Full Class List

Presented here is my full class list as one page.

Kink Techniques

-Needleplay Classes:

Needle Play 101

If you go in to just about any dungeon at any major event you are likely to see people playing with needles. Needle play can be intimidating as hell if you are not familiar with it; there are all sorts of safety precautions that you need to take to do it safely, there’s blood, and of course needles, which can be scary in their own right. In this 101 style class you’ll learn how to prepare, play, and clean up safely. We’ll go over the basics of placing and removing needles, and of course, we’ll talk about how you can integrate this kind of play into your own erotic world.

Hands on Needleplay

Most needle play classes talk a lot about basic versus advanced needle play, about artistic placement, ribbons and corsets, but really what we’re here to do put sharp metal in tender flesh? So we’ learn some simple and easy ways to use needles to have a good time. We’ll start with what you need to know about safety, set up, proper tools, and cleanup afterward, then get to the hands on learning. Bring the partner/victim of your choosing (or be willing to be partnered randomly) and get ready to get your gloves on!

Intro to Cock and Ball Needle Play

Penises and needles, both are most fun when being stuck into someone. But what about bringing them together? Since we can’t stick penises into needles, let’s get together and learn about sticking needles into penises. We’ll talk about specific techniques for cock and ball (or more specifically, scrotum) needle play from setup to cleanup, and of course, what to do in between. Familiarity with safety and techniques of needle play are helpful, but not required.

Sadistic Needleplay

Leave the beads and feathers at home, this advanced needleplay class will focus specifically on techniques for using needles as a tool for erotic pain. We’ll cover various ways to hurt your bottom through needle placement, layout, impact play, manipulation and of course, removal. Specific safety precautions, aftercare needs, materials, and other considerations will also be discussed.

Sadism in 3 Needles or Less

One of the challenging and entertaining things about about sadistic needleplay is crafting tons of sensation out a very few needles. Building on a decade of teaching needleplay, Wintersong has designed this class to cover techniques for building cohesive scenes with 1, 2, and 3 needles that will leave bottoms cooked and sadists satisfied.

Needle Predicament Bondage

This intermediate to advanced class uses needles as anchors for creating deliciously devious predicaments for your bottom. Not just a replacement for ties, we’ll look at the specific advantages and unique effects you can get using needles in these types of scenes. Using body mechanics to create self-contained predicaments, as well as objects and outside points will be addressed, along with different forms of needle placements for different objectives. Come prepared to think “outside the box” and more than a little devilishly.

Skin Stapling for Pain and Pleasure

The skin stapler is a remarkable versatile and self contained tool for play. You can use it to achieve everything from lovely patterns, to delicious pain, to bondage and chastity. This class will cover the variety of uses for this fabulous tool from the basic to the more advanced.

Needles & Energy: Using the Silver Portal

There are many ways we manipulate and interact with our own energy bodies and those of other people. In this class we’ll be looking at a variety of ways to adapt techniques from the play-piercing world to enhance and guide our energetic explorations, erotic and otherwise. Some of the techniques I will be covering include: needles as portals for moving energy in and out of the body, energetic enhancements for erotic play-piercing, forming energetic connections, aiding in energy healing, and influencing arousal and sexual response though directing the flow of energy. Some familiarity with play-piercing and/or energy work is helpful but not required.

The Tiniest Athame: Using Needles for Energy Work and Magic

Piercing the skin can be an intimate and powerful experience, and can lead to all sorts of reactions in both the person piercing and being pierced. But what about using the needle itself as a tool to direct energy to a purpose? In this class we will explore ways to use needle play techniques to move energy into and out of the body or aura, perform cleansing, healing, and other forms of spell work that lend themselves well to this atypical tool. Familiarity with either needle play or energy work/magic would be helpful.

2 Day Needleplay Intensive w/Wintersong Tashlin

Join us for a sharp, sexy and intensive two day journey through the world of needleplay. Blood/fluid safety, getting “hand on” with a partner, using needles for bondage, erotic pain, and much much more will be covered over the course of our time together. You’ll get first hand experience under the supervision of celebrated needleplay top Wintersong Tashlin, whose extensive classes on needles have been taught to entranced audiences at leading events and small gatherings for years. Whether you’ve never picked up/been poked with a needle or you’re an old hand looking for new tricks, you’ll laugh, bleed, and definitely learn during this two day period.

-Cock Classes

Penile Anatomy For Play

There’s more to know than you think! Join kinkster and cock aficionado extraordinaire Wintersong for a fun and informative exploration of the ins and outs of cocks, balls and more. Learn about the eight zones of penile sensitivity, strategies and techniques for a variety of play, and more anatomy than you can shake a dick at. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and your (or someone else’s) genitals will thank you.

Intro to CBT

Cock and Ball Torture (cbt) doesn’t have to be incredibly complex or difficult. This introductory cbt class will cover some of the fun and mean things you can do to someone’s (or your own) cock and balls quickly and easily using readily available supplies such as clothespins, your own fingers, a tiny switch or flogger, and more! Join us for the hows, whys (and why nots), and of course some fun demonstrations of simple cbt.

