Shift, shifts, or shifting are the terms used for when Therianthropes have experiences that cause them to feel more like their Theriotype in a non-physical manner. Shifts are usually temporary, but some Therians have reported feeling constant shifts, most commonly phantom shifts. However, having shifts is not required to identify as a Therianthrope. Also, a person does not need to experience every type of shift to be a Therian. Some Therians may only ever experience one type of shift throughout their life.
- See also: Contherianthropy
Shifts can occur in varying strength and frequency and be both a positive or negative experience. Multiple types of shifts can be experienced simultaneously. Often shifting is entirely controllable, but sometimes a therian will experience strong shifts that do cause them to temporarily lose the ability to function completely as a human. Shifting is typically involuntary, but some Therians learn to induce voluntary shifts.
Shifting has been discussed since the
beginning of the online Therian community. “Your best mental transformation”, is a discussion from AHWW which took place on December 1, 1993.[1][2]
"Often times this is a slang term used by Therians for "Shape shifting". Shift is often used moreso than shape shift because shift by itself means 'change' and "Shape" shifting leads people to think of changing in a physical sense. Since no physical shift has ever been proven, most therians would like to disassociate themselves from those who claim the "surreptitious" ability." [3]
Before we get into the types of therianthropic shifts, we must use some discretion. Be aware that having a single shift or even several shifts does not mean that you should assume, without a doubt, that you are a Therian. We must carefully consider what experiences are relevant. It is important to remain mindful and not jump to conclusions. There are rational explanations for why we might experience shifts that have nothing to do with Therianthropy or being Therian. We must be mindful and cautious that we are not simply imagining these sensations or potentially tricking our minds.
- See also: Shifter's Disease
The following are common types of shifts and their abbreviations, although shifting can manifest in many other different forms, which are not listed. It appears that most shift terms used today had been established by 1999. [4] Sensory, Emotional, and Cameo not to appear on the list from 1999.
A warning from CrystalCollector11: Shifts can sometimes attract anti-furries that are not like me, or cause a medium autistic freakout for me, so be very careful.
Voluntary/Involuntary[]
Voluntary Shift
A shift that occurs due to being consciously induced.
Involuntary Shift
A shift that occurs without will or conscious control.
Common Therianthropic Shifts[]
Mental Shift (MS or m-shift)
A change in mindset, thinking more like the theriotype.
Phantom Shift (Ph-shift)
Feeling supernumerary phantom limbs or a full phantom body of the theriotype.
Sensory Shift (SE or Se-Shift)
One's senses temporarily become more like that of the theriotype.
Perception Shift (PE-shift)
Perceiving things in a way which is more associated with the theriotype.
Auditory Shift
Experiencing a shift by sounds they notice around them. This can be linked to a sensory shift if oneself's theriotype has a strong hearing ability.
Emotional Shift
Shifting occurs during a certain emotional state, e.g. stress or anger; usually with another type of shift.
Dream Shift (DS or d-shift)
Becoming an animal within a dream, either partially or entirely.
Cameo Shift (C)
Feeling like an animal that is not a known theriotype.
Other Therianthropic Shifts[]
Aura Shift (A)
The shape or form of an auric field or life energy field changes to that of the theriotype.
Astral Shift (As)
The astral body separates from the physical body, travels to the astral plane, and shifts to the form of a nonhuman animal.
Berserker Shift
Strong emotions push away the human side, including empathy and logical decision-making; can be voluntary and involuntary
Bilocation Shift (Bi)
Therian appears in two locations simultaneously, with the double appearing in the form of the theriotype in the physical plane.
Shadow Shift (SW) / Ghost Shift
Therian sees the animal form around themself as a transparent apparition, or when the appearance seems to change.
Spiritual Shift (S or S-shift)
The spirit takes on the form or shape of the theriotype, while the physical body remains unchanged/
Physical Shift
Human body transforms into the physical shape of another creature; agreed to be impossible.
Envisage / Self-image Shift
Therian's mental image/awareness of themselves changes to closer reflect that of their kintype; similar to a phantom shift, but lacks actual phantom sensation.
Therian experiences a cameo shift when they look at an animal. An example of this goes as followed: A therian would look at a deer(or other animal) and experiences a phantom shift, mental shift, etc shift, of that deer(or other animal) meaning they feel the appendages of that deer(or animal) like antlers, ears, tail, hooves, etc. This is similar to Cameo shifting.
Empathy Shift
Therian has a shift when another therian expresses that they are experiencing their own shift. The type of shift may depend on the other therian’s shift, i.e. a cat therian (A) tells a frog therian (B) that A is experiencing a phantom shift, that is, A can feel cat body parts, such as ears and a tail. B experiences an empathy shift according to A’s experiences, that is, feeling cat body parts such as ears and a tail. Since B’s theriotype is a frog and not a cat, this empathy shift may also be classified as a cameo shift.
Meridio Shift
When a therian has a cameo shift caused by a strong connection with another therian, only when in close vicinity of each other. These shifts end when the two therians are no longer in the same vicinity and are normally mental or phantom shifts. E.g. a wolf therian may have a phantom shift of a snow leopard's tail or ears when around their friend who's a snow leopard therian.
See Also[]
Pseudotherian Causes[]
When autistic Pseudotherians get triggered it causes a freakout, making their behaviour like a dog, but it is not a shift, other times when Pseudotherians have other feelings, it causes them to act like the animal depending on the feeling.
Further Reading[]
O. Scribner, “Otherkin lexicon: A multilingual dictionary of jargon used in the communities of otherkin, therianthropes, and other similar peoples, v. 0.1 Abridged,” last modified Sept. 8, 2012 in The Art and Writing of O. Scribner http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-lexicon/
Therian Timeline – Words and Concepts – http://www.theriantimeline.com/therianthropy/words_and_concepts
"Types of Shifts” written by Sonne, Project Shift – http://project-shift.net/types-of-shifts/
References[]
- ↑ "Your best mental transformation", AHWW, December 1, 1993 - https://groups.google.com/d/topic/alt.horror.werewolves/sfJ0k722SKA/discussion
- ↑ Pinky, "Shifting and Awareness Terms" December 24, 1999, https://web.archive.org/web/20010118174900/http://www.were.net:80/~pinky/wereterms.html
- ↑ Shifters.org Encyclopedia - http://web.archive.org/web/20060517152938/http://www.therianthropy.org/SO/terms-s.htm
- ↑ Shifting and Awareness Terms https://web.archive.org/web/20010118174900/http://www.were.net:80/~pinky/wereterms.html