Shifting

Therians are sometimes also known simply as shifters.

Therians and otherkin do not believe in any way shape or form that they can shift on a physical level. We understand that, by the laws of science, cannot shift physically. This is a very common misconception. We can promise you that we do not believe that we can shift into our theriotypes physically. While some people attempt to think of how if this or that was different we might be able too, they too understand we simply cannot shift physically.

Many of us wish we could, but we understand we can’t. For now, we must stick to our phantom, dream, and mental shifts. What’re those? Read on to find out!

Types of Shifts

Enjoy reading this brief glossary describing the different types of shifts experienced by therians! Not all therians experience all types of shifts - it varies from therian to therian. Some therians (contherians) do not experience shifts at all, and shifting is not a requirement for being therian. Still, plenty do experience it! I used to experience very intense shifts, but since I don’t get out as much these days, I’ve mellowed a bit and do not experience them as frequently.

astral shift

Many therians have the experience of astral projection or leaving their physical form. This is also known as an out-of-body experience. Therians, when astrally projecting, may take human form or the form of their therioside. When a therian takes the form of their therioside during an out-of-body experience, this is called an astral shift.

It is worth noting that some occultists and witches who practice astral projection have the conscious ability to take various animal forms during such journeys, and that therians are not the only ones capable of it. This particular type of shift usually occurs among spiritual therians rather than those with a more secular, psychological view on therianthropy.

aura shift

The aura is the life force or energy that surrounds a living being. An aura shift means the alteration of this life force to resemble that of the therioside. Spiritual therians are especially prone to these, and they are easily achieved consciously with a bit of practice.

In my experience, an aura shift is perceptible by those around the therian, though they may not always understand what is happening. Some ad hoc experimentation on my part suggests that physical animals in the vicinity of the shifter often notice and respond to an aura shift.

Similarly, very sensitive or psychic individuals around the therian may perceive an aura shift in varying degrees, up to and including a full vision of the therioside during the shift.

Usually, an aura shift is accompanied by a mental shift, as well. Not all therians believe in the concept of the aura, making some unlikely to experience this. This site focuses primarily on spiritual therianthropy, hence there is an emphasis given to these particular theories.

cameo shift

Sometimes, a therian will shift (mentally, astrally, or otherwise) into a form other than their therioside. This is known as a cameo shift. An example of this would be a tiger therian taking on the astral form of a badger, or an otter therian mentally shifting into an owl mindset.

These are particularly common with those who've been Awakened for a long time, and have much practice with shifting. Polytherians, especially, are prone to these, likely due to their established experience with different forms. Repeated cameo shifts into a particular form may also indicate that the therian has an undiscovered therioside of that form.

Non-therians who practice astral projection or other occult disciplines will sometimes experience cameo shifts, as well, but this is usually the result of conscious effort.

dream shift

Whether we remember it or not, we all dream when we sleep. For therians, some of the most intense shifts, especially pre-Awakening, occur in the dream state. Even before someone realizes and comes to terms with their therianthropy, they are likely to experience vivid dreams where they embody their therioside.

Often, therians will wake up from the dream immediately due to its intensity. Some also find themselves spontaneously lucid in the dream state (aware that they're dreaming) when experiencing a dream shift. This experience can be both frustrating (if it keeps you from restful sleep) and enriching.

It is important to note that dreaming of yourself in an animal form does not, by itself, necessarily indicate that you're a therian. Many people have such dreams at least once in their life. Repeated dreams of this sort, focused on the same animal, may merit consideration as a sign of therianthropy, though.

Dreams are a well-known facet of human psychology, and therians, both psychological and spiritual, tend to experience dream shifts. For spiritual therians, these dreams may have even more significance, though. Many of us believe that dreams express a deeper reality, and some of us practice dreamwalking, shared dreaming, or intentional lucid dreaming for spiritual practices. Not all therians practice these things, however, and the community certainly has a variety of opinions about dreams and their significance.

mental shift

When therians take on the mindset or mental characteristics of their therioside, it is called a mental shift. This change in conscious awareness can happen voluntarily or involuntarily, wholly or partially. It is one of the most common forms of shifting, and many therians experience it.

It can be triggered consciously by many of us, and can be a helpful release for us. It occurs in varying degrees, ranging from a slight twist of mental perspective, to a full-on deep shift where verbal abilities vanish in favor of animalistic thought patterns. Generally, we experience a deep sense of freedom when mentally shifting, and it may help to alleviate feelings of Yearning.

Therians tend to experience involuntary mental shifts early on in their awakening, but usually quickly gain control of this experience. Very strong involuntary mental shifts are rare, despite lurid tales of them on some blogs. Most therians who sink into a deep mental shift do so consciously and in a safe environment. In short, most of us aren't going to suddenly go wild and start barking or hissing in public.

phantom shift

Perhaps the most famous type of shift experienced by therians, a phantom shift involves the sensation of inhabiting the body of your therioside. For example, an owl therian experiencing a phantom shift may experience the sensation of "phantom wings." These shifts may take place wholly, or in part. In some instances, a therian will have the sense of the therioside's entire physical form, but in other cases, only a certain part (such as wings or claws) will be present.

For most therians, this is most noticeable with features that have no analogue in human physical form. In other words, phantom wings or a muzzle may be easily recognized as part of such a shift, whereas paws (which are a bit like normal hands) might not be felt as strongly.

These sensations are typically benign, but can occasionally be irritating. This is particularly true if they occur involuntarily at inopportune moments. It can be annoying to suddenly feel, for example, like someone is sitting on your tail, or as if your wolf-side's ears are poking through a hat. Mostly, though, this is a curious but harmless sensation.

There's some controversy in the community over the use of the term "phantom limb." This is because that phrase, in medicine, usually describes the experiences of an amputee. Many worry that therians are, in a way, appropriative of amputees' unique experience when using the term. It's well known that non-amputees can experience phantom limbs, though.

As pointed out by the Therian Wiki, the "rubber hand illusion" can be generated consistently in most people, regardless of whether they're an amputee. This site tacitly condones and uses the term phantom shift, for lack of a better term. Perhaps the phrase "pseudo-limb" might work slightly better.

physical shift

As mentioned in the introduction to this page, almost all therians understand and know that physically shifting into their therioside is impossible. The laws of physics and a million other realities do not allow for such a thing to occur. Occasionally, you will see a therian (or person claiming to be a therian) bragging about physically shifting online. Typically, these people are roleplaying, trolling, or just confused.

Some folks talk about perceptible changes in eye color, gait or other physical features accompanying other types of shifts. While some would point to this as evidence of a sort of physical shift, there are plenty of other explanations for such changes. No reliable evidence of even minute physical shapeshifting exists.

Fictional works use physical shapeshifting as an interesting and entertaining plot device with some regularity. We see this in Twilight, Underworld and classics like An American Werewolf in Paris. These works, in turn, draw from older legends about shapeshifters from the middle ages and earlier.

I would argue that a lot of older legends about physical shapeshifters were just our ancestors attempts to make sense of the therianthropy phenomenon. Stories about physical shifting may have been metaphorical, or a sort of physical "translation" of tales about astral/mental shifters.