Totems, Animal Spirits, Tulpas, Daemons, etc. may seem similar, but they’re actually different concepts. The below was mostly taken from my TG interview on Therian Talks.

Totems and animal spirits are the most similar in that a totem is a representative of a species as a whole. Animal spirits, similarly, are individual representatives of that totem. So, you could have Dog the totem (capitalized ‘D’) and then perhaps work specifically with a beagle, as a representative of Dog. Or you could simply work with the idea of ‘dog’ and what that means to you; things like loyalty, obedience and silliness can be associated with dogs as spirit guides.

Both totems and animal spirits fall under the category of Animism.

Similarly, a shadow totem embodies something you fear, or is actually an animal you fear or dislike strongly. Common shadow totems for many people would be things like bugs and spiders, snakes or sharks.

A Tulpa is intentionally creating a mental construct. Sort of like inventing a conscious persona that you can talk to in your head. It’s my understanding that tulpas are like an imaginary friend: you talk to them, bounce ideas off of them, ask for advice, etc. within your own mind. It’s not a separate entity, but rather an extension of your own consciousness.

Daemons are like tulpas in that you intentionally create a useful thoughtform to work through ideas or problems with. Daemons were made famous though as being external entities, like totems, in Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials where they appeared as an animal, alongside their human counterparts. Totems and daemons are not the same thing though.

Tulpas and daemons are internal mental constructs, whereas totems and animal spirit guides are external entities.

Also, depending on who you ask, you can have either one totem for life, or you can have more than one that can change depending on where your life’s journey takes you. I tend to believe that totems come into your life to teach you a lesson, unless you reach out to them first.

Finally, totems, animal spirits, tulpas, daemons, etc. are not the same thing as therianthropy. Therianthropy is what you are, inside. Whereas totems are external forces that are independent from you and your identity. Many therians have totems that are completely different species than what they identify as so if you’ve found and worked with totems, that doesn’t automatically mean you are that same species. However, there are some therians who do work with the same species as their animal guide. But it’s not necessary for the two groups to be the same.

If you’re new to the idea of therianthropy and have yet to figure out what animal you are, it can be helpful to reach out to a totem or animal spirit directly to try to learn more about yourself. However, meditation takes practice and to get the most honest answer it’s recommended you repeat the process many times before coming to any one conclusion.

And as a warning, take what you learn in meditation or in working with a totem and animal spirit with a grain of salt. You need to make sure to do research into the species itself and pay attention to your own habits and behaviors before coming to any absolute conclusions. Identity is a learning process and it takes time!

I have an "animal name" but it's not like a name for my kintypes. As a therian/otherkin, I go by Flash. Neither my theriotype or kintype are named and they probably won't be, I also don't understand naming them as they should be you, or at least a part of you, not something else entirely enough to have its own name. Although some beliefs don't match up with that and that is perfectly fine, in my experience, I don't think therio/kintypes should be named unless for a special reason they already had a name. I personally don't feel separated enough from my vulture or drake for them to ave their own name as I am them, we are one.

I use my drake as a name which is a whole entire other thing, I like using the word drake as a name online and that helps decipher me from others, it's like a nickname for me. It's more the opposite of what we are talking about but if anyone is interested, what are your thoughts on using your therio/kintype as a name for yourself?

I feel like *if* my wolf self has her own name, it's probably just like... a growl, or something. Wolves don't give each other names like Shadow or Luna. Nothing wrong with calling yourself something like that, but that's something you as a human are assigning to your theriotype.

In my own, meandering experience, not everyone is so well integrated that their theriotype feels as if it is them. Some folks experience their therianthropy in a way that leads to them feeling it is somewhat split. Not separate, exactly, but more of a "side". A different version of themselves, where the mix of aspects is different. It usually isn't an entirely different personality, but for some folks the change is so dramatic that it feels that way. Some folks will compare it to like the balance knob on a stereo, or the hot and cold taps of a faucet.

Many groups run folks like that off, calling them fluff, or telling them they belong in some other community. Our shared animality is the important thing, and the level of mixing between their theriotype and their human personality isn't really so critical.

I do find it strange that there are folks which will name their theriotype, and suspect that it is an indicator that they may be experiencing something else, but it isn't a guarantee. So, I tend to give them time to understand their experiences in the context of the community, first.

Well... When I shift, I really feel like I don't have a name. I believe canines identify each other mainly by their senses (for example, the sense of smell), so I think I get that mindset too when I shift. In those moments, I even tend to not recognize my own human name, even though I know it's mine.

Personally, I believe that naming my theriotype makes perfect sense. When I’m not shifted, I feel like my human self. But when I’m shifted I feel different, like I need to shake off my human identity.

dividing yourself us is never a good idea. however, is it possible that the idea of finding a name is mixed up with the spiritual and religious practice? taking a new name as you grow and develop. just an idea.

I am not against naming kintypes, because I cannot stop anyone from naming them and making them seperate from themselves. I disagree with naming kintypes or making them seperate in any way, it does not make a lot of sense to me. For me, naming a kintype and understanding that it is not seperate would be similar to saying that it is not seperate, but can talk to you. A kintype is something an individual identifies as, it isn't a lot more than that.

Naming kintypes for fun - I do not understand that, it is completely unnecessary. Naming, because you want to keep your theriotypes organized also doesn't make a lot of sense, because then you would still have to tell everybody what is "Herb" and what is "Wood", and why would you organize yourself, your own identites? Past lives, being domestic, I doubt that a lot of people can remember that, animals do not know letters and do not remember a lot of words. Even naming them, just because you were one in your past life still makes them sound seperate, you were one in your past, now you are a human, so why would you rename yourself and have 1+ name that is not yours. Leave your past life behind and don't make yourself seperate from yourself, but I cannot stop anyone from that. It is your life, your identity, decide what you want to do with it.

I'll always be looking out for the "dodgy people."

Your Theriotype is you. It's who you are. Naming your theriotype makes it seem like its separate from you. Therians naming there Theriotypes has always confused me.