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THE RISE OF SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT: Have we left men behind?

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For this week’s blog we’re thrilled to introduce you to writer, artist and singer Tess Fowler, who has been part of the Eliyah family for the past 4 years. She is also training to be a practitioner with the school.
 
As a 29 year old woman, I’ve been having intimate interactions with men for long enough to reflect how it seems they’ve been left behind when it comes to healthy sexual education and empowerment. Sexuality is a topic worthy of encyclopaedia-sized collections of research, and I couldn’t possibly cover all the deep complexities involved for both men and women, so this piece may seem a little reductive at times, but I’m hoping to express my own perspective and ignite more conversation. So let’s begin…
 
Beyond the limited sexual education received within the modern schooling system, women have far greater access and social permission to discuss sex, access magazines, go to websites and apps like OMGYES and Dipsea, or explore through courses and women’s workshops. This doesnt seem to compare to the accessibility of the limited resources out there for men to learn about sex from a healthy, modern perspective. I am wary that current models of modern masculinity make it all the more difficult to discuss such resources, even if the desire is there. Perhaps the shame and fear of being deemed ‘a failure’ for looking to improve their sexuality risks holding men back from seeking information entirely.
 
Pornography is undeniably a primary reference for sex. A potentially problematic one, as I could easily reference the extensive scientific studies around passive dopamine addiction, increased tolerance for violence and the negative physiological effects it has on every aspect of life, be it work, sex or relationships. As author and men’s sexual coach Nic Spadaccini has aptly described, this aggressive and time conscious ‘cave-man’ style sex seen predominantly in porn is based on sex developed over 50,000 years ago when our major survival tactic was to procreate and populate an entire planet. We’ve evolved, but our understanding of sex hasn’t. And it’s not just porn. The representation of (cisgendered/hetero) sex in mainstream media and the blueprint Hollywood ‘sex script’ shows us the same basic formula we’ve been taught for years simply to get from A-B. Kiss a bit, touch here, touch that, get him hard, her wet, friction friction friction until orgasm and it’s over. When sex looks the way it does according to mainstream media, it’s a fair assumption that we’ve done well, and I’m not shunning the delight of a quickie every now and then when passion calls, however common attitudes that this is all there is severely short-change ourselves from the wonderfully diverse and richer experiences available to us. 
 
Coinciding with the lack of holistic sexual education, society also suffers from the notion that men having feelings is either weak or dangerous. This has resulted in the suppression of the emotional body in men and potentially the sexual body as well, as they are indeed inextricably linked. These insidious narratives about what it means to be ‘masculine’ have shadowed mens sexuality for as long as those narratives have existed. For several years I’ve had chats with women from many walks of life and there seems to be some common experiences. A significant proportion of the men we’re engaging with have some level of minor sexual disconnection to major dysfunction. The underlying cause for this can often be due to unconscious conditioning that they are cognitively unaware of. 
 
What might some of these look like? 
 
– Men may have such accumulative tension simply from stress that gets stored in the body, that once their sexual drive gets turned on and that stress finds an outlet for release, it can feel like a one-speed setting, making it impossible to slow down and feel into what their partner’s and their own bodies are wanting. In spiritual terms, this is called ‘attunement’, but it could simply be called listening. 
 
– Some have too much anxiety to get turned on at all. ‘Performance anxiety’ is a recognised concept, but what is often overlooked is the impact that general anxiety can have on sex, simply as a physiological result of unexpressed emotions. Since we process feelings through the body, not the mind, if he has learnt it is unsafe to be in his emotional body, then regardless of attraction levels to whoever he is with, regardless of all external stimuli, he may (without the faintest clue why) still struggle to get out of his head and into his body in order to participate effectively.
 
– Men can also shut down right at the peak before climax. Again, if a man’s nervous system has unconsciously learnt that strong feelings are unsafe or unwelcome, it will regularly suppress any kind of overwhelm in order to control those emotions and therefore be unaccustomed to the level of energy raised when close to climax. Despite sexual pleasure being a positive feeling, our nervous system cannot differentiate between good and bad, and simply responds to activation. So, when particularly activated in the moments before orgasm, their bodies may literally short circuit like a safety switch and become totally numb to all sensation. 
 
