aeon

[wayward-aeon]

in honor of the Centaurus Festival beggining today <3

[wayward-aeon]

personally i think dragons, dinosaurs, and avian creatures would sleep in these. its kinda like a nest

[wayward-aeon]

oh yeah? well [puffs out my feathers to make myself look huge and scary]

[wayward-aeon]

I am once again fucking begging the community to stop writing everything other than identify-as identities out of the word alterhuman and now fictionfolk too

Alterhuman does not mean everyone who identifies as nonhuman on some level (oh and maybe otherhearted people too). Please for the love of all that is good and holy stop saying that. It means anyone whose identity falls outside of society’s idea of “normal human” - anyone with an identity alternative to humanity or that’s an alternative form of humanity. It includes nonhumanity, yes, but also otherheartedness, hearthomes, archetropy, plurality, daemonism, furry lifestylers, othervague folks, constelics, and so much more. Here’s the coiner’s words to prove it.

Fictionfolk does not mean anyone who identifies as a fictional character. It means anyone with an alterhuman connection to fiction of any kind. It includes fictionkin and fictives and such, yes, but also fictional hearthomes, fictionheartedness, soulbonders, fictional vaguetypes, fictional constelics, and much more. Here’s the coiner’s words to prove it.

To collapse these words down to basically be synonymous with otherkin and fictionkin is to utterly defeat their purpose. Please stop defining us out of our own communities. Please stop erasing the existence of everyone outside of “identifies as nonhuman and/or fictional”.

[wayward-aeon]

I don’t think fictionfolk should be expected to renounce their source or rebuke themselves for what they’ve done in source unless those are actions they personally want to take.

Yes, even if they’re from that one “problematic” work of fiction you don’t like.

Yes, even if what they did is reprehensible to your standards.

We don’t exist to appease you. We don’t exist for your judgment based on who we are and where we come from.

We are members of this community just as you are. All of us should be recognized, not only a “valid” few because they fall within your standards.

Nothing in particular made this statement come up, but it is something that I feel should be said regarding etiquette towards fictionfolk in the alterhuman community.

[wayward-aeon]

(Art drawn by me — it’s a sticker design!)

I think it’d be really neat if I had a hood. Pretty please.

I want to be hooded when you need me to be calm. I want to rouse my feathers after wearing one, since they’d get all flattened and out of place. I want my chest feathers to be stroked by the hood, if I ever become avoidant to it (though I doubt that’d happen). I wouldn’t even mind if you accidentally licked me while trying to secure or loosen it. (I’ve regrettably done my fair share of accidental bird-licking while attempting to get the rope-ish bits between my teeth.)

(The only equivalent I can think of is an eyemask, but they don’t have the exact same feel. For starters, hoods, if fitted appropriately, do not touch the bird’s eyes.)

[wayward-aeon]

tagged by @twin-wishing-stars ^_^

1/ Which category of alterhumanity do you belong to?

several. too many to list in one go. the ones that impact my life the most, though, are being fictionkin, otherkin, and plural.

2/ What/who is/are your type(s)? (if you have any)

i'm aether (the traveler) from genshin impact! i'm also divinekin, and my preferred form currently is a big anymic dinobird thing.

3/ Do you experience shifts? If so, can you tell us your most common shifts and your strangest cameo shift (if you've ever had a cameo shift)?

i'm almost always mentally shifted as my main kintype(s). occasionally i'll also get phantom shifts, especially of talons on my feet. as far as cameo shifts, i'm not sure ^^

4/ How do you experience your alterhumanity in everyday life?

it's just part of me. sometimes it comes as simply as the blood flows through my veins, while other days it hits me in intense waves of emotion. usually, it's subtle but persistent, like when you get so used to having glasses on that you forget they're on your face.

5/ What do you think of the community?

overall, i love it here. the community does have problems, both on the inside and the outside, but i feel like we've come a long way from when i was first introduced to therianthropy in my childhood. i feel like most people you meet are incredibly kind and accepting, and i love how actively we stamp down respectability politics and encourage being the weirdos that we are!!

6/ What are the things that make you most comfortable and euphoric in your alterhumanity?

it's always fun playing video games where i can be Creature. i also love just being around other alterhumans and bonding over our shared experiences.

