The Mush | Platonic touch, playfulness, connection, cuddle puddle.

A playful afternoon of platonic touch, connection and cuddles.

When was the last time you experienced physical affection without any expectations attached?

The Mush is a fully facilitated, 100% platonic cuddle event where we come together to explore human connection, practise consent and enjoy the simple pleasure of caring touch.

And it's probably a lot sillier than you're imagining. We take consent seriously, but not much else! Prepare to let your inner child out to play.

Never been in a cuddle puddle before? Don't know how to cuddle a room full of strangers? Perfect.

You don't need to know what you're doing. We'll guide you through the whole experience, step by step, starting with agreements so we all feel safe, followed by playful exercises to help us loosen up, connect and get comfortable with each other.

There'll be laughter, some wonderfully ridiculous games, a little animal antics and plenty of opportunities to practise communicating what feels good and what doesn't, often without using words at all.

Along the way, we'll explore embodied consent, personal boundaries and how to give and receive touch in a way that feels safe, comfortable and genuinely welcome.

Then comes The Mush!

We'll gradually build our big, cosy human cuddle pile, with guidance on how to find comfortable positions, support each other's bodies and settle in together. It's not a free-for-all pile-on! There's a little structure to help everyone feel supported, with plenty of freedom to find what works for you. We call this the Mushitecture.

You might find yourself nestled between new friends, sharing a quiet moment of connection, or simply enjoying the feeling of being held without needing to do anything at all.

Why do we do this?

Because humans are wired for connection, and most of us aren't getting nearly enough of it!

Safe, nurturing touch can help our nervous systems settle through something called co-regulation, where we help each other feel calm, grounded and safe.

Affectionate touch can encourage the release of oxytocin, sometimes called the bonding hormone, while playful connection can give us little hits of dopamine and joy. Together, these experiences can help ease stress, invite deep relaxation and strengthen our sense of belonging.

And beyond all the science, there's something wonderfully simple about being held, feeling accepted and enjoying human connection without needing anything more from each other.

More touch. Less stress. More connection. More joy.

Your body. Your boundaries. Your choice.

Everything at The Mush is an invitation, never an obligation.

You're welcome to join in, sit something out, change your mind, ask for something different or take some time for yourself. We'll practise giving and receiving a wholehearted yes and a wholehearted no, without pressure or awkwardness.

This is a non-sexual, sober, phone-free space where we prioritise consent, care and respect for one another.

What to expect

- A warm welcome and a chance to settle in

- Playful connection games to break the ice and get us laughing

- Group agreements to build a safe container for the experience

- Guided exercises exploring boundaries, consent and non-verbal communication

- An introduction to the building blocks of a comfortable group Mush

- Plenty of time to relax into caring, platonic touch

- A gentle closing circle to bring us back into the world

What to bring and wear:

Wear comfy clothes that you can easily sit, stand and lay down in. 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. Snacks to share are always welcome but not required.

No experience necessary. Come as you are, with an open mind and a willingness to get a little silly.

Location

📍 Everton Park, Brisbane (that's the suburb, not a park, you will receive the address upon registration)

Energy Exchange:

Accessible (For those experiencing financial hardship): $20

Sustaining (For those with financial stability): $35

Supporting (For those in financial abundance): $35+

We are trying to keep the price low for a long and langourous, touch-based event. If you'd like to help us keep The Mush accessible to all, enter what you'd like to pay under Supporting.

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

The Family Mush 💛

Already part of the Mush family? Come straight for the cuddles!

If you've attended the full facilitation at least twice before, you're welcome to skip the introductory activities and join us around 3:30 pm, just in time for the cuddle puddle.

The Family Mush is for returning participants who are already familiar with our consent practices, boundaries and how we Mush together.

To access a Family Mush ticket, simply get in touch with Kate to receive your booking code and be added to our Family Mush WhatsApp group.

Afterwards, you're welcome to join us for dinner nearby and keep the connection going.

Come for cuddles. Stay for community. 💛

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