– Others may simply want to ‘fuck’ as hard and fast as they do in porn because it’s what they think they should do.
 
I want to emphasise that this is in no way about blaming men for sexual dysfunction because women commonly experience these same complications that men do. However these examples indicate how the societal rejection of a man’s emotional body can directly impact his sexual expression. As a woman, I too have experienced many of these examples during my own sexual experiences, but to reiterate the point of this piece, women can explore and express their emotional bodies, go to therapy, talk to friends, see sex coaches, get somatic body-work sessions and actively engage with their own sexual development with far greater ease then men can. The rise of women’s sexual empowerment was desperately long overdue and it is paramount for women to learn about new forms of embodied sexuality. That journey should always begin with our relationship to ourselves, but while we’re at it, what about the men we want to enjoy it with who aren’t on the same page? Arguably even reading the same book? From the deeply ingrained chastity and sexual shame due to religious beliefs (passed down to us from older generations), to the liberty of the 1960’s sexual revolution, to the rise of overtly graphic and violent scenes reflected in most porn, to the MeToo movement which has put men’s unhealthy expression of sexual desire under a valid, but negative spotlight, it’s no wonder men may feel confused and avoid facing their inherent sensual and sexual selves altogether.
 
Cam Fraser, a potent voice in men’s sexual education, spoke about the comparison between the spiritual vs scientific areas of sexuality. He observed that men have dominated the scientific field of sexual research throughout history and by comparison, the influx of sexual liberators referring to ‘sacred sexuality’ appears to be heavily lead by women. This is a wonderful place to bridge the gap between those two worlds. Women’s fluctuating hormonal cycles mean that obtaining consistent data is harder to do, therefore we are usually left out of health studies and female anatomy has been (and is still to this day) largely ignored in medical research. Just as the emotional and spiritual needs of a man are commonly overlooked when discussing the practical physiology of sex and arousal. As we gain more power and knowledge in the scientific and anatomic fields of female sexuality, I would suggest that many would benefit from including men in the other side of the coin, in conversations around sexuality beyond the physical body, where sex is being rewritten from outdated and lingering constructs, based solely on our need to reproduce. 
 
The need to dominate, the inability to be present, to slow down and enjoy sensuality without the need to rush or race to climax is also a by-product of the environment we’re in more broadly. It’s called Capitalism. Getting things done as quickly and efficiently as possible has been the societal norm for a long time and women engage in this goal-oriented way of sexual relating too – where pleasure is chased for orgasm’s sake. So the responsibly is not just on men to slow down and ‘get in tune’, but these days women have tools do that, as often discussed through the lens of the ‘rise of the divine feminine’ which spotlights self love, self care, slowing down and allowing emotional expression. If we’re going to get the most out of that notion sexually, men need the opportunity to engage in this too and catch up.
 
It’s as if we’ve all been eating cake from a packet mix. Bang some preprepared ingredients together and you know what you’re going to get… a decent tasting treat. Absolutely no shade if that’s your thing of course. I get it. You get your cravings met, so why bother changing the recipe? Because hand-made Belgian chocolate mud cake with layers of soft salted caramel and a buttercream icing might take a little longer, but tastes so. much. better. (If cake isn’t your thing then you can substitute an appropriate analogy.) There is so much pleasure and joy to be had out of a considered and cultivated sexual union with another person. Sexual energy when consciously shared between two people, is one of the greatest enriching experiences we can have. The erotic can be supremely powerful and potently healing and personally, I want a little more of that! 
 
I’ve done a lot of work on the relationship I have with my sexuality over the last four years but there’s still a lot more to explore, both alone and (hopefully!) with other people. To be really honest and vulnerable for a moment, how that journey is going to look in the future is often a really terrifying thing. I’m no expert and still learning how to make the Belgian Masterpiece a reality in my bedroom… But no matter what I have to learn, I feel supported and safe in knowing there is every resource I could need available to me in order to continue doing that work. It excites me and leaves me deeply grateful for the people who have worked so hard to put these controversial topics in the spotlight in order to normalise them. 
 
