therithere: Motivation

Orion Sandstorrm (

waywind) wrote in

therithere,
@ 2006-08-28 19:09:00

Entry tags:

format: multiple panels, humor: anticlimax, post: comments: 30 or more, post: this is a comic, species: canines, species: canines: foxes and kitsune, species: canines: wolves and coyotes, species: dragons, species: felines, species: felines: tigers, species: gryphons

Motivation

Comic for August 28, 2006!

Since today is Monday, I'm counting this one as a current update rather than making amends for a previous missed comic.

In the seventh panel, the book cover says "haiku" in tiny possibly-illegible hirigana, and the poem in the air next to it is Basho's famous haiku about the frog jumping into the pond. I have doubtless committed a terrible sin against linguistics and against incredibly good poetry by my heinous action of splitting the poem in the middle like that. Unfortunately, the place where I originally scribbled it down didn't say where the line breaks were supposed to be, and I can't read it to figure it out on my own.

(Post a new comment)

	lupabitch 2006-08-29 03:18 am UTC (link)
	Actually, almost every angel who answered a survey for the book is a therapist, counselor, or healer of some sort--and all of them in those professions said that being angelic influenced those careers. But that was about the only life-path correlation I find, and it comprises about a half a dozen people. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	waywind 2006-08-29 04:18 am UTC (link)
	nods The same tends to go for starseeds (reincarnated extraterrestrials) ... they almost always talk about having some "mission" as aliens on Earth to help humankind, and they choose their careers accordingly. In comparison, the idea of having a mission seems to be fairly uncommon among therianthropes and otherkin. (Feel free to prove me wrong.) (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

lupabitch
2006-08-29 04:38 am UTC (link)

Nah, I'd agree from my own observations. However, a lot of Otherkin do seme to have strong opinions on what they stand for, and will act accordingly in less life-encompassing ways. For example, environmentalism is pretty common, as are human rights issues, and people do tend to vote their minds. I've met a number of Otherkin, too, who try to live more sustainable lives, or at least lessen their footprint on the Earth. However, none of it quite compares to the high ratio of "devotees" found among angelkin.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

eye_of_twilight
2006-12-10 06:24 pm UTC (link)

I'm a fox therian, and though I don't consciously feel a 'pull' or a mission in words (though I did grow up wanting to 'save the world from itself', which took hell on me when I discovered I couldn't do it except person-to-person, and most of them didn't want help with their own problems), I do realize that the more people I come I come into contact with and 'be myself' around, the more I'm told that I've really changed how they view life and the situations that bother them- that I come into their lives and show them new points of view that would remain unhidden.

Maybe it's some kind of fox magick. :) But hey, if I'm helping people and not actively trying, then I'm doing what I can, and that's probably a mission, right? But having a mission 'feels' too stressful, as if we have to adhere to it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

inuki42
2006-08-29 03:20 am UTC (link)

I know it's probably too late to change the art, but... there's one version here, about a third of the way down (number 41): http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dmitrismirnov/BASHO_Haiku_F.html

As a bonus, since it's Unicode symbols, you can actually increase the text size and see the characters more clearly. I googled "Basho kana" and poked around some. I'm not terribly surprised the site isn't in English, but it does seem to be a good reference for that sort of thing. :) And it proves that my knowledge of Japanese is pretty terrible, which I suspected.

On the comic more generally - hee. I have to go along with the pair in the last panel, though hang gliding and skydiving have always drawn me. Actually, I've done a lot of the things mentioned, because they seemed interesting at the time - not specifically because I was drawn to them as a dragon. (Though the local cave has a really cool rock and gem shop... shiny! Yes, going back to the "dragons hoard shinies" stereotype.) I suspect a bit of history behind my love of seafood, though, since no one else in my family has quite the same taste for it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	waywind 2006-08-31 12:39 pm UTC (link)
	Sweet! Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I'll have to fix the artwork the next time I do some repairs to older comics, such as adding footnotes to that comic from a few days ago. I can fix the haiku panel in Photoshop; it's worth it. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	inuki42 2006-08-31 01:24 pm UTC (link)
	You're welcome! I'm glad it was useful. :) Google is surprisingly resourceful... if you can figure out what to make it look for. ;) (Reply to this) (Parent)

Flying ...

cheerfuldragon
2006-09-13 06:36 pm UTC (link)

I recently discovered vertical wind tunnel / fake skydiving. I've only had one lesson so far (next time I go to Las Vegas, that's the only place I go :-).

