a call for therian, otherkin, xenogender, and other experiences

hello! i'm interested in discussing the subject of posthuman spiritual beliefs. i find that things like being otherkin tend to draw a massive crowd of wildly varying beliefs and would like to hear other's experiences. this applies to anyone who shares similar beliefs or views.

myself, i first heard about therians very early into being a furry (around 11/12) and then further heard about otherkin when i was on tumblr in 2014. the landscape was significantly different, a lot more hostile than it was now. i identified as both otherkin and fictionkin, with multiple "kintypes".
nowadays i don't partake in the culture of being otherkin, but through my entire life i've always felt a connection to monsters. i figured that Everyone had their own version of themselves in their mind that was more accurate to what their inner selves appearance is. turns out most people's inner selves are still humans and not Miscellaneous Beasts.
and i suppose the only fictionkin i still retain is inklings from splatoon. a bit silly, but i can't deny it!

i don't have any other typically spiritual beliefs. i'm agnostic (slightly into animism) and firmly believe in evolution and science and blah blah blah. to me, being otherkin is a form of self-actualization.

my partner however is extremely spiritual and prefers the term therian, he believes in energies and spirits and is extremely animist! his animal forms are his past lives living in his soul as we speak. we both experience phantom limbs (him moreso than i) and yearn to be our true selves.

what's your experience like? is it something you practice and believe in the same way a spiritual person would? or is it more casual, an interesting way to approach identity? something in between? something entirely different? is it rooted in your cultural history? do you have one ID or multiple?

and for those younger on this website who may fall into these beliefs, what is the current landscape for the otherkin of the new generation? is it calmer and more welcoming? i sure hope so ;>_> 2014 tumblr was rough!

i'm very interested to hear everyone's experiences. thank you for reading!

(note: for those unaware, therian and otherkin are those who, in varying methods of belief, have connections to animals, concepts, fictional characters among other things on a deeply personal level to the point of it being part of their identities. xenogenders are similar, but experience this alongside typical gender identity feelings.)