I thought I’d share my post of otherkin/alterhuman terms on here to start off this blog! If I got anything wrong, please give me a correction! These are the definitions in my personal experience that I’ve seen or encountered.
Alterhuman: A member of the non-human community. Anyone who identifies as, or is connected to a non-human, (including plural/multiple) or identifies as someone or something from or connected to a place other than this earth. A therian/otherkin is Alterhuman.
Therian/Therianthrope/Therianthropy: An individual that identifies as being, in part or whole (non-physically), one or more non-human animals on an integral and personal level. Therians cannot choose their thereotypes.
Otherkin: A person that identifies as being, in part or whole (non-physically), one or more non-human creatures or beings on an integral and personal level. Otherkin cannot choose their kintypes.
Phytanthrope/Plantkin: A person who identifies as a plant other than an animal or creature. Plantkin cannot choose their kintypes.
Fictionkin: A person that identifies as being, in part or whole (non-physically), one or more species and/or characters shown in media on an integral and personal level. Some fictionkin are character-specific, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, while others identify as a fictional species, like a non-specific Chao or a Pokémon. Fictionkin cannot choose their kintypes.
Otherhearted: A deep spiritual connection to a creature. This is different from otherkinity, being that you identify WITH a creature as opposed so AS that creature. Proper usage is x-hearted (e.g. Dragon-hearted, Wolf-hearted.) You cannot choose what you are hearted with.
Were: An old term that used to be used to refer to therianthropes, derived from were-wolves. This term is rarely used.
Coping Linkers: People who use non-human entities as a way to cope with depression, anxiety, and general day-to-day troubles. They are not considered the same as otherkin or therians despite vague similarities, as they have chosen their identities. The name was changed from copingkin to copinglinkers to cement that they are not associated with the otherkin community.
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Polytherian/Polytherianthrope: Someone who identifies as more than one animal.
Polykin: Someone who identifies as more than one non-human species.
Cladotherian/Cladotherianthrope: A therian that identifies as a larger group than just as a specific species. E.g. identifying as a bird therian rather than an eagle therian.
Contherian/Contherianthrope: A therian whose animal and human sides are intertwined and doesn’t experience shifts as they are constantly in a stable state of both.
Sun Therianthropy: Similar to contherianthropy, only instead of being constantly half shifted, the base instincts and behaviors of the theriotype are ingrained into the individual’s personality, and small amounts of shifting is experienced.
Theriomythic: A person who believes that they are, in part or whole (non-physically) one or more mythical type creatures, such as dragons, griffons etc. It usually describes a more animalistic side of the being, aka having a dragon be more like a wild animal than a magical all-knowing one.
Awakening: The process of realizing and accepting that you are a therian or otherkin, and then discovering your therio/kintype. Not everyone experiences an awakening.
Theriotype: What a therian identifies as being on a spiritual and personal level. A therian may identify as one or more animals as their theriotype. E.g. a therian may have a wolf theriotype, meaning they identify as a wolf.
Kintype: What an otherkin identifies as E.g. Dragonkin means identifying as a dragon, wolfkin as a wolf.
Kin: Shortened form of Otherkin, not a verb. You can’t ‘kin’ something, and ‘kinning’ isn’t a thing. “My kin/theriotype is (x)”, or “I am (x) kin” are correct ways of phrasing it. “I otherkin across the street” makes no sense.
Kind: The former way of identifying ones kintypes, ex. Dragonkind, dogkind, etc.
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System: A body in which two or more minds, alters, fragments or other conscious beings reside. Also called Plural or plurality.
Headmate: A being residing within someone’s mind, capable of their own thought, feelings and desires. This can appear through trauma, tulpamancy and spiritual origins.
Fictive: A system-mate/headmate/alter that is a fictional character or species (E.g. Sonic the Hedgehog or a Chao.)
Tulpa/Tulpamancy: A headmate made by will and preservation, not by trauma or spiritual reasonings. A being bought into consciousness by the mind itself.
Soulbond: A contact that has been established through the mind to another being, enabling the two or more to communicate. Usually across universes/dimensions.
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Fluff: A term usually used to describe people who are trying to make their experiences seem bigger than they actually are to make themselves seem more important. This is also used commonly to describe Tumblrkin. Usually used as a derogatory term.
Kinnie: Used derogatorily toward younger members of the Alterhuman community. Used on Tumblr as a synonym to Otherkin.
Kinfirm: To confirm a kintype as what you identify as. Usually used by trolls or anti-kin online, as well as people from Tumblr, though it is becoming more commonly accepted.
Tumblrkin: A person usually from Tumblr who has done no research on otherkinity, and claims to be kin just for the ‘aesthetic’, to jump on the bandwagon, or otherwise. They usually have kintype lists of 100+ and the term is used derogatorily.
Species Dysphoria: The experience of dysphoria (discomfort, depression, anxiety or similar based around one’s self) associated with the feeling that one’s body is of the wrong species. Not all therians and otherkin experience this.
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Shifting: Feeling, sensing and/or having experience that one attributes to their non-human identity for a period of time. Not all nonhumans experience shifts.
– Astral Shifting refers to when someone has an out of body experience and travels to another realm or spiritual plane as their kintype.
