intimate connection weekend
2023 INTIMATE CONNECTION WEEKEND
Joyful exploration, relaxation, fun and intimacy for GBTQ-men.
Co-created by GaySpiritFriends & Spirit Journeys.
When: Fri 29th of Sept - Sun 1st of Oct 2023
Where: Charneux, Belgium
Price: € 395,-
Early-Bird Price: € 375,- (€ 20,- early-bird discount until the end of March, or until sold out)
You can also join us for the International Gay Retreat and extend your weekend by 7 days or just join for the week instead of the weekend. More info
Our Intimate Connection Weekend is designed to help you open your heart, grow your capacity for intimacy, and build healthy, resilient relationships. Together, we will explore and release the things that keep us from having fulfilling relationships with other men. With the support of our brothers, we will unlock our minds and hearts and allow ourselves to love and to be loved.
YOUR WEEKEND INCLUDES
- 3 days/2 nights lodging in a beautifully renovated 17th century farmhouse, with 21st century comfort;
- Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday;
- A lovely dinner on Saturday evening;
- Sheets and covers for your bed;
- Suggestions and help with travel arrangement;
- Inspiring fun workshops and lively discussions​;
- Playful, soulful experiences with GBTQ-men from around the world;
- Steam Sauna, Wifi-connection and use of community rooms (with pool table, shuffleboard, table tennis).
NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR WEEKEND
- Travel expenses;
- Travel insurance and transfer:
We recommend everybody to take a travel- and cancellation insurance.
- Sunday evening dinner is not included.
- There is an opportunity to stay for 1 extra night (Sunday-Monday) and enjoy dinner and Monday morning breakfast with us. Let us know if you want to stay for 1 extra night during the sign-up procedure. This is possible at a small extra charge.
Drawing on the latest discoveries or interpersonal neurobiology, somatic experiencing, and evolutionary biology, we will explore such topics as:
- Cultivating Safety, Trust, Vulnerability, and Intimacy;
- Working through the Fears and Habits that Sabotage Intimacy;
- Creating Deeply Embodied Connection;
- Building The Foundations for Strong Relationships;
- Navigating the Online Dating Maze.
Our time together will be exploratory, embodied, experiential, and inspirational.
We will look deeply at ourselves and uncover the stories and wounds that keep us from living a free and joyous life. We will see through these stories and bring love to these wounds, freeing ourselves to be ourselves, our true selves.
The freer we are, the more open we are to others and the easier love can find its way into our lives. Nothing is sexier or more lovable than authenticity!
We will give ourselves and each other the safety and permission to open ourselves to pleasure, joy, and laughter.
THE PROGRAM
The program incorporates a balance of group sessions and leisure time to connect with each other. Guided movement practices, deep sharing, breath work, visualizations, journaling, personal contemplation, playful group exercises and buddy work are just some of the activities offered during the workshop.
No previous experience is necessary for any of the activities planned.
Loving and attentive instruction, guidance and support is provided throughout the workshop. All you need to do is to show up with openness and enthusiasm to fully participate in the group activities and take full advantage of the opportunity to be in the company of other GBTQ men in a setting free from pretense and superficiality. The foundation of all our retreats and workshops is a remarkable experience of intimacy, trust, nurturing, and honest communication which unfolds among the participants.
A few of the specific workshops you’ll enjoy during our time together are:
Developmental Touch & Breath: An embodied exploration to nourish your authentic self. We use bio-energetics (body-mind exercises) to release what is stuck and open the stream of vital energy. Through touch and breath exercises we tap into basic developmental needs and welcome lost parts of your loving core being.
Relationship in Motion: A conscious movement and dance practice, available for everybody no matter which previous experience you have. You will explore the different relational landscapes of your life: your relationship with your body-mind, your relationship with others, your connection with community and your place within the bigger picture of existence.
Request, Consent, and Joyful Boundary-Setting: A playful exploration of the patterns we bring to crucial relationship challenges, and an opportunity to practice more skillful ways of creating the relationship experiences we long for.
Wise Desire, Brave Intimacy and Breathing Ecstasy: We will use conscious connected breathing to reclaim the wisdom and power of our own desire, and cultivate safe and sacred experiences of intimacy in our lives.
FREE TIME
In addition to the workshop experiences, there will also be time to socialize and explore all corners of the attractive property Charneux or the beautiful surroundings. The property has several attractive spaces for you to retreat or socialize. There is also a 6-person sauna & infrared cabin, where you can relax.
LANGUAGE during the workshops
The workshops are in English. If there are problems with understanding or expressing, then of course we will give you a helping hand. We can translate in Dutch or German, sometimes French. If you have any questions about this, please let us know. During the breaks multiple languages possible.
TRAVELLING (plane, car, train)
We will help you with extra suggestions to plan your trip after signing up or after you contact us.
- Flight to Brussels Airport (Belgium) and follow-up journey by train, approximately 1 hour.
- Flight to Amsterdam Airport (Netherlands) and follow-up journey by train, approximately 3-4 hours.
- Flight to Cologne-Bonn Airport (Germany) and follow-up journey by train, approximately 1,5 hour.
- We will create a carpool suggestion list once we have relevant sign-ups to make combinations.
- Travel buddies can be a fun part of your journey.
- The location is easy to reach by car and parking is free.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about travelling.
FOOD
Healthy nutrition is central to our program, but we do not follow any specific nutritional philosophy. Our Burgundian local nature and way of life will be at the forefront. If there are any food allergies or special diet needs, please let us know when you book.
We will do our best to take this into account, within reasonable limits.
BEDROOMS
The group accommodation where we are staying offers wonderful authentic bedrooms.
There are 4, 3 and 2-person bedrooms.
The rooms are randomly assigned upon arrival at the house. We assume equality of everyone and an open attitude. Single rooms are not available. If necessary, room assignments can be adjusted.
ABOUT OUR ACCOMMODATION
The old stone farmhouse dates back to + / - 1650 and originally served as a syrup distillery. Nowadays the farmhouse is used as a holiday accommodation after thorough renovation.
The accommodation is situated on a hill with beautiful views over the meadows. It is located in Herve, in the triangle Maastricht-Liege-Aachen. The accommodation has a large capacity and an interesting layout of rooms and floors. It exudes nostalgia and atmosphere and has many surprising rooms and corners to discover. The property also has a large attractive workshop space, where we will withdraw for the workshops.