More Mean Things to Do to Guys’ Bits

We will be covering fabulously painful and strange things to do to men’s genitals safely and erotically. Let’s talk about needle play with the penis and scrotum, urethral sounding, chemical play, what happens when a cock meets a violet wand, and more! For each “tool” we’ll cover safety and counter-indications followed by three different ways of using each one… learn a new skill, or brush up on one you already have on the great ways to be “mean” to you and/or your partner’s intimate areas.

CBT For (Just) One

This is a class for guys with the emphasis on abusing their own bits. We;ll address several different kinds of genitorture, covering techniques, contra-indications, safety, and cleanup for: insertion play (sounds, etc), clothespins, needles, chemical play, electroplay, and self chastity. Attendees will have an opportunity to try out a technique or two but are certainly not required to do so.

Urethral Insertion Play 101

Learn how to fuck in a whole new hole! Join us as we look how to stimulate yourself or someone else through the use of urethral sounds and other insertables. We’ll cover how to choose the right kind of toy, properly prepare, play safe and fun (with just a little meanness thrown in for good measure), and how to clean up afterward.

Playing with Intact Dicks

The number of intact (not-circumcised) guys in this country has been steadily rising for many years. Unfortunately, when encountering an intact guy, many people respond by retracting the foreskin and treating the guy’s bits like they would those of a cut guy. Not only is this not as enjoyable for the guy in question, it misses out on the fun things to do with a foreskin. From using the foreskin as an enhancement to pleasure and ways to avoid hurting sensitive anatomy, to working with the myriad anatomical differences found among intact men, attendees to this class will come away with a skill set for playing with intact guys of various kinds. This will not be a format for debating the practice of male circumcision.

Intro to Cock and Ball Needle Play

Introduction to Foreskin Restoration

For men who are unhappy with having been circumcised, non-surgical foreskin restoration can restore not only lost sensation, but also bring emotional and spiritual healing as well. This workshop will look at the principals of foreskin restoration, and address what expectations men can have from the process. We’ll discuss why some men choose restoration, as well as what they regain both physically and emotionally. We’ll also talk about how to decide whether it is something you want to explore, and if so, how to go about doing so.

Confronting the Myths of Male Circumcision

Living in the United States, most people simply accept the practice of male circumcision without thinking overmuch about it. In clinging doggedly to circumcision, America is unique among all other western countries. Why is it that no matter what the evidence, there always seems to be a new reason found to engage in this practice? In this workshop we will address the history, the myth, and the misinformation that is at the heart of the circumcision debate.

-Other Kink Technique Classes

Formicophilia Fun!

Formicophilia is the erotic interest in being crawled upon and/or bitten by small insects, although in this workshop we’ll look at playing with worms too. Starting out by covering some of the “whys” and “hows” of this versatile and edgy form of play for everything from mindfucks to sensual play and pain play. We’ll talk about some of the common kinds of critters people play with such as red wigglers, earthworms, BSF larva, mealworms/superworms, crickets, and slugs. Safety and techniques will be discussed (possibly with demonstrations) for a variety of objectives, anatomy, and play scenarios.

“Safer” Bloodplay

This level class will cover how to play “safer” with blood, and techniques that involve blood. We’ll cover the vital points of cross contamination procedures, blood safety, cleanup, dungeon courtesy, and good tools to have in your kit. We’ll also talk about techniques specifically for “playing” with blood in scene safely, whether blood is the point, or merely a byproduct of your play.

Sex that Hurts

Genitorture and fucking are rarely put together, at least in that order. We’re going to talk about techniques and practices for combining CBT or twat torture with various forms of good old fashioned, orgasm inducing activities like intercourse, oral sex, and “hands on” stimulation. Join us to discuss the do’s, the don’ts, and the didn’t know you could’s of “Sex That Hurts.”

Basic Kink Techniques Overview & Exploration

In this interactive workshop we’ll discuss the reasons why people enjoy a variety of kinky activities, as well as cover basic strategies for doing them safely and properly. Attendees will then have an opportunity to try out flogging, paddles, some basic restraint techniques, and sensation play for themselves or with a parter.

Intermediate Kink Techniques Overview & Exploritoration

This interactive workshop covers some of the more involved activities found in the kink/bdsm scene. After a discussion of why people enjoy these various techniques and how to do them safely and effectively, participants will have a chance to try wax play, violet wand play, canning, and fire cupping.

Advanced Kink Techniques Overview & Exploritoration

This workshop contains more advanced material for people interested in pushing the boundaries in their exploration of kink/bdsm. Topics discussed and demonstrated with include basic needleplay, urethral sounding, and punching play. The discussion portion will include why people choose these techniques, how to do them as safely as possible, and ways to extract the most enjoyment/use out of them.

