Classes and Workshops of the Past
2021 Temple Scarlet DAY Retreat Classes and Workshops
Orientation to Consent & CoCreation
By Mystopher (he/him)
Co-creating your life, relationships, and an event that is both safe and inspiring begins with sovereignty and consent. Having created an original musical theatre version of a consent talk to open the Hawaii Tantra festival, Mystophur invites us to joyfully create a safe space for everyone to discover and express their desires and communicate boundaries effectively.
Mystopher (a.k.a. Christopher Fuelling) is a theater director, tenor, and changemaker who founded his "Theater of Love" (www.teatrokorazon.org), co-directs the ritual theater arm of the International School of Temple Arts (www.ista.life/ssstar), and designed the ritual curriculum and teaches at the intimacy wellness startup Gasm.tv.
Developing a Solo Sexual Practice: Lecture and Lab
By Martin Turner (he/him)
Lecture: Basic techniques for harvesting, circulating and storing sexual energy. This lecture class will present a rationale for and some benefits of having a regular solo sexual practice. If you have regular opportunities for partner sex, having a solo practice can enhance those experiences. If not, a solo practice can provide many of the same practical benefits for physical vitality plus mental and emotional harmony. The key to this practice is to achieve and take pleasure in being in a state of full sexual arousal for an extended period without having an orgasm.
Lab: Details of the lab will be released at the retreat. Lab participation is entirely optional.
Martin Turner is a veteran Temple Scarlet presenter who has devoted himself primarily to exploring non-monogamous intimate relationships and learning about his own sexuality since his retirement in 2009.
Mindfucks
By Strong_HandsMo (he/him) and ginger_syn (she/her)
Mindfucks covers how to change from normal play to deeper psychological play. It creates an intensity and fear that brings out the best in both the bottom and the Top. With a solid base of trust, these tools and tricks will allow you to enjoy a wide variety of play using the same toys you have in your bag right now. By showing how to safely create an uneven physical or psychological balance, you create a level of excitement that you never thought possible. We will demonstrate how creating a mindset to get the maximum response from fight or flight can be easily incorporated into your preferred style and type of play. This is an interactive, tag-team demo and questions are encouraged, with time for hands-on practice.
Strong_HandsMo was the 2018 Heartland Person of Leather and 2017 Show Me Leather Person of Leather. He has been involved in the Kansas City kink community for more than eight years and has ties to the St. Louis and Houston kink communities as well. One of StrongHands’ greatest joys is to help others with massage, sensual touch and body play.
Ginger_syn is a saucy, switchy, queer, exhibitionist. She’s a nerdy, dirty, inked and curvy military veteran with a love for tacos. Ginger has been active in the Kansas City Kink community for several years and often teaches and leads discussions/demos and classes on polyamory, rope and other kinky topics. Ginger is raunchy and there’s often a ‘splash zone,’ you’ve been warned.
Strong_HandsMo and ginger_syn have traveled the Midwest presenting together in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Loving Trans People
Lilith Groves (she/her or Fae/Faer)
Created with the input of various other trans people, this discussion is designed to cover topics we wish others knew more about when interested in dating and/or being intimate with us. Bring your questions! This is a safe place to ask anything, even things that may feel too intimate/invasive to ask in other settings!
Lilith Groves is a trans woman with years of experience in the confluence of polyamory, kink, spirituality, and queerness. Her goal as a devotee of the goddess Lilith is to aid all people to be heard and seen as their authentic selves. She tries her best to listen to and advocate for those with trauma, those oppressed, and those who struggle to be heard.
History of Tantra
By Zachary Montgomery (he/him)
Ever since Oprah introduced her viewers to the concept of tantra, mainstream audiences have been fascinated with the idea of lasting longer and being able to achieve greater levels of pleasure. But is that what sparked the creation and practice of tantra? This workshop looks at tantra from a historical and religious perspective to discover the roots of tantric practice and see what lessons we could apply to our own modern practices.
