Terms, Labels, and Classifications (Discussion)

[Haru'Shimo]

First Post Reserved
List of valid/agreed upon terms will be updated here.

[Haru'Shimo]

While I'm of the opinion that a rose by any other name smells just as sweet, part of the human condition and modern social standards is the apparent need for labels.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we're no different in that respect.

So, the objective of this discussion is to come up with a list of clear and agreeable terms for the different aspects of the Therian and Otherkin experience.
Everything from the types of Therians and Otherkin, to the Types of Shifts, to related subjects that impact us (such as Furries and Fluff) is fair game.
Once a term, definition, or subject has been discussed and come to an agreeable point with little or no argument against, the term and meaning/clarification will be added to the original post.

This thread will form a contrast to "The Varied Views of Therianthropy".
While that one stands to show the differences in perspective of our state of being, this one will serve to find common ground and compromise between them.

[Seraphyna]

I guess we should start at the beginning?

Otherkin - Someone who identifies as non-human on an integral level.

Therian - Someone who identifies as a non-human, earthly, animal either living or extinct.

Contherian (conotherkin) - Someone who experiences their identity in such a way that it is integrated with their baseline personality to the extent that they are always in a state of human and non-human. Furthermore, that state of blending is constant and the individual does not experience shifts.

Sun/syntherian (sun/synotherkin) - Someone who experiences their identity in such a way that it is integrated with their baseline personality. This state is fluid and experienced on a sliding scale. The individual does experience shifts.

Furry - Someone who is a part of the fandom where the individual creates a character to represent themself and dresses up in a fursuit.

Fluff - Someone whose beliefs are considered to be "out there" and usually show a lack of knowledge about one or more subjects and often violate the laws of science.

Clinical lycanthropy - A psychological condition based in the delusion that one is physically becoming or can physically become a non-human creature, most commonly a wolf.

Totemism - A spiritual practice revolving around the belief in external entities that guide the individual, teach them needed lessons, etc. Totems are most commonly animals.

Shamanism - A spiritual practice that involves communing with, channeling, etc. animal spirits.

Animism - The belief that everything has a soul or spirit.

Daemon - A spiritual construct that is external from one's self.

Shifts:

Mental - When one's thought processes, urges, instincts, etc. become less human and more non-human.

Phantom - When one feels limbs that their body does not physically possess. Their may be a sensation of weight, tingling, pain, or similar.

Dream - This one is debatable, but when one sees themselves as non-human in their dreams.

Aura - When one's energetic body takes on the form of their kintype.

Energetic - When one's energy takes on the "feeling" of their kintype. This one and aura shift are basically the same thing.

Sensory - This one is also highly debatable, but when one's senses seemingly become sharper to correspond more closely with their kintype.

Bilocation - I can't say I entirely understand this one, but from what I've read it's where one feels that they are in two places at once.