Upcoming Retreats:
June 13–17 2024
August 19–25 2024
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Workshops ~ Lakeside Sauna ~ Massage ~ Boudoir Photoshoot ~ Dancing ~ Camping ~ Catering
Erotic Flourishing in the Wild
Awaken is an intimate outdoor gathering featuring facilitated workshops and experiences to explore our innate sensuality and sexuality, and a safe space to play and let our erotic selves flourish free of shame and fear.
Taking place at a remote off-grid community, nestled deep in the coast mountains north of Pemberton along the shores of Anderson Lake, a limited number of participants will be selected to be part of this intimate container featuring facilitated workshops and free range experiences to celebrate and explore your innate eroticism in an outdoor sex-positive environment.
Participation is limited to 40 people, so apply now to secure your invitation.
“This retreat was MONUMENTAL in my sexual awakening journey. Full liberation occurred. Come come come!!!”
— Rebekah Sarino
Awaken I (June 13–17): $660 (plus optional catering and accommodation upgrades)
Awaken II (Aug 19–25): $999 ($799 early price for max 10 tickets paying before July 5th).
*Prices don’t include meal plan or accommodation upgrades. Camping is included & outdoor kitchen provided. See June and August details pages for more info. Jump to FAQ here.
About the Location
Awaken will take place at a 120 acre waterfront off-grid community north of Pemberton, BC. The setting is private and wild, surrounded by crown land and situated on Anderson Lake.
The property features a few buildings for shared activities, a wood fired sauna on a lakefront beach, an outdoor kitchen, composting toilets, an outdoor solar shower, and spaces designed for connection, pleasure, and integration. Accommodations will be camping in a heritage apple orchard setting, with the option to upgrade to a luxury furnished bell tent.
This may be for you if you are:
Wanting to awaken your innate eroticism that we often bury under layers of social conditioning, judgment, and shame.
Wanting to experience a more free and open way of being in a safe and guided container.
Seeking to explore your desires outdoors in a wild and beautiful place.
Wanting to practice more authentic and honest ways to connect with others.
Curious what it would be like to be more fully expressed in your desires with others.
Looking to meet like-minded people through vulnerable and playful exploration.
A Sample of the Facilitated Workshops and Experiences:
(The following is a sample of the workshops you can expect in 2024)
Conscious Consent and Desire - skills and vocabulary to help us feel into our desire, ask for what we want, and feel empowered to answer from our authentic Yes or No.
Forum - by practicing honesty in community and relationships, it enables us to become conscious of what happens within and among us. Creating solidarity through mutual empathy enables transforming the collective trauma we hold as we realize that we all share the same longings, joys and difficulties.
Eco-Sensuality - an embodied exploration of our innate erotic connection with nature. In curiosity and tenderness, let's explore the land, finding reverence in how the wind ruffles your hair, the undeniable sensuality of water gliding over skin, etc. It's like an adventure, and perhaps the sexiest nature walk you've ever been on!
Primal Play - Drop into your inner primal nature with this playfully erotic workshop. During Primal Play, we will connect with the inner animal at the core of our erotic energy, and playfully explore the other animals in the space. This is a workshop that requires movement and encourages playful exploration with other participants.
Body Love & Boudoir Photoshoot - Body love is for every body, and in this workshop you will be transforming any unloving narratives you might hold into unconditional love — amplifying regard for your unique vessel. This workshop includes somatic exercises and an optional immersive photoshoot.
Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance - Amplify your heart's deepest longing by connecting with cacao medicine, followed by a juicy and expansive ecstatic dance journey! The ceremonial container elevates these prayers and creates a potent heart field that we will marinate in together, dancing into the evening in a safely held container where showing up in your fullness is welcomed and encouraged.
Want to play? - Are you curious about what happens at play parties? Is this something you've wished to experience but don't know where to start? Come learn the intricacies of the unique and consensual adult play parties with Emme as she shares her insights and her 7 years experience of attending and hosting play parties.
BDSM, An Energy Exchange - Mastering the intricate energy exchange within kink and BDSM play can provide profound healing, empowering, and deeply pleasurable experiences for you and your partner(s). During this workshop, you will will discover your own core erotic desires and how you can tailor kink and BDSM play to meet these desires while learning core foundations of safety and scene setting along the way.
Four Person Massages - In this workshop we will connect in groups of 4 and 1 by 1 you will be get the opportunity to ask for your physical touch desires to be met. At this point of our adventure you can be as platonic or as erotic/sensual as your group desires to go. This is a great preparation for the temple event.
