Author Topic: Furry spirituality (Read 7069 times)

tbear · « **on:** October 10, 2003, 09:24:43 pm »

You know,I really don't know why I'm starting this topic since this is a bit of a sore subject for me.Chalk it up to boredom and the desire to get a few things off my chest.
So anyway in what way does furriness entwine itself with your belief system? I suppose it's only fair for me to tell my own story here.But these memories are not happy ones for me.
I suppose at this point I'm not a very spiritual Fur.When I first discovered the Furry and Therian communities I was but that changed.When I started out I was canine.Mentally and spiritually.It was who I was and it meant the world to me.
When I first arrived at this board I said that I had originally left the fandom because of the unsavory stereotypes it was beginning to gather.That was a half truth.It was part of the reason certainly but it wasn't the deciding factor.Here's the truth.I began having terrible nightmares about dogs and wolves.I'd wake up in a cold sweat screaming bloody murder,the image of my throat being torn out by angry canids fresh in my mind.
This went on for months.I tried to figure out why I was having the dreams.I never did.It disturbed me greatly.Having nightly dreams about an animal you love and admire mauling you will do that to a person.Heartbreak turned to disgust and I turned my back on both canids and Furry Fandom.
I still don't know why I had those dreams.I quit trying to figure it out a long time ago.The result is I refuse to accept the idea that I may have an animal spirit guide or anything of the sort.Other furs might have them,but I don't.Even if one appeared to me ( and I have reason to believe one did ) I will not give my trust.I do not wish to be burned a second time.
I am not here because of a bond shared with an animal.The chances of my ever accepting of such a thing are zero.I believe very strongly that other Furs have such a bond but not I.
I am here simply because I love and collect teddy bears.My phenotype is based not on a real bear but a plush one I own.I like animals,always will.But I will never share a bond with one again.

beyond the darkness · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2003, 07:43:55 am »

I see your point. For me I'm split between two, an eagle and a ferret (a strange combo I know).
The eagle is a burning desire I have had since i was a baby, the desire to fly, not like Superman (or Neo from the Matrix) but actually to be a bird and experience flight like that.
The ferret came about years ago, I don't know where from, perhaps it is spiritual, but I too gave up trying to work it out.
I honestly do see where you are coming from though.

Rikimaru · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2003, 08:01:12 am »

for me it started out as curiosity, then it moved onto interest and it went on i think im startin 2 get the spiritual side of it i think. i dunno. ive started acting wierdly anyways in RL.

sorry to hear about the bad dreams T-Bear. that really mustve hurt badly.

Drake Blackpaw · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2003, 08:55:46 am »

I'm sorry to hear about your nightmares tbear, I can understand how disturbing they would be when they are connected to something you hold as a spiritual part of you.

I am not very spiritual myself. Â My spirituality consists of recognizing my connection to the world and nature. Â It is not a connection to one or more specific animal but a connection to all.

I love animals, particularly cats, which is why my fursona is part cat. Â The skunk part represents some of my dark side and also the sexual side of me. Â Skunks are often portrayed as highly sexual in the fandom. Â

I think there are less furs with a strong spiritual connection to one or a couple of species than you think tbear. Â There are a lot that profess to have a link, but there are many others that are drawn in by there love of animation, comics and even plushies (no not that type of love ':p'

) and do not have a spiritual connection. Â

The loss of a spiritual connection hurts, I hope you find something to replace it. Â I threw away my religious connections many years ago and have know found that I do need some spiritual component in my life. Â I don't feel bad about leaving where I was, but something did need to be put in its place. Â This may be something for you to think about tbear.

ps. Sorry about the bad joke in the third paragraph. I usually need to inject some humor into ultra serious posts.

River Ceed · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2003, 11:35:56 am »

tbear:

   First, I can understand how scarey those night terrors can be, as I had them as well. For years I would have the same reoccuring dream of being chased through a wheat filed or some other tall grassy stuff by a pack of wild canines. The leader of which was a large rotwieler, second in command was a german shepard. I would always be running as fast as I could towards a light which I assumed to be a porchlight in the distance. When I looked back, I would be able to see things from a higher standpoint then my typical hieght, as if I was looking down at an angle from the sky at the moving paths of crushed wheat representing the dogs chasing and gaining on me, the paths converging towards the area I was running in. I would turn forward and my vision would be normal first person again, the light looking like it was getting closer. But I would always hear a snarl and turn around just in time to be knocked to the ground by the leaping snarling foaming rotwieler, other dogs coming into sight as well. I would always wake up as it was lunging from a reared back position, to tear out my throat.

