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What is a "Real Dragon"? What does Tser mean when she says she's "trans-speciesed"?
A Real Dragon usually refers to someone who is, though appearances may be decieving, a Dragon rather than a human. They may be a Dragon in heart, mind, spirit, soul -- even body. Your boss or your daughter might be a Dragon. People of all different religions and cultures may be Dragons. Usually I just refer to this as being a Dragon... "Real" is just added for clarification when people say "Dragons don't exist." Real Dragons often refer to themselves as Otherkin, and this is a more common term for the state of being trans-speciesed.
Like many people who differ from the "norm", Dragons may be "closeted" and not tell anyone what they really are. Draconity (how much a person relates to Dragons) comes in many levels, from "I like Dragons" to "I am a Dragon and there's no way you can convince me otherwise".
For many people, being a Dragon is a very spiritual thing. Every Dragon is different and has different interpretations of what Draconity means to them. Though certainly not all, quite a few times, Draconity is viewed in terms of reincarnation (a person who was a Dragon in a past life and has recollection of this in some way). Other times it may be a Dragon spirit born into a human body.
When a female is born into a male's body, or vice versa, they are "transgendered". Tser uses the word "transspeciesed" (or "trans-speciesed") for those who are born into the body of the wrong species. There are more trans-speciesed souls out there than is commonly known. The feeling of waking up and looking in the mirror and seeing the wrong kind of face staring back at you can be disheartening and very depressing. Though there are now treatments to help a person be the proper gender, no such supplements or surgeries exist to return a Dragon to their proper form, though many Dragons hope for such a technology, or some sort of magic, with all their hearts.
Lycanthropy is a medical disorder in which a human believes themselves to be a wolf (it is also another word for "werewolf" or a person who is a Real Wolf). Zoanthropy is the medical term for someone who thinks they are an animal. Dragons are NOT sick or confused or insane. They ARE Dragons, merely given the wrong bodies at birth. However, Tser, in her embracing of her trueself (Dragon) has coined a word to represent what she is... a Dracanthrope... a Dragon caught in a human body.
Many people with trans-species issues feel they are crazy or completely alone in their beliefs. Since many trans-speciesed people are very quiet about what they are, especially in the "real world" (like gender and sexuality issues, species issues can and has gotten people fired, rejected, even physically assaulted), they are fairly closed off from others. On the internet, many Dragons and other trans-speciesed people find, for the first time, they are not alone. Others may not understand quite why they feel so "wrong" for a long time.
Being trans-speciesed is not a choice. It's akin to being born caucasian -- or being born Human.
Whether trans-speciesism can occur in non-humans on Earth (such as a turtle born into a chicken's body) is unknown, and will no doubt remain so. }:=8}
Summary of Words About Transspeciesism:
Since different species tend to have different cultural norms and behaviors, these are from a Dragon's perspective and are not meant to be offensive. If you have any notes, corrections, additions or complaints, please contact Tser.
- Draconity: Of or pertaining to the level of personal relation to Dragons. Sometimes used as a personal level of how much of the self is Dragon as opposed to how much is human (or Other).
- Dracanthrope: A Dragon in a human body.
- Furries: Anthropomorphic animals (animals with "human" characteristics to varying degrees, such as speech or a hominid stance). As relating to trans-speciesism, people who are a furry of some sort in spirit, mind, heart or soul.
- Lycanthropes: Wolfkin (a Real Wolf). Also, werewolves. Also, a medical condition in which a person believes themselves to be a wolf. Factors contributing to medical lycanthropy are thought to be drugs and malnutrition. This condition was much more common in the past, particularly the dark ages, when food was scarce or inadequate, superstition ran high, and herbs like belladona were consumed in rituals.
- Otherkin: A word commonly used among trans-speciesed people to refer to other trans-speciesed people.
- Real Dragons: A person who is a Dragon in spirit, mind, heart or soul. "Real" is used mostly to distinguish between a real live trans-speciesed Dragon and a dragon from a story, and also to differentiate between a dracanthrope and a roleplay persona. It is not meant to infer that anything else is "less real"... merely to clarify, and is often used around people who don't accept trans-speciesism as possible. Other Dragons choose not to prefix their species.
