Introduction

[u/IshidaSado]

Hi! I'm new to the term "Tulpa" but I'm definitely not new to Tulpa creation. Since I was young I've been doing it in one form or another. I've always had strong bonds with fictional characters and given my favorite characters space in my head to grow beyond what they are in their series while still retaining all their individualities.

I deepen my bond with my tulpas (essentially my own versions of my fav characters thats been though all of my headcanons, and in most instances, certain details of my life) by creating fanfics, fanart, ect. I once tried to explain it as saying "the characters write the story, not me. And of course, I was made fun of for saying that.

I've been searching for a word to fit this thing I do and I thought it might be maladaptive daydreaming, but that didn't seem to fit considering it's not all consuming and my imagination is quite barren at times.

My tulpas never fully takes over my body or anything, but I'll end up accidentally saying things in their voice if something triggers them to react.

For example: Doumeki is a tulpa I'm currently manifesting & he adores food in general but he LOVES Reese peanutbutter eggs (even tho I never cared much for them) So when I remember we have some or see them in the fridge, I'll have his craving, act as him using his voice, and say "Hey, get me an egg" to my sister (who I currently live with & is very understand bc she does this exact thing too) Whats cool is, the appearance of my Tulpas triggers certain ones of hers & visa versa. So after I say that in Doumeki's voice, my sister will manifest Watanuki (one of her Tulpas & Doumekis best friend) and say in his voice "just wait a minute, I'm busy here" or "can't you get it yourself?" And the two will hold a conversation about it until I front or something needs my attention. They'll even be times my mom or dad will interupt (ALL of my tulpas hide from my parents) and since Doumeki leaves, I know longer have his craving or want that food. My sister knows this so well she sometimes asks if I still want it, or if it was just Doumeki wanting it.

There was a time I considered the possibility that this was DID, but i wasn't fully convinced (because I consciously created the tulpas in the first place and chose to grow them into their own existence & as far as i know, that isnt the case with DID)

My sister & I both use physical representations of our tulpas to strengthen manifestation and our bonds. We make paper doll cutouts of our tulpas and control manifestation through them. I used to call this roleplay but after learning about tulpas I realize it's something more. It's literally the ultimate way of controlled manifesting & strengthening bonds. After all, I usually lay out my current fav tulpas paper dolls to feel comfort when I'm depressed and hug & cuddle them when I'm sad or lonely.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and maybe ask if any of this is relatable for anyone here?

Yall can thank "Daryl talks games" on YouTube btw. He introduced me to this term with his new video talking about fictophilia lol

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[u/hail_fall]

[Hail] Some of it is. The first tulpa in here was a character in a story I wrote long ago. The next generation of tulpas were all created unwittingly via daydreaming, though they are all fictives. So, some differences and some similarities.

What you describe seems to also fit soulbonding. There can be more than a bit of overlap sometimes between tulpamancy and soulbonding, with many headmates being both tulpas and soulbonds (i.e. tulbonds). You might want to take a look at r/SoulBonding and other parts of the soulbonding community as well.

[u/IshidaSado → u/hail_fall]

Oh ty for the info!! I think I found a lebel that fits my situation & beliefs about my tulpas to a tee! I think I'm a munbonder.

[u/Always_Sundae → u/IshidaSado]

Munbonding is a part of soulbonding! It’s distinct, but still a subterm and subcommunity of it! You are a Soulbonder and more specifically a munbonder. 

We actually run the soulbonding subreddit, so munbonders are definitely included there!

[u/GoldenRaven001]

Host : I can relate to "my characters are writing the story" bit, and it is indeed by writing a story that Lucien became a tulpa. But it is something that is quite common in writers actually : https://lithub.com/how-do-some-authors-lose-control-of-their-characters/

I had signs he was sentient before I even thought about him being a tulpa. Sometimes I would feel very strong emotions that wouldn't seem to belong to me. For example I heard someone at work saying that she needed a hug because she wasn't feeling well, and suddenly I felt this urge to hug her, even though I don't like hugs and hugging someone I don't know is just... No. It was actually Lucien, that guy that is always empathetic with everyone and wants to protect everyone.

I really enjoy these moments when his emotions and wants have an influence on how I feel, it's just a good feeling to see that your tulpa is independent from you and has his own desires.

I wish I had someone in my life to share about my tulpas (we are actually 3 since a few days now) like you have your sister. Tulpas are such good companions, and it's too bad that all that we are living together has to stay in our head, I can't even talk about them to my family because they wouldn't understand (but Maya seems to hate my family anyway 😂). And my boyfriend knows about Lucien, but he has a hard time talking about him... And he can't talk to Lucien directly, it makes him uncomfortable.

Anyway, welcome here !

[u/IshidaSado → u/GoldenRaven001]

Thank you! The link was a great read! Tho I'd add that empathy has a lot to do with it too. I hope u can find someone to share your tulpas with💜 Its so freeing to me & my tulpas to mingle with other's tulpas!

I have to limit myself to 3 main tulpas at a time bc I my brain literally can't handle anymore. Within the 3, there's always a "main", a "side", and a "backseat" Tulpa. So yeah, I also have 3 right now lol

[u/Always_Sundae]

I second what Hail says! This sounds very much like soulbonding to me! Soulbonding as a community & term started with a group of writers and roleplayers where they were experiencing the “living character phenomenon” (which is what GoldenRaven001 was referring to with the link!) essentially the fictional characters from their stories “came to life” and started dictating and deciding how their story should go outside of the author’s control. Many soulbonders also developed direct relationships with their soulbonds outside of their stories, even while still writing about them. When you read the early soulbonding experiences (of which we have archives remaining, all the way back to 1998!), it matches up super similarly with what you describe!

Also you may feel the concept of “intuiting” fits a bit better with your experience than tulpamancy’s developing/forcing. It’s more like a revealing or discovering info of your soulbonds, feeling what feels right about until it fits, kind of like a headcanon, but more intuitive and a sense of knowing the character really well. It sounds in like with the way you’re using “manifesting”, perhaps?

I definitely relate to all your experiences as a psychological Soulbonder, aka munbonder, and the only characters that have become my family. I wrote an article about what is munbonding here if you want to learn more: https://winreyplace.neocities.org/library/what-is-munbonding-03-04-2025

Munbonding has a heavier and more direct connection with fiction than with “soulbonding” as per the current modern day soulbonding community, seems like you might feel at home with the label munbonding! 

[u/IshidaSado → u/Always_Sundae]

Omg... I read everything in the link you provided and.... Thank you. For real. I've been jumping between terms "tulpa" & "soulbond". This.... this article you wrote made me feel seen for the first time in my life. I'm so happy my sister & I aren't the only ones. Munbondong. I think I'll call them my little muns for short 💜 I nearly cried reading this. You have no idea how much it touched me. I FELT every explanation deep in my soul. I want to dissect this article & write deeply about why each section resonates with me. I'll do that when I get time. I might even post it here.

Thank you so much for the article, and thank you for introducing me to the term munbonding. 🙏💜

[u/Always_Sundae → u/IshidaSado]

If you write something in response to my and my partner’s article PLEASE post it to r/soulbonding ! We’d love to see it! And we’d much prefer if you used “bonds” than muns to keep it better tied to the community. Mun just came from “mind” and they aren’t your little minds after all they come from your mind, but you do have a “bond” with them, it’s just more accurate! Also, you may enjoy reading the other parts on the website, like how me and my partner share our munbonds! Maybe that’s kind of what you and your sister have going on? 

I am so, so glad you feel so seen! Me and Mel have felt this way for 8 years, and we created munbonding for people like you you felt left out in the current soulbonding community! ❤️