Zachary Montgomery has a degree in religious studies with emphasis on South Asian religion, and a personal tantric practice of several years. He is currently working on a Master's Degree in Religious Studies, which involves extensive research into contemporary Pagan and occult communities.
Shadows and Sex
By Kevros Nocte (She/Her or He/Him)
This class will be specifically looking at chaotically aligned beings like the Fair Folk and Hellions, which Kevros has worked with in his own practice, and how one can apply sex magic with these types of spirits. As well as, ways in which you can go about safely pursuing relationships in this context. There will also be discussion on using this type of sexual relationship for orientation and gender exploration. It is recommended that students joining have some basic knowledge of meditation, astral projection, and preferably past work with the Fair Folk (Fae) at the very least.
Kevros Nocte has been a chaos aligned practitioner for over a decade and lived all her life in the Kansas City area. He has spent most of his practice specializing in astral projection and building long-lasting, healthy relationships with both deities and spirits. She has taught classes previously on working with different kinds of spirits in a contractual sense and working with Hellions specifically.
Shamanic Soul-Coaching in the Bedroom
K. Arcas EarthSoul, MAOL, ACC, (he/him)
When two (or more) people meet in the bedroom, each individual presents one or more inner aspects of their souls to interact. While some aspects are compatible, others are not, and the combination can range from amazing to traumatizing. Learn to become aware of the aspects you and your partner(s) present, and begin a negotiation about which will come forth to play: the Primal Beast, the Healing Priest/ess, the Hedonistic Slut, the Inner Child, the Performing Virtuoso, the Fuck-tathlete, and more...
K. Arcas EarthSoul, MAOL, ACC, facilitates personal authenticity development through modern coaching processes coupled with neo-shamanistic techniques. Arcas is a certified Shamanic Soul Coach (Integrative Arts Institute) and Associate Certified Coach (International Coaching Federation). His life-purpose is to create positive change in the world through Authentic Leadership Development at the personal, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels.
A Brief History of Sex Magic
By Ariel Ryan Larrick-Bautista
This class will cover the historical record of sexual practice in relation to magic, where it went, and how we use it now. There will also be discussion about what modern sex magick practices look like, and what we in the modern-day use sex magick it for.
Ariel Ryan Larrick-Bautista grew up in KC and has always been interested in the hidden aspects of the world. Ariel has studied a wide array of magic and magic adjacent practices from a young age, and is always still learning. His recent focus is on Gnostic belief and Thelemic practice, though his personal practice would be described as eclectic.
What is Orgasmic Meditation and Why Should I Care?
By Dave Witcher (he/him)
Orgasmic Meditation is a unique practice designed to help cis women and their partners expand their personal energy in amazing ways to astounding new heights. Orgasmic Meditation's primary goal is centered around helping cis women embrace and expand their ability to receive and, in doing so, step into their self-empowerment. It also has incredibly healing benefits for their partner as they are able to lean into the energy of unconditional giving.
Dave Witcher grew up in Kansas City and then spent 18 years living and working in San Fransisco where he learned Orgasmic Meditation. he moved back to KC at the end of 2015 and he has been studying and practicing energy work/healing ever since. He believes that OM'ing has the potential to greatly uplift and transform our society.
2019 Temple Scarlet Retreat Classes and Workshops
BDSM 101
Friday 5pm
An interactive discussion class about sensation play and BDSM for beginners. Presenter Brad Leather will be talking about consent and safety in BDSM, a variety of general BDSM practices, and offering demonstrations of some toys and mechanics. The class will include and extensive Q and A session.
Brad Leather has spent several years teaching the local community about safe BDSM, severed as Dungeon Master, and leads a couple of small educational groups. He is willing to adjust his class to the interests of the attendees and make recommendations to attendees seeking further BDSM instruction or involvement.
Feeling Yourself: The Sacred Art of Sensual Dance
Friday 8pm
An interactive Bellydance class. Participants will be taught by Yeshe-La Chodron to openly express themselves through dance, and, to find a renewed sense of body awareness, acceptance, and sensuality embodied in a safe and sacred way.