- Trans-speciesism: Exhibiting behavioral and cognitive characteristics of a species differing from that of the body. A person "born into the body of the wrong species", IE a wolf in a human body.
- Trueform: Usually, a person's true species and appearance, regardless of outer form.
- Trueself: A person's true species, appearance, gender, mindset, abilities, etc. despite what they may look like on the outside.
- Zoanthropes: Sometimes used by trans-speciesed people to refer to any trans-speciesed person, or just mundane (earthly) beings rather than "mythical" ones (that is, a trans-speciesed fox, as opposed to a trans-speciesed unicorn). Also, a medical condition in which a person believes they are an animal. See lycanthropes for more information.
See also: Dragon Dictionary -- Words Pertaining to Dragons
Socio-cultural Basis for Trans-speciesism -- IE, Why We're Not Crazy
Included here is reference to transgenderism, for a couple reasons; first, it is an accepted fact among most doctors and most societies, and has relevance in the way of being somewhat similar to trans-speciesism, and secondly, because there are a considerable amount of trans-speciesed people who are transgendered or have gender issues as well.
In many native cultures and in times long past, transgenderism and trans-speciesism were not looked down upon. From the early to mid-1900s, women who exceeded stereotypical gender norms or demanded civil rights were often institutionalized as having "hysteria" (a word no longer used in psychology). Until 1973, homosexuality was classified as a mental illness but has been removed from the DSM (the diagnoses manual used in psychology).
Medical policy is to regard gender as a purely immutable condition, with distinctly two sexes, determined by genitalia. Disregarded is a growing body of literature that considers gender a social construction rather than biological imperative, and huge differences in how gender is seen in various cultures.
Gender is considered almost "sacred" to western culture. However, in many other cultures, transgenderism and supernumerary gender roles were accepted, often highly respected, societal roles, where gender fluidity and variation were considered a normal variation of human life. Some examples of cross-cultural precedents:
- Native American Two-Spirit Traditions
- The Navajo Nadle
- The Lakota Winkte
- The North Piegan Manly Hearts
- The Tahitian Mahu
- The Madagascar Sekrata
- Hindu Tantric and Hijra Sects
- Islamic Xanith, Khawal, and Sufi Traditions
- The European Castrati
Similarly, in many cultures, alternate species roles were often highly regarded. Shamanism, the world's oldest healing tradition (and contrary to popular belief, not a religion), is an example. Shamanism is wide-spread, existing in many tribal cultures across the globe. Often a shaman (considered a spiritual and cultural leader in many cases) was chosen to be so because they were different. Many shamans practiced spiritual shapeshifting or considered themselves to be able to become possessed by an animal spirit or particular totem. Others considered themselves to be animals in spirit.
Not to be ignored are the berserkers -- savage fighters who wore bear skins and believed themselves to have the spirits of bears. They were nearly unstoppable when in battle, because they fought so fiercly. This is an example of a cultural totem or spirit.
Trans-speciesism and belief in posession of an animal spirit is not limited to tribal cultures. In China, the emperor was considered to be descended from a five-toed Dragon, and this is what gave the family line right-to-rule. The founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were said to have been suckled by a she-wolf and were considered to have the spirits of wolves.
Where can I find more information?
Baxil, a Real Dragon, wrote a Draconity FAQ. This is a wonderful look at Draconity and Real Dragons and will answer almost any basic question a human, Otherkin, or Dragon may have about being a Dragon.
A Little History of this Essay
When I first put up this essay, years ago, I asked an online friend -- who was not a therianthrope or otherkin -- what she thought. Her reaction was a skeptical look (and heavy pause) and commented that it sounded somewhat schizophrenic (she was well-educated in mental health, as I am). I took the essay down immediately, embarrassed and worried what others would think. Someone inquired after it, and said that it had been worthwhile to them, and warily, I placed it on my page again. It has been up without interruption since then.
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