I mostly view it from the psychological perspective, tying my 'types into neurodivergent traits (ex. animatronic due to muted emotions from autism, corvids/other birds due to imprinting, dragons related to being strong after trauma, etc.)

However, there are certain 'types that have a bit more behind them.

My Resplendent Quetzal and Golden Eagle 'types feel deeply ingrained within my being, which I relate to my heritage (Mexican)

The Resplendent Quetzal is a shy bird that lives in southern Mexico (not exactly where my family is from, but close enough) and the Golden Eagle is the literal symbol/national bird of Mexico. It's even on the flag:



Hopefully that image loaded. If it didn't, literally just google "mexican flag".

Anyway, even the Golden Eagle's name in Spanish (Águila Real) feels central to my connection with it. It's a symbol, both for myself and the country of my heritage.

I always felt like I didn't fit in. Sure, with human society in general, but most importantly (to me) with my own blood relatives. I could see similarity and cohesion between my mother, father, and sister that I simply did not share. This feeling was probably my earliest expression of feeling non-human. The more I tried to fit in, the more I stood out. It reflected most in social interactions where I was "not like the others." And my only other means to cope was to escape or otherwise distance myself which led to further isolation. I'm not sure what seeded the initial feeling. But I'd say this component was psychological (nurture).

As far as my type, I'd always had a connection to wolves. It was intrinsic and otherworldly. I never had a thought of "oh this is a cool creature" nor was I exposed to any information about wolves before my fascination started. I am reminded of stories my parents would tell of how I'd be captivated for hours by wolf imagery when I was very young (younger than 6). As I grew older I began collecting such imagery, attempting to surround myself with wolves. I think still through my 20's and early 30's it felt like I just really liked wolves, and I thought nothing else of it.

In my early-mid 30's I started actively incorporating this into my public identity, via a legal name change, and declarative association (a common theme in the gay community where being called a "bear" or "otter" was once based on physical traits, now more of an identity, I insisted that I am a wolf). But as I've grown closer to wolf and look back at my life through the lens of acquired wisdom, I realize I wasn't just collecting trinkets; I was surrounding myself with animals I identified with. I'd call this component spiritual (nature).

I never had a self-discovery period. I've always felt I was just me. I was born awkwardly. I never needed to discover my therian identity, it was always expressed in some way whether I was paying attention or not.

So I guess my origin story is:
I was born feeling I don't fit in with the humans around me.

What makes me believe that I am a therian:
This mixed human/wolf identity is who I have always been.

I’m of two minds about why I’m a therian, spiritual and psychological.

I’m a heathen, and my spiritual theory is rooted in the concept of the multi-part soul. I believe that one of the components of my soul is that of lynx. Whether that means it was part of a lynx before it was part of me, or was “made” for a lynx or is just lynx-shaped, I don’t know. It may also be either rooted in or the cause of my connection to Freya, since she’s often associated with felines.

My psychological theory, which I honestly think is more likely, is that it’s rooted in my AuDHD and social anxiety, and consequent relative isolation or at least insulation from humans. I do still identify as partly human, I just don’t get along with or understand most of them. Anyway, I think that could be the root of my animality, although why a Canada lynx specifically is beyond me. I love cats now, but I was not a fan as a child. I had a bad experience with a cat when I was 5 or 6 (my fault) and was wary of them until I met my now-wife. The only reasonable justification I can think of is that maybe I just felt like an animal, and being specifically a Canada lynx was ex post facto because of how closely my personality, behaviors, and instincts align with them. I’m not sure though, for a few reasons. First, Canada lynx wouldn’t have been my first or even fifth choice, even subconsciously I believe. I even had a bit of difficulty admitting it to myself. I held on to some other potential theriotypes for far longer than I should have for honestly petty reasons, in the face of convincing evidence. When I eventually read about bobcats and Eurasian lynxes I felt a connection or kinship with them, but when I read about the Canada lynx (which I hadn’t even known existed prior) I felt something way stronger, culminating in a full mental shift. And yet it still took quite a while for me to admit it to myself. I’m sure there’s a reasonable psychological explanation for identifying as an animal that I was previously unaware of and would have preferred to not be, but I’m not aware of it.

As a side note, I have made peace with being a Canada lynx. I don’t wish to be a different animal anymore.

I think I remember you mentioning this theory in one of your videos so it has definitely informed my own. One of the theories I have about my therianthropy is quite similar to yours.

I believe that my soul is living a life as a service dog and a life as a human collage student (this life) both of which are taking place in different universes or dimensions. (I may also be living a life as a mother wolf too but I haven’t confirmed that yet). I experience shifts and “memories” because, while I am the part of my soul that is living a human life, I am deeply connected to the part of my soul living a dog life (because it is also me). Because of the relativity of time, my human and dog life started at the same time and will end at the same time. When I die, my soul will be made whole again and I will have gained the lessons, knowledge, and growth from those two lives.

I don’t think there are infinite versions of me because, in this context, I define “me” as my soul. I only believe my soul has been split into my life and my theriotypes’ life/lives. I’m not even sure if “split” is the right word though because it feels like my whole soul if living a human life and my whole soul is living a dog life. Idk if that makes sense and I could just making up spiritual fan fiction but that’s what I believe right now. :3

I do agree there is no one way to explain therianthropy. my reason would be a mix is me be neurodivergent and acting like an animal also not fitting in anywhere. I do think I was born a fox therian and the rest of my kintypes came later. I have never felt human so why would I say I am? for me it has nothing to do with Spiritual anything because thats not a thing I believe in. that's not to say those who are arent valid (they are valid 100%). my other theriotypes came from imprinting and the way I act and think. that's my take

My therianthropy developed over my life. While I think I’ve always been a dog at some level, I didn’t identify as a dog when I was younger. I related to them and had certain canine-like traits (chewing, denning, collars/leashes/kennels bringing comfort), but I didn’t think “I’m a dog” in my brain. It wasn’t until high school that I began to really feel like a dog and have obvious canine traits (barking, growling, territorial and protective).

