conscious girlfriend academy logo
See Our New Classes Starting This Month

🏳️‍🌈 1000s of LGBTQ+ Lives Transformed Worldwide Since 2014 🏳️‍🌈

  • About
    • Our Program
    • Our Director
    • Our Book
    • On-Demand Classes
    • Live In-Person Retreats
    • Get Trained As A Coach
  • Coaching
    • Weekly Skill-Building Sessions
    • Deep Dive Group Coaching Sessions
    • Our Certified Coaches
    • Get A Low-Cost 30-Minute Consult
  • Coming Up
    • Our 2025 Schedule
    • 2025 12-Week Roadmap Course
  • What People Say

Lesbian++ Erotic Liberation

Live Intimate Retreat 

April 21-23, 2023

++With room for just 12 self-identified women and adjacent non-binary people who love women, or want to,

whether you self-identify as lesbian, gay, queer, bisexual, pansexual or some other way. Filling fast!

Want more than Zoom?

 

Join us on April 21-23, 2023 to spend time with 11 other lesbians++

at a beautiful hot springs retreat.

 

Limited to 12 participants - this retreat will fill quickly!

We will share Yoga Nidra meditation, singing, dance, good company,

and powerful exercises to help expand erotic liveliness for all. 

Come as you are. Most participants will be single. Couples welcome, too.

 

The Place

Mercey Hot Springs is a rustic, tranquil off-grid resort 2.5 hours from the San Francisco Bay Area and 4 hours from Los Angeles. There are clothing optional and bathing-suit-required areas with hot springs piped into huge bathtubs, a warm springs swimming pool, a huge labyrinth, endless hiking, and an abundance of birds, including long-eared owls. Mercey offers a variety of housing options including camping and cabins. 

Led by CGA Director

Ruth L. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Since age 15 when she lurked in bookstores after school reading all the sex books, Ruth has found sexuality one of the most fascinating and compelling experiences in life. In addition to still reading all the sex books, she directs the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, co-authored the book Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love, and is a certified Somatica Sex & Intimacy Coach and practitioner of core shamanism.

The Why 

This gathering is inspired by lesbian visionary Audre Lorde, author of The Erotic as Power, who wrote: Recognizing the power of the erotic within our lives can give us the energy to pursue genuine change within our world... For not only do we touch our most profoundly creative source, but we do that which is female and self-affirming in the face of a racist, patriarchal, and anti-erotic society. 

Who This Retreat Is For 

Whether you came out recently or decades ago, whether you feel hindered in your sexual expression or just want to expand, and whether you feel excited, terrified or both as you read these words -- this retreat is for you!  Our gathering will help you celebrate yourself as you are, and discover and go further on your own personal erotic liberation trajectory. You deserve this. Your desire, pleasure and freedom are transformational forces in your life and on earth. 

The Program

Our three days together will include deep exploration and practice to release internalized homophobia and shame, explore and embrace your unique gender and erotic nature, and cultivate and expand your capacity for sexual pleasure, solo or with others. Come alone, leave with friends! Couples welcome, too.  FYI: Although one of the tub areas is clothing-optional, our workshop time will be clothed. 

With Alex McFerron

A butch woman raised in the South in a culture of silence and shame, Alex has traveled a long journey to comfort in her gender and sexual self. She is  passionate about expanding erotic possibilities for others, especially other butches and masculine of center people. Alex has deeply studied and practiced many transformational paths, including Buddhism, Non-Violent Communication, Yoga Nidra and sex magic.

The Details

We will meet from Friday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. through Sunday, April 23 at 5:00 p.m. The workshop fee of $949 includes meals and snacks from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. You must >>reserve Mercey Hot Springs housing (camping or cabin) on your own.  One hot springs area is clothing optional; the other requires bathing suits. We will be clothed during our workshop.   

A Note From Ruth & Alex 

At 60 and 52 years old, we are having the best sex of our lives, and we got here by intention, not by accident or luck. During our combined 75+ years of lesbian/queer life, we've each faced huge sexual challenges, shame, pain, frustration and confusion, and been stymied, fueled and propelled by sexual desire. We care deeply about sharing the erotic liberation we've acquired, and helping you discover and claim your own erotic nature. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers To Common Questions About the Lesbian++ Erotic Liberation Retreat


  • How old are most class participants?

    Conscious Girlfriend class participants have ranged in age from 21 to 82. Our largest number of participants tend to be in their 50s, 60s and 70s. It is never too late, or too early, for erotic liberation. 

