Types of Therians, Otherkins, and Shifting

Types of Therianthropy

Shifting Therianthropy: This is the most common type of therianthropy. In this type the person still associates as an animal, but doesn't always feel it. A shifting therian will go in and out of feelings between more animal and more human. Think of it like a number line. A shifting therian moves along that line freely based on when and how intensely they shift.
*Note: When I say shifting I don't mean physically. See the Types of Shifts section below.

Contherianthropy: Contherianthropy is when a person is perfectly blended with their theriotype. Contherians don't experience shfting, rather they are in a constant half state between animal and human.

Cladotherianthropy: A cladotherian is someone who identifies as an entire branch of a species instead of a specific one. For example you have a tiger therian who has pegged their species down to Felidae Panthera Tigris, but a cladotherian may identify themselves as the entire Panthera tree, including tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards, or may go even farther and associate as the whole felidae branch.

Polyweres/Poly-therians: These are people who have more than one theriotype. This isn't saying they are a shapeshifter theriotype, rather they simply associate as two or more distinct species.

Types of Otherkin

Mythkin: These are people who associate as a mythological being or creature such as a dragon, fae, gryphon, or centaur.

Fictionkin/Mediakin/Otakukin: Fictionkin are people who associate as a creature or being from a work of fiction or media. For example a person claiming to be an elf specifically from the Tolkien universe would be a fictionkin. Otakukin are people claiming to be creatures or entities specifically from an anime/manga.

Multiples System: A multiples system is a person who shares their body with one or more entities. Multiples are different from people with dissociative identity disorder in that they are fully aware of the other entities, are able to communicate with them, and don't just black out when one of them takes control of the body.

Otherworldly-kin: These are people who believe that their -kin type is an entity not from Earth, but rather another planet or parallel dimension.
*Note: This is not an official term. This term was simply made up for this thread to denote people who associate as beings from another planet or parallel dimesion. The proper term for such people is simply, otherkin.

Types of Shifting

Mental Shifting: This is one of the most common forms of shifting. A mental shift is when a person's mindset, or way of thinking, becomes closer to that of their theriotypes.

Phantom Shifting: A phantom shift is essientially a therian version of phantom limb syndrome. During these shifts therians feel as though they have various limbs such as tails and ears, and sometimes will experience other sensations like fur, muzzle or even paws.

Dream Shifting: Pretty self explanatory. Dream shifting is when a person dreams they are their theriotype, or becomes their -type in their dream.

Astral Shifting: This form of shifting is done while astral projecting. During this shift the person's spiritual (astral) body becomes their theriotype.

Cameo Shifting: A cameo shift is when a person experiences a shift to something other than their theriotype.

Physical Shifting: By far the most controversial type of shifting their is. Most therians don't believe physical shifting is possible, however in order for this compendium to be complete it must have all of the shifting types. Physical shifting is, obviously, when a person's physical body changes shape to become the person's theriotype.