Post by wolfdaughter on Dec 13, 2017 21:17:09 GMT -6
Just in case anyone else still roams by. The following is a rough draft for an upcoming Therian Nation video. I've been sitting on this one for a couple months. I still feel like I'm missing something. Maybe it needs a couple more questions for people to ask themselves, or a method that should be obvious. Please share any other possible ways that a person could determine if they are Therian or not. Please let me know about any other resources that may be helpful. Therian Nation wants to present the most accurate and complete information possible.
Part One (Video One)
Welcome to Therian Nation. I'm your host Shannon Jackson. This is part one of a two segment video that will explore many possible ways to help you decide whether or not you may be a Therianthrope. In this first segment I'll go over common experiences for awakening Therians, and some stuff to be cautious of. If you have not watched any of the previous videos, I highly recommend that you do so to better understand the information presented here.
(Therian Nation animated logo and title on screen)
First of all, there is no scientific test or proof for Therianthropy. It's considered an identify phenomenon, ontological phenomenon, and a personal belief. So, if there is no real proof, how does a person conclude that he or she is a Therian?
No single behavior, shift, dream, or other experience will determine if you are Therian. There should be multiple experiences that lead you to identify as non-human.
Time Tells
Each individual usually has an accumulation of years of experiences that is attributed to feeling non-human. This gathering of evidence for your personal Therianthropy can include being mindful of your feelings, behaviors, personality, mindset, and therianthropic shifts. This observation of one's self is most important.
Honestly, the only true determining factor is time. If you are still calling yourself a Therian beyond your teenage years and into adulthood, then it will probably stick with you for the remainder of your life. For Therians, the non-human feelings may wax and wane, but they will never completely go away.
What is an Awakening?
When an individual “awakens”, this is becoming aware that you are a Therianthrope and have most likely always been a Therianthrope. An awakening is NOT when you start to change into a Therian or decide to be a Therian. Therianthropy is not a choice.
Most but not all Therians reported having vague feelings of being different, not fitting in, and not feeling completely human from a young age. Many say they felt more comfortable around animals instead of other humans. These feelings and emotions were usually persistent for years before searching for explanations online.
Seek Information
Learn everything that you can. There are a lot of good resources about Therianthropy across the internet. Be open to advice from others. Be open to asking for information that will help you. Find blogs and articles by other Therians to read and learn from.
Also be open to receiving questions. Learn the difference between a question meant to help you, and a question that is clearly mean or disrespectful. Most questions from other Therians are to help you think about yourself and your experiences from a different point of view. Thinking rationally and critically is important.
Be Patient
There is no deadline for finding your answers, and figuring this out can be difficult. Your answers probably won't come quick or easy. Avoid Quizzes, pendulum readings and tarot readings. They can be fun, but these answers can not be trusted as truth. They are not definitive, and they often lead people astray. Directly seeking validation from others will not allow you the opportunity to learn about yourself and make decisions for yourself. No one else can give you the answer.
Your Journey
No one can, “Yes, you are a Therianthrope.” or “No, you are not a Therianthrope.” This is a personal journey of self-discovery that is unique to you. It's up to you to decide based on your own personal experiences, beliefs, and behaviors while meeting the agreed upon definition of Therianthropy and Therianthrope.
"The best way I've read about how to tell if you're a Therian is that, when you find out about it, your life suddenly makes sense." - Wolf Van Zandt - May 31, 2016
Mind the Doubt
Any Therian I know felt a lot of doubt as well. I doubted for years. If you haven't felt any doubt at all, you need to take a step back and start with the definition of Therianthropy and what being a Therianthrope means because this isn't a fandom or roleplay.
Before or After?
If you felt nonhuman before finding this community and sought a reason why, then it's a good chance that you are a Therian. If you first came across this on social media, or your friend claimed to be a Therian, and that made you want to be one too, then there is a lower possibility that you are really a Therian.
