So, I don't have any readers yet that I know of, but in case I get some someday, I'm going to talk about my Master. He's a very sweet and attractive young man who isn't part of the fandom. He does, however identify as an Elven otherkin.For this reason, I think he has a little bit easier time understanding why I act the way I do sometimes. I have to admit though, I'm a little confused by purely humanoid otherkin. How do they know when they're experiencing a shift of any type? What tips them off to their other-ness in the first place? And how do they express their identity outside of forums.
For me, as a wolfie, it's quite easy. I run, and it makes me feel close to nature. When I feel up to it, I go on adventures in the woods. I cannot wait for the weather to clear so Master and I can take walks together in the forest and have adventures out there again. I would be interested in pointing to him that there is a logical reason why I feel most amorous when outdoors. It makes sense given my feral instincts afterall. In my mind, an ideal existance would involve the two of us living together in a cabin in the woods. I would gather food, while he did whatever it is Masters do best *wags tail*.
A note: I refer to my boyfriend as my Master, not because of the traditional power inequities between our identified species, but because we are in a Dominant/submissive relationship. This isn't to say that he is in any way inherently better than me. Our inborn natures are different, and when we're together, I tend to gravitate toward a more submissive role, and he towards a more dominant one. More about D/s and how it relates to our relationship as an Elf otherkin and a wolf therian/furry later though.
Since you're asking the questions, I suppose I'll answer them even though you haven't asked IRL. :)
ReplyDelete"How do they know when they're experiencing a shift of any type?"
For me, a shift is often, like your shifts, a feeling of closeness to nature, but it's also something deeper that I can't quite describe, that feels ancient and mystical. (I probably sound silly here) I shift involuntarily sometimes, but also voluntarily when I feel stressed. (I didn't used to have shifts, I was like that all the time until I decided people would think I was weird for it, and trained myself out of it) As a humanoid, though, I'm sure my shifts aren't as strong as yours.
"What tips them off to their other-ness in the first place?"
I became aware of it pretty early, seeing elves and fae in books and movies, and relating to them. I understood them better than humans in the same materials.
"And how do they express their identity outside of forums?"
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. -_-'
"I would be interested in pointing to him that there is a logical reason why I feel most amorous when outdoors."
You're not alone in that feeling. ;)
"(I probably sound silly here)" It sounds no more silly than a boy who growls and wishes he could take off his clothes and have a chewtoy while he's sitting in science class.
ReplyDelete"I shift involuntarily sometimes, but also voluntarily when I feel stressed."
Interesting. I've never shifted out of stress, and usually only do it when I've exercised, or am thinking about it. I think if I was stressed shifting might just make it worse because of the whole trying to act normal aspect.
"I understood them better than humans in the same materials."
I guess that humanoid otherkin have more in common with therians than I realized. That's exactly how I feel about animals in general, wolves and some felids in particular.
"And how do they express their identity outside of forums?"
Well, what I mean is, when I'm feeling really wolflike, I make wolf noises, do wolfish mannerisms, even growling and snapping at people who get in my space and whimpering when I don't understand something. Do you have any behaviors that mark you apart from humans? How do you stay in touch with your elven side?
"You're not alone in that feeling. ;)"
I can't wait until the weather gets better, then ;3
"Do you have any behaviors that mark you apart from humans? How do you stay in touch with your elven side?"
ReplyDeleteWell, we're a lot like humans, so the behaviors aren't that separate. I know that when I'm shifting, I feel a lot calmer than anyone around me, (hence why I do it when I'm stressed) kind of a feeling that "whatever bad things are happening in this moment aren't important because they're temporary". Of course, being in a human body, so am I, so it's not an honest feeling, but it does help me. XD
Another thing is, I really don't understand a lot of human behaviors. I guess I have sort of a permanent culture shock, which is part of why I pretty much ran wild in the woods when I was little and didn't have many friends. They were just so... weird to me, and had so many strange customs. (I'm sure they thought the same of me)