Invented example · built on Kindling · Why Kindling · The library · The spec · The Circular

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The Heron · invite-only · Harrow–Vance syndrome (invented for this example)

An invitation, then an introduction

Two moments where a constellation’s consent rules do their work. First, the invitation Devika received after a video call with a steward. Then two members who would each like to hear from the other.

I · May 1, 2026 · a replay you can change

Devika’s invitation

Clare met Devika on a video call and vouched for her. The invitation reaches Devika alone. This is what she saw, and it is clickable.

Before the invitation

  1. Devika heard about us from a clinic nurse and wrote to the stewards. Their Pool is public, so she could find them.
  2. Clare Whitford met her on a video call and vouched for her in The Heron, and only there (§4.4). A vouch is the step The Heron adds before the handshake (§5.4).
  3. The Heron sent this invitation to Devika’s own address. Nobody else was copied, and the Pool’s address appears in no public list (§8.2).
From
Kindling, for The Heron · ines@mail.example
To
devika@mail.example · her address only
Sent
May 1, 2026, 6:00 AM UTC
Expires
May 15, 2026, 6:00 AM UTC

Clare vouched for you. Would you like to join The Heron?

Charter
Adults living with Harrow–Vance syndrome (a condition invented for this example), anywhere in the world. Peers only: we share what it is like, what questions helped at appointments, and who else is out there. No medical advice, no products, no research recruiting. A steward meets each person first and vouches for them here. Nobody is ever added without saying yes, and anyone can leave in a minute.
Curators
Inés CallowaySigned in with OAuthClare WhitfordSigned in with OAuth
Vouched by
Clare Whitford, after your video call.
Intent
peer-support
Visibility
Invite-only. It is in no public list, and its address reached you from a steward.
Your label
Vouched for by the curator It counts in The Heron and nowhere else.
Messages
Nobody here can write to you first. You hear from someone only after you have both said you would like to.
Leaving
Any time, in one step. It takes effect within sixty seconds.

A no is remembered, and The Heron can’t ask again unless you say so. This invitation waits 14 days.

Where it stands

Waiting · 14 days left

The invitation is waiting for Devika’s answer.

The Heron on May 1The Heron on May 1, without names: four people had said yes, two stewards signed in with OAuth and two members vouched for by the curator. Devika Rao is a dashed ring outside the drawing, waiting: she hasn’t answered yet.A stewardSigned in with OAuthA stewardSigned in with OAuthA memberVouched forby the curatorA memberVouched forby the curatorDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorYou · waitingDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorYou · said yesDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorYou · declinedDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorYou · expiredDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorYou · leftThe Heron on May 1The Heron on May 1, without names: four people had said yes, two stewards signed in with OAuth and two members vouched for by the curator. Devika Rao is a dashed ring outside the drawing, waiting: she hasn’t answered yet.A stewardSigned in with OAuthA stewardSigned in with OAuthA memberVouched for by the curatorA memberVouched for by the curatorDevika RaoVouched for by the curatorYou · waitingDevika RaoVouched for by the curatorYou · said yesDevika RaoVouched for by the curatorYou · declinedDevika RaoVouched for by the curatorYou · expiredDevika RaoVouched for by the curatorYou · left

The Heron on May 1, without names. You would see who is in it once you are in.

Try the rules

Demo clock: May 1, 6:00 AM UTC

Auto-accept can never bring anyone into The Heron. A rule may only allow public or unlisted Pools (§5.5), so an invite-only invitation always waits for a person.

The log, and the exact messages

    II · Today, September 28, 2026

    An introduction: Aroha and Mateo

    Every vouched member of The Heron has the same two settings, accept_from: "vouched" and no_cold_messages: true (§7.2). Together they mean nobody writes first until both people have said they would like to hear from each other.

    Aroha TaneVouched for by the curator

    Would you like to hear from Mateo?

