LYCANTHROPY AND THE UTLAH.

Lycanthropy as a religion;

For most people religion provides them with moral guidelines to live by, and a purpose in life. For me, Lycanthropy provides a similar function but without a supernatural deity. However it still has its icons, and for me that icon is the wolf. To me the wolf symbolizes such ideals as honesty, loyalty, strength and purity, and it is towards this image to which I aspire. It's the wolf (and to some extent the Coyote and Raven) that provides me with the ideals and goals for my life that a religion would provide in the life of others.

Also like religion, Lycanthropy involves "prayer". During times of stress or worry I conjure up the image of the wolf in my mind, to help relax me and focus my thoughts. But I don't pray at set times, nor do I have a particular location in which to worship such as a church. While mainstream religion has its rules and set doctrines, my lycanthropy is my own creation. It's very personal and meets my own spiritual needs.

I don't wish to sound like I'm against mainstream religion, but I've found that it's not to my personal tastes. I went into a Roman Catholic school as an atheist, and six years later I emerged as a devout atheist, so I do understand what religious organizations are like. I've found some organized religions to be judgmental and against anything unfamiliar to them, such as depressives, alternative sexuality and alternative religions, something which I cannot condone myself. So my lycanthropy deals only with how I see myself, not how I see others.

Lycanthropy as an interest;

I have an interest in the various Native American animal Gods or "First People", such as Coyote the Trickster, or Raven. (Though I have to acknowledge my ignorance towards the finer details of these myths.) For me, the concept of a God who makes mistakes and likes to play games seems more natural and believable than an omnipotent flawless God where everything has a purpose. For a God to turn around and say "Shit happens" makes more sense than "Everything has a reason, you just can't figure it out yet." I also have a strong interest in mythology of all cultures. People fail to realize the role mythology plays in society today, we just take it for granted or call it something else. UFOs, conspiracies, these are all modern day myths. I guess it all stems from a basic need to ask "Why?"

Lycanthropy as a state of mind;

Do I believe that a wolf spirit possesses me? Not really, though it would come as no surprise to me if I have been. Though I have an open mind to mysticism and magic(k), that's not to say I take it all to heart. Nor can I physically shift, something that some people claim to be able to do. But there are times where a feel "like a wolf", a rather deep emotional feeling of being a wolf, of having paws and fur. It's almost impossible to describe to your average layman, since you really need to be able to feel it to understand it. It's like a strong physical urge to be the wolf. But in the end that's all it is for me, another emotion, another state of mind, there's nothing terribly mystic about it.

Where did AHWw fit in?

AHWw helped me to learn more about animal natures, totem animals, and further fuelled my interest in Lycanthropy. Several years ago it was a place of learning and open mindedness, and I made some close friends there. Now AHWw is nothing but the petty squabbles of immature spoiled brats, and sadly I no longer follow the group. But there are now other forums for theriomorphic discussions, and it is there where I spend most of my time.

To whom I discuss my nature with;

I've now accepted the animal side of myself and I understand it, so I don't feel the need to discuss it with others in attempt to understand myself. A lot of people who become aware of others who felt the same way feel a need to discuss their feelings in an attempt to understand them. Now I use the experience and knowledge I've gained about therianthropy to help others who are still confused about their own Were natures.