Presenter Yeshe-La began Bellydancing in 2007 and fell in love with the beauty, grace, sensuality and sexuality of Bellydance. Not long afterward she became enchanted with the sensuality and arousing nature of pole dancing as well. Bringing her intimate connection with Mary Magdalen into her expression of the sensual art of dance was like placing the holy cherry on top! Yeshe-La Chrodron began teaching dance in 2008. In 2010 she opened her Bellydance studio in Topeka, KS. Yeshe-La continued to teach Bellydance there and then began incorporating yoga. She started to offer her Sacred Movement workshops in 2013.
Beyond the Bedroom: A Journey into Polyamory
Saturday 10am
A lecture and discussion class about polyamorous relationships. In this Class presenters Laura Love and Donavon Love will be taking attendees into the world of "Many Loves". They will be teaching the different types of Polyamory, the basic etiquette of Polyamory, how to sit down and talk to one's family about Polyamory, and more.
Presenters Laura (Ayriann) and Donavon (Knox) have spent their entire adult lives as Polyamorous. Knox, Ayriann, and their Partner Shaun; Have been a committed triad for the last 4 years. Together they are raising Ayriann's 4 children. As a family, they have committed themselves to educating others on the many benefits of the Poly life style that extend far beyond the bedroom.
Healthy Masculinity
Saturday 11am
A lecture class about embracing healthy masculinity. Why are men in such a lost, angry, and powerless place in our culture today? Why are men so frustrated with life and relationships? What can be done to help men reclaim happiness, peace, power, and strength in today's world? These are the topics that presenter Josh Sigafus has wrestled with in his own life, both as a man and as a writer/intellectual. Through a lot of research, soul-searching, and personal experience he has found answers to the questions.
Josh Sigafus is a freelance writer who has written at great length about many topics related to male human health and wellness. Josh taught sex education for The Pregnancy Resource Center of Mountain Grove in the state of Missouri for 3 years, and even wrote/developed the curriculum the organization used. Josh Sigafus has published two books; one on the topic of reducing suffering and increasing happiness, and the other about achieving artistic mastery in one's life. He has recently been delving into the topic of what it means to be a true, powerful, healthy, masculine man in today's culture in his personal blog. He also has a book project about healthy masculinity in progress.
How to Further Your Study of the Ecstatic Arts
Saturday 2pm
Everything you think is wrong: AKA how to further your study of the ecstatic arts. This is a workshop that will cover the elements essential to further the study of the Ecstatic Arts. This guide will stress the importance of having community guidelines and accepted practices in leadership and organization. What to look for in books and online media, for informational authenticity, will be discussed. We will also go over how to spot misleading or predatory practices in leadership or mentorship. This discussion will hopefully help you find the information you need to pursue the path of your choosing.
Rev J.J. Sweetass is a third-degree Witch and High Priest. He is the High Priest of Coven of the Mystical Dawn, and received his degree from the English Trad Coven of the Crossroads. Which is part of the Watersmeet Cadre of Covens. He is the Host of The Lushes of Leather Lane which a consent forward sex positive Bacchus group. He stresses the importance of community, letting go, and preaches radical acceptance. Several people throughout the years have mentored him, and helped him to contribute to the community over the last 15 min.
Claim Your Space and Claim Your Power
Saturday 3pm
What does that mean? How do you claim your space and Power in a relationship? A poly relationship? Personally? This workshops and discussion will focus on ways to claim your space and claim your power, by doing suggested things to enrich your life, and cover how to let go of what does not serve you or your higher purpose. Claiming your space in the bedroom or the boardroom; come and discuss what to do. Learn new methods of setting boundaries and empowering yourself and your partner or partners! Presented by Celestina.
P.T.S.D. Coping and Recovery Discussion
Saturday 4 pm – 6 pm
Presenters Thia and Emily believe that healing occurs through sharing. In this interactive workshop they will provide a safe space to share stories, triggers, and healing tools around PTSD/CPTSD. Utilizing a talking stick, each person will have an opportunity to share their experience with trauma and where they are in their healing process. Anyone can pass the talking stick if they don’t want to share. To close there will be a guided meditation to calm any triggers and promote a feeling of peace. After the workshop the presenters will be available for anyone who feels unsettled in any way and would like further assistance.
