(2024-01-06 15:25)WolfThing Wrote:  

(2024-01-06 10:38)Siris Wrote:  As with everything, in good moderation I agree. Shifter's disease isn't a new concept though and has been an observed phenomena for a long while now. And while I will say yes, meditating into a shifted state is useful that's not what this is about. It has more to do with forcing or tricking yourself into feeling something (not always intentionally) and thus misleading yourself. The point here is be critical of yourself and take the time to think and study yourself through. Really this is less for the benefit of those of us who have been around for a while and more for the younger members who may feel they have to fit into what ever mold they precieve and wanting to try something out is all fine and good but I think we can all agree delusion will only lead to bigger problems later.

Oh don't get me wrong I get it. But there are also people who may feel there is a stigma for even wanting to shift intentionally or having spiritual ties to their shifting. My 2 cents is for those young ones who may feel alinated in that way and hey...any adult who feels that way too.

On maintaining balance, we are in total agreement.

Certainly more than fair.

(2024-01-06 23:48)WolfThing Wrote:  @B3W1tch3dSparr0w

My intention was not to put words in your mouth at all. Just sharing my thoughts on the content. All good here, and I do understand being concerned with false experiences. I just stand at the ready to defend spiritual therianrhropy and the notion that we can gain control of our experiences....even though no one asked me to ?. I'm just a voice of many voices on here to choose from. I have no issue with you.

Alright, just wasn't too sure with how you stood for yourself. I am also a spiritual therian.

@B3W1tch3dSparr0w

My intention was not to put words in your mouth at all. Just sharing my thoughts on the content. All good here, and I do understand being concerned with false experiences. I just stand at the ready to defend spiritual therianrhropy and the notion that we can gain control of our experiences....even though no one asked me to ?. I'm just a voice of many voices on here to choose from. I have no issue with you.

Thanks!! (To be honest for some reason this thread wouldn’t delete and I did repost the same thing with a different title and in a certain area but thank you for replying still)

Is it possible you're just more expressive and lean towards your kintypes traits when shifted?

A dual soul, imo, means that you feel an entity/individual aside from yourself despite having the same body.
You said you feel like a human and wolf at the same time so I'm not sure if that is the right wording for your experience. You may be just expressing your therian side more. Your personality will be your personality throughout lives unless trauma is related *or* you really do feel something like an alter or tulpa (which again is separate from yourself).

It's not too common around here, but we've had folks who are in systems or who feel like they have a resident/walk in soul type of experience going on (as my experience, somewhat).

(2024-01-06 7:39)WolfThing Wrote:  Interesting topic. I don't agree, but it's certainly interesting. I practice intentional shifting as a form of meditation for various reasons. As beings with cognitive function, I think it's only natural we experience life through our identities. When we begin to lose touch with reality and do things that are outright harmful to ourselves and others, then that's a problem obviously.

There's this anti-coping thing that I don't really get, seems misguided. If you are living you are doing things to cope with whatever else. Some coping mechs are maladaptive, some are beneficial mechinsims that not only hold a deep meaning to the practioner but also are helping that person feel happier, healthier, and whole.

I have random involuntary shifts, I found emotional and mental benefit to inducing it through meditation and undergoing my own self study. Don't see how an experience becomes false because you trained or induced it either. In fact they are often more intense and tangible having a greater impact.

Frankly I don't understand how delving into the nature of these experiences isn't encouraged. How do you grow up, becoome balanced and know yourself at a deeper level? Been doing this for 16 years and am still alive and sane because of it. In my unsolicited opinion...many get on the "I'm so smart and realistic" bandwagon at the expense of their right to unabated personal exploration.

Thankfully I've come to learn it's ok, everybody's different. Just can't grasp strange attitudes like this. I say if you want to experience your shifts, DO IT! Try it if you want, explore for yourself. The baseless psycho analyzing is just noise.

Despite our disagreeance, I am glad you are able to give your opinion. It means a lot to me! Otherwise, this thread is mainly targeted towards young Therians who just first discovered they may be Therian, or haven't discovered their theriotype yet. I'm worried about the false experiences that could run rampant at first, because we tend to see what we want to see. That is pretty much all I'm saying. Also, I find you're putting words in my mouth a little by insisting you're alive and sane... While I understand the term "shifters disease" sounds absolutely awful, I wasn't the one that coined the term, I was simply here to explain the term someone else had made. When I write the explaination, I am not saying anyone here, with or without this, is insane or near death. I could be overanalyzing, and it doesn't help you don't know me, but I'd never go that far.

Edit: I thought I should mention, I am someone that does do intentional shifting, but it isn't because I don't know my theriotypes which is my main concern; I know mine, and inducing shifts do also help me.

Hi! Wolfy here, recently for Christmas I did get some therian gear like paw socks & gloves, masks, and a pair of black wolf ears. I’ve been starting to accept an alterhuman identity more and more instead of it being a heart-type, I feel like a black wolf, but a human at the same time, yet also I’m wondering if therians can just also have a human personality other than their kin type (I don’t mean this in a rude way at all) I’ve even been dealing with some species dysphoria so that’s not too fun, though I have found comfort around it. I’m just wondering so if anyone could help me I’d really appreciate that -Wolfy

(2024-01-06 10:38)Siris Wrote:  As with everything, in good moderation I agree. Shifter's disease isn't a new concept though and has been an observed phenomena for a long while now. And while I will say yes, meditating into a shifted state is useful that's not what this is about. It has more to do with forcing or tricking yourself into feeling something (not always intentionally) and thus misleading yourself. The point here is be critical of yourself and take the time to think and study yourself through. Really this is less for the benefit of those of us who have been around for a while and more for the younger members who may feel they have to fit into what ever mold they precieve and wanting to try something out is all fine and good but I think we can all agree delusion will only lead to bigger problems later.

