Furries, otherkin, shapeshifting, and religion

[VoidCat]

This is not a debate thread. This is a discussion section. This is me sharing my experiences and things I've found interesting. Please go elsewhere make your own thread if you wanting to debate.
So as many of y'all know I'm a furry. What's a furry? From Furry fandom - Wikipedia

The furry fandom is a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters.[1][2][3] Some examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, speaking, walking on two legs, and wearing clothes. The term "furry fandom" is also used to refer to the community of people who gather on the Internet and at furry conventions.[4]

That's it. A furry is someone who is a fan of anthropomorphic animals. Some like to roleplay online as such or dress up or do artwork related to it...for some this interest can also be sexual like with all fandoms but for a large amount of folk in the fandom myself included the interest is nonsexual. My interest however that got me involved in the fandom is unique as mine is religious. Allow me to explain...

I worship a cat goddess named Bastet. And i am very spiritually close to cats. They mean the world to me. They have been there when no one else has. It's spiritual my connection to them is by this point. My behavior can often mimick cats as well I've always been catlike since i was a child. Even the way i sleep I've mimicked them since childhood. I'll fluff my pillows up like im kneading them and then I'll curl up into a little ball. I am not a cat- I don't identify spiritually as one dont get me wrong here. Im just very close to them and have a huge love for them that its spiritual. So lately I've been dressing up as a cat on my days off work and when i go to work while i dont dress full on cat i may wear my ears. It reminds me of my cat goddess Bastet and how close I am to cats. It makes me very happy to spread joy as many do feel joy seeing me dressed up. It's an offering really to Bastet me dressing up and i feel much more like me dressed up. It reminds me of the spiritual connection I feel to cats. I then came across the furry community. I decided this could be fun creating a fursona to go with my outfit. One i could use online to roleplay and I could use offline on occasion. The fursona's name is Feyline. So far it's been fun roleplaying as her.

Now onto the otherkin community. I'm not otherkin. I've just recently started reading about them and have found them fascinating. What is otherkin? Here's a link: Who and What Are Otherkin?
To quote:

What are otherkin? Otherkin is very hard to precisely define, as it is an identity it is understood by different people in different ways. Some disagreements on the definition have been going on in the community almost since its inception.

At the most basic level otherkin is an umbrella term for people who don’t identify as wholly human on some level. Beyond that vague definition is where the disagreements arise. Many otherkin consider it a spiritual identity of sorts; their soul, or essence, or energy, isn’t human, or at least not completely. Some otherkin frame their identity in terms of psychology, that their mind is deeply connected to an archetype or level of consciousness that isn’t human. A small group of otherkin believe their identity has a physical component; their body isn’t human, often relating it to myths of changelings or stories of humans marrying inhuman beings such as elves or selkies. (And within that group most seem to believe it in terms of ancestry going back many generations, rather than having a parent who was not human.)

Like any community definition the broader explanation works, but the more you look at the definition the blurrier the edges become. Feel free to check out our longer description if you feel you need more clarification.

Like me some folk who are otherkin are very spiritually connected to an animal. Unlike me they feel their soul is that animal. I found this interesting as it reminds me of shapeshifting and religion. Shapeshifting is mental. One thing discussed in the otherkin community is phantom limbs. A link:

phantom limbs – Otherkin.com

otherkin.com

To quote

Otherkin sometimes report phantom limbs too, but in this case it is not a body part that has been removed, but a body part that never was part of the human form. The most common phantom limbs are probably claws, wings, and tails, but essentially anything not part of the human form can be part of this experience. Not all otherkin have these sensations, and experiencing them (or not) does not make anyone more or less otherkin. Used a bit more loosely sometimes the phantom limb sensations are less about a limb or appendage, but body shapes and sizes. People feel taller than they are, or that their arms are longer than the body’s.



It is easy to see why otherkin started using the term phantom limb, but their experiences are not necessarily the same phenomena as the medical condition, and not just due to the origin of the experience.

Otherkin phantom limbs have three clear differences from that; they generally don’t hurt, they are generally controllable, and they interface with physical reality. Rarely have I seen otherkin complain about pain in their phantom limbs, and even more rarely do they complain without a reason, something that makes them experience the pain. Generally if an appendage would be controllable as a physical appendage, the corresponding phantom limb is under the control of the otherkin. A therian might be able to flex their claws in and out of their hand. A celestial might be able to move their wings. Sometimes they might have trouble controlling their limbs, but in my experience it’s far more common for otherkin to be able to control their limbs.



