Chicago Radical Faerie Guide

The Faeries

If you’re unsure who the Radical Faeries are, we recommend you start with: Who are the Radical Faeries?, then come back to continue learning about the Chicago Rad Fae community.

Introduction

The Chicago Radical Faerie Community creates spaces for exploration, discovery, and radical self-expression. We gather in person, and use digital spaces to help us stay connected and organize. Our community thrives when each person feels empowered to fully express themselves and practice self-love.

Everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and contributes to maintaining safe, welcoming spaces. Our community blooms through your participation – whether that’s supporting others, creating something new, or speaking up when something feels out of balance. The magic happens when we all contribute our unique gifts and energy to this shared journey.

Guidance

• Set your intentions. What energies are you bringing with you? What energies are you open to receiving? What do you hope to get from this experience? What can you contribute to the community? How will you engage when you’re here? What will you take away, and what will you leave behind?
• Connect mindfully. Bond with fae you connect with, give yourself space from those you don’t, and be open to learning from everyone.
• Vocalize your needs. Ask for support, and always get the help you require before assisting others.
• YOU are the magic. We’re not transactional – share your time, resources, or acts-of-service when you’re able & interested in doing so.
• Handle conflict with care. Address conflicts in-person with authenticity, accountability, and open hearts. If requested, support is available.
• We center in-person connections. While we use digital spaces to organize, our community thrives on face-to-face functions and real-world connections.
• Respect our differences with maturity & curiosity. Leave grievances, hostilities, identity weaponization, shaming, and agendas at the door. Instead, bring your understanding, respect, and a desire to celebrate our differences.
• Nudity is an expression, not an invitation. Don’t assume you can touch just because someone is naked. Consent is required, ask if unsure.
• Practice safety. Protect yourself and others both online and in person. Don’t share vulnerable information, including the addresses to faerie homes, with unknown individuals.
• Read the room. What is the vibe of the current space & time? What energy is drifting about? Navigate with intention. Respect the existing container.
• Honor those that have paved the way. Everything in our community was created by the hard work of many others before us. We are intentionally intergenerational, and work to honor the memory of our queer & rad fae ancestors.
• Find your space. You might not harmonize with all faerie spaces. Speak up about your experiences, or create new spaces to better align with your needs.
• Steward anyone you introduce. If you want to bring a newcomer, we recommend people you already know and trust (e.g. close friend, lover, spouse, partners, etc). We also recommend reading our Guidance for Inviting New Faeries.
• Accessibility is key. We encourage free or donation-based NOTAFLOF [no one turned away for lack of funds] and GAYABAGS [give as you’re able, but always give something – like coin, food & snacks, volunteer labor, holding space, etc] events to provide access for all.
• We create safe spaces. These are private events. Residents and event hosts reserve the right to turn anyone away.
• Seek the divine. We support everyone’s unique spiritual expressions. Fae will regularly invite others to engage in moments of magic, mysticism, and ritual.

Community Practices

Subject-SUBJECT Consciousness

A strong value brought to us by Faerie ancestors & elders is the practice of treating others not as objects for gratification, or types to be sorted – but as sentient, sacred beings that have dreams, passions, unique talents, desires, life experiences, and heart songs.

This mindset creates a communal container where engagement, attention, and kindness are shared equally among everyone present. By shifting from a transactional subject-to-object dynamic to one of mutual recognition, we acknowledge that every person’s internal reality is as complex and valid as our own.

This egalitarian approach moves away from the competitive sorting prevalent in mass culture, fostering a space of deep empathy and authentic connection.

Health & Wellbeing

Our heart-centered spaces invite fae to explore tender & challenging emotions, connecting and feeling supported through these shared experiences. While we support one another, each fae is responsible for their own wellbeing. If you anticipate severe mental distress or a health crisis: prepare a crisis plan before attending any events, and inform the PFN [Psychic Friends Network] so they can support you as needed.

Consensus Decision Making

This process of collective agreement is a cooperative process where the community collaborates to craft a solution everyone can accept. It requires actively listening to dissenting voices and using their objections to refine proposals until all core concerns are addressed. Healthy dissent doesn’t stall forward progress, and instead offers critiques, feedback, and / or solutions to continue the process. Consensus agreement making doesn’t require unanimous support, but the lack of a “no.” The ultimate goal is not necessarily unanimous enthusiasm, but achieving collective consent where no individual feels their fundamental needs are compromised enough to block the final decision.

Non-Violence

Faeries often practice non-violence: a commitment to not engage in bodily harm, mental abuse, and emotional manipulation. Further, by addressing conflicts constructively and holding each other accountable, we collectively create safer spaces for us all.

Radical Inclusivity

The faerie practice of access-positive organizing, and radical inclusivity, means more than just events without barriers to entry – it’s the work of actively dismantling structural & social barriers so that all faeries can fully participate & thrive. Radical inclusivity nourishes the community by catering to it’s diverse and unique set of needs, without excluding anyone. This practice creates spaces where everyone experiences collaborative ownership & genuine belonging.

Sexual Spaces & Consent

We are a sex-positive community, holding space and embracing consensual sexual expression in all its forms. Consent is essential and defined by an enthusiastic YES! — anything less requires stepping back, respecting boundaries, and seeking clarity.

Why we Hissssssss

In faerie spaces, you may often hear a collective “sssss” or hissing sound during a performance or speech. This is a common way to show support and agreement. Unlike clapping, snapping, or exclaiming “YAS!” (all of which can interrupt a speaker’s flow) – hissing provides a gentle atmospheric layer of encouragement. It allows the speaker to continue without being drowned out.

Photo & Video Consent

Taking photographs, recording video / audio, or using recording devices of any kind is permitted with the express consent, prior to recording, of the people being recorded (including all people in the background). Please do not record anyone who does not consent, and do not assume consent without asking.

Additionally, you must also get consent of all people, in every photo / video, before sharing them in chat, or on social media. Please, never post any photos / videos which contain nudity, sex, substances, or private information to social media.

Substance Use & Community Care

You are always invited to try connecting with yourself and fellow fae without the reliance on substances. If you are going to partake, or see friends that are, we ask that you abide by the following guidelines:

Zero Visibility

We encourage zero visibility for all substances. To practice zero visibility:

• Be mindful of others in shared spaces. Partake of substances discreetly, or out of view.
• Cannabis is a “soft visible” substance, but please be respectful of people’s sobriety and / or recovery journeys.
• Always decant alcohol into nondescript cups or containers.

Cigarettes

• Always move away from others when smoking cigarettes, ideally standing downwind.
• Always dispose of butts appropriately.

Harm Reduction

We highly discourage unhealthy use of all substances, and actively support harm reduction against abuse and addiction. Please consider imbibing in a way that still allows you to be present for the community, and not just the party.

Please respect and hold space for fellow Faeries who are in various stages of sobriety and / or recovery from addiction – this ensures our community remains a safer space for everyone’s journey.