I will say this: I took to it like a natural. I was the only beginner that the instructor actually let go of to float up (we had one experienced person who was practicing stunts.)

Other than that, what keeps me from being more of a flyer/hang glider? Money. Well, that, and that I have no idea where to even begin to go to learn the flying suits that stuntmen use.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	jolantru 2006-08-29 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Thanks for making me smile. :) I always look forward for Theri There updates. grin (Reply to this)

	raichu26 2006-08-29 03:44 am UTC (link)
	I like howling when no one's at home. Cute comic, yet again <3 (Reply to this)

	westly_roanoke 2006-08-29 04:10 am UTC (link)
	Funny... Recently my inner wolf has been prodding me to begin running. He's been wanting me to stretch OUR legs, maybe shed a few pounds in the process... I think I need to print this out...if that's alright. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	waywind 2006-08-29 04:16 am UTC (link)
	"I think I need to print this out...if that's alright." Go ahead. :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lunar_dragoness 2006-08-29 05:22 am UTC (link)
	I think I relate most to the last panel, even if only because I'm not far enough in my human life where I really can dedicate myself to what I wish I were doing. I hope to get there eventually, really. Just might take a bit of... motivation, perhaps? (Reply to this)

	karnanyd 2006-08-29 05:45 am UTC (link)
	I'm an admin on an otherkin forum. Would you mind if I start a thread on this topic and link to this comic? I think it is a good question we should all ask ourselves, and maybe challenge ourselves to do more with our lives. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this, by the way. I love the comic. :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	waywind 2006-08-31 12:41 pm UTC (link)
	Sure, that's a great idea! Go ahead. :) Which otherkin forum is it, by the way? I'd like to watch the thread there. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

karnanyd
2006-09-06 07:06 am UTC (link)

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you; I've been pretty busy the last few days.

I am one of the admins from Draconomicon, www.draconomicon.com , and the thread can be found here: http://www.draconomicon.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=33814#33814

I just posted the thread, so there aren't any responses as of this moment. I'd be honoured if you'd like to come visit us and follow the thread. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	sunflowrgoddess 2006-08-29 06:05 am UTC (link)
	i really liked this one. (Reply to this)

	laurenmitchell 2006-08-29 08:14 am UTC (link)
	A lot of the otherkin/therians I know (most of whom are dragons) are at least moderately interested in helping the environment, hespa in particular. (Reply to this)

ladyfox7oaks
2006-08-29 06:37 pm UTC (link)

In regards to the last panel- Oh heck no! I'll growl whenever and wherever I feel the situation calls for it. I've tried to control it in particularly inappropriate settings, like formal meetings or something. But I have (with "Normals" as witnesses!) growled at a waitress who thought to take my steak away from me before I was finished. I was tired and the Dragon AND Fox halves both came out. Poor woman! She doesn't get paid enough to deal with that, but she should have known better than to try and remove half a meal like that, too...

In regards to the comic in general- yeah- It applies. I have certainly considered learning to hang-glide, and have taken up ballroom dancing to "remember" my grace...

(Reply to this)

	makuus 2006-08-29 07:01 pm UTC (link)
	Yay panel 9! grin (Reply to this)

	illisse 2006-08-29 10:32 pm UTC (link)
	I love the hunter going 'shoo' it made the comic for me. (Reply to this)

	weirgreif 2006-08-30 08:35 am UTC (link)
	In the alternate universe wherein I draw art extensively, this comment contains fanart for the gryphon character in the comic. Here, though, there's just contentment and happybounces at the same time. nod (Reply to this)

shira_seskai
2006-08-30 04:02 pm UTC (link)

Very nice comic, and like often in your comics, it made me think. ^^

I'm not sure if the wonderful things some do in their life can always be related to an otherkin side, but I can imagine that there is a good chance that a past life can have a huge impact on every being alive, aware or not.