“Gunplay” Mindfucking Done Hot & Safe

Guns are scary, and that’s a good thing. Disrespect a gun even once and you or someone else can wind up injured or dead. But for many of us, that also makes the idea of playing with them incredibly hot. However gunplay done wrong can be disastrous. Moreover, many of us may not have access to firearms or want to use our weapons as toys, and the idea of gunplay is highly controversial in the BDSM community. This class will look three different tools for building scenes around gunplay: Stripping actually firearms and using separated components that are harmless on their own. Using toys and replicas in place of actual guns. And finally, using everyday objects as stand-ins during scenes by comparing various household items to the real firearm component they are supposed to stand in for. We will also discuss what makes a hot scene and how to know when and where to “draw the line” for both physical and emotional safety.

Kink Dynamics, Relationships & Communication

-Communication & Relationships

More Than Missionary: Communicating Sexual Desires

Most of us have sexual needs and desires, but the specifics often aren’t obvious or apparent, even to people we’re intimate with. This workshops is all about strategies for communicating about our own sexuality in a healthy way. Dialog around sexuality can be a challenge for many of us, whether because some of our desires are a little (or a lot) “out there,” because we may have been raised in a society or gender role that discourages talking about personal sexuality, or simply because talking constructively about our sexual wants and needs isn’t a communication skill we’ve ever been taught. We’ll talk about how, when, and yes, whether, to broach sexual topics, as well as how to hear and respond to other people’s expressions of desire.

Guiding Through First Times

In our community we talk all the time about “taking cherries.” But what does it really mean to be the person in the role of the sexual “guide” Whether you’re introducing someone to a new kink, helping them overcome their fear of sexual intimacy, or any new erotic experience in between, the concerns are similar, even when the scale may not be. In this class, we’ll look at the spiritual, erotic, emotional and practical considerations inherent in this dynamic and build strategies and tools to better approach this role in an safe, productive, healthy, meaningful, and of course, hot way.

Making An Unusual Fetish Work

We’re all wacky in our own ways, but some more than others. What do we do when some of the things that really get us hot are also really strange? How do we explore the limits of kinks so odd that you can barely find anything on the internet? When you don’t know anyone else with your interest, how do you figure out what is and isn’t safe? When do you talk to a partner, or do you skip it and stick to fantasy and masturbation? And how do you buy earthworms, donuts, and floor polish with a straight face? Let’s get together to come up with some ideas and answers to these questions and more.

Introducing Your Monster to Your Lover

What happens when you or your partner decides to go into the deepest, ickiest personal darkness and bring something out into the light… and the bedroom? This class will focus on the “how, why, and when” of this journey. We will talk about how (and whether) to discuss, and safely, healthily, and erotically include, some of the darker aspect of yourself in your relationship and play. The class is also equally appropriate for spouses and partners. No subject for discussion will be taboo, and people should come prepared for a frank discussion of subjects that may be frightening, or disturbing.

Communication for Dating and Scoring

“Hey you, wanna fuck?” Sure there are times and places where that might work just fine, but it’s not for everywhere or everyone. Maybe you aren’t the type to walk up to someone and proposition them that way. Or maybe you are, but you can’t quite figure out how to approach your partner(s) about taking this whole kinky thing out for a spin. Perhaps you’re even someone in a long term relationship that’s gotten sexually stale who can’t find the right way to say “you know, I miss banging you on a regular basis, what can we do about it?” If any of these sound familiar, join us to talk about strategies and communication for dating and scoring.

Kink and Disability

We can’t all be perfect specimens of physical and mental health. In fact, many of us are in some way for lack of a better word, broken. This may pre-date our involvement in kink or even in sexuality at all. Or it could be a recent development. This can take many different forms and can affect our lives, and yes our sex lives in a wide variety of ways. Let’s get together and discuss issues such as: how does one explore safe play with new physical limitations, how do we find satisfying substitutions for favored activities that may now have become off limits, and how do we talk to a play partner about our physical or emotional boundaries without freaking them out.

Exploring Dynamics of Trans/Cis Relationships

There are unique internal and external challenges and joys in relationships between transgender people and cisgender people. While everyone’s experience is different, there are common themes that crop up from within and without in this situation. Together we will look at some of the internal processes, communication strategies, experiences of and in community, distinctive dynamics, and more, that are sometimes found these relationships, with an eye towards being healthier, happier and more understanding partners.

Considerations for Trans*/Cis Erotic Play with Wintersong

It’s awesome when two or more people are interested in play, sex, or dating. When one or more of those people are trans*, and one or more of them are cis, there are particular communication strategies, pressures, joys, and other considerations, that can be valuable to acknowledge and work with. Whether you’re looking for a quick pickup or a lasting relationship, this workshop will help provide you with concrete tools and strategies for how these interactions can, and do, work.

-Roleplay/Ageplay

Using Pop-Culture Archetypes for Erotic Roleplay

Erotic role-play can be sexy, fun, exciting, and even scary. After all, using erotic role-play you can be anyone and do nearly anything, it is a play modality that opens up a world of possibilities. But for exactly that reason, exploring erotic role-play can be completely overwhelming! How should your “character” act? What does the “scene” look like? And how do you know if you and your partner(s) are on the same page? In this workshop we will look at an array of pop-culture archetypes from James Bond to Star Trek, Glee to Downton Abbey, and everywhere in between, with a focus on how we can use these archetypes as “shortcuts” to create shared context and help us get from the planning to the playing faster and more enjoyably.

