Sacred Tides: Ecstatic Dance on the Open Shore

As summer arrives on the shore, the ocean calls us into rhythm.

You’re invited to a soulful summertime gathering on the open beach of Cape May, New Jersey—an evening of ecstatic dance, water ritual, guided yoga, and waveside meditation held in honor of the sacred tides and the living beauty of the natural world.

As the shoreline opens and the sun begins its descent, we gather to celebrate the fullness of summer through movement, connection, and embodied presence. This is an invitation to attune to the elemental rhythms of ocean, breath, body, and season—to awaken aliveness beneath open sky, beside rolling waves, and within the shared pulse of conscious community.

Our evening begins with an opening circle to ground and arrive, followed by a water ritual led by Paqo Tom to open sacred space and connect with the tides. From there, we'll move into a guided yoga warmup by Elana Stern before surrendering to an ecstatic dance journey with DJ Vortexual. Carried by the rhythm of the sea and a shared open-air soundscape, we'll travel through waves of movement, expression, and celebration before softening into a sunset sound meditation with Krystina Vázquez, and closing community circle.

DJ Vortexual, a devoted curator of transformative sonic experiences, guides the dance through rhythm and resonance in harmony with the pulse of the ocean and the innate impulse within all life to grow, create, and blossom.

This gathering is rooted in deep respect for the shoreline and the sacred intelligence of place. Together, we will honor the land through mindful stewardship, practicing carry-in/carry-out and leave-no-trace principles while helping protect the dunes, wildlife, and surrounding habitat.

Hosted by Elana Stern of Tantra Collective & ONE LOVE HUB and Jen Hombach of Jaya Kava.

Co-created by longtime yoga practitioners, space-holders, and community builders, this offering is grounded in a shared lineage of embodied practice and a deep personal connection to Cape May. For both Elana and Jen, this gathering is a heartfelt homecoming to the shore that has long nourished their lives and practice.

Together with Riley, Tom, and Krystina, Elana and Jen share a longstanding commitment to creating intentional spaces where movement, presence, and community become portals for healing, remembrance, and joy.

🙏 HOW TO PREPARE

Come ready to move, connect, and honor the natural beauty of the shore:

• Wear comfortable beach clothing for movement and changing shoreline weather.

• Bring ample water and water bottle for hydration.

• Bring a towel or blanket for grounding and meditation.

• Bring layers for evening breeze as the sun begins to set.

• Arrive bathed, scent-free, skin and hair product-free to help keep our ocean waters clean.

• Use natural sunscreen that is safe for oceans and wildlife.

• No pets, dogs, nor fishing permitted during the gathering.

• Practice carry-in, carry-out and leave-no-trace stewardship,

• Remain off all dunes and avoid entering protected habitat areas.

💃🏻 SACRED AGREEMENTS

Sacred Tides is a co-created container of presence, freedom, respect, and reverence—for self, one another, and the living shoreline that holds us.

By entering this space, you agree to help uphold these shared agreements:

1. No talking in the dance space
   Let the body speak. Let the music and movement carry the conversation.

2. Consent always
   Touch and partnered movement are always optional and based on clear, mutual agreement. Offer connection with presence—a gesture, eye contact, or a smile. A “no” or non-response is to be honored immediately and gracefully.

3. Come without agenda
   Release expectations and allow the experience to unfold naturally. Arrive open to presence rather than outcome.

4. Respect every body
   Move with awareness, care, and sensitivity to all bodies sharing the space.

5. No hovering
   If connection is not reciprocated, gently move on. Give others spaciousness for their own process without lingering, pressuring, or imposing.

6. Non-interference
   Allow others their experience without guidance, correction, interpretation, or interruption.

7. Self-responsibility
   Honor your body, pace yourself, and take space when needed. Stay rooted in your own inner experience first.

8. Shared field awareness
   This space is co-created moment by moment. Move with sensitivity to the collective energy and those around you.

9. Direct communication
   If something needs to be addressed, speak directly with honesty and care rather than speaking about others or bypassing communication.

10. Phones away—no cameras nor recording
    This is a sacred present-time space. Let yourself and others be fully free.

11. Substance-free container
    We gather in clarity. Alcohol and recreational substances are not part of this experience.

12. Family-friendly mindfulness
    Adults self-regulate, and parents are asked to help children remain mindful of fellow participants and the shared container.

13. Environmental stewardship
    Honor the shoreline as sacred. Arrive bathed, scent-free, and lotion-free; use ocean-safe natural sunscreen; leave pets and fishing equipment at home; carry out everything you bring in; and remain fully off all dunes and protected habitat areas.

14. Accountability & repair
    If a boundary is crossed or conflict arises within the container, a facilitated repair process may be offered after the event to help restore safety, trust, and integrity within the community.

15. Uphold the container
    These agreements are part of the sacred field we create together. Anyone unable or unwilling to honor them may be asked to step out of the container or leave the event without refund.

Thank you for helping co-create a space of beauty, safety, respect, and reverence.

🌊 THE INVITATION

Meet us where land meets sea to celebrate summer’s return and surrender to the rhythm of movement, remembrance, and release.

Come prepared to honor the land.
Bring what you need.
Leave no trace.

Let the tides move through you.