The analogy I like to use is the idea that I am an Avatar pilot, like Jake Sully in James Cameron's movie. These facets are made of me, but aren't entirely me. We existed separately once, but we come together to be one being now. In dreams and on the astral, I can choose to present my body as their original bodies, but it's my consciousness operating whatever body I am using at the time. We always exist together. We are all "me."

Silverstein (he/him)

Silverstein is a mixed Elvaan/Hume man who originated in Final Fantasy XI and would later migrate to Final Fantasy XIV, where the races are known as Elezen/Hyur. He has tan skin, black hair, mid-length pointed ears, and blue eyes. He is also missing his left leg and wears a prosthetic.

Silverstein originated as a self-insert character when I began playing FFXI and quickly became a copinglink that helped me survive a time of great strife and misery as I tried to navigate being a trans teenager without knowing I was trans (yet.) I lived a different life when I played Silverstein, like his in-game life was my "real" life and my own life was a dream I endured between game sessions. In 2009 he integrated into my consciousness as the first facet, a being I could "invoke" when I needed his support.

Silverstein is a protector who exudes the idea of "gentle strength" and helps me get through hard times. He supports me with his unwavering tenacity and his constant compassion and love for life. When my depression is particularly strong, I look to him and remind myself that he lives in me and I can overcome what I am going through.

Silverstein was a dragoon, which I consider an offshoot of the dragon rider archetype in this situation, as he was soul-bonded to a young dragon but it was too small to ride.

Fletcher (he/him)

The only human facet, Fletcher has blond hair and blue eyes and tends to look younger than he is, generally still appearing to be in his mid-20s.

Fletcher is my "ideal human self," the self I tend to see in place of my physical body in dreams and on the astral (when I opt for a human appearance.) He first appeared in my dreams when I was a teenager and became a recurring figure, primarily when the dream involved transforming in some way. Eventually I used his likeness for an OC for roleplaying, and that is when he was given a name, as before that I simply called him "the blond man." That OC began as a cis man, but about a year after his creation I suddenly realized he was a trans man. Not long after, I realized I was trans-masculine myself, and Fletcher was who I felt like I was inside.

I honestly wasn't sure if Fletcher should be included in this list, but given that his likeness is in my "catalogue" of bodies my consciousness can be placed into in dreams, meditation, and the astral, much like I can do with Silverstein, and the fact that he stemmed from my mind's need to understand my identity, I decided to include him.

Despite considering him part of myself, I still like to write fiction where Fletcher is one of the main characters, mostly to comfort myself. I often live vicariously through him.

Ehv (they/he)

Ehv is an alien being that closely resembles a black dragon with a feathered mane that goes down their back to the middle of their tail. Their eyes are purple and glitter like a nebula. They existed in a cold, faraway place that I do not know the name of.

Ehv was my first foray into nonhumanity and the gateway to me exploring identity more deeply. In their previous life they were soul-bonded with Checa (listed below) and when they died together, the energy that made their souls formed with mine to make one "fractured soul."

Ehv was calm and dreamy in demeanor in their previous life. When I hold space for my reverence of nature and engage in my witchcraft path, I feel Ehv's presence more than the others.

Ehv did not care about gender (which I believe was common among their kind, as the other being I know from this race also does not care about gender) but was biologically male.

Checa (they/xe)

The "newest" member in terms of when they were discovered, Checa is an alien being that closely resembles a pale, lean elf with long black hair and expressive ears, approximately 6'0" tall. Like Ev, they have purple eyes. They existed in a cold, faraway place that I do not know the name of.

In their previous life they were soul-bonded with Ev (listed above) and when they died together, the energy that made their souls formed with mine to make one "fractured soul."

Checa was very similar to me in personality, which is why it was so hard to me to figure out their existence for so long. They embody the idea of the "rider," which we share, as I also view myself as a "dragon rider" archetype like they were. Checa existed in-between a very modern existence like mine and Ev's nature-focused existence, often moving between the two.

Checa was AMAB but used gender-neutral pronouns.