    Aroha tells Clare who she would like to hear from. Mateo is told only if she says yes.

    Mateo QuispeVouched for by the curator

    Not asked yet.

    Mateo hears nothing unless Aroha says yes. If she says no thanks, he is never asked and never told.

    Nobody has said anything yet, so no line is drawn.

    Plate IV: The Heron, todayThe Heron drawn as a constellation. 7 people said yes: Inés Calloway, signed in with oauth, steward and curator; Felix Brandt, vouched for by the curator; Aroha Tane, vouched for by the curator; Devika Rao, vouched for by the curator; Mateo Quispe, vouched for by the curator; Yusuf Demir, vouched for by the curator; Clare Whitford, signed in with oauth, steward and curator. A line joins Mateo Quispe and Felix Brandt, introduced July 9. A line joins Felix Brandt and Yusuf Demir, introduced August 20. A line joins Yusuf Demir and Devika Rao, introduced September 21. Positions are composition, not places.Inés CallowaySigned in with OAuthSteward · primary curatorFelix BrandtVouched for by the curatorAroha TaneVouched for by the curatorAroha TaneVouched for by the curatorSaid yesAroha TaneVouched for by the curatorSaid no thanksDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorAsked by Clare. No answer yetMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorSaid yesMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorSaid no thanksYusuf DemirVouched for by the curatorClare WhitfordSigned in with OAuthSteward · curatorThe Heronvisibility · invite-onlyconsent · a steward vouches, you say yesPlate IV: The Heron, todayThe Heron drawn as a constellation. 7 people said yes: Inés Calloway, signed in with oauth, steward and curator; Felix Brandt, vouched for by the curator; Aroha Tane, vouched for by the curator; Devika Rao, vouched for by the curator; Mateo Quispe, vouched for by the curator; Yusuf Demir, vouched for by the curator; Clare Whitford, signed in with oauth, steward and curator. A line joins Mateo Quispe and Felix Brandt, introduced July 9. A line joins Felix Brandt and Yusuf Demir, introduced August 20. A line joins Yusuf Demir and Devika Rao, introduced September 21. Positions are composition, not places.Inés CallowaySigned in with OAuthSteward · primary curatorFelix BrandtVouched forby the curatorAroha TaneVouched forby the curatorAroha TaneVouched forby the curatorAroha TaneVouched forby the curatorDevika RaoVouched forby the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorMateo QuispeVouched for by the curatorYusuf DemirVouched for by the curatorClare WhitfordSigned in with OAuthSteward · curator

    Key to the plate

    A member. Said yes to The Heron.
    A steward and curator.
    An introduction both people accepted.
    Asked, and no answer yet.
    A new introduction, drawn warm.

    The rule

    A line is drawn only when both people said yes, and Clare, the steward who asked, draws it. A no is no line at all, and nobody else in The Heron is told either way.

    Who can write first, right now

    FromToResult, and the rule that decided it
    Aroha Tane
    Vouched for by the curator    		Mateo QuispeHeld back
    §7.2 no-cold-messages No first message until both of you have said you would like to hear from each other.
    Mateo Quispe
    Vouched for by the curator    		Aroha TaneHeld back
    §7.2 no-cold-messages No first message until both of you have said you would like to hear from each other.
    Noah Feld
    Signed in with OAuth    		Mateo QuispeHeld back
    §7.2 vouched-only Only people a curator has vouched for in this Pool can write.
    promo-blast@mail.example
    Email verified    		Mateo QuispeHeld back
    §7.3 The sender is on a block list this Pool subscribes to: Kindling public block list (spam).

    Checked live with KindlingDemo.canMessage, using Mateo’s and Aroha’s own rules and the two block lists The Heron subscribes to. Noah Feld is a steward in another Pool, and his standing there carries nowhere (§4.4).

    The exact messages
    1. No messages yet. Saying “I would like to hear from someone” has no v0.1 message type, so The Heron records it itself (why).