What's the definition of Therianthropy?

[wolfwolf]

I looked at dictionary.com, and it's not a real word-- so what's the definition? I guess it's a word because a lot of people use it, so define it.

[Xzengrim]

You must be new to this... because it's well-know that "If you ask ten weres for a definition of therianthropy, you get eleven different answers." But this is what I think:
Therianthropy works two basic levels. And here they are.

Spiritual Theriathropy- the belief that one has a lupine (or otherwise animalistic) soul or spirit. The belief that the animalistic nature of one's spirit is its connection to the earth, to God, to divinity, or whatever.

Psychological therianthropy- Personification of parts of the mind as inherently wolflike. One looks at themself and interprets their self-image through a lupine fascination, like a standard or a totemic image. It's about knowing yourself, deciding what you think you are. Self determination through totemic imagery.

Grim thinks that it feels like spirituality, but it actually has to be psychological. But then again, Xzen is an atheist and believes that all religion is a psychological function.

[Kishi-Garou]

I think Xzen needs to look at true paganism and understand everything he says shows it more and more that he is a nature boy underneath.

Pretty much, his definitions are right. Everyone has their own distinctions to their beliefs, but thats normal.

Xzen, I don't believe in god as a manifested being. I look at god as the whole of existence, everything is located in god, and we are a part of it, as it makes up what we are. Therefore, everything is divine, but not so divine as to be special. So, we are all gods, and a part of god.

... in other words, all spirits make up the great spirit.

:shrug: God you're a toughie, but you're smart.

[wolfwolf]

ok then, so it's not like "someone who is a werewolf at heart, but doesn't shift at all" or anything? That's what I was expecting.

[Silent_Darkstalker]

there ARE some therians that dont shift what so ever. no mental no dream, etc... i havent read up on it but what i did read up was just that they belive they were one in the pass life or that they have a strong "spiritual" connection with a wolf.

or so i read. correct me if im wrong? o.o

"ask ten weres the diffinition of therianthrope and you'll get eleven complete different ones" i heard it like that but heh its all the same.. i agree with that...

lately i've been thinking and such... more than usual? heh.. just because you can change your mind set from your "human" state of mind to that of an "animal" does NOT make you a threianthope. a person who meditates a lot can change their state of mind to those of an animal. (i need more reading on this topic)

so a "true" diffinition for therianthrope does not exist. but thats just what i think. its kind of hard to explain.

i can say that i have a strong spiritual connection with canines and felines... but what is spiritual.. something with the soul no? well whats the soul in terms of "science" .. you mind... at least thats what i think. so in the long wrong i can just say im delusional..

my diffinition of therianthope is: we are all delusional. either that or there really is a soul and all that crap.. so eh.. flip for it?


my rambaling.. blah.. cant type.(can i ever?) so.. yeah.. just my thoughts.. it probably didnt even come close to answerings your question.. or who knows.. perhaps it did.

bong...

[Kishi-Garou]

there ARE some therians that dont shift what so ever. no mental no dream, etc... i havent read up on it but what i did read up was just that they belive they were one in the pass life or that they have a strong "spiritual" connection with a wolf...


That'll be meee.. Your local Contherianthrope.

Of course, past life regression gets confusing, and sometimes harder to believe then physical shapeshifting.

Of course my past lives are even more confusing. But thats okay!

[Xzengrim]

I'm a nutter! Wheeeee!
Kishi... I'm inclined to believe what you said about divinity. When I was younger and less logical than I am now, I believed almost completely in things as you describe them. What with god and all, all things being an extention of the mind of god... I get that. I've always had a tendancy to look at myself as animalistic and to venerate the earth.
But since then, I've become a bitter and logical atheist. Mostly out of fear about being wrong, mostly out of anger, mostly out of a need to see things for myself. That, and disillusionment. So I've got to divide what I feel cleanly from what I know.
That, and I think that therianthropy exists within anyone who shows a connection to their animal. A shift is a quick and direct connection (any shift, it doesn't really matter which kind); but the link can also be accomplished without explicit shifting.

That, and: Did I hear wrong, or did you say you had a past life?

[Kishi-Garou]

Yes, most of us do. I believe in reincarnation, but I also don't think that I was George Washington in a former life.

How my belief in this theory works, is thus. Look at a tree outside. The trunk, is the wholeness of the universe and world. It connects to every part of the tree, and without it, there would be no tree. Next, are the boughs. They seperate from the tree's trunk, but are still a part of it. There are many boughs. Each and everyone is a unique bough, but they are still a part of the tree, nonetheless. Thus, one being. On each and every bough is a branch. Each and every branch is different, but all still a part of the same tree. Some are parts of one bough, and others are parts of another. But they are still connected. On each branch, is a group of leaves. Each and every leaf is unique, and connected to another leaf, through the branch. They are all unique and the same. They are all connected to every leaf on the tree, through the branch, bough, or trunk. We are the leaves. (Yesh, you kan read dis on my poehtree teehee.) Each and every leaf, goes through a cycle of life, on this tree. Each and every leaf falls, and dies. They fuel the rest of the tree. Each and every leaf returns, with the seasons, only to die once more. Thus, the cycle of life and death.

If we are the leaves. Then what of the energy we call our soul?
In alot of cultural beliefs, you go to a fork in the road, once you die. There are two ways to take. If you lived your life a certain way, pleased with yourself and others, not really being a horrible being, or just not being all right, you get to take the Red Path. To the center of the universe, which would be the tree trunk. You get to return to the tree itself. If you live horribly, or just not quite right enough, you take the black path. You return back to the leaves, and you live once more. It is not a punishment, nor is it the worst of things. You get to try again, and again. Living again, and again.

Sometimes your feelings come back. Sometimes you can actually remember. Sometimes you feel like you're brand new, too.

I guess you wanted to know about the past life I claim, eh? Heh. It was a long time ago..

[Xzengrim]

I see what you mean about the tree. As I said before, if I believed only through what I felt and not through what I know, that is what I would believe. I get that. I even get the deal about the Red Path, as I have read of it before in books and such. What still confuses me, though, is how you claim to have past lives. How do you know these things? What are the past lives as?
Personally, Xzen finds past lives to be a function of psychological leftovers within the brain. Sort of a dreamlike processing of odds and ends (tidbits, really) that produces imaginary functions through which parts of the ego crop up. Couldn't be the soul.
I did one of those past life regression things once, and for a week solid I dreampt of being a German soldier in the 1943 Russian campaign (yeah, a Nazi). It was scary, and in the end I died on the outskirts of Leningrad. I found the whole thing rather unpleasant and weird.
Of course, I know better than to believe such things. But please give details, if you don't mind...