Presenter Thia Sleszynski has been studying the connections between psychology and spirituality for 9 years. Combining this with emotional processing and bodywork she treats tissue memory due to trauma. She helped birth the Goddesses of Light Temple which travels the Midwest holding divine feminine space for healing workshops. Thia co-created a sexual abuse healing workshop which she has held space for at multiple events.
Presenter Emily George has been working through her own CPTSD applying different methods and therapies for the past 6 years. She has had articles on her healing processes and tools published in online publications. She co-created an online support group called Peace, Love, and PTSD with Thia, and she works one on one with women holding space and exchanging healing.
Shibari: Japanese Knot Tying Workshop
Saturday 7 pm
A class about Shibari, the art of Japanese knot tying. Presenter Irish Mike Sager will teach why people practice Shibari and safe ways to start this daring pastime. He will discuss how to begin, cover important safety issues, and talk about where one might find Shibari opportunities in the local area. Mike will be presenting several examples of basic and advanced ties as he tells about the potential advantages and disadvantages of each.
Baptized in the flame on more than one occasion, presenter Irish Mike Sager has spent many years perfecting his fire spell both metaphorically and metaphysically. An eager seeker of knowledge from all corners of the globe, he is known to occasionally bring his glimpses of the arcane to lauded workshops; and he uses multiple metaphors to relate the lessons to our modern world.
Yoga
Sunday 10am
An interactive basic Yoga class. Have fun doing morning Yoga! There will be lots of stretching, twisting, and some core work. Please bring your own Yoga Mat!
Presenter Keith Gallaway has been teaching Yoga since 2012 and is certified with 180 hours of Yoga teaching. Keith has prepared a beginner class, but will teach in line with the experience levels of those who attend.
Sexual Orientation
Sunday 11am
An interactive workshop which utilizes the Klein Grid, a reflection tool developed by Fritz Klein in the late 1970s. Presenter Judith Galas will work with the Klein Grid enabling participants to consider their sexual orientations by focusing on their sexual attractions, sexual behaviors, sexual fantasies, and sexual identification in their past, present and future.
Judith Galas has been a sexuality educator for more than a decade, working as both a workshop leader and a sexuality trainer with the nationally acclaimed Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality program. As an OWL workshop leader Judith has taught classes across the age spectrum. As a trainer she has worked nationwide with adults who want to bring informative, accurate, holistic and comprehensive sexuality education to all, as a matter of social justice and personal health. In her years as a working teacher Judith has also taught language arts, journalism, and a variety of topics to adult learners in corporate and life-learning settings.
Sexuality Education: It’s More Than Sex Ed
Sunday 2pm
A class in which participants will learn about holistic sexuality education, and how it is but a distant relative to what schools and public health officials call “sex ed.” Presenter Judith Galas will also teach participants how they might become sexuality educators through the Our Whole Lives program and how this program has upended the conversation on what is means to have comprehensive sexuality education for all. An opportunity to better their communities by educating.
Judith Galas has been a sexuality educator for more than a decade, working as both a workshop leader and a sexuality trainer with the nationally acclaimed Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality program. As an OWL workshop leader Judith has taught classes across the age spectrum. As a trainer she has worked nationwide with adults who want to bring informative, accurate, holistic and comprehensive sexuality education to all, as a matter of social justice and personal health. In her years as a working teacher Judith has also taught language arts, journalism, and a variety of topics to adult learners in corporate and life-learning settings.
Healthy Masculinity: Part Two
Sunday 3pm
A lecture class about embracing healthy masculinity. Why are men in such a lost, angry, and powerless place in our culture today? Why are men so frustrated with life and relationships? What can be done to help men reclaim happiness, peace, power, and strength in today's world? Presenter Josh Sigafus will be elaborating on his Healthy Masculinity class; giving attendees further useful information and details.
