Had an epiphany,

just figured out a True Name.

Turns out it's a song.

I've been meaning to post about this for months, but just haven't got around to it.

I'm an actor, and so I spend a lot of time onstage thinking about my body and what it's doing. Last year, I learned Viewpoints movement techniques along with the rest of the cast of a show I was in. Essentially, we thoroughly analyzed body movements and constructed a physical vocabulary to use in group improvisation. We spent a lot of time examining our own gestures and comparing them to one another's--in particular, the ways we walk.

One aspect of walking movement was the body part that a person "leads" with. Actors and dancers should have a good idea of what I'm talking about, but for those who don't: imagine a string is attached to some point of your body, pulling you forward. When you're walking the way you normally do, what part of your body is that string attached to? What part of your body walks through a doorway first? People who are in a hurry seem to lead with their head, while those who appear confident may lead with their chest thrust forward. Other people lead with their hips, or even their feet.

What does this have to do with otherkin?, you're probably wondering. Well, I'm often told that I have rather birdlike gestures. I lead with my shoulders when I walk, and when I'm feeling particularly energetic, I may actually bob my head a little in time with my step. I have a tendency to crane my neck forward or incline my head to someone when I'm interested in what they're saying. These are things I do naturally and unconsciously, though they do become accentuated when I'm concentrating on or just deeply "in" an Other mindset (i.e. attempting to actively channel the parts of me I consider Other, for whatever reason). For the most part, I don't think about doing them except when I'm actively examining my own gestures (onstage, or if I'm feeling unusually self-conscious).

I wonder if this holds true for otherkin in general. Sure, every human being has a different vocabulary of gestures and style of movement. But for people whose identity is somehow nonhuman: is our physicality influenced by the body we "see" ourselves in or associate with? Are many of our insignificant and unnoticed gestures insights into our inner unicorn/mermaid/wombat? How much of our quietly hidden self-images emerge in the ways we walk or gesticulate or use a fork? I'm sure for the people who feel phantom appendages, this kind of thing is pretty noticeable ("I sway my hips when I walk because I'm wagging my phantom tail"). But I imagine phantom appendages aren't the only way the human body interprets being otherkin.

Current Mood: stressed

in a discussion on crazymaxwell 's earlier post, the topic was raised of mixing religious beliefs with explanations of otherkin.  since there are, that i know of, no major religions that teach the presence of otherkin, i'm curious about how and whether they go together.  some of the more theologically liberal faiths might at least accept the idea of otherkin, but some of the more conservative ones are surely already preaching that we're all going to hell and need to be saved, if we're not beyond redemption.  (that is, if they're paying us any attention at all.)  the original question pertained to otherkin who were also Christian, but i'm sure this discussion could be expanded to any of the world's major religions and most of its minor ones.

so to phrase the question:

are there any members of this community who identify as both otherkin and belonging to major religion, particularly those with more conservative traditions?  if so, how do you reconcile those belief systems, or do you feel it necessary to reconcile them at all?

alternatively, does anyone belong to a smaller/more liberal religion/faith community, and if so, how does it handle otherkin, if it does at all?

So, after many years of watching this community (I think it's been longer than 4, I don't remember) and wanting to jump in the fighting and debates more than once, I finally decided to join. I'm a Utah Raptor therianthrope overweight red-headed girl who loves RPGs and plays too much Harvest Moon and World of Warcraft. I've also got a fiance who's not kin in the least (but who had a little kid call him a bear once, that was cute), and we hope to find a house soon to move out.

So, yo. =)

-P.C.

--"Off the Pink."--

Ok, I have to admit, it's nice to see a post with so many comments in principle, but I'm pretty disappointed that it was full of a bunch knee-jerk mayhem. It's partially my fault, I admit, I saw the beginning of the drama but then Heroes was on and I was gonna be damned if I'd let some el jay drama get in the way of the (btw totally kickass) first two episodes of the season. And also, I didn't think I had too terribly much to worry, I really didn't expect as much of a comment explosion as what happened.