Erotic Roleplaying for Beginners

Acting out your fantasies in the bedroom can be a perfect way to liven things up once in a while or it can be a staple of your erotic existence. Either way, erotic roleplay is a skill like any other and a little instruction and practice can go a long way. This beginners workshop will teach participants the fundamental concepts of erotic roleplaying, strategies for communication and negotiation with partner(s), where to get ideas, and how to set (and end) the scene.

Dark Roleplay

Erotic roleplay is another form of the “playing pretend” we played as kids. Because we are just “playing pretend” anything we can imagine can be played with, including what lies in the deepest darkest regions of our minds: snuff, torture, sci fi, molestation, and anything else a sick fuck can think of. In this class we’ll talk about the joys and dangers, the hows, whys, and “how do I bring THAT up” of playing with dark roleplay.

Building Roleplay Scenarios

Let’s get together and talk about how we plan, build, and erotically execute roleplay scenes that have a higher level of plot/scripting than just establishing what our roles are (“me daddy/you boy, GO!”). This isn’t a class on how to stage a sexy play for your friends and family, but instead we’re going to talk about how to keep the fun and excitement in our roleplaying lives, while still having our scenarios hit pre-determined milestones and progressing through a laid out “story arc.” We’ll talk about just how clearly laid out you want that story arc to be, when you want to “stick to the script” and when you don’t, where these ideas come from in the first place, and many more.

The Mechanical (Wo)Man in Erotic Roleplay

Seven of Nine/The Borg, Darth Vader & Luke Skywalker, Battle Angel Alita, Lt. Commander Data, The Terminators, Major Motoko Kusanagi, The Six Million Dollar Man. There is a multitude of fictional cyborgs & androids that we find alluring and erotic (don’t pretend you’ve never heard of Seven of Nine porn). But how do we incorporate this enticing concept into our own erotic play? In this workshop, we’ll examine archetypes of the sexy cyborg with an eye towards incorporating those themes into our play, examine a variety techniques for erotic roleplay, and address implementation and troubleshooting of erotic scenes.

Intro to Kink

Bridging The Gap – Bringing 50 Shades & More Into Your Erotic Life

50 Shades of Grey, Anne Rice’s Beauty Trilogy, The Kushiel Books. All are popular fiction that incorporate themes of dominance and bondage to build erotic tension. But how do people draw inspiration from titles like these and incorporate those elements into their own romantic and sexual lives? In this workshop series, hosted by MyeSensuals erotic boutique, nationally known sexuality presenter Winter Tashlin will talk about how other people explore these aspects of their desires, how doing so can be self empowering, communication strategies for talking to your partner(s), and how to stay safe wherever your personal journey takes you.

Concepts of Kink

Join kink and sexuality educator Wintersong for an informative and lighthearted whirlwind tour through the mysterious and convoluted world of the kink community. We will discuss the myriad variation of what it is that “kinky” people like to do and why they do it, give an overview of various kink subcultures, address issues of gender and sexuality as they apply to common themes within the kink world, and of course, answer your questions. Whether “the scene” is a place you call home, or the very idea of kink sexuality makes you uncomfortable (and everywhere in between) you’re sure to learn something, maybe about yourself.

Kink/Dark Eros Spirituality & Magic

-Ordeal & Catharsis

Crafting Sacred Trauma

Ordeal, Catharsis, Initiation. There is a growing shift towards doing structured rituals designed to effect the internal or spiritual tidal shifts that can sometimes happen as an byproduct, intended or otherwise, of the kind of play that we do in the kink/BDSM world. This class will help you learn to deliberately craft these types of rituals, for yourself or for others. We will discuss when and why this kind of ritual is valuable, how to determine the best techniques and processes to achieve a desired goal, and how to fit the work into a broader personal, spiritual, or religious context. Although the instructors are coming from a pagan perspective, this class is open and appropriate for people of all faiths and those with none.

A Crucible For One: Creating Solo Ordeals

There are many reasons why a trial may need to be faced alone: Perhaps there isn’t anyone who can help create the ordeal experience that you need; solitude could be an important aspect of the ordeal itself; or maybe you are (or soon will) experiencing some form of challenge in your life that you want to bring a structure and spiritual context to. This class will help you learn to deliberately craft rituals for yourself to effect the internal or spiritual tidal shifts that can sometimes happen as an byproduct, intended or otherwise, of the kind of play that we do in the kink/BDSM world. Building on the structure from his popular “Crafting Sacred Trauma” class, Wintersong will cover topics such as when and why this kind of ritual is valuable, how to determine the best techniques and processes to achieve a desired goal, and how to fit the work into a broader personal, spiritual, or religious context.

