The Mush | Facilitated Cuddle Puddle & Community Afternoon

We’re gathering a circle of loving humans for something simple and radical:

Conscious connection.

Deep nervous system regulation.

A touch positive community space.

Non-sexual, caring, fully platonic touch.

This is the Mush.

A fully facilitated cuddle puddle.

If you don't know what a cuddle puddle is... picture a litter of puppies all snuggled up together. Half on top of each other, half snoozing and completely content.

Then, replace those puppies with people.

This is not a dating event.

Not tantra.

Not erotic in the slightest.

This is puppy-pile, grandma-hug, nervous-system-melting, deeply caring, non-sexual touch.

We are intentionally rewriting the old story that says cuddling must lead somewhere. Here, it leads back to the body. Back to regulation. Back to community.

How the afternoon flows

We’ll start by landing in our bodies.

Follow with introductions and sharing circles.

We'll talk about the agreements and embodied consent.

Through some playful exercises, we'll practise saying yes, no, softer, slower, not that, more of this.

We'll also practise receiving a "no" with warmth, because every boundary expressed is a little piece of trust. We want people to discover that saying no doesn't rupture connection. It helps make connection safer.

We’ll explore nervous system regulation and co-regulation. How to stay connected to yourself while connecting with others.

Then, gradually, we’ll build the Mushitecture.

A warm constellation of limbs and heartbeats.

A human cloud of oxytocin.

You never have to get into the Mush. And if you're in and want to get out at any point, just say the word and we'll help excavate you from the pile. A clear "no" is something we celebrate here, not something you need to apologise for.

We'll have a closing circle, and afterwards, we’ll wander to a nearby restaurant for dinner and gentle integration.

Who is the Mush for?
You don't need to be a particularly cuddly person. You don't need experience with embodiment practices. And you definitely don't need to arrive ready to cuddle everyone.

Come if you're curious about platonic touch, deeper connection, embodied consent, nervous system regulation, or simply exploring what it feels like to be in affectionate community without romance or sex attached to it.

The Mush is referral based. For friends and community, invite anyone you know who would resonate.

Energy Exchange:

Accessible (For those experiencing financial hardship): $20

Sustaining (For those with financial stability): $35

Supporting (For those in financial abundance): $50

Don't worry, there's no VIP area in the Mush, whichever ticket you purchase, you will experience the same event.

This is a Touch-Positive Space. 

Within the Mush, we don't require verbal permission before every instance of touch. Instead, we'll teach and practise embodied consent: how to offer touch slowly, listen for verbal and non-verbal responses, communicate your own boundaries clearly, and stop whenever you're unsure. A "no", a redirection, moving away, or choosing not to participate is always welcome.

Please join only if you feel resourced to:

• Keep it non-sexual

• Self-regulate and co-regulate

• Communicate and honour boundaries

• Stay sober

• Be phone-free for the duration of the event

What to bring and wear:

Wear comfy clothes. Leave bulky jewelry at home and empty your pockets. Avoid thick belts or anything hard that will make you less cuddle-able.

Shower beforehand (VERY important if you're a sweaty human, we love you, but consider bringing a spare shirt).

Bring a water bottle. Fruit and sweet treats to share are always welcome but not required.

If you read this and your body quietly says yes, we would love to welcome you to the Mush.

1. Read the agreements below.

2. Book your ticket.

3. Wait for confirmation and location details via email.

4. Join us on time. This is a closed container. Latecomers will sadly not be able to join.

We can’t wait to build the Mush with you.

Before you attend your first Welcome Mush, please follow these basic steps:

1. Read this text in its entirety. It is important that you understand the community agreements and values before arriving in the space, to make sure the event is a good fit for you.

2. Complete the checkout questions.

3. Wait for the Mush hosts to send you the event location. It's best that you don't wait for the last minute to register.

This is an intimate event, so please use your judgment when inviting new people. Everyone comes through referral and community.

You'll notice you can only buy one ticket per order. This is so each attendee can read and confirm these agreements before attending. If your friends want to come, send them the event link.

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Please bring your water bottle. Musical instruments are welcome, it's always nice to cuddle to some groovy tunes. If you're a sweaty human, we love you, but consider bringing a spare shirt. Wear deodorant, but avoid heavy perfumes and colognes. If you feel inspired, you're welcome to bring healthy snacks / fruits/ sweets to feed to the other mushers.

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Values

To create a safe container for this exploration, it's only possible to join the event if you agree to honor the Community Agreements listed below. The Mush Agreements are inspired by the Mush Values:

1. Safety

2. Love

3. Authenticity

4. Autonomy

The agreements support us to practice the values and create a touch-positive space where everyone feels safe to give and receive platonic love, be fully self-expressed, and explore new ways of relating with each other. You don’t need to remember it all! Just take in the big picture, and we will review and practice all of this during the facilitation.

Mush Agreements:

1. Love Each Other

• Intend to share (send and receive) love with everybody in the space, whether you know them or not. You don’t need to touch everyone; you can share love at a distance.

