What are Otherkin?

12/28/23

Perhaps you've heard the word otherkin floating around other online spaces, making itself known as a shared identity for those who think of themselves, at least in part, as non-human beings. "Otherkin" as a term (and, by extention, a subculture) has only been around since the 90s, but the idea of an animal, mythological creature, or something otherwise nonhuman existing in a human form is older than time. Think of folkloric shapeshifters, lycanthropes living dual lives as man and beast, and deities of old presenting to mortals with earthly disguises.

Otherkin walk the line between not only humanity and animality, but also earthliness and otherworldliness, often with much pride. The thought of rejecting humanity and embracing inhumanity may be bizarre to an outsider, perhaps appearing conceited or self-degrading -- after all, being a human is perfectly fine, why would you deny what you are in the flesh? -- but being otherkin inherently defies those expectations, and many of us embrace our identities because it's what we know and believe we've always been at some level. After all, humans are a part of the animal kingdom (as well as nature as a whole), and human culture inclines towards the paranormal for a reason. People have made such a separation between being a human and being something else because we've deemed many traits as being exclusive to one or the either. In the grand scheme of things, however, maybe we're not too different after all.

QnA

What are some otherkin terms I should know?
Why do otherkin believe they're nonhuman?

Most otherkin subscribe to all sorts of personal explanations. Some are spiritual, like having a nonhuman soul, or being reincarnated from a past life or another universe. Others are psychological, like feeling a major connection to a kintype because of trauma or neurodivergence. Some may believe in something entirely different, like a religious, magical, or metaphorical explanation -- and some may believe in a combination of any of these.

What differentiates otherkin from just relating to/roleplaying as something nonhuman?

Otherkin feel a profound connection to their kintypes, often to the point where it feels as natural and seamless to one's sense as self as humanity is to a typical human. Anyone can relate to the qualities and mimic the behaviors of something else, but otherkinity goes far beyond that. It's not a connection that can be forgotten at the drop of a hat -- that connection is who we are, permeating many facets of our lives, and it's far from playing pretend.

Is it possible to be kin with nonhuman things besides animals?

YES! It's possible to be kin with nearly anything. This includes not only animals and fantastic creatures, but also plants, objects, and even abstract concepts. There are plenty of circles for people who are kin with things like robots, angels, dolls, weather, the void...the list goes on.

What are fictionkin? Are they related to otherkin?

Fictionkin are generally regarded as a subgroup of otherkin who have the same sort of connection, but the key difference is that fictionkin are kin with fictional characters (or sometimes fictional species) from specific media, like in pop culture or even in one's own imagination. Some may describe the timeline their kintype has lived through (as opposed to that of the source media) as their canon.

What are otherkith? What's the difference between otherkin and otherkith?

Otherkith (also known as synpaths or otherhearted folks) may have very similar experiences to otherkin, but the fundamental difference is that otherkith don't identify as their kithtype; rather, they identify with it in a way that is different from merely relating to it. A kithtype strongly resonates with someone who is kith with it to the point of wanting to associate with it or feeling they should be it, but their existence is nonetheless separate from it.

The connections and relationships between otherkith and their kithtypes is subjective and can manifest in many ways.The Flock of Changes wrote an article about its otherkithity that helped me figure out my own otherkithity. I recommend taking a gander.

Is otherkinity pathological/a symptom of mental illness?

While a good portion of otherkin are also neurodivergent, otherkinity is not inherently a symptom of a neurodivergence, like autism or dissociative disorders. Additionally, while some may consider their bodies inherently nonhuman just from the nature of being nonhuman in mind/soul/etc., otherkin do not believe they are a fictional character or non-human species in the flesh, nor that they are able to physically shift into their kintype; that sort of thinking is attributed to delusional/psychotic disorders, which should be addressed and treated by a professional.

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