Raven is one of those people. Without her teachings over the last 4 years my life would be very different today. I would likely still be seeking external validation through sexual experiences, still uncomfortable and insecure about my body, still unable to say no to the men I didn’t feel a ‘full yes’ to engaging with. I certainly wouldn’t have the confidence to discuss sexuality openly on the internet. She has taught me the beauty in improving our relationship to sexuality and how it isn’t simply about sex alone. The education I’m advocating for also gifts us with valuable life lessons expanding out to every corner of our lives – be that about setting boundaries, expressing needs/desires/fears, learning how to receive and how to give, getting real with authentic and vulnerable communication, extending our comfort zones, or simply the ability to be in the present moment. The dance of sexuality reaches so far beyond what happens between lovers within the sheets.
 
That enriching education and accessibility is all I want for men who desire the same.
 
There are of course many amazing humans offering this, it’s simply a matter of scale and getting them seen more frequently in the ‘mainstream’. I sincerely look forward to seeing what will happen as we begin to include men more openly in the sexual liberation movement, creating safe spaces to explore sexuality beyond the strict societal norms and stigma that surrounds traditional gendered constructs. I wonder what might happen to sexual relationships if men were free of the rigid standards of masculinity that have dominated for so long and given the opportunity to explore themselves with the same reverence we afford women. 
 
I certainly don’t have all the answers but creating safe spaces to talk about it is the first step to a new script, or better yet, to throwing the script away entirely.
 
I’ve put together a list of my personal favourite people leading the way in sexual education, but keep in mind, after years of focusing on myself, looking into the men’s sphere is a very new adventure for myself also, so I encourage you all to do your own research because what resonates for me might be totally different to you. 
 
Love Tess x
 
 
 
Resources:
Eliyah Tantra School
  • Sacred Sexuality Online Course – https://online.eliyah.com.au/p/sacred-sexuality
  • Chantelle Raven and Aaron Kleinerman – ‘Love, Sex and Freedom’ Podcast on Spotify.
  • Chantelle and Aaron’s Instagram: @living_tantra and @thesoulnavigator
 
Cam Fraser: Men’s Sexual Educator
  • Has a lot of amazing free resources and content on his Instagram @camfraser 
  • ‘Men, Sex and Pleasure Podcast’ on Spotify
 
Books: 
  • The Way of The Superior Man by David Deida
  • The Enlightened Sex Manual by David Deida
Other great resources for men on broader topics like emotional intelligence and relationships etc:
 
Mark Groves – Human Connection Specialist
– @createthelove on Instagram and https://markgroves.com for podcast, blogs and more.
 
Tully O’Connor 
  • ‘The Conscious Locker Room’ on Spotify
 
Other helpful psychological concepts to look into:
 
  • Attachement Theory
  • Love Languages
  • Erotic Blueprint

You can also follow Tess on IG: @tess_fowler

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Tess Fowler

Tess Fowler

Tess is a performing artist and has been a student of the Eliyah Tantra School for four years. Both her creative and personal life are an exploration of emotional expression. She is particularly interested in the areas of relationship psychology and human connection.

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By agreeing to the Payment Plan Terms, Conditions and Schedule, you are agreeing to pay the deposit amount of $1,500 to secure your spot in the training, and then to pay the remaining amount via instalments as outlined in the table below.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
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It is the Owing Party’s responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient funds available in anticipation of each future charge. If they need to change their card details, it is their responsibility to contact the Embodied Awakening Academy at least seven (7) days before a payment is due.

3. No Refund Policy

This deposit and the payment plan is non-refundable. If you change your mind or withdraw for any reason, you are still obliged to continue to meet your payments, meaning you must complete your payment plan in full and you will not be given a refund of any kind.

4. Purchase Agreements

This purchase is non-refundable + you are trusting your desire to be involved. If
you are using a payment plan, you are obligated to pay as per the table above.

The results you experience will come from your own effort and motivation. We do
not guarantee results or earnings as a result of doing this training, although we
are quietly confident this will change your life and we wholehearted welcome
people that are passionate and energised about doing this work.

5. Remaining Payments, Failures & Notifications

Remaining payments #3 – #5 will be automatically deducted from the Owing Party’s credit card details, as entered at payment #2. Whilst the Owing Party cannot cancel or delete their credit card details as it is linked to their subscription, they can add an alternate payment method (i.e., update credit card details) in the payment system via their user dashboard.

