Divine Intimacy: The Liberating Power of Authentic Connection

A men’s sacred sexuality retreat*

*Gay, bisexual, and queer cis- or trans-men of any age, body shape, race, and background are welcome. Straight-identified men are welcome with the understanding that there will be intimate contact with other men, though you will be able to establish your own boundaries.  Why "Divine Intimacy?" As gay, queer, or bi men, we are primarily offered superficial, transactional means for connection - ones that are often hyper-sexualized and focused on body image, dissociation, and orgasm. These realities reflect the dysfunction of societies which are out of balance and thus not able to provide models for intimacy which are truly healthy - especially for those who lead lives that don’t look like the heteronormative majority. As conscious beings we deserve, and are capable of, far more. In these times when life is increasingly about separation and objectification, how can we allow our relationships to be infused with the natural sense of sacredness and freedom that is our birthright? Achieving this allows us to restore ourselves, our partners, and our world with a sense of joy, connectedness, pleasure, and well-being. We will seek to bring healing to our individual relationships with intimacy, sexuality and sensuality so that we may more wholly and authentically connect with ourselves and the world around us.   What to Expect This retreat will provide a forum for exploring more conscious ways to connect firstly with your own self and then with other men - ways which honor your and your partners’ truths as wise, vulnerable, and sentient spiritual beings. The focus of this retreat is to re-empower participants to claim their truth through practices of presence, intimate touch, surrender, embodiment and connection. Retreat Programming Through the course of the week, we’ll create and sustain a container of safety, connection, acceptance and awakening through:

• Morning practices of silent meditation, movement practices including gentle yoga and somatic movement, and pranayama (breathing exercises)

• Group and partner exercises to explore subtle aspects of relating, such as eye-gazing, massage, sensual touch (depending on your own desires and boundaries and that of your partner), and energy healing. We’ll explore the practices of creating safe boundaries, worship of a partner, vulnerability, internal and external safety, loving-kindness, and more

• Guided meditations on radical self-acceptance, core relaxation, and the transcendence of the personal self

• Contemplation of sacred and mystical texts, and awakening to the states of consciousness they describe.

• Deepened understanding and connection thorough reflection & inquiry circles

Who is this retreat for?

• This retreat is intended for those who wish to find a deeper sense of genuine connection to themselves, their body, their emotional self, and who long for genuine recognition of the essential nature of infinite freedom at their core.

• It is also intended for those who are either in a healing profession (bodyworkers, therapists, doctors, coaches, etc.) or who are drawn to serve as a healing presence in their relationships and their world.

• Men who have some background in spiritual or psychospiritual work are welcome, as are those who have a strong interest but little practical experience.

• Gay, bisexual, and queer cis- or trans-men of any age, body shape, race, and background are welcome. Straight-identified men are welcome with the understanding that there will be intimate contact with other men, though you will be able to establish your own boundaries.

Who is this retreat NOT for?

• Those seeking a pleasurable / sexual holiday in the company of other men.
• Those seeking to learn mainly about intimacy and sexuality practices with other men.
• Those looking for a place to combine sexuality and drugs

• Please note: We write this with no judgment, but rather with a knowingness that those with these above expectations will be disappointed if they were to join this course.

  MAIN AREAS OF EXPLORATION

Consciousness and Self-Inquiry. By exploring and inquiring into who and what we are without the conceptual models and roles imposed on us since childhood, we gain access to a way of being that is simple, timeless, natural, and complete in ourselves. We’ll explore how anything that tells us otherwise is not original to our true nature, and the liberating impact that this recognition has on ourselves and our relationships.

The Profound Simplicity of Conscious Intimacy. When we are rooted in our recognition of ourselves as embodied consciousness or spirit, the experience of connection with another opens up unexpected, transpersonal dimensions of richness, nurturing, joy, satisfaction, and love.

Awakening Your Power to Heal. Everyone has the power to be a healing presence for themselves and others. No special initiations are required - simply an attunement to the natural state of infinite presence which gives rise to your sense of self. We’ll experience and explore this in many of the workshop activities.

Embodiment. We root our explorations and discoveries deeply into the felt sense to encourage an actual experiential shift and neural rewiring, ensuring that our transformation is not theoretical. Balancing the “Spiritual” and the “Human.” What we truly are is All-One, warts and all. Discussions on the nitty-gritty aspects of being human are encouraged, to explore how we can view these topics with honesty, humility and an openness to discovery. This helps to overcome any duality which remains in our experience of awakening. Topics which may come up include:

• Challenges of intimacy - fear of rejection, vulnerability hangovers, social/sexual anxiety, feelings of unworthiness, fear of merging, somatic trauma responses, and more
• Navigating challenging emotions from the point of view of consciousness
• Shadows of guilt and shame - those parts of our psyche which we find difficult to accept

Integration. In order to help participants better carry the lessons and growth they experience during their time here, we will discuss and practice various integration tools and techniques

• How to bring lessons and realizations into daily life
• Pre & Post retreat zoom calls with the group
• Available for ongoing coaching

On Sexuality, Consent, & Safety:

• • We will create a safe space first by establishing ways of voicing consent and boundaries.
  • The facilitators will be responsible for maintaining the sense of safety of the group container.
  • Each participant will be responsible for their own body, and for respecting their desires and boundaries.
  • Nudity and self/mutual touch with appropriate guidelines, including genital touch, will be welcome, however they will not be compulsory. Penetration of any kind will not be permitted in workshop settings, however participants are welcome to engage with one another as they choose on their own time (with the understanding that consent and respect are always mandatory).
  • Each participant will be able to decide “how far” they choose to go. While everyone is invited to meet their edges, you will never be asked to go beyond your limits.
  • Partner practices will be part of the workshop but are not compulsory.
  • Pairings will be randomly assigned. Therefore participants choosing to participate in partner work must be open to interacting with anyone. Participants however will be able to choose the level of interaction they are comfortable with in any moment, ranging from eye-gazing to more explicit touch and interaction.
  • The use of consciousness altering substances is not permitted at anytime throughout the course of the retreat.

Doggo Notice: We have two very loving and friendly pups - Bodhi & Luna - who live here at the Gayborhood. Aside from the occasional barking spree at incoming cars, they are quiet, harmless, and very sweet. If you have any concerns about dogs being onsite, please reach out to discuss.

PLEASE NOTE - A 4x4 (4WD) VEHICLE IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED to access the property. Driving conditions can be challenging when the roads are wet due to rain. Due to the condition and incline of the unpaved roads surrounding our property, non-4x4 vehicles are likely to get stuck when attempting to exit on wet roads. We are unable to provide assistance in the event of a vehicle being stuck on the road. If you are making your own way to the Gayborhood, please keep this in mind when renting a car or hiring transportation.