Otherkin, and etc. get this kind of reaction, because of the almost whimsical childlike way that people start to express themselves about their past lives and spiritual lives now days. Many of us are young, though I am not, at least not physically. In general children are very aware when they are little. Some people loose that, others repress it, and others just don't talk about it, for fear of the same reaction this guy has.
When you are on line it doesn't matter to most people cause no one knows who you really are. The annonomous nature of the web has caused people to be more open about their inner lives, and their spiritual lives.
In the past people would not discuss spiritual or astral matters except within the context of religion. Even then they were very guarded about the way they worded things, so as not to seem so insane that it would be called heresy, cause they'd get burned at the stake. Some societies were more open than others, but a certain degree of education, wealth, prominance, etc. Was required in order to be taken seriously, or even be heard for that matter.
In the past people documented things, researched things, and were very careful to fit their opinions and ideas into certain established norms... still certain things are consistent between traditional thought and the new other kin phenomonon... other things aren't however.
First of all reincarnation is a very old idea, and world wide I'd say more people believe it than not. It has very old foundations, in many many cultures, so chances are it is true. Most of your older reincarnation theories involve the concept that people have been animals before and will be again. The Hindus very definately believe that, and so that does make it a bit more credible that people could easily have been animals in past lives.
In addition domestic animals have shown signs of being spiritually aware, gifted and even psychic. They react to energy fields, 'ghost' phenomonon, and react to the death of their masters, without being informed. Sometimes they even predict the death of their masters. Many dogs have gone to extremes to try to prevent their masters from leaving, only to fail, and have them die in an accident on that same day. (If your dog steals your car keys, just stay home.) Sure animals are cute and cuddly but they also deserve respect, and if one is going to say they are an animal, I would hope that they would behave with the spiritual dignity, wisdom, and intelect present in an animal.
I Don't think I am going to comment on my Chewbacca (from star wars) fettish right now.
LOL Suffice it to say that sex is an area of instinctual reaction, based not only in past life, but in early childhood experience, and any number of confusing experiences. People have always had fetishes... probably all people have fetishes, whether they act them out or not. A fettish is mearly a trigger for sexual desire. It could be as simple as the scent of leather for a woman, could be associated with saddles, and associated with the Freudian link to riding horseback. On the other hand it might remind them of a hot Biker guy they saw one time. In the past people did not discuss their fetishes, but they still existed. Chalk up recent openness to Internet and TV.
In my opinion people could easily have been animals in past lives, or they could be animals in their next lives. The difference in what I have just said and what some otherkin sights say is that I can back that up at least to a degree, by citing the works of others, who have studied, and with religious texts that are accepted in at least some parts of the world. I could put references at the bottom of my post if necesssary... but I don't want to... LOL and that is the problem, even though I could back up at least part of the things I talk about, I don't want to take the time to look things up that I read in the past and foot note them. No one does.
A lot of people wouldn't know where to start if they did want to. I know a lot of things that I couldn't reference or back up with other witnesses too, and why keep from saying something just cause you can't prove it. it might help someone.
That said, I find several problems with the otherkin subculture myself.
1. Elitism. Otherkin theory assumes that Otherkin are better than everyone else. It appeals to kids who want to be unique. They want to down play their plain old human parents, teachers, and other adults who are trying to tell them what they need to know about THIS world. (Believe me, no one is a plain old anything. Everyone is special, including your parents. Maybe they haven't developed it, maybe they have, you don't always know that about another person. Many otherkin want to assume they are all knowing and everyone else is stupid, simply because it is easier than doing their homework, and researching their theories properly, therefore their theories seem half baked.
“Indigo Children” as described in the article sounds like a code word for spoiled lazy brats on and ego trip. Since when is being self centered, impatient, and selfish a sign of spiritual awareness. I more than anyone agree that some children are born with an agenda, or calling if you will, and that they may have special abilities required to get their tasks done, but to generalize the character of these very unique people, and use it as an excuse for bad behavior, is just stupid.
In fact everyone is incredibly special, unique, and capable in the astral. Otherkin are no different than anyone else, and in most ways everyone is otherkin, so what is it that is so other about it. People go through incarnations, some of those incarnations are fabulous, fanciful, and different. People can be incarnated on different planes, as different creatures. Many people are incarnate angels, aeons, and various heavenly beings. All those people are incredibly powerful in the astral realm, but everyone has the inborn ability to rise to power in the astral, or spiritual plane. We can all be children of heaven, and we all have our place there, as well as everywhere else. Otherkin is limiting, and could interfere with progression of the soul, unless one steps beyond that theory to grow in wisdom, and become something a little better than what you started as.
2. Ego and imagination. There is a good reason why eastern philosophy downplays ego, and individuality, and Christianity tells us to cast down imaginations. Ego is a huge obstical to seeing things as they are in the astral, and spiritual realm. Trying to see what you want to see, and control everything that happens, in the astral is the pathway to delusion. The astral is constructed in such a way that you litterally can see anything you want to see, and do anything you want to do, but sometimes when you do that it isn't real. The spiritual world is very real, and it isn't about guessing what animal, or creature you are from a limited list of possibilities, and making up a story about it to tell all your friends.
Real spiritual work is about studying the spiriutal world, and exploring yourself and your surroundings in that world. The more pre-concieved ideas you have the harder it is to see what is really there, but on the other hand the more you try to CONTROL everything the more you lie to yourself.
3. Downplaying the work. Meditation allows you to let go of your ego, and your awareness here, and just observe other worlds. Observing is the best thing to do, at first. There is a lot of meditative work, and study of spiritual principles that needs to be done before one understands what is really going on in the astral and spiritual worlds. My main pet peave, is the inphasis on APing, and trying to make things happen, while still within the ego structure. I think that is a game, which leads to delusion, and it helps nothing. Look for your higher self and become that. It takes time, but it beats being deluded.
4. Band Waggon Jumpers. You find these in every movement. People who don't care what is real, they just want to claim something they don't understand and are too lazy to find out more about before they join up. Unlike the elitiest brand of other kin I believe everyone is special, and capable of learning to use the astral, and spiritual parts of themselves. Some may be more gifted than others, but giftedness can only take you so far. On the other hand if you sell yourself short by jumping on the first half baked story you can find, and go around telling people you are something you have no earthly idea about then you are cheating yourself. Not everyone fits into a neat little category.
I know people who used to be animals, and mythical creatures in past lives. To me these are just past lives, whether astral or physical. They may have formed who you are, but they are just part of who you are. You may also be living astral lives simultaneously to your physical life. That is normal, but there is still more, and if you open up more you will see the ultimate truth, and things that are truely universally important.
Spiritual development is about more than the self. It is about service, and being useful. It is about discovering the universal consciousness, and developing some understanding of truth. It is about going beyond the ego, and seeing what is real. Believe me no one has arrived at enlightenment, just because they see a few past lives, or discover their role in the astral realm. It is a long journey.
Kim