Reconciling Safety and Spirituality in Ordeal and Sacred Play

What do we do when the needs of the the spiritual, or the spirits for that matter, seem to call on us to go to physical or psychological places outside the bounds of what we or our community might see as “safe?” How do we strike for the delicate balance between fulfilling the spiritual purpose of an scene or ordeal and protecting ourselves and those we guide (or are guided by)? What additional precautions do we take to ensure maximum safety when we are likely to be distracted by all the extra woo woo shit going on? And what can be done when what needs to happen is simply outside the bounds of what seems like a good idea? This class won’t give you the answers to these questions, because frankly there aren’t hard and fast answers. But we work to determine how to approach each situation with new strategies and perspectives.

-Kink/Dark Eros Magic

Cleansing from “Spooky” Sex & Play

Do any of these scenarios sound familiar to you: Your top beat you with his magically enhanced flogger and while it was fun while it lasted, now you’d really like to get his energy out of your back. In the midst of a heavy cathartic scene your energies mingled with the other participants and now you feel a connection to them that you’d rather not have now that the scene is over. Your bits were eager, she was hot, and when said she wanted to work some sex-magic all you heard was the ‘sex’ part, now what? In this workshop, we’ll learn energetic and magical techniques for getting yourself cleaned up when the fun is over.

Wielding a Red Wand

In the pagan and magical world to work with blood is considered profane by many. But just as the tools and toys we use in the Kink/BDSM worlds can be used positively or negatively, blood can be a safe and valuable magical tool. In this class we’ll talk about how to draw and handle blood safely and cleanly as well as go over magical techniques and spell work that takes advantage of blood’s unique properties. Along the way we will discover together how to approach blood from a place of honor and sacredness and talk a bit about how it is seen both in our mundane culture and to a lesser extent in the pagan and magical communities.

Using the Waters of Life: Magic with Bodily Fluids

That blood is powerful (if controversial) is a truth that tends to be accepted among magic(k) practitioners. But what other useful substances are produced by the human body, and how can they be used to greatest effect? In this class we will discuss the myriad magical and devotional uses not just for old standards like blood and saliva, but also urine, tears, sexual fluids, and others.

Making Sex Toys Magical

‘It’s Magic’ can be more than just a marketing slogan when it comes to sex toys. Let’s talk about some of the different ways you can use energy and magic to enhances this popular toy. You’ll learn spell work for both temporarily and permanently making your toys ‘magical,’ and some ritual/spells you can do with your newly enhanced little friends. We’ll also be talking about when it might be best to keep something in its ‘out of the box’ state and what you can do if your toys acquire a magical nature you’d rather that they didn’t have.

Introduction to Energetic Erotic Play

Let’s talk about sex magic with the emphasis on the ‘sex’ rather than the ‘magic.’ Theories of playing with energy and magic as another sexual tool will be followed by interactive exercises designed to teach several basic techniques at whatever your comfort level may be. In addition to how, we’ll talk about when (and when not) to include this kind of play in your sex life. Attendees will also learn the basics of safe-sex for this kind of interaction and discuss what constitutes ‘going too far.’

The Tiniest Athame: Using Needles for Energy Work and Magic

Needles & Energy: Using the Silver Portal

Toybag Magician

Why carry two sets of toys and tools? Your BDSM toybag is chock full of “Foo-ables,” toys that can also be used for spiritual and magic purposes, whether spiritual play or unconnected to sexuality at all. We’ll talk about the energetic, spiritual and magical properties of some of our best loved toys, as well as various ways to use them. Plus steps for consecrating and energetically cleaning them, and of course, how to go back and forth between using them for spiritual/magical purposes and for good old fashioned mundane fun.

Using Raised Power

Pain play, sex magic, group ritual, we use any and all of these things to raise energy. What we aren’t as clear about is what we do with that energy afterward. As one shamanic worker said “so we raise all this energy and then just wallow in it, it’s boring and pointless.” Well not us! We’ll get together to talk about all the different things that energy can be good for, and then we’ll raise some energy ourselves and put it to work.

-Kink/Dark Eros Devotion and Ritual Creation

Sacred Sex: A Ritual Primer

There is a widespread belief that all sex is sacred sex, and there is definitely something to be said for that perspective. However, there are times when something more structured, intentional and perhaps dearer is desired. Rather than giving the participants a particular ritual to duplicated on their own, this workshop will cover the principals of ritual construction with a focus on creating sacred space, opening and closing the ritual, preparation, and of course, why you’d want to do any of this in the first place.

Sacred Sex for One

When most people think of sacred sex or sex magic they automatically think about activities involving more than one person. Just as you can have plenty of erotic fun by yourself, you can have meaningful sacred or magical sex by yourself as well. This class will address specific strategies for building rituals and constructing sex magic specifically to be done solo.

Sex, Magic, and the Great Outdoors

Neo-paganism spirituality is often referred to as “earth-based.” People who feel drawn to neo-paganism have a deeper connection to the earth and the natural world around them than most other folk. This connection is all too often centered in our minds. How do we connect to the earth in a more visceral way? In this participatory workshop we’re going to use energy work and our own bodies to share, if only for a while, an intimate personal connection with earth and the world around us. The objective of the class is to form magical connection to nature through erotic play, although how you define “erotic” is entirely up to you. The class will culminate in a guided meditation and no one will be forced to go beyond what they are comfortable with in order to participate.

