Otherkin facts for kids
Otherkin refers to a group of people who feel they are partly or entirely non-human. This means they identify with creatures from myths, animals, or even fictional characters. Some otherkin believe their identity comes from spiritual reasons. They might feel they have a non-human soul or have been reincarnated. Others explain their identity through unique psychological experiences or different ways of thinking. Many otherkin say they are physically human, but their inner self feels non-human.
This community mainly grew online during the 1990s. It started from smaller groups of people who identified as elves in earlier decades. Today, "otherkin" is a broad term. It includes many other groups who identify as non-human.
Contents
What Does "Otherkin" Mean?
The word "otherkin" for this community was first used in July 1990. It appeared on an online mailing list for people who identified as elves and other mythical beings. A similar word, "otherkind," also appeared around that time. Both words were used interchangeably for a while.
Over the years, "otherkin" became widely used. In 2017, the Oxford English Dictionary added it. They defined otherkin as "a person who identifies as non-human, typically as being wholly or partially an animal or mythical being." Interestingly, the word "otherkin" also existed in Middle English. There, it meant "a different or an additional kind of."
Who Are Otherkin? Exploring Identities
The term "otherkin" covers many different identities. Otherkin might identify as creatures from the natural world, myths, or even popular stories. Some examples include aliens, angels, demons, dragons, mermaids, elves, fairies, horses, rabbits, foxes, wolves, cats, and dogs. Some even identify as plants, machines, or natural events like weather.
Understanding Therians
A specific group within otherkin are called "therianthropes," or "therians." These individuals identify as an animal. This identification can be spiritual or psychological. The specific animal a therian identifies with is called a "theriotype." For example, someone might be a wolf therian.
Kintypes and Otherhearted
What an otherkin identifies as is called a "kintype." It's common in the community to add "-kin" to the end of their kintype. So, someone identifying as a dragon might be called "dragonkin." If someone feels a strong connection with an animal or being, but doesn't identify as it, they are called "otherhearted." For instance, someone who loves and feels connected to dogs might be "doghearted."
The Otherkin Community
Otherkin communities mostly exist online. They usually don't have strict leaders. Their main goals are to offer support and share information. Often, these communities divide into smaller groups based on specific kintypes. While there are occasional in-person meetings, the otherkin network is largely an online space.
The therian community and the vampire subculture are connected to otherkin. Many otherkin consider them part of the broader community. However, these groups also have their own unique histories and cultures. The term "alterhuman" is sometimes used as a wider term. It includes otherkin, therians, vampires, and other similar identity groups.
Symbols of Identity
A common symbol for otherkin is a seven-pointed star. This star is specifically a regular {7/3} heptagram. It is often called the "Elven Star" or "Fairy Star." Otherkin have used this symbol for many decades. One of its earliest uses was by the Silver Elves. They featured it in an article published in 1986.
Beliefs and Experiences
Some otherkin describe feeling very connected to nature. They might feel especially empathetic. Some otherkin say they can "shift" mentally or astrally. This means they feel like they are in their non-human form, even though their physical body doesn't change. They might also describe feeling "phantom limbs." These are sensations of having wings, tails, or horns that match their kintype. Many otherkin also talk about an "awakening." This is a moment when they realize their kintype.
Some researchers see otherkin beliefs as having a spiritual side. However, many otherkin themselves do not see their identity as a religious belief. They often believe in the idea of many parallel universes. This idea helps explain their belief in non-human beings.
A Look Back: Otherkin History
The Early Years (1990s)
The otherkin community began to grow in the 1990s. A student at the University of Kentucky started the Elfinkind Digest. This was an online mailing list for "elves and interested observers." Around the same time, online discussion groups like alt.horror.werewolves and alt.fan.dragons also became popular. These groups, initially for fans of fantasy creatures, started attracting people who identified as these mythical beings.
Growing Recognition (2000s and 2010s)
In the 2000s, otherkin started appearing in media. For example, in 2006, the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis wrote about a dragon-themed otherkin blog. In 2010, a Swedish newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, published an article. It featured a therian describing what it was like to identify as a wolf. This was one of the first major European newspaper articles to explain therian identity.
In 2011, a research group called the International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP) began including otherkin and therians in their annual surveys. This showed a growing interest in understanding these communities.
Understanding Otherkin: Research and Views
Researchers have been studying the otherkin community to understand it better. The first academic paper on otherkin was written in 2008. It introduced the community to other scholars. Some early research suggested otherkin shared ideas with modern pagan movements. However, later studies focused more on how otherkin understand their own experiences.
People outside the community have different opinions about otherkin. Some might find the idea unusual. Others might not understand it. However, the otherkin community is primarily a place for support and sharing experiences. It helps individuals explore and express their unique identities. Surveys have shown that a significant number of people in the furry fandom also feel they are "less than 100% human." This shows a broader interest in non-human identities.
See also
In Spanish: Otherkin para niños
