Welcome to The Human Forest

The Human Forest is an immersive, consent-led touch experience designed to bring you back into your body, your heart, and honest connection with others.

This is not about performance, fixing, or pushing edges. It’s about slowing down enough to listen — to yourself, to another body, to the subtle language of presence. Touch here is offered without agenda and received without obligation. Boundaries are not barriers; they are the doorway.

Together, we create a living ecosystem. A space where care is felt, not rushed. Where touch becomes a quiet conversation. Where you are free to soften, to receive, to give, and to be witnessed exactly as you are.

Who This Experience Is For

The Human Forest is open to people of all ages, identities, and backgrounds.

You may come as an individual longing for deeper connection, as a couple curious to explore intimacy without sexuality, or simply because something in you knows you need more touch, more presence, more realness.

All genders, bodies, and expressions are welcome. No prior experience with touch practices is needed — only a willingness to listen to yourself and honour what’s true for you.

Every person is an essential part of the ecology. Your presence matters. Your pace matters. Your yes and your no are equally valued.

How the Experience Unfolds

We begin together in circle, grounding into the room and each other. You’ll be guided through simple connection practices and a clear explanation of the Human Forest framework, including shared agreements and consent language so everyone feels oriented and safe.

Once inside the Forest, communication becomes non-verbal. Listening happens through the body.

Half of the group begins as “trees,” wearing blindfolds and resting into a receptive role. The other half becomes the “critters,” offering slow, devotional touch guided by presence and consent. Roles rotate so everyone experiences both giving and receiving twice.

Facilitators are present throughout, holding the wider field and offering support where needed.

These experiences can be deeply nourishing. When hearts open through touch, beauty, and stillness, emotions may move. Joy, tenderness, grief, trust, playfulness, and relief are all welcome here. Our priority is that everyone leaves feeling regulated, connected, and cared for — not overwhelmed or exposed.

An Invitation

Are you willing to trust yourself?
To listen to your body’s wisdom?
To explore touch that is honest, restorative, and free from expectation?

You are invited to receive.
You are invited to offer.
You are invited to rest in being human, together.

Reflections from Past Participants

“Can we please do this every day?”
“I feel like honey melting on a warm stove.”
“I can feel myself and other people again.”
“I’ve never felt so supported.”
“It’s incredible how intimate this feels — and how safe.”

Important Agreements & Care Notes

This experience centres on loving, devotional, non-sexual touch.

There is no genital touch at any time.
Underwear remains on throughout the event.
There is no kissing or fluid exchange.

Touch may feel sensual, but it is not sexual.

Participants attending with romantic partners are asked to follow the same agreements as everyone else while the event is running, including refraining from couple-specific behaviours such as kissing in the Forest. This supports clarity and integrity for the whole group.

Because this is a touch-focused experience, we ask all participants to take personal responsibility for assessing whether they are feeling emotionally stable and resourced enough to engage with the practices offered. If you have a history of trauma related to touch, we strongly encourage you to reach out beforehand so we can thoughtfully explore whether this offering feels supportive for you at this time.

A Device-Free Space

The Human Forest is a photo- and video-free experience. No content will be captured. We ask all participants to place phones and recording devices away on arrival. This supports nervous system safety, privacy, and deep presence for everyone in the room.

Arrival & Timing

New to the Forest: Please plan to arrive between 5:00pm and 5:15pm for a 5:30 start
Existing forest community: Please plan to arrive between 6:00pm and 6:15pm for a 6:30 start

The opening section includes essential consent, boundaries, and orientation that cannot be repeated once the event has begun. While it’s never easy to turn people away, late arrivals disrupt the group container and cannot be admitted. Thank you for honouring the time-bound nature of the experience.

Venue & Getting There

Habitat Uniting Church - Augustine Hall
2 Minona Street, Hawthorn

Please allow extra time to locate the entrance and make your way inside so you can arrive unhurried.

Driving & Parking

Minona St and surrounding side streets offer plenty of Free all night parking options. As this is a residential area, we recommend factoring in additional time to find a park and a short walk to the venue.

Public transport

🚆 Train – Glenferrie Station (Lilydale / Belgrave / Alamein lines) is approximately a 10–12 minute walk.
🚆 Hawthorn Station is also nearby.

🚋 Tram – Route 16 (Kew via Glenferrie Road) stops close to Glenferrie Road.
Route 70 (Wattle Park) also services the Hawthorn area.

Accessibility & Inclusion

This venue is on the ground floor making the Forest even more accessible than it has been before.

We aim to create inclusive, community-minded spaces while also honouring the realities of running sustainable events. If you’re experiencing genuine financial difficulty and the ticket price feels out of reach, you’re welcome to contact us to explore possible support.

Tickets & Changes

Full refunds are available up to 24 hours before the event start time.
Within 24 hours of the event, tickets are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to future dates.

If you’re unable to attend and would like to gift your ticket to someone in the community, please get in touch so we can assist.

Questions or Check-ins

If anything feels unclear, or you’d like to connect before booking, you’re very welcome to reach out.

Email: welcome@thehumanforestexperience.com

We’d much rather you arrive feeling informed and supported than uncertain

Contact the host of The Human Forest Experience