WHAT IS THERIANTHROPY?
(Or "Let me plead for my sanity!")
What is Therianthropy?
Lycanthrope \'li-ken-throp\ n (NL lycanthropus, fr.
GK lykanthropos werewolf, Fr. lykos wolf + anthropos man) 1:a person displaying
lycanthropy 2:a werewolf
Lycanthropy \'li-kan(t)-thra-pe\ n 1: a delusion that one has
become a wolf. 2: the assumption of the form and characteristics of a
wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic - lycanthropic adj.
Theriomorphic \'thir-e-o-'mor-fik\ adj (GK theriomorphos, Fr.
therion beast + morphe form - more at treacle): having an animal form.
Gee, looks like the "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary" seems
a little sceptical about Therianthropy. And why not? The idea of people
turning into savage slobbering hairy beasts is ludicrous, isn't it? But
that's Hollywood's image of the Werewolf, and since when has Hollywood
got its facts right? Lets take this in steps....
First you need to unlearn all you know about wolves and werewolves. The
mainstream view of wolves are that of evil beasts and slobbering monsters.
This view is drilled into us during childhood by fairy tales, the Disney
Channel, and dumb bimbos in red capes trying to do their bit for the community...
You have a favourite animal right? Perhaps a seal, or a tiger, or maybe
a pig? Or even the Wolf perhaps... look at the subtle, knowing eyes, the
jet black nose, the short grey fur, the quizzical stance... They're a
likeable animal, just like a big dog really, and lots of people have dogs
as a pet don't they? Now take an average 5 year old child and ask them
their favourite animal. Not only will that child tell you what that animal
is, they'll go as far as demonstrate. Perhaps holding their arm in front
of their face, and pretending to be an elephant, or curling their fingers
like claws and pretending to be a tiger. For that instant, in the child's
mind, he is that tiger or elephant, he's thinking and acting like the
real animal.
So 5 year olds are blood thirsty savage beasts?
Well, I won't deny that! But that's not what I'm saying. The child is
using his imagination to become that animal. The mind is a very powerful
tool, and can be used to deliberately alter it's own perceptions.
Comic example:
Here we see Calvin using his imagination to produce Hobbes, transforming
his stuffed toy into a walking, talking tiger. He's anthropomorphing,
putting human characteristics into an animal or inanimate object. To him
Hobbes is real, yet to the rest, Hobbes is just a toy tiger. Likewise,
the imagination can be used to imagine yourself, rather than an object,
as the animal. You have to admit, it sounds cool to be tiger!
But you're not a five years old!
But what difference does that make? It's just by your twenties you're
so wrapped up in "reality", paying for bills, earning a wage
and trying to get laid, that you don't use your imagination to get away
from it all. You're too wrapped up in being "human". What if
someone doesn't want to be human? After all, humans are a pretty savage
and selfish lot, doing all sorts of hideous things to each other. Rape,
wars, murder, deception, corruption and telephone salesmen are all things
considered rather "unpleasant". Do you really want to be associated
with this lot?
But this is just some New Age Hippy talk!
Tell that to the Native Americans, they've been using autohypnosis techniques
for hundreds of years. This is nothing new or fancy. In fact the basic
relaxation techniques used are taught in some schools as a method to relieve
stress. Autohypnosis takes the relaxation technique to enable the person
to induce a lucid dream state. For more on autohypnosis, here's a snippet
from the AHWW FAQ:
Extract written by Asikaa.
Yes, I enter a state of autohypnosis called by some a "dreamtrance".
It's really quite easy to do, and is simply a form of extremely deep relaxation
of the mind and body. You might like to print the rest of this article,
starting from here:
It is a learned skill, and fairly easy to learn at that. First you
need to learn how to relax physically. It's best to get hold of a compact
disc (or continuous tape cassette) and put the player on infinite repeat.
Oh sorry, I forgot to mention what should be on the CD! Not Iron Maiden
or Aerosmith! You can get relaxation soundtracks from health stores and
similar places. They contain "nice" sounds, such as birdsong,
the gentle trickle of riverwater over rocks, the wind through the trees...
Now all you have to do is put the CD player on infinite repeat like
I said, and lie down flat on your back, with your legs out straight, arms
by your sides. Let your hands curl slightly into their natural relaxed
position, and make sure you are absolutely comfortable.
