Clenched Creatures

A field guide to the parts that protect you

What is the shape of your clench?

Explore the 52 protective patterns – all guarding a tender place within. Meet them, get to know them and ask what they might need from you.

🜂The Wardens · FightEnter →
The Flawless Stag, PerfectionismThe Flawless StagPerfectionismThe Bastion, Hyper-IndependenceThe BastionHyper-IndependenceThe Thornwarden, CynicismThe ThornwardenCynicismThe Highcrown, Superiority (intellectual + spiritual)The HighcrownSuperiority (intellectual + spiritual)The Tempest, Emotional VolatilityThe TempestEmotional VolatilityThe Doorcloser, Preemptive RejectionThe DoorcloserPreemptive RejectionThe Deflector, Appreciation BlindnessThe DeflectorAppreciation BlindnessThe Gripkeeper, Control (of others + of the body)The GripkeeperControl (of others + of the body)The Floodgate, Compulsive AuthenticityThe FloodgateCompulsive AuthenticityThe Shrike, The Inner CriticThe ShrikeThe Inner CriticThe Vaultkeeper, Power-HoardingThe VaultkeeperPower-HoardingThe Scorekeeper, Worth-by-MetricThe ScorekeeperWorth-by-MetricThe Wildhorn, Counter-Dependence / Reflexive RebellionThe WildhornCounter-Dependence / Reflexive Rebellion
🜁The Windborne · FlightEnter →
The Whirrwing, Chronic BusynessThe WhirrwingChronic BusynessThe Everclimb, Achievement AddictionThe EverclimbAchievement AddictionThe Farscout, Future-Focused AnxietyThe FarscoutFuture-Focused AnxietyThe Emberkite, Chaos AddictionThe EmberkiteChaos AddictionThe Magpie, Compulsive DistractionThe MagpieCompulsive DistractionThe Cartographer, Over-IntellectualizationThe CartographerOver-IntellectualizationThe Peakhunter, Catharsis ChasingThe PeakhunterCatharsis ChasingThe Fuseheart, Adrenaline DependenceThe FuseheartAdrenaline DependenceThe Dimwick, Self-Medication / Anesthetic NumbingThe DimwickSelf-Medication / Anesthetic NumbingThe Deferral, Joy-Must-Be-EarnedThe DeferralJoy-Must-Be-EarnedThe Renouncer, Money-RejectionThe RenouncerMoney-RejectionThe Manywinged, Optionality / Commitment-AvoidanceThe ManywingedOptionality / Commitment-AvoidanceThe Driftling, Escapism / Fantasy-RetreatThe DriftlingEscapism / Fantasy-Retreat
🜄The Stillkin · FreezeEnter →
The Frostveil, Emotional NumbingThe FrostveilEmotional NumbingThe Foreboder, Joy DampeningThe ForeboderJoy DampeningThe Fogling, Intellectual HelplessnessThe FoglingIntellectual HelplessnessThe Ailing, Chronic Illness FocusThe AilingChronic Illness FocusThe Martyrshell, Chronic VictimhoodThe MartyrshellChronic VictimhoodThe Faded, DissociationThe FadedDissociationThe Stonebound, Procrastination / ParalysisThe StoneboundProcrastination / ParalysisThe Snared, Shame-Bonded HabitThe SnaredShame-Bonded HabitThe Unseen, Hiding / Fear of Being SeenThe UnseenHiding / Fear of Being SeenThe Hesitant, Doubt-as-ProtectionThe HesitantDoubt-as-ProtectionThe Wilted, ResignationThe WiltedResignationThe Hermitshell, Withdrawal / IsolationThe HermitshellWithdrawal / IsolationThe Coldwall, Stonewalling / Shutdown in ConflictThe ColdwallStonewalling / Shutdown in Conflict
🜃The Tenders · FawnEnter →
The Manyhands, People-PleasingThe ManyhandsPeople-PleasingThe Penitent, Chronic ApologizingThe PenitentChronic ApologizingThe Overpour, Compulsive GivingThe OverpourCompulsive GivingThe Mirrorkin, Identity ShiftingThe MirrorkinIdentity ShiftingThe Lifeline, Chronic Rescuing / FixingThe LifelineChronic Rescuing / FixingThe Stillwater, Conflict AvoidanceThe StillwaterConflict AvoidanceThe Dutybound, Obligation-as-Love-ProxyThe DutyboundObligation-as-Love-ProxyThe Clingvine, Anxious Clinging / MergerThe ClingvineAnxious Clinging / MergerThe Sidewinder, Covert / Passive AggressionThe SidewinderCovert / Passive AggressionThe Lustreling, The CharmerThe LustrelingThe CharmerThe Soakling, Emotional Sponge / Hyper-AttunementThe SoaklingEmotional Sponge / Hyper-AttunementThe Hushling, Self-SilencingThe HushlingSelf-SilencingThe Faithful, Loyalty-Bound / Can't-LeaveThe FaithfulLoyalty-Bound / Can't-Leave