   I had this dream at least every other night from about age 6 to 19. Then, not being able to take it anymore, I talked to a pstchology professor I was learning from. He gave me a few tips on getting rid of the thoughts from my subconscious which would most likely cause the dream and I tried some. I admit I didn't think drawing a dead rotwieler or ripping up a picture of one from a magazine would help. But it did. I stopped ahaving the dream a short while later and havent had it since. I also learned later in years how to wake myself up or turn the plot of a dream into my favor while still sleeping.

   As for your question of spirituality, do not worry about it. Just be who you are and don't worry about grabbing all the supposed normal tiles in the game of life so that you can display them as proof of normalcy. (This goes for anyone reading this as well.) Spirituality isn't necessary for everyone. Do what feels right to you. And if you don't know what feels right, then experiment and find out what works best.

   ~River

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2003, 11:52:20 am »

I understand your fears, tbear. I used to have terrible nightmares too till I learned that I too could control what was happening to me in them. Once I was able to control the dreams, especially the scary ones, I quite having them or was able to turn the tables around.

One possibility is if you learn to control your dream you could tell yourself before going to be that the next time those canines come after you that you will hold your place and not run, dogs love a good chase, then sit there, hold your palms out and in a gentle voice ask them why they are chasing you. You never know.

As for the spiritual side, I have one but not on the normal that people would think. As for the fandom, I am here because of my love for ALL animals. I prefer them to people.

I don't see a problem with someone having a spiritual side or not. It is what YOU are and how you perceive YOU as a person/furson.

I am glad you came back to vent. Something deep inside of you allows you to feel comfortabel enough here to speak what is deep inside of you.

tbear · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2003, 12:05:13 pm »

I want to thank you all for your kindness understanding and support.I no longer have the dreams.They stopped coming a year or so ago.My teddy bears have filled the void nicely.They have inspired not only my fursona but my art and my belief system as well.I have discovered the concept of animism,the belief that all things have a spirit.The concept appeals to me because I cannot and will not accept the idea that these bears are nothing more than lumps of fabric.They mean too much to me for that.But that's about as spiritual as I get nowadays.

Kada-Ru · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2003, 12:07:59 pm »

(giggles) I am the same way with our plushies! If one falls I pick it up and tell it I'm sorry and brush it off and put it back where it belongs. I also don't like burying them under other things. I know they are just stuffed pieces of cloth, but I feel they also have something about them that warrants me to talk to them. I do that with my fish and plants as well. Though these are real it doesn't make a difference to me.

Benjamin · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2003, 12:31:44 pm »

I'm not very prone to having nightmares, but those sound pretty horrible, tbear. Maybe they were trying to tell you that you had made some wrong decisions... albeit in a brutal fashion. Or perhaps you were trying to tell yourself something, and you eventually got the hint. Dreams can be so many things.

I have my spiritual side to myself as well, but it comes and goes as needed in my life. I bear a strong connection to lions and tigers, but it's not something that totally consumes my being. It's a part of me, and I'm comfortable with it.

Benjamin

Pillowmint · « **Reply #9 on:** October 11, 2003, 03:01:46 pm »

Didn't the concept of furry spirituality stem from the idea of totems?

Either way, I think for me furry is simply what I am rather than a guardian spirit.

Benjamin · « **Reply #10 on:** October 11, 2003, 03:20:45 pm »

Quote (Pillowmint @ Oct. 11 2003, 3:01 pm)

Didn't the concept of furry spirituality stem from the idea of totems?

Either way, I think for me furry is simply what I am rather than a guardian spirit.

It pretty much does derive a fair bit from totemism, but I think a lot of furs put personal twists on it and such. A lot of lifestylers have their own interpretation of furry spirituality that has it's own tangents and whatnot.

Benjamin

firefox_b · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2003, 10:07:38 am »

The spiritual aspects of being furry can vary with the individual's circumstances, characteristics, and needs. For me, it is something that is always there and can be tapped into or cultivated. There are times when I feel intensely attuned to my vulpine spirit, and other times when I just wanna have fun! The spiritual duality kind of mirrors or parallels our human/animal sides which all furs have in varying combinations.

