About this Event
In the heart of connection, we invite you to explore the theme of Surrender.
Surrender is not about giving up; it's about giving into the flow of connection with trust, being fully committed to the current of life itself.
Surrender is about embracing what life brings, rather than resisting or trying to control every aspect of it, understanding that we don't always have the answers, but we are prepared to meet it with humility and openness.
It’s an invitation to open your heart, to experience the transformative power of being fully present with another through consensual touch. It's an invitation to lovingly dissolve the barriers we have built around our hearts, to keep us safe, that have also dislocated our capacity to trust and connect with our heart, with ourselves and others.
Through surrender, we feel the strength of our vulnerability and expand our capacity to experience joy through authentic connection.
This unique conscious consensual touch-based event is designed to guide you deeper through the depths of trust, vulnerability, and the inner peace offered through letting go.
Whether you are new to this journey or a seasoned participant, this event will offer you a fresh perspective on the art of surrender and the gifts available when we truly surrender and commit to deep presence.
WHAT IS A HUMAN FOREST?
For those of you that don't know, a Human Forest Experience is a human ecosystem connected by consensual touch.
Half of the room will be trees who will be blindfolded and receive loving, devotional touch from the other half of the room (the critters). You will have the opportunity to experience being both a tree and a critter.
These events can be powerful, healing opportunities for participants to experience intimacy and joy. Our priority to supporting participants to leave our events feeling opened, cared for and loved.
Come be part of a movement awakening people to the joy filled, healing and restorative power of touch.
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WHAT HAVE OTHERS SAID ABOUT THE EPOCH GROVE HUMAN FOREST?
"Can we please do this every day!?"
"I have never felt so supported in my life"
"I just feel like honey melting down a warm stove"
"I can actually feel my body, myself and other people. I feel so connected."
"I can't believe people can share so much intimacy with so much reverence and respect for each other. It's MIND BLOWING!"
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WHERE ARE THE PROFITS GOING?
This year a portion of our profits are going towards the EPOCH GROVE Reforestation Project. This project has been planting trees on Taungurung land near Heathcote, VIC.
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IMPORTANT:
- In this event we focus on devotional, loving and non-sexually oriented touch. Note: there is no genitalia touch at this event.
- All our events have been remarkably healing and opening for many participants, as seen in the testimonials above.
- That being said, this is a touch focused event. If you have any history of trauma related to receiving or giving touch, please be in touch with us directly to seriously consider whether this event is right for you.
- Participants are required to be on time to ensure they understand how to communicate their boundaries with clarity and respect via the consent and boundaries section at the commencement of the event.
About your facilitators:
Shlomit -
As a truth seeker, dancer, rebel and purveyor of pleasure, Shlomit developed a deep connection to her rich internal world from an early age. For the past 8 years, somatic practices inducing flow states and travel to 49 countries has been Shlomit's strongest medicine and companion in cultivating internal safety, self love and trust. Open hearted, open minded, Shlomit brings an embodied sensual playfulness that gives others permission to soften and let their full expression be welcomed and seen. Shlomit is passionate about curating spaces where people can access their inner world, safely explore their edges and honour their boundaries as a means of deepening self trust and internal safety, expanding their capacity to receive the fullness of love that is their natural state of being. Shlomit offers 1:1 devotional body work to restore, worship and provide loving touch and presence to your body and soul.
Ali -
With touch being her primary love language, Alicia (Ali) has been a long standing ‘Tree’ of the Human Forest events in Melbourne and experienced her first Human Forest at Burning man in 2017. Today, she is a facilitator of the Human Forest Experience, trained by the Human Forest Project. As a somatic trauma therapist, her innate wisdom, intuition and sensitivity are her guiding light. These gifts of awareness have been further refined through a dedicated spiritual practice of more than 10 years which included 5 years spent teaching yoga, and meditation, coordinating silent meditation retreats and various workshops at a well-respected yoga school in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Called to help and support others, Alicia has worked professionally in mental health with people from all walks of life. Academically, Ali has completed a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology, Bachelor of Science Psychology/ Psychophysiology, Diploma of Mindfulness Therapy, and Triple Vagal Method practitioner certification. With all this experience, Ali holds loving, compassionate, and non-judgmental spaces and has a profound love for nature that she can’t wait to share with you.
Things to note:
Bring:
- Comfortable clothing
- Some nibbles and/or drinks to share with others at the end
- An open mind
- Any friends that might be interested! ;)
Personal responsibility: Please make an assessment on whether you are feeling stable and resourced enough to explore the practices on offer in this event.
Arrival: Endeavour to arrive between 6:30pm - 6:45pm. To preserve the experience for all involved, doors will close at 7:00pm. Truly, it breaks our heart to have to turn latecomers away yet the disruption to the whole group experience by virtue of lateness does require management. We ask that you find understanding and consideration for the timebound nature of the container and make every effort to arrive on time.
Driving: Know Centre of You is on Chapel St and ample time to find a car spot is best to be factored into your plans. Park direct on Chapel St (spots unmetered after 5pm) or in Anchor Place, the open-air parking lot in the side street that runs opposite Centre of You (unmetered after 4pm).
Public transport - tram: Both the number 6 tram & 78 tram stop on the corner of High St/Chapel St. This is stop 31 on the number 6 tram (Moreland/Glen Iris) & stop 45 on the number 78 tram (North Richmond/Balaclava).
Public transport - train: Both Prahran & Windsor stations along the Sandringham Line will get you walking distance to Centre of You.
Finding Centre of You: Centre of You is nestled within the arcade that Chapel St Bazaar is in (217 Chapel St). It is up a flight of stairs with a wide landing at the half-way-point. Unfortunately, this current version of Centre of You does not have a wheelchair accessible lift. If you could use support in getting up the stairs or would like to discuss ways to make your experience at Centre of You more comfortable, please reach out via [email protected] or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Accessibility: At COY we aim to ensure our community and events are inclusive and accessible while alongside upholding the needs and responsibilities of our business and the businesses of our collaborating facilitators. Should you be in a time of financial challenge and unable to pay the full ticket price comfortably, please reach out via [email protected] or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram
Ticketing T&Cs: We get it, life happens, therefore we will gladly refund you up until 24hrs before the event start time. After that, we have a strict no refund/no transfer to future events policy.
If you are no longer able to attend and wish to pay forward your ticket to someone within the community, be in touch via [email protected] or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Questions? Email [email protected] or reach out via Instagram DM.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Centre of You, Upstairs, 217 Chapel St, Melbourne, Australia
AUD 49.34 to AUD 65.09