A Guide: Therianthropy

•Types of Shifts •

Mental Shifts (M)
A mental shift is a shift in which one's mental state changes to reflect that of their theriotype. A person experiencing a mental shift may act and respond to their surroundings "as though [they] were that animal or creature". This may include animalistic urges, a change in desires, or a focus of attention, for example, the urge to make animal noises or the desire to walk on all fours.

Phantom Shifts (Ph)
Phantom shifts are shifts that cause the experience of phantom supernumerary limbs. These shifts come with the sensation of feeling a limb or body part that one was never born with, such as wings, tails, horns, long ears, or muzzles. In Naia's 2016 survey, they were reported by 90% of participants who experienced shifts, making them the most common type of shift reported. 

Astral Shifts (Al)
For otherkin who experience astral projection, an astral shift is experienced when one shifts during astral projection or when one's astral form takes on the appearance of one's kintype. Most descriptions of astral shifts are primarily by spiritual otherkin, but some psychological otherkin do experience them as well.

Aura Shifts (A)
Similar to astral shifts, experiences of aura shifts are mostly sourced from spiritual otherkin. Aura shifts occur when an otherkin's aura takes on the shape or form of their kintype.

Cameo Shifts (C)
A cameo shift is a shift to something other than a person's kintype. An example would be,
"Fern's theriotype is a rabbit, but they shifted into a dog."

Dream Shifts (D)
A dream shift is a shift where one is or becomes their kintype during their dream. Some people recall past life memories this way.

Sensory Shifts (Se)
A sensory shift is a shift type where one experiences a change in their sensory perception that mimics their kintype. This is often experienced as an acute focus on one particular sense, such as hearing or smell. They often co-occur with mental shifts.
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Controversial Shift Types
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Physical Shifts (P)
Physical shifts are a supposed shift type where one may change their physical form and become their kintype in a literal sense. This type of shifting is nearly universally disregarded as a complete fantasy. Physical shifting is not possible, and several groups have been formed over the years around grooming and abusing otherkin through promises of teaching them how to physically shift.

Bilocation Shifts (Bi)
A supposed shift type is where one's kintype leaves their body and physically manifests somewhere else. Many consider this to be as controversial as physical shifting.

Berserker Shifts (Be)
A berserker shift causes the shifter to lose control of themselves and begin to act more like their theriotype than human. This type of shift could be considered an extreme mental shift. This term originated from Norse mythology by warriors who would purposefully "possess" themselves with a beast to gain strength, fearlessness, and fury. The general community consensus is that this type of shift is extremely unhealthy, and may lead to the harm of others and/or the shifter.

Shadow Shifts (Sw)
A shadow shift is a type of shift where the shifter does not change physically, but in which witnesses claim to see the shifter's appearance change. This shift is often seen as an illusion or a trick of the light, and due to this, it's debated whether shadow shifts are a real form of shifting.
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References

Naia Ōkami: "" (July 17, 2020). .↑ Clive Baldwin; Lauren Ripley (August 7th, 2020). Qualitative Sociology Review.↑ Naia Okami (2016). 2016 Otherkin Community Survey.↑ Ashenfall: "" (July 17, 2020). . ( version). (Archived on February 5, 2022). Othermagic: "" (June 22, 2016). . Atlas of Mossland: "" (January 26th, 2018). . ( version). (Archived on December 19, 2018).↑ Lupa (March 1st, 2007). A Field Guide to Otherkin Megalithica Books.↑ Swiftpaw: "". . ( version). (Archived on December 23, 2004).↑ RagdollTherian: "" (June 2011). .↑ Lupa (2007). A Field Guide to Otherkin Megalithica Books.↑ Pinky: "" (December 24, 1999). . Daniel McCoy: "". .