animal maturity
oct. 26th | 4-6pm | penha de frança, lisbon | with simon marvell
WHAT IS animal maturity?
Let’s make it really clear: when we say “animal” here, we’re not talking about pretending we’re cats acting wild or role playing animal scenes. Don’t confuse animal maturity with primal play. We’re talking about the felt layer of instinct that sits underneath our human social conditioning that comes out to play whether consciously or unconsciously.
This workshop is for people who have noticed that something animalistic emerges when sensuality is involved. Maybe you have seen it in your private life or at a Temple Night. Maybe you have observed it more in others than in yourself.
Wildness, physicality, desiring another person and lounging around lazily are all qualities of the animal. But so is feeling afraid, wanting to be by yourself, changing your mind suddenly and zoning out. We will explore all of these qualities.
Our aim is to not tame that animal inside us nor let it run wild but unleash it by bringing awareness and maturity to its expression. Because our animal nature can be so fucking beautiful!
why it matters
- why it matters -
why it matters - why it matters -
No matter if we are in a Temple Night or out in the world, our animal layer shows up all the time.
Think: when attraction sparks, the pull of desire when you want to touch someone but hesitate, when someone’s gaze lingers (too long), the spike of adrenaline that hits when you sense competition or rejection, when someone feels territorial about someone or something or even when someone freezes or dissociates because the charge is too much and also the melting that happens when you finally feel safe enough to let go. It’s that raw somatic intelligence that often runs the show while we pretend to stay “civilized” (you know?!).
When the animal in us is unconscious, it can take over, leading to reactivity, confusion, disconnection or even a felt sense of threat. And even when we’re conscious of it but we don’t know how to stay with that part of us, we either suppress it to stay “good” or “spiritual” or we get swept away by it, acting out intensity or confusing rawness for depth.
Integrating your animal means allowing your predator not needing to dominate to feel powerful, your prey staying open without collapsing and your arousal, fear and hunger all becoming delicious sensations rather than forces that hijack you.
Learning to meet it with awareness means you can stay present with yourself and others, even when things get intense. When this level of awareness is present, how we walk on this earth and how we do connections (including in a Temple Night) becomes a lot less chaotic and a lot more juicy.
WHAT WE DO HERE.
Through talking and some guided physical exploration, we’ll dive into the language of the body and the instinctive intelligence beneath it. You’ll explore:
How to express ourselves as a predator
The joys and challenges of being prey
How to let our body guide our decision-making
How to work with dense feelings
How to confront the meaty fact of sex, pleasure and pain
This is not a beginner’s workshop but it’s also not necessarily advanced (we call this intermediate). It’s intended as a bridge to deeper, more fulfilling interactions in Temple Night settings and in your relationships. It’s best suited to people with some experience in conscious sexuality spaces.
In the workshop, there will be the opportunity to interact physically with others. However, you are always at choice regarding the depth and intensity of your involvement. It’s possible for you to only observe.
meet your facilitator
SIMON MARVELL (He/Him)
Simon is from Melbourne, Australia and has lived in Lisbon since 2022. He is on the faculty of the International School of Temple Arts, where he has been practicing since 2014.
He has facilitated workshops and retreats in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and all over Europe, and holds private sessions in-person and online for people wanting to explore their sexuality, emotional and somatic landscape, and personal growth
Schedule.
3.45PM Doors open (please don't arrive earlier)
4.05PM We start (doors close - don't be late, no exceptions!)
4.05 - 6PM Workshop
Venue.
IMPACT HALL in Penha de França, Lisbon
R. Neves Ferreira 13B, 1170-273 Lisboa
What to bring.
You and your body (please avoid heavy perfumes/scents)
A full water bottle
Notepad and pen if you find that helpful
A piece of fruit hehe
Dress Code.
Come in what you feel comfortable moving in. If it was us, we would wear a pair of black shorts and a basic tee. You might want to show some skin so that you can feel the presence of others more closely. And you might want to elevate the look a bit higher than just gym clothes. Think functional festival workshop attire. Bring layers to take off and put on top for temperature shifts.
We will have a break at some point and some time for debriefing and questions at the end.
Refund policy.
You can request a refund through eventbrite up to five days before the event. There are no refunds available afterwards but you can transfer your ticket to someone up to 24 hours before the workshop begins. Send an eMail to hello@lisbontemplenights.com (we only answer until 24 hours before the workshop begins).
