Hooray! You've been invited to the Mush. This means that someone in your life loves you and wants to share this special experience with you.

Before you attend your first Welcome Mush, please follow these basic steps:

1. Read this text in its entirety. It is important that you understand the community agreements and values before arriving in the space, to make sure the event is a good fit for you.

2. Complete the (very short) Google Form "Registration For New Mushers." You will find the link at the bottom of this webpage.

3. Send an email to Hannah at hannah.vanbelle@gmail.com

4. Wait for confirmation that there is space for you at the event and send you the location. We frequently reach capacity. It's best that you don't wait for the last minute to register.

That's all for now 🤗  Enjoy your reading 😉

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Join us for THE WELCOME MUSH 😊

Hannah will facilitate several welcome mushes in August 2024. Email her to be informed of the exact schedule: hannah.vanbelle@gmail.com

The event includes about 90 minutes of facilitation, including a review of the values and agreements, creation of the container, and non-verbal games and consent exercises. In order to participate in the Mush, all guests are required to arrive during the first 15 minutes of the event and complete the facilitation.

Energy exchange: Sliding scale €20-€40 based on ability to pay.

OR concession tickets at €10 for students, seniors, and those will lower incomes.

If you cannot afford to pay anything, please inquire about joining the team as a "helper."

Those who are experiencing financial abundance are asked to pay a little more to support those who need scholarship.

This is an intimate event, so please use your judgment when inviting new people. Everyone comes through referral; we don't advertise. If you have never been to a Mush and you wish to bring a friend, please inquire with the Manager before doing so.

Some fruits and snacks are provided, but not a full meal. It is suggested to eat a meal before you come.

If you feel inspired, you're welcome to bring healthy, vegan snacks / sweets to feed to the other mushers.

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To create a safe container for this exploration, it's only possible to join the event if you agree to honor the Community Agreements listed below. The Mush Agreements are inspired by the Mush Values:

1.) Safety

2.) Love

3.) Authenticity

4.) Autonomy

The agreements support us to practice the values and create a touch-positive space where everyone feels safe to give and receive platonic love, be fully self-expressed, and explore new ways of relating with each other. You don’t need to remember it all! Just take in the big picture, and we will review and practice all of this during the facilitation.

Mush Agreements (Updated May 2024)

1.) Love Each Other

A.) Intend to share (send and receive) love with everybody in the space, whether you know them or not. You don’t need to touch everyone; you can share love at a distance.

B.) Keep it Non-Sexual (Platonic Container = Not Erotic, No Neo-Tantra Vibes). It’s Puppy-Dog Kitty-Cat love, like you would share with a baby or your grandma.

C.) If you get sexually activated, keep that energy to yourself and take actions to decrease the sexual activation.

D.) Don’t talk about sex or sex-positive events.

2.)  Regulate Your Nervous System and Support the Group Co-Regulation (we’ll teach you how).

A.) If you notice that you are activated, take action to regulate your nervous system.

B.) If you notice that another person is trying to regulate, join them in a co-regulation.

C.) Avoid activities or topics of conversation that are activating for you or for others.

3.) Take Care of Yourself and Each Other

A.) Care about others’ preferences and boundaries, and trust that we care about yours.

B.) Make sure you are comfy, and if not, do something about it.

C.) Move slowly and listen for the other’s response.

D.) Give a clear response (preferably non-verbal) when you are touched.

E.) Say No or redirect any touch that doesn’t feel good to you.

F.) Say “Thank You” when others express their boundaries or redirect your touch. 

G.) Watch out for Freeze and Fawn responses; if you’re not sure then stop touching them.

H.) Ask for help from a facilitator if you need it, or if you think someone else needs it.

I.) Seek to include others in the Mushchitecture; be willing to change positions to make space for more Mushers.

J.) Ask for and offer physical support when climbing through and around the pile of humans. Be interactive.

4.) Take Care of the Space

A.) No photos or electronics in the Mush space; leave your phone and smartwatch outside.

B.) Stay sober; do not consume mind-altering substances or alcohol before or during the event. 

C.) Keep the indoor space as non-verbal as possible. Use words only as needed.

D.) Practice hygiene; shower before the mush, clean your feet.

E.) Get checked for head lice before coming inside, and don’t come when you’re sick.

F.) Don’t lean against windows or fridge.

G.) Save Water; flush responsibly.

5.) Be Curious & Present; No Expectations

A.) Come to Space with open-mind and curiosity about what will happen.

B.) Stay in the Present moment; sense what is happening inside your body and in the space. If your thoughts are in the past or future, then co-regulate.

C.) After the event, if you meet participants outside the Mush Container, don’t expect to continue the same level of intimacy that you experienced at the Mush.

6.) Peacefully Resolve Conflicts

A.) If you feel triggered by another person’s actions, or you feel that your boundaries were crossed, take prompt action to address this. Co-regulate first, and then either address your concerns directly with the person, or seek help from a Facilitator.

B.) If someone else wants to resolve a conflict with you, be willing to speak about what happened with them (and possibly with Mediation from a facilitator).

C.) Seek to empathize with the other person’s experience.

D.) Celebrate truthfulness and vulnerability

E.) Be open to feedback about how your actions are affecting others and make meaningful efforts to reduce harm and improve adherence to the agreements.

7.) Keep the Container

A.) Everyone is an angel in the space; support the other participants  to honor the agreements by speaking up when you see something is out of alignment. Thank others when they do this.

B.) After the event, Keep these container agreements and keep it platonic until you have had a chance to sleep, wake up, and have a few minutes by yourself to consider the best course of action.

8.) Celebrate Playfulness

A.) Celebrate the playfulness you see in others, even if you don’t feel like being playful yourself.

B.) If you hear the voice of your playful  inner child, give them control of the body for a few minutes.

C.) Enjoy acting like a puppy or kitten or whatever makes you feel good. Miau Miau 😺

That's all the Agreements, Yay!

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Please note that the Welcome Mush is a Touch-Positive space. Others will touch you without seeking verbal consent first. Please only join us if you feel you can navigate this safely.

Guidance about clothing:

You may prefer to wear long pants and a shirt that covers your shoulders. Remove excessive jewelry and empty your pockets. Avoid thick belts or anything hard that will make you less cuddle-able.

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ON PLATONIC BEHAVIOR

(2,400 years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato wrote extensively on the topic of non-sexual love, which he also called "Divine Eros")

Why it's so important to keep THE MUSH non-sexual:

We are intentionally deprogramming the cultural assumption or expectation that sensual touch or cuddling is always a first step towards a sexual relationship. By challenging this old program and breaking social norms, we create the possibility for more intimacy in our lives and more touch in all of our non-sexual relationships.

There is great value in integrating the benefits of a purely non-sexual touch experience. So, even if it feels right and it's definitely consensual, please do NOT finish the night by exchanging sexual touch or pursuing a new romantic interest. This would reinforce the old program.

Remember that your actions in the mush space affect others who might witness them, and that we are all highly sensitive energetic beings. So even if it "only looks sexual," if it is causing sexual activation in others you may be asked to change your behavior. And even if your behavior doesn't look explicitly sexual to anyone else, if it feels sexual to you, others will sense your pheromones. So please be responsible.

If you see something sexy happening at the Mush, it is appropriate to share your concerns. If witnessing this behavior brings you into a triggered or sexually activated state, we encourage you to co-regulate first, and (especially if you are having big feelings) to ask a friend, team-member, or facilitator to support you in addressing the situation. Best practices: use "I" statements like "I observe," "I feel." Inquire how the others are feeling; give them a chance to self-correct. Make requests, not demands. If it's not going well, ask for help from the facilitator.

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Thank you for reading until the end. If you are planning to come to your first Mush, please fill out the Registration form by clicking the link below:

Registration for New Mushers (Click Here)

After registering, don't forget to also send a private message following the format below, and including a recent photo of your face. This photo supports the facilitator and team in learning everyone's names and creating a safer and more welcoming environment. 

"Hello, I'm [my name] and I was invited by [friend's name]. Mushing on [Date]. I agree to the agreements. Please send me the location."

The current Welcome Mush Manager is Hannah; please reach her at hannah.vanbelle@gmail.com