Ritualized Kink

From planning and negotiating a scene, to gathering tools, setting up playspace, the various stages a scene may go through, and aftercare, kinky play is full of ritual. These and other ritualistic structures our play context, and help make us secure in our play. This workshop looks at a vast array of kink activities and dynamics, with an eye towards how we can build on the rituals that already exist within kink/BDSM in a way that fosters our own spiritual growth and helps us form connections with other people or something Greater. Bring your own ideas, experiences, and a very open mind, and together we will expand our ideas of spirituality, kink, and play.

Kink for Meditation

To many people meditating means sitting still and thinking of nothing. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work out so well for quite a lot of us. One alternative is to have something to focus on and/or something to remove outside distractions. In this class we’ll be taking some familiar techniques and toys from our kinky toolbox and seeing how they can be used as focuses or other aids for meditative contemplation. Feel free to bring along some of your favorites toys too.

Foreskin Restoration as a Devotional Practice for Self Healing

For men who are unhappy with having been circumcised, non-surgical foreskin restoration can restore not only lost sensation, but also bring emotional and spiritual healing as well. This workshop will look at strategies not only for the mechanics of foreskin restoration, but also at how to approach the process as a daily devotional act dedicated to personal growth and healing. This approach can make it easier to stick with the process, which can take quite a while, as well as provide a valuable context for working through the emotional issues or repercussions that can draw one to restoration or can be discovered during the process.

-Kink/Dark Eros Identity & Relationships

Honoring Your Personal Darkness

We all have inner darkness and demons of various kinds. No matter what the nature of the darkness you hold in your soul, you’ve probably been taught that it is “bad” or even “evil” and that you should try to drive it as far away from your conscious mind as you can. At the same time, you also draw strength and power from it too, even if you may be ashamed to do so. This workshop will focus on how we can, in the course of our daily personal and spiritual lives, recognize and honor these parts of ourselves for the benefits that they provide us, without overly glorifying or becoming dominated by them.

The Spirituality of Kinky Sex

Does our existence as spiritual beings and kinksters intersect? Where throughout the “lifestyle” can we find spiritual meaning and value? What is it about kinky sex that draws us to seek deeper meaning, and where in our sexual expression do we find that depth? In this class we’ll look at various activities and segments of the kink world and look beyond the surface to find something that touches us on a spiritual level.

Communication For Magical Erotic Play

What are the challenges and requirements of negotiation and communication for incorporating energy, sex magic, or spirit work in your sex play? We’ll be discussing issues such as: how do you make sure that all parties involved have a shared understanding of terminology such as ‘energy?’ How do you talk about these topics with a partner who isn’t sure if they believe in magic etc? How do you negotiate ‘spooky’ safe sex with someone whose concept of magic or energy is different from yours? What are the key questions you need to ask a partner you are going to be having some sort of magical sex with? Participants will come away with a new set of communication tools specifically for these sorts of instances.

Kink/Dark Eros Rituals-

[Meditations are currently unavailable due to medial issues, sorry] Meditation Ritual: Guided Journey into Your Personal Underworld

Join us as we Journey together into the dark, alluring, and sometimes terrifying realms that exists within each of us. Wintersong will be the guide into our inner depths as we explore the landscapes that help shape us. In this guided meditation ritual we’ll seek self knowledge, understanding and strength through venturing into those places in ourselves we usually leave unseen and walking the inner roads generally left untraveled.

[Meditations are currently unavailable due to medial issues, sorry] Guided Meditation Ritual: The Elemental Lovers

In this erotically charged guided journey, we’ll meet four lovers representing each of the elements. Through intimate encounters we can form deeper connections to the elemental forces in our world, and within each of us. Wear comfortable clothes and bring something to sit or lie on.

Ritual of Blood, Earth, and Letting Go

Together we shed blood and let regrets, old wounds, and bitter emotions, be carried along in the release of our inner essence. Coming together we can find comfort and support in our shared experience before drawing on the energy of the Earth itself to fill each of our inner voids left by letting go of a piece of ourselves we were ready to be free of.

Ritual for the Breaking of Energetic Ties

Been through a rough break up? Still feel tied to someone or something in your life but feel like you need to move on? We’ll join together to sever the ties that bind us and hold us back. Although the ritual will have a pagan framework, it will be welcoming to everyone.

Polyamory & Relationships

Navigating Poly

There are many forms of polyamorous relationships, each with their own challenges and joys. This practical workshop is designed to give people concrete tools for navigating the rocky shoals of various poly structures, while also helping to expand ideas of what forms of relationship dynamics are out there.

