It Was Starlight I Kin Star Light Which Ngl Thats Pretty Different From My Other Kins So Ima Take It

a basic guide to kin, ‘linkers, and more

TW // UNCENSORED MENTIONS OF S//CIDE, M//RDER, AND D//EATH.

Before we start, just a preface. this is NOT A DISCOURSE POST. I don’t care if you think someone else’s personal belief is stupid. If someone believing they were a fictional character in a past life just makes you THAT angry, maybe you should idk. talk to an anger management counselor? 

I DO NOT CONDONE THE PEOPLE THAT STEAL DID TERMS AND CALL THEM KIN TERMS. IF ANY TERM I USE IN THIS POST IS A DID TERM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN CORRECT MY ERROR AND USE THE CORRECT TERMS!

I am personally fiction-kin. This means that i believe that I was a fictional character in a past life. That’s it! That’s really all there is to it. There are infinite possibilities for people to believe in, as we genuinely have no clue what happens before or after death. Its like any other belief someone may have, it’s just been designated as cringe and stupid. 

TERMS TO KNOW:

ID: Stands for identity! This is a word for the kins you identify as the most, whether you believe them to be more recent lives, or whether you just feel much more connected to them, this is the term to use! USE THIS OR PERMASHIFT INSTEAD OF “SELFHOOD,” AS THAT TERM IS USUALLY USED FOR DID.

Kin: People who are kin come in two forms: Spiritual, and Psychological. Spiritual kin believe in reincarnation, and that they were one of their kintypes in a past life. Psychological kins however, believe that they really are that character. This type of kin encapsulates everything that is NOT a spiritual belief, whatever that may be, they fall under this category.

Kin-Shift: a kinshift is simply defined as when you feel much more connected to that particular kintype than usual! Psychological shifts are the most common, in which you begin to think and act a little bit more like the kintype you are shifted as at the moment. Phantom shifts are when you feel as if you are missing a body part/limb that one of your kintypes has. These are called astral limbs! Not to be confused with phantom limbs, which is a term used for amputees. PHANTOM LIMBS CAN BE SCIENTIFICALLY EXPLAINED, ASTRAL LIMBS CANNOT. This is kind of a no-brainer, but anyone who claims to be able to “physically shift” is duping you. The physical strain that would put on the body would quite literally kill you.

Kintype: Someones kintype is the character, animal, or mythological creature they are kin with! This is the correct terminology in the sentence “My kintype is Nagito Komaeda!” or “One of my kintypes is a cat.” 

Permashift: Similar to ID, this is a kintype that you tend to be in shift as for more than just a couple hours. This could be for days, weeks, or even months. AS STATED FOR ID, PLEASE USE THIS TERM IN PLACE OF SELFHOOD. 

Co-Shift: A co-shift is basically what it sounds like, it is when you experience more than one kinshift at once. Not much more to it! DO NOT CONFUSE THIS TERM WITH THE DID TERM CO-CON. THE TERM IS NOT INTENDED TO MIMIC, MOCK, OR STEAL THIS TERM.

Otherkin: People are under the otherkin umbrella are people who are kin with animals, fictional characters, mythological creatures, or anything else. Some distinctions that can be found under this are; Fictionkin, Plantkin, Godkin, Lionkin, Catkin, etc. 

Kin mem/memory: A kin memory is a phenomena in which people who are spiritually kin will experience memories from one of their past lives. This can come thru a distinct feeling of deja vu, a flashback type moment, or a vivid dream that seems to coherent and fits into your canon too well to be just an ordinary dream. Psychological kins may experience kin mems as well, however i am not as versed in that so i am not the person to ask on that matter.

Kinsider: When you are determining whether a character, creature, being, or etc. is a kintype or not.

Synpath: A synpath is what most “new wave kinnies” mistake for being genuinely kin.This is a character that you sympathize with on a heavy level, and feel like you identify WITH them. You heavily relate to this character, and can see yourself in them. THIS IS NOT KIN. Having a synpath is perfectly fine. ITS FINE NOT TO BE KIN.

Linktypes: A ‘link is the voluntary way to be kin. People who ‘link identify as the entity they’re ‘linking with for fun, coping, or any other reason. ‘linkers can experience mems, shifts, and everything else. The major distinction is that ‘links are voluntary for whatever reason, while being kin IS NOT.

