Logistics for Attending
Ecstatically Queer
April 14–16, 2023
This page is for people who have already registered, to get the latest details on attending this retreat.
Preparing Body, Mind & Spirit:
Arriving at the retreat:
The retreat opens at 3pm on Friday. You may arrive any time after that. Upon arrival, you will self-administer your covid test and check in at the gate house. (Please note that PJ is unavailable by email after 11am on Friday. If you are running late or having troubles getting to the retreat, please email our Event Coordinator: ec@breitenbush.com)
If you want to arrive before 3pm, you must pay for an early access pass in advance, to arrive as early as 9am. It's $20 for early access, and another $14 if you want lunch too. Email us at oregon.ecstatic@gmail.com for more details.
Please consider carpooling! There are two places to look for ride shares:
Friday afternoon is unstructured time to allow for everybody to get settled in and start soaking. At 5:00pm we offer Live Music for gentle movement with Kokoro Kenji in the North Wing. Dinner is at 6:00pm.
Our Opening ceremony & Orientation is right after dinner at 7:15pm. This session is mandatory—it's where we introduce everyone, go over healthy boundaries & consent, and begin building camaraderie as a cohort. Everybody is expected to be there.
The retreat schedule is on the website. (https://www.ecstaticimmersion.net/schedule.html) We will be providing printed programs at the retreat.
Extra Goodies for You!
We are providing a few goodies that are not normally provided at Breitenbush
--Coffee: Breitenbush provides drip filters and holders for making coffee, as well as a variety of herbal teas. We will be bringing 8+ lbs. of fair-trade, organic coffee to share with everyone until it runs out.
--Snacks: we will be providing some late-night snacks on Friday and Saturday!
What to bring to the retreat:
Optional:
What Not to Bring to the retreat
Respiratory illness & the covid test requirement
We will be together in a very crowded indoor space for three days. Our contract with Breitenbush requires that we minimize the risk of community transmission of respiratory viruses (covid, RSV, and flu). Therefore, nobody may be at the retreat with any outward symptoms of respiratory infection: coughing, sneezing, or runny nose. Even if you believe your symptoms are benign (from allergies or a lingering cough), many folks will feel unsafe in proximity of sneezing or coughing in the dance hall, the dining hall, and the soaking pools. Unfortunately, masking or social distancing will not be acceptable remedies for outward signs of illness. If you do suffer from seasonal allergies, be sure to bring whatever medications and tools you need to keep your symptoms at bay—antihistamine, decongestant, neti pot, herbs, etc.
Everyone must bring and conduct a covid test (that has not expired) at Breitenbush. They are sold at most drug stores, big box stores, Amazon.com, etc. You will self-administer that test when you arrive at the front gate. A Breitenbush staff member will confirm your negative result and then check you into the retreat. Even if your covid test is negative, you will be turned away at the gate if you are showing outward signs of respiratory infection: coughing, sneezing, or runny nose.
Since there are no refunds for last-minute cancellations (due to illness or any other reason), we strongly encourage participants to minimize their exposure risk to all respiratory viruses for at least a week leading up to our event. Quarantining is best. If you come down with an illness between now and the retreat, we suggest you start seeking a friend to transfer your registration ASAP (See below for transfer details).
If Someone Needs to Reach You at Breitenbush:
There is no cell phone service at Breitenbush. The quickest way to get a message from someone outside the retreat is via email.
For urgent emergencies, have them use: emergency@breitenbush.com. If Breitenbush receives an emergency message for you, the Breitenbush staff will do their best to find you ASAP.
For general messages, have them use: office@breitenbush.com. If Breitenbush gets a general message for you, they will post a note on the board outside the cafeteria.
If you need an emergency phone number rather than email for someone to get in touch with you, have them use this number and leave a message: 503-854-3320
Integrating the Experience // After Care
That’s all for now. Thank you for reading and preparing well so that we can have a smooth immersion experience together!
Much Love,
PJ & AveryDeane
- Intention - Consider your personal focus for the weekend. Perhaps journal about this.
- Rest - for your body and your mind. Maybe build in extra meditation or journaling or nature walks to help calm a busy mind in prep for a weekend in the woods, so you can drop in more quickly on Friday. (This is also a great way to focus on you and minimize exposure risk to any respiratory or other illness that could get you turned away at Breitenbush!)
- Plan - Spend proactive time with the packing list in advance to ensure you’ll have everything you need!
- Detox - Reduce the use of any substances that are a regular part of your life but won’t be available at Breitenbush - alcohol, cannabis, screen time, social media, etc - so there is less shock to your system in going without.
Arriving at the retreat:
The retreat opens at 3pm on Friday. You may arrive any time after that. Upon arrival, you will self-administer your covid test and check in at the gate house. (Please note that PJ is unavailable by email after 11am on Friday. If you are running late or having troubles getting to the retreat, please email our Event Coordinator: ec@breitenbush.com)
If you want to arrive before 3pm, you must pay for an early access pass in advance, to arrive as early as 9am. It's $20 for early access, and another $14 if you want lunch too. Email us at oregon.ecstatic@gmail.com for more details.
Please consider carpooling! There are two places to look for ride shares:
- Breitenbush has a page for seeking and offering rideshares: https://breitenbush.com/rideshare
- We set up a Google sheet to request and offer ride shares for this retreat: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JA7ecKCztZhmQ7c9Tv6qPRdHRcTx-PdldEPWM6Yq1JA/edit?usp=sharing
Friday afternoon is unstructured time to allow for everybody to get settled in and start soaking. At 5:00pm we offer Live Music for gentle movement with Kokoro Kenji in the North Wing. Dinner is at 6:00pm.
