Mental shift

In depth

In a mental shift the balance of attention moves. Words recede a little. Scent, sound, movement and the positions of other bodies in the room come forward. People describe feeling more direct, more present, and more inclined to respond the way their animal would: to startle, to stalk a moving thing with the eyes, to curl up, to want open ground. A light shift may be noticeable only to the person having it. A deep one can make speech feel like an effort for a while.

What a mental shift is not matters as much. It is not a loss of self, and it is not a loss of control. The person remains aware of who and where they are, and can set the feeling aside when the moment requires it, much as anyone can set aside a strong mood. Experiences that involve lost time or actions that cannot be recalled are not what the community means by this term, and are worth raising with a professional.

In practice

• After an hour alone in woodland, a fox therian notices that they have stopped thinking in sentences and are simply listening, head turning toward each small sound.
• During rough play with a dog, a wolf therian feels an urge to answer a play-bow in kind, laughs, and does.
• In a crowded station, a deer therian feels a strong and wordless need for a clear line of escape, moves to stand by the wall, and feels it ease.

Common questions

Can mental shifts be brought on deliberately?

Many people find that certain settings invite them: time outdoors, particular music, quiet, physical play. Fewer can summon one at will, and forcing the matter rarely helps.

Do all therians have them?

No. Some have frequent shifts, some rare ones, and contherians have none because their blend never changes. None of these is more authentic than the others.

Related terms