One's animal spirit/nature can be a source of great energy, vitality, insight, and power. It can also be highly protective. Once when on the road in a blinding snowstorm, I felt panicky, and close to losing control of the vehicle. A voice within me, my animal spirit, quietly requested, "...excuse me, but let me take over for a while." I allowed it to do so, and suddenly my senses were greatly heightened and amplified. I could see and track the path of every snowflake as if in slow motion, and felt calm and in control, more than equal to the storm. I even felt strangely exhilarated by the challenge! I knew that I would be all right, and pass through to my destination safely, as I did. Many times since then, I have been able to get through bad circumstances in my life by tapping into my vulpine spirit. I'm so glad its with me!

'>

Lobar · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2003, 10:38:13 am »

Personally, I don't believe in totems, spirits or other paranormal things. I do believe that the mind is more powerful than imagined by most today, and that it is infinitely malleable and able to be to be changed by self-concept that one can feel an animal 'consciousness' inside them, and experience heightened senses. I can feel my squirrel self inside me, but I recognize him as a former part of my human self I have sculpted and reshaped with my thoughts.

Of course, I believe it's possible for me to be wrong. Some of the stories I've heard here with furs and their spirits are pretty amazing and have made me think hard about this, but my skepticism has won out so far.

Pemberley · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2003, 07:26:19 pm »

The only nightmares I've had about cats, have been in relation to my losing them somehow. Â A few months ago, I dreamed a giant flood swept through my town, and everything was submerged. Â A huge tidal wave crashed through my living room window, the walls caving in... the flood waters pouring in...
Â my daughter and I climbed onto the floating furniture and we were safe.. but my cats were all swept away in the flood waters. Â I tried to reach into the icy cold water to grab them, but I couldn't hang onto them. Â And they were drowning, or being carried off into the night... and I could hear their panicked screams and howls.

Â It was the most awful and disturbing dream I recall having; I woke up with tears streaming down my face, and even knowing it was a dream, I was still shaking and scared. Â I had to check them all, and make sure they were alive and purring.

As for spirituality... I'm not exactly sure what I would describe my feelings... I honestly feel that (if reincarnation is possible) that I must've been a cat in a former life, or else I have a cat's soul. Â My cats recognize this, and they've accepted me as one of them. Â I don't feel like their "mistress", rather as a sibling in their family.
Â When I walk outside, I will have 6-8 cats following beside me, like a hunting pack. Â Or a lion pride, I guess. Â And when I sit down in the grass, they all lay down with me.
Â Ever since I was a little kid, I've felt this bond with almost every cat I've met. Â People who describe their cats as being anti-social and scared of people, are surprised when their pets come to me, and rub against me in a familiar way.

*shrugs and stretches out on the rug, kneading her claws*
I guess I would just rather be a cat sometimes. Like Kada-Ru said, I prefer animals to people.

'>

Librarian27 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2003, 07:56:04 pm »

Quote (Pemberley @ Oct. 13 2003, 7:26 pm)

Many years ago a friend told me that i followed the path of the Black panter, SOmethign wich came from Ancient Egypt, to me it meant i was a guardian of Truth and those i care about.

Ever since i was a young child i used to call myself the black panther and as far as i know i hadnt even seen one, I just knew later in life after talking to the friend that told me about the path I did some soul searching and found that at the core of my being i am a panther ':cool:'

.

« **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2003, 07:19:57 pm »

For me, it has to be spiritual. I mean, no wolves live around here...the closest wild canines here are coyotes, but the last time I saw one he was dead by the road, and that was summer

'> I don't have a spirit guide that I know (but I know I have one somewhere), but I feel connections with animals in general.

Ever had a cat that hates and bites everyone? A dog that everyone growls at? I guaranTEE you I can stop 'em. The dog that hates everyone (that's my cousin's) came up to me, wagging her tail and licked my hands a lot. She jumped all over my cousin, but she knew I wouldn't want to be jumped on. Dunno how, she just knew it, it's all I can think of. Then the cat that is always grouchy and grumpy and hates to be pet, me-not knowing this-picked it up, put it on my lap, and scratched his chin and ears. One of my cousins wife comes in and nearly drops her plate of food. "KEN!!! COME IN AND SEE WHAT YOU'RE COUSIN'S DOING!!!!!" Well, my cousin Ken came in and saw my petting a purring a usually mean kitty, me not understanding that he was usually a grouch

'> I got "Oh my God!" a lot but didn't see a problem, still don't see anything really major about it.