Temple Fantasy Fulfillment - a sacred container where we get to play with and channel erotic energy for fulfilling our desires.
Meet the Facilitators
Jess Rodwell (she/her) is a Somatic Sex and Intimacy coach trained by the Somatica Institute and Institute of Somatic Sexology. Jess works experientially with clients to help deepen their relationships with their own sexuality, and embrace a life filled with pleasure. Jess has hosted a number of workshops on embodied self discovery in the realms of sex, intimacy, non-monogamy and kink. Jess is also the co-creator of ‘NMbodied’ a monthly community gathering and embodiment practice for Non-Monogamists in Vancouver, BC.
Learn more at: www.jecca.ca
Workshops:
• Primal Play
• BDSM, An Energy Exchange
Jess Rodwell
Aubrey Aurora is an Erotic Ritualist and event curator. She has spent the better half of a decade creating luxury erotic experiences and initiations for people from all walks of life. With a gift of deep attention to ambience and atmosphere, her work is often described as a portal into the depths of your most sensual fantasies.
Learn more at: aubreyaurora.com
Workshops:
• Eco-Sensuality
• Temple Night
Aubrey Aurora
James is a trained Village Forum facilitator. He also specializes in emotional release body work and coaching along with facilitating Men’s work. His passion is to raise leaders and pass on his knowledge and skills so that we can all have better tools for healthier relating.
Over the last year he has traveled the world facilitating workshops, learning more about releasing trauma from the body and experiencing some amazing healing modalities.
Workshops:
• Forum
• Four Person Massages
James Bell
Emme Fox is an Intuitive Guide, catalyst and advocate of love, sexuality and intimacy. She creates a safe and non-judgmental container for you to embody your authentic self, spiritually, sexually and emotionally. She is being initiated into the Venusian Spiritual Path and the Seven Gateways of the Venus Initiation as channeled and received by Maya Luna.
Workshops:
• Cuddle Puddle
• Want to Play? Navigating Play Parties
Emme Fox
Selene Rising is so happy to be returning for a second year facilitating at Awaken. She works as a sex therapist, a writer, and a wilderness rite of passage guide. She has studied the Wheel of Consent with Betty Martin, and wilderness rite of passage with the School of Lost Borders, Earth Ways LLC, and Animus Valley Institute.
Selene primarily serves clients from marginalized sexual identities and relationship styles. Selene identifies as polyamorous and kinky, and has been with her nesting partner 32 years and counting. She’s part of the organizing team at Awaken and most enjoys providing grounding and conversation aimed at helping you to find your center and connect with your deepest values and pathways to pleasure.
While in no way is she able to offer therapy at Awaken, she brings her deep expertise in being trauma informed.
Workshops:
• Conscious Consent and Desire
• Creative Writing
Selene Rising
MC Shakti
✨MC Shakti is the Creatrix of Enliven Wellness Festival and Dance Temple Squamish — she is a passionate community builder, dancer and musician that believes in the power of intentionally curated journeys to allow you to tap into the space of bliss, freedom, sensuality and empowerment within you.
Over the past 4 years she has been curating gatherings that combine cacao and ecstatic dance and has seen firsthand the expansion and healing that occurs as we connect with these medicines in community spaces.
She believes that when we gather to dance and to pray, we are doing our part in elevating the vibration of our planet, and can profoundly transform our physical, mental, emotional and energetic health.
Her DJ sets combine music from all over the world, honouring our global human family and the profound influence that various cultures have had on our modern musical landscape. Join her for an evening of wild, sensual, heartfelt authentic expression.
Learn more at: micaelacarron.com
Workshop:
• Cacao Ceremony + Ecstatic Dance
What past attendees say…
“I loved the container that was created, it was held really well so that I felt safe and brave enough to deepen my connections with self and others as the event progressed. I found forum incredibly impactful as a community practice and it felt like this allowed us all to fall deeper and quicker into step with one another. The eye gazing circle was profoundly connective and created a quick and deep sense of connection and space to been seen, so that I felt I could just be me. I loved all the workshops, the space between, the evening events...my favourite part was how well the container was set and held.”