Our Opening ceremony & Orientation is right after dinner at 7:15pm. This session is mandatory—it's where we introduce everyone, go over healthy boundaries & consent, and begin building camaraderie as a cohort. Everybody is expected to be there.
The retreat schedule is on the website. (https://www.ecstaticimmersion.net/schedule.html) We will be providing printed programs at the retreat.
Extra Goodies for You!
We are providing a few goodies that are not normally provided at Breitenbush
--Coffee: Breitenbush provides drip filters and holders for making coffee, as well as a variety of herbal teas. We will be bringing 8+ lbs. of fair-trade, organic coffee to share with everyone until it runs out.
--Snacks: we will be providing some late-night snacks on Friday and Saturday!
What to bring to the retreat:
- covid rapid test (unexpired)
- Lots of clothing layers for hot dancing and cold nights
- Pillows & Bedding (sheets and blankets or comforters)*
- Towels
- Personal Toiletries (that are biodegradable and unscented)
- Flashlight
- a water bottle (not made of glass)
Optional:
- earplugs for sleeping (to block out snoring or other people sounds nearby)
- A journal for writing reflections (Some of the sessions will include journaling)
- N95 or KN95 covid mask
- extra snacks (Note: Breitenbush no longer has a visitor refrigerator in the dining hall. You could bring a cooler with ice to keep in your lodging.) Be aware of hungry critters and make sure any food in your lodging is rodent-proof!
- caffeinated tea
What Not to Bring to the retreat
- anything that uses an open flame (candle, incense, propane stove, etc.)
- alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants
- fragranced products: essential oils, perfume, cologne, scented lotion, scented shampoo, scented body spray, etc.
- high-wattage devices (hair dryer, electric kettle, etc.)
- pets
Respiratory illness & the covid test requirement
We will be together in a very crowded indoor space for three days. Our contract with Breitenbush requires that we minimize the risk of community transmission of respiratory viruses (covid, RSV, and flu). Therefore, nobody may be at the retreat with any outward symptoms of respiratory infection: coughing, sneezing, or runny nose. Even if you believe your symptoms are benign (from allergies or a lingering cough), many folks will feel unsafe in proximity of sneezing or coughing in the dance hall, the dining hall, and the soaking pools. Unfortunately, masking or social distancing will not be acceptable remedies for outward signs of illness. If you do suffer from seasonal allergies, be sure to bring whatever medications and tools you need to keep your symptoms at bay—antihistamine, decongestant, neti pot, herbs, etc.
Everyone must bring and conduct a covid test (that has not expired) at Breitenbush. They are sold at most drug stores, big box stores, Amazon.com, etc. You will self-administer that test when you arrive at the front gate. A Breitenbush staff member will confirm your negative result and then check you into the retreat. Even if your covid test is negative, you will be turned away at the gate if you are showing outward signs of respiratory infection: coughing, sneezing, or runny nose.
Since there are no refunds for last-minute cancellations (due to illness or any other reason), we strongly encourage participants to minimize their exposure risk to all respiratory viruses for at least a week leading up to our event. Quarantining is best. If you come down with an illness between now and the retreat, we suggest you start seeking a friend to transfer your registration ASAP (See below for transfer details).
If Someone Needs to Reach You at Breitenbush:
There is no cell phone service at Breitenbush. The quickest way to get a message from someone outside the retreat is via email.
For urgent emergencies, have them use: emergency@breitenbush.com. If Breitenbush receives an emergency message for you, the Breitenbush staff will do their best to find you ASAP.
For general messages, have them use: office@breitenbush.com. If Breitenbush gets a general message for you, they will post a note on the board outside the cafeteria.
If you need an emergency phone number rather than email for someone to get in touch with you, have them use this number and leave a message: 503-854-3320
Integrating the Experience // After Care
- Take a long walk in nature (or even a short walk if that’s what is available in the moment).
- Take a hot bath with Epsom salt and your favorite essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, and frankincense are some of our favorites).
- Call a friend to talk about the experience. Consider setting a timer for your share for a length of time (7 mins or more suggested) to flow through a stream of consciousness without interruption.
- Journal about your experience and what’s been coming up since then.
- Movement practice - dance, yoga, tai chi, swimming, walking, running, biking etc
- Silent sitting meditation
That’s all for now. Thank you for reading and preparing well so that we can have a smooth immersion experience together!
Much Love,
PJ & AveryDeane
Adding someone to my lodging spot
You may add someone to your existing lodging reservation, as long as the retreat has not yet hit its maximum capacity. Please email us for more details.
How do I arrange to stay at Breitenbush for additional nights before and/or after this retreat?
You may book extra nights to extend your stay right on the Breitenbush website: breitenbush.com/personal-retreats
What if I want to transfer my registration?
You may add someone to your existing lodging reservation, as long as the retreat has not yet hit its maximum capacity. Please email us for more details.
How do I arrange to stay at Breitenbush for additional nights before and/or after this retreat?
You may book extra nights to extend your stay right on the Breitenbush website: breitenbush.com/personal-retreats
What if I want to transfer my registration?
- After March 31st, your only option is to find a friend to transfer your exact registration spot. You must find and identify the person for the transfer—we do not have a waitlist for that. Transfers require a $125 service charge, must be requested by email, and must be processed by us. No transfers may be initiated within 48 hours of the start of the retreat. (Note: Transfers must go through the registration process and agree to all of the retreat policies.)