The idea that "otherkin", especially starseed is incarnated on earth in a helping mission is very strong in the esoteric area (I know about it some from my mom) and my senses tell me that there is something like that happening.
I'd like to know if there can be drawn a line between starseed and other otherkin at all. I mean, for example, a gyphon species from another planet: would they be starseed? *ponders*

Also, I think that many many otherkin have to go through a tough time, having to find a way handling the fact that they have something non-human within them they can't just silence. It takes time to grow and learn handing the emotions and problems resulting from this, and even more to find ways to adapt back to mankind again, so you're actually able to help at all.

Personally, I think that the really wonderful is in the detail, like how we act in our daily lives. Being alive without complaining all the time, without violence and without hate. Being successful with that, even without doing something great, maybe is already enough to fulfill some kind of mission here on this world and in this life.

I dunno, just a though ^v^

Oh, and because I didn't say as the comic was actual: I love the one with the mirror and the gryphon.

Keep up sharing your thoughts!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

waywind
2006-08-31 12:58 pm UTC (link)

Thanks!

There are a lot of things held in common between starseeds and otherkin, in my opinion, although they have a lot of differences as well. Starseeds developed as a seperate subculture, though, so the two communities haven't bumped into each other much, and are mostly mutually unaware of each other. Starseeds have written and have been written about in pamphlets and books since the sixties, but have only come on the Internet in the past couple years... wheras otherkin mostly only showed up on the radar when they were on the Internet and have only started showing up in books in the past couple years. Starseeds generally describe their extraterrestrial spiritual heritage as having something to do with particular kinds of aliens that New Age and UFOlogists tend to agree on as being real, such as Grey aliens or these celestial disembodied guys, which is pretty different from the sorts of phenotypes common among otherkin.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	watchingwolf 2006-08-31 04:25 am UTC (link)
	Wow. That's the best. Gentle art that asks a serious question. Are you real or are you a pastime? Most excellent. (Reply to this)

draco18s
2006-08-31 08:38 pm UTC (link)

ryuuzin
Yay panel 9! *grin*

Indeed, yay! for the last pannel.

lunar_dragoness
I think I relate most to the last panel, even if only because I'm not far enough in my human life where I really can dedicate myself to what I wish I were doing. I hope to get there eventually, really. Just might take a bit of... motivation, perhaps?

That might have somethign to do with it too. I've thought about cave exploration to a degree, but I lack the funds, time, and equipment to go. Ditto hang gliding. Though in reference all the way back to the first strip, yes, riding on my bike does make me spread my wings and "fly" (almost, being in near complete lack of phantom limbs).

(Reply to this) (Thread)

waywind
2006-09-01 05:35 am UTC (link)

You have a point... funds, time, and equipment are a often critical factors in whether a person is able to devote themself to learning a new skill or adopting a hobby that they find spiritually fulfilling. You can't hold it against a person for not doing something when they haven't had the time or money. Much as they want to do it, it may not be possible for them to do. There are some things that a person could work out how to do even if they had little time or money, such as practicing martial arts with a friend or picking up the basics of a foriegn language by studying it in books and tapes from the library... but things like hang-gliding are just plain ruled out by a lack of time and money.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	baxil 2006-09-01 07:45 am UTC (link)
	Yes. Thank you for saying this. This is one of those messages that bears repeating -- as often, loudly, and eloquently as our community can manage. (Reply to this)

	jrrhack 2006-09-01 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	VEry true this week´s comic (Reply to this)

amaridaijoubune
2006-09-02 04:28 am UTC (link)

Motivate, hmm...I've always climbed trees, since before I can remember, though my puma friend was always better at it than I am. I blame my lack of claws.

I've never met any other, well, otherkin or therianthropes in real life, though, only online, and not well because of how shy I am. This does make me wonder how often that happens, hobbies and professions and extracirriculars based around one's other identity.

Serious love for the last panel from me as well.

(Reply to this)

	per_akh 2006-09-02 07:12 pm UTC (link)
	Score! I can't tell you enough how much we could all relate to this. Dig the kitsune panel too...but that could be bias. ~Solo (Reply to this)

lyceria
2006-09-04 12:43 am UTC (link)

Hey, popping by for the first time. I've read the comic awhile and do like it bunches. I especially like this one as I had some similiar essay I was toying with writing about how you can be both hindered and empowered by the past. I suppose if I had to say what my past motivated me to it would be writing / storytelling and animation. Of course I still feel nowhere near ready for a public level, but at least this is an ongoing project for me.
Anyway, kudos for the cool comic and hello.

