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October 10-13, 2008• Darlington, Maryland

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House of Babylon: The Track of Erotic Temple Work

       

 

Ever wonder what it might take to put together and run a space where parishioners could seek sacred sexual services? Then read on! The Pink Sphinx of Babylon cordially invites you to join her for a fun, intimate and challenging series of workshops where we will explore many aspects of creating and maintaining a sacred space dedicated to “eros” (sexual love). In this track, we'll unearth and exploit our deepest desires and proclivities towards understanding the essentials of eros magic and performance, leaving Madison Avenue's pale inhuman images of sexual “perfection” to crumble forgotten into dust!

Whether shy (but willing to try) or bold, participants will learn how to work individually and as a team as 'erotic temple priests and priestesses'. Priest/ess duties require a bit more than being a F.P.O.B (Fine Piece of Booty), and just as much preparation. The course material includes techniques for sacred space maintenance, combining energy work with sexual activity, and the basics of conducting ritual theater. This creative and sexy workshop series will culminate with “Team Babylon” creating and performing ritual in temple space.

Please note that participants are not expected or required to have previous experience with BDSM, energy work (such as tantra or Reiki), group-oriented sex, or have “safer sex training” to take this course. Be aware that this course will include *elements* of same, and protocols for dealing with these elements will be established in writing by the instructor in advance of the course. The instructor will be providing many disposable safer sex supplies (such as condoms, dental dams, and latex gloves). However, if you have a particular preference for brands or materials for such things (including personal lubricant), please feel free to bring your own. For a complete list of “stuff to bring” look under the “Stuff to bring” list.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THIS COURSE:

This course is open to participants of 18 years of age or over, regardless of gender/gender identity or sexual orientation. You don't need to be willing to have sex with *anyone* other than yourself to take this course, but you need to be ok with being in a room with people who may not conform to your sexual preferences in a sexual context. If you are unsure what this means or have any other questions related to this track, please e-mail me directly at TSchwartzstein@gmail.com . All participants need to be willing to:

1. Be ok with being nude or partially nude in front of other people

2. Be ok with sexually touching yourself in front of other people you don't necessarily know well (It doesn't matter if you can orgasm or not in front of other people).

3. Be ok with some consensual touching . Some exercises will require folks to touch and be touched on their hands, back, heads/hair, waists, feet, and other extremities.

4. Be ok with observing other people engage in sexual/sexually charged activity that you may not be directly involved (such as masturbation, erotic touch, and possibly more). If you need to “take a time out” space will be provided to take few minutes to chill out here and there as needed.

5. Be ok with the presence of BDSM tools and “ sex toys” such as cuffs, floggers, and strap on Wildon/ harnesses. The instructor will arrange for volunteers for demonstrations ahead of time. No participant will be expected or permitted to use such items on anyone or have them applied on/to themselves during class time without the presence of the instructor. None of these items will be used on anyone (even lightly and in jest) without express permission of the intended receiver. No Exceptions.

6. USE EXPLICIT COMMUNICATION to establish physical and energetic boundaries. The instructor is not telepathic, and she works under the assumption that participants in her course aren't telepaths either. If you are asked if you are all right with something , you are expected to give an honest answer. “Yes” “No” and “I don't know how I feel at the moment” are just a few examples.

7. Show basic courtesy and respect for other peoples' boundaries and limits.

8. Be aware that while this course only requires participants to engage in masturbatory sexual activities, other types of sexual activities may be conducted in class space (oral, genital penetration, fisting, etc.). If they do, use of safer sex supplies is absolutely mandatory, regardless of relationships participants may have outside of the course.

9. Out of courtesy for all participants, please be fastidious about personal hygiene.

10. Please do not forget to keep a sense of humor in reach at all times . It's easy to forget that as powerful, cathartic and catylistic as sex can be, it also can be one of the funniest things in the universe!

Stuff to bring:

1. If you want to take notes, bring a notebook and writing utensil. There will probably be handouts too.

2. A clean towel (or two, or three) to sit your butt (or other body parts) on.

3. Easily portable sex toys (such as dildos/harnesses, battery-operated vibrators, sleeves) This is purely optional, not required. If you think you might want to share it, it had better be WASHABLE and able to wear a condom, OTHERWISE IT'S JUST FOR YOU.

4. Dress-up stuff- if you've got it, and it makes you feel sexy (and you don't care if it gets Camp Comeoniwannalaya schmutz on it) bring it. The Pink Sphinx will be bringing a few one-size fits many this-and-thats (like feather boas, fancy-pants bathrobes and such).Bring some for a friend if you got it! Accessories are part of the game gang- 'ho' hair, leather boots, makeup kits (share makeup only at your own risk!), costume jewelry, top hats, fedoras, silky shirts.... it's fun for a girl AND a boy! (We can't be nekkid ALL the time- it's cold outside in October!)

5. Small cheap-ass décor you don't mind other people messing with. We're talkin' “Total Enviornment” type chatchke here- lava lamps, tiger striped cushions. 2-4-6-8- if you bring it, we can decorate! Small portable furniture and loungables will be particularly appreciated

6. Bring a container for water. Being sexy and magickal is thirsty work! (NO BOOZE during class time you lushes!)

7. If you are possibly going to be willing to use it, have it used on you or share it, please feel free to bring 'cuffs, a flogger or two, or other small, relatively light duty BDSM toys (they will come in handy for an energy work demo) if you don't own such things, that's ok, they are not at all mandatory for class. Please leave implausibly complicated things like handcuffs without keys, skychairs, anything that requires more volts than a baker's dozen of Furbies to run and the epic-scene sized bondage furniture at home.

8. Feel free to bring some cosmic foo type stuff. We need to keep in mind that combustibles are (like candles and incense) cannot be lit inside buildings, however. Small figurines, crystals, wands are more in line with what I am talking about. (Candles and incense CAN come in handy for outdoor activities).

9. Bring music! Any music that makes you wanna get up and dance, or lay there looking and feeling sexy. The instructor will have a CD player.. If your music is in a format other than .wav or .mp3, you will probably need to provide your own player.

10. Small/portable musical instruments. Not at all mandatory. Drums, tinshaw, mandolins etc. If you can get a pleasant noise out of it, we'll probably find a use for it!

11. Snackables and interesting non-alcoholic beverages to share. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for the event, but it's nice to be hospitable to one another, don't you think?

12. Imagination, Questions, Concerns, and a Love and Appreciation of the sensual world Seen or Unseen.

Presenter: Rev. Tannin Schwartzstein (aka: The Pink Sphinx of Babylon) is an author, proprietor of an occult shop in Mass, and a founding member of the First Church of Asphodel. For over a decade and a half, she has been seeking ways to bridge the gap that many perceive between magick (and its myriad of silly spellings) and sexuality. She has helped run BDSM temples, designed and facilitated sacred sex oriented rituals on and off for about ten years. She is a veteran of the drag stage as a “king” (aka Drake Blackstone), and has recently introduced exotic dance to her unusual arsenal of theatrical skills.

 

       
       
       
       
       
       

 

   
 
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