Tantra Sweat Lodge Retreat: Living Gay Spirit

This event is limited to 15 people.

Welcome to the first Sweat Lodge Tantra Retreat for Men who love Men 2023: "Living Gay Spirit."

Each Sweat Lodge Tantra Retreat is unique and open to both newcomers and returning retreat participants. This Sweat Lodge Tantra Retreat offers Tantric practices and rituals to support our exploration of unifying sexuality and spirituality for men who love men. Conscious Sexuality and Intimacy Facilitator Grant Shepherd will guide us throughout the weekend on a journey of Tantric exploration, with embodiment practices and classical Tantric teachings designed to deepen our connection to our own natural, joyful essence, our "Living Gay Spirit."

During the retreat we will take part in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony, a traditional Native American purification ceremony. A ceremony of renewal that brings deep spiritual and physical purification, it is known by the Native American Lakota people as the Inipi ceremony. This sacred ceremony brings healing and new beginnings into our lives.

TeRangimarie and Rob Carter will be our ceremony facilitators. They spent many years participating and leading purification ceremonies under the guidance of respected elders and teachers from North America, Canada, Alaska, and here in New Zealand. TeRangimarie and Rob have a personal commitment to honouring their elders and teachers. They received blessings from their elders and teachers to continue taking on the responsibility of offering these ceremonies in a nurturing and safe place, Manu Wairua retreat. This ceremony is a very enriching and powerful experience that has touched many people in very deep ways. TeRangimarie and Rob will skilfully guide us on each step of the sweat lodge journey.

The entire event will be safe space. The 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 – You are welcome to come earlier. This will allow us time to make introductions and offer preparatory teachings before we go into the sweat lodge. 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.

About Manu Wairua : Created as a spiritual retreat 22 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 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.) 

· Bring a towel for a shower after the lodge. ·Bring shared snacks for the time you are here.

Financial contribution: $375:00 per person  (all inclusive of tuition, wood and resources for ceremonies, accommodation, and food. Please note accommodation includes tents and lodge (kura) beds.)

· Please note that at times retreat registration may rise slightly due to increases in food, tobacco, fuel, accommodation etc. These events will always be fairly priced to help people attend, observing the guideline of "right livelihood" in service to the gay community. In alignment with the values of classical tantra, these events are created in the spirit of service rather than commercial gain. 

Please contact Grant directly for registration payment details.

If you wish to attend, but the registration fee at this time is an issue for you, you are most welcome to contact him directly to discuss other options:

Email: newconsciouspathways@gmail.com

https://www.consciouspathways.net

We warmly invite you to join us for this sacred Sweat Lodge Tantra Retreat: "Living Gay Spirit."