(Reply to this)

Heehee

simim23
2006-09-15 03:57 pm UTC (link)

My natural empathy due to me being a demon makes me good with people....and it gives me inspiration towards my artwork, but frankly, I can't think of a thing that would make me feel more like myself. I wear a little set of horns I made around a lot, and that's about it. Although roller-coaster riding makes me feel weightless like I once was, and I love it.

Someday, I want to try going up to high altitudes in a plane just to feel that zero-gravity effect....hehe

Just as a suggestion, put something about demonkin in. We tend to be rather.....misinterpreted moreso. In fact, your webcomic inspires me to make one for myself. ^.^

(Reply to this)

And where to begin

sigmadraconis
2006-09-23 11:10 pm UTC (link)

Sigh... it's very true, I feel a great sense of... needing to try to put the world right. I once thought that Physics was the best way of finding my place in the universe, but I think I understand now that the world revolves around people: all the worlds failings and successes are due to the nature of the individual sentient being and the interactions within groups of sentient beings.

But the more I look at the world, the more I see it resembles a doily - there are so many holes, so many places where work needs to be done to make the world better and stronger, that to focus on one and to neglect the whole seems folly; yet it is difficult to see how to affect the whole, and whilst focussing on that, no individual hole gets my attention.

How do you change the way the world works, on a fundamental level? And do we, as individuals, have the right to try to dictate such changes? [I'd argue yes, but that's a different discussion.] So many questions, and answers are painfully scarce.

Sigh... anyone got any ideas?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: And where to begin

waywind
2006-09-24 01:11 am UTC (link)

Wow... Eloquently put. Thank you.

Not that I have answers for the sorts of questions you're asking about the ethics involved, although activism guides like "The Better World Handbook" could supply more ideas about how to go about some kinds of the putting-the-world-right business.

Aside from that, congrats on the brand new Livejournal account. Neat to see that the very first comment you made with it was this one.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: And where to begin sigmadraconis 2006-09-24 01:20 am UTC (link)
	It's been rattling around in my brain for ages, and needed a seed to crystalise around... and I think the most recent TheriThere was that seed. Thank you... and I'll check out that book, too. :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

dragonzuela
2006-09-24 05:53 am UTC (link)

I'm wicked late in replying to this, but people keep linking to it, so I keep seeing it again and again :)

Is the person in panel 5 starting a fire with a bow drill? I took a wilderness survival course this summer, and have a photo of what I was taught as being the proper posture: http://pics.livejournal.com/dragonzuela/pic/0006fx7p/g45

I was inspired by my spirituality to take the course, but kind of indirectly.

Panel 8: YES. I don't understand why more people don't feel that way. I don't know exactly what my purpose is, but I have a strong sense of being here to help in some way, or at least to learn about humanity so I can come back and help later. As for the time being, damage to the environment is what upsets me the most about what's wrong with the world, so I'm pointing my career in an environmental direction. (Conservation genetics, yay.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

waywind
2006-09-24 02:27 pm UTC (link)

"Is the person in panel 5 starting a fire with a bow drill?"

Yes, that's supposed to be a bow drill. I wasn't using a reference picture, I was just going by memory of what I was pretty sure bow drills looked like. I hope it's not too far off.

The primitive technology books that I checked out a while ago all talked about this deep-down sense you get when you're making a fire the old and difficult way-- like you've been brought into touch with something both primal and intensely human-- so that it's almost a spiritual experience, although one reached with blistered palms and possibly frustration. I haven't tried it for myself yet, but it sounds like something that shouldn't be missed.

As to selecting a career according to what you want to set right in the world-- very cool. :D

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	"Discuss this" for the most recent comic cheerfuldragon 2006-11-03 05:09 am UTC (link)
	There is no discussion forum for the most current comic (the oct 30th one you get by going to therethere.comicgenesis.com) (Reply to this)

	ryshili 2009-02-18 11:33 pm UTC (link)
	Oh yes. Last panel indeed. I am most defiantly motivated to hiss, spat and growl. chuckles Thanks for brightening up my really crappy day. (Reply to this)

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