Therianthropy

OK you guys time to do some fessing and thinking here.
I stumbled on the word a few years ago and thought-that's completely nuts! Well I've done some reading up on it and find that it could definately be 'for real' and is even very interesting...

Has anyone here ever heard of this? Do you believe it's possible? Does anyone here feel they could be one..physically, mentally or spiritualy? Let me know what you guys think..
Magestica

*Also here is a link for those who don't know what it is*
www.therianthropy.org...

hey mag

about two months ago i did research into magic and came accross this subject. its very interesting

go to the below address. its a search engine that i used when doing my research. it'll find you loads on magic and stuff like that

www.avatarsearch.com...

hope it is of use to you

Thanks for the link-but I'm not a big site search monger..as I think alot of sites are hyped up..
Also I know all about weres and shapeshifters, I was mainly asking if any of YOU knew or had heard about them and could relate.
Mag

unfortunately i dont know too more than what i came accross in my research - i know much more on familiars etc. but i met someone once who said that he dreamt alot about him as a cat. i remember him saying that at first it scared the living daylights out of him because the dreams were reoccuring night after night, but he soon began to like the experience

looking for is an experience or anything 'personal' about this..
That's interesting about your friend and he could have very well been a cat in a past life or have the soul of a cat(according to those who believe this) I've never dreamt I was an animal, but I do feel that I have a stong connection with them. And I could almost swear that I've looked into the eyes of an animal and seen a human or even vice verse. So I don't count this out yet as being a fable.
Mag

seem to be bump"in into you
yes absolutely possible
suggest you read the "Teachings of Don Juan a Yauqui way of Knowledge" by Carlos Castenada
you can skip the first book he did not learn much in that one the next couple are extremely educational and informative
carefull when you practice though, might scare the # out!

Used to be some of my favorite subjects to do school papers on...

Most historic accounts of werewolf sightnings though, seem to have an underlying scientific factor. Can't remember where I first saw it, but there was a special I remember, where they showed on a map, areas with werewolf sightings over a period of years. They then superimposed another map, this one showing flooding, and they coincided with each other. The theory being that wheat crops got flooded, and moldy. The mold on them had a narcotic effect (basically it was LCD), and seemed to magnify existing folklore, into mass hysteria...

A similar occurance is thought to have led to the Salem witch trials...

While I tap into my "animal" side occassionally (especially when dealing with other animals), I wouldn't consider it an essential part of my conscious nature...

Yes...totally believe it.

Though I guess you could also come at it from a cultural perspective as well...as spiritual/mental/psychic connection, within my culture, with animals is not uncommon, nor are myths/legends of those who possessed the ability to shape-shift into the form of an animal.

Often, we believe, our guides/gaurdians...or Kaitiaki (pronounced K-eye-tea-ar-key) as they are called, take on the form of animals. In the forest ya might get followed by the same bird, even if the bird itself is a bird that only appears at night...yet will follow you all through the hours of daylight as well. Various fish/eels can be Kaitiaki. Kaitiaki in animal form can be the spirit of a passed ancestor, who has come back to this realm, in the form of an animal, to watch over and guide/gaurd you for a while...for whatever reason. And yes...there have been times when I've seen an animal and it 'feels' human...and as you say, vice versa as well.

In fact, one of the largest forms of Kaitiaki were/are the Taniwha (pronounced Tar-knee-far)...which can take any form from a large lizard, to a flying serpent type creature, large 'Lock Ness Monster' water creature, to huge dinosaur type creatures etc etc. The taniwha were/are spiritual/ancestral gaurdians of various tribal areas.

However...particularily when hunting...it is common to take on the movements, the senses (in a way) of the forest animals...or the prey you are hunting. For instance, watching 'old-school' hunters stalk deer, they move very much like deer do. Just a case of becoming apart of the environment you are hunting in, by 'becoming' one of the wildlife within it.



Peace,
ALIEN

[Edited on 30-5-2003 by alien]

Thank you for that info...that's what I was looking for, was wondering if certain people do feel a certain connection with a certain animal...whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually..
I have spoken to 'people' who claim they can shapeshift and I honestly believed them. The thing I find hard to understand is how can a human carry the soul of say a bird or tiger? I believe in reincarnation, but always thought we carried the same 'human soul' throughout all of our lives?? I've heard some say that you have the same soul but you may have been a wolf in a close past life and therefore during this one you find it very hard to be a human, but can totally relate and feel bound to a wolf or other animal...

This to me is a very questionable subject, for there are very little answers and 'knowing' about this and it seems also extremely rare..

I've heard true accounts of Shamans who are connected spiritualy with an animal and can move their spirit to that animal if need be..(this is difficult to explain) so if I'm not making sense let me know please..

I know you answered my questions alien, but really I'm just trying to better understand it-which might take a while heh..

I have heard of hunters 'becoming' the hunted and seem to hunt almost ritual like-which to me shows a great respect for the life you are about to take instead of just killing for greed..I believe that the entire area should in some way be blessed and shown respect and even 'asked' for permission before proceeding this would be the ONLY time I agree with hunting another animal-and this is rare..

OK so I got off the subject there for a moment-sorry that is a touchy subject with me though..
Mag

that all life has a consciousness of a sort...but there are degrees... Perhaps it is heirarchal...perhaps not. Maybe in my next life, I want to see what it's like to soar like a bird... Is this possible? Who knows? The good news....one day, we'll all find out, one way or another....

Originally posted by magestica
I have heard of hunters 'becoming' the hunted and seem to hunt almost ritual like-which to me shows a great respect for the life you are about to take instead of just killing for greed..I believe that the entire area should in some way be blessed and shown respect and even 'asked' for permission before proceeding this would be the ONLY time I agree with hunting another animal-and this is rare..

This we always do...before heading into the bush to hunt, there are things we must do first...karakia (prayers) that need to be said/performed to ask Tane Mahuta (Forest God) permission to take one of his children. Often we are reciting karakia to ourselves as we move through the bush...part of that is to help tune oneself into the surrounding bush and the wild-life that exists there...so you can sense your prey easier...but that process of karakia is very much to ensure that the area you walk through is being blessed...cleansed...and having the Tapu (sacredness) temporarily lifted from it...for in effect, by hunting, you are bringing death into that area...so there are rituals that need to be performed to deal with the Tapu of death/killing a living being etc. There is quite an involved process in hunting...it isn't just a case of 'throw the rifles in the back of the car and go blast something cute and fluffy'...no way...all that is done is done to honour/acknowledge the connection we have with the land, with Tane Mahuta...and very much with the animal we are hunting and about to take from the bush.

The Forest - like all land - is our Papatuanuku (Earth Mother)...it is ALWAYS respected and honoured...for it is our living, breathing, providing, nuturing Mother.



Peace,
ALIEN

Originally posted by Gazrok
that all life has a consciousness of a sort...but there are degrees... Perhaps it is heirarchal...perhaps not. Maybe in my next life, I want to see what it's like to soar like a bird... Is this possible? Who knows? The good news....one day, we'll all find out, one way or another....

Book: The Einstein factor
Author: Win Wenger
Chapter: 8 (model thinking)

www.amazon.com...

read it... In that chapter a student was aware of what a bee was experiencing.

I have done only humans till now though...

www.winwenger.com...