The last major difference if a lot of otherkin describe sensations of their phantom limbs interacting with physical reality. Not that their limbs can influence physical reality, but that they can feel physically through their limbs. Someone with wings might be aware of people standing behind them in close proximity because they are standing “in” their wings. Someone with a tail might feel the tail hitting against, or passing through, their chair. Horns might feel the hat passing “through” them. Essentially their phantom limbs experience tactile sensations when overlapping physical forms. Occasionally you will hear similar with people who have phantom limbs from having had something removed, but it is less common

That article is well worth reading the whole thing of by the way. This reminds me of something ive done both in ritual and outside it. Im sure anyone with the talent strong enough regarding visualization can do it. Basically I imagine myself having ears and a tail and i end up feeling said tail and ears. My body even responds to the imagined ears like if I flick one the ears my head will turn with it. It's easier doing this type of visualization with parts of animals that i relate to but i can even do this with animals I dont. Like I can imagine bat wings and feel them tho i dont relate to bats. This visualization is the basis for ritualistic shapeshifting...its not a physical change but a mental one. I may not entirely understand the otherkin community but I do find this interesting.

Thought I would share all this. What are your thoughts on this thread? Do any of yall have any spiritual connections to things nonhuman like animals? If so do you do anything special regarding this connection and if so what? Any of yall practice shapeshifting or dressing up in ritual?

 

[VoidCat]

Tagging @JustGeorge. @Shadow Wolf. @The Hammer. @Guitar's Cry. @Tamino and @Father Heathen

 

[Debater Slayer]

Any of yall practice shapeshifting or dressing up in ritual?

When I first wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, I have a completely different form than my usual self, especially when looking at my hair. I think I might be a shapeshifter.

 

[VoidCat]

When I first wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, I have a completely different form than my usual self, especially when looking at my hair. I think I might be a shapeshifter.

this is a funny joke tho i got to clarify again not cuz of you but cuz i know if i don't some folk on here might call me mentally ill or something...shapeshifting in ritual is psychological or spiritual it's not done physically in this realm. That would be impossible.

 

[VoidCat]

That article is well worth reading the whole thing of by the way. This reminds me of something ive done both in ritual and outside it. Im sure anyone with the talent strong enough regarding visualization can do it. Basically I imagine myself having ears and a tail and i end up feeling said tail and ears. My body even responds to the imagined ears like if I flick one the ears my head will turn with it. It's easier doing this type of visualization with things that i relate to but i can even do this with animals I dont. Likei can imagine wings and feel them. This visualization is the basis for ritualistic shapeshifting...its not a physical change but a mental one. I may not entirely understand the otherkin community but I do find this interesting.

@Debater Slayer
I wonder if you could do this since you mediate a lot? I think you probably could be one the folk who would have a strong enough visualization skill if you do visualization in meditation to imagine body parts you dont have. It's just imagination like i said.

 

[Debater Slayer]

@Debater Slayer
I wonder if you could do this since you mediate a lot? I think you probably could be one the folk who would have a strong enough visualization skill if you do visualization in meditation to imagine body parts you dont have.

I can visualize myself with different physical features, but I haven't done that in meditation, as I have had no reason to.

I don't know whether I would feel the visualized body parts if I tried to visualize them during meditation.

 

[VoidCat]

I can visualize myself with different physical features, but I haven't done that in meditation, as I have had no reason to.

I don't know whether I would feel the visualized body parts if I tried to visualize them during meditation.

Just was curious.

 

[Psalm23]

This is not a debate thread. This is a discussion section. This is me sharing my experiences and things I've found interesting. Please go elsewhere make your own thread if you wanting to debate.
So as many of y'all know I'm a furry. What's a furry? From Furry fandom - Wikipedia


That's it. A furry is someone who is a fan of anthropomorphic animals. Some like to roleplay online as such or dress up or do artwork related to it...for some this interest can also be sexual like with all fandoms but for a large amount of folk in the fandom myself included the interest is nonsexual. My interest however that got me involved in the fandom is unique as mine is religious. Allow me to explain...

