Is Therianthropy a phase? - A Therian Experience
Is Therianthropy a phase? While most creators online and the forces in their comments section will die on the hill that no, therianthropy is not a phase, I'm not so sure on that.
Putting aside the discussion involving “fake Therians” for a moment, what would a Therian phase even look like?
Take Lee, for example. She’s 12, and discovered the wonderful world of therianthropy in an online community. After some thought and self reflection, she decides to adopt the label for herself. She frequently partakes in “Therian activities” such as Quadrobics and vocals, and genuinely feels at peace with her animal self.
As time moves forward and Lees life is filled with school and friends and many other exciting things, while the connection she feels to her animalistic tendencies starts to fade. Not much longer and it doesn’t cross her mind at all.
One day, while Lee is scrolling through old photos on her camera roll, she discovers videos of her doing Quadrobics and feels maybe even a bit embarrassed. She no longer feels like an animal, and is not at all interested in the community or label associated with it.
The general consensus from online information videos would argue that Lee is a fake Therian. It seems like pretty widely agreed knowledge rules that true Therians always were and always will be a Therian.
I don’t really think that’s true, but to fully explain why we need to go back a couple more steps to regroup.
What is therianthropy? The age old question right?
Someone who identifies as a non-human animal. Typically they experience animal urges, thought patterns, feelings, or behaviors.
This or something adjacent is typically what crops up as the definition. But nowhere in that definition does it say that the state of identity is permanent.
Take this analogy:
When I was little, like tiny baby Clementine, I really loved raw onions covered in mustard. It was my go-to favorite snack and I’d frequently request it.
Fast forward 17 years and I’d throw up if someone handed my a stinky plate of it.
So was I faking it? Surely if I loved onions so much when I was younger than I must love them now, right?
Mustard onions weren’t exactly a core identity piece for me- Therianthropy is at large very deeply rooted into who someone is. But the message is the same.
Depending on your beliefs of what causes therianthropy, be it spiritual, psychological, etcetera, might change your opinion. But for the most part id say that any form of therianthropy could be temporary.
Let’s say someone is a mental Therian, experiences shifts fairly often and manages behavioral urges throughout the day. Legit experience, paper perfect Therian. But then let’s say suddenly that one day they no longer experience any of it ever again. No shifts, urges, behaviors- nada. Perhaps they miss it or are happy it’s gone or whatever- it does not change the fact that at one point they fit the definition and now they do not. So how does this person now label themselves? Ex-Therian? Is that possible? But once again my question remains:
Why does it matter?
We put so much stress on properly labeling ourselves and those around us. All this does is force us into perfect box definitions when in reality there is way too much grey area for sharp lines.
Lee wasn’t just valid when she was 12, she’s still valid. And however she wants to express and identify herself based on that is totally up to her.
I feel so stressed about the idea that I always was a Therian and I always will be.
But now I’m starting to think that maybe that’s not the case
Perhaps it changes daily, or moment to moment. Perhaps my identity with my animal side will flicker or fade or black out entirely. But I’m starting to feel less stressed about it and instead focus on who I am right now and what will help me feel the most at peace.
If you’re struggling to fit into all the right boxes, or feel that if you label yourself a Therian you are signing your soul to the label- you’re not alone. You’re valid, you always will be.
-A Therian Experience by Tail Squared GOLD