  • What if I'm single? Will I feel out of place?  

    No! A majority of Conscious Girlfriend participants are currently single or not in committed relationships, and we expect that to be the case for the Erotic Liberation class and retreat, too. Enhancing your erotic liberation while single is a fantastic way to improve your quality of life, plus prepare for a future relationship if you wish.  

  • Will people have sex at the retreat?

    There will no sex and no expectation or culture of having sex in our shared activities. It is possible that some participants will attend with a sexual partner and/or sexually connect with someone else at the retreat, and of course we support your liberation in whatever forms you choose - but "having sex" at the retreat is not part of our group agenda.  

  • What is the refund policy for the class or retreat?

    Classes are non-refundable, but if your plans change before the start of class, you may apply your tuition to other CGA offerings. Retreat tuition payments are fully refundable 60+ days in advance, 50% refundable 30-60 days in advance, and non-refundable less than 30 days in advance. You must book your lodging at Mercey Hot Springs on your own, and they have their own refund policies for cancellations. 

  • What if I've never had a relationship with a woman? 

    If you are a self-identified woman who loves women, or wants to, you are welcome! Classes include lifelong lesbians, women who are just coming out, and non-binary folx comfortable with lesbian culture, too.

  • What if I'm not comfortable with sex? 

    As lesbians and queer people, we share myriad individual and collective reasons to feel uncomfortable with sex, including trauma histories, homophobia, body- and sex-shaming. If you are interested in working your edges of discomfort in order to grow and expand, this retreat is for you. (Of course, if you are comfortable with sex and want to grow and expand further, it's for you, too!)  

  • What kinds of sex does the retreat focus on? 

    Our focus will be on helping you connect with your own erotic nature and body, whatever that looks like for you.    

  • What will the food be like? 

    We will poll all registered participants about their food needs and restrictions in early April, and do our best to accommodate you. Of course, you are also welcome to bring your own snacks. Our menu will be fresh, healthy, gluten- and sugar-free, with dairy and fish on the side (no meat.)

     

    Have questions about whether this retreat or class is a fit for you? >>Email us and we can schedule a quick phone or Zoom chat!

Yes! Sign Me Up For The In-Person Retreat! ($949)
I'm Interested in Other Pre-Recorded Classes About Lesbian Bed Life, Sex and Gender
Contact Us
Join Our Mailing List
Member Login
Blog
Podcast
Merchandise
Affiliate & Outreach Program
Policies
Scholarships

© 2024 Copyright Conscious Girlfriend. All Rights Reserved.

Read Our Privacy Policy Here

The crucial info you need so you can break the bad relationship cycle forever, and find lasting love.

Relationships between women can be the best relationships on the planet. But they often end in heartbreak instead. Learn why many lesbian relationships don't last, and exactly how you can find the right partner and keep your love strong.

 

Enter your email address to get the first four chapters right now.

I confirm that I am at least 16 years of age or older

I have read and accept any EULA, Terms and Conditions, Acceptable Use Policy, and/or Data Processing Addendum which has been provided to me in connection with the software, products and/or services.

I have been fully informed and consent to the collection and use of my personal data for any purpose in connection with the software, products and/or services.

I understand that certain data, including personal data, must be collected or processed in order for you to provide any products or services I have requested or contracted for. I understand that in some cases it may be required to use cookies or similar tracking to provide those products or services..

I understand that I have the right to request access annually to any personal data you have obtained or collected regarding me. You have agreed to provide me with a record of my personal data in a readable format.

I also understand that I can revoke my consent and that I have the right to be forgotten. If I revoke my consent you will stop collecting or processing my personal data. I understand that if I revoke my consent, you may be unable to provide contracted products or services to me, and I can not hold you responsible for that.

Likewise, if I properly request to be forgotten, you will delete the data you have for me, or make it inaccessible. I also understand that if there is a dispute regarding my personal data, I can contact someone who is responsible for handling data-related concerns. If we are unable to resolve any issue, you will provide an independent service to arbitrate a resolution. If I have any questions regarding my rights or privacy, I can contact the email address provided.

Meet the book that started a movement—and read the first four chapters FREE right now.

Powered by KARTRA

{:lang_general_banner_cookie_disclaimer}
{:lang_general_banner_cookie_cookie} {:lang_general_banner_kartra_cookie}
{:lang_general_banner_cookie_privacy}
{:lang_general_powered_by} KARTRA