Phykardia

Someone who identifies as a phykardian, broadly speaking, shares a deep connection with all things—or particular aspects of—nature and the natural world, to the point where it strongly influences their sense of self. This identity is not simply ‘feeling one with nature’ however. Those who identify with this term often long to be reborn as something persistent with the ways in which they connect to nature, like an animal (which may cause for some confusion between animalhearted/therian people, which is a distinct identity, as will be discussed), or a plant, and/or may even believe that they have experienced the ‘soul’ or ‘essence’ of one of these entities in a past life. Reincarnation is a significant aspect of being a phykardian, as it is very commonly the case that this intrinsic connection with the earth feels almost primordial or ‘destined’ —something which is ingrained and cannot be escaped. However, this term is incredibly nuanced, and is inclusive of an array of spiritual and religious understandings of the concept of reincarnation; for instance, phykardia can even wish to experience heaven in an animal body and life.

More succinctly, phykardia are people whose identities with nature are tangled intricately into how they experience the world around them spiritually or psychologically to the point of impacting their sense of self.

Sometimes I’d even find myself sitting with my back to a thick tree trunk and wishing my thoughts could sink away into it, so I could become nothing but that one, breathing vessel I lay against. I believe this encapsulates phykardia beautifully—that want—wanting to be nature in a non-human way. It is a desire that you can attempt to emulate through various means which are commonly shared by other communities such as quadrobics or mask-making, but which the phykardian cannot truly say makes them that aspect of nature that they wish to be.

Phykardia by phykardian March 1, 2025