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Held: A Weekend of Connection, Play, & Kink
October 9–11, 2026 @ The Forest Haven in Saugerties, NY
There is a particular vulnerability in receiving.
Receiving attention. Receiving care. Receiving pleasure. Receiving touch. Receiving someone's presence without needing to give something back.
For many of us, giving is easier. We know how to care for others, anticipate what they need, perform, please, or stay in control. Receiving asks something different of us. It asks us to notice what we actually want, to communicate it, to feel our boundaries, and sometimes to soften enough to let something in.
This weekend is an invitation to explore receiving through the worlds of kink, embodiment, authentic connection, and play.
We'll create a supportive container where things can move slowly. Where curiosity matters more than performance. Where a clear no is as welcome as an enthusiastic yes. Where you can experiment with being witnessed, asking for what you want, surrendering control, taking up space, being cared for, and discovering what kinds of connection genuinely feel nourishing to your body.
There will be opportunities for relational and somatic practices, consent and boundary exploration, playful kink experiences, touch, movement, connection, rest, and spacious time together.
You choose how deeply you participate. There is no expectation to be sexual, to be touched, to be kinky in any particular way, or to push beyond an edge. The practice is listening closely enough to yourself to discover what your yes, your no, your maybe, and your desire actually feel like.
And there will be play.
Because depth doesn't always have to be serious.
We want this weekend to hold laughter, experimentation, tenderness, surprise, sensuality, nervousness, silliness, desire, and the delicious experience of discovering something new about ourselves in connection with others.
This is a space for people who already have some capacity to listen to themselves in connection with others. To ask for what they want without expecting it, to ask for support when they need it, to communicate boundaries, to receive a no with care, and to honor the autonomy and bodies of others with reverence. We don't need you to arrive without edges, nervousness, or uncertainty. We do ask that you arrive willing to take responsibility for yourself and your impact on the people around you.
What becomes possible when you allow yourself to receive?
About The Property
The Forest Haven sits on 53 acres of private forest in the Hudson Valley. It is a place where things naturally begin to slow down. Surrounded by trees, mountain air, and open sky, there is a sense of freedom and expansiveness here, along with the quiet safety that comes from being tucked away from the noise of the world.
The Round House sits at the center of the land, a circular home filled with natural light and views of the forest in every direction. Heated floors, a wood stove, and a hot tub under the sky create spaces to warm, soften, and settle.
The land itself is part of the experience. Walking the short trails, sitting with the trees, drinking the well water, or simply feeling the quiet that naturally lives here.
This is a place that invites presence. A place where nothing is required of you, and yet something in the body often begins to unwind. The Forest Haven is less about escape and more about returning.
Weekend Flow
Friday
Arrival between 3–5pm for a soft landing.
The container closes at 5pm, please do not arrive after this time.
We will set the tone for the weekend by laying a foundation of community agreements and consent practices. Cabaret and interactive experiences.
Saturday
Brunch, morning movement, and an optional midday workshops or experiences.
Saturday evening: Optional, self-responsible medicine exploration for those who wish to journey in this way. This is not a guided or facilitated ceremony. Participants are expected to be in right relationship with their own use and respectful of the shared space.
Sunday
Brunch, slow integration, closing circle, and a group co-created clean up of the space.
Food
Meals will be provided throughout the weekend and will be gluten and dairy free.
If you have additional dietary needs or restrictions, please reach out to Zach or Ari ahead of time so we can plan accordingly.
As you consider the sliding scale, please keep in mind that we will likely be hiring a chef to support the weekend, unless someone in the group has experience and feels genuinely excited to take that on.
Lodging / Sleeping
There are a variety of sleeping options available:
• Private bedroom: +$100 (1 still available)
• Camping on the land: unlimited space, bring your own gear
• Shared sleeping in the Round House: please bring what you need to be comfortable (air mattress, bedding, pillows, etc.)
Community Offerings
This weekend is co-created.
If you feel inspired to offer something, a workshop or experience of any kind, you are warmly invited to share that. This could look like yoga, rope, impact, butt drumming, or anything else you feel excited to bring.
If this calls to you, reach out to Ari with what you’re thinking. If it aligns with the group and the flow of the weekend, we would love to weave it in.
Exchange
$200–$400 sliding scale
This helps cover the space, food, and shared costs.
We may have a few work-trade spots available to support cooking and cleanup. Reach out if that feels aligned.
What to Expect
This is a consent-first space. Clear communication, respect for boundaries, and attunement to self and others are foundational to the experience. There is no expectation to participate in any activity, and you are always welcome to follow your own pace.
This gathering is intentionally intimate, with around 15 participants.
As the group comes together, more details will be shared, including what to bring and how to prepare.
For now, know that this weekend is an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, play, receive, and rediscover the pleasure of shared presence.
To be in connection without having to perform.
To ask without expectation.
To give without obligation.
To say yes. To say no. To change your mind.
To explore what happens when there is enough support to soften.
To hold and be held.
Love Party Guidelines and What to Expect
With love,
Ari (Organizer) & Zach (Host)
Exact address will be shared once your spot is confirmed.
We need around 15 participants to bring this retreat to life. If the event is canceled, all payments will be fully refunded. Please commit before September 9th if you know that you will be coming. This will allow Zach to keep the space blocked from other renters
October 9–11, 2026 @ The Forest Haven in Saugerties, NY
There is a particular vulnerability in receiving.
