PACIFIC NORTHWEST DEEP PLAY RETREAT
​(SUMMER 2023)

Thursday July 27th, 7pm - Sunday July 30th, 5pm
Elkenmist (a farm/retreat center near Skamokawa, WA)

https://www.deepplayinstitute.com/2023-pnw.html

***EARLY BIRD TICKETS UNTIL MAY 15TH!***

Our intention is to gather community who live in & around Portland, Oregon and who are deeply invested in exploring the healing, artistic, and revelatory potentials that can arise in group dynamics. We are particularly calling in those of us who feel tired, frustrated, or bored with the way healing arts culture tends to manifest in the pacific northwest (aka a yummy-pleasure-follow-your-bliss culture. You know what we mean? :) 

This weekend is a space for what we call “Deep Relational Play.” What does this mean? Check out a Manifesto we wrote to get a sense of what we’re trying to gesture at here. On a more practical level, we’d love to invite participants who have substantial experience with any of the following, or in realms related to: Contact Improv, Psychodrama, Voice Dialogue, Internal Family Systems, Circling, Authentic Relating, Experimental Theater, Family Constellations, Clowning, Core Energetics, Performance Art, Group Relations, etc etc etc 

Deep Play involves being able to take responsibility for your own safety. This weekend is designed for participants who are able to know their boundaries, express a “no”, disentangle from volatile parts, provide self-soothing when needed, and for those who are well versed in actualizing values of: expression, awareness, listening, compassion. 

The retreat will be organized into two parts. The first part will be devoted to a handful of deep dives into relational play structures created by the two organizers – Maggie and Aaron. The idea being that we begin our time together within structures that can help us deepen our collectivity, sense of expression, and shared language. The second part of the retreat will be devoted to meta-structures: activities and games designed to help us collectively create and experiment with relational structures. Do you have a relational structure you’ve been dreaming up? A parts-work playground? A confrontational congregation? A psychodrama symphony? We’ll be helping participants design these kinds of collective experiences, and then stepping into them together. 

Structure: We are requiring that all participants arrive by 7pm on July 27th. Our first evening will have a collective meal, and some easeful games to introduce ourselves to each other. Friday morning will be devoted to a group check-in, group agreements, and setting intentions. The bulk of Friday and half of Saturday will be devoted to deepening relational play structures, and then the second half of Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to collective structure building and experimenting. Meals will be organized by a lead chef, with all participants volunteering to help with cleanup. Departure will be at 5pm on Sunday.

–🌾— PRACTICALS DETAILS —🌾–

Food & Accommodations The retreat will take place at Elkenmist a working farm and retreat center near Skamokawa, WA. With the exception of a beautiful yurt that can fit ~20 people, most of the setting will be outdoors (sauna, outdoor showers, outdoor kitchen, fire-pit, hundreds of acres for hiking, etc). All food will be provided, which will be a simple collective meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will take account of dietary restrictions and needs and provide reasonable accommodations. All lodging is camping, and participants will need to bring with them: tent, sleeping bag, pad and other desired camping supplies.

Costs Tuition covers food and program costs. Price is tiered based on 3 income levels. Tier 1 $450. Tier 2 $300. Tier 3 $150. BIPOC Tier 3. All prices are in USD. Please try to reasonably and honestly select the price that reflects your economic situation. 

HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGE HERE

Partial Attendance All participants are required to arrive on the evening on Thursday July 27th. Given the intimacy and trust building inherent to the program, we cannot allow for late arrivals. We ask that all participants plan to stay for the entire time.

Cancellation Policy Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event - minus a $20 processing fee. After this time we are unable to a refund for the event.

Any questions? Please email: thedeeplayinstitute@gmail.com