Yoo-Hoo Fae!

Welcome to the Tantra Sweat Lodge Retreat for Men Who Love Men: The Ceremony of Self-Intimacy.

Each Conscious Pathways Residential Retreat is unique and open to both newcomers and returning retreat participants, singles and couples.

In this Conscious Pathways Sweat Lodge Tantra Retreat, "The Ceremony of Intimacy” we will explore what intimacy is and why it is important in our lives. The particular focus of this retreat will be Self-Intimacy. What is Self-Intimacy? Self-Intimacy is a process of connecting to, accepting, and deeply knowing yourself. It happens through recognizing being rather than constantly doing. Self-Intimacy includes self-reflection, self-knowledge, and self-compassion. It shows you how to be honest with yourself about your own emotions, needs, intentions, and wishes. Self-Intimacy can show you who you are, what your purpose is, and how to navigate your life from this deeper understanding.

We will unpack this topic by engaging with the teachings and practices of Classical Tantra and by participating in a Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremony. Over the weekend we will dive in to Self-Intimacy, discovering what it is for us and how to connect with it to benefit ourselves and others.

Retreat Elements will include:

- Daily Heart Circle in safe sacred space to practice intimacy in communication.

- Tantric meditation and embodiment practices to help us find and connect with Self-Intimacy.
- Meditations on the energy of Tantra, the Kundalini Shakti, an energy that helps us build authentic intimacy with ourselves and others.
- Participation in a Native American Sweat Lodge ceremony.
- Interactive exercises from Classical Tantra to help us learn how to connect to our body, mind, and inner being.
- Assimilation exercises to help us integrate the retreat practices into daily life.

Meditation Mentor Grant Shepherd and guest facilitators will guide us in these retreat elements. All practices and exercises will be taught in a simple, effective format so you can take them home with you after the retreat to experience the many benefits they can offer you in your life. Exercises will be interactive and fun; bring your sense of curiosity and play!

The Sweat Lodge Ceremony, a traditional Native American purification ceremony, will be an integral part of the retreat. Ceremony is central to many spiritual traditions. The Sweat Lodge is known by the Native American Lakota people as the Inipi ceremony, and it is a ceremony of renewal that brings deep spiritual and physical purification. Taking part in this sacred ceremony brings healing and new beginnings into our lives. Each Sweat Lodge ceremony takes us deeper into our understanding of ourselves and our true nature.

For the Sweat Lodge ceremony, we will be skilfully guided by deeply experienced ceremonial elders; for many years they have been participating in and leading ceremonies under the guidance of respected teachers and elders from North America, Canada, Alaska, and here in New Zealand. Our Sweat Lodge elders have a personal commitment to honouring their elders and teachers, and they received blessings from their elders and teachers to continue taking on the responsibility of offering these ceremonies. The Sweat Lodge ceremony is a very enriching and powerful experience that has touched many people in very deep ways.

The entire event will be shared safe space. All exercises will be clothed, consent based, and respectful.

Ceremony and Etiquette:

Please try to arrive on time – if you can’t make the 6 pm start time please let Grant know so we can welcome you when you arrive. You are welcome to come earlier to settle in. This will allow us time to make introductions and offer preparatory teachings before beginning the retreat.

Ceremonial medicines:

Tobacco is one of the traditional plant medicines used in the purification sweat lodge. Tobacco is the plant medicine traditionally offered to the Elder running the ceremony. It is used by the Elder as an offering to the Creator and the Spirit Helpers asking for healing and protection for themselves and those attending the ceremony. Tobacco holds a spiritual energy and is known by some Native Elders as “The Grandmother who brings ‘the honouring to the ceremony’”. It is customary to gift a pouch of tobacco to the Lodge Elder as an honouring for hosting the ceremony. If coming as a group one pouch is acceptable, handed to the Elder before the ceremony on behalf of those attending. This will be taken care of by Grant on behalf of the group.

About the Retreat Site:

Created as a spiritual retreat 24 years ago, the accommodation space is a renovated and comfortable woolshed with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with shower, outdoor outhouse toilets, and a large outdoor deck with BBQ. It sleeps up to 15 with a combination of beds, couches, and air mattresses on the floor, or you are welcome to bring a tent and camp on the land—please note if camping you will still be charged the accommodation fee.

Things to know:

· The entire property is alcohol and drug free. Please refrain from drugs or alcohol at least 48hrs before and after the ceremony.

· What to wear into the lodge. Our teachings are from traditional ways. Men wear shorts or sarong; a t-shirt is optional; please refrain from nudity.

· Please bring your own bedding (we supply bottom sheet, pillow with pillowcase.)

· Please bring a towel for a shower after the lodge.

· Please bring shared snacks for the time you are here.

· Please bring a white sage smudge stick as your personal offering to the sweat lodge. You can find these online or at spiritual bookstores.

Financial contribution:

$425:00 per person (All-inclusive of tuition, accommodation, meals, wood, and resources)

Please contact Grant directly for registration payment details.

Please note that at times retreat registration may change slightly due to price changes in food, tobacco, fuel, accommodation etc. Winter events will include a surcharge for heating costs. These events will always be fairly priced to help people attend, observing the guideline of "right livelihood" in service to the LGBTQ community. These events are created in the spirit of service, in alignment with the values of Traditional Tantra.

If you wish to attend, but the registration fee at this time is an issue for you, you are most welcome to contact Grant directly to discuss options and possibilities.

If you wish to sponsor someone, you are most welcome to do so. Please contact Grant to discuss this.

Email: newconsciouspathways@gmail.com

https://www.consciouspathways.net

You are warmly invited to join us for this Conscious Pathways Retreat: The Ceremony of Self-Intimacy.