In the event that the Owing Party fails to make any payments in accordance with the Payment Plan by the due date, the payment system will retry the payment five times, at the following intervals:

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After all attempts have been exhausted, the Order Status will change from pending to cancelled, and the Payment Plan/Subscription Status will change from pending to on-hold.  The Owing Parties’ access to the online training will then be paused indefinitely.

In the event that the Owing Party anticipates that they cannot make a payment by a payment due date, it is their responsibility to contact the Owed Party. These payment terms are absolute and final, however we also take a compassionate approach, so if there is a legitimate emergency requiring you to renegotiate a payment due date, please contact our team and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis (training@embodiedawakeningacademy.com).

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Tantra Practitioner Training Payment Plan Terms, Conditions & Schedule

By agreeing to the Payment Plan Terms, Conditions and Schedule, you are agreeing to pay the training fee in 4 equal instalments (your total fee amount divided by 4).

The first payment acts as a deposit that secures your place in the training, and the following 3 payments occur every 3 months from the date of payment, for a total of 9 months.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Payment #1 (deposit payment): This payment will be charged immediately on purchase, any time prior to the program commencing to secure theclient’s place in the program. Program commences on 1st March.
Payment #2: Three months from initial payment date
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The following terms and conditions apply to this purchase:

‘The Owing Party’ refers to the client purchasing the training.

‘The Owed Party’ refers to Embodied Awakening Academy LLC.

1. Reasonable Belief

The Owing Party reasonably believes it can pay the Owed Party without further interruption.

2. Method of Payment

Payments shall be made to the Owed Party via automatic debit from the card that the Owing Party provides details for at the time of initial purchase via the Embodied Awakening Academy website.

It is the Owing Party’s responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient funds available in anticipation of each future charge. If they need to change their card details, it is their responsibility to contact the Embodied Awakening Academy at least seven (7) days before a payment is due.

3. No Refund Policy

This deposit and the payment plan is non-refundable. If you change your mind or withdraw for any reason, you are still obliged to continue to meet your payments, meaning you must complete your payment plan in full and you will not be given a refund of any kind.

4. Purchase Agreements

  • This purchase is non-refundable + you are trusting your desire to be involved.
  • If you are using a payment plan, you are obligated to pay every quarter (3 months).
  • The results you experience will come from your own effort and motivation. We do not guarantee results or earnings as a result of doing this training … although we are quietly confident this will change your life and we wholehearted welcome people that are passionate and energised about doing this work.

5. Remaining Payments, Failures & Notifications

Remaining payments will be automatically deducted from the Owing Party’s credit card details, as entered at deposit purchase. Whilst the Owing Party cannot cancel or delete their credit card details as it is linked to their subscription, they can add an alternate payment method (i.e., update credit card details) in the payment system via their user dashboard.

In the event that the Owing Party fails to make any payments in accordance with the Payment Plan by the due date, the payment system will retry the payment five times, at the following intervals:

  • 12 hours after initial failure
  • 1 day after initial failure
  • 2 days after initial failure
  • 4 days after initial failure
  • 7 days after initial failure
 

After all attempts have been exhausted, the Order Status will change from pending to cancelled, and the Payment Plan/Subscription Status will change from pending to on-hold.  The Owing Parties’ access to the online training will then be paused indefinitely.

In the event that the Owing Party anticipates that they cannot make a payment by a payment due date, it is their responsibility to contact the Owed Party. These payment terms are absolute and final, however we also take a compassionate approach, so if there is a legitimate emergency requiring you to renegotiate a payment due date, please contact our team and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis (training@embodiedawakeningacademy.com).

6. No Modification Unless in Writing

No modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and agreed upon by both Parties.

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  •  If you are using a payment plan, you are obligated to pay every quarter (3 months).
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How we use collected information:

The Academy may collect and use Students’ personal identification information for the following purposes:

  • To improve customer service. Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently.
  • To personalize user experience. We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Students as a group use the services and resources provided in our Academy.

To send periodic emails.  We may use Student email addresses to send Students information and updates pertaining to their order. Student email addresses may also be used to respond to Student inquiries, questions, or other requests

Sharing your personal information:

We do not sell, trade, or rent Student personal identification information to others.

