What is My Theriotype? How to Uncover Your Therian Connection

Special Note: A big shoutout to a similar article on the forums. Great website to get into more detail about the therian community!

Your theriotype is a unique connection between you and the previous animal lives you’ve lived. Many therians feel close to wolves, otters, lions, hawks, and even the ginger house cat you would typically find around an old barn.

If this is your first time down the therian rabbit hole, figuring out the answer to “what is my theriotype” can be a little challenging. To be clear, there is no surefire advice anyone can give you about uncovering your unique theriotype. It is a personal journey of self-discovery. However, some tricks may help you out along the way.

What is My Theriotype? Start with the Why!

The best way to start finding the animals most akin to your therian lifestyle is to separate yourself from your human side. Think about the things therians do, how you see the world, and what you believe that makes you a little different.

Ask yourself, “Are there behaviors or activities (like wearing a therian mask) that are distinctly non-human” you already practice? Not the traits that make you an introvert or want to drink a lot of water like you lived in the ocean. Plus, you’re not just throwing on a costume like a furry to and roleplaying a fursona.

Look at the attributes of an animal. You aren’t trying to put a box around your self-discovery because you love cats more than dogs. Open yourself up to the different mannerisms you’ve adopted. These mannerisms and behaviors are known in the community as “animal heartedness.”

Some clear signs you may be a therian could be:

• You enjoy walking around the house on all fours.
• You instinctively growl or hiss instead of displaying human emotions.
• You have distinct memories of being an animal when you were younger.
• You may feel hunger cravings for animal food like grass, barley, or prey.
• You therian shift into a different mental or emotional space.

A good starting point is to write down any of these experiences, mannerisms, or behaviors in a therian journal. Over time, you’ll begin to see a clear picture of the theriotype you may be.

Getting More Specific with Your Theriotype

Now that you have a basic list of attributes similar to animals let’s look at the specifics. A therian shift often tells you more, but not every therian will shift. A smoother way to narrow things down is to think about your feelings.

Start to look at the specifics of what you see, imagine, and perform. For example, if you hiss like a cat, you may have a theriotype more aligned with panthers, lions, cougars, etc. If you walk around the house swinging on a baluster imaging or feeling a tail gripping onto the railing, your theriotype may be a monkey.

Try to get into the specifics of how you move when in these “states” of being a therian. If you’re walking around on all fours, does it remind you of long legs and eating fresh tree leaves like a giraffe? Or do you imagine hunting through the tall grass like a cheetah?

Little by little, a mental picture of how long your claws are, the type of snout you have, and if you have feathers, scales, or wings will form. Add all these feelings and images to your already growing list, and you’ll have a better idea of your theriotype.

What is My Theriotype: Finding Your Species

The hardest part of locating your theriotype is figuring out your species. So many therians believe they are wolves when they could be a guard dog protecting the family or a sheepdog watching the flock outside.

You must trust your instincts. Look at pictures of animals similar to what you believe your theriotype to be based on your list. Consider the animal’s behavior, the way it moves, how it operates in the world, and what characteristics it displays.

Unfortunately, this may take a bit of research. Even elephants have multiple types based on geography and behaviors. You’ll have to do a little digging into the specifics of each species you are tracking. However, when you do find that one photo that works – it will be like a lightning bolt to your mind.

A Therian is a Lifelong Journey

Part of learning what is my theriotype is realizing your journey is never really over. You may have targeted one theriotype that feels 100% right to you, but could uncover two or three additional theriotypes over the following years.

Be true to yourself and follow your instincts. Take breaks every now and then to allow yourself the space to grow and experience life. When you’re ready, you can always rejoin your research to uncover if there are any other species or theriotypes worth exploring.

Be gentle with yourself. This is a lifelong journey, and it is entirely up to you to take the next steps. No one can dictate who you are. Whether that is a human being dealing with a school test or a cat theriotype doing quadrobics in the afternoon, the pathway forward is led by your identity discoveries.

If you would like to learn more about the Therian Guide, feel free to leave a comment below, share this article, or drop us a line on our contact page. Thank you for reading!

FAQs

How do I figure out my theriotype?

Use a therian journal and try to imagine any shifts you’ve had in the past. Make a note of behaviors you display related to animals that are not human.

How do I know if I am a therian?

Many therians notice a change in personal identity, like feelings of phantom limbs (tails, wings, etc.) or acting in a way where they are disassociated with life and feel like hunting, grooming, or other animalistic displays.

Can you choose your theriotype?

Anything is possible, but the general idea is you don’t choose your theriotype – it chooses you.