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Is Having Two Fursonas a Problem?

2/21/2013

3 Comments

 
For the longest time I have had a question that I feel hasn't really been addressed anywhere I've looked. The issue, as I perceive it to be, is that I have two fursonas, and I cannot seem to ever decide which applies more to me.

I use both daily, as I have accounts on various accounts that use either one. My first and original fursona is that of a Bengal tiger, personifying the aspects of myself which I desire to have, or to obtain eventually at some part of my life. I'll refer to him as ALoD. I have had this fursona for about 7 months (as long as I have been a furry). He is the more headstrong, outgoing side of my personality that I occasionally display, but more often hide behind my shyness.

My other and more correct fursona, as it is 2 months old, is that of a River Otter. He reflects my personality as I am now, and I identify most with this one. He is the epitome of my insecurities, though he is fun loving as well. This fursona is often displayed by my tendency to be quiet and ponderous, yet can still enjoy every aspect of like as a child would (not to be confused with babyfurs). But the problem lies not there, but that while my Otter fursona, which I'll call Churran is just as relevant to me as my other fursona.

I view each fursona as a large aspect of my personality, as if they were real individuals, and often find myself wondering "What would ALoD or Churran do?" I can neither place one over the other in terms of importance nor can I decide which one to refer to myself as when introducing myself to a furry I've never met before. I even go so far as to use the name Churran as my furry identity since I like the name more than ALoD.

So I ask this. Is there a way to decide, or is this something I will simply need to get used to? Also, is this normal among those in the fandom?

Churran

* * *

Dear Churran,

It is not uncommon for a furry to have more than one fursona and it is nothing to be concerned about. I had one furry write me a while back wondering if she was suffering from multiple personality disorder because of this, and, of course, she wasn’t. Many furries use fursonas to help them express their identities more freely. Sometimes, like you, they have different fursonas to express the way they are feeling at the time on various occasions.

Later on in life, you might find that you drop one or the other fursona, or maybe add a new one, or drop both and decide on an entirely new fursona. As we change and grow, our fursonas often do the same until we eventually settle down on one or two. For example, I was a wolf, then a dragon, and now very content as a bear. I’ve discovered myself and who I am and that is a bear. You will probably do the same, as you are only 18 right now.

Furries your age usually do one of two things after a few years in the fandom: 1) they leave furry forever, deciding they are “too grown up” for it, or 2) being a furry helps them discover who they are and their fursona becomes quite solidified.

So, don’t worry about having two fursonas. It’s all part of the growing process and discovering who you are.

Hugs,

Papabear

3 Comments
Randolph (Excelsior!) Garrett
2/21/2013 04:02:08 am

I like a philosopy illustrated very well on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The capt. had an antique from an alien culture (I think the name was "Curlings") which his archilogist teacher gave him. It was a figurine of a man which then opens up to reveal many small versions of the main figure. And the captian went on to describe that culture as that they believe everyone is made up of many smaller persons representing the different aspects of their mind. We are all made of of many individuals in many ways like that. That's why ensomble casts like on Star Trek are so popular as each person represents a part of all of us that we can identify.

So, having many fursonalities is a very good and correct thing! No one is required to have one fursonality or many. It's up to you and I think the two you have chosen are great! *Vulcan salute* "Live long, and prosper" :D

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Ace Spotted Hyenasaurus link
2/21/2013 04:11:26 am

I have one sona, This is what did happen to me.
"As we change and grow, our fursonas often do the same until we eventually settle down on one or two."

I eventually left having more then one sona because the thought on it is that I am Ace, and ace is me. I do not need something to represent some other person I am not. I never refer to my sona in third person because, I am my sona if this makes any sense. I am just using a reference to what it is here. Like I am my persona, sona is the same thing as this.

Some people take being furry differently they treat it like a role play or there sona being as a different character or another person. I would suppose some move beyond that and others stay like this. Same as with the "fandom" some people are still just fans others move on into being part of the community in the culture. It's two different separate portions of the same thing. I was in the fandom and then decided that was not for me It was a bigger part of my life and then it became a lifestyle for me and I moved to the community and now work as an internment part in the culture doing all I can do every day to help and try to make it a nicer place. Donation work, Organization and taking my time to dedicate myself to being the best I can be as a member of my most cherished culture.

Reply
Critter link
2/22/2013 03:51:41 am

While my main fursona fits me well, sometimes other spirit guides speak to me.

Ted Andrews has written a number of books on the ideas of animals as spirit guides. "Animal-Speak" is one and while it's new-agey I found the descriptions of animal characteristics to be thought provoking and not always what one would expect.

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