FAQ

Is there an age limit?

Yes. Shining Hearth is an 18+ event and server. This is not because things are all NSFW all the time, but to simplify administration by not having a separate "adult" user role to manage and avoid the liability and security problems inherent in collecting copies of government-issued IDs to grant access to it. Please note that depending on where you are in the world, Discord itself may now require age verification from you to access our two age-restricted channels. We don't have any control over this.

How do you define "fae"? Do nature spirits, elementals, peris, nymphs, Menehune, yokai, etc. count?

We don't have a strict definition. If you consider yourself fae, it's close enough!

I'm not an Elf, Fae, Sidhe, or Tuatha De Danann. Can I come?

Yes. We don't ask what you are on the registration form and we will not deny anyone entry based on their 'kin-type. (We do have an anonymous, optional survey of those who attend, just for curiosity's sake.) We've had dragons, shapeshifters, phoenixes and other things in attendance, and so far there have always been at least some items on the schedule that could also appeal to a more general audience of otherkind. But our primary topic and theme focus is on the spectrum of elfae folk.

Are fictionkin and plurals allowed?

Yes. It doesn't matter to us if you're a fictional kind of elf or only one member of your system is fae. But see the above answer: elfae are our focus, so if that's not what (any of) you are, there may not be activities of interest to you.

I'm a psychological otherkin who is not into any spiritual or magical stuff. Can I come?

Yes, but we're trying for a certain magical vibe of the space, and both the programming and the crowd lean that way. Belief in past lives or whatever is not required, but if you don't have any magical/mystical mindset at all, this event is probably not your jam.

How do I register to attend?

If you attended in a previous year and are still a member of the server, watch the #announcements channel for information; instructions for how to check in for this year will be posted on March 26th. If you have never attended before, or decided to leave the server for any reason and would like to return, general registration is now open through March 26th.

I'm interested in presenting or performing! How do I sign up for that?

Great! Presenter sign-ups are now open, through January 16, 2026 or while space is available. Presentations can be on any topic that would be of interest to elfae folk and can be in any format: lecture, panel, group discussion, demonstration, ritual, meditation, performance, etc. Timeslots are 1 hour long. (You don't have to fill up that whole time, but should use at least 30 minutes.) There are timeslot options available for those in the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. If you want to present as a group, choose one person to be the primary contact and only fill out the form once. (All members of the group must be 18 or older and must agree to the Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct.)

Do you need any help running this gathering?

Yes! We especially need staff members from Europe and Asia-Pacific, so that we can have workshops or other events during the late night and early morning in the Americas. Staff sign-ups will open on January 31st, 2026.

Can I show my art / sell my wares / etc.?

Yes! We have a Creative Works channel where you can post any kind of visual, musical, written, or other artwork (and a separate channel for NSFW art) as well as a Mythic Market for links to personal shops, offers for goods or services for sale or trade, etc. No separate signup besides your general registration is required, and there is no vendor fee.

I never got my invite code for the Discord server.

Invite codes for presenters, staff, and general attendance are sent once a week while their sign-up periods are open. Therefore, you may not get a code immediately, but you should receive an email at the address you provided on the form within 7 days after you filled it out. The mail will be from staff (at) shininghearth (dot) net and with a subject line beginning Welcome to Shining Hearth! If it's been more than 7 days, check your spam folder, especially if you have a Yahoo, Hotmail, or Outlook address. If you still can't find it, or you have some other problem like no longer having access to that email account, contact us at staff (at) shininghearth (dot) net.

The invite code you sent me was expired when I tried to use it.

Presenter and Staff invite codes expire 7 days after the day they were sent. If you didn't get to it in time, reply to the invitation email to let us know, and we can send you another one.

 

Last updated: 12/27/2025