Well....one animal doesn't like me. My cousin Dorese's pet black squirrel Squee peed on my neck when he was so little he couldn't open his eyes, and a few weeks ago when he was full grown he was siting on my head when suddenly everyone's laughing. I picked him up and threw/tossed/chucked him on the cough and ran to the bathroom.

Squirrells, the 3rd white meat. Yummyness! ':cool:'

Black Foot · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2003, 03:03:05 am »

hey tbear I'm spiritually inline with two spirits a dragon spirit and my wolf spirit but I'm more inlined with my dragon and when the dragon isn't inline with me then I'm inlined with my wolf, and Kada-Ru I'm kinda like u I talk to my cat, my mom's cat sum of my plushies, my Tys (beanie babies) like they can talk to me and me talkin back to them, I know that they don't really talk back but I like to imagine, SO tbear and Kada-Ru I'm kinda like both of you in a ways.

Jalex Darnco · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2003, 03:30:39 pm »

Edit: Meh... never mind

RoseWind · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2004, 10:08:47 pm »

My spirituality comes into play and is in a sense what brought me here (in a round about way) I came to find out about furries. My totem animal is a rabbit (VERY much so i have spurts and am a sprinter and everything) and I swim and make jokes about being a dolphin but for some reason I am a calico cat. I am a wiccan and cats have always had an appeal to me. I love dogs and all but cats are just so pretty and graceful and they appear shy and introverted until you get to know them. Just like me. anyway um yeah thats how mine in a round about not really shown way comes into furrie

zwabbe · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2004, 03:39:27 am »

Well Before i found the fandom i used to laugh at the thought of spritual things and such...

Before i was in the Fandom i used to have spiritual moments where my inner wolfy would help me out but I just thought i was insane...

Now I know about it all it makes sense to me..

And I usually spend hours talkiing to my dog and cat and sometimes i talk to plushies.

Ive never had Bad Dreams yet.. But i hope I dont they sound awful! But i have dreams all the time if running through moutains and Forests, And lazying around under the full moon and frolocking with other Wolves!...

Also evry person who has a Evil cat or anti people cat has stalked me and rubbed up against my leg until i leave whoevers house im at... and then its wiating when i come back again..

Skunki · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2004, 12:01:51 am »

Quote (zwabbe @ Jan. 23 2004, 2:39 am)

Also evry person who has a Evil cat or anti people cat has stalked me and rubbed up against my leg until i leave whoevers house im at... and then its wiating when i come back again..

is it the person or the cat wont leave you alone? lol.

i really don't understand what you mean by spirituality. if you mean like the spirit of an animal lives inside me, then no. i don't believe that. i wish i was an anthro, but i don't think that i have the spirit of a skunk. being a furry is cool and all, but i dont think that i personally would take it to that extent.

« **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2004, 11:39:14 am »

ME being the Animal lover that I am, I care bout all
Furries alike, but my main one is the tiger, cause of how it runs like the wind, and how free it feels,I feel like the
god bast, cause of the cat in me, and my cat instincts.

« **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2004, 11:43:23 am »

Me Being the Animal lover that i am, i love all furries alike,
but my true spirit animal is the Tiger, being that it runs fre like the wind, and thats how i feel at times, in ways i feel
like the cat god bast, i have the cat instinct that follows me.

'>

Ulario · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2004, 01:38:06 pm »

Ouch. I understand why you feel that way.

Myself? I am gryphon. A gryphon is half avian and half lion... the perfect unity of strength and wisdom. My avian half is harrier hawk. In Pagan Spirit Guide Lore, the harrier spirit is a messenger that helps communicate with spirits.

Gryphons beautiful and graceful, they have no equal when it comes to flying. I yearn to feel the freedom of flying, the wind in my hair, and a cool spring breeze underneath my wings.

**sigh**

« **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:39:56 pm »

Im sorry you had a bad nightmare the bear, i hope you have good ones after that.
My spirit animal is the Cat, being that i love all animals,
my only anima is mine is the Tiger in the wild running free in the jungles.