– Aura Shifting is when the auric or energy field around someone’s body changes to that of their kintype.
– Berserker/Feral Shifting causes the individual to act more like their kintype. In many cases, the individuals report a total loss or near total loss of human-self-awareness. If the experience is frequent, it is recommended that you report to a local psychiatrist.
– Cameo Shifting is when a person experiences a shift of a being different than their identified species.
– Dream Shifting is when someone dreams of being their kintype.
– Mental Shifting is when someone has an altered state of consciousness in which they begin to think they are their species. This can range from only behavioural changes to losing the ability to comprehend language during the shift.
– Phantom Shifting refers to Supernumerary Phantom Limbs, where the person experiences limbs, (Tails, extra arms, wings, etc.) characteristics (Fur, feathers, horns, etc.) or sometimes a complete body of their kintype overlaying their physical, human one.
– Sensory Shifting is when the brain tries to perceive regular senses in a way that fits their kintype, causing the senses to feel stronger or duller. Species who have senses humans don’t have may experience a sort of phantom or ghost copy of what they may feel from those senses.
– Spiritual Shifting is when one’s astral body or spiritual self changes into that of the individual’s kintype.
– Voluntary Shifting is when a person consciously makes themselves shift, through music, meditation, sensations or else.
– Involuntary Shifting is when a person spontaneously shifts, sometimes due to stimuli such as emotions (fear and anger are common) or other sensations.
📎 Paper clips – Paper clips are made of steel, which is mostly iron, so it can be used as a substitute for iron or iron shavings. Cut one up and put it in a protection powder. Or, you can bend it into a shape (like a sigil) for a simple window protection spell. Paper clips are known for their elasticity and tension, making them great for change spells, friendship spells, or even curses. They can also connect certain things, or make chains. On a practical note, paper clips can be bent into mini candle holders.
💌 Tape – Tape can obviously be used for bindings. It can also be used for invisibility spells or glamors, if you cover a certain word or object with tape. Using tape on a poppet may help protection or healing, but only for a little while.
✏️ Pencils/Pens – These uses change based on color. However, all of them can be used as wands, or to amplify a spell. You may bless or enhance a pen by washing it with a soap or tea, or cleansing it in incense smoke.
📑 Staples – Also made of steel, staples can be used for wards and bindings. Any spell involving pain can include staples. When you staple, you instill pain; when you remove a staple, you heal. They can also connect certain things, and are good for knowledge or love spells.
📌 Thumbtacks – These are great for protection jars, banishing spirits and, of course, curses. To see through certain situations, you may use a thumbtack to poke through a paper or bag, representing clarity. However, be aware that clarity obtained this way may not come pleasantly.
📝 Sticky notes – Sticky notes have more flexibility than regular paper, in that you can attach them. Use sticky notes for sigils on the go, or stick several sheets of sticky notes together in order to represent layers. If you would like to expand your knowledge, reveal a secret, or even divine, you can write on the top sticky note with a colored pen that matches the intent. Then place a drop of essential oil or moon water on the top note, and see what shapes it forms in the bottom notes.
✒️ Highlighters – Highlighters can be used similarly to pens. They also add extra light and glow to a design, which amplifies a spell’s power.
🔗 Rubber bands – You’ve probably used rubber bands before to wrap up baggies and such. In magic, they can represent tension, flexibility, binding, or releasing emotions. Stretch a rubber band between two poppets (or other symbols of people, like apples) to represent tension between two persons. In the same way, you can also use rubber bands for love, passion and lust spells.
✉️ Envelopes – Envelopes represent anything that encompasses, compresses, or confuses a person. Open envelops or write inside of them for inner clarity. Seal the envelope for anything you want to forget, trap, or hide. You can also use envelopes to hold herbs as a discreet form of witchcraft.
❌ Erasers – Obviously, erasers can help banish or hide things. They also work for invisibility spells, and release a ton of energy through friction. You may want to consider writing a sigil on an eraser, and then erasing it until the sigil wears off.
✂️ Scissors – Scissors can act as a magical knife for those who do not yet have one. Scissors can disconnect and cut off regrets, guilt, persons or memories. Scissors can also be used to carve into candles.
📏 Rulers – If you’re into number magic, a ruler is the tool for you. Imagine drawing a symbol in the exact dimensions of a number that corresponds to your intent!
A tea spell for protection against evil, inspired by Samhain -💌
Collect: a mug, chai tea (or another black tea with cinnamon), pine needles (optional), an orange, maple syrup, obsidian and smoky quartz (or other crystals you associate with protection)
Take your mug and put in your tea bag
Take pine needles and use a loose leaf tea infuser, or in my case a coffee filter, and put that in the mug as well
Squeeze a bit of fresh orange juice into your mug
Fill up the mug with hot water and let it steep for about 5 minutes
Take a spoonful of maple syrup (the real stuff, not pancake syrup) and stir it in, clockwise to bring protection and counterclockwise to dispel negative energy
Charge your tea with your protection crystal(s) of choice (here’s how)
Sit down with your tea
Put your hands around the mug and feel the warmth traveling from your hands to the rest of your body
As you’re drinking the tea slowly, imagine it creating an energy shield around you, protecting you from negativity
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