| May 3-6, 2012 |
| Our Fifth Fabulous Year! |
| CONNECTING THE PIECES AN SJW RETREAT |
| CONNECTING THE PIECES AN SJW RETREAT |
| The hosts and staff provide a safe and supportive environment for guests to learn, grow and relax. Workshops and discussion group focus on four main areas: * Service skill sets * Relationship topics * Self-Improvement aspects * Spirituality concerns |
| Submissive Journey Weekend |
| Workshops, Discussions & Activities |
| Out of all the events I've been to, this one gave me the most information I could take home and actually use. It was awesome." – V Illionois |
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| May 3-6, 2012 |
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| Our Fifth Fabulous Year! |
| Workshops, Discussions & Activities |
LIVING UNCOMFORTABLY Trinity
DEFENSE WITHOUT OFFENSE : VERBAL SELF DEFENSE FOR LITTLE LETTER PEOPLE Cricket
EMPOWERED SURRENDER Cricket
USING RITUAL TO HELP FOCUS AND HEAL Cricket
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF INTEGRITY Talina
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO Feyrie
SERVICE – IN, OF AND ACCEPTING Talina
POSITIVE SELF IMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM Melissa
A WRINKLE IN TIME Michael
COLLARS, MARKS AND OTHER RELATIONSHIP SYMBOLS Trinity
BREAKING UP WITH MR CLEAN: MAKING YOUR OWN CLEANING PRODUCTS Margit
PAST WORKSHOP TOPICS
MENTORING, PROTEGES & TEACHERS, BOOTBLACK JAM SESSION, INTUITIVE SERVICE, FIRST AID, BOTTOMING TO THE COMMUNITY, BASIC CAR CARE, THE
SPIRITUALITY OF SUBMISSION, ARGUMENTS WITH DIRECTION, POLY PANEL DISCUSSION, THE TRAVELING BUTLER, ETIQUETTE OF THANK YOU NOTES,
MASSAGE FOR BEGINNERS, BOOTBLACKING – BEYOND BASICS, PROTOCOLS AND RITUALS, YOGA, HOW NOT TO BE A DOORMAT, TEA SERVICE, TIME
MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION IN AN M/S RELATIONSHIP, IRONING, NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTRACTS
- Living is easy. Living uncomfortably is hard. Fear and discomfort often cause us to make the easy choices in life, but it is when we face difficulty and
when we overcome fear that we grow. Trinity made a conscious decision at the beginning of 2010 to live uncomfortably. While it’s been difficult
sometimes, she has found herself growing and becoming more comfortable in her own skin in ways she wouldn’t have thought possible.
This gathering is going to be more of a round-table discussion focusing on how we face our fears, process our discomfort, and step outside our boxes in
order to live uncomfortably. If you’re embarking on a new chapter of your life or simply want to force growth within yourself then this round table is
where you want to be. Come out, listen, share, and live uncomfortably with us!
DEFENSE WITHOUT OFFENSE : VERBAL SELF DEFENSE FOR LITTLE LETTER PEOPLE Cricket
- While most Big Letter People (those who have the authority in a power exchange) move with integrity and honor, every little letter person (those who
give up authority) has had the experience of being inappropriately expected to serve or submit. This presentation introduces a simple formula
(Address, Inform, Describe) that allows little letter people to extract themselves from these difficult encounters while preserving protocol, respect
and honor.
- While each and every dominant or master has a set of criteria with which he wishes to train the submissive to follow there may also be value in a set of
basic skills and arts which can apply to all who take on the submissive role. In general this is an overview, a basic foundation of the knowledge and skills
which a submissive can master when new and unpledged. It is not intended to be the only way this can be done. The basic concept is to provide a set of
generic foundation skills which can provide the newcomer to the lifestyle something which will help them to reflect their role. This workshop also
- What happens when the slave is out sick or traveling without Master? Could another person come in and serve Master and the household? How would
someone step in and know what to do? Or is there something that the Master needs to know while the slave is out. The Butler Book is a great and easy
way to help that person / people transition into the household without disrupting service.offers the pledged or more experienced submissive thoughts
on how to potentially improve themselves to be of greater value to their dominant.
