In this weekend workshop we dive deeply into the dynamics, emotions and vulnerabilities of playing with power exchange. We investigate the possibilities of dominance and surrender, and how we can create magic within the polarity of these positions.
We will have lots of facilitated exercises and exchanges, and all of Saturday evening will be dedicated to a ritual of submission.

We will move beyond the black and white images of the distant dominant and the shy submissive to capture some of the vulnerabilities and possibilities of both positions.

For the dominant position, the paradox of holding space while also being selfish, and to be brave enough to show your desire. For the submissive position, the leap of faith in trusting that when you let go, you will be caught, to let go of controlling the body, emotions and ego.

Guiding us through this weekend is Andy Buru, a renowned and highly respected workshops leader and author, who for many years has been among the most influential in the scenes of conscious sexuality in Europe.

The workshop is organised in partnership between Copenhagen Tantra Festival and House of Play.

POWER
Dominance is perhaps the ultimate form of edging - if you go straight for what you want, your scene would end shortly. Instead, slow down, feel more with less, and remain in the play in endless teasing. How can you do that as the dominant without losing your vulnerability? Without numbing out your emotions, without losing your deviant creativity, without burning out as a give-always-and-only kink dispenser. We relentlessly keep exploring this paradox of power.

Power, as a dominant, is vulnerable, as one has to expose their desire. The more deviant and taboo, the scarier it is, but still, both mainstream media and the sadomasochistic subculture overflow with caricatures of emotionless masters and mistresses hiding behind their cruelty. Instead, one should blossom in their raw self-expression. Power is an opportunity to explore new avenues of esoteric intimacy that are profoundly energetic and sensual. Far beyond plain and mundane fucking.

Learning to wield and surrender to power consciously and consensually requires a great understanding of one’s boundaries and being safe and brave enough to reject anyone overstepping them. At the same time, one should be humble and have humour; anyone that has to assert their power with violence doesn’t own it.

Power is given to someone that deserves it because of their deviant creativity, rocksteady presence, and ability to create magical spaces. Discovering one’s very personal dominant persona is a journey which will significantly affect what kind of submissives they will attract. Luckily sadomasochism overflows with expressions of power, and there are several rituals to practise and embody.

Being dominant is a paradoxical balance between holding space and being selfish. Holding space is learning how to create a safe container for oneself and others to play with power while being selfish is expressing desire.
But eventually, one realises that the real key is to stop ‘the doing’ and simply be dominant and do as one pleases as if it is the most natural thing in the world.

SURRENDER
Surrender is to trust, to let go and to fall - trusting that one will be caught by life, by love, by wonder, by another. Surrendering brings great pleasure when one learns to let go of controlling the body, the emotions, and the ego and devote oneself to something greater. It’s as applicable in lovemaking as well as in life in general.
Surrender is submitting your control to empower a dominant and discover what they will do with this power. Moreover, surrender touches upon masochism, physically enjoying endorphins rushing through the body and emotionally letting go of shameful limiting beliefs.

Surrender traditionally belongs to the feminine aspect of the esoteric erotic polarity, but it’s essential for everyone of any (and no) gender. Incorporating it into oneself can simply tickle one’s curious approach to life or become a life-long artistic endeavour, critical self-development, or passion for lovemaking. While teaching surrender, Andy indirectly teaches how to hold space for another’s process of letting go. Participants describe it as intimate, vulnerable and trusting. And it makes them more resilient to the hardships of life.

Many beginner dominants are scared to drop into their desire, and I think they might be worried about being boring because little is happening. But feeling desired and actively enjoyed by another is thrilling – even when action is minimal. This often feels awkward or unusual as we humans are so caught up with constant doing over simply being.

THE VULNERABILITY OF BOTH SIDES
Anyone observing domination play will instantly see that this is an act of vulnerability. The submissive’s surrendering of control makes this plainly evident. However, vulnerability lies elsewhere as well; as a dominant, you expose your perverted and socially deviant desires.I have massive admiration for those people who attempt to walk this tightrope act in a highly emotional field requiring great self- and other-awareness. There is artistry and beauty involved in playing fairly, in recognising the subtle nuances involved, and sometimes I just stand back and watch as if engaged by a most beautiful piece of theatre.

TIME AND PLACE
Dec 6-8, 2024
Friday 19-22
Saturday 10-22
Sunday 10-17.30

House of Play, Shetlandsgade 3, 1st - 2300 Copenhagen

WHO IS THIS FOR
This weekend is for both beginners as well as experienced.

This is for you who want to better understand and practise the power dynamics of play between dominance and surrender. We will dive into some of the conditions, mindsets and tools you can use to play with these energies and positions in ways that are authentic, vulnerable and - perhaps - magical.

You can join alone or as a couple. Throughout the course, we invite you to shift roles and partners, to build experience with both being in power and surrender. You will be interacting with partners of all genders. If you want to only be with your partner, you can do that. The course is for all genders, bodies, and sexual orientations.

Your safety and boundaries are important to us. Everything we do is invitations and you will never have to do anything you don't want to do.

WHAT TO BRING
Wear clothes you feel comfortable and can move freely in.
On Saturday evening we will do a submission ritual. We encourage you to wear clothes that make you feel sexy.

TICKETS
Ticket for one person: 3200 DKK
At this event we are not able to give a discount to House of Play members, since the event is organized in partnership with Copenhagen Tantra Festival.

Get your ticket here: https://lifeforce.garden/event/power-by-andy-buru-6-8-december-2024/

Tickets are non-refundable, but you are welcome to resell your ticket in case you cannot participate. Please inform us who you sold your ticket to at contact@cphtantrafestival.dk

ABOUT ANDY BURU
Andy Buru is an experienced and highly respected workshop leader and teacher within areas of Japanese rope bondage and sadomasochism, and author of the book ‘Rituals and Paradoxes: The Intimacy of Belonging in Sadomasochism and Esoteric Eroticism’. He is a frequent facilitator at festivals, retreats and sex positive spaces around Europe.

Andy writes:
My present work aims to create magical rooms where people can rest, heal and grow in their relationships to surrender, power and desire.

At the most basic level, I work with bodies. In the present moment. Inviting them to participate in a new experience that may transcend into the spiritual. My modalities include conscious and consensual sadomasochism, esoteric eroticism, Japanese rope bondage, European theatre studies, medical massage therapy, and neuro-somatic teamwork, each representing an important period of my life.

I left my ordinary career about ten years ago to walk a simpler life. Now I travel based on an agenda curated by a handful of lovely retreat organisers around Europe and a demanding make-believe family in the Japanese countryside.

Read more about Andy and his inspiring work here: https://andyburu.se/