wolves.tf

[do you perceive me? truly, for what i am? what i represent and convey?]

[i speak of ways forbidden; cast aside by the masses and demonized by those most allied to its parallel]

[i walk the edge of duality; interacting between both sides. ʟɪᴍɪɴᴏᴛʜ. my flesh which attempts to rearrange]

[i am a representative of ways they hoped they could ａｂａｎｄｏｎ]

🜖 Δ 🜔

ᴀ ʜʏʙʀɪᴅ, ᴀʟᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʏᴍʙᴏʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇꜱʜɪꜰᴛɪɴɢ

🜖 (Sulfur) → represents raw, primal energy and instinct. The driving force behind shapeshifting. In layman's terms, this is the non-humanly form in standby.Δ (Delta) → symbolizes change, transition, and flux. The moment of initialization. The liminal threshold where the veil gives way to the process of change into the animal self.🜔 (Mercury) → embodies fluidity, adaptability, and again liminality. The finality of transformation. The shapeshifters' flexibility both mentally and physically, and the nonhuman form made manifest.

• // open the conscious //

ʙɪᴏ-ᴍᴇᴛᴀᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇʀꜱ

Bio-metaphysical Shapeshifting (P-shifting) - refers to the most communally accurate, and integrative understanding of the dual, holistic nature of real-world, modern-age physical shapeshifting: the ability to physically alter one's humanly form into an alternative, earthly-restricted, non-human animal secondary. Overall, physical shifts can be a spectrum, and may range from all-encompassing totality of form, to smaller or even very minor partial changes. It is an act of raw, extremely personal expression; honed over years of development and suffering that transcends typical means. Due to the sheer, general negatives of this ability, existence, and mental strain it can place upon practitioners, it is not a coping method meant to distract from general daily discomfort. Current understanding limits bio-metaphysical shapeshifting to only naturally born retainers of this ability, and is not something that can be taught to non-wielders, or attained naturally outside of potentially very select ritualistic settings or bargains with extremely negative trade-offs. THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BECOME A BIO-METAPHYSICAL SHAPESHIFTER IF YOU ARE NOT ONE ALREADY.

ɪɴᴅɪᴠɪᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴀꜰꜰʟɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Being born a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter is an existence that does not ascribe to the fallacies of common modern-age physical shapeshifting theory. Commonly, those who experience being a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter experience life-long side effects and complexities surrounding societal integration, inner balance, and anxiety surrounding keeping up a perpetual "monitoring state" upon themselves. Although shifters may look like any normal human, and may generally seem normal to unsuspecting onlookers, they typically operate on completely different mental wavelengths and may become reactive or aggressive due to an array of environmental triggers. This is not to say that they are an ever-present danger to others or themselves. Treat them with the same respect and caution you would a wild animal of the same type. They are still generally normal people, can hold jobs, and can engage in thoughtful conversation and interpersonal relationships like anyone else. Have empathy for moments where they behave or react in strange ways, and be patient with them. If choosing not to let their nature surface entirely on purpose, an added stress factor is that they must be in control of themselves at all times or otherwise risk instinctual bleeds: a moment where control is accidentally or subconsciously lost, and animalistic instincts or tendencies surface.

There is no set age or time when someone may find out that they are a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter. However, more often than not, the knowledge has been present since birth, due to the ever-present effects it has on their lives. These effects (whether psychological or physical), outside of the risks of instinctual bleeds, can vary among shifters and may differ depending on the exact holotype (to be explained in a lower segment) of the shifter. In these cases, there was never an epiphany or awakening. Instead, it has always been who they are, and what they are. As such, often times it is a very integral part of their overall identity and affects a majority of their general operation within society and the world. Again, due to this being something they are born with/as, there is zero way to escape its effects and results. There is no clinical way to treat someone who is a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter due to its intrinsic, physical nature. It does not present itself like clinical lycanthropy or zoanthropy, which typically present themselves in underlying mental illnesses like schizophrenia, psychosis, or depression. However, development within actually performing physical shapeshifting can alter neural pathways that remain permanent even after a shift is cancelled or has expired. This means that the neutral headspace, general behavior, and the perception of self of a shifter may be permanently affected after performing physical shapeshifting. General therapeutic practices may help to alleviate some of the confusion and stress that may accrue due to the existence, however. It is a life-long affliction, (though some may see it more positively) and like anyone else, there are levels to one's understanding of self. Because of this, there is a spectrum of development among shifters, and not every bio-metaphysical shapeshifter may have experienced physical-shapeshifting yet.

ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇʀɪᴀɴᴛʜʀᴏᴘɪᴄ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀʏ

The early 1990's to later 2000's saw the rise and fall of an array of individual and all equally harmful groups promoting traditional or "old-age" physical-shifting methodology within Therianthropic communities. These groups in question generally promoted fallacies such as being able to "attain" physical shifting abilities with zero prerequisites other than intention, via an array of ridiculous and self-harming methods. Due to this, the general sentiment surrounding physical-shapeshifting within Therianthropic groups has become a taboo and often treated with immediate vitriol. This resource serves as a major deviation from traditionally spread shift-logic, and concretely contests and forsakes these traditional claims. The goal is foster a general understanding within these groups of a practice and existence still held in parallel communities. Physical-shapeshifting will never be removed from the general alter-human/nonhuman discussion. It's best to just approach it in the healthiest, most genuine way possible, and again, be compassionate towards the small community of actual shifters who exist within it.

