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aloiis is experiencing technical difficulties. He sends his best wishes to you all and has asked me to post this month's poll for writing prompts. I've decided to leave in most of the topics from the last poll, as the results were never officially announced, although I have removed a few that simply weren't getting any votes and I have also added one or two new topics.
As always, we remind our members that these are but suggestions to stir the blood of the mind. We encourage our members to write about whatever topics they are passionate about (assuming that they remain within the community's guidelines, of course... *wink*).
(As a side note, I've attempted to edit the descriptions of the topics to be more inclusive in language of newer members from the otherkin community. As I do so, however, it becomes readily apparent that I'm not all that up on the terms/language used by members of that community. If the terms that I have chosen are not appropriate/usual, I do hope that our newer members will forgive me and gently instruct me. Thank you.)
[Poll #1015649]
Body disphoria:
We often draw parallels between transexuality and therianthropy or otherness, especially in terms of what one may call "body disphoria". How do you relate to this, to the space/environment around you, how does it manifest in your animality/otherness? Discuss body image, physical sense of self and the like. (Please do not limit this prompt to the simple enumeration of phantom limbs.)
Earliest memories/Childhood:
We often hear both therianthopes and otherkin going about how you don't become someone like us someday - you are "born" one. Tell us about the earliest memories you have relating to your animal/other-self, and how different/similar it was from the way you experience the animal and live with it nowadays. I think it would be interesting, since many of us have experienced this since an early age - share it then!
Meeting the animal:
Have you ever been face to face with a member of the species you are inside? What did it feel like, how would you describe this experience?
Music/art:
No matter if you are a synesthete or not, maybe you relate to sound and images in a specific way from your animal or other perspective. Care to share with us your experience of "art/music" as an animal personor otherkin? Is there any music that triggers something in you animality/other-wise? Let's be inspired and talk about it.
Mythological/symbolic archetypes:
Are you interested in the folklore that surrounds the animal or other that you are? How do you relate to it, how far from your reality is it? What's your favorite myth and why? If it's foreign folklore, how does it come to play with your "cultural identity"?
Patron god/goddess:
(Or totem.) This was partially inspired by a discussion on the kemetic otherkin community. If you have a patron, matron, parent and/or beloved god/dess or another kind of tutelary spirit, how do you relate to them as the animal you are? Do you think there is a cause-consequence link between what you are and who "watches over" you, in a way or the other?
Representation of self:
"So many people try to draw their animal or other selves, or to dress in a way that portrays it? How do you discover what animal/other-you actually looks like? Dreams, meditations, phantom sensations, or do you develop a creative representation of yourself?"
Social needs:
This is a popular topic but we'd like the ponderings to go a little beyond the usual "I only trust my circle of friends/pack is everything" answer. How do you relate to other beings as a human, animal, or other, but above all animal-person or otherkin? Does it make a difference if the other person is animal/other as well? What kind of people do you relate the most with and does it have any relation to the animal/other you are, etc. Feel free to mention territoriality and any other related musings you can have.
The Aging Animal:
On the other end of the spectrum from "Earliest Memories/Childhood," is the realization that as we grow older, our perceptions of ourselves - including our animal/other-selves - grows and changes. How has your relationship with or perceptions of your animal/other-ness changed over the years? Is there a wildness that has mellowed, perhaps? Is their graying fur? Have your experiences with your animal/other helped you to gain any particular bits of wisdom?
Summer:
The season of the sun is upon us. How do you relate to Summer as an animal-person or otherkin?
Water:
Similar to the "Fire" topic previously explored here. How do you relate to the element in terms of your animal/other-self?
aloiis is experiencing technical difficulties. He sends his best wishes to you all and has asked me to post this month's poll for writing prompts. I've decided to leave in most of the topics from the last poll, as the results were never officially announced, although I have removed a few that simply weren't getting any votes and I have also added one or two new topics.As always, we remind our members that these are but suggestions to stir the blood of the mind. We encourage our members to write about whatever topics they are passionate about (assuming that they remain within the community's guidelines, of course... *wink*).
(As a side note, I've attempted to edit the descriptions of the topics to be more inclusive in language of newer members from the otherkin community. As I do so, however, it becomes readily apparent that I'm not all that up on the terms/language used by members of that community. If the terms that I have chosen are not appropriate/usual, I do hope that our newer members will forgive me and gently instruct me. Thank you.)
[Poll #1015649]
Body disphoria:
We often draw parallels between transexuality and therianthropy or otherness, especially in terms of what one may call "body disphoria". How do you relate to this, to the space/environment around you, how does it manifest in your animality/otherness? Discuss body image, physical sense of self and the like. (Please do not limit this prompt to the simple enumeration of phantom limbs.)
Earliest memories/Childhood:
We often hear both therianthopes and otherkin going about how you don't become someone like us someday - you are "born" one. Tell us about the earliest memories you have relating to your animal/other-self, and how different/similar it was from the way you experience the animal and live with it nowadays. I think it would be interesting, since many of us have experienced this since an early age - share it then!
Meeting the animal:
Have you ever been face to face with a member of the species you are inside? What did it feel like, how would you describe this experience?
Music/art:
No matter if you are a synesthete or not, maybe you relate to sound and images in a specific way from your animal or other perspective. Care to share with us your experience of "art/music" as an animal personor otherkin? Is there any music that triggers something in you animality/other-wise? Let's be inspired and talk about it.
Mythological/symbolic archetypes:
Are you interested in the folklore that surrounds the animal or other that you are? How do you relate to it, how far from your reality is it? What's your favorite myth and why? If it's foreign folklore, how does it come to play with your "cultural identity"?
Patron god/goddess:
(Or totem.) This was partially inspired by a discussion on the kemetic otherkin community. If you have a patron, matron, parent and/or beloved god/dess or another kind of tutelary spirit, how do you relate to them as the animal you are? Do you think there is a cause-consequence link between what you are and who "watches over" you, in a way or the other?
Representation of self:
"So many people try to draw their animal or other selves, or to dress in a way that portrays it? How do you discover what animal/other-you actually looks like? Dreams, meditations, phantom sensations, or do you develop a creative representation of yourself?"
Social needs:
This is a popular topic but we'd like the ponderings to go a little beyond the usual "I only trust my circle of friends/pack is everything" answer. How do you relate to other beings as a human, animal, or other, but above all animal-person or otherkin? Does it make a difference if the other person is animal/other as well? What kind of people do you relate the most with and does it have any relation to the animal/other you are, etc. Feel free to mention territoriality and any other related musings you can have.
The Aging Animal:
On the other end of the spectrum from "Earliest Memories/Childhood," is the realization that as we grow older, our perceptions of ourselves - including our animal/other-selves - grows and changes. How has your relationship with or perceptions of your animal/other-ness changed over the years? Is there a wildness that has mellowed, perhaps? Is their graying fur? Have your experiences with your animal/other helped you to gain any particular bits of wisdom?
Summer:
The season of the sun is upon us. How do you relate to Summer as an animal-person or otherkin?
Water:
Similar to the "Fire" topic previously explored here. How do you relate to the element in terms of your animal/other-self?
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 09:28 pm (UTC)(And yes I'm somewhat back for now.)