A Hard Truth
Wanting to be a Therian to fit in with friends or a pack does not make you a Therian. If this is how you came to the online community, then you really need to dig in deep and ask yourself some tough questions. I will also briefly state here that anyone can wear a tail or ears. Wearing accessories does not make you a Therian. People do trick themselves into thinking that ordinary, mundane events are related to Therianthropy. I recommend reading up about Shifter's Disease. See the link in the Description to learn more.
It's Okay to be Human
It's always important to consider other alternatives to Therianthropy. You may feel a connection with an animal because it is a Spirit Guide, which is considered different from being a Therian. Other possibilities are that you may be animal-hearted or a copinglink instead. Links for those are also in the description.
Click through to the next video where I go over techniques to help you decide if you are a Therianthrope or not.
Part II (Video 2)
Welcome back. This is part two of a two segment video explaining methods to help you decide whether or not you may be a Therianthrope. Segment one covered common experiences had by awakening Therians and stuff to consider on your journey. This video will go over a few helpful techniques to get you started on your path of self-discovery. Here's the quick list:
Introspection
Mindfullness
Research
Journal Keeping
Meditation
Introspection
Introspection is the “observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state,mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.”
This is related to having questions about who you are, what you are, and why. It's important to examine why we believe that we are nonhuman.
Here are some sample questions to ask yourself. Keep in mind that you may not have the answers right away. That's okay. Many people have taken years to understand this aspect about themselves and conclude whether or not they were indeed Therians.
Good Questions to Ask yourself
Why do I think I'm a Therianthrope? Is it from spiritual or psychological causes?
Do I experience therianthropic shifts? If not, do my experiences match that of a Contherian?
Am I tricking myself into feeling shifts or do they occur naturally/involuntarily?
Does Modern Therianthropy explain feelings I've had prior to discovering the term or community?
Do I really have any behaviors that are nonhuman? What are those behaviors? Did I act this way before finding the online community?
Mindfulness
We hear a lot about meditation in the community, which has its pros and cons. What we don't hear about is mindfulness. This is “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also: such a state of awareness”. This can be used along with meditation or on its own.
Most importantly, no one will find answers about who you are while staring at a computer screen. I highly recommend getting away from the computer. Leave the phone at home. If you must take a phone with you for safety, turn it off notifications, and don't check it for a while. Go to a park, preferably a grassy and wooded area, and just be yourself without any distractions.
Part of mindfulness is also knowing when to take a step back. If you are having trouble finding answers about yourself, it's okay to put this aside and focus on other things. If you are indeed a Therianthrope, this part of yourself won't disappear just because you don't focus on it.
Research
It's okay to have doubt and questions. In fact, you should. It's okay to discover that you are a Therianthrope. It's also okay to discover that you are not. Being a Therian isn't any more special than being a normal human.
It's important to actually learn about Therianthropy and some of the history of our community. There are a lot of good, easily accessible resources where you can read about Therianthropy and see what other Therians have experienced. We always include links to these websites under the videos.
Don't get all of your information about Therianthropy from only one source or group of people. Get information from multiple places, but stay away from any outrageous claims. While no one else can tell you whether or not you are indeed a Therian, rational thought and self examination is important.
Journal Keeping
It's important to keep track of your experiences and how you are feeling. This can help you gather information and make it easier to look back weeks, months, or years later. Therianthropy is an innate part of us, but it can change over time. For example, the type of shifts that you have can change. Their frequency and intensity can also change. We are constantly learning about ourselves.
Track shifts and their duration. Write down what causes you to shift so that you can be mindful of that and learn to keep calm if it is not a good time. Record dreams that may be related. You can even keep track of foods, songs, and activities that help you feel like your animal self. It's also important to keep track of things that keep you calm so that you can control shifts. Record quotes and information that you find helpful that you might want to reference later.