Make no mistake: This is not to convey that bio-metaphysical shapeshifters break away from Therianthropy in entirety. In fact, many bio-metaphysical shapeshifters are also therian, and actively interact and engage within therian spaces; albeit not every therian is a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter.

ꜱɪᴍɪʟᴀʀɪᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀɴᴛꜱ

Much to the frustration and distaste of the general Therianthropic community, bio-metaphysical shapeshifters still very much run in parallel with them, and share even therian-understood, alternative physical shifts. Rapid-Onset Cognitive Animality (Mental-Shifting) - describes the dual (both therian and shifter)-shared experience of one's physical neuroplasticity altering rapidly into a more animalistic state. Thought patterns modify and change, and overall cognition of human concepts, language, and standards may dull or be altered completely. Behaviors become akin to one's "Theriotype", or in terms of bio-metaphysical shapeshifters, their Holotype. A Holotype refers to the individual's, singular animal form or "secondary". Holotypes are naturally determined directly from birth, and cannot be changed. Typically, different holotypes may be less or more common depending on worldly regions and don't typically segregate themselves to only one traditional species. The only rule of thumb that has been consistent is that a holotype MUST be within similar human mass categories. Anyone claiming secondaries of abnormally small or large size is lying about being a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter, or is a confused therian.

Personal excerpt: This is not meant as an insult towards Therians. Simply put: It is invaluable to lose definitions in the attempt at being inclusive. The P-shifting community has seen its fair share of the types of vitriol and rot that has spread far and wide, and no-longer do we wish that to be the case.

While both shifters and therians share mental-shifting, they also may generally take up similar neurodivergent or ASD-like behaviors or diagnoses. It's important to note that this also applies to cases of variable schizotypy, however not every shifter or therian experiences this. This is to say that having diagnoses such as schizophrenia does not inherently stop someone from being a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter; but it does mean more care needs to be applied to ensure their perceived shifting experiences are not a result of their condition. In recall to an above segment, both therians and shifters may experience animalistic behaviors and instinctual displays. This in theory, can muddle what potentially would be a very obvious teller; except for the fact that bio-metaphysical shapeshifters typically tend to have no stimulus-induced behavioral safeguards, as therians might. Modern-age therians will typically (more often than not) consciously induce animalistic mental states and mimicry behaviors, whereas shifters permanently exist within a varying, and ever increasing or decreasing degree of animality that never leaves. This is why reactivity can be quick for bio-metaphysical shapeshifters--they are always in a degree of mental-shift.

On the surface, there is no physical difference telling a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter from a therian. Determinations can be made from behavior coming off a bit "too feral", or from unconscious reactions that he shifter doesn't often realize. Therians generally still distinctly come off very human-like even when in animalistic states. However, bio-metaphysical shapeshifters may come off unnerving or "distinctly unsettling or animalistic" to someone's conscious perception of them. This is generally due to the metaphysical energy dynamics of their existence; something that interacts with everyone, even if they do not consciously recognize or believe it.

ʜᴏʟɪꜱᴛɪᴄ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄꜱ

Fundamentally, bio-metaphysical shapeshifting requires the agreed understanding that the ability does not particularly agree with the limitations of currently understood biology and thermodynamics. While the act of physical-shapeshifting is, as the word would suggest, physical, metaphysical interplay MUST be present to allow for changes to occur. In short, the most commonly agreed upon understanding is that physical-shapeshifting is a dual interplay of both physical and non-physical mechanics. With this stated, we can begin to introduce a few new concepts to flesh out a bit better what traditional explanations of shapeshifting did not provide. As stated previously in an above segment, this resource page is not meant to teach shapeshifting--merely depict what we are and what we go through in a way more descriptive than any other resource ever created.

Energy Density plays a crucial role in the facilitation and act of physical-shapeshifting. Innately, bio-metaphysical shapeshifters are intrinsically tapped into primal energy: the driving power and force behind shapeshifting itself. (Primal energy is not exclusive to physical-shapeshifting and can be found in broader metaphysical practices and cultures that do not interact with shapeshifting). Due to the natural connection they have with this energy type, it allows Energy Routing to occur easily with minimal effort being needed to specifically channel primal energy throughout their bodies. On it's own, primal energy does not cause shifts, and is merely raw material for the practitioner to use. Beginning any sort of shapeshift requires, as previously mentioned, energy density. Specifically, the act of Energy Condensement. Any act of metaphysical practicionership, no matter the individual type, requires condensement: compressing and compounding energy into a focused place, allowing it to multiply and grow exponentially in its effects.