EMPOWERED SURRENDER Cricket
- At some point even the most “seasoned” little letter people have doubts. Is our role really the one we want to be in? Are we clear about why we are
where we are? Do we have moments in which we feel more like a doormat than a valued member of a healthy power exchange? Is our surrender to the
will of another genuine, or is it more giving up than giving in?
This workshop takes participants through a process of identifying ALL of our feelings around our role, and how to choose from which feeling to act. We
will work to identify our own standards, take responsibility for our part in failures AND credit for achievements, and talk about assertive self advocacy.
Through this process, participants will gain a clearer understanding of where their power lies, even when authority is held by another, and how to use
that power to move through moments of doubt.
- Tips on how to make great play happen without the formality of a D/s or M/s relationship. This whole shebang was a rant in its infancy, born as a result
of hearing other bottoms whining about not getting enough play and compliments on how Margit bottoms (from play partners as well as spectators).
Oh! and over the course of commiserating about the current state of local-to-her SM with a few Friendly sadists, one said: “there is only a small amount
of similarly talented bottoms looking for good, intense, skilled and drama free Tops”. That gave Margit a sad.
Margit is going to share this information at the risk of having more competition at play parties…but hey, no one can say that she's not, in fact, the giver
she often smart-assedly proclaims herself to be. It’s her hope to share a few tools from her box that will help you get what you want from play.
Participation is 'awesome', so please share those things you do to bring your best game as well.
- A discussion focused on the brewing of whole bean coffees. Pros and cons pertaining to cost, preparation needed, health and environmental impact will
be presented. Significant emphasis will be given to the differences in flavor profiles between 'light' and 'dark' coffees, aided by a taste test. Storage
methods as well as alternate methods of brewing will also be discussed. Come have a cuppa joe!
USING RITUAL TO HELP FOCUS AND HEAL Cricket
- Most of us experience Ritual as a formal, mysterious experience that must be presided over by someone with superior spiritual “connections”. This
has the unfortunate effect of separating most people from a powerful source of focus and healing. This workshop will explain the purpose of ritual, and
the place that it can have in our practice of self care and personal growth. We’ll move on to look at two rituals, one that encourages focus, and another
that promotes healing. Preparing for and conducting each will be covered thoroughly, giving participants what they need to incorporate them into
their own lives. *A group spiritual ritual will be held on Saturday evening for those who wish to participate.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF INTEGRITY Talina
- Everyone talks about how important it is to exhibit integrity in your everyday actions, but no one mentions what you're supposed to do when you
make a mistake. Stepping out of integrity happens to all of us, every day in fact, for most of us. Knowing how to recover from a lack of integrity is key
to strengthening relationships and living according to your ideals. And it's absolutely essential for those in D/s relationships.
- Description coming soon
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO Feyrie
- Breaking up is hard to do and in a power exchange dynamic, sometimes it is even harder to do. How do you know when you've reached that point? What
if you are the one who has to make the decision? What if you are the one who gets "broken up with"? How do you deal with the feelings? How do you
handle the breakup with dignity in a positive way that turns into a growth experience for both of you instead of a flaming public breakdown? How do
you handle relationships with friends and family you knew "as a couple"? How do you pick up the pieces and heal your heart? If you are still "broken"
from a break up, new or old, if you are considering ending a relationship, or if you want to explore how to put things some things into place in a healthy
relationship to ensure it stays healthy even if it ends, this class is for you. Join us in a healing, private space to explore this topic.
- So you want to get involved in "community" related community service? In a round table discussion, we’ll discuss different venues that you can get your
“service fix” on. We’ll be focusing on understanding WHY some people like to do it, HOW to go about it respectfully and effectively, WHEN is the
most appropriate time and juggling your service to another person at the same time, and the different areas WHERE you can get involved in. This is
your time to learn about some of the more creative things that you can do to be in service to your local, regional, or even global community, as well as
swap stories about what can happen while being in service to the craziness that our community can be!
