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Therianthropy is a generic term for any transformation of a human into an animal form, either as a part of mythology or as a spiritual concept. The word is derived from Greek theros, meaning "wild animal," and anthrōpos, meaning "man")

The most commonly known form is lycanthropy (from the Greek word lycos, meaning wolf) which is the technical term for werewolves. Although lycanthropy specifically refers to man-wolf transformations, many people use that term loosely to refer to shape changing to any animal form. For more on this meaning, see the Lycanthropy article.

As a subculture

In the last several decades, some people have adapted the word therianthropy to describe a spiritual concept in which the individual believes they have the spirit or soul, in whole or in part, of a non-human animal. Such people are called therianthropes or therians. Some therianthropes consider the condition psychological rather than spiritual, but otherwise they do not differ much as a group from spiritual therians. Some people use the word lycanthropy as a synonym for therianthropy, which can lead to a great deal of confusion.

Spiritual therianthropy is also not the same as clinical lycanthropy, a mental illness in which an individual believes they are physically of another species. While therianthropes believe they can take on the mindset of their "other side" in what is referred to as a mental shift, they retain control and are no danger to themselves or others. Some therianthropes do not shift at all: these people are called contherianthropes and always feel themselves to be partly animal and partly human. Many therianthropes claim physical shapeshifting is impossible, mostly on scientific grounds, though there are therianthropes who claim differently and some which even claim to have done so. Unlike those who have clinical lycanthropy, therianthropes are generally able to function in society and lead productive careers.

Otherwise, therianthropy does not have any central dogma or tenets, nor any recognized authority. However, those who have been around for a long time are generally listened to, though less out of any perceived spiritual authority than simple acknowledgement of experience.

While there is no offline social organization, there exist online communities of therians with many diverse outlooks on the concept, including Christians, Pagans, and atheists. As could be expected, disagreements are frequent, and the many online forums and chatrooms of the community each have their own "atmosphere," ranging from total acceptance to scornful cynicism. There have been intermittent "real-world" gatherings, referred to as "howls," but their purpose is primarily social.

Therianthropy should not be confused with the furry fandom, though some intermixing of the groups does occur. As a general rule, therianthropes are more focused on spiritual concepts, while furries are focused on art and role-playing of anthropomorphic animals, although there is some overlap among those who identify themselves with each group.

See also

• furry lifestylers
• lycanthropy
• otherkin
• were

External links

• The Werelist
• Shifters.org
• Awereness Forums
• The WereLibrary
• The Therianthropy Live Journal
• What does it mean to be a were — and is were is the word to use?
• The Therianthropy Resource
• Therianthropy History Timeline

• Spirituality