Ecstatic Ritual of Inanna
By Rev J.J. Sweetass
Temple Scarlet Main Ritual
By Katarina Elaine M and Associates
Community Fires
2018 Temple Scarlet Retreat Classes and Workshops
A History of Tantra: Tantric Philosophy and Its Applications
A lecture and discussion class about the history of Tantra and Tantric philosophy. Presenter Zachary Montgomery will teach about the history and context in which tantra was originally developed and practiced, the origins of tantra, the tantric kingdoms of Northern India and Nepal, and how to use tantric knowledge in our personal practices.
Zachary Montgomery has a degree in religious studies with emphasis on South Asian religion, and a personal tantric practice of several years. He is currently working on a Master's Degree in Religious Studies, which involves extensive research into contemporary Pagan and occult communities.
Taoist Sexual Theory and Practice
A workshop about Taoist solo and dual body cultivation practices that build health, harmony, and longevity. Presenter Martin Turner will be teaching about the Taoist perspective of embracing physical embodiment and how to build a solid foundation of physical, emotional and mental harmony. The workshop will be interactive.
Martin Turner has studied Taoism for decades and been practicing sexual qigong for 7 years. He identifies as solo polyamorous and has long been involved in sacred sexuality work within his community.
Polyamory 101
A lecture and discussion class about polyamory; the practice of loving more than one person at a time romantically and or sexually. Presenters Cat Andrews and Steve Towle will be teaching basic building blocks for successful polyamorous relationships. The class may include a Q and A session.
Cat Andrews has been practicing polyamory for 30 years, and Steve Towle has been practicing polyamory for 15 years. They have had many different kinds of relationship experiences in their 14 years together as a couple and are happy to be of help to others.
Sexuality and Gender 101
A lecture and discussion class about understanding sexuality and gender labels. Presenter Noah Scott will share about the complexities of the sexual/gender/romantic world and the purpose of identity labels. The class may include and extensive Q and A session.
Noah Scott is Queer, or more specifically, Demi-sexual Androromantic Polyamorous Genderqueer Male-Presenting. He has studied sexuality and gender, presented this subject at previous conferences, and has a wealth of personal experience living within the queer community.
Healing with Tantric Intimacy
A workshop about tantric energy, sexual healing, and relevant consent culture. Presenter Kali MataJi will be teaching about what happens when two partners are connected on a spiritual level through energetic frequencies, and when they are not. The class may include interactive energy work.
Kali MataJi has extensive study and personal experience working with energetic/ethereal bodies. She is also a divine dancer and spiritual alchemist working to heal others through Earth Magick, Crystal Activation, and Soul Level Transformation.
Building Confidence Through Self Love
A lecture and discussion class about practicing forms of self-love and self-respect to increase our self-awareness and confidence. Presenter Wendi Scharpenburg will share advice from her personal struggles and host an interactive discussion about self care.
Wendi Scharpenburg has knowledge and lifelong experiences of working through depression and anxiety. After changing her own life; she has begun to helping others with their self-confidence struggles as a sexual accessories consultant and community caregiver.
BDSM 101
An interactive discussion class about sensation play and BDSM for beginners. Presenter Brad Leather will be talking about consent and safety in BDSM, a variety of general BDSM practices, and offering demonstrations of some toys and mechanics. The class will include and extensive Q and A session.
Brad Leather has spent several years teaching the local community about safe BDSM, severed as Dungeon Master, and leads a couple of small educational groups. He is willing to adjust his class to the interests of the attendees and make recommendations to attendees seeking further BDSM instruction or involvement.
Keeping Sex Fun
An interactive educational class about physical health, safely enjoying sexual play, and STD prevention. Presenter Robert Chapman will teach about many ways to take care of and honor our bodies.
Robert Chapman spent decades working with the MO Conservation Commission focused on disease prevention. He has brief medical training from KU and years of medical studies. Robert Chapman has incredibly diverse sexuality experiences from working with intersex children to relationship consulting for the Unitarian Church.
