Shifting

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Shifting is short fo shapeshifting, although the terms transforming, morphing, changing, and turning into can also mean the same thing. It can be defined as a complex social and mental altering of one's natural state into the shape/mood/spirit of an animal. It is so multifaceted that there are as many forms of shifting as there are interpretations of what shifting is.

Most of the times, when a therian refers to a "shift" they mean a mental transformation, either spontaneous or self-induced, from a human's state of mind to an animal's. Some therianthropes report that this happens to them more or less unexpectedly, or involuntarily, while others either have, or develop the ability to trigger or prevent them in themselves at need. Such a form of entertainment can be rewarding in the long run, either for an amusingly portable game or an insightful look into instinct and feeling

A shifter is a person who can shapeshift. Shapeshifting is not, contrary to werewolf lore, a physical alteration. Some weres refer to themselves as shifters, a but shifting is not necessarily a requirement for therianthropy. Some therians, notably those who consider themselves contherianthropes, don't necessarily undergo shifting experiences.

There are three main types of shifters: therianthropes, shamen and polymorphs. Physical shifters are those who claim to change their physical shape into that of an animal.

Therianthropes and lycanthropes morph into their wereside animal whereas the polymorphs claim to be able to shift into a combination of several phenotypes. Shamen are wizards that ventures into the spirit world, through trance or meditation, and deliberately tries to become animal.