7/ Are you experiencing species dysphoria?

sometimes! i'm pretty regularly aware of all the things that aren't right with this body, from the skeletal structure to the lack of feathers, but it's usually more of a passive acknowledgement than a dysphoric feeling. i think it hits me the worst when i think about how most people aren't going to perceive me as my actual species.

8/ What advice would you like to say to a young alterhuman who has just awakened?

first of all, take your time. there's no rush. secondly, know that it's okay to be wrong. it's also okay if your identity changes over time. it doesn't make you a "faker" or anything like that. thirdly, and arguably most importantly, do what makes you happy! don't feel like you have to conform to anyone's standards. as long as no one's getting hurt, you can do anything you want forever.

9/ Do you have/want to have gears?

i dont have any yet, but there's so much gear i want!! my big dream is to get a fursuit someday!! i also want lots of pins and badges and other little symbolic things i can wear on my person.

10/ Do you know/have any theories about the origin of your alterhumanity? If so, tell us! (all beliefs are legitimate)

i generally skew spiritual, but it just isn't simple enough to put into boxes. i am the way i am because i am. i try not to stress over the little details these days, and simply focus on the joys of being.

11/ Tag someone/a creature to answer these questions!ㅤ

@e1ectrostatic / @contractbound , i'm HUNGRYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

If you are a alterhuman, reblog and answer these questions!

(don't be afraid to write a lot, do what you want ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯)

1/ Which category of alterhumanity do you belong to?

2/ What/who is/are your type(s)? (if you have any)

3/ Do you experience shifts? If so, can you tell us your most common shifts and your strangest cameo shift (if you've ever had a cameo shift)?

4/ How do you experience your alterhumanity in everyday life?

5/ What do you think of the community?

6/ What are the things that make you most comfortable and euphoric in your alterhumanity?

7/ Are you experiencing species dysphoria?

8/ What advice would you like to say to a young alterhuman who has just awakened?

9/ Do you have/want to have gears?

10/ Do you know/have any theories about the origin of your alterhumanity? If so, tell us! (all beliefs are legitimate)

11/ Tag someone/a creature to answer these questions!ㅤᵕ̈

[wayward-aeon]

alterhumanity can be simple for some, complex for others.

for some, it is indescribable in its complexity. like a lifelong intricately woven tapestry that is constantly in progress.

for some, it is as simple as "i am (thing) because that is what i am"

no matter what your experience may be, you are no more or no less real for your experience.

what's important is that you are content and happy with yourself at the end of the day.

never force yourself into boxes or labels just because others may find it more palatable.

if you aren't hurting anyone, then you can identify however and in whatever way you want.

[wayward-aeon]

Sunseeker

Where the myth of the lycanthrope ties metamorphosis to the moon, my own shapeshifting follows the sun.

Spiritually, it is the light and the warmth that calls to me, that makes my skin tight and the sky beckon to me. The winter is my time of dormancy, and my time of pain, psychological issues layering above the lethargy I feel during the colder months.

When the Sun starts to emerge again, I feel once more alive. It has always been the time where witchcraft and the unseen calls to me.

I am a desert bird, so it is rather logical that my heart belongs to the heat of summer and the smell of burnt dust. It's however rather rare in the community for therianthropes to feel this reversal of the usual myth, with the Sun replacing the Moon, and it has become something very personal to me in my beliefs. I truly feel powered by the sun, like my vitality itself depends on it.

In general, my kintypes tends to be from warmer climates, but I don't think one symbolizes my reverence to the sun more than the roadrunner, who bathes in it and evolved to withstand it. It's own plumage seems suntouched with burnt white hot tips and the colors of the desert, the eyes adorned of the red orange glaze of flames, and the gaze itself crowned of sheer gold like an eclipse.

I use the sun heat and its light in spells, to purge, to vitalize, to be reborn in that way of folkloric bird who fly to It to be born once again from their ashes. It is as psychological as it is spiritual, and my faith sways from one to another without impacting my constant tie to the Sun as a symbol.

[wayward-aeon]

Thinking about those who identify as animals for kink reasons. Not in a shaming way, as a genuinely curious way. It is, after all, an alterhuman experience. That wide net encompasses the kind of being who identifies outside of their assigned species for purely kink reasons. It is a word they could feasibly use, but likely won't, because they're content with their specific kink terms. Yet there they are, honestly standing up and saying 'I'm not a human I'm a pup, I'm a cow, I'm a pig' etc etc and yes it's sexual but it also brings them a sense of self that being a human doesn't. Many wish to live this way full time and are very specific about what kind of animal they are and how they want to be treated like one.

