Therianthropy

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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.

In the last several decades, some people have adapted the word therianthropy to describe a spiritual or psychological concept in which the individual believes they have the spirit or soul, in whole or in part, of a non-human animal, or an animal side to their nature. Such people call themselves therianthropes or therians.

The word lycanthropy has at times been used for therianthropy, a misconception which leads to a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding.

Therianthropes

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Therianthropy is probably best describes in simple terms, as the belief that a person has, when they feel that they have a part of their personality, soul or spirit being that of a non-human being. This can be partial, or complete (human and animal, or animal in human body), it may be spiritual or corporeal. They may believe that their nature as therianthrope manifests in terms of their cognitive processes, their outlook on things, their reactions or their physical body. Since this is a personal self-perception, the manner in which a person describes it, and the manner of self-identification as a therianthrope, varies considerably.

A controversial aspect of tehrianthropy is the subject of "shifting", which generally refers to any manner by which a therianthropes nature may become evidenced internally (to themselves) or externally to others. Whilst few people would doubt that shifts of mental and emotional perception, and to alternative ways of thinking, may occur, some therianthropes also claim to experience a physical change to their appearance, a subject known as physical shifting, which is more controversial and many other therianthropes view with doubt.

Therianthropes are sometimes also called "weres", a reference to other dual-nature creatures of legend such as werewolves, were-tigers and the like.

As a subculture

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.

Comparisons with Lycanthropy and Furry fandom

Therianthropy vs. lycanthropy

Spiritual therianthropy is not the same as clinical lycanthropy, a mental illness in which an individual believes they are physically of another species. While some 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.

Therianthropy vs. furry fandom

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 the sense of an animal within, or an animal side to their nature, or spiritual concepts. By contrast, furries are more commonly focused on art and role-playing related to anthropomorphic animals. There is some overlap with those who identify themselves with each group or view the other positively, as well as those in each group who view the other negatively.

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