Oh don't get me wrong I get it. But there are also people who may feel there is a stigma for even wanting to shift intentionally or having spiritual ties to their shifting. My 2 cents is for those young ones who may feel alinated in that way and hey...any adult who feels that way too.

On maintaining balance, we are in total agreement.

(2024-01-06 7:39)WolfThing Wrote:  Interesting topic. I don't agree, but it's certainly interesting. I practice intentional shifting as a form of meditation for various reasons. As beings with cognitive function, I think it's only natural we experience life through our identities. When we begin to lose touch with reality and do things that are outright harmful to ourselves and others, then that's a problem obviously.

There's this anti-coping thing that I don't really get, seems misguided. If you are living you are doing things to cope with whatever else. Some coping mechs are maladaptive, some are beneficial mechinsims that not only hold a deep meaning to the practioner but also are helping that person feel happier, healthier, and whole.

I have random involuntary shifts, I found emotional and mental benefit to inducing it through meditation and undergoing my own self study. Don't see how an experience becomes false because you trained or induced it either. In fact they are often more intense and tangible having a greater impact.

Frankly I don't understand how delving into the nature of these experiences isn't encouraged. How do you grow up, becoome balanced and know yourself at a deeper level? Been doing this for 16 years and am still alive and sane because of it. In my unsolicited opinion...many get on the "I'm so smart and realistic" bandwagon at the expense of their right to unabated personal exploration.

Thankfully I've come to learn it's ok, everybody's different. Just can't grasp strange attitudes like this. I say if you want to experience your shifts, DO IT! Try it if you want, explore for yourself. The baseless psycho analyzing is just noise.

As with everything, in good moderation I agree. Shifter's disease isn't a new concept though and has been an observed phenomena for a long while now. And while I will say yes, meditating into a shifted state is useful that's not what this is about. It has more to do with forcing or tricking yourself into feeling something (not always intentionally) and thus misleading yourself. The point here is be critical of yourself and take the time to think and study yourself through. Really this is less for the benefit of those of us who have been around for a while and more for the younger members who may feel they have to fit into what ever mold they precieve and wanting to try something out is all fine and good but I think we can all agree delusion will only lead to bigger problems later.

(2024-01-06 5:01)ViaraAmethyst Wrote:  

(2024-01-06 4:49)Siris Wrote:  There's a study that actually shows that to be false. While it certainly does exist in the fandom that is true of all online fandoms, pups just need to be careful no mater where they are. Truth is there is no actual higher rate of any crimes in the furry fandom then there is in the general public, infact it has been proven to be imperically lower on average. The relevent studdy which is backed by several universities and funded by canadian government grants is located here if you would like to read: Furscience

As for the hate of the Therian community I would say it is a very very small group that actively hates the Therian community, mostly hold outs from the burned furs group which ran rampant in the late 90's and early 00's by and large teh community has warmed to the therian community and many conventions even host therian specific panels and you will often find many therian items for sale at the dealer dens. Be careful not to let a loud vocal few speak for the majority.

I totally understand where you're coming from and totally appreciate the scientific outlook on the situation,
However the experience that i have had over the course of more than 10 years in the fandom and 9 years of doing furry commission work is... rather significantly contradictory to.. everything you just said lol.

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(2024-01-06 5:01)ViaraAmethyst Wrote:  

(2024-01-06 4:49)Siris Wrote:  There's a study that actually shows that to be false. While it certainly does exist in the fandom that is true of all online fandoms, pups just need to be careful no mater where they are. Truth is there is no actual higher rate of any crimes in the furry fandom then there is in the general public, infact it has been proven to be imperically lower on average. The relevent studdy which is backed by several universities and funded by canadian government grants is located here if you would like to read: Furscience

As for the hate of the Therian community I would say it is a very very small group that actively hates the Therian community, mostly hold outs from the burned furs group which ran rampant in the late 90's and early 00's by and large teh community has warmed to the therian community and many conventions even host therian specific panels and you will often find many therian items for sale at the dealer dens. Be careful not to let a loud vocal few speak for the majority.

I totally understand where you're coming from and totally appreciate the scientific outlook on the situation,
However the experience that i have had over the course of more than 10 years in the fandom and 9 years of doing furry commission work is... rather significantly contradictory to.. everything you just said lol.

I would absolutely love to discuss this more, however i dont want this thread to become more about furries than about the primary point of the guide. So you can totally shoot me a dm in discord or @ me in one of the chats

I'm not discounting your expirence and I'm no stranger to the fandom myself after my own 25 years but I do have to set the record straight that expirence or not the imperical study numbers do not align with your expirence and while you and I both have a sample size of 1 neither of us can outweigh the sample size of litteral thousands going back over a decade of study and we owe it to ourselves to be sure we are being accurate here so as to not perpetuate the very issue you are claiming to be encountering.