ASSFest S25 Rim | Thanatos Grief Ritual

*** An ASSFEST S25 Rim event**

We are living in a moment of intense global despair, grief and collective trauma.

At the Australian School of Sexuality, we’ve honestly struggled a little with creating a pleasure festival within such a context. But bodies, sex and pleasure are not frivolous - they are sites of immense political importance.

This is a ritual of feeling.

Without expression, embodied trauma becomes stuck, creating dysregulation and dissociation, and blocking the pathways to pleasure.

The first step to feeling pleasure is feeling. And it can be so hard. This is a space to do it together - to drop in, to feel, to express, to not be alone in that, and afterwards to share stillness, touch and connection with community.

You will enter the space,
Light a candle for Palestine,
For the light to stay alive
In the growing darkness
When are ready
To wear your shroud
Enter
Drop In
Feel.

We welcome your sound.
Your expression.
We feel your grief.
We share it.

When you are ready to emerge,
please seek nourishment,
And if you are willing to hold
The grief of others
Return and Witness.

As we each complete our process; we will come together in a space of platonic touch, comfort and connection.

We will be taking some photographs of this event. Whilst many of our deeper rituals remain private, this one is about expression and being seen, and the transmutation of our feeling into art feels appropriate. No video will be taken of this ritual.

Please bring:
A shroud - preferably white, alternatively red or green.
A candle and a jar.
Water and a small gift of nourishment for the communal table.

100% of ticket sales go to Medicins Sans Frontier for their work in Gaza and other frontline regions.

🍑 LOGISTICS 🍑

TICKETING

BY DONATION

100% of ticket sales go to Medicins Sans Frontier for their work in Gaza and other frontline regions.

This event is part of the ASSFEST S25 Rim Festival.

VENUE & ACCESSIBILITY

2PM - 4PM SATURDAY 30TH OF AUGUST | A SPACE IN SYDNEY

There is a steep flight of stairs with 2 turns up into the workshop space of the venue, please reach out to us if this may be of concern to you so that we can provide more information! Inside the venue there are 3 steps leading down to the hallway to the kitchen area, and another 3 steps leading down into the kitchen space which leads to the bathroom. 

TRANSPORT & PARKING

The venue is an few minutes walk from both buses and trams. There is limited untimed parking in the area. If you are a ticket holder and require a bit more detail on the transport options please reach out!

INCLUSIVITY & LIMITATIONS

As well as sex positivity, we love diversity & all curious & respectful 18+ humans are welcome.

*** THIS IS AN 18+ EVENT - YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO DISPLAY A VALID PHOTO ID ON THE DAY TO GAIN ENTRY ***

🍑 ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF SEXUALITY 🍑

The Australian School of Sexuality (ASS) is a collective of affiliated sex educators who've teamed up to support each other & increase public accessibility to sexuality education spaces. Please visit our website for a detailed look at our hosts, workshops & vision!

We welcome all feedback, questions & thoughts! Please get in touch via email.

Huge gratitude to our wonderful sponsors for believing in the possibilities of ASS! Assembly Four, Tryst Link & Demasque Magazine.