Living an “Out” Poly Life

What does it mean to be “out” as poly? How do we decide, singly and as part of poly families what our level of openness in the broader world should be, and how do we go about following through on that choice? Join me while we discuss the the pros and cons of openness, from letting a few friends know you’re poly, to showing the tellers at the bank pictures of your poly family or going way out like like my family when we had our poly hand-fasting filmed for national television. And when you’ve done all that, how do you then explain about the complexities of dissolving poly relationships if it comes to it…

Queer/LGBT Identity & Activism

Strategies for Everyday Activism

What kind of subtle decisions do we make in our everyday lives that constitute a kind of activism, and how can we implement these decisions more effectively? From the conscious choice to mention the gender of a partner, to choosing to hold someone’s hand in public, or “accidentally” revealing to a homophobic store clerk that yes, some fags do carry a concealed firearm. In this class, we will talk about how we can advance the place of LGBT people in the everywhere through the tiny ripples we make as we move through the world.

The Unintentional Closet: Queer Identity in Hetero-presumptive Situations

It’s a straight world out there. What effect does it have on our identities as queer people when we are in situations where the people around us make assumptions about our sexuality orientation or gender identity. Does it matter how the world outside our doors perceives us, or can we go through life knowing who we are without that external validation? In this workshop we will commiserate, discuss and strategize ways to live, work and play in a our broader communities, while still staying true to ourselves and maintaining the crucial balance between being out and getting ourselves in trouble.

Guy Problems: An Intersectional Look at Societal Oppression of Men & Boys

There is no denying that men carry a significant amount of privilege in our society. For that matter, the bulk of the oppression and injustice that abounds in our world can be laid at the feet of (mostly white and cis) men. It is easy then, especially for those of us in the queer and social justice movements, to have monolithic ideas of what it means to be a guy. And the fact that ‘men’s issues’ has become synonymous with misogyny thanks to the MRA movement doesn’t help mutual understanding. But there are issues that men & boys struggle with, and ways that being a guy in our society can suck too. This workshop looks at a variety of those issues with an eye towards dispelling assumptions, enhancing empathy, and finding points of intersection with the lives and struggles of other people.

“Out in the World”

For some of us, high school and/or college can be a wonderful time of self-discovery and community. For others it is a trial to be endured, the reward of which we are assured, is the freedom to embrace our true selves when we go out into the world on our own. Regardless of your experience, the transition from high school into college, and then from there into the “real world” (or directly into the “real world” if college is not part of your path) can be an exciting, daunting, magical, and dangerous, time for young queer/LGBT people. In this workshop we’ll talk about coming out, building a “family of choice,” interacting with school administration and employers, confronting homo/transphobia on our own, relationships, self-identity and more.

Exploring Dynamics of Trans/Cis Relationships

Considerations for Trans*/Cis Erotic Play with Wintersong

Living “Outside the Box”

Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Trans-Queer-Questioning-Intersex-Ally the list could go on. We “box” our selves in a wide variety of ways, not just with regards to our gender and our sexuality, but also our politics, religious beliefs, even our computer choices (gods forbid one own both a Mac and a PC). The truth is that for many of us, these categories have gotten limiting. Sometimes our “boxes” can feel in conflict with one another, or we are perceived as “other” by one community we feel kinship with because of our ties to another. In this workshop we will discuss strategies for living “outside the box” and embracing our individuality without loosing the vital sense of connection to community that many of us crave.

Spirituality of Queer Acts

Being LGBT is not just about who we are as people, it can also be about the cultural and behavior activities we engage in. This workshop is a facilitated discussion about where we find the spiritual meaning, grounding, and significance in the acts that help define us as LGBT people. Obviously this can include the marvelous varieties of queer sex, but we’ll also look at the spiritual meaning of such varied acts as going to a Broadway show (or watching Glee if you don’t have the budget), receiving a hormone injection, showing affection in public, and whatever other ideas you bring to the table.

Confronting the Myths of Male Circumcision

Intensives

2 Day Needleplay Intensive w/Wintersong Tashlin

Magic & Spirituality

-Magic

Grounding and Centering

Grounding a centering is one of the most varied and essential techniques used when working with energy both inside and outside yourself. In this class we will explore some of the reasons and methods that can be used. We will also begin practicing, and students should have a good grasp of the technique by the end of the class.

Developing Your Metaphoric Language

“But if Herald Vanyel/Harry Dresden/?? can see energy, why can’t I?” It’s a question that many of my students have asked, and it isn’t a bad one. Fantasy novels and television aren’t the only place that we get the idea that we need to see energy, many books and classes teach from the perspective that one needs to see energy to to work with it. The sad truth is that for many of us, sight isn’t the way that we perceive the flow of energy. This class will teach students how to identify how they best sense energy, whether sight, texture, tone, temperature, or whatever works for them. As part of this process we’ll talk about how we can talk about energy with each other if I perceive energy as temperature gradients and you perceive it as different textures or something no one has ever thought of.

An Introduction to Pattern Magic

The whole world works in patterns that echo each other throughout nature and reality. The cracks in ice as it warms on a frozen lake and the pattern of a dragonfly’s wing are remarkably similar when looked at in the correct scale, as are the burnt ruts that a fire leaves in a log and the topography of the Grand Canyon. Energy moves and behaves in the same kinds of patterns, and a magician who is observant and creative can use these natural tendencies to their advantage. In this class, students will learn about how to see the patterns in nature and use them in crafting magic that is more stable and uses less energy.