Third party websites:

Student may find advertising or other content in our Academy that link to the websites and services of our partners, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, licensors and other third parties. We do not control the content or links that appear on these websites and are not responsible for the practices employed by websites linked to or from our Academy. In addition, these websites or services, including their content and links, may be constantly changing. These websites and services may have their own privacy policies and customer service policies. Browsing and interaction on any other website, including websites which have a link to our Student, is subject to that website’s own terms and policies.

Changes to this Privacy Policy:

The Academy has the discretion to update this Privacy Policy at any time. We encourage Students to frequently check this page for any changes. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this Privacy Policy periodically and become aware of modifications.

Your acceptance of these terms:

By enrolling in the Academy, you signify your acceptance of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not enrol in the Academy. Your continued enrolment in the Academy following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

Tantra Practitioner Training Payment Plan Terms, Conditions & Schedule

By agreeing to the Payment Plan Terms, Conditions and Schedule, you are agreeing to pay the training fee in 4 equal instalments (your total fee amount divided by 4).

The first payment acts as a deposit that secures your place in the training, and the following 3 payments occur every 3 months from the date of payment, for a total of 9 months.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Payment #1 (deposit payment): This payment will be charged immediately on purchase, any time prior to the program commencing to secure the client’s place in the program.  Program commences on 1st March.  
Payment #2: Three months from initial payment date
Payment #3: Six months from initial payment date
Payment #4: Nine months from initial payment date

The following terms and conditions apply to this purchase:

‘The Owing Party’ refers to the client purchasing the training.

‘The Owed Party’ refers to Embodied Awakening Academy LLC.

1. Reasonable Belief

The Owing Party reasonably believes it can pay the Owed Party without further interruption.

2. Method of Payment

Payments shall be made to the Owed Party via automatic debit from the card that the Owing Party provides details for at the time of initial purchase via the Embodied Awakening Academy website.

It is the Owing Party’s responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient funds available in anticipation of each future charge. If they need to change their card details, it is their responsibility to contact the Embodied Awakening Academy at least seven (7) days before a payment is due.

3. No Refund Policy

This deposit and the payment plan is non-refundable. If you change your mind or withdraw for any reason, you are still obliged to continue to meet your payments, meaning you must complete your payment plan in full and you will not be given a refund of any kind.

4. Remaining Payments, Failures & Notifications

Remaining payments will be automatically deducted from the Owing Party’s credit card details, as entered at deposit purchase. Whilst the Owing Party cannot cancel or delete their credit card details as it is linked to their subscription, they can add an alternate payment method (i.e., update credit card details) in the payment system via their user dashboard.

In the event that the Owing Party fails to make any payments in accordance with the Payment Plan by the due date, the payment system will retry the payment five times, at the following intervals:

  • 12 hours after initial failure
  • 1 day after initial failure
  • 2 days after initial failure
  • 4 days after initial failure
  • 7 days after initial failure

After all attempts have been exhausted, the Order Status will change from pending to cancelled, and the Payment Plan/Subscription Status will change from pending to on-hold.  The Owing Parties’ access to the online training will then be paused indefinitely.

In the event that the Owing Party anticipates that they cannot make a payment by a payment due date, it is their responsibility to contact the Owed Party. These payment terms are absolute and final, however we also take a compassionate approach, so if there is a legitimate emergency requiring you to renegotiate a payment due date, please contact our team and this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis (training@embodiedawakeningacademy.com).

5. No Modification Unless in Writing

No modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and agreed upon by both Parties. 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

GENERAL WAIVER

This Event (workshop/course/retreat) is for educational purposes only. The Embodied Awakening Academy (EAA) and our subsidiaries, owners, principals, directors, executives, employees, staff, or agents are not mental health professionals, licensed medical practitioners, doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, or other professionally licensed health care providers or professionals. The material related to the Event will not treat or diagnose any disease, illness, or ailment and if you should experience any such issues you should seek the advice and examination of your registered physician or practitioner as determined by your own judgement.

You understand the educational materials related to the Event is not a substitute for health care or medical advice of any kind. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your mental well-being, including your mental and physical choices and decisions.