The only issue being of course, and I'm sure some reading this right now are already wrinkling their muzzle in disgust, that the alterhuman community as a whole is not ready for them to join us.

There is a stigma around kink and sex in relation to one's therian/otherkin and general alterhuman identity let alone as a huge part/formation of one's alterhuman identity.

I think we should unpack that maybe. Not because I want to try and convince these kinksters that they MUST identify as alterhuman if they sincerely see themselves more as (animal species) than (human who enjoys taking on the role of animal species) even if it's for kink reasons but because if they wanted to come into the space...if alterhumans in it already wanted to talk about how sex and their species interact...well damn, they should be able to.

[wayward-aeon]

I'm very pro sex weirdos in the therian and other alterhuman communities

As long as you're not hurting anyone, be freaky

[wayward-aeon]

i'm bothered by how fictionfolk seem to be treated. people want to have healthy standards between fictional identity and reality, but they do it so harshly to where they're discrediting others' fictional identities. they're not "yes, and...", they're just flat-out "no"-ing other's experiences.

source separation just seems to be flat out denying your identity instead of acknowledging how this reality works differently, or accepting the natural growth that occurs when living and learning new things.

it feels like fictional identities are "cool" yet extremely shamed.

[wayward-aeon]

Intentional Connection - the Linking Process

Sometimes I like to refer to my linktype shorthanded. Sometimes as either just heartlink, vaguelink, or if I really want, para-linked hearttype, and collectively linked vaguetype.

I like the extra denotation, because near everyone else is talking about linking as if only identify-as. The community does generally put more focus on identify-as identities.

Both our linktypes are important for different reasons. One is to bridge the different paratype feelings, and the other is for bonds with friends (and for general shenanigan).

How we go about linking the two are slightly different because of that.

For the three-tailed enfield, there's already something there, the paratype element from both myself and my hearttype makes for a good foundation, I didn't have much work but to build on top of whatever was already there, all I needed to do was to link them together.

The way we did it was taking more interest in fox related stuff, or more in particular multi-tailed kitsune. We plan to watch some kitsune focused anime eventually, and make a art for our heartlink. At the moment, we have a number of fox and spirit foxes pins around.

Honestly, we aren't sure if the linking started the process or if it was already a thing, and linking just strengthens the connection, which is probably due to the paratypes.

But I think a large part of it was just simply engaging it with a "I have this feeling of a spark, I want to retain that feeling, and fan it to make it large". It's sort of how it happens with a number of my shapeshifter forms. I go around, holding this thing close to my heart, and whenever something pops up that reminds me of the enfield, I will perk up. That sort of feedback loop is what makes the linking stick. I make it happen more via me actively engaging or seeking these reminder. I feel like it trains the brain to hold onto it that much longer, and eventually you just let it be, and it will be fine on its own.

Now I'm not actively looking for stuff, but I don't need to, I can probably take away the link suffix and the three-tailed enfield is there to stay as a parahearttype. But I like it, I like the reminder of where it came from, and I like being in that community, and exist as a reminder to other questioning alterhuman that yes, my way of linking exist.

With a linktype that came from a preexisting fictional source, you'd think all I had to do was to engage with said fiction. I mean, I could, but this whole thing happened after I long left the source environment. Or perhaps not quite.

I still retain the knowledge of the source. And because of this, when others within the alterhuman community engages with it, I took special interest towards the happening. What pretty much started the linking process, was the want to connect to others who are from that same source. Perhaps we previously held fondness towards the source, or the character in specific. We know we have things going on with what the character's "element" is--stars and cosmos. So that had helped our desire to link.

It's definitely not enough to help maintain the link. The failed dragonite hearttype link was also made happen due to the desire to form stronger bonds with other pokemon alterhuman.

I suppose when put side-by-side like this, my successful linktype are due to either paratype element, or other factors to reinforce the overall linktype structure.

Furthermore, the Aurelion Sol vaguelink was a collective decision, something both Akumu and I(Ryuu) are interested in linking. The linking could have fade without both of us there at the same time, and Akumu tends to disappear to places half the time. It made linking this specific identity a little trickier.

