Logistics for Attending
Ecstatic Community Immersion
July 19–21, 2024
This page is for people who have already registered, to get the latest details on attending this retreat.
Preparing Body, Mind & Spirit:
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation and refund requests submitted at least 72 hours prior to the start date of this event will be accepted (3pm Tuesday), and the full balance will be refunded minus a $100.00 service charge. Requests submitted less than 72 hours prior to the start date of this event will be accepted, but a refund will only be applied if the space can be filled from our wait list. The $100.00 service charge will still be collected. Email [email protected]
Covid Policies
There have been significant covid outbreaks at many community events already this festival season: SoulPlay, Dance Camp Northwest, and the Bonobo Network Retreat just to name a few.
We will be together in crowded and contact-rich spaces for three days. Our agreements with Breitenbush require that we minimize the risk of community transmission of respiratory viruses (covid, RSV, and flu). We are not requiring any covid testing to attend this retreat, but nobody may attend Ecstatic Immersion with any outward symptoms of respiratory infection: sore throat, 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.
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, please contact [email protected] ASAP to cancel.
Arriving at the retreat:
Please be aware that through the end of summer, Forest Service Road 46 (also called Breitenbush Road), the main road to and from Detroit, will be closed for 2-3 hour windows on weekdays. We highly suggest that you plan accordingly so that you arrive at Forest Service Road 46 at the start time of when the road will open to pass through. For the most up-to-date information, including the current schedule of closures, please visit www.breitenbush.com/road-closure.
The retreat opens at 3pm on Friday. You may arrive any time after that. 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 [email protected] to arrange your early pass.
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 "Name Necklace Crafting" in the Lodge lobby. 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.
--Irish Breakfast Tea (caffeinated)
--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
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: [email protected]. 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: [email protected]. 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.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation and refund requests submitted at least 72 hours prior to the start date of this event will be accepted (3pm Tuesday), and the full balance will be refunded minus a $100.00 service charge. Requests submitted less than 72 hours prior to the start date of this event will be accepted, but a refund will only be applied if the space can be filled from our wait list. The $100.00 service charge will still be collected. Email [email protected]
Covid Policies
There have been significant covid outbreaks at many community events already this festival season: SoulPlay, Dance Camp Northwest, and the Bonobo Network Retreat just to name a few.
We will be together in crowded and contact-rich spaces for three days. Our agreements with Breitenbush require that we minimize the risk of community transmission of respiratory viruses (covid, RSV, and flu). We are not requiring any covid testing to attend this retreat, but nobody may attend Ecstatic Immersion with any outward symptoms of respiratory infection: sore throat, 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.
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, please contact [email protected] ASAP to cancel.
Arriving at the retreat:
Please be aware that through the end of summer, Forest Service Road 46 (also called Breitenbush Road), the main road to and from Detroit, will be closed for 2-3 hour windows on weekdays. We highly suggest that you plan accordingly so that you arrive at Forest Service Road 46 at the start time of when the road will open to pass through. For the most up-to-date information, including the current schedule of closures, please visit www.breitenbush.com/road-closure.
The retreat opens at 3pm on Friday. You may arrive any time after that. 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 [email protected] to arrange your early pass.
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 "Name Necklace Crafting" in the Lodge lobby. 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.
--Irish Breakfast Tea (caffeinated)
--Snacks: we will be providing some late-night snacks on Friday and Saturday!
What to bring to the retreat:
- 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:
- sexy dress-up clothes for Saturday's late-night dance. (Wear anything that lights you up and brings out your playful sexy self. Or any other version of yourself that you’d like to explore in this safe dance container. Genitals must be covered with opaque material. Covering any other parts of your body is optional. And as always, no shoes on the dance floor.)
- covid rapid test
- earplugs for sleeping (to block out snoring or other people sounds nearby)
- A journal for writing reflections
- N95 or KN95 covid mask
- extra snacks (Note: guest refrigerator space is very limited.) Be aware of hungry critters and make sure any food in your lodging is rodent-proof!
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
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: [email protected]. 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: [email protected]. 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
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
You may book extra nights to extend your stay right on the Breitenbush website: breitenbush.com/personal-retreats
