SJW Classes

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

The lodge will be open to attendees on Thursday starting at 5:00.
Ice breaker activities, a shortgroup discussion and social time begins on Thursday evening. Workshops start bright and early Friday morning.

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

Workshops, Discussions & Activities

LIVING UNCOMFORTABLY Trinity

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,

he has

found

her

self 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!

CREATING CONTRACTS Riches Jodi

A written contract adds a level of formality to a relationship that has no other recognition. It provides for a fuller understanding of what is expected

and desired and a foundation on which further negotiations can be based.

This workshop will present a set of general guidelines on how to develop a

contract directed toward a set of mechanical steps rather than any specific content. Attendees can decide for themselves which to use and which they

find not needed.

HEART OF SERVICE Lacey

Heart of Service gives a unique point of view of the submissives heart, the joys and the struggles. This class will cover some of the basics: what is

service, safety and some foundations of service. However, the core of the class focuses on dealing with emotions and processing thoughts to enable

service to come from the heart in its purest form.

TALK LIKE A MAN Herb

Ever wondered why men don't seem to hear you and why they can place basketball for 10 years with the same guys and not know their wives names.

Talk Like a Man will discuss common male attributes, attitudes, needs, and ways of expressing themselves.

MARGIT'S RULES OF BEDDING - INSIDER INFO FROM A PRO Margit

Once upon a time Margit didn't really understand or love service so much. Lacking a personal definition/understanding, she didn't realize she already

possessed several skills that could make her loved ones' lives much more pleasant.

One day all her worldly belongings arrived in a land far, far away via

16 wheeler

and

all that changed. The

first things off the truck and placed in the

house were the things needed for a comfortable night's sleep. She shared her product knowledge

and

presentation techniques during the epic

unpacking

and

reconstruction process... and upon seeing the finished product, she was declared the house's princess of textiles.

So, that's how Margit tripped and fell face-first into her first very concrete example of one way she could actually be of service.

And they all slept

happily ever after.

MY SLAVE NEEDS Chell

We always hear about taking care of our D-types needs. What about our needs? Do s-types have “needs” in a power exchange relationship? Of course

we do! In this presentation we will discuss how to determine your core needs to have a healthy P

ower Exchange

relationship, the difference between

needs and wants, and how to articulate your needs to the big letter person in your life. Participation

and sharing

from

ttendees will add to the class.

THE ‘TWEEN YEARS - WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BETWEEN OWNERS Talina

Learn how to keep yourself occupied, and prepare yourself to be owned. Figure out ways to "sell" yourself honestly and with enthusiasm. How muscle

memory can be your best friend - or work against you. Delight in your "free" status while still getting your service needs met. Develop your resume.

PLANNING A FORMAL MEAL Lacey

We will discuss the types of protocols and many, many options when hosting a Formal Meal.

From creating the event to follow-up, we'll

walk

hrough

the planning stages step by step covering everything from invitations to meal preparation and service.

CHEERS! - From Vintage To Vinegar Margit

Ever felt completely intimidated in the wine section and didn’t know where to begin? No idea how to use that thingamajig? Worried about using the

wrong glass? When do you say when? What’s the difference between syrah and shiraz, anyway? Is there an app for that?

Ayup, Margit empathizes and is here to help demystify lots of things wine in this 101 type workshop.

Some budget-friendly wines will be available for

tasting as well.

HOW VALUABLE IS YOUR SUBMISSION? - IDENTIFYING, NURTURING AND DEVELOPING YOUR VALUE Toi

What is your value to your Master or Dominant? How do you best serve him/her? What makes you a slave/submissive? Each one of us provides a different

style or type of service to our Master or Dominant. Our M

s or D

s relationships are all unique to us, no two are exactly the same and that’s wonderful!

What works for one doesn’t work for another and there is no “One Twue Way”…..except for what you and your Master or Dominant have negotiated or

agreed it to be for your own relationship. This will be a great opportunity for us all to realize our own values and assist each other in identifying and

developing theirs.

This will be a round table, open discussion,

be ready to take a deeper look at your own value!

SHAMELESS SEXUAL FREEDOM Talina

Ever wonder how those folks can be so free with their sexuality? Do you marvel at the way some women/men talk so openly about the extent of their

sexual experience? Want to be a little more open yourself? This is the class for you! Self-discovery will help you figure out how you came to have the

beliefs you have about sex, and how you can move past any beliefs you consider limiting. Experience a few low-risk activities designed to help you

discover whether or not you want to be more open sexually.

