Physical Shift (PS or p-shift): The transformation of a human body into the physical shape of another creature.[1] There is no scientific evidence for this type of shift ever happening and no one has ever been able to provide proof of claims. The Therianthropy community agrees that physical shifting is impossible.
- See also: Shift (Therianthropic)
Physical Shifts in Legends
Many legends tell of people who have the ability to turn into an animal. In Shamanic cultures, Shamans are able to become animals in the spirit realm during trance-like states known as Shamanic Journeys. These experiences are real, but no physical shifting actually occurs. What likely has happened, is that lay people have misunderstood Shamans as they speak about their spiritual exploits, and have mistook spiritually becoming an animal as physical shape-shifting.
Related Reading
Swiftpaw, "Real Guide to PShifting", March 2004 (archived page date) http://web.archive.org/web/20040324003658/http://www.otherwonders.com:80/swiftpaws/therian/old/pshift.html
Lupa "Why Physical Shapeshifting is Bollocks" The Green Wolf website, July 6, 2012. http://thegreenwolf.tumblr.com/post/26638052677/why-physical-shapeshifting-is-bollocks
Orion Scribner, Theri There, "Perils of physical shifting" 2007-09-28 Caption: “Perils of P-shifting: Parts of your body that you shaved in human form– may stay shaved!” Image link: http://frameacloud.tumblr.com/post/139244304950/theri-there-from-2007-09-28-perils-of-physical
Jakkal “So your pack can P-shift” April 8, 2014. http://www.werelist.net/archive/index.php/t-33923.html
“Why is p-shifting impossible?” December 12, 2012. http://www.werelist.net/archive/index.php/t-32268.html
References
- ↑ Orion Scribner, “Otherkin lexicon: A multi-lingual dictionary of jargon used in the communities of otherkin, therianthropes, and other similar peoples, v. 0.1 Abridged.” The Art and Writing of O. Scribner. 8 September, 2012. http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-lexicon/