I have two theories to why this identity developed. One is spiritual and one is psychological.

1. I think my therianthropy could come from another live I did live or am currently living as a dog. I think I may have had a past life as a dog (I like to believe I was a service dog) or my soul is living both her life as a human in this dimension and a life as a (service) dog in a different dimension. I feel like I was/am a service dog for a girl. Idk what I do for her but I know it’s important and that I love her. I don’t miss her or my dog life per se, they just feel distant. This makes me lean towards the different dimension theory because it’s hard to miss something you are currently experiencing. Idk tho. I like the idea of reincarnation and my soul living different lives because what better way is there to learn and grow? :3

2. Another explanation of my therianthropy is that it developed as I began to feel more and more different from my peers due to my autism. I’m not exactly sure why my brain decided to show dog behaviors as a result of this though. I’ve noticed that a significant amount of therians are neurodivergent and that can’t be a coincidence. An explanation of my memories and feelings about my life as a service dog is that they are things my brain came up with due to thinking excessively about my dog identity. This theory is a little less convincing but it’s always possible that all of this is just happening inside my head.

I believe both of these theories to an extent but I don’t know if I’ll ever find out the whole “truth”. I don’t know why my autistic brain would choose to identify as a dog of all things. I don’t know why I can only remember my dog life and not other lives I’ve possibly had.

It’s also worth mentioning that the more I accept myself, the more that is revealed to me about my identity. I repressed my identity as a dog for a long time and I experienced my first phantom shift on the cusp of me finally accepting that identity. It’s like opening the door to my canine identity opened other doors for me as well. Those will open when I am ready to receive what’s inside.

I have never felt human I any way thats from being a alterhuman and autistic. I am a atheist (altho I do not believe in past live those who have them are valid to me and infact, have past lives) so my therintropy 100% is from being autistic I am mentally a fox becuse of this.
I was born a red fox I gained the winged/antlers later always are forever but my other kin types are different I became a winged Vancouver coastal sea wolf when I was younger I know this because of a documentary I whatched when I was very young adout them and was always interested in them but me being a snow leopard came later about mid middle school I thing but I don't know why problem beinf seen by others as something less than human so I was just dehumanzed more. human are mean sometimes I wish I could just not talk to most of them like the ones who pull my tail or bark at me.
so that's my reason bye (comments are wanted I want to know what other beings think of this)

Oh no, you misunderstood!

No one is angry or offended, I just want people to think critically and from as many angles as possible. I didn't quite get that from your previous wording but now that you clarified, it makes more sense and I like your thinking a lot more.

Quote:And for your questions about why a specific life would stay with someone over other ones, those are valid questions, and i have to be honest that i dont know. In the original post, i said something along the lines of (sorry if this isnt exact, im writing this in messages bc i have screentime on my browser), but i said like “ik this isnt s very developed theory”, and im sorry o dot havet aswers to every question.

I do encourage you to develop your theory further, these questions should be of help. We all have our own understanding and beliefs and I do like learning what other people are thinking even if I personally disagree. As I said, there are no wrong answers because we can't prove or disprove anything. We just have to think about everything as a whole.

I've always been fascinated with the metaphysical despite holding firm on skepticism. I even have my own thoughts about it, but engaging with other people's ideas is still enriching.

@Observer

Thanks for replying to that.

I want to say that i wasn’t trying to present my idea as a universal truth for thrianthropy. I meant it as a personal belief, and i wanted to know other critter’s thoughts on it.. i didn’t mean to that offend anyone by saying that everyone has non-human past lives, im sorry tht i made you angry.

And for your questions about why a specific life would stay with someone over other ones, those are valid questions, and i have to be honest that i dont know. In the original post, i said something along the lines of (sorry if this isnt exact, im writing this in messages bc i have screentime on my browser), but i said like “ik this isnt s very developed theory”, and im sorry o dot havet aswers to every question.

Its (my theory) not meant to be a complete explanation, just a theory I’ve been exploring (as in, a potential reason for some critters, not for all. Im sorry if i came across as trying to make a universal explaination). It will be incompatible with for some critter’s beliefs, and other’s theorys will be incompatible with mine, and if there is a single universal explanation for alterhumanity (which there most likely isnt), then this will almost certaintly not be it (almost, because almost anything is possible). Maybe its because certain ones leave stronger impressions, or that some are easier for the mind to access, or something else entirely. I dont know, honestly. (/no offence meant)

I respect everyones viewpoints, and I’m not trying to say any one (viewpoint, theory, belief, or anything) is better than the others, or more correct, or anything. Im not tryimg to say that any theory is universal or say anyone else’s beliefs are incorrect. I just like talking about ideas (even if they’re wrong, which mine almost all are /half joke)and i also like hearing how others understand their experiences, and finding out other, new, unique viewpoints.

Im sorry i made you angry by posting this theory and responding that way, i didnt mean to. I am really sorry, and if you want me to delete the thread/ edit it in any way then i will. Again, i am sorry i offended you / made you angry.

Alos, aorry if i misunderstood something again