Otherkin are a community of people who identify themselves as non-human
in all but outward form, contending that they are, in spirit if not in
body, creatures traditionally associated with mythology or folklore.
Belief in otherkin is related to the changeling concept. The therian,
vampire, and draconic subcultures are related to the otherkin community
somewhat, and are considered part of it by most otherkin, but are
culturally distinct movements of their own despite some overlap in
membership. Some may claim to be able to shapeshift mentally - meaning
that they may experience the sense of being in their particular form
while not actually changing physically. The existence of Otherkin is
variably explained as being made possible through reincarnation, having
a nonhuman soul, ancestry, or symbolic metaphor.