Fictionhearted/Hearttypes/Kithtypes/Fictionkith: Being fictionhearted is very often confused with being fictionkin to the untrained eye, however there are some fundamental differences. The two communities developed separately, and therefore have separate core ideas that categorize you as one or the other. Otherhearted means that you have a strong connection to the species specified, in the way that you feel as if they are your friends or family WITHOUT identifying spiritually or psychologically as these species. Hearttypes are characters/species that you identify WITH, but not AS. For example, someone that has Mikan Tsumiki as a hearttype would identify WITH her. When looking at her, there would be a distinct feeling of, “this is me,” or “this is what I’m supposed to be.” Fictionkith is just another word for the same thing! (Please correct me if I’m wrong, there aren’t many sources about the topic. If any fictionkith/fictionhearted people want to talk about their experience in the replies, please go for it! I’d love to hear more.)

Fictionflicker: Flickers are basically what the name implies, kintypes that aren’t permanent. Your kintype may be a flicker if, once you start to distance yourself from the source, it starts to “fade away.” Fictionflicker has a nearly identical dichotomy to being kin, but they eventually fade away. Kin mems, kin-shifts, and everything else occurs for them too! 

Factkin: Despite what people may tell you, people who are factkin are crossing a line that should not be crossed. It is identity theft to identify as a real living person, and disrespectful to identify as people who have passed. If you are factkin, I recommend looking into identity theft, talking to a therapist, and re-evaluating your beliefs. People who are factkin are genuinely harmful.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

DO NOT SAY “SWITCHING” OR “FRONTING” WHEN REFERRING TO A KINSHIFT. THIS IS ACTIVELY STEALING DID TERMS, AND RE-PURPOSING TERMS FROM A REAL MENTAL DISORDER AND MAKING THEM A PART OF YOUR BELIEF. 

“KINNING” IS NOT THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY. THIS WAS CREATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ANTI-KIN TO DEMEAN THE MEANING OF BEING KIN, AND THE IDENTITY THAT COMES WITH IT.

WHILE “KINNIE” IS AN INSULT, IT IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE A SLUR. STOP TREATING IT LIKE IT IS ONE. DON’T SAY IT IF THE RECEIVING PARTY ISN’T COMFORTABLE WITH IT, BUT ITS LIKE EVERY OTHER PLAY INSULT. STOP IT.

STOP TELLING FICTIVES OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE GENUINE DELUSIONS THAT THEY ARE JUST KIN, OR ARE LESS VALID THAN YOU. THAT IS GENUINELY ABLEIST JUST FUCKING STOP.

IF YOU GENUINELY BELIEVE YOU CAN EVENTUALLY BE, OR ARE PHYSICALLY THE CHARACTER/ANIMAL, PLEASE SEEK MEDICAL HELP. THESE MAY BE SYMPTOMS OF CLINICAL LYCANTHROPY. ALTER-HUMAN/KIN COMMUNITIES CANNOT HELP YOU WITH THESE SYMPTOMS.

BEING KIN IS NOT ALWAYS SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS/TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNSIDES, AND DEBUNKING COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS:

Despite what new wave kins want you to believe, being kin isn’t always fun. For people that are genuinely kin, people will insult them, they’ll get horrendous kin mems, and no one will believe what they’re saying just because they’re kin. People spread misinformation constantly, saying that we believe we’re “trans-species,” and making us out to be like the “trans-racial” or “trans-disabled communities. This notion has been so popularized by anti-kin that it’s even made its way onto the official Wiktionary page, in which it states that kin believe they’re “trans-species.” This is not true, and was originally popularized here on tumblr by anti-kin/satire blogs trying to make us all look like transphobic idiots. People who are kin do not believe that they are, or can be, the character/animal they identify as. People who do SHOULD NOT be classified as kin, as that is usually delusions. CALLING PEOPLE WITH DELUSIONS KIN IS ABLEIST, AND BUILDS MORE OF A STIGMA AROUND PEOPLE WITH DELUSIONS. Insults can include calling us annoying or stupid, “kinnies,” comparing us to people with genuine delusions (which is more spreading disinformation and insulting to people with delusions,) saying that we’re lying or invalid because they don’t personally hold the belief, etc. Anti-kin like to generalize as well, and lump in harmless kin that just want to have fun with factkin, people who steal DID terms, and people who harass others over kin drama. Kin just want to be let be, and be allowed to have fun in peace. STOP DERAILING POSITIVITY POSTS JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK ITS STUPID, OR YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN IT. THE POST ISN’T WELCOMING DISCOURSE, AND YOU’RE JUST BEING AN ASSHOLE. On to kin mems, these can be awful and extremely hard to deal with. People who are kin from Danganronpa could get mems of their own executions or murders, people who are otherkin could get kin mems of being hunted or poached, and people who are kin from DDLC could get kin mems of their suicides. Whether you think they’re fake or not, these people are genuinely feeling like they are reliving their own death. Please, just stop making fun of peoples kin mems when they’re doing nothing wrong.

