"So Much More Than a Sexuality Retreat"

Jul 15
4 min read

A reflection by Matt (UK) after joining The Liberation Journey.

I've always been something of a seeker

I have been something of a seeker for as long as I can remember.

The loss of my mother at 12 changed significantly the trajectory of my life. I became fearful, rigid, serious, detached. I sought certainty, control and always needed to know what was happening moment to moment.

I was introduced to talk therapy at the age of 27, and this opened up a whole new world.

I'm writing this at the age of 46 and during these introspective times of self-discovery, I have explored group work, men's work, family systems work, trauma release breathwork, bodywork, plant medicine, nervous system regulation work... you name it, I've tried it!

Three adults sit close together inside a white tent, relaxed and holding hands; colorful blankets and flowers in foreground.

The missing piece

The subject of sexuality arose very rarely during my work with these modalities. It was skirted around, sprinkled lightly or completely avoided.

I knew deeply that this was an area I needed (or wanted) to explore, and yet it somehow felt out of reach. I didn't know where to start or exactly what I was looking for.

Meeting Lore

I was initially introduced to Lore by a good friend whom I trust deeply. This was the gentle nudge I was looking for, and so I followed it.

I started cautiously with an online one-to-one journey.

I've heard numerous times the invitation that "everything is welcome," but I rarely believed it.

Here felt different.

Working with Lore, everything felt genuinely welcome, especially the thoughts, needs and desires I had been hiding from the world for decades.

Lore supported me with an authentic, wholehearted, witty, wise and full-bodied presence that instantly made me feel at ease (even when we stepped into subjects that had never before left the world of my imagination).

She supported me through an incredibly challenging life event that unraveled just as we started. It felt, in a way, like divine timing. Her warmth and care helped me navigate this experience with as much grace as I could, and her passion, authenticity and aliveness inspired me to want something more for myself.

Two people give a man a massage on a dark mat in a candlelit room, creating a calm, focused mood.

Stepping into the work

Before starting my one-to-one journey, I somehow knew that my "real" work would commence when I stepped into Lore's group container: The Liberation Journey.

I think our one-to-one work solidified my decision to take another step, and so I committed to the next available retreat in Sweden.

The retreat is held over a six-month period and includes three long weekends and online calls.

"A sexuality retreat"

Stepping into a "sexuality" retreat can feel like a daunting prospect. At least it felt that way for me. I had limited information around precisely what might happen, and my imagination filled in all the blanks!

What felt clear for me, almost instantly, was that this body of work is about SO much more than sex!

I guess the name of the offering says it all, and the word Liberation has different meanings for different people.

My intuition had led me to a space where I would begin the process of truly liberating myself from the defences I had created in my past.

When everything is truly welcome, the topic of sexuality is on the table, a solid container is lovingly co-created, there is consent, real connection, courage, patience, invitation and permission... something magical happens.

I realized that for many years I had yearned for a space where I could bring my sexuality. It was the missing piece of the puzzle. In many cases I was doing "deep" work while bypassing something that held so much energy and shadow within it.

I landed more deeply in my body.

I felt safer.

More present.

A more profound sense of belonging.

And much more connected to myself, to others, and to everything else I'd been trying so hard to control.

A man being in a physical interaction being blindfolded, hands touching each others bodies.

A new way of relating

When a container is so carefully created, people speak with such heartfelt honesty. They encourage, support and lovingly challenge one another. They advocate for each other, and it feels so good.

I learnt a more real way of relating, a new language, and I met parts of myself that surprised me. I cried, I felt joyful, I danced, laughed, had amazing conversations, I released and I reconnected to a powerful part inside that had been dormant for such a long time.

I encountered edges. With presence, I held onto myself, allowed myself to be seen, known and celebrated.

More whole

This is a very beautiful piece of work. My words do not even scratch the surface of what I experienced or how Lore has supported me to liberate myself.

I love words, but they are not enough.

Today I feel more whole, so much more alive and more comfortable in my own skin. I have more compassion for my younger parts and much more acceptance of myself as a full-blooded, sexual being.

I communicate more clearly. I lead better, both at home and at work. I feel more connected than ever to my body, and I trust much more my power, my sexuality and my purpose.

If you're hesitating...

This is so much more than a sexuality retreat.

My wish is for anyone reading this who may be sharing the uncertainty I felt before committing, is that they take a big leap of faith and rest in the knowledge that they will be held so safely... and that this work is truly transformative.