BEATE ABSALON

Are you unhappy with your sex life? Perfect! Because problems* can be a blessing and reveal something valuable to you—if you’d just stop trying to get rid of them right away! When we listen to them, magic happens. In this workshop, our problems transform into our muses. Without sugarcoating anything, they inspire us to experience intimacy differently: more harmoniously, more connected, more freely. A weekend for women, lesbians, inter, trans, non-binary, and agender people. This way, for a loving life / love life that goes far beyond sex :)

Would you like to do something together? Get closer (again), nurture your bond, break out of stale routines, or have fun that feels meaningful? In our daily lives, we often lack the time and ideas to do so. Don’t despair! We’ve put together two carefully planned days where you’ll explore, in a playful and hands-on way, what it means to be in a relationship.

Usually, we tend to squeeze relaxing activities into our free time. We schedule yoga sessions, drive to the sauna, and force ourselves to read a book or meditate. Yet we still feel stressed. Perhaps the key is simply to do nothing. Let’s immerse ourselves in relaxation.

Are you unhappy with your sex life? Perfect! Because problems* can be a blessing and reveal something valuable to you—if you’ll just stop trying to get rid of them right away! When we listen to them, magic happens. In this workshop, our problems transform into our muses. Without sugarcoating anything, they inspire us to experience intimacy differently: more harmoniously, more connected, more freely. A weekend for individuals, couples, polycules, or friends (and more). This way, for a loving life—and a love life—that goes far beyond sex :)

Usually, we tend to squeeze relaxing activities into our free time. We schedule yoga sessions, drive to the sauna, and force ourselves to read a book or meditate. Yet we still feel stressed. Perhaps the key is simply to do nothing. Let’s immerse ourselves in relaxation.

Do you need a break from sex? Do you feel uninterested, bored, or frustrated? Are you (or are you wondering if you are) asexual? Or is it just not worth the trouble? Abstinence could be like fasting, detoxing, or going on strike. Or like coming home. Or it could be incredibly exciting to resist temptation. Whatever the perspective—could there be abundance in abstinence?

An evening for tantric practitioners exploring the joy, the juice, and the sometimes itchy truths of this profession.

What about this practice, which is usually considered “real” sex? Do you like it, or not—or does it depend? Let’s dive in! And explore what “penetration” and “receiving” can mean beyond “penis in vagina,” because there’s a whole world of overlooked pleasures hidden there! Especially since the partner isn’t just passively penetrated—there’s active enveloping, holding, circling, enveloping…! We just don’t talk about it nearly enough.
It gets physical, emotional, playful. With and without touch, with or without genitals, always consensual. Humor, curiosity, and slowing down create a space where new forms of connection can be experienced.

Do you need a break from sex? Do you feel uninterested, bored, or frustrated? Are you (or are you wondering if you are) asexual? Or is it just not worth the trouble? Abstinence could be like fasting, detoxing, or going on strike. Or like coming home. Or it could be incredibly exciting to resist temptation. Whatever the perspective—could there be abundance in abstinence?

A retreat in the mountains, featuring massage, movement, breathwork, theater, and discussion—inspiration for soft, sensual, and intimate bodywork encounters. Using tantra massage as a springboard into the awkward, complex world of human relationships, we welcome you to TWAPOS.

Usually, we tend to squeeze relaxing activities into our free time. We schedule yoga sessions, drive to the sauna, and force ourselves to read a book or meditate. Yet we still feel stressed. Perhaps the key is simply to do nothing. Let’s immerse ourselves in relaxation.

Maybe you’re curious to see what happens if you take a break from sex. Maybe you’re fed up with sex—feeling uninterested, bored, or frustrated? Maybe you’re wondering if you’re asexual? Or is it just not worth the trouble? Abstinence could be like fasting. Or like going on strike. Or like coming home. Or it could be incredibly exciting to resist temptation. Whatever your perspective—there is richness in abstinence.

When was the last time someone really paid attention to your mouth... during a massage? Physically, the mouth and face are teeming with nerve endings and sensitivity. Socially, the face carries a lot of emotional weight. We use it to communicate, we try to control it, and some of us cover it with makeup and/or styled facial hair. And our mouth is this fascinating gateway to our inner self, a deliciously wet cave with…

When was the last time someone really paid attention to your mouth... during a massage? Physically, the mouth and face are teeming with nerve endings and sensitivity. Socially, the face carries a lot of emotional weight. We use it to communicate, we try to control it, and some of us cover it with makeup and/or styled facial hair. And our mouth is this fascinating gateway to our inner self, a deliciously wet cave with…

"A festival of unrestrained debauchery," says the Duden, "a nocturnal Bacchanalian celebration; sacred ritual; mystical worship service; secret cult gathering at night," says the etymological dictionary; "debauchery, revelry, licentiousness; (formal) excess, intemperance," says the thesaurus; "collective acts that deliberately violate social norms," says the Wikipedia entry. An orgy! So steeped in legend, and yet so simply beautiful—or even quite crude. In any case, a vast array of nebulous notions swirl through our cultural unconscious about what an orgy might be. It’s no wonder it’s on so many people’s bucket lists. Wait no longer! Our three-day…

It’s going to be a cozy evening at Juicy! We’re thrilled that Beate Absalon will be visiting the Juicy sex shop to read from her book *Not Giving a Fuck: On Unfulfilling Sex and Sexless Desire* and lead a discussion.

Cultural studies scholar and workshop leader Beate Absalon will read from her book *Not Giving a F*ck* and invite attendees to talk openly about sex and our struggles with it in a relaxed atmosphere.

