what is a SIFRI?

a sifri (sentient imaginary friend) is an imaginary friend who, through developing and forcing, becomes sentient. this can happen intentionally or accidentally. a sifri can learn to possess your body, and you can proxy/speak for your sifri, which gives them access to the outside world.

isn't that basically a tulpa?

yes. literally it's a tulpa.
but the reason why i made this carrd, and call them by a different name because i, as well as many others "tulpamancers" don't agree with everything in the tulpamancy community. in the practise of making sentient imaginary friends, identifying as a system is semi-okay. having developed separate conciousnesses in your mind is the definition of a system. but we do not want to harm ot try to take up space from traumagenic systems. we only want to exist as the multiple that we are, without being blamed for trying to invalidate DID systems, trying to claim we have it "just as hard" and speaking over traumagenic systems about things we don't have a say in. BUT a person with sifris doesn't have to call themself a system at all. because they are sentient imaginary friends. you don't have to think of them systemmates.

who can make a sifri?

anyone can make one. most of the time they are made by mentally ill and neurodivergent people to cope with any trauma, loneliness or other stressful life situations. but seeing a sifri, as a fun way to have a friend, is completely valid. since a sifri is sentient, they aren't there to be your therapist, but your friend. the purpose of it is to have an imaginary friend who's able to think on their own. we don't want extra pressure from people telling us we're trying to invalidate DID systems, by making tulpas, so calling them, for what they are, sentient imaginary friends, is much more fitting.

"that's stealing/still cultural appropriation"

this i do not agree with in the slightest. making/having an imaginary friend is something almost everyone has done at some point. and talking to them until they become sentient (WHICH THE BRAIN DOES NATURALLY) is NOT owned by anyone. the term "tulpamancy" is a buddhist practise, but the actual practise of making tulpas is vastly different from the original practise,,, and refusing to call your IMAGINARY FRIENDS tulpas is completely valid and normal. something so common, as having an imaginary friend, combined with the natural way the brain develops it into another conciousness when interacted with, is not a religious practise (ofc it can be, but it definitely does not originate from that), nor does it mean what you have created is 100% scientifically a "tulpa", because it is so malleable and can happen accidentally, and is quite literally an imaginary friend with it's own mind.

should i make one?

are you ready for the responsibility of taking care of and essentially being the life support of another sentient being? are you ready for the responsibility of people close to you maybe finding out, and thinking you are crazy? are you ready for the responsibility of perhaps actually going a bit crazy (it's not totally off the table with mentally ill people, who are doing something so major with their own mind. be careful)

so how do i make one?

literally the same as when making a tulpa.
talk to it. visualize it. you can choose whether you want to make their responses for them, or just talk your ass off until they tell you to shut up. for more information, look up tulpa creation guides.

( Made with Carrd )