Logistics for Attending
Ecstatic Community Immersion
August 24–27, 2023
This page is for people who have already registered, to get the latest details on attending this retreat.
Covid and respiratory illness safety
Carpooling/Ridesharing:
We encourage people to help each other out and reduce carbon emissions by carpooling. We have a few community members without cars who need rides. There are two places to post requests and offers for rides:
Ecstatic Community Immersion Ride Sharing
Breitenbush Ride Share
Arriving at the retreat:
The retreat opens at 3pm on Thursday. You may arrive any time after that. Upon arrival, you will check in at the gate house. (Please note that PJ is unavailable by email after 12pm noon on Thursday.
The gate house is only staffed until 6pm. If you arrive after 6pm, there will be an envelope posted with your name that has a map to your lodging. Please be sure to take your covid test before entering the grounds. And check in with PJ at the Lodge as soon as you get settled, to get your retreat wristband.
Thursday afternoon is unstructured time to allow for everybody to get settled in and start soaking. Dinner is at 6:00pm. We have an informal welcome at 7:30pm, and our first Ecstatic Dance right after that.
Our formal Opening Ceremony & Orientation is at 9:15am on Friday. This session is the only mandatory session of the whole retreat—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 10+ 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
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
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
- You must bring a covid rapid test (that has not expired). 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. They are still readily available at many drug stores or supermarkets with pharmacies. You may also order them online--Amazon.com sells a variety of brands at $15-20 for a 2-pack.
- Even if your covid test is negative, you will be turned away at the gate if you are showing any signs of respiratory infection: coughing, sneezing, or runny nose. Besides covid, there are flu, RSV, and cold viruses to be concerned about. We are required by Breitenbush to reduce risk as much as reasonably possible.
- If you develop ANY signs of respiratory infection while at Breitenbush, you are required to mask immediately and report to a staff member.
- 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.
Carpooling/Ridesharing:
We encourage people to help each other out and reduce carbon emissions by carpooling. We have a few community members without cars who need rides. There are two places to post requests and offers for rides:
Ecstatic Community Immersion Ride Sharing
Breitenbush Ride Share
Arriving at the retreat:
The retreat opens at 3pm on Thursday. You may arrive any time after that. Upon arrival, you will check in at the gate house. (Please note that PJ is unavailable by email after 12pm noon on Thursday.
The gate house is only staffed until 6pm. If you arrive after 6pm, there will be an envelope posted with your name that has a map to your lodging. Please be sure to take your covid test before entering the grounds. And check in with PJ at the Lodge as soon as you get settled, to get your retreat wristband.
Thursday afternoon is unstructured time to allow for everybody to get settled in and start soaking. Dinner is at 6:00pm. We have an informal welcome at 7:30pm, and our first Ecstatic Dance right after that.
Our formal Opening Ceremony & Orientation is at 9:15am on Friday. This session is the only mandatory session of the whole retreat—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 10+ 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:
- Lots of clothing layers for hot days and cool nights
- Pillows & Bedding (sheets and blankets or comforters)*
- Towels
- Toiletries that are biodegradable and unscented
- Flashlight
- a water bottle (not made of glass)
- A covid rapid test or two
Optional:
- earplugs for sleeping (to block out snoring or other sounds)
- A journal for writing reflections (Some of the sessions will include journaling)
- flow toys (sorry, no fire poi)
- sexy dress-up clothes for Saturday's late-night dance (Lace, leather, mesh, silk, satin, net, and latex are welcome, or whatever else you feel sexy in. 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.)
- 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!
- electrolyte packets to stay balanced
- extra coffee (in case we run out)
- caffeinated tea
- N95 or KN95 covid mask, just in case
- yoga mat for yoga or sounds baths
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. This includes scented mosquito repellent.
- high-wattage devices (hair dryer, electric kettle, etc.)
- pets
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
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
What happens if there's a covid surge or forest fires right before the retreat?
We are hoping that covid will continue to be manageable, and there won't be forest fires nearby. But anything is possible. Please know that Breitenbush is committed to the health of its patrons. We will be expected to follow whatever covid safety practices Breitenbush has in place. If there is a serious covid surge or if the AQI is bad from smoke, the retreat would either be cancelled or you would have some other options.
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 cancel my registration? After August 9th, 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.)
We are hoping that covid will continue to be manageable, and there won't be forest fires nearby. But anything is possible. Please know that Breitenbush is committed to the health of its patrons. We will be expected to follow whatever covid safety practices Breitenbush has in place. If there is a serious covid surge or if the AQI is bad from smoke, the retreat would either be cancelled or you would have some other options.
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 cancel my registration? After August 9th, 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.)