Some pages I used as refrence, which are just general good resources: Toko.Mango on Instagram, the otherkin fandom wiki, miviele.kins on Instagram, and some personal experience as well as experiences from fictionkin friends.

PLEASE feel free to add on to this post! This is just a starter guide, intended to give a base to start from when finding out about kin communities!

i justs realized i need to share my updated kinlist oh no its so long its like 80 kins im also so nervous people are gonna say im like insane or cringe- like call out posts yk? that type of shit is terrifying.

I KIN RIO RANGER , RANMARU, SHIN , GIN , AND NOERU FROM UR FIC TEEHEE !!!!!! U SEEM RLY COOL BOJNJOVRWNONWRV

WOAH HI !! ITS THE ANON WHO COMMENTED ON UR FANFIC :3 WAHOO I DIDNT KNOW U WERE FICTKIN TOO !!!

OMG HI??? YEAH THAT FIC IS ACTUALLY LOWKEY ME PROJECTING A LOT OF MY OWN EXPERIENCES LMAO

Asmodeus kins please interact

helluva boss Asmodeus kins please please talk to me i miss mine so fucking much HOIFGEIHAEGIHOGOIHA /neg /nav

ima tag this with as many things as i can in hope of finding one maybe even mine if im lucky enough -Fizzarolli

I have realized I'm faekin and now a lot of things make since

my back needs to crunch rn

i need to stop spamming this account i forget this account exists for a week then spam it rinse wash repeat

that is not the saying is it /rh

rinse wash spin cycle rollercoaster dry repeat

thats my life this is official Ace canon

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Account No. 9 due to repeated deletion😭💔

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I’m sure many of you have heard about the dire situation in Palestine. If you have not, and are interested, I would love to share with you what I have spent the last few weeks learning, please feel free to message me. It’s never too late and you are not alone.

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#FreePalestine #STOPtheGENOCIDE #artistsforceasefire #ArtistsForPalestine #RightSideOfHistory #CongoIsBleeding #SudanGenocide

i literally fear that anything i do is gonna be put on the internet-

It’s so fucked up how tiktok culture has made clout-poisoned people turn the public into content, every day I see people minding their business have their entire faces put online for thousands of likes, a couple kissing on the train, a lady dancing across a cross walk, a guy nodding his head to the music at a club, a lady buying a banana at the store, ring camera footage of the neighbors kids being stupid. Just let people live jfc

What are some ways you can identify a kin type? I'm new to the kin community, and a thing I've always been unsure about is how people realize they are some sort of kin. I just want to know a bit more about this rather interesting group I've heard of!

Hey there anon! I’m going to share the contents of a couple of my previous articles with you, (link) (link)

How to Find your Kintype

Generally speaking, your kintype finds you, and then you recognize that what you’re feeling is being kin.

However, if you’re doing it the other way around and either wondering if you may be kin, or know you’re kin and just haven’t found your specific kintypes, here’s one way to go about looking.

1. Ask yourself what makes you feel like you might be kin.

do you ‘feel nonhuman’?

have image dysphoria/feel like your body/face is wrong?

do you have memories/visions/dreams of another place or people/creatures you haven’t met on earth?

Do you experience sensations like supernumerary phantom limbs (tail? ears on top of your head? wings?) or feel like there are senses you are missing, or abilities you should have but don’t?

Do you experience feelings of homesickness even when in your own bedroom, or feelings of unexplained loss or grief- like there are missing people in your life?

Is there a certain show, character, creature, place in nature or fictional world that you’re drawn to or makes you feel strange and nostalgic?

Do you have other feelings or clues that make you feel like you might be kin?

2. Write down all the evidence you believe points at you being kin, and look for a pattern in it.

3. Analyze that pattern.

do you feel like you are drawn to the woods, and have sensations of a phantom tail? You might have a kintype that is some kind of forest animal.

feel like you’re missing magical powers, and have visions of battling evil? You might be a character from a fantasy canon.

etc

4. Once you have used the evidence to narrow down your search, start looking at different kintypes you think might fit your feelings.

research different animals/characters and see if any of them strike you as ‘right’.

talk to people with kintypes you think might be right and see if you share similar feelings.

5. Continue to research, reflect and narrow down your search until you find your kintype.

Lastly, you must be okay with NOT having a kintype if it turns out you’re not kin. If you have nothing to go on, and no ‘clues’ to what kintype you are, it may be the case that you’re not kin.

What Kin Experience – What Makes People Kin

Fictionkin have experiences and feelings that set them apart from the rest of the world, often even at a very young age. Many of us have known that we were somehow different from others since we were small children, though we lacked the words to properly describe how we were different.