Receiving attention. Receiving care. Receiving pleasure. Receiving touch. Receiving someone's presence without needing to give something back.
For many of us, giving is easier. We know how to care for others, anticipate what they need, perform, please, or stay in control. Receiving asks something different of us. It asks us to notice what we actually want, to communicate it, to feel our boundaries, and sometimes to soften enough to let something in.
This weekend is an invitation to explore receiving through the worlds of kink, embodiment, authentic connection, and play.
We'll create a supportive container where things can move slowly. Where curiosity matters more than performance. Where a clear no is as welcome as an enthusiastic yes. Where you can experiment with being witnessed, asking for what you want, surrendering control, taking up space, being cared for, and discovering what kinds of connection genuinely feel nourishing to your body.
There will be opportunities for relational and somatic practices, consent and boundary exploration, playful kink experiences, touch, movement, connection, rest, and spacious time together.
You choose how deeply you participate. There is no expectation to be sexual, to be touched, to be kinky in any particular way, or to push beyond an edge. The practice is listening closely enough to yourself to discover what your yes, your no, your maybe, and your desire actually feel like.
And there will be play.
Because depth doesn't always have to be serious.
We want this weekend to hold laughter, experimentation, tenderness, surprise, sensuality, nervousness, silliness, desire, and the delicious experience of discovering something new about ourselves in connection with others.
This is a space for people who already have some capacity to listen to themselves in connection with others. To ask for what they want without expecting it, to ask for support when they need it, to communicate boundaries, to receive a no with care, and to honor the autonomy and bodies of others with reverence. We don't need you to arrive without edges, nervousness, or uncertainty. We do ask that you arrive willing to take responsibility for yourself and your impact on the people around you.
What becomes possible when you allow yourself to receive?
About The Property
The Forest Haven sits on 53 acres of private forest in the Hudson Valley. It is a place where things naturally begin to slow down. Surrounded by trees, mountain air, and open sky, there is a sense of freedom and expansiveness here, along with the quiet safety that comes from being tucked away from the noise of the world.
The Round House sits at the center of the land, a circular home filled with natural light and views of the forest in every direction. Heated floors, a wood stove, and a hot tub under the sky create spaces to warm, soften, and settle.
The land itself is part of the experience. Walking the short trails, sitting with the trees, drinking the well water, or simply feeling the quiet that naturally lives here.
This is a place that invites presence. A place where nothing is required of you, and yet something in the body often begins to unwind. The Forest Haven is less about escape and more about returning.
Weekend Flow
Friday
Arrival between 3–5pm for a soft landing.
The container closes at 5pm, please do not arrive after this time.
We will set the tone for the weekend by laying a foundation of community agreements and consent practices. Cabaret and interactive experiences.
Saturday
Brunch, morning movement, and an optional midday workshops or experiences.
Saturday evening: Optional, self-responsible medicine exploration for those who wish to journey in this way. This is not a guided or facilitated ceremony. Participants are expected to be in right relationship with their own use and respectful of the shared space.
Sunday
Brunch, slow integration, closing circle, and a group co-created clean up of the space.
Food
Meals will be provided throughout the weekend and will be gluten and dairy free.
If you have additional dietary needs or restrictions, please reach out to Zach or Ari ahead of time so we can plan accordingly.
As you consider the sliding scale, please keep in mind that we will likely be hiring a chef to support the weekend, unless someone in the group has experience and feels genuinely excited to take that on.
Lodging / Sleeping
There are a variety of sleeping options available:
• Private bedroom: +$100 (1 still available)
• Camping on the land: unlimited space, bring your own gear
• Shared sleeping in the Round House: please bring what you need to be comfortable (air mattress, bedding, pillows, etc.)
Community Offerings
This weekend is co-created.
If you feel inspired to offer something, a workshop or experience of any kind, you are warmly invited to share that. This could look like yoga, rope, impact, butt drumming, or anything else you feel excited to bring.
If this calls to you, reach out to Ari with what you’re thinking. If it aligns with the group and the flow of the weekend, we would love to weave it in.
Exchange
$200–$400 sliding scale
This helps cover the space, food, and shared costs.
We may have a few work-trade spots available to support cooking and cleanup. Reach out if that feels aligned.
What to Expect
This is a consent-first space. Clear communication, respect for boundaries, and attunement to self and others are foundational to the experience. There is no expectation to participate in any activity, and you are always welcome to follow your own pace.
This gathering is intentionally intimate, with around 15 participants.
As the group comes together, more details will be shared, including what to bring and how to prepare.
For now, know that this weekend is an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, play, receive, and rediscover the pleasure of shared presence.
To be in connection without having to perform.
To ask without expectation.
To give without obligation.
To say yes. To say no. To change your mind.
To explore what happens when there is enough support to soften.
To hold and be held.
Love Party Guidelines and What to Expect
With love,
Ari (Organizer) & Zach (Host)
Exact address will be shared once your spot is confirmed.
We need around 15 participants to bring this retreat to life. If the event is canceled, all payments will be fully refunded. Please commit before September 9th if you know that you will be coming. This will allow Zach to keep the space blocked from other renters