Now, don't get me wrong you guys. I don't necessarily expect if you feel horrendously insulted to just lie down and just take it. However, I believe I covered this back in the post I made when starlightforest and I became mods:

"I think in many ways people became somewhat afraid to post after last year's problem. I encourage people to post again during this adjustment period without fear, but of course using some common sense. It seems to have become a trend on the Internet to wrap what is referred to as "blunt honesty" up in some kind of golden wrap and call it a virtue and while it does have its place, it will not be tolerated as an excuse for demeaning harassment of community members. Personally, I find that blunt honesty is all too often used as a cover for nothing more than laziness by people who cannot be bothered to use their command of language to write in a mature and responsible manner. Keep in mind that when you post and when you comment your writings are directed at an audience (and in particular to the comments, since they are read and responded to by many others than the specific person you respond to), so you are expected to write with that in mind. As long as you keep this in mind, and respect others, and in particular respect the moderators when we give warning that you are crossing the line you will be fine."

Of course, at the same time we have this rule in the comm info:

This is not a support group. We expect that people will treat others with a modicum of maturity and respect, but if you come in here expecting that others will just accept everything you say and never question your statements about yourself, please do yourself a favor and walk right back out again. People will NOT treat you with respect if you come in here with some wild story about how you're the Mother of All Things and everyone better wear a sweater. If this isn't clear, feel free to talk to one of the mods about it.

If it is just me deciding, I do not feel that banning of anyone or somesuch is necessary. Maybe starlightforest will see it differently and it may be the case that action is taken.

And I want to clarify, the nature of my distress is NOT the disagreement with jpathos but the manner in which it is conducted. My opinions of such are bolded in my self-quotation. To reiterate: It degenerated into mindless rude name-calling nearly instantly. That is neither helpful or insightful.

It is because of the knee-jerk aggressive and defensive responses by some members of the community that in the past trolls have loved to visit here. Regardless of whether or not you view someone as a troll or not, those kinds of responses either a) antagonize someone in a way that is unlikely to benefit either them or us or b) feeds a troll. Someone might be thinking right now of a 3rd choice, c) driving the person away. That is unacceptable, and frankly a priveledge reserved for moderators (and hells, yeah I'm gonna be jealous about it so don't even go there, people).

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone, or even being offended. But I urge everyone to consider the way in which they frame their objections. Furthermore, I ask everyone who was involved or was thinking about it to consider carefully how they wish the conversation to move forward.

I'm new to the otherkin community as a whole and have just recently even heard about it. Basically someone told me I sounded like an otherkin and I, being the proud and researching son of a bitch that I am, decided not to ask what that meant but instead to search out the meaning of the word. And so I find myself here.

To give you a quick overview  as to who I am I'll elaborate. I'm an intuitive genius. My IQ averages somewhere among the 170s and while I find it to be moderately useful, it does wear on you. It is said that one will have trouble communicating with people more than 30 points away from theirs, that leaves me fairly lonely. Still, don't pity me; while I appreciate the sentiment, I was raised proud as fuck (actually, proud as most hispanics are), and thus it doesn't help much. But to explain the intuitive description of genius: I simply mean I don't know what my mind is thinking but I know when I have the answer. If that makes any sense.
I also have a speech impediment, in actuality it's a sensory impediment. The simple way of saying it is that the translating part of my mind doesn't work. So thoughts to words, as well as sense to thought, is difficult for me.

I've dedicated a major part of my life to understanding how the mind works and how people think. I think the article in American Psychologist is my most bragged about tidbit in real life.

Anyways, to the supernatural bit. I'm very much a skeptic, but I've learnt from my own experience that the current sciences are lacking. I do though however have a fairly good grasp of how the realities work to some extent. And I'll say it here that I am willing to inform people of all of this, but only to seem nice; To be quite honest, it (reality) is mostly depressing and, in my experience, most people don't truly care to know.

I find many things to be trite and I probably come off as arrogant as all git out. Which I'm pretty sure I am. That being said, there is a part of me that sits here and is reading through so much of this and finds all of it lacking in much substance. Much of it. But I do see some gleam of knowledge here and there. I hope to learn.