— Kk
“I feel deeply grateful and honoured to have been part of Awaken. It was such a transformative and juicy encounter for me. Facilitators did a great job, appreciated all the workshops and the thought that went into making them a smooth and fruitful experience. The land is a magical place and I could feel the power of elements at play there, my nervous system felt at peace being there. I could feel that the organisers and facilitator are very passionate about the event and their offerings, and the participants who came together to contribute in creating a collaborative co-creation that went above and beyond my expectations. So thankful for everyone involved and all the beautiful souls I’ve encountered.”
— Anonymous
Awaken was a carefully curated gathering that made possible a RE-membering of my erotic and sexual nature. Not only were we held safely by the facilitators, we were also held lovingly by the mysterious and magical land on Anderson lake. This event was well organized. If you are looking to embrace your erotic and sexual self, look no further!
— Martine
“I was hesitant when I first heard about Awaken, as I wasn’t sure if I’d feel comfortable in a group space exploring themes of eros and sensuality, but I trusted the organizers and decided to take a chance. I’m so glad I did. I found it to be a safe space rooted in consent and grounded in the whole self. The other people I met were wonderful, attractive humans — each with their own unique boundaries and comfort levels. The workshop programming had a natural flow that deepened my sense of trust and erotic connection as the weekend went on. The land was beautiful, a real getaway. I left feeling sensually alive and erotically awakened (the name of this retreat is so fitting!), and as a bonus I made several new friendships and connections that I’m still cherishing 6 months later!”
— Anonymous
“I got new inspiration for creating sex magic with my partner and lovers; deeper understanding of my own sexuality and desires; and my sexual horizons have been expanded! What supported me in feeling free in my expression throughout the weekend was: the sequence of workshops that led from introspection/examination of one's own sexuality (both history and personal story) to more exploratory participatory ones. A facilitation team that was trauma-informed and had strong capacity to hold the emotional field. All participants full engagement in the weekend. Thanks for all of your care and effort in the creation of Awaken!”
— Anonymous
“I feel more open to group sexual experience than I did prior to Awaken, and I can feel the resonance of eros carried with me since. I feel more aliveness and pleasure in my body more regularly. I feel more in my body instead of in my head, and that embodiedness is more of a consistent background "humming" feeling than simply an "aware" feeling. In other words, I feel lightly reverberating with life force. Workshop order was perfect. The right mix of sensual, energetic, and inter-relational, and paced very well. I loved how open everyone else was, how varied all the different workshops were, and how forum presented an opportunity to process and clear throughout the weekend.”
— Jack
FAQ
and key information
What’s the detailed schedule?
A detailed schedule for the June event can be found here. August schedule coming soon.
How do I get my ticket, and what does it cost?
Due to limited spaces, tickets will become available after submitting your application. The application form process is also to ensure this is a compatible event for you, and to ensure transparency and safety for each attendee.
Awaken I (June 13–17): $660 (plus optional catering and accommodation upgrades)
Awaken II (Aug 19–25): $999 ($799 early bird price for max 10 tickets paying before July 5th).
If you would like meals included or accommodation upgrades, that option is available for an additional amount (see below).
What about accommodations & meals?
Find all the details about accommodations (including upgrades to furnished bell tents), meal plans, and dietary accommodations here:
June Retreat Details | August Retreat Details
Is this a play party?
This is an erotic experience that will allow you to participate in whatever level you desire. It has elements of a play party, including select play spaces; however, it is a space to explore to the extent you are comfortable, within the bounds of enthusiastic consent.
What are your protocols around sexual health and safety?
We will be requesting attendees to go for an STI screening close to the event, and to disclose relevant health information when needed. More details in the application form and sent out to accepted participants.
Can you explain how proper consent will be ensured at Awaken?
We view consent as an ongoing collaboration between two or more people in constant verbal, physical, and emotional dialogue about what each of them needs in order to willingly, safely, and pleasurably engage in an interaction together. Our first workshop during the event is mandatory for all participants to attend and will delve deeper into consent in a thorough but fun and engaging way, and is inspired by Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent work.
What is the policy on substances at Awaken?
Awaken will be a substance free event. Substances like alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs can impact a person’s ability to give and perceive consent. If a person is so altered that their ability to give and perceive consent is called into question, they may be denied entry to or asked to leave the event.
Is this event suitable for people of diverse relationship styles, backgrounds, beliefs, orientations, etc?
We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment welcome to adults of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, relationship orientations, races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, and abilities. We strive to provide an atmosphere that fosters a sense of community and connection, where individuals can feel empowered to express themselves authentically and explore their sexuality within the limits of informed and enthusiastic consent. We are committed to listening to feedback to continuously improve.
