What is a Pshifter?

Since the dawn of humanity, there is a belief in one's body changing and morphing, fixing itself into another species. Physical Shifting is modern terminology for such.

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The Physical Shifter flag
The Shape Shifter flag
The Shifter symbol

Defining A Shifter

"(P)shifter" is a label consisting of those belonging to cultural identities that use the practices of physical shifting.- Pshifters cannot be non-physical, and all physical shifts can be seen happening, even if the changes aren't external.- Pshifters do not all shift the same
or like in Hollywood movies.- Pshifters can shift their outside, inside, or their aura as long as it brings about long-lasting physical change to the body.- Not all pshifters use the label "pshifter," and some shifters are only identified with the culture and lifestyle of shifterhood instead of the label.- Pshifting is a visible, tangible, and oftentimes painful change. veils, glamor, and such cannot literally deflect the sight of pshift.- Pshifters can be born or turned, but most are born shifters and it is a lifelong investment.- The physical body is always affected by physical shifts, and whether or not the "animal" form is presented, the body will react to the change internally or externally.- Most if not all shifters are physically held back by their shifting and shifterhood due to external or internal forces, making it hard to fully express ourselves the way we want.

Misconceptions

1. Shifters are just clinical zoanthropes, or are generally delusional.Clinical lycan/zoanthropy (CLCZ) is a clinical term placed upon and used against those who are experiencing forms of psychosomatic identity that does not come from controlling shapeshifting, but rather are innate or developed outbursts that are sourced from internal emotions. A shifter's need to shift is a function that does not release emotions but rather connects with the side of them that needs regulation.2. Shifters are just therians/physically nonhuman/otherkin.Otherkin/therians are those who identify as animals or altered forms of humanity in a range of ways. Physical nonhumans innately express and experience their identity as physical, but this does not inherently mean they can physically shapeshift. Physical nonhumans and otherkin also do not experience bestiorsa, p-flares, and the assortment of community and expectations that shifters deal with unless they also are a shifter.3. Aren't shifters cultists? And if not, physical shifting is still unhealthy.Simply put, physical shifting is only unhealthy if you engage with it in an unhealthy manner. Shifters are only cultists if you join spaces run by those who are lying about being shifters, who claim to want to turn you, and those who make you do unorthodox things to learn shifting.

Terminology

  • Awakening - The first half of the awakening happens right before the bloom phase, and ends a little while after the flare phase.

  • Bloom Phase - The bloom phase is described as the hysterical reaction to being a pshifter.

  • Flare Phase - The flare phase configures your external, internal, and energetic bodies.

  • Revealing - This is when a shifter finally "comes out" to others about being a shifter.

Pshifting Information

Various links to different places about and for pshifters.