Therianthropy for Dummies...
a not so intellectual discourse on the discovering the "beast"
within...
(Leopardgrrl interviews herself)
- What is Therianthropy?
- Basically, it's the name given to those of us who share a body with
a creature that is not classified as human....
- You mean like Lycanthropes?
- Partly, but while Lycanthropy relates to "werewolves",
Therianthropy is a more encompassing term...
- So, you think you're a were-somethingoranother???
- Wereleopard, really but why be picky?
- Ok, so what brought this on?
- Not what, who, Lynna Landstreet, but that's whole different interview...
but seriously, Lynna introduced me to the concept of Spiritual Therianthropy
and well, what can I say, I'm now a full-fledged Therianthropoholic!
Hmmm... try coming up with a "12 Step Program" for that!
- Which explains the "amazing fact" blurb on members
page which said you did a ritual in a leopard print bikini...
- Umm, yeah. But I was naked for most of that ritual but....
- ...that's a whole different interview. I got ya.
- (mutters) in more ways than one...
- Sorry?
- Oh, nothing... I was just umm, muttering to my other self.
- Ok, so tell me more -- what the heck is Spiritual Therianthropy
and why are you so into it?
- Good question. I'm attracted to it because I view the wild things
as my brothers and sisters -- the same stuff that is found in our
Mother the Earth is also found in our bodies as well... iron, magnesium,
calcium, etc. So it seems ludicruous to me to believe, as many do,
that human beings are superior to the other creatures that share this
earth. I call this concept Evolution with a Spiritual Twist... which
should make the Bible-thumpers and and other assorted fundamentalists
wanna come after me with a big NET.
- Interesting choice of words....
- What, the Spiritual Evolution bit? I thought it was rather clever...
- No, the part about wanting to come after you with a NET...
- Umm... right.
- Moving right along... So, how DO you find the beast within and
how do you know there IS one?
- I favour reflective rituals, meditations. Sometimes during these
rituals, I do drawings of my creature - which is, I have to say much
different from my Spirit Animals or Totems.
- What's the difference?
- Spirit Animals or Totems choose YOU. They are external spiritual
creatures that choose an individual with the purpose of teaching that
person something. The totem answers a calling, and through its nature,
teaches the individual about themselves -- or opens the door, so to
speak, to parts of the personality that may lay hidden... If, for
example, a creature, such as the hawk, is known for its keen eye and
good hunting ability comes into to person's life as a totem, it may
have done so, in order to indicate to that person that they must pay
more attention to detail and learn to "go after" things
instead of waiting for them to come to him or her...
- Sort of like being "proactive"...
- Exactly! The "were" animal, on the other hand exists within.
It represents and gives life to the parts of our nature that we may
have locked away or perhaps didn't even know we had....
- Can this animal tell you about hidden talents?
- Yes, and also hidden fears... things that need to be dealt with.
Things that could be holding a person back...
- What kinds of things...?
- That really depends on the person... and I'm no psychologist...
- So, let me get this straight... you have a ritual with your coven
members and you pretend you're animals?
- (smacks palm of hand to forehead) D'oh! No, not exactly... we don't
"pretend".
- So you believe this stuff?
- Absolutely -- or I wouldn't be sitting here right now.
- So, who's here, you are the Leopard?
- Leopards can't speak English last time I checked...
- Cute...
- I try.
- Well, I wonder if any of your coven members would like to add
to this, uh, rather interesting interview?
- I dunno, you'd have to ask them nicely. Wolves can be party animals,
but they get awfully annoyed when teased...
- Ok, I'll take that as a hint.
- It's been real....
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