SERVICE – IN, OF AND ACCEPTING Talina
- Learn about the difference between being IN service and being OF service, and the various obligations these two types of service imply. Also included is
a discussion of what it means to gracefully accept service, whether you’re a big‐letter person or a little‐letter person. We’ll talk about how little‐letter
people especially can sell themselves short by not accepting service.
POSITIVE SELF IMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM Melissa
- A peer led discussion regarding the factors around self esteem, body image and insecurity issues that so many of us face. We will discuss tips and
strategies to help us realize goals, and learn to be healthy and happy with support from our peers.
- Bring your boots or other leathers and join us for a casual share-and-shine session. We'll even supply the products for your use.
- In all the major traditions, submission to a higher power is revered as a means of spiritual development. What does that mean in a M/s or D/s dynamic?
How can service and submission be a spiritual path? In what ways do our roles as s-types inform our spirituality? What are some of the archetypes we
embody as submissives and slaves? What are the dark and the bright sides of those archetypes and of ourselves? How can we grow in our spiritual path
through the practice of submission or slavery? How does our spirituality inform our service? Explore this topic through the lens of Jungian Depth
Psychology, the major religions "of the book" (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), Pagan mystical traditions, Buddhism, and other spiritual philosophies of
the East and West.
A WRINKLE IN TIME Michael
- Do you avoid buying clothing that needs ironing because you don't know how to get those wrinkles out? Is there a basket of crumpled laundry just
sitting in your closet because the thought of bringing out the iron makes steam come out of your ears? Michael will take the mystery out of ironing and
demonstrate how to perfect this pressing task. Hands-on experience will give everyone the opportunity to practice.
COLLARS, MARKS AND OTHER RELATIONSHIP SYMBOLS Trinity
- Description coming soon.
- If you are an alpha sub or slave and know what that means, great! For the rest of us, this workshop will assist in figuring it out. We’ll identify several
different types of alphas, explore key traits of alphas and discuss strategies to enhance the alpha role and avoid pitfalls.
BREAKING UP WITH MR CLEAN: MAKING YOUR OWN CLEANING PRODUCTS Margit
- Prepare to be amazed by these ridiculously simple, effective ways to go about cleaning that also happen to be much less toxic and inexpensive using
household items you've probably already got in your kitchen.
- Yep, Margit knows what you’re thinking- she was skeptical at first, too. After all, she was faithful to Tide, Downy, scrubbing bubbles and that sexy Mr.
Clean for DECADES. That is until she developed allergies and, as a result, became very sensitive to chemicals and fragrances. It was then decided that it
would be worthwhile to explore alternative cleaning products/methods. She was in an M/s relationship at the time and an added perk to this adventure
was that it became an act of service; the owner enjoyed the fact that things used to clean his home were made in it, by his property.
- Forty minute sessions of hands-on skills training.
CIGAR SERVICE Margit
- A primer on cutting, punching, lighting and storing .
- SEWING BASICS Zilah
- Important basic hands on hand sewing class. Repairing seams, sewing buttons back on, whip stitching and back stitching will be covered.
- JOURNALING Trinity
- A primer on why we would consider journaling, what journaling can and can’t do, what our goals are, as well as the options available to
achieve those goals. We’ll talk about different ways to go about journaling, including formats, and the benefits and drawbacks.
- POSITIONS AND SERVES Talina
- Learn some serves that you can try and modify to fit your body type, age and service style.
PAST WORKSHOP TOPICS
MENTORING, PROTEGES & TEACHERS, BOOTBLACK JAM SESSION, INTUITIVE SERVICE, FIRST AID, BOTTOMING TO THE COMMUNITY, BASIC CAR CARE, THE
SPIRITUALITY OF SUBMISSION, ARGUMENTS WITH DIRECTION, POLY PANEL DISCUSSION, THE TRAVELING BUTLER, ETIQUETTE OF THANK YOU NOTES,
MASSAGE FOR BEGINNERS, BOOTBLACKING – BEYOND BASICS, PROTOCOLS AND RITUALS, YOGA, HOW NOT TO BE A DOORMAT, TEA SERVICE, TIME
MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION IN AN M/S RELATIONSHIP, IRONING, NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTRACTS