Here's a recent 15-minute video interview about the Mush. It was filmed on September 18th at the Osho Leela retreat center (near London). You're welcome to share with friends who are curious to learn more about the Mush.

bit.ly/mush-interview-sept23

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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 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 right 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 a WhatsApp message to Paddy following the instructions at the end of this text, and include a "selfie" (recent photo of your face).

4. Complete all the above steps no later than 2 hours before the start of the event.

That's all for now 🤗 

Enjoy your reading 😉

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The Mush is a values-oriented, agreements-based, touch-positive community. The entrance into the community is a "Welcome Mush," the world's first structured cuddle puddle and touch-positive consent training. The event has many aspects: philosophy, consent & communication training, self-care extravaganza, many-handed healing touch opportunity, Contact Improv slow-jam, and more.

How do you say that, MUSH? It rhymes with "Bush'' and has nothing to do with mushrooms. In fact, we ask that everyone comes in a state of sobriety and sensitivity that supports full awareness of their own and others' boundaries. This is a place to open your heart and experience love and acceptance from the whole community 💖 We will revel in the beauty of touch, healthy boundaries, subtle non-verbal communication, and exploring the connection of human bodies in an explicitly non-sexual container.

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Join us for: "The Mush" a touch-positive consent training and facilitated platonic cuddle puddle.

Every Friday at a private residence in Berlin, 19:00-23:00.

There is no pre-requisite or experience required to attend the Mush.

Energy Exchange:  Sliding Scale [ €20 -- €40 ] 

Includes fruits and healthy vegan snacks.

Those who are experiencing financial abundance are asked to pay a little more to support those who need scholarship. If €20 is beyond your means, please inquire about work-trade opportunities. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds... for those who resonate with the community values and wish to participate fully, we will always find a way.

You can register for these events by clicking here:

bit.ly/mush-reg-berlin

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 30 PARTICIPANTS, EARLY REGISTRATION IS ADVISED

The Mush is an intimate event, so please use your judgment when inviting new people. Everyone comes through referral; we don't advertise.

Musical instruments are welcome, it's always nice to cuddle to some groovy tunes.

Some fruits and snacks are provided, but not a full meal. And it's super nice when people bring healthy, vegan snacks / sweets / chocolates to feed to the other mushers.

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To create a safe container for this exploration, all participants must agree to honor the community agreements listed below. These agreements support the core values of the Mush: Safety, Love, Responsibility, and Inclusion.

THE MUSH ~ COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS (updated July 2023)

1. Come to this space with the intention to give and receive Platonic Love (the type of love you share with a child or a pet). Treat others with loving-kindness, care, and respect.

2. Be generous in communicating (verbally and non-verbally) your needs, desires, and boundaries. If you are not comfortable, do something or say something. Share your feelings authentically and embrace that all emotions are welcome in the space.

3. As this is a Touch-Positive space, be aware that others will touch you without seeking verbal consent first. When you are touched, you must do your best to give a clear response (either verbally or nonverbally). If it doesn't feel like a clear "yes," then please communicate a "no."

4. Be aware and respectful of others' boundaries. When you receive a "no", make an effort to say "thank you" and don’t take it personally. Be sensitive to "freeze" and “fawn” responses and seek clarity verbally when you are uncertain.

5. Move slowly and with awareness, especially when in contact with many other people.

6. Ask for and offer help when navigating the mush space. Use each other for physical support, and TEST the stability of your support before relying on it.

7. Keep the vibe relaxed by practicing awareness of your nervous system state and co-regulating whenever needed. Support others when they are regulating by joining in with breath and sound. If you sense someone is activated, check in with them, or simply initiate a co-regulation.

8. This is a non-sexual event, also known as a "Platonic" event. If you experience an activation of your sexual energy, make an effort to transmute or redirect this energy internally. If this is not possible, move away from the perceived source of your arousal. We also discourage conversation about sexual practices and sex-positive events while in the Mush space.

9. Be considerate of other Mushers by removing jewelry, practicing basic hygiene (like showering before you come to Mush and cleaning your feet if needed when you arrive), and not coming to Mush when you are feeling sick/coughing/possibly contagious. Also, keep your phone silent or off/airplane while you are at the event. Phones can be used outside on the balcony if needed.

10. Be conscious of your speech and respectful of "non-verbal" space (when it is requested). When we go non-verbal, you are still encouraged to use words to navigate your safety and comfort.

11. Actively and promptly seek to resolve conflicts through truthfulness and vulnerability. If you can't resolve it on your own, ask for help from a mediator, and be willing to participate in conflict resolution when it is requested by another person.

12. Have no expectations of what will happen at the Mush, nor expectations of what will happen after the event concludes.

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

14. We all share responsibility for holding the container; we are all "Angels" in the space. If you see something that is not aligned with the agreements, please address the person directly or inform the facilitator.

15. Keep the container (this means continue to honor the agreements) even after the mush concludes, until you have had a chance to go to sleep, wake up, and have a few moments by yourself. Specifically, do not escalate relationships into new levels of romance or sexuality immediately after the Mush.

16. Celebrate Playfulness in others and in yourself.

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 the 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:

bit.ly/mush-reg-berlin

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

"Hi Paddy. I'm [name], referred by [friend's name]. Mushing on [Date]. I agree to the agreements."

Paddy's # is +491742921713

You can click the link below to launch WhatsApp:

wa.me/491742921713

Enjoy the Mush! Big hugs,

~Davi (founder of the International Mush Movement)

P.S. If you wish to learn more about how to hold space and facilitate group events, check out the Mush Movement Facilitator Foundations Course, which is offered online via Zoom. More info here: www.mushmovement.com/facilitator-foundations

Also, if you did not already, please also join this WhatsApp chat to be informed about cancellations or scheduling related to the Mush.

bit.ly/mush-berlin