Breathe in slowly and steadily, filling your lungs completely. Hold
the breath for two seconds then release it. Don't blow it out, just let
the weight of your chest gently descend, emptying your lungs. Try to breath
like this for the rest of this "session". It doesn't matter
if you forget the breathing later on, just do whatever feels comfortable.
Now you can start relaxing your body. Start at your face, and work
down. Breathe in, concentrate on the muscles of your face and neck, *feel*
the muscles, explore them with your mind. Let the breath out, and as the
air leaves your body, imagine all the tension being drawn from the muscles
of your face and neck and floating away.
Do this a couple of times for each part... your chest, your arms and
shoulders, your stomach, thighs, legs and feet. Once you've got down to
your feet, mentally check for any feelings of tension left behind, then
go back to that part of your body and relax it a little more.
By now your body should be fully relaxed... a nice warm feeling of
well being. This is the first stage of autohypnosis, and will take a little
practice to master.
Now we concentrate on the mind. Imagine yourself lying warm and comfortable
in your favourite place. Perhaps lying on warm sand, or on the edge of
a forest next to a lake. Clear your mind of all unnecessary thoughts,
and concentrate on that place. Let your mind enjoy the feeling of total
isolation, with no worries or stress. Float along with your calm thoughts,
and you should notice that you have no awareness of your physical self.
Honestly, you really cannot feel your body any more. You have become just
your consciousness, nothing more. Your body is so relaxed it may as well
not exist.
Now you should be able to start Dreaming. You mind is free of all
physical restraints, and your body has assumed the type of deep relaxation
usually found only in alphawave sleep. It is up to you what you do with
this mental freedom, but with practice the possibilities are endless.
Unfortunately, (for me at least, since it means writing a lot more about
therianthropy!) this is not the only form of therianthropy and lycanthropy.
Types of Therianthropy.
Animal Association
You can feel "Wolfy", or feel like the animal which is your
phenotype. This is where you physically act out the nature of your phenotype.
This is very subtle, and tends to be more along the lines of yawning like
a wolf, or scratching, urfing, howling, yapping, or any other action associated
with your phenotype, while integrating this into normal human behaviour.
It is normally accompanied with a strong sense of a connection to your
phenotype.
Dreaming
"Dreaming" is also another form of therianthropy. This normally
involves some form of vivid or lucid dream. The Dream can either involve
meeting or becoming an animal. Unlike autohypnosis however, these Dreams
are unintentional, they are not self induced. Lucid dreams and Dreams
are noticeable due to their sense of being physically real, and are much
more intense and aware than normal dreams.
Animal Spirit Guides
This type of Were nature differs from the others, in that the animal
side is a distinct separate entity, rather than a part of someone's own
personality. Communication with a spirit guide is usually by using meditation
or Dreaming. Spirit Guides are made distinct from normal Dreaming by the
fact a spirit guide may also effect waking reality, either by offering
advice during Dreaming, or acting as a type of "guardian angel".
Animal Guides play a significant part in Native American Culture.
Mental Shifting
Then there's "Active Mental Shifting". This behaviour tends
to involve running around or any other state of heightened physical activity,
while physically acting out the phenotype. The mental processes become
similar to that of the phenotype, sharing similar "mind sets".
Physical Shifting
"Physical shifting" is the more classical form of lycanthropy.
I know of no-one who claims to be able to physically shift, to either
a full wolf or hybrid form. But if it doesn't exist, it is still the dream
of most Spiritual shifters. Within the next century, perhaps the technology
to physically alter our bodies on a semi-permanent level will become available,
who knows?
Windigowaks
Oh, and there's also the windigowak who are also shifters, but who's
natural form is a 2-3 meters tall ice skeleton with a SEVERE hunger problem!
But they can also be furry too, like a yeti. Which is just as well, since
snuggling up to a 3 meter tall ice-cube with fangs in bed has little appeal.
Mind you, if you're human and in bed with a Wendigo, then cold feet shouldn't
be much of a worry anyway, and anyone who understands the term "long
pig" will agree with me here. :)
"I wish people were more like animals. Animals don't try to change
you or make you fit in. They just enjoy the pleasure of your company.
Animals aren't conditional about friendships. Animals like you just the
way you are. They listen to your problems, they comfort you when you're
sad, and all they ask in return is a little kindness." - Calvin.
"You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place."
- Calvin
"That's why animals are so soft and huggy." - Hobbes
"...Yeah..." - Calvin
"Calvin and Hobbes" is created by Bill Watterson.
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