I worship a cat goddess named Bastet. And i am very spiritually close to cats. They mean the world to me. They have been there when no one else has. It's spiritual my connection to them is by this point. My behavior can often mimick cats as well I've always been catlike since i was a child. Even the way i sleep I've mimicked them since childhood. I'll fluff my pillows up like im kneading them and then I'll curl up into a little ball. I am not a cat- I don't identify spiritually as one dont get me wrong here. Im just very close to them and have a huge love for them that its spiritual. So lately I've been dressing up as a cat on my days off work and when i go to work while i dont dress full on cat i may wear my ears. It reminds me of my cat goddess Bastet and how close I am to cats. It makes me very happy to spread joy as many do feel joy seeing me dressed up. It's an offering really to Bastet me dressing up and i feel much more like me dressed up. It reminds me of the spiritual connection I feel to cats. I then came across the furry community. I decided this could be fun creating a fursona to go with my outfit. One i could use online to roleplay and I could use offline on occasion. The fursona's name is Feyline. So far it's been fun roleplaying as her.

Now onto the otherkin community. I'm not otherkin. I've just recently started reading about them and have found them fascinating. What is otherkin? Here's a link: Who and What Are Otherkin?
To quote:

Like me some folk who are otherkin are very spiritually connected to an animal. Unlike me they feel their soul is that animal. I found this interesting as it reminds me of shapeshifting and religion. Shapeshifting is mental. One thing discussed in the otherkin community is phantom limbs. A link:

phantom limbs – Otherkin.com

otherkin.com

To quote


That article is well worth reading the whole thing of by the way. This reminds me of something ive done both in ritual and outside it. Im sure anyone with the talent strong enough regarding visualization can do it. Basically I imagine myself having ears and a tail and i end up feeling said tail and ears. My body even responds to the imagined ears like if I flick one the ears my head will turn with it. It's easier doing this type of visualization with parts of animals that i relate to but i can even do this with animals I dont. Like I can imagine bat wings and feel them tho i dont relate to bats. This visualization is the basis for ritualistic shapeshifting...its not a physical change but a mental one. I may not entirely understand the otherkin community but I do find this interesting.

Thought I would share all this. What are your thoughts on this thread? Do any of yall have any spiritual connections to things nonhuman like animals? If so do you do anything special regarding this connection and if so what? Any of yall practice shapeshifting or dressing up in ritual?

I wouldn't say I have a spiritual bond but a emotional bond with my cat Max. I don't practice dressing up in a ritual. I do have some bunny ears. I've been thinking about buying some cat ears sometime.

 

[VoidCat]

I wouldn't say I have a spiritual bond but a emotional bond with my cat Max. I don't practice dressing up in a ritual. I do have some bunny ears. I've been thinking about buying some cat ears sometime.

Is Max the one in your profile pic?

 

[Psalm23]

Is Max the one in your profile pic?

Yes

 

[Tamino]

Hmmm, interesting topic. There's a somewhat related concept in Egyptian magic.
Most spells* contain elements in which the magician** will verbally equate themselves with a god - quite a lot of whom have animal forms.
Things like: "the demon of illness cannot reach me, I am Horus, I am the young chick protected in his nest"
Or the bodies or limbs of a sick person get equated with different gods.
There's even a famous spell to heal a cat from a scorpion sting, where her limbs get equated with gods. How do we call it if an animal ist ritually transformed into human-form gods?

And check out the images of ANY pharao... They're all kinda furries, they wear a bull's tail.


*Spell. Or prayer. No real difference
** Magician= whoever recites the spell. No special powers or initiation needed, knowledge is enough.

 

[VoidCat]

Hmmm, interesting topic. There's a somewhat related concept in Egyptian magic.
Most spells* contain elements in which the magician** will verbally equate themselves with a god - quite a lot of whom have animal forms.
Things like: "the demon of illness cannot reach me, I am Horus, I am the young chick protected in his nest"
Or the bodies or limbs of a sick person get equated with different gods.
There's even a famous spell to heal a cat from a scorpion sting, where her limbs get equated with gods. How do we call it if an animal ist ritually transformed into human-form gods?

And check out the images of ANY pharao... They're all kinda furries, they wear a bull's tail.


*Spell. Or prayer. No real difference
** Magician= whoever recites the spell. No special powers or initiation needed, knowledge is enough.

That's very interesting. I'm learning more on egyptian magick and such. You know any good books for me to read?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

(I guess I don't know what "interfaith" means these days.)

 

[VoidCat]

(I guess I don't know what "interfaith" means these days.)

Where else do you suppose i put it? It's a religious/spiritual topic and I wanted it open to anyone. Granted this topic isn't really relevant to some religions but there may be some folk who aren't from a pagan religion who may feel like adding something

 

[VoidCat]

Where else do you suppose i put it? It's a religious/spiritual topic and I wanted it open to anyone. Granted this topic isn't really relevant to some religions but there may be some folk who aren't from a pagan religion who may feel like adding something

@Jayhawker Soule

Well will you look at that. It fits the subforum.

