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  RE: What does ‘ doing research ‘ mean to you ?
Posted in: Introduction to Therianthropy Posted by: Abelioscruxthymn - 2026-06-30 4:05

With Therianthropy, "research" to me takes one of two forms:

1. Internal. This is me reflecting on my own experiences, trying to determine causes, effects, and patterns between the two. I have struggled with this category most because it is hard to remove innate biases and blind spots ... yet I'm the only one who can truly know how I feel, dreamt, or thought. Doing my best to describe these self-truths to others can fall short of first-hand experience.

2. External. Unlike what many others have said on this thread, this is not me doing research on an animal or its mythology. In fact, I feel engrossing myself in such topics under the guise of "Therian research" may produce a false positive - for example, researching elk for 10 hours per week may lead me to see myself as an elk more and lead to a frequency of self-elk thinking. Instead, it is me learning about others' experiences ... and sharing my own. The latter crystalizes the authenticity of what did - and did not - happen with my experiences, and the former helps me understand what in the lexicon of Therianthropy others (and myself) have experienced - shifts, awakenings, etc.

As I said in my introduction post, I am looking for what is truly me, not to steer the needle toward any particular direction. My undergraduate degree is in math, so I have a strong disposition toward accepting the fewest assumptions to reach a conclusion. This is a challenge for me in this realm of psychological/spiritual introspection where my own inherently subjective view must be the final arbiter of truth for myself.

That said, from what I've read so far, I believe Therian Guide is just what I needed to support the research I'm doing. Thank you in advance for being helpers in the lab.


  RE: Your opinions on microlabels?
Posted in: Introduction to Therianthropy Posted by: FogLikesFeathers14 - 2026-06-26 12:50

Wooooooaahhhggggg, well, for me at least, Microlabels are fun and almost down to the point on certain experience, but as far as finding people similar and feeling validated it may be hard. My experience especially when trying to explain to multiple people the term 'genderfaun' (Genderfluid but not ever Female/Femme). Therian wise, i have an entire document in a pack doc i use to communicate w/ my pack that explains microlabels and the more 'umbrela terms'. Its alot to be simple about it.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: aspen-woof - 2026-06-21 11:01

Ok thank you.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: Greenleaf8 - 2026-06-21 9:43

(2026-06-20 23:09)aspen-woof Wrote:  I would rather my Hidden was referred to as Hidden.
Not a god, not a force, not a being, not an entity - just Hidden.
It’s my theory, my opinion and I refer to them as the Hidden.


Heyaa.
I know this thread is better left said and done, but I was just wondering? What does it mean for you to have a theory?
If it only exists for you, can it still count as a theory? Putting it out there is amazing, but is this just a thought that stands true for yourself only? If it is meant to only work for yourself, then I can understand why you phrase it so defensively witb 'my' Hidden. When others ask you these questions, they don't mean it as an attack necessarily, but rather a 'stress testing' of how far you've thought out your theory and where gaps exist, something that happens to every theory around.
So I definitely consider this quite an interesting thought, but as you may have noticed, and as others have already mentioned, a theory that counts for a greater majority takes a lot of thought and consideration of all the currently existing gaps. Take this theory and these responses and integrate and update your theory, or let it be, and shut your doors to further development.

Just a little advice Smile
Greenleaf


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: aspen-woof - 2026-06-21 8:53

Ok, I will try to do that.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: Neon Rosettes - 2026-06-21 6:12

If you haven't started a journal here, you could do so and use it as a space to formulate your thoughts if it would help? Unless you specify no replies in your journal, people would have the option to weigh in but would be less likely to, so you could use it as a space to explore some of your thoughts on what makes sense for your therianthropy, and as a bonus, would have record of it over time so you could see how it develops.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: aspen-woof - 2026-06-20 23:09

I would rather my Hidden was referred to as Hidden.
Not a god, not a force, not a being, not an entity - just Hidden.
It’s my theory, my opinion and I refer to them as the Hidden.

Ok


(2026-06-20 23:08)FlamingPhoenix Wrote:  Aspen, if you're going to propose a theory for something like therianthropy, at least think it over instead of making it up as you go, and if you ARE going to fabricate everything you're saying, make it clear that that's what you're doing.

This is a forum for therianthropy, not a fanfic posting site.


I know that. I never said that it was a fanfic posting site.

Fine, I give up - you’re right and I’m wrong.
My theory’s not good enough as it’s considered a fanfic posting site-worthy.

When have I said I haven’t thought it over? I said the idea came into my head but I don’t just press send without reading it thro and thinking it thro.
It worked in my brain, sorry it didn’t work for urs.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: FlamingPhoenix - 2026-06-20 23:08

Aspen, if you're going to propose a theory for something like therianthropy, at least think it over instead of making it up as you go, and if you ARE going to fabricate everything you're saying, make it clear that that's what you're doing.

This is a forum for therianthropy, not a fanfic posting site.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: LemLem - 2026-06-20 23:00

(2026-06-20 22:36)aspen-woof Wrote:  God is a god - He is an all-powerful, all-knowing being.
The Hidden isn’t a god: they aren’t worshipped and believed in around the world.

[...]

*also the Hidden isn’t a being - the Hidden is the Hidden.
You don’t call the Hidden an entity or a being - you call it the Hidden


An entity/being is an umbrella term for a conscious existence. Perhaps your Hidden would be better referred to as a force, wouldn't it be for your insistence that he's a sentient something that takes purposeful actions.

A God is generally a term for highly powerful beings, regardless of how present their worship is in the current world. The Christian god is no more or less a God than Thor, Dana, or Cernunnos.

Also, I want to be transparent that I'm challenging you as much as everyone else in this thread, my questions are posed to question your proposed logistics, not entertain them.


  RE: why I think ppl are therians
Posted in: Explanations of Therianthropy Posted by: aspen-woof - 2026-06-20 23:00

Ok sorry.

I also don’t understand what you mean by “ It comes off as bad taste to post such a broad theory and assert it as truth without deep thought”. Could you explain that for me please?

I’m sorry that my replies have come across as defensive - I was being told I was copying/rebranding the whole “God did it” theory and that it was holey, and yes as someone new to the community I am going to be excited as you put it by the concept of the forums and maybe a bit more sensitive to criticism.

Sorry



 
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