Energy Fundamentals 101

What is all this glowing stuff about anyway? This class explores theories as to the nature of energy and its sources. We will also discuss other areas in which energy in various forms interacts with us and the world around us.

Cleansing without All of the Hand Waiving

This class will address the basic questions of: What is cleansing? What is contamination or taint? Why do traditional cleansing spells work from an energy perspective? and how can we develop our own cleansing systems for different environments and situations. Personal, object, space, and environment cleansing will be addressed.

A Magician in the Desert: Magic without Tools

What are the bones of spell work? What does is mean when we hold out our athame and cast a circle? What are our robes and herbs for and why do we use them? In this class we will talk about the ways that we can do our Work ‘naked in the desert’ as it were. We will discuss three common workings, and how to to achieve the same goals using only energy that we form and imprint ourselves.

The Backpack Wizard: Magic with Found Objects

We can’t all carry a suitcase of magical working tools every moment of the day, yet there are times when, without warning, we find ourselves in just that need. This class will teach techniques for turning out a purse or backpack and with a few quick decisions, consecration, and charging spells, turn the contents into an on-the-go supply closet. And then, when possible, change them back again. Participants should each bring three random objects for practice.

Intro to Techniques for Land Healing

You’ve just moved someplace new and the land or property just doesn’t “feel” right. Or perhaps a bunch of kids have a party in a local hiking area and in addition to leaving behind their beer bottles and wrappers, they’ve left behind, they’ve also made the land sick. Have you come across a piece of ground where nothing will grow, or won’t stay healthy and wished that you knew what to do about it? There are many different approaches that can be used in these types of situations, some are magical, some are spirit related, and some of the most useful involve getting your hands dirty. In this class we’ll be talking about how do identify when land is “healthy” and when it isn’t. Then you’ll learn some techniques from each of the three aforementioned categories so that you can be prepared the next time you encounter someplace in need of healing.

Breaking Magical Ties

“But I was sure he was the one!” Over my years as a magician and a shaman I’ve had those words or something like them wailed at me more times than I can count. When we are in a relationship the other person(s) we’re with can seem perfect and it is not uncommon to see people form energetic and magical ties that last far beyond the end of the relationship. Sometimes this is deliberate, sometimes not. Rarely is it malicious. If this is sounding all too familiar this is where you need to be. In this class we’ll talk a about how to sever these bonds when they are no longer wanted and more importantly, why they form and how to avoid forming them.

Sex, Magic, and the Great Outdoors (18+)

-Pagan/Spiritual Identity & Community

Soccer Fan at a Football Game: UPG in the Broader Community

When Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG) is a part of your spiritual life, you can feel like a soccer fan at a football game. When interacting with the broader pagan community, it can seem like you are speaking a different language. Many of us have intimate relationship to deity, speaking with and hearing from them possibly on a daily basis. In this class, we will talk about ways to translate between this most intimate (and often unverifiable) spirituality and the world at large.

Disability in Pagan Practice & Communities

Neo-Paganism is often described as an earth-centric religion: our holidays may be bound up in the wheel of the year, we tend to be body positive, and many of us tried to live “natural” lives. As a result of our faith and practices, modern Pagan traditions and communities are often far less accessible for people with disabilities then many mainstream faiths. This workshop looks at, and offers strategies for addressing, the challenges to access that many people with physical and/or mental health challenges encounter in attempting to engage with Pagan spirituality/practice, and with the broader Pagan community.

Walking Down Someone Else’s Road: Working out side of your pantheon and confort zone

Some of us work within a specific pantheon and some of us don’t. Either way, there’s a really good chance that at some point we’re going to be in a situation where the gods and traditions we need to be working with are not our own. Perhaps a deity you have no familiarity with wants you to do something for them, maybe a big something. Or a client or friend who’s background and gods are alien to you needs some kind of assistance or counseling that only you can provide. It’s also possible that you don’t have a pantheon, or your god wants you to work outside of their historic background and lore. What do you do? How do you adapt your ways, and when do you dig in your heels? How do you talk to other people about what your, and maybe their gods want you to do. In this class we’ll talk about our experiences and discuss strategies for managing and thriving in these situations.

Making the Modern Sacred

When we talk about the sacred what comes to mind is often not your car, cell phone, electric range or living room furniture. But in our everyday lives we spend more time with these items than anything else. In our continuing quest to bring meaning and spirituality into greater harmony with our reality, we will begin to re-frame how we think about and interact with the substance of our lives and bring sacredness into places usually considered mundane or profane.

When your spiritual life sounds like a fantasy novel

Even within the pagan community, it can be hard to be taken seriously as a magic(k) worker or someone who interacts directly with the gods, spirits and dead. This is much harder if your spirituality looks lifted from the pages of a fantasy novel. Take it from Wintersong, a magician and shaman who from the outside looks like his (and his Clan’s) Work is modeled on a Lackey novel (but isn’t). Let’s get together and talk about how to know when you ARE being overly influenced by fiction, how to convince yourself and others when you aren’t, and when maybe it’s ok to lift a little from a favorite book or two.

|Return to Presenter|