 

[VoidCat]

Hmmm, interesting topic. There's a somewhat related concept in Egyptian magic.
Most spells* contain elements in which the magician** will verbally equate themselves with a god - quite a lot of whom have animal forms.
Things like: "the demon of illness cannot reach me, I am Horus, I am the young chick protected in his nest"
Or the bodies or limbs of a sick person get equated with different gods.
There's even a famous spell to heal a cat from a scorpion sting, where her limbs get equated with gods. How do we call it if an animal ist ritually transformed into human-form gods?

And check out the images of ANY pharao... They're all kinda furries, they wear a bull's tail.


*Spell. Or prayer. No real difference
** Magician= whoever recites the spell. No special powers or initiation needed, knowledge is enough.

This the kind of thing i was looking for when i posted this. Stuff on how animals shapeshifting dressing up etc relate to religion.

 

[Ella S.]

I remember watching a video awhile back where Fox News was interviewing a furry. The interviewer started out about as mean-spirited as you would expect, but the furry was so passive and patient that, by the end of the interview, the interviewer actually mentioned of his own accord what his fursona "would be" if he was a furry. It was unexpectedly wholesome.

In a similar spirit, I'm not a furry. If I was one, though, I'd be a bat. Maybe not the most original. A goth who likes bats? Who would have thought?

At the same time, I guess you could say that I "relate" to bats in a sense. I'm not sure that's what I would call it, but I'm not sure what a better way of describing it would be. Bats are unpopular creatures. Most people see them as vermin. I've felt like an outcast my whole life, so I relate to that.

Bats are also nocturnal. I love the night, too, and I fall into a nocturnal sleep schedule due to my nyctophilia if I'm not careful. For similar reasons, I also like owls.

I think bat wings are beautiful. It's subjective, but part of the reason that I feel this way is because bat wings look equal parts mechanical and visceral. And I think bats are adorable, too, even vampire bats with their leaf noses. I feel like bats have a unique kind of otherworldliness to them, like they're mysterious angels of the night, especially with the strange way they flutter about.

I'm not sure that I'd say that I feel spiritually connected to them, but I do like them a lot.

 

[VoidCat]

I remember watching a video awhile back where Fox News was interviewing a furry. The interviewer started out about as mean-spirited as you would expect, but the furry was so passive and patient that, by the end of the interview, the interviewer actually mentioned of his own accord what his fursona "would be" if he was a furry. It was unexpectedly wholesome.

In a similar spirit, I'm not a furry. If I was one, though, I'd be a bat. Maybe not the most original. A goth who likes bats? Who would have thought?

At the same time, I guess you could say that I "relate" to bats in a sense. I'm not sure that's what I would call it, but I'm not sure what a better way of describing it would be. Bats are unpopular creatures. Most people see them as vermin. I've felt like an outcast my whole life, so I relate to that.

Bats are also nocturnal. I love the night, too, and I fall into a nocturnal sleep schedule due to my nyctophilia if I'm not careful. For similar reasons, I also like owls.

I think bat wings are beautiful. It's subjective, but part of the reason that I feel this way is because bat wings look equal parts mechanical and visceral. And I think bats are adorable, too, even vampire bats with their leaf noses. I feel like bats have a unique kind of otherworldliness to them, like they're mysterious angels of the night, especially with the strange way they flutter about.

I'm not sure that I'd say that I feel spiritually connected to them, but I do like them a lot.

Bats are interesting creatures. Very cute.

 

[The Hammer]

Thought I would share all this. What are your thoughts on this thread? Do any of yall have any spiritual connections to things nonhuman like animals? If so do you do anything special regarding this connection and if so what? Any of yall practice shapeshifting or dressing up in ritual?

I've got a pretty strong spiritual connection to animals in particular. A few being felines, canines, corvids, some amphibians (frogs) and reptiles (snakes).

I haven't practiced shape shifting in a while, but I have shape shifted into a Raven/Crow on a few occasions.

 

[VoidCat]

I've got a pretty strong spiritual connection to animals in particular. A few being felines, canines, corvids, some amphibians (frogs) and reptiles (snakes).

I haven't practiced shape shifting in a while, but I have shape shifted into a Raven/Crow on a few occasions.

I've been meaning to learn more on shapeshifting part of why i posted this but haven't gotten to it. If you feel comfortable could you explain a little bit about the times you have shapeshifted? Be as detailed or lack of as you like if you do share.