A beginners guide on Otherkin

(by the the-planetary-nebula on tumblr)

What is otherkin?Otherkin is a shortened version of "otherkind", which is in reference to terms like "humankind"
It's someone who identifies on some level as a nonhuman entity, such as wolves, dragons and elves︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵the flag below is of the non-human unity flag.
(click on the flag to see the full thing)

The History Of Otherkin

Modern otherkin grew out of the 70s with The Elf Queen's Daughters, which are a group of people who identified as elves, then called elfinkind. The community picked up in the 90s with mailing lists and eventually the term "otherkind" was coined to refer to people who identified as species other than elves or dragons. It is unknown when it was shortened to "otherkin" .︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Fictionkin came from a subgroup of otherkin known as "otakukin" in the early 2000s. The term was changed to "mediakin" and later to "fictionkin".︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Much of otherkin culture also has overlap with the therian community, who identify as animals and share similar nonhuman identities, though are independent groups. The use of kintype and shifting terminology came from the therian community.︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Source: Otherkin

Systems and Otherkin

With systems it can be a lot more dificult to tell whether or not you're otherkin
since your innerworld body may look different to the body of the system
but this is entirely dependant on your body in the innerworld︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Lets say you're an elf in the innerworld, that doesn't inherently make you otherkin
what would make you an otherkin is if that in some way, shape or form,
you felt as if you were a centaur
you feeling as if you were a centaur in a elven body would make you otherkin, if you so wish to identify that way
it's the same as if you were human bodied in the innerworld
if you felt as if you were a flower or a bunny you would be otherkin if you wanted to identify as otherkin︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵another way to try and explain this is:
your system's body is human
and your body in the innerworld is also human
but you feel like that human identity isnt right in some way
maybe you feel like you're supposed to look like a dog or a dragon or a bear instead of looking like a human in the innerworld

Otherkin Types

Psychological Otherkinity: Psychological otherkinity is for those who believe that the cause of their experiences is partially or wholly the result of psychological or neurological phenomenon. “Psychology” refers to the study of the mind, whereas “neurology” refers to the study of the physical brain. Currently, there are no widespread psychological or neurological studies about non-human identity. Therefore psychological otherkinity is based on personal belief and experiences rather than scientific fact.︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Spiritual Otherkinity: There are nearly an infinite number of personal spiritual beliefs that are held worldwide to this day. Although personal spiritual beliefs are highly subjective and personal, the rules are hardly “anything goes” when it comes to spiritual Otherkinity.Personal spiritual beliefs may be a part of one’s personal religion or they may not be. Otherkinity in itself is not a religious belief. There is no religion that specifically mentions identifying as non-human in one’s current life as a physical human being. This is not to be confused with the widespread beliefs about reincarnation, as one can still believe in reincarnation and experience past lives, including non-human past lives, without identifying as non-human now.

Different Kins

There is an unending amount of creatures that someone could possibly be, these are just some of the most commonly known ones or some that we can think of︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵・Angel
・Canine/dog
・Centaur
・Chimera
・Demon
・Dragon
・Elf
・Fairy
・Fallen Angel
・Flower
・Ghost / spirit
・Harpy
・Hippocampus
・Kelpie
・Kitsune
・Lightning
・Mermaid
・Peryton
・Phoenix
・Plant
・Siren
・Space
・Stuffed animal
・Wolf
・Vampire

Other/coping-link and Other-hearted

Other-hearted, explained by the Therian Wiki, is: when an individual strongly identifies with a species of creature. It's more than a fascination or like of the creature, like in the furry fandom, but not quite to the point of being something you identify as, like with a therian or otherkin
Example: you identify strongly with dragons, you could be dragon-hearted︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Copinglink, explained by Therian Wiki, is: is a person who knowingly creates a non-human persona as a coping mechanism. Can also be called C'Linker

Possible Origins Of Psychological Otherkinity

A result of coping or trauma: This is characterized by the belief that one’s non-human identity came about as a result of significant trauma or prolonged coping with personal hardships. This is not to be confused with a coping mechanism. A coping mechanism is what someone chooses to do in order to deal with stress. An integral identity is never a choice; therefore otherkinity cannot just be used as a coping mechanism.︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵An inherent/innate part of one’s Psyche: This is characterized by the belief that one’s non-human identity was present in the mind/brain from birth. It is possible to believe that whatever causes one to identify as non-human was present from birth even if the identity developed later in life. Similarly, many believe that they were not “born with” a non-human identity, but perhaps that they were born predisposed to certain elements of the identity that result in developing a non-human identity over timeSource: Kinmunity

Terminology

Alterhuman:
Someone who's not a human, can be used for non-human alters and otherkin folkKintype:
a.k.a kin is what someone who is Otherkin identifies as. e.g. wolfkin, dragonkinFictionkin:
Someone who's kin is that of a fictional characterMythkin:
Someone who's kintype is a creature commonly seen in myths, e.g. Dragons, Fae or Elves.Objectkin:
Someone who's kintype is an inanimate object of some sort.Paleokin:
a.k.a. Paleotherian is someone who's kintype is an extinct creature.Phytan:
a.k.a. Phytanthrope, Phytanthropy or Plantkin is someone who's kintype is that of a plantPolykin:
a.k.a Polytherian is someone that has multiple kintypes.Therian:
a.k.a Therianthrope or Therianthropy is someone who's kintype is that of an animal from earth, e.g. a fox, wolf, fish or insect.Theriotype:
The animal(s) that a Therian identifies as.

Controversy

There's a lot of controversy in the otherkin community,
some debate the validity and realness of otherkin
here is a few examples of that:︵‿︵‿୨・♡🐾♡・୧‿︵‿︵Otherkin:
Otherkin and it's existence and validity commonly debated because a lot of people believe that it's a result of a mental disorder or something not quite right going on (e.g. delusions and other psychosis symptoms and mental health disorders)Objectkin:
The existence of the Otherkin identity of Objectkin is widely debated because some beings don't believe that you can be a non-living objectsFactkin:
A Factkin is where someone's kintype is that of a real life, living person
its existence is commonly debated because it is identifying as a human from our world which doesn't make much sense and can be dangerous to the Otherkin community, as well as it is not actually Otherkin since it is always humans

FAQ's

to be added

Sources