You agree to seek medical advice as determined by your own judgement before taking any action in connection to the information provided or discontinuing use of any medications as prescribed by your medical practitioner. We shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material.

You acknowledge that during this Event you participate voluntarily in any and all activities arranged by the organisers, and insofar as legally permissible, surrender your right to any cause of action against Embodied Awakening Academy arising from any loss or damage to person, financial loss or property that occurs during the Event.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY

Embodied Awakening Academy does not accept any liability of whatever nature, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of third-party providers over whom Embodied Awakening Academy has no direct control. Under circumstances where liability cannot be excluded, such liability is limited to the value of the purchased travel arrangements. Embodied Awakening Academy does not accept any liability in contract, tort or otherwise for any injury, damage, loss (including consequential loss), delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or any other event which is beyond our control and which is not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part.

CANCELLATION POLICY

1) COVID-19

With regards to Covid-19, if you are unable to travel due to government enforced travel restrictions, border closures or quarantine enforcement, we will happily allow you to transfer your ticket to another of our events (within a year) or use the credit for online courses, which will incur a $120 USD administration fee. If you choose to cancel your ticket, then you forfeit your deposit amount.

  1.  10 days or more prior to event start date: full transfer of ticket price to another EAA event within 12 months of retreat start date
  2.  under 10 days out from event start date: you will forfeit your deposit and the rest of your ticket amount paid will be transferred to another event of your choosing, within 12 months of retreat start date

2) IF EMBODIED AWAKENING ACADEMY (EAA) CANCELS AN EVENT:

While we will endeavour to never cancel an event, if Embodied Awakening Academy cancels an event, or changes a scheduled event date, due to circumstances within our direct control, then you are entitled to:

  • A transfer of your full event payment amount, as credit towards either a scheduled or a future event within three (3) years of the original event date, subject to availability of tickets. Or,
  • You may request a full refund of the ticket amount received into our account, minus any transfer fees.  While we will try to minimize transfers fees to the best of our ability, refund transfer fees will be borne by the customer where applicable

3) IF EAA IS FORCED TO CANCEL AN EVENT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL:

While we will endeavour to never cancel an event, if Embodied Awakening Academy is forced to cancel or change a scheduled event date due, for any reasons or circumstance outside of our control, including but not limited to: acts of God (e.g. volcanic eruption, extreme weather events, viral pandemic), war, terrorism, change of laws and regulations, political and/or social unrest, then you are entitled to:
  • A transfer of your full event payment amount (minus a $80 USD administration fee) will be transferred as credit towards either a scheduled or a future event within three (3) years of the original event date, subject to availability of tickets. Or,
  • You may request a refund of your applicable payment/s, minus the non-refundable deposit, without exception. Full price tickets include the non-refundable deposit as outlined in the event description.  The non-refundable deposit is retained to pay for non-retrievable costs to which Embodied Awakening Academy has committed in anticipation of your event.

In all cases, Embodied Awakening Academy is not responsible for your expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled event such as other accommodation, airline tickets, loss of work, and/or other costs associated with your attendance.

The responsibility to recover the non-refundable deposit from your insurance company is entirely yours, and we strongly suggest obtaining comprehensive travel insurance that includes event cancellation upon purchasing tickets to this event.

Tickets that are transferred to a future event are subject to the Terms & Conditions outlined in the new event that is being attended, once registration is complete.  Until then, the current event terms and conditions remain applicable.

4) If a participant decides to cancel their attendance at an EAA event, for any reason whatsoever

RESIDENTIAL RETREAT: Deposits are strictly non-refundable.  Full price tickets include the non-refundable deposit as outlined in the retreat description.

If forty-five (45) days or more prior to the event start date you are unable to attend the event, for whatever reason, you may receive a refund of the amount paid to date, minus the non-refundable deposit, provided you notify the Embodied Awakening Academy (info@embodiedawakeningacademy.com) at least forty-five (45) days prior to the start of the event date.

If under forty-five (45) days out from the event start date you are unable to attend the event, for whatever reason, you will forfeit your deposit and any funds already paid and are NOT eligible for a transfer of enrolment to another event or product.  Non-arrival will also incur the full amount of the booking.

We are financially responsible for our events, so we ask you to respect that we cannot make any exceptions to this agreement.