What made it start to grow and "stick" properly was perhaps when I put it on as a proxy, for a bit of a joke. It felt wrong without Akumu there during that time, but trying to be Aurelion Sol for a day has done wonders for the linktype. It felt right, it felt like it could really work.

We kept the proxy.

After that, it's like a little tug at the back of our mind, telling us that it's still there, all we need to do is pick it back up. We also aren't really active with this linktype. We never are all that active with our alterhumanity. But at the same time, it's like a tab opened on the browser, whenever draconity or prompt topic came that we can talk about our relationship with Aurelion Sol in, it's like another boost to the linking process--active discussion with the alterhuman community while keeping in mind of this connection. It makes sense, we wanted to link this 'type because of connections to others, so to make it stronger, we need to connect more with others.

Maybe that's how our method works, going in full circles. Start the desire to link, try around for other stuff, and then go back to what first prompted the linking desire.

The fact that we are gaining noemata for this vaguetype tells me that, like the enfield, this one is here to stay. Because when thinking and talking about it, and the rare noemata, the link became self-sustaining.

I feel a bit uncertain to call this linktype done, but it seem to be doing alright. Perhaps more writing and pondering will help more.

[wayward-aeon]

It is very clear that people do not think that species dysphoria can be distressing or weigh on a person. They see it as a slight sadness, a small thought. They do not understand that species dysphoria can make a person want to be an animal FULLY including wanting the sex characteristics of their type. They do not understand the pain that it can cause. They do no understand the longing, the emptiness it can cause. Like reaching for a star millions of miles away.

You are not nasty or disgusting for wanting to actually physically be what you are and you are not gross for using animal packers to do that.

[wayward-aeon]

Happy 👏 Therianthropy Day 👏 It's that time ⏰ 👈 of year 🗓️ 😮 therian cummunity!!! 🦦 🍂 🐻 where the moon 🌑 is full 🌕 and our beds 🛏️ are too! 💦 😜 send 📲 💌 this to 1️⃣0️⃣ furry friends 🐾 you'd get HOWLING 🐺 in the 👀 bedroom 🛋️ 🛏️ 💓 get 5️⃣ back and 😏 you'll be knotted 🪢 🍆 🪢 all night long 🌃 get 1️⃣0️⃣ back and you 🫵 are a going 🤯 to p-shift 🔥 🧨 🔥 into the 🌲 🍆 Horny 🦌 God 🌳 🍑 get 0️⃣ back and 😱 you're BANISHED 🏃‍♂️ 💨 to live 🏠 with the humans 🙅‍♂️ forever‼️

[wayward-aeon]

There is an issue in the community that comes from outside of it that we need to address.

Hermaphroditic =/= Intersex.

But, Daski, you say, we know that!

Except there's this nagging part of people's brains that involves itself with respectability politics to the point that they forget this fact.

People hear "hermaphrodite" and get their feathers in a ruffle on behalf of the intersex community due to it's historic use as a slur. But they also forget that hermaphrodite is a legitimate biological description of genital configurations.

We're a community that talks a lot about blurring that of being animal and being person. We're also a community that is on the cutting edge of understanding parts of human psyche that science hasnt caught up to studying on a large scale yet.

Thus, when someone in our community mentions they (as a kintype) had or currently wish to have hermaphroditic genitals they're not saying they want to be intersex. You cant become intersex, and intersex is a human diagnostic criteria. Conflating ANY USAGE of the words deriving from "hermaphrodite" to intersex is doing an enormous disservice to the intersex community by muddying the waters of their terms and definitions.

Humans have wonderful terms such as salmacian and bigenital to describe the current technology level of having more than one genital attached to a body. However, remember we're talking about being animal people. Not everyone's wants or goals or dysphoria can be described by these terms. So we turn to the correct word of Hermaphroditic: having two complete and fully functioning sets of genitals. (Which I must remind readers: intersex does not include this definition. This is not a possible genital configuration in humans by birth.)

Hermaphrodite and it's derivatives are not bad words worthy of knee-jerk reactions. Think critically before policing others' terminology usage, especially if you're not a part of the perceived aggrieved group.

[wayward-aeon]

trick or treat ^_^

TRICK *pounces on u mauls u bites u *