• Keep it Non-Sexual (Platonic Container = Not Erotic, No Neo-Tantra Vibes). It’s Puppy-Dog Kitty-Cat love, like you would share with a baby or your grandma.

• If you get sexually activated, keep that energy to yourself and take actions to decrease the sexual activation.

• Don’t talk about sex or sex-positive events.

2.  Regulate Your Nervous System and Support the Group Co-Regulation (we’ll teach you how).

• If you notice that you are activated, take action to regulate your nervous system.

• If you notice that another person is trying to regulate, join them in a co-regulation.

• Avoid activities or topics of conversation that are activating for you or for others.

3. Take Care of Yourself and Each Other

• Care about others’ preferences and boundaries, and trust that we care about yours.

• Make sure you are comfy, and if not, do something about it.

• Move slowly and listen for the other’s response.

• Give a clear response (preferably non-verbal) when you are touched.

• Say No or redirect any touch that doesn’t feel good to you.

• Say “Thank You” when others express their boundaries or redirect your touch. 

• Watch out for Freeze and Fawn responses; if you’re not sure then stop touching them. 

• Ask for help from a facilitator if you need it, or if you think someone else needs it.

• Seek to include others in the Mushchitecture; be willing to change positions to make space for more Mushers.

• Ask for and offer physical support when climbing through and around the pile of humans. Be interactive.

4. Take Care of the Space

• No photos or electronics in the Mush space; leave your phone and smartwatch outside.

• Stay sober; do not consume mind-altering substances or alcohol before or during the event. 

• Keep the indoor space as non-verbal as possible. Use words only as needed.

• Practice hygiene; shower before the mush, clean your feet.

5.) Be Curious & Present; No Expectations

• Come to Space with open-mind and curiosity about what will happen.

• Stay in the Present moment; sense what is happening inside your body and in the space. If your thoughts are in the past or future, then co-regulate.

• After the event, if you meet participants outside the Mush Container, don’t expect to continue the same level of intimacy that you experienced at the Mush.

6.) Peacefully Resolve Conflicts

• If you feel triggered by another person’s actions, or you feel that your boundaries were crossed, take prompt action to address this. Co-regulate first, and then either address your concerns directly with the person, or seek help from a Facilitator.

• If someone else wants to resolve a conflict with you, be willing to speak about what happened with them (and possibly with Mediation from a facilitator).

• Seek to empathize with the other person’s experience.

• Celebrate truthfulness and vulnerability.

• Be open to feedback about how your actions are affecting others and make meaningful efforts to reduce harm and improve adherence to the agreements.

7.) Keep the Container

• Everyone is an angel in the space; support the other participants  to honour the agreements by speaking up when you see something is out of alignment. Thank others when they do this.

• After the event, keep these container agreements and keep it platonic until you have had a chance to sleep, wake up, and have a few minutes by yourself to consider the best course of action.

8. Celebrate Playfulness

• Celebrate the playfulness you see in others, even if you don’t feel like being playful yourself.

• If you hear the voice of your playful inner child, give them control of the body for a few minutes.

• Enjoy acting like a puppy or kitten or whatever makes you feel good. Miau Miau 😺

That's all the Agreements, Yay!

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Please note that the Welcome Mush is a Touch-Positive space. Others will touch you without seeking verbal consent first. Please only join us if you feel you can navigate this safely.

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ON PLATONIC BEHAVIOUR

(2,400 years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato wrote extensively on the topic of non-sexual love, which he also called "Divine Eros")

Why it's so important to keep THE MUSH non-sexual:

We are intentionally deprogramming the cultural assumption or expectation that sensual touch or cuddling is always a first step towards a sexual relationship. By challenging this old program and breaking social norms, we create the possibility for more intimacy in our lives and more touch in all of our non-sexual relationships.

There is great value in integrating the benefits of a purely non-sexual touch experience. So, even if it feels right and it's definitely consensual, please do NOT finish the night by exchanging sexual touch or pursuing a new romantic interest. This would reinforce the old program.

Remember that your actions in the mush space affect others who might witness them, and that we are all highly sensitive energetic beings. So even if it "only looks sexual," if it is causing sexual activation in others you may be asked to change your behaviour. And even if your behaviour doesn't look explicitly sexual to anyone else, if it feels sexual to you, others will sense your pheromones. So please be responsible.

If you see something sexy happening at the Mush, it is appropriate to share your concerns. If witnessing this behaviour brings you into a triggered or sexually activated state, we encourage you to co-regulate first, and (especially if you are having big feelings) to ask a friend, team-member, or facilitator to support you in addressing the situation. Best practices: use "I" statements like "I observe," "I feel." Inquire how the others are feeling; give them a chance to self-correct. Make requests, not demands. If it's not going well, ask for help from the facilitator.

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Big platonic love,

Kate & Emma

The Brisbane Mush Team

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Here's a 15-minute video interview about the Mush. It was filmed on September 18th 2023 at the Osho Leela retreat center (near London). You're welcome to share with friends who are curious to learn more about the Mush.

bit.ly/mush-interview-sept23