Homesickness

One of the heaviest and most common experiences fictionkin share is one of homesickness. Most people know what feeling homesick is like, but can you imagine feeling homesick in your own town? Your own house, room, or even bed? This is a very real phenomenon for kin, and almost all of us have experienced it. Empty, melancholy longing. Feeling out of place, and out of time. Feeling like we don’t belong even in the place where we were born and raised.

It’s one of the subtlest, most basic, and also most heart wrenching things that kin go through, and it can be near ever present. It can be hard to describe too, not knowing just what you’re missing. Just knowing that something is wrong. Just wanting to go *home* and, before we know what it means to be fictionkin, not knowing where home is.

Gender and/or Species Dysphoria

Another trait many fictionkin share is the experience of feeling as though they are trapped in the wrong body.This can manifest itself in any number of ways, depending on what their spirit ‘expects’ their body to look and feel like.

Kin with spirits that were nonhuman may feel ill at ease walking on two legs, or feel like there are too many or too few teeth in their mouth.They may expect to have limbs that they not, or even feel like they have too many limbs altogether. They may feel like some of their senses are too dull or too sharp.***

Kin with spirits that are human, or close to human may experience dysphoria with things like height, gender, or eyecolor. Many kin feel too tall, or too short, looking at the world from the wrong perspective. Likewise, informal studies and polls in the kin community show that the overwhelming majority of fictionkin consider themselves transgender or on the transgender spectrum.

Supertasters: Some people who are kin to creatures with different experiences of the sense of taste may be supertasters as humans.Supertasting is a documented phenomenon in humans where certain foods and drinks that most people enjoy are intensely bitter or disgusting to a small minority, because they are able to taste underlying chemicals and elements that others can not.The cause of this ability sense is scientifically unknown.

Supernumerary Phantom Limbs

Normal phantom limbs the experience of having feeling and sensation in a limb despite that limb no longer being there. Kin experience supernumerary phantom limbs (also sometimes called Astral Limbs) which are sensations in limbs that were never present on their body in the first place- at least not in their human body.

Kin who have experienced alien or animal bodies often feel the phantom sensations of wings, tails, tentacles, etc. When they can feel these limbs they have a sense of where they are positionally, and may be able to ‘touch’ things with them, and feel heat or roughness, etc. They also may be able to feel when someone ‘touches’ their limbs, or pain if they for instance, get shut in a drawer.

Birthmarks, Scars, and wound pain

Related to phantom limbs, some kin experience unexplained pain or ‘scars’ at the site of wounds that they received in their other lives. As is often theorized to be the case in reincarnation, many kin believe that birthmarks are the remnants of the physical injuries that killed them in another life.

Many kin also experience unexplained pain, or discomfort at the sites of mortal wounds or other large injuries. Pain in lost limbs, or at the site of stab wounds, blurred or other vision problems for those who lost an eye, etc.***

Whether you believe it is kin related or not, if you experience chronic pain or other mysterious symptoms, you should always have them evaluated by a doctor.

Consistent Memories (Visions/Dreams)

Another extremely common and potent kin phenomena is the experience of kin memories.These usually come in the form of potent dreams or ‘visions’ (like normal waking memories). They are snatches of experience from another life. Often memories are visual or audial, but they can also be smells, sounds, or physical feelings.

Kin memories don’t connect with any memories or experiences that the kin has from this lifetime. They are completely from outside this world, and unexplainable. Because of this, they are often very distressing to people who don’t know that they are kin yet, because they seem like they must be hallucinations or suppressed memories.

Kin memories are often vague, and are also often traumatic or tragic, simply because upsetting events can be more memorable than pleasant ones. Memories often tend to be ‘triggered’ by something- either by a similar experience in this world, or by coming in contact with something that in fiction reminds the kin of the memory. The most potent trigger for memories is of course, coming in contact with the story that a fictionkin is ‘from’.

Unexplained fears or urges

Some kin experience unexplained mental hang ups that are related to their other lives. These can include both positive and negative feelings and impulses. For example, a fictionkin who had drowned in their other life might have a phobia of the ocean, or unexplained desire to avoid water. A fictionkin who was a concert violinist might be powerfully drawn to violin music, or even have a natural and inexplicable talent for it.

‘Missing’ Abilities

Like unexplained urges, some fictionkin also experience problems with ‘missing abilities’. This is when a kin feels like there is something they should be able to do, but can not. The kin might, especially when younger, reflexively attempt to call on that ability, and be profoundly confused when it doesn’t work. Some examples are kin who were spellcasters might attempt to make light with a certain gesture, or kin who canine might attempt to track people by their smell.