Meditation
There are various types of mediation, such as breathing or walking, and there are various methods for meditating. What works for one person may not work for another. Meditation takes practice and dedication. I doubt that most people use this technique correctly. Meditation is training the mind to focus for the purposes of relaxation or to help us understand our own mind. This can help us make positive changes. It's the practice of focusing the mind that can eventually lead to inner silence and deeper states of consciousness. It's the deeper states of consciousness that can help us connect with our inner animal selves. Most people who meditated once or twice and said they met their theriotype were probably just visualizing or imaging whatever they wanted to. Meditation should not be considered or known as a quick way to find answers.
Meditation used along with the other techniques mentioned in this video can be helpful. We will include several links to sites about meditation in the video description.
That concludes this video. If have any questions, please let me know in the comments or send a message on Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. I'm also on Amino now. If you didn't see the first half of this video, click the image on your screen.
Thanks for watching!
Sources
Shifter's Disease - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Shifter%27s_Disease
Bewylderbeast, July 2008. “It's okay not to be a Therianthrope” project-shift.net/its-okay-not-to-be-a-therianthrope/
RedFeather FalconHawk, 2012 “How to tell if You're a Therian” redfeathers-eyrie.jimdo.com/general/how-to-tell-if-you-re-a-therian/
Ulfrvif, December 29, 2016. “What Makes Me a Wolf?” ulfrvif.dreamwidth.org/8680.html
Ozenwolf, June 18, 2003. “Am I a Therian?” web.archive.org/web/20050404141501/http://www.werechild.org/newbie.html
Kusani, January 1, 2009. “An Introduction to Animality” beinglion.com/introduction.php
Strill, July 2008. “Are You a Therian?” project-shift.net/are-you-a-therian/
Animal-Hearted - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Animal-hearted
Copinglink - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Copinglink
Werelibrary - werelibrary.com/
Project Shift - project-shift.net/
"Mindfulness." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 July 2017. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindfulness
Meditation
liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/
www.innerhealthstudio.com/imagery-and-visualization.html
Images (if any) are used under fair use for educational purposes only and remain the property of the copyright holders.
Opening Title Music - "News Theme 3" by Ithaca Audio Ltd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. www.ithacaaudio.com/2010/12/07/news-theme/
Part One (Video One)
Welcome to Therian Nation. I'm your host Shannon Jackson. This is part one of a two segment video that will explore many possible ways to help you decide whether or not you may be a Therianthrope. In this first segment I'll go over common experiences for awakening Therians, and some stuff to be cautious of. If you have not watched any of the previous videos, I highly recommend that you do so to better understand the information presented here.
(Therian Nation animated logo and title on screen)
First of all, there is no scientific test or proof for Therianthropy. It's considered an identify phenomenon, ontological phenomenon, and a personal belief. So, if there is no real proof, how does a person conclude that he or she is a Therian?
No single behavior, shift, dream, or other experience will determine if you are Therian. There should be multiple experiences that lead you to identify as non-human.
Time Tells
Each individual usually has an accumulation of years of experiences that is attributed to feeling non-human. This gathering of evidence for your personal Therianthropy can include being mindful of your feelings, behaviors, personality, mindset, and therianthropic shifts. This observation of one's self is most important.
Honestly, the only true determining factor is time. If you are still calling yourself a Therian beyond your teenage years and into adulthood, then it will probably stick with you for the remainder of your life. For Therians, the non-human feelings may wax and wane, but they will never completely go away.
What is an Awakening?
When an individual “awakens”, this is becoming aware that you are a Therianthrope and have most likely always been a Therianthrope. An awakening is NOT when you start to change into a Therian or decide to be a Therian. Therianthropy is not a choice.
Most but not all Therians reported having vague feelings of being different, not fitting in, and not feeling completely human from a young age. Many say they felt more comfortable around animals instead of other humans. These feelings and emotions were usually persistent for years before searching for explanations online.
