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The term therianthropy comes from the Greek therion meaning "wild animal" and anthropos meaning "man". Basically it refers to an 'animal person', someone who is both a human and a non-human animal. Depictions of such creatures can be found in mythology, legends and folk law, woven into history. While many of these depictions refer to human-like creatures with physical animal attributes (such as the ever popular werewolf, shape shifters or the Gods of Egyptian mythology) this is not the form I am referring to.

Therianthropy is, if you will, a 'condition' shared by many people from all over the globe and from many different walks of life. It is the belief that a core and integral part of yourself is a non-human animal. This belief is based upon many different experiences and feelings shared by therians. Though therianthropy is a very personal thing, and while there are certain core aspects we have in common, the experiences and beliefs behind therianthropy are often specific to the individual.

Therianthrope: therion (greek for "beast) + anthropos ("human being", "man"). Do not confuse "anthropos" with "andros", which means "man" in the sense of "male" in opposition to "woman".

Therianthropy is a constant state of being and way of perceveing/experiencing the world that leads a person to feel and believe they are partially or completely animal inside (in a mental and/or spiritual way). You can't get rid of it and you can't choose it (in the same way you can't choose or get rid of your sexual preferences, the color of your skin, and such as). Most of the definitions you will find about therianthropy describe it as a spiritual concept or a belief, because most of therianthropes see it as spiritual, so don't be surprised if you read many definitions starting with "therianthropy is a belief that...". But again, therianthropy doesn't have to be spiritual.

Therianthropy isn't about having a totem. A totem/guide is a distinct entity, which means it is not necessarily the same specie as someone's animal side (theriotype). You can talk to a spirit guide, they can come and disappear as they want. However, you can't get rid of your theriotype. Also, therianthropy shouldn't be confused with a connection. The word "connection" is used very loosely to refers to a bond with an animal or a category of animals. However, therianthropy is more than being connected to an animal; it is being the animal inside. A connection could be totally unrelated to someone's theriotype. As an example, a wolf therian could feel a connection to tigers or felines in general, and perhaps experience a sense of felinity without having a feline theriotype.

While many therians experience shifts, this is not at all a rule. A shift is described as a mental change into the traits of the therian's theriotype. It can be sudden and chaotic, or it can just be subtle fluctuations between humanity and animality. There are many different kinds of shifts (such as mental shifts, where one's human mindset change to his animal sides's mindest, or phantom shifts, where a therian begins to feel non-existent physical traits such as animal ears or tail). However I am not going to list them; you will find various websites such as the Werelist or Shifters.Org listing various definitions in their encyclopedias, if you want to know more. By the way, non-therians can experience shifts as well; shamans and other people are able to shift into the mindset of another animal, this is what shapeshifting is about.

Therianthropy isn't about surhuman abilities. Being a therianthrope does not make us special, nor it gives us magickal powers or psychic talents. It is not a gift nor a curse and it doesn't make us changing into blood thirsty beasts at night. It is not a cult, and it's not something that can be taught; you can't become a therian. And, above all, therianthropy is not a game. It is not role-playing: we are animal inside, and we are real. Therianthropy doesn't make us cool or smart, it's simply about experiencing things in a different manner, which isn't better than any other.

In fact, each therianthrope experiences therianthropy in his/her own way. There are many different types of therianthropes. Some shift, some don't (contherianthrope are weres whose animal side is constantly blended with their human side, and therefore they cannot shift from a side to the other). Some have multiple sides (polyweres), some are a mix of different species (hybrids). Some wear no labels.

]http://velvet-ash.livejournal.com/1363.html
A self-essay by me, though written back in '05.

http://velvetwings.net/
My personal website, has a brief introduction to the concept of therianthropy, along with an explanation of all the terms (which are useful to know when reading about therianthropy ). A few personal essays also, though not much because it's not finished.

http://akhila.feralscribes.org/index.php
The personal site of an online friend of mine (to navigate click the pictures at the bottom).

http://liesk.feralscribes.org/
The personal site of someone I met through various therianthropy forums.

http://www.therianthropy.org/forums/
Some very good discussions and theories can be found there, though it is a large forum so digging is required. Also I believe you have to register to view the forums. It is farily quiet there right now though if you have any questions about therianthropy that is a good place to ask them, as you will get a variety of answers.

http://www.werelist.com/
Similar to the forums above, though some of the people there are a little less credible in my oppinion, but still a wonderful site with some interesting people.

That sounds like it would be pretty awesome to have (which I assume I don't since I've never experienced anything like that)

I have a really hard time believing in therianthropy, mostly because of my background in psychology.
A large number of the people I have encountered who claim to be therianthropes are teenagers. When talking to them it seemed to me that many of them had latched onto the idea of being a therianthrope because they were experiencing identity distress and wanted something that made them special and unique. During the teen years people struggle to discover who they are, what they believe, and what make them unique. A lot of teenagers experience identity distress when they have difficulty answering those questions. One way to deal with identity distress is to latch on to a subculture that makes them feel special and unique. Sometimes they latch on to really dangerous negative subcultures like eating disorders, drug abuse, gangs etc. Others latch on to the concept of being special because of a self-diagnosed mental illness. And then there are others who latch on to the idea of being something magical like a therianthrope, a vampire, a demon, etc (I apologize to anyone who is offended by being lumped in with the wanna be vampires and demons, but I do often see them in the same groups).

These are just my personal observations based a little bit on the theory of psycho-social stages and my own work mentoring teens. I don't mean to insult anyone who self identifies as a therianthrope. I'm just a skeptic who thinks that there are usually mundane psychological explanations for things.

From a religious perspective, I have heard many therianthropes say that they believe they are animal souls who are mistakenly placed in human bodies. Personally, I don't believe God makes mistakes and that everything is done for a reason, and I can not imagine God intentionally putting the souls of animals into human bodies.

I realize there are people who identify as therian who are logical, rational, and intelligent people. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those I have met have either been teenagers trying to convince me they were special, or adults who seemed very out of touch with reality. I'm sure a lot of people suffering from disorders like schizotypal or schizoid personaity disorder would be attracted to the concept of therianthropy. I realize that doesn't mean all people who self identify are therians are like that.
I actually deal with a similar issue myself. I have dissociative identity disorder (aka MPD). Within the community of people with DID/MPD there are tons of teenagers claiming to have it because they want to be special, and delusional adults who have convinced themselves that they have it. It's just something that attracts those kind of people.

I still can't quite accept that therianthropy is real. I wish I could come up with a better explanation for my disbelief.
I do get the concept though. Since I was a child I have loved felines and been fascinated with them. When I was little I always wanted to be a cat when we played pretend games. When I was 11 I discovered Furcadia and the furry community. I played felines on furcadia for years. In high school I played a live action RPG called Werewolf: the Apocalypse and frequently played Bastet (the feline version of a werewolf in the game). I have many feline personality traits. However, I do not self identify as a therianthrope.

As for reincarnation, I believe in reincarnation as well but I believe that souls stay within the same species, felines into felines, humans into humans.
I think it would be absolutely fascinating if they were able to find neurological differences and even more fascinating if they could discover the cause of those differences. If that kind of research ever turns up I may just change my mind.