by Adnarel

Okay. Take a breath.

Someone in your family, or maybe just a close friend, just confided in you. They explained to you that their soul was not human. That they felt they came from ‘somewhere else’.. that maybe, they aren’t truly human to begin with. Something inside them is different from what society defines as ‘normal’. Maybe this person thinks their true self is dragon-like. Maybe this person told you they were an angel in a human incarnation, here to provide an undercover service to humanity. Maybe they’re a different being then you’ve heard of all together, and come from another planet or another plane of existence entirely. You, don’t know what to make of this. Do you laugh? Do you cry? What should you feel? What should you do?

To begin, you must understand-the person who has confided in you trusted you enough to confide in you. To tell you something deeply personal, and deeply spiritual. They have just told you how they feel, down the depths of their soul. They have told you who they are. And your freakin’ out.

Or maybe not.

So what do you do when an ‘Otherkin’ individual confides in you, and tells you who and what they are?

Otherkin, as a general rule of thumb, are always seeking to make a friend, or to have someone, someone who will listen to them. Ever had a secret that just eats away at you? Some people are afraid of being known, of having people know them. A kin who shares this information with you is seeking a friend, someone who will support them in their soul searching. They do want to be known.

It’s not easy to go to someone you love and tell them, in essence, you are not human, no matter about human form. Many kin relate the experience of telling their loved ones what they are to the experience of a homosexual coming out to their family. (No offense, anyone!). Sometimes, families are supportive of the person.

Sometimes, they’re not.

I always urge the friends and family of other kin not to be close minded. Be supportive- again, respect that the person has told you a very deep and intimate secret- something sacred and precious. This is the first step. Of course, you will be shocked. Or maybe not, depending on what kind of person you are. Maybe you will feel a great surge of joy for the person- maybe you will feel happy that they are exploring who they are. Maybe you will cry, and feel the person is going down the wrong path…

No, if your wondering, kinship is not a ‘disorder’, and is not to be confused with any time of mental or social disorder. Almost all kin lead healthy, ‘normal’ lives- they have jobs, families, and come from all different walks of life and religious paths: Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormonism. Kinship itself is not mutually exclusive of any of these. Don’t go rushing to call a shrink when a kin individual confides in you- this could have the disastrous consequence of losing their trust- and likely, nothing will come of it. If your thinking that the person who has confided in you is ‘sick’ or ‘delusional’ in any way, I will say now that said kin individual should not have confided in you to begin with.

Kin members who have gotten positive reactions from friends and family seem to grow better spiritually then those whose families or friends have cut them off. This is the second thing I urge you not to do- disown or otherwise disregard the person for what they have told you. Every sentient being has the right to have their basic existence acknowledged in order to have a health body, mind, and spirit. It is a scientifically proven fact that people need to connect with other people in order to be healthy- pushing said person away is not the right thing to do, if you care about them at all. Again, Kinship is not any kind of disorder; it’s a feeling deep down to the core of who the person is, a spiritual path- sometimes even an alternate lifestyle.

I encourage you to be open. Ask questions of the person. I’ve seen some kin in an open family situation- for example, one I know confided in his family to the fact he was a unicorn-kin. The family fully supported it- they asked questions, they talked with him at length about what he was- and they still buy him unicorn memorabilia to this day. If you ask the mother, she’ll tell you she’s proud, honored, even, to have a unicorn staying on earth with their family, as their son in this incarnation. Needless to say, this individual is very prosperous in his family situation. This is a prime example of a harmonious relationship with a kin within a family setting. Of course, not everything can be perfect all the time, but just be loving and understanding of your kin family/friend. They are here for a very special reason- and they will enrich your life just by their very presence on earth. Kin are a blessing to everybody- be a blessing back to them, and give them your support, and not intolerance.