A supportive discussion group where we can talk about things that make us uncomfortable, ask difficult questions that seem almost taboo, and breathe a sigh of relief knowing we’re not alone—and that we’re not just broken, uptight, or otherwise flawed. It’s going to be a blast.

"A festival of unrestrained debauchery," says the Duden, "a nocturnal Bacchanalian celebration; sacred ritual; mystical worship service; secret cult gathering at night," says the etymological dictionary; "debauchery, revelry, licentiousness; (formal) excess, intemperance," says the thesaurus; "collective acts that deliberately violate social norms," says the Wikipedia entry. An orgy! So steeped in legend, and yet so simply beautiful—or even quite crude. In any case, a vast array of nebulous notions swirl through our cultural unconscious about what an orgy might be. It’s no wonder it’s on so many people’s bucket lists. Wait no longer! Our three-day…

Intimacy with many—a luxurious abundance of bodies, glances, touches—ecstatic loss of self—an orgy… Anyone who has ever ventured into such a situation knows how multifaceted and unpredictable such an experience can be. If it’s not always easy even with just two people, how can it possibly work with more? What desires and needs, hopes and expectations do I bring with me, and how do I deal with them? And how do I deal with those of the others—and with all those bodies?

In her quest to de-stress, Beate Absalon takes a culturally and historically grounded look at the secluded—yet only seemingly so—opposite side of sexuality: sexual aversion, asexuality, celibacy, and dysfunction, which delightfully refuse to submit to the duty of sexual service and open up unprecedented scope for exploration. Beate reads from her book, and we discuss what we’ve heard from her.

Bodies…what can they do? Bring your body to us and we’ll find out. Using tantra massage as a springboard into the awkward, complex world of human relationships, we help you expand your physical awareness. This intense form of intimacy—a massage technique performed and received in the nude—holds so much human potential. This luxurious experience gives equal attention to every part of the body, creating space for whatever arises.  With care and attention, we guide you through movement and meditative sessions that bring you into closer contact with yourself. From there, with humility and humor, we ask the question: is today’s erogenous zone your eyelashes or your ears, your feet or your asshole? Do you need a break or a debate, a hug or a slap in the face?  

We’re thrilled that Beata will be presenting her book *NOT GIVING A FUCK* and reading from it at the QueerBooks bookstore in Bern! But above all, we’d love to chat with you—after all, this topic thrives on our many personal experiences with sexual performance pressure and our erotic attempts at delightfully refusing to comply.

Touch & Play is a sex-positive and BDSM-friendly Contact Improvisation Festival in Bavaria, Germany. This year’s theme: Authenticity is a confusing labyrinth. What seems shallow at first may reveal profound truths, while what appears genuine can turn out to be a mere facade. So is the unperformed always already performed? What does it mean to “fake it until you make it”? And if all the world’s a stage—how can we enjoy the show without falling into the traps of harmful illusions? When am I truly myself? What do you truly desire? How can we connect on a deeper level?

Bodies and sex are stubborn. They don’t always do what’s asked of them. They go limp. They’re not in the mood. They shut down. Closed. Nope. No thanks! You can go to hell—or love me! That’s what we’ll explore this evening, as we view so-called “dysfunctions” as delightful acts of insubordination. As clever refusals of sexual duties. Beate Absalon and Eva Hanson guide us through this evening, where we can let things slide every now and then. In an atmosphere of cozy laziness, we’ll read from Beate’s debut non-fiction book “Not Giving a Fuck: On Listless Sex and Sexless Lust” and Eva’s response “Ode to the Flaccid Penis”…

The bookstore LITERATURENSOHN isn’t just a brilliant name. Its owner, Coco, is fulfilling her dream of selling only books she has read herself and values so highly that she can recommend them wholeheartedly. So when you step into the store, it’s like walking into a carefully curated Pinterest board of exquisite queer-feminist literature. It’s a great honor that NOT GIVING A F*CK is not only sold here, but is also invited for a reading featuring an intimate, cozy conversation and refreshments.

Intimacy with many—a luxurious abundance of bodies, glances, touches—ecstatic loss of self—an orgy… Anyone who has ever ventured into such a situation knows how multifaceted and unpredictable such an experience can be. If it’s not always easy even with just two people, how can it possibly work with more? What desires and needs, hopes and expectations do I bring with me, and how do I deal with them? And how do I deal with those of the others—and with all those bodies?

The Berlin-based cultural studies scholar BEATE ABSALON has been visiting Zurich for several years now, leading workshops under the label LUHMEN D'ARC. She published her first book in May and is now taking the opportunity to combine practice and theory: following a weekend-long workshop titled (AN)OTHER ORGY, she will present her debut work at GLEIS with a reading and Q&A session.

"A festival of unrestrained debauchery," says the Duden, "a nocturnal Bacchanalian celebration; sacred ritual; mystical worship service; secret cult gathering at night," says the etymological dictionary; "debauchery, revelry, licentiousness; (formal) excess, intemperance," says the thesaurus; "collective acts that deliberately violate social norms," says the Wikipedia entry. An orgy! So steeped in legend, and yet so simply beautiful—or even quite crude. In any case, a vast array of nebulous notions swirl through our cultural unconscious about what an orgy might be. It’s no wonder it’s on so many people’s bucket lists. Wait no longer! Our three-day…

Stranded on a lonely island, a group of horny people are forbidden from making out and thus gain insight into the intriguing workings of desire. Not only do they miraculously become even more aroused, but they are also confronted with their subconscious patterns. Inspired by the infamous Netflix show of the same title, this intensive workshop will thoughtfully, playfully, and with a touch of nerdiness explore its arousing balancing acts between: a) teasing with denied fulfillment, b) doing what one shouldn’t be doing, and c) overcoming what was previously ambiguous.