PAYMENT PLANS

Once a payment plan is entered into, the amount owing is to be paid in full by the date specified by the Event Manger (via email and ticket invoice).  If part way through your payment plan, or at the end of the payment plan, you cannot make the event, the EMBODIED AWAKENING ACADEMY CANCELLATION POLICY is applicable.

REFUSAL OF ENTRY

Embodied Awakening Academy reserve the right to refuse a ticket holder admission to the event or to evict that person from the event if the person is intoxicated, disruptive, aggressive, offensive, harassing and/or threatening any staff or other participants.

PASSPORT & VISA

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid passports, visas and re-entry permits which meet the requirements of immigration and other authorities. Any fines, penalties, payments or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities is your sole responsibility.

All travellers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return.

TRANSPORT TO AND FROM EVENT

Transport to and from the event is your responsibility to organise and pay, and to ensure that you arrive before the event starts, and that you have sufficient time to get to the airport after the event closes.  Event start and finish times are given in the event description.

INSURANCE

Personal Travel and Health Insurance is advised and is your responsibility to ensure that you purchase suitable comprehensive travel/holiday and protection insurance with a reputable insurance company, that is suitable to your needs to cover any unforeseen circumstances of your non-travel to or attendance of the event in case interstate or overseas travel is required.

THIRD PARTIES

Embodied Awakening Academy holds no responsibility for the actions or omissions of third parties or independent contractors, including in the event that they modify the nature of a service on an Event as compared with the advertised nature of the service.

PRIOR MEDICAL CONDITION RESPONSIBILITY AND WAIVER

Embodied Awakening Academy, its trainers and event support staff are there to support you and provide you with a premium event experience. Embodied Awakening Academy, its trainers and support staff are not to be relied on in place of your current health care professional or medical doctor while attending the event.

On choosing to attend an event you assume personal responsibility to manage your current physical or mental health condition while attending the event. Full disclosure of your current medical situation including but not limited to all relevant treatments and medications to Embodied Awakening Academy, its trainers and support staff prior to the event and any changes occurring during the event period must be communicated. While during the event, if you require emergency medical attention in relation to your current medical condition Embodied Awakening Academy, its trainers and support staff will work with you to facilitate and locate a suitable health care professional.

If you’re situation requires consistent medical or health care support, please arrange this prior to arrival with a local health care professional to support you while attending the event, or choose to attend the event with your chosen health care professional from country of origin.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Note: If you do not wish to be personally filmed or photographed during the event you must communicate this to the trainers on arrival and we will refrain from using any identifiable images or videos of your person on our media platforms and digital content.

I hereby grant to Embodied Awakening Academy the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission to use photographic portraits / images / videos in which I feature that are taken during the course of the Event to use / republish / copyright, etc. for commercial use in association with Embodied Awakening Academy business.  I hereby release and discharge Embodied Awakening Academy from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of the photographs and video footage, including without limitation any and all claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

EVENT CONDITIONS

  • I understand that this Event is about exploring and expanding my consciousness. I understand that my participation is voluntary, and I am able to not partake in any exercises that are contrary to my values and beliefs. It is my responsibility to choose not to participate.
  • I agree that any of the teachers, session givers, organisers, support team and fellow participants are not responsible for any physical or mental issues that may arise from my participation
  • I will wholly and truthfully declare all of my current and previous health conditions before arriving to the event and am registering into this event as someone who is mentally, emotionally & physically fit to participate (all this information will be held in utmost privacy and will not be disclosed to anybody outside of Embodied Awakening Academy Support Staff as required)
  • I understand that if I purchase an Under 21’s ticket (if applicable), I may be asked to provide evidence of my age such as a driver’s licence or passport
  • I understand that throughout this Event I may undergo activities that impact me emotionally, mentally and physically and it is my responsibility to seek adequate care and support should I need it
  • I understand if I need support beyond the Facilitators and Support Team to contact a Crisis Care Centre such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 and seek adequate help and support from a trained professional.
  • I will not take drugs during this event (prescription okay)
  • I understand the Event Outline, as described in the Event Description, may differ depending on what Participants need, as a whole, as Embodied Awakening Academy values intuition above all modalities.