A Few Thoughts on Being a Hydra
20. Tell us a few thoughts about what it’s like being your species
For those who don’t know, three of the members in our system identify collectively as a hydra. Each of us have individual forms outside of the hydra one (all dragons in some fashion). Also, our hydra form is not permanent and does flux between separated and not depending on our emotions. We label it a linktype because we want to emphasize the “we choose to be this together.” aspect. It is a representation of how we feel about one another + how we want to present in the headspace.
On how it feels: The closest comparison we can think of is of a bunch of dogs all curled up in a dog bed together. It might look squished, but it’s comfortable. It’s hard to tell where one dragon ends, and another begins. But none of us really care as long as we’re collectively enjoying ourselves which isn’t hard since we all tend to be easygoing.
There’s a lot of thoughtleak (the sharing of thoughts/emotions, whether intentional or not) and we’ll hear each other much easier than other headmates. It’s near impossible to hide anything from one another. Communication tends to be: rush of associated emotion and then the actual words. The words from the others will be as clear and crisp as our own thoughts, but with different vibes/energy signatures to them.
Some individual thoughts on the question:
(Following from Hortense was re-purposed from a journal entry)
“My plural ‘awakening’ happened parallel to picking up the hydra linktype. We don’t spend any time in the plural communities nor want to so we don’t know all the terms. Not sure if awakening is the word to use, but it gets the point across. We all collectively choose to identity as a hydra despite having individual forms because we feel drawn to one another and don’t want to be separated. Presenting this way in the headspace lets our speech and thoughts flow more easily and just feels good to be honest.
It was easier initially to see the hydra (I was really into Godzilla at the time and watching the new king of monsters dvd) and realize there was something there I wanted even if I couldn’t articulate it at the time. So I started with the linktype. I can be kind of…bossy? for lack of a better word, so before this I was trying to control the others instead of listening at all. The turning point to even considering attempting to talk to the others was when I played the "I am (Dog)s” visual story online (if you want to see it, here’s the link) that follows a therian finding out they’re plural.“ – Hortense
"We have a strong bond that has grown stronger over time. There’s a quote saved on our phone that I want to paraphrase: 'Right now, they feel like they’re in a box–like the menial distance between them is some forced, unnatural barrier that shouldn’t be there. Right now, they want to tear that barrier down.’ Being a dragon inherently comes with a feeling of power and pride, but being a hydra is about love and connection. We often joke that the only thing we love more than ourselves is each other. We’re close with our other headmates, but there’s something about becoming the same being as one another. A unique level of synchronicity and trust is needed for it. I love them.” – Thorn
“We’re like brothers, only closer.” – Stryker
For those who don’t know, three of the members in our system identify collectively as a hydra. Each of us have individual forms outside of the hydra one (all dragons in some fashion). Also, our hydra form is not permanent and does flux between separated and not depending on our emotions. We label it a linktype because we want to emphasize the “we choose to be this together.” aspect. It is a representation of how we feel about one another + how we want to present in the headspace.
On how it feels: The closest comparison we can think of is of a bunch of dogs all curled up in a dog bed together. It might look squished, but it’s comfortable. It’s hard to tell where one dragon ends, and another begins. But none of us really care as long as we’re collectively enjoying ourselves which isn’t hard since we all tend to be easygoing.
There’s a lot of thoughtleak (the sharing of thoughts/emotions, whether intentional or not) and we’ll hear each other much easier than other headmates. It’s near impossible to hide anything from one another. Communication tends to be: rush of associated emotion and then the actual words. The words from the others will be as clear and crisp as our own thoughts, but with different vibes/energy signatures to them.
Some individual thoughts on the question:
(Following from Hortense was re-purposed from a journal entry)
“My plural ‘awakening’ happened parallel to picking up the hydra linktype. We don’t spend any time in the plural communities nor want to so we don’t know all the terms. Not sure if awakening is the word to use, but it gets the point across. We all collectively choose to identity as a hydra despite having individual forms because we feel drawn to one another and don’t want to be separated. Presenting this way in the headspace lets our speech and thoughts flow more easily and just feels good to be honest.
It was easier initially to see the hydra (I was really into Godzilla at the time and watching the new king of monsters dvd) and realize there was something there I wanted even if I couldn’t articulate it at the time. So I started with the linktype. I can be kind of…bossy? for lack of a better word, so before this I was trying to control the others instead of listening at all. The turning point to even considering attempting to talk to the others was when I played the "I am (Dog)s” visual story online (if you want to see it, here’s the link) that follows a therian finding out they’re plural.“ – Hortense
"We have a strong bond that has grown stronger over time. There’s a quote saved on our phone that I want to paraphrase: 'Right now, they feel like they’re in a box–like the menial distance between them is some forced, unnatural barrier that shouldn’t be there. Right now, they want to tear that barrier down.’ Being a dragon inherently comes with a feeling of power and pride, but being a hydra is about love and connection. We often joke that the only thing we love more than ourselves is each other. We’re close with our other headmates, but there’s something about becoming the same being as one another. A unique level of synchronicity and trust is needed for it. I love them.” – Thorn
“We’re like brothers, only closer.” – Stryker