MENTOR & PROTEGE' Mags

What is mentorship? How can it be beneficial to us? We will discuss how mentoring can be an ongoing relationship of learning, dialog, and challenge as

well as a short term arrangement to learn a certain skill set. The type of mentor

protégé relationship depends on the needs of the protégé and the

skills of the mentor. We will discuss how this can be a beneficial arrangement for us and the different ways in which it can be approached.

INVOKING THE POWER OF OTHERS - USING EXEMPLARS FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Elegant

Role models, mentors, counselors, teachers…..so many ways to look towards others for guidance but most of the traditional methods rely on emulating

behavior. Learn how identifying exemplars can represent the essence of singular character traits you wish to improve in your

life

. We’ll explore various

definitions, differences, and techniques for pinpointing exemplars for personal growth and then discuss how to utilize this knowledge in your everyday

life. An interactive session.

WALK LIKE A MAN (You Don't Need To Wear Panties) Herb

Masculinity and submission. Why submission doesn't mean giving up masculinity, why femming yourself if that's not who you are might make it harder

to find a partner, and examples of masculine men who have been submissive to female partners in fiction and real life.

M/S IN AN LDR (OR, YAY FOR ACRONYMS) Trinity

Can a long distance M/s or D/s relationship endure? What are the challenges and what are the rewards? This class is geared towards those serving from

afar, but welcomes anyone interested in the topic. We’ll discuss ways to remain in the submissive or slave mindset, how to communicate needs and

how to be of service when not physically in the presence of your m- or d-type. We’ll also talk about the mental transition from being mostly

autonomous when apart to being in his/her presence for face to face visits.

MEDITATION - THE BUILDING BLOCKS Mags

Can you not imagine sitting still for 15 minutes to meditate, much less an hour?

Mags

couldn't either. Active meditation turned out to be the key for

her

and

she

been practicing it in various forms for 15 years. Meditation can help us find balance in daily life, which in turn can enhance our

interactions and our service.

We will talk about what meditation is, what the elements of it are in its many forms. We will discuss the benefits of

meditation and finding the right style for yourself. There will be time at the end of class to try several types of active meditations.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO PART Trinity

Ending relationships is rarely easy, but for s-types it can be more challenging than usual. We tend to internalize loyalty and devotion to such a degree

that stepping back and looking at the relationship objectively can be incredibly difficult. But sometimes, it needs to be done. Sometimes a d/s or m/s

relationship has become unhealthy and there’s nothing we can do to make it better. Sometimes, we have to leave. But how do we get there? What if

we’re making the wrong decision? How can we know this is the right thing to do?

This session isn’t a means to advocate leaving a relationship. The goal is to provide tools which can be used to help determine whether staying in the

relationship is more unhealthy than ending it. In this class, we’ll talk about the difference between needs and wants and how to tell them apart. We’ll

talk about effective communication. We’ll discuss how to make the hard decisions: when conditions are better to stay and when it’s really time to just

let it go.

This class has the potential to be emotional.

TRAFFIC CONTROL - AVOID GETTING RUN OVER BY THE DRAMA BUS Mags

This will be an open interactive conversation about what we see “drama” as and what we do not think of as drama. We will discuss ways to avoid

getting caught up in the drama of others and also ways to not create our own. We will also talk about ways to diffuse drama.

SERVICE STATIONS

Forty minute sessions of hands-on skills training.

Attendees will be able to attend any three of the four Service Stations

UNCORKED

Margit

A primer on

storage, opening

and pouring wine.

Now idea how to use that thingamajig? Worried about using the wrong glass? When

do you say when? Come open up your minds and perhaps a few bottles as well.

ENVELOPE BUDGET

MANAGEMENT

erb

ontrol your spending and stick to your budget with this easy to follow plan

based on

Dave Ramsey's Envelope System.

SMOOTH SHAVING

legant

dulg

someone with a pampering shave..legs or face. Tool, technique, and product primer plus some hand-on practice.

ELATIONSHIPS AND THE LAW

Jennifer

overing

the basics of how to protect yourself and your wishes during the most difficult of times, ending a relationship and death

Learn about

living wills, wills, power of attorneys, trusts and partnership agreements and why you need such documents.

GROUP ACTIVITIES

Ice Breaker Activities
Small Team Break-Outs
Ritual Gathering
Social Time
Targeted Group Discussions
S/m Tastings

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

INVESTING IN YOURSELF
AN SJW RETREAT

Our Sixth
Fabulous Year!

May 2-5, 2013