What does being a therian mean?
Therians are people who believe they are animals, either spiritually or psychologically. “A therian is basically someone who believes spiritually or mentally that they are an animal,” said Aramond VanRahamdalph, who leads a therian group in Houston. He identifies as both vampire and therian.
Is Therianthropy possible?
Therianthropy is the mythological ability of human beings to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. It is possible that cave drawings found at Les Trois Frères, in France, depict ancient beliefs in the concept. The best-known form of therianthropy is found in stories of werewolves.
What makes someone a therian?
Therians, or therianthropes, are people who identify, in some intrinsic way, as an animal that exists or has existed on earth. Some believe that their soul is that of an animal while others believe the cause of their animal identity is psychological.
Where do shapeshifters come from?
The idea of shapeshifting is in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existent literature and epic poems such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad. The concept remains a common literary device in modern fantasy, children’s literature and popular culture.
Is Therianthropy a mental illness?
The theriotypes experienced traverse all species and can be extinct or extant. Opinions vary in the academic literature as to whether it is a mental illness or a spiritual belief. However in the West it is almost always placed within the psychiatric arena.
Can you be a therian and a furry?
There are a number of therians in the furry community (and of course, vice versa). Being therian is not a lifestyle choice, but being furry is–a therian can make that choice as well.
What does therian mean in Latin?
New Latin Theria, from Greek thēria, plural of therion wild animal — more at treacle.
What’s the difference between furries and Therians?
In general, furries are individuals who say they are furries. Therians are individuals who believe they are not completely human and instead identify as a species of non-human animal. Otherkin are individuals who believe they are not completely human and, instead identify as a mythical or fantasy-based being.
Are humans Therians?
Marsupials are as sub-class of therian mammals, sister to eutherian mammals such as humans, mice and livestock.
When did the term polytherian come into use?
It is not known exactly when the term polytherian became standard use within the community. It most likely came into use in 2005/2006 when the term Therianthrope was replacing Were. Poly is a prefix meaning “many”. Individuals with a great number of non-human identities may be confusing spirit guides as theriotypes.
What is the meaning of polytheism?
Polytheism. Polytheism, the belief in many gods. Polytheism characterizes virtually all religions other than Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which share a common tradition of monotheism, the belief in one God. Sometimes above the many gods a polytheistic religion will have a supreme creator and focus of devotion,…
What is the difference between polytherian and polywere?
Polytherians identify with more than one species of nonhuman animal. This is the current terminology. Polytherian replaced the old term Polywere which had first been use in 1996. It is not known exactly when the term polytherian became standard use within the community.
What are the characteristics of a polytheistic culture?
Typically, polytheistic cultures include belief in many demonic and ghostly forces in addition to the gods, and some supernatural beings will be malevolent; even in monotheistic religions there can be belief in many demons, as in New Testament Christianity.