Physical-shapeshifting is a process that burns stored, metaphysical energy from a shifter's allotted energy reserves at an exorbitant rate. While existing in a human-state, bio-metaphysical shapeshifters burn about the same to slightly less energy as their natural energy bodies can generate. This allows for an energy reserve to build over time. Each individual's maximum reserve amount can vary, but they are not infinite. While shifted into the secondary, energy burns from this reserve at a rate faster than replacement energy can be produced. This means that while fully shifted (Totality-Shift), the shifter does NOT have an indefinite amount of time they can spend in the form. More experienced shifters automatically build a sort of "efficiency" to burning energy in a way that slows down the process of the energy burn to allow for longer shift-lengths. However, this eventually either caps out, or reaches diminishing development, leading to no natural way of slowing the burn to less than the generated amount (varies from shifter to shifter). You cannot increase your energy reserve cap. When the energy reserve is completely depleted, the body will induce an Automatic-Defaulting: acting as a catalyst of a forced-shift back to their primary human form.

ᴘʜᴇɴᴏᴛʏᴘᴇ-ꜱɴᴀᴘꜱʜᴏᴛᴛɪɴɢ

Before any physical shapeshift occurs, a conscious or subconscious effort is made to condense primal energy into a form that allows for physical-shapeshifting. Condensement can occur either willingly (through grueling practice) or unwilling (via environmental over-stimulation, fight-or-flight responses, or extreme dumps of adrenaline). This means that physical-shapeshifting is something that can attempt to occur entirely on its own whim; without the approval of the afflicted person. This again, adds a stressor to the lives of Bio-metaphysical shapeshifters, and is something that must be kept in mind at all times to avoid entering shift stages unwillingly. Luckily, beginning stages can be quickly cancelled or redirected before later stages make it impossible to stop a shift before reaching completion.

Before the body moves from its condensement phase to Initialization (to be covered in the next segment), an automatic, unconscious "save-state" process occurs on a metaphysical level called Phenotype-Snapshotting. Every individual detail about your current form from your eye color down to the atomic construction of your makeup is saved like a back-up. This gives the bio-metaphysical shapeshifter a sort of "blueprint" to use as an automatic default when shapeshifting out of their secondary in a Totality-Shift (entire animal secondary) or when performing minor, non-invasive Partial-Shifts. Phenotype-Snapshotting only acts a rough blueprint for a typical Default/ing (shifting back to the primary form). Injuries sustained while in a secondary WILL transfer over, and vice versa. Another addition to note is tattoos or any exterior body modding. Anything that is not inherently biological to the body will NOT be included in any sort of physical changes. As an example: This means that if a bio-metaphysical shapeshifter has titanium rods in their body, those WILL NOT be shapeshifted, and may render the shifter permanently unable to shift anymore if it conflicts too harshly with the secondary. The good thing is, however, that metaphysics allows for intelligent alteration, and may work around or in conjunction with the non-biological additions to still allow for totality-shifting.

ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

Initialization is the process of a bio-metaphysical shapeshifters' body transitioning itself from the Energy Condensement phase into a more direct, active, and physical pre-totality phase. While initialization technically still occurs for smaller, more minor partial-shifts, it is a much more direct, and overwhelming stage during either attempted or involuntary Totality-Shifts. Initialization takes what the Condensement phase has built, and flushes the entire bodily system with the hyper-compressed primal energy. When this occurs, the body often times is put into a fight or flight-like state, causing massive amounts of adrenaline to dump into the bodily system. This acts as both a pain suppressant for latter stages of a Totality-Shift, and also triggers the Bio-Metaphysical Shapeshifters' bodily Shift-Markers. Shift-Markers are the theoretical, biological component, that works in conjunction with metaphysical interplay to allow for Veil-Piercing (what actually allows for shapeshifting to be possible).

To the contrary of this point however, to this day, there is yet to be any actual medical research to determine if Bio-Metaphysical shapeshifters have genetic abnormalities or additions that allow for shapeshifting. This is not meant as a disapproval of the above claim about Shift-Markers, but rather that It is still currently unknown what actually constitutes the biological factor in shapeshifting outside of the fact of physical changes occurring themselves. Shift-Markers are simply the community-proposed explanation to tie a more direct biological component to physical-shapeshifting. It is entirely possible that physical-shapeshifting is something that is tied solely to esoteric sources. This resource is meant as an ever-updating informative piece and as new information is made available, sections will be updated to reflect such.

Initialization is an overwhelming stage that may often create a physical sensation of “ramping up”, but this can most likely be contributed to a massive increase in bodily stress level. The increase in stress and adrenaline perpetuates higher levels of condensement (alongside the bodily energy flush) in a compounding-like effect, and can easily be mistaken for panic attack-like symptoms. Very often, shifters who are experiencing this stage for the first time WILL panic, and can lead to a dual-induced terror state. It is extremely important to know that if you are assisting a bio-metaphysical-shapeshifter through a Totality Shift and they begin to panic, it is ESSENTIAL to attempt methods of calming them. The mixture of fight or flight along with the terror can cause them to become extremely reactive and may lead to them harming themselves or others out of fear.

Some common side-effects of Initialization: instinctual instability, cold sweats, time-dilation, whole-body pins and needles, an "impending-doom" feeling, extreme stress, shivers or twitches, heavy or ragged breathing, bodily-tensing, hot flashes, rapid or irregular heartbeat, de-realization/disassociation, transcendental feeling state.