Don't worry though, I will hold my tongue for most of my observations. It honestly doesn't help the guy when you realize he's gay before he does, and you tell him, if anything it holds him back; As such I won't be picking everyone apart aloud.

It will take some type before I fully understand the terminology of kintype/phenotype/etc in reference to the otherkin community, I am a flowy mass of medium-grey matter till then.

This week, this man impressed the hell outta me by having the courage to speak the truth, regardless of the cost.... So I created this piece out of respect for him.

For Joel, the original "Angry Lemur."

( Cick here for the image )


For the rest of the gallery of my "Animal-People" artwork, please visit my gallery by clicking here.

Hello, my name is Eistir.  I believe this is my first post to this group. ^_^ Hopefully, I'll be welcomed.

I believe I'm going through my Awakening.  A lot of things are confusing right now, and some things have been getting clearer.  I know that I have vampiric tendencies.  I've had several more prominent instances where I have fed and I have had many traits of not having enough prana, but I cannot explain why.  I don't think I'm a vampire, but I can't rule it out.  I've had many psychic abilities since I was little.. well, for as long as I can remember.  I realize that alone does not qualify me as Otherkin, but there are more reasons that are becoming more apparent to me.  www.embracingmystery.org/articles/otherkin-memory.html Lists many traits, and as it says, I realize that they alone do not make me 'kin but I have this overwhelming sense that I'm tuning into part of myself that I've tried to hide for a long time.  I'm researching like a madwoman and have been spending much of my free time.. well, pretty much all of my free time online talking to people in forums, looking up different 'kin, and talking to friends of mine who are 'kin as well.  I think I may be Sidhe.  I was wondering if anyone had good links that I could try out to help me come to terms with who or what I am.  I've already been to places like Drink Deeply and Dream (I'm a member), obviously Embracing Mystery (I'm a member there also), Otherkin.net, Otherkinphenomena.org, Otherkinalliance.org, and several other sites.  I guess, a lot of me is still skeptical because a lot of me is rejecting all of this, yet a lot of me is emersing myself in the research because I think I might be uncovering part of myself.  I'm so confused right now. >.< I can't explain in words exactly how I feel.

Any help with links would be very much appreciated.

Any help with ideas on how to fully recover/unveil/realize/accept myself would be appreciated as well.  Meditations, anything would be of help at this point.

I feel like I'm on this path and I'm in the dark, I can't see, I'm a little worried, but I know I'm on the right path... Idk >.< Hard to explain..

Help?

Current Mood: restless

Here we go... the Finished Cover. Again, while not specifically "Kin Themed," it has elements of the old tales woven throughout...

For the whole gallery of art, please visit http://www.portiastluke.com

I have no particular fondness for poets, writers, artists, though that can be a plus. I am attracted to the stereotypical moody ones ...

My name is Dechtire, at least online, and I'm Sidhe, specifically Leanan Sidhe. I am not cruel, calculating, a maniuplator, nor was I ever cruel in any incarnations spent as Sidhe. Before this life I was Sidhe. I tend to want to be with someone until I've caught him fully up in the relationship - and then let him go. I don't mean to, it's just how I am, how I was. It's not to be cruel, or cold.  I suppose that is where the stereotype comes into play. Needless to say this doesn't play out well in the human world .... and there have been many bitter ends of relationships that, in my mind, never were.

I grab energy where I can get it - ambient atmospheres, a store, a mall, and bring the energy inside. I am still learning to filter through the energy, and sort between what I need and what will hurt me. In that way, I am vampiric, but not a vampire. I am Sidhe, still, inside, but lack sufficient energy as I did when I was Sidhe both inside and out, so I must get it elsewhere.

A muse? I doubt it, unless you could say anyone could be a muse for the right person.

I'm still learning about myself and working with energy is fascinating. I did want to post an introduction while I was still awake.

I remember walking into this body *before* it was born. I do not know what happened to the soul / spirit / person who would have been here instead.

Thank you for reading.