Seek Information
Learn everything that you can. There are a lot of good resources about Therianthropy across the internet. Be open to advice from others. Be open to asking for information that will help you. Find blogs and articles by other Therians to read and learn from.
Also be open to receiving questions. Learn the difference between a question meant to help you, and a question that is clearly mean or disrespectful. Most questions from other Therians are to help you think about yourself and your experiences from a different point of view. Thinking rationally and critically is important.
Be Patient
There is no deadline for finding your answers, and figuring this out can be difficult. Your answers probably won't come quick or easy. Avoid Quizzes, pendulum readings and tarot readings. They can be fun, but these answers can not be trusted as truth. They are not definitive, and they often lead people astray. Directly seeking validation from others will not allow you the opportunity to learn about yourself and make decisions for yourself. No one else can give you the answer.
Your Journey
No one can, “Yes, you are a Therianthrope.” or “No, you are not a Therianthrope.” This is a personal journey of self-discovery that is unique to you. It's up to you to decide based on your own personal experiences, beliefs, and behaviors while meeting the agreed upon definition of Therianthropy and Therianthrope.
"The best way I've read about how to tell if you're a Therian is that, when you find out about it, your life suddenly makes sense." - Wolf Van Zandt - May 31, 2016
Mind the Doubt
Any Therian I know felt a lot of doubt as well. I doubted for years. If you haven't felt any doubt at all, you need to take a step back and start with the definition of Therianthropy and what being a Therianthrope means because this isn't a fandom or roleplay.
Before or After?
If you felt nonhuman before finding this community and sought a reason why, then it's a good chance that you are a Therian. If you first came across this on social media, or your friend claimed to be a Therian, and that made you want to be one too, then there is a lower possibility that you are really a Therian.
A Hard Truth
Wanting to be a Therian to fit in with friends or a pack does not make you a Therian. If this is how you came to the online community, then you really need to dig in deep and ask yourself some tough questions. I will also briefly state here that anyone can wear a tail or ears. Wearing accessories does not make you a Therian. People do trick themselves into thinking that ordinary, mundane events are related to Therianthropy. I recommend reading up about Shifter's Disease. See the link in the Description to learn more.
It's Okay to be Human
It's always important to consider other alternatives to Therianthropy. You may feel a connection with an animal because it is a Spirit Guide, which is considered different from being a Therian. Other possibilities are that you may be animal-hearted or a copinglink instead. Links for those are also in the description.
Click through to the next video where I go over techniques to help you decide if you are a Therianthrope or not.
Part II (Video 2)
Welcome back. This is part two of a two segment video explaining methods to help you decide whether or not you may be a Therianthrope. Segment one covered common experiences had by awakening Therians and stuff to consider on your journey. This video will go over a few helpful techniques to get you started on your path of self-discovery. Here's the quick list:
Introspection
Mindfullness
Research
Journal Keeping
Meditation
Introspection
Introspection is the “observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state,mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.”
This is related to having questions about who you are, what you are, and why. It's important to examine why we believe that we are nonhuman.
Here are some sample questions to ask yourself. Keep in mind that you may not have the answers right away. That's okay. Many people have taken years to understand this aspect about themselves and conclude whether or not they were indeed Therians.
Good Questions to Ask yourself
Why do I think I'm a Therianthrope? Is it from spiritual or psychological causes?
Do I experience therianthropic shifts? If not, do my experiences match that of a Contherian?
Am I tricking myself into feeling shifts or do they occur naturally/involuntarily?
Does Modern Therianthropy explain feelings I've had prior to discovering the term or community?
Do I really have any behaviors that are nonhuman? What are those behaviors? Did I act this way before finding the online community?
Mindfulness
We hear a lot about meditation in the community, which has its pros and cons. What we don't hear about is mindfulness. This is “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also: such a state of awareness”. This can be used along with meditation or on its own.