While we strive to create an inclusive environment, our experience has been that primarily people of heterosexual or bisexual orientations tend to attend our events in the past so if you identify with another sexual orientation please check with us first to ensure that we will be able to meet your expectations for the type of experience you are hoping for.
Are kids welcome?
Due to the sexual and sensual themes, this is an adults only event.
Is it clothing optional?
Yes, although we encourage people to be comfortable in whatever choice of clothing or not they choose to wear. Costumes are also welcome.
How do I get to the property?
Access is on largely paved roads with the final stretch on an unpaved mountainous road ideally with a AWD or 4WD vehicle. Exact location will be released to confirmed participants. We will be connecting participants for rideshare opportunities.
Are there wild animals?
Yes. Our primary ethos is protecting the wild and we gracefully share this land with many nonhuman species. Participants will receive an orientation to the land upon arrival and we will be sending out more information in a suggested packing list to attendees about what to bring and to expect on the land, including animal awareness.
What do I need to bring?
A suggested packing list will be provided to event attendees.
What if it rains?
This is a rain or shine event. Please come prepared to camp in all weather. Although historically, the region is quite dry at this time of year and anticipate warm summer weather.
What will help me to get the most out of Awaken?
Communication! Come prepared to use your voice to ask for what you want and speak to what you don’t want. But also… come prepared to be surprised! Awaken is a co-creation, and you’ll get the most out of it if you approach it with a curious, open mind.
Also look for the good intentions of others. Everyone at Awaken, participants and facilitators alike, are human beings doing their best. Your experience at Awaken will be most successful if you keep that in mind.
Before the event, spend some time setting your intentions. For some people, journaling can help. For others, a walk-about in nature is the thing to do. A conversation with a friend, an intimate, or a supportive professional can sometimes be really useful too. Whatever method you use for your intention setting, we encourage you to really lean in to your desires and feel into your boundaries, discussing them with any current partners or lovers.
Is Awaken therapy?
No. Many of us grew up in a world where pleasure was shamed and healthy consent practices were not taught nor modelled. Given that, many of us are in various stages of healing from trauma.
If you apply to attend Awaken, it’s important to understand that this retreat is not therapy. If you are still primarily in a trauma focused place of healing, Awaken may not (yet) be a good fit for you.
Our offerings are intended for those who are able to turn towards the possibility of attuned playfulness and have basic skills in self-soothing when activated.
During your time at Awaken we encourage you to take breaks for self-care, reach out for support from a facilitator when needed, and celebrate when others do the same.
Is this a trauma-informed space?
It’s important to distinguish between trauma-informed organizations, and those that specialize in helping people heal from trauma. While we strive to be trauma-informed as a leadership team, trauma is not our primary focus.
Trauma is a word for the experience of a person who undergoes a threat that overwhelms their coping resources. Most of us have experienced trauma at some point in our lives, and even for people who have done a lot of healing work, past trauma can sometimes be re-activated unexpectedly. That’s why it’s important that every organization put thought into being trauma-informed.
At Awaken, we have leadership conversations about what trauma re-activation looks like and how to support someone who is experiencing it. We strive to lead with empathy and curiosity, noting when possible the differing needs of participants and encouraging them to participate in ways that best serve their individual needs.
While we put a lot of thought into building safety and consent into our programs, we understand that people may still get activated in individual and unpredictable ways. If you find yourself in this situation, we encourage you to ask for support and we will do our best to provide it.
What kind of support is available from the facilitators?
You are welcome to pull any one of us aside to ask for support. We are likely to start by checking in to see if your nervous system is regulated and if there’s anything that we can offer to assist with that. It may look like a grounding conversation, guidance with a mindfulness tool, or offering a glass of water. We will likely follow that up with helping you identify what you need and how to ask for it. One of us (though not the facilitator who is currently leading a workshop) may step away from the main activity with you if needed. You are also invited to reach out to us and request a supportive conversation either before or after Awaken.
Who are the hosts/organizers of this event and what territory is it located on?
This event will take place in the traditional and unceded territory of the Stʼatʼimc people, and is hosted and organized by members of the community located at the property. You can read a little more about the host community here by visiting the About Us page.
I have more questions, can I speak with someone?
Yes! Our organizer and facilitator Aubrey Aurora is available for up to 30 min no pressure discovery calls if you have more questions or want to assess if this retreat is for you. Book your discovery call here.