Otherkin is the term for a group of people who consider themselves non-human or having a connection to a mythical archetype in some way, usually believing to be mythological or legendary creatures. Common creatures to which Otherkin claim some connection include angels, demons, dragons, elves, fairies, lycanthropes, and even extra-terrestrials.^[1] The otherkin community grew out of the elven online community of the early-to-mid-1990s, with the earliest recorded use of the term otherkin appearing in early 1996.^[2] Outside of their own subculture, otherkin beliefs are often met with controversy.^[3] According to diagnosis criteria put forth in the DSM IV and the ICD, the belief that one is an animal or can be turned into an animal may qualify as a delusional disorder^{[citation needed]}, a delusion of varying severity and significance. The Annunciation - the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus (El Greco, 1575) An angel is an ethereal being found in many religions, whose duties are to assist and serve God. ... The demon Satan In folklore, mythology, and religion, a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as an evil spirit, but is also depicted to be good in some instances. ... Chinese dragon, color engraving on wood, Chinese school, 19th Century The dragon is a mythical creature typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile with magical or spiritual qualities. ... For alternate meanings, see Lightning (disambiguation). ... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... Lycanthropes are humans who have the ability (or curse) to transform into animal (unwillingly, if cursed). ... Extraterrestrial life refers to forms of life that may exist and originate outside of the planet Earth. ... In many works of modern fantasy, elves are a race of semi-divine humanoid beings. ... A virtual community or online community is a group of people that primarily interact via some form of mechanism such as letters, telephone, email or Usenet rather than face to face. ... The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and other countries. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ...

Perhaps related to this behavior is the smaller community of otakukin, who consider themselves to be reincarnations or otherwise embodiments of characters from anime or video games.^{[citation needed]} Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... “Animé” redirects here. ...

See also

• Changeling
• Clinical lycanthropy
• Indigo children
• Skin-walker
• Therianthropy (subculture)
• Totem
• Vampire lifestyle
• Walk-in
• Were

Trolls with the changeling they have raised, John Bauer, 1913. ... Clinical lycanthropy is a psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusional belief that the affected person is, or has, transformed into an animal. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For other uses, see Skin-walker (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Otherkin be merged into this article or section. ... A totem is any entity which watches over or assists a group of people, such as a family, clan or tribe (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary [1] and Websters New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition). ... The vampire lifestyle (or vampyre subculture) is a lifestyle, involving a number of customs and beliefs, followed (in various fashions and to different degrees) by a subculture of people who are attracted to contemporary vampire lore and who seek to emulate it. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... WERE is an AM radio station in Cleveland, Ohio operating on 1300 kHz with studios in downtown Cleveland. ...

References

Periodicals

• "The Elven Star", Circle News Network, Summer 1986. - A 1986 Circle News Network article citing the Silver Elves, and the older group, the Elf Queen's Daughters
• "Elven Like Me", Village Voice, 14 February 2001. - Village Voice article

is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Books

• Polson, Willow (2003). The Veil's Edge: Exploring the Boundaries of Magic. Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-2352-2. - One of Willow Polson's books has a chapter on otherkin.

Notes

1. ^ Mamatas, Nick (February 20 2001). "Elven Like Me". The Village Voice, New York 46 (7): 35. 
2. ^ Polson, Willow (2003). The Veil's Edge: Exploring the Boundaries of Magic. Citadel Press, 95. ISBN 0-8065-2352-2. 
3. ^ Nonsense in America: The Lure of the Irrational. Wooster.edu. Retrieved on 19 October 2005.

External links

• What Are Otherkin?
• What does it mean to be a Therian?
• Being Other: An Essay on Dysmorphia and Incarnation