Most importantly, no one will find answers about who you are while staring at a computer screen. I highly recommend getting away from the computer. Leave the phone at home. If you must take a phone with you for safety, turn it off notifications, and don't check it for a while. Go to a park, preferably a grassy and wooded area, and just be yourself without any distractions.
Part of mindfulness is also knowing when to take a step back. If you are having trouble finding answers about yourself, it's okay to put this aside and focus on other things. If you are indeed a Therianthrope, this part of yourself won't disappear just because you don't focus on it.
Research
It's okay to have doubt and questions. In fact, you should. It's okay to discover that you are a Therianthrope. It's also okay to discover that you are not. Being a Therian isn't any more special than being a normal human.
It's important to actually learn about Therianthropy and some of the history of our community. There are a lot of good, easily accessible resources where you can read about Therianthropy and see what other Therians have experienced. We always include links to these websites under the videos.
Don't get all of your information about Therianthropy from only one source or group of people. Get information from multiple places, but stay away from any outrageous claims. While no one else can tell you whether or not you are indeed a Therian, rational thought and self examination is important.
Journal Keeping
It's important to keep track of your experiences and how you are feeling. This can help you gather information and make it easier to look back weeks, months, or years later. Therianthropy is an innate part of us, but it can change over time. For example, the type of shifts that you have can change. Their frequency and intensity can also change. We are constantly learning about ourselves.
Track shifts and their duration. Write down what causes you to shift so that you can be mindful of that and learn to keep calm if it is not a good time. Record dreams that may be related. You can even keep track of foods, songs, and activities that help you feel like your animal self. It's also important to keep track of things that keep you calm so that you can control shifts. Record quotes and information that you find helpful that you might want to reference later.
Meditation
There are various types of mediation, such as breathing or walking, and there are various methods for meditating. What works for one person may not work for another. Meditation takes practice and dedication. I doubt that most people use this technique correctly. Meditation is training the mind to focus for the purposes of relaxation or to help us understand our own mind. This can help us make positive changes. It's the practice of focusing the mind that can eventually lead to inner silence and deeper states of consciousness. It's the deeper states of consciousness that can help us connect with our inner animal selves. Most people who meditated once or twice and said they met their theriotype were probably just visualizing or imaging whatever they wanted to. Meditation should not be considered or known as a quick way to find answers.
Meditation used along with the other techniques mentioned in this video can be helpful. We will include several links to sites about meditation in the video description.
That concludes this video. If have any questions, please let me know in the comments or send a message on Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. I'm also on Amino now. If you didn't see the first half of this video, click the image on your screen.
Thanks for watching!
Sources
Shifter's Disease - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Shifter%27s_Disease
Bewylderbeast, July 2008. “It's okay not to be a Therianthrope” project-shift.net/its-okay-not-to-be-a-therianthrope/
RedFeather FalconHawk, 2012 “How to tell if You're a Therian” redfeathers-eyrie.jimdo.com/general/how-to-tell-if-you-re-a-therian/
Ulfrvif, December 29, 2016. “What Makes Me a Wolf?” ulfrvif.dreamwidth.org/8680.html
Ozenwolf, June 18, 2003. “Am I a Therian?” web.archive.org/web/20050404141501/http://www.werechild.org/newbie.html
Kusani, January 1, 2009. “An Introduction to Animality” beinglion.com/introduction.php
Strill, July 2008. “Are You a Therian?” project-shift.net/are-you-a-therian/
Animal-Hearted - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Animal-hearted
Copinglink - therian.wikia.com/wiki/Copinglink
Werelibrary - werelibrary.com/
Project Shift - project-shift.net/
"Mindfulness." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 July 2017. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindfulness
Meditation
liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/
www.innerhealthstudio.com/imagery-and-visualization.html
Images (if any) are used under fair use for educational purposes only and remain the property of the copyright holders.
Opening Title Music - "News Theme 3" by Ithaca Audio Ltd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. www.ithacaaudio.com/2010/12/07/news-theme/