“An amazing and fun personal and group sexual healing in a beautiful, magical natural setting.”
– 2019 Participant
Covid:
We are shifting our definition of STI’s from sexually transmitted infections to socially transmitted infections. Just as we practice testing and clear communication around infections that are sexually transmitted, we ask you to be just as conscientious around those that are transmitted socially. We know people have different beliefs around Covid and being safe with it. We are reading and learning about best practices, vaccines, and guidelines as they evolve. Please be prepared to pre-isolate, take a test (either in the days before or on-site as you arrive), and communicate your Covid risks/precautions to the other attendees. We may make additional requests for keeping everyone as safe as possible as the event gets closer. Regardless of best practice guidelines, if you have any symptoms of illness, or are exposed to someone who tests positive for Covid in the 10 days before the event, please do not come. Your money will be applied to next year’s event, or refunded if possible.
Logistics/Travel:
– How do I get there?
Liminalia is ~50 miles northwest of Portland (just over an hour drive), and 3 hours south of Seattle (via Longview, WA). The closest airport is PDX in Portland. Because we are an intimate group, it should be easy to find carpooling/ride shares. Email us and we can help coordinate.
– Can I camp in my car/van?
Yes. There is a dirt road along the property where cars and vans will be parked. You may stay in your vehicle. Although, there are no electrical hookups.
– Is there cell service? WiFi?
The closest reliable cell service is 15 minutes away in the small town of Vernonia (along with the closest coffee shop, gas station, and restaurant). There is no cell service on the property for any carrier. The property does have a land line for phone calls.
Due to the limited bandwidth of the satellite internet connection and the desire for attendees to be connected to nature, WiFi access will not be provided. If you feel you need an exception to this request, please discuss this with the organizers prior to the event.
– Can I come late or leave early? Or leave for a portion?
We ask that you commit to be onsite for the entire event. You can arrive anytime after 2 PM on Saturday. We require everyone be present for the opening ritual on Saturday night.
– What do I need to bring?
Be-Coming is a co-created event and you will get out what you bring to it.
Bring an open mind and willingness to explore (come hungry, not starving). Bring your desires and offerings, and anything that will help you fulfill them.
Bring musical instruments, items for altars to Earth, Water, and Ancestors, art supplies, or other items that feed your creativity and connection to the planet.
If you are camping, bring your desired sleeping gear, bath towel, swimming towel.
If you are staying in a cabin, all your bedding and towels will be provided.
All attendees should bring a towel/sarong to sit on when naked.
– Are alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or mind altering substances allowed?
You are likely to experience something mind altering during your time with us, and we encourage that transformation and experience.
Be-Coming is designed to be a safe space for all, so we ask that you refrain from using any substances that could alter your ability to be fully present in your body and fully listening to the bodies of others at all times. If you feel you need an exception to this request, please discuss with the organizers prior to the event. Otherwise, the use of substances may result in your removal from the event and property.
– How will safer sex be supported?
The opening ritual will include a body-based consent calibration and everyone will be encouraged to practice setting and celebrating boundaries. The wild woods will have several stations containing safer sex supplies. If you have favorite/preferred products, please bring them with you.
– How will sexual status/STIs be communicated?
Many, many, amazing erotic experiences happen without another partner. At Be-Coming, its possible to have mind-blowing sex with a shaft of sunlight, or someone’s deep brown eyes, or a soft mossy mound. While all of these involve getting non-verbal consent, human-to-human sexual interaction requires more awareness.
Conversations about sexual health are important. In preparation for Be-Coming we request attendees complete our standard form (Sacred Scroll) prior to the event and get STI testing before the event (early August is ideal), so results are current. The Sacred Scroll is designed for you to review your sexual health before the event, so you will be prepared to communicate it with others.
Attendees are asked to bring copies of their Sacred Scrolls to share with potential partners. Printed copies will allow you to share and see other’s sexual status, STI’s and testing history, as well as sexual partner constellations and other items of note. A goal of the Sacred Scroll it to help everyone, regardless of STI’s and sexual history, feel comfortable with a sexual interaction with a new partner.
In-the-moment verbal check-ins, reminders and clarifications and updates about STI status during the event are highly encouraged.
As a reminder, there are a wide range of sexual acts with humans and nature that do not have sexual health repercussions or necessitate the exchange of Scrolls.
– How will this event support my individual sexual expression?
We hope that the rituals and unstructured time allow each person to explore their unique sexual expression. How do you want to be fed by, and have connection with the Earth? This event is an exploratorium for your desires, how you express yourself, to re-wild yourself, to expand your capacity to feel, and to know yourself as Earth. All variations, expressions, and explorations are welcomed and desired.
Conflict:
– How will you handle conflict?
Conflict and misunderstandings will happen. Be-Coming will share a repair protocol to everyone on the first day. This is done so we can each easily ask for, and receive, repair in a mutually understood format. The steps are: listening, empathizing, acknowledging impact, taking ownership, and reassurance.
Knowing how to clean it up when someone feels something went wrong, helps us feel more free to be ourselves.
– How can I get support if I need it?
Be-Coming is creating a small, intimate, temporary village and we invite people to come and participate in the spirit of building community and the willingness to witness others, even in distress. The three facilitators, Amanda, Kendall and Victor, will additionally be anchors for the overall event and interruptible if/when support needs arise.
– What will you do if my boundaries get crossed?
You will be invited into a repair process to have your feelings heard and cared for. That process may or may not involve the person you had the boundary error with, depending on your preference. Creating a container both playful and erotic requires integrity, exquisite safety, communication and accountability.
We reserve the right to remove anyone, without refund, from Be-Coming should they engage in behavior deemed sexually predatory, causing harm, or appear to be unwilling to accept accountability or engage in repair work.
