Therianthropy is a belief or mythological ability of individuals to transform into animals or hybrids through shapeshifting. The term "therianthropy" comes from the Greek words "thēríon," meaning "wild animal" or "beast," and "anthrōpos," meaning "human being". Here are some key points about therianthropy:
- It is a subjective belief based on personal experiences and not on scientific fact.
- Therianthropes are individuals who experience animalistic traits and identify as a non-human animal on an integral, personal level.
- There are many theories as to why therianthropy is experienced, including reincarnation, misplaced souls, innate predisposition, abnormalities in neurological wiring, and more.
- Therianthropy has long existed in mythology and seems to be depicted in ancient cave drawings.
- There are different types of therianthropy, including lycanthropy (werewolves), cyanthropy (men who can change into dogs), and ailuranthropy (shapeshifting humans who can take on feline appearances) .
- Therianthropy is not a religion or religious practice, and there is no ritual or initiation involved in becoming a therian.
While some people believe that therianthropy is a spiritual or psychological phenomenon, others consider it a mental illness. However, a growing online community of therians suggests that it is a poorly understood phenomenon. Therians interpret their experience using a variety of explanations, including spiritual, biological, and psychological, and develop a more holistic interpretation of their experiences than the academic literature.
