Half assed Otherkin

[Kreyas]

Do you think those who's reason for being Kin is that they were X in a past life qualify as Otherkin? My current thought is leaning toward no. My reason, because being Otherkin is about what you are *now* in this life (as you mentioned) If you aren't a X now but you were then, you aren't Otherkin. Proof perhaps of reincarnation and other realms of existence yes, but not Otherkin as usually defined. Of course, just for good measure, we are all human in the sense that we have human bodies etc...

My personal thought on this topic is that if someone was other-than-human in a past life, then they still count as otherkin if they strongly identify with that life - BUT if they think that life is more significant to them then the events of their current life, well that is of itself more interesting than whether they're human or not.

There are of course two options - one, that people who hold on to a past life are unable to properly deal with this one and they should grow the hell up and get on with living in the here-and-now rather than thinking about how green the grass is elsewhere. The other option is that how we came to be who and where we are is of vital importance, and to ignore the past - even the distant past - is shortsighted and best, destructive at worst.

I don't presume to know which is closer to the truth for any one individual, even myself.

I think it'll be interesting to see where this discussion goes.

My two cents is when I identify as a kintype, I identify as the kintype I am today, not an incarnation where I was of a different kintype. So, it seems to make sense to me to extend this regarding one's labeling as a human. Technically speaking, if you are solely human now... well then you'd be human wouldn't ya?

Of course, technical definitions tend to be drastically different from commonly used definitions in the Otherkin community. I think Otherkin as a whole will always accept into the community those who are sympathetic of Otherkin or may be human now but identify with a kintype they had in the past, regardless of whether or not you believe there is an Otherkin community or not.

[Granamyr]

Well, of course I don't think anyone should be shunned or told, "Gee whiz, sorry, you don't fit our criteria for Otherkin so could you please stop using that title."

I was more thinking of what a dictionary definition would be like if one existed or were ever created. If the community were pressed to define Otherkin, what would it say? What lines would we draw? Obviously there are lines or what's the point of calling ourselves Kin to begin with? You know?

Still, my own theory of what I am isn't set in stone. I don't expect others to have arrived at that point.

[Miniar]

Speaking from first-hand experience: it is deeply annoying when someone holds the personality you once held in a past incarnation against you in this incarnation, especially when the core of your personality has drastically shifted in recent incarnations :/.

It is exactly my point.
If your "soulmate" from ages past returns and you assume he's the same person then shouldn't we hang people who killed people some centuries ago? If jack the reincarnates and becomes a modern day mother Teresa, should we put him on trial for having been jack the ripper in a past life?
The answer is an obvious and astounding "no".
What you used to be should neither be held to judge who you are, nor should it be held to elevate who you are.

[Miniar]

Huzzah for proper reflection and thought!

I want to ask your opinion Freetha and possibly start a new thread of it hasn't been asked before...

Do you think those who's reason for being Kin is that they were X in a past life qualify as Otherkin? My current thought is leaning toward no. My reason, because being Otherkin is about what you are *now* in this life (as you mentioned) If you aren't a X now but you were then, you aren't Otherkin. Proof perhaps of reincarnation and other realms of existence yes, but not Otherkin as usually defined. Of course, just for good measure, we are all human in the sense that we have human bodies etc...

Thoughts? Like I said I'm leaning toward no but I'm open to being convinced otherwise. Myself? I had to struggle with this because I think if I *was* a dragon then I'm not Otherkin. But I wasn't a physical dragon. After loads of thinking, and I'm not wanting to divulge my personal reflections, I'm an incarnate spirit. I didn't die, I incarnated so as to have a human body and experience human life. Though I didn't know all that would happen in this life. My core identity is that of being a dragon spirit. My human identity is here simply because of this physical incarnation. Again, thoughts? Discuss!

Well, of course I don't think anyone should be shunned or told, "Gee whiz, sorry, you don't fit our criteria for Otherkin so could you please stop using that title."

I was more thinking of what a dictionary definition would be like if one existed or were ever created. If the community were pressed to define Otherkin, what would it say? What lines would we draw? Obviously there are lines or what's the point of calling ourselves Kin to begin with? You know?

Still, my own theory of what I am isn't set in stone. I don't expect others to have arrived at that point.

A proper reply to the whole of this..

People within the otherkin community that consider themselves otherkin, are a part of the otherkin community and thus for all intents and purposes stand counted when people talk about otherkin as a whole.
Personally I use the defenition that otherkin are people that "identify" themselves as something other than human on some level. I don't think that having lived one lifetime as a dog makes an otherkin kin if they don't choose to see that life as a significant part of their identity. If you "were" a dog however and neither remember nor choose to identify as one, then you're a human being. I think that there's a lot more human beings out there that used to be non-human than there ever could be "otherkin".
So yes, people who identify themselves as non-human on some level = otherkin.

There are a lot of people who identify themselves as non-human who may never have been non-human and are in effect escapists and roleplayers but while they identify themselves as non-human and are members of the otherkin community we still have to bear that burden. Just like there are people in the vampire community that make arbitrary statements and make a lot of people react with a "that's not what it's about" sort of reaction, but still, while they are in the community and call themselves vampires, the community as a whole has to learn to deal with it.
All we can do is try to stay "serious" and ask questions and be the "bad guy" and keep the worst from being allowed to bring the whole concept of otherkin down into the muck and painting it in the bright and obvious colours of "conglamoration of sycophants and idiots".

[chaitea]

Thank you so much for writing this, Freetha.

I can relate to having known an individual who had many of the characteristics (and then some) that you described early on in your article. I met him my first year of college and for several months he worked at manipulating me in such a way. Thankfully I was steady enough in my otherkin identity by then that he didn’t warp my beliefs to what he wanted me to have faith in.

But I do worry about the people he continues to try and affect, as well as the others out there like him. So again, I fully appreciate you writing this and hope that young impressionable otherkin see something like this before they meet someone like him.

[Miniar]

I post it both because I know someone who has fallen into this, someone who's lost years, and because I'm permanently rendered fed up with the manipulative jerks.

I've spoken to the manipulative type that doesn't realize he's being the manipulative type too. Those are the scariest ones. They cost themselves and others years and they don't even know they are doing it. I do not think we should let that sort of thing go along without challanging it at all because we'd be hurting ourselves, each other, and even those that are "at fault" by leaving the topic unbreached (especially for the sake of keeping the peace).

[Motley]

It was much better back in my day before every teenager and their dog had internet. It wasn't fashionable to have wings back then.

[Deros]

It was much better back in my day before every teenager and their dog had internet. It wasn't fashionable to have wings back then.

It had actually taken me months to find the draconic community after I awakened, much less the otherkin community as a whole. It just didn't occur to me that such a thing might exist.

[Motley]

I was just by myself wandering in and out of denial for years. I wrote a few fictional stories, or planned them at least, without telling anyone where they came from or why. I hadn't met anyone who felt the same way I did, except now in hindsight, one of my friends when I was younger may have been a unicorn kin.

[Kreyas]

It was much better back in my day before every teenager and their dog had internet. It wasn't fashionable to have wings back then.

*shrugs* When I was first exposed to the concept of otherkin, I didn't understand why people would think they're cool for claiming to be such a thing. I still don't understand this - it's not like they get attention they're seeking. Maybe it's just the communities (IRL and online) I've belonged to but it seems usually one of two things inevitably happen: 1) Yeah, whatever - that's kinda normal around here - or 2) FAIL.