Yearning

On this site, I use the term Yearning to describe a particular experience many therians have. In short, yearning is the desire to physically embody one’s nonhuman identity, coupled with the knowledge that such a thing is functionally impossible.

This can take several forms. Some of us have the awkward desire for (as an example) our tail or wings to exist physically. This can be particularly strong directly following a shift. On other occasions, we may long for the physical world of our theriotype - I get pretty wistful looking at images of mangrove swamps, where my theriotype originates, for example.

We usually romanticize our theriotype to at least some degree. Regardless of our soul’s heritage, we’re all embodied as humans presently. We have a human neurological structure, and we were socialized in a human context. Humans will, of course, romanticize almost anything, so it is no surprise that therians sometimes see their theriotypes through such a lens.

Our theriotype is metaphysically (or psychologically) significant for some reason. Some therians hold this to be accidental, a matter of metaphysical happenstance. Others, like me, view their nonhuman soul’s embodiment as a human in a purposeful fashion.

The truth is, none of us really know for sure what causes us to be therians, let alone how that factors into our position in the universe. For whatever reason, though, we’re therians, and it is natural to fixate on it a bit.

Everyone loves a puzzle, and the “big questions” of life, when viewed in the context of therianthropy, can be irresistable. In some ways, this is one of the biggest factors driving the Yearning. There’s a sense that if we could embody our theriotype, we might be able to puzzle things out!

Nostalgia and escapism can play a role in Yearning, as well. This doesn’t mean that therianthropy as a whole is escapist, though.

Think of it this way. Suppose you’re a college student, and you return from summer break - you might naturally think a lot about summer fun during your classes! That doesn’t mean summer break isn’t real, or that it’s unhealthy to think about it.

Therians, as noted above, have human brains, and these brains cope with everyday stress in various ways. One way that people cope with stress is through nostalgia and escapist fantasies.

If not taken too far, there’s nothing wrong with that. Since therianthropy is a huge part of a person’s inner narrative, it makes sense that their personal escapist impulses might gravitate towards it.

So, what’s the best way to cope with Yearning? Put simply, you must find meaning in your imminent human life.

We all have a story we tell ourselves about ourselves. This narrative encompasses who we are, who we were, and who we want to become. Develop a self-narrative that integrates both aspects - yourself as an embodied human, and as a therian animal. You’ll have to find your own meaning for your therianthropy. Why are you therian? What does it mean? Begin to ask yourself these questions, and your self-narrative will enrich and come together.

You might also channel your nonhuman identity into art or another positive endeavor. It’s your choice as to how you express yourself, but my advice will always be to express your therioside whenever you’ve got the chance.

Yearning rarely disappears completely. When a therian awakens, Yearning often becomes a positive force within their life, a source of deep meaning and awareness.

Some therians, particularly in the early 2010s, referred to these feelings as “species dysphoria,” and some sensationalist news articles used that term, too. This usually draws comparisons to gender dysphoria and related concepts.

I was specifically asked by two of my transgender friends not to use the term dysphoria, because they felt the comparison was unwarranted and gross. Out of respect for them, I am proposing the term Yearning as an alternative. Just my thoughts on the matter...