THE ANTIDOTE
A Tender Core retreat for pleasure, self-intimacy & authentic connection.
For queer and queer-curious women and non-binary loves, 30+. FLINTA only. Especially welcoming late-blooming queers.
Venus Bay · 6–9 November 2026 · three nights, $1850.
You’re good at looking after everyone. But who’s looking after you?
You’re the person who checks in, holds everything together and notices what everyone else needs.
But when someone asks what you want, you go blank. Or you know—and feel guilty asking.
You want closeness, but receiving attention can make you uncomfortable. You crave touch, but don’t know where to find it outside a relationship. You say yes to keep the peace, then feel exhausted or resentful afterwards.
Perhaps you’ve spent years in therapy. You can explain your patterns beautifully, but in the moment you still struggle to say no, ask for affection or let someone care for you.
Maybe you’re discovering your sexuality later in life. You want to explore, but feel inexperienced, self-conscious or worried you’re behind.
Or your days have become a loop of work, responsibilities and scrolling. There’s hardly any room for desire, creativity or the parts of you that used to feel playful.
The Antidote gives you time, support and real opportunities to practise something different.
To ask for what you want. To receive without immediately returning the favour. To notice what feels good. To trust your boundaries. To enjoy being close to yourself and other people.
Why this work matters beyond the retreat
Your relationship with yourself comes into every part of your life.
It comes into dating when you decide whether you actually like someone—or just want them to like you.
It comes into relationships when you need to ask for affection, name a hurt or stop doing all the emotional work.
It comes into work when you’re already exhausted and someone asks you to take on one more thing.
It comes into pleasure when your mind is busy monitoring how you look instead of noticing how you feel.
And it comes into everyday decisions: what you spend your energy on, who you make room for and whether your own needs get a place in your life.
When you can recognise what you feel, understand what you need and express it, you have more information to make choices that suit you.
That’s why self-intimacy is foundational. You become someone you can listen to, care for and stand up for.
At The Antidote, you’ll practise those skills through three Tender Core gateways:
RECEIVE
Let care reach you.
If giving feels natural but receiving feels awkward, this is a place to build that capacity.
Through guided touch, embodied consent and connection practices, you’ll explore asking for attention, choosing the kind of touch you want and receiving without owing anything in return.
There will also be meals, quiet time, nature and sauna downtime—space to rest without having to earn it first.
At first, receiving might feel unfamiliar. You might notice guilt, tension or the urge to look after everyone else. You’ll have room to slow down, communicate and choose what works for you.
The experience to take home: being able to ask your partner for a cuddle, accept a friend’s support or take a break before you reach exhaustion.
FEEL
Hear yourself beneath the noise.
When you spend your days thinking, planning and coping, it can be hard to notice what’s happening in your body until you’re overwhelmed.
Through guided self-touch, breath, movement, a nature walk and a self-intimacy masterclass, you’ll practise noticing sensation, emotion and need.
What happens when you slow down? Where do you feel tension? What feels nourishing? When is your yes enthusiastic—and when are you agreeing out of habit?
There will be space for private self-pleasure exploration, with attention to your comfort, curiosity and choice.
You may feel softer, more present or more able to enjoy simple things: warmth on your skin, a meal, music, a moment of closeness.
The experience to take home: recognising when you need rest, affection, space or expression—and having practical ways to respond.
EXPRESS
Give the parts you keep editing out some room.
Perhaps you hold back your voice, desire, softness or queer identity because being seen feels risky.
You might want to dance but worry about looking ridiculous. Ask someone out but fear rejection. Wear something you love but decide it’s “too much.”
Through a dance journey, authentic connection practice and opportunities for play and expression, you’ll experiment with being a little less edited.
You can move, speak, ask, decline and take up space at your own pace. You can also discover what you enjoy without needing to turn it into a performance.
The experience to take home: more willingness to start the conversation, wear the outfit, share the idea or let someone meet the person you actually are.
What will it feel like to be there?
Imagine a few days where you can put down some of the responsibility you usually carry.
You share meals. Walk in nature. Rest in the sauna. Practise giving and receiving touch with clear agreements. Dance. Spend time alone when you need it. Gather around the fire, where conditions allow.
You have opportunities to be close to others without having to flirt, impress or pursue a relationship.
You can say, “A hand on my shoulder would feel good,” or, “I’d like to sit this one out,” and have that choice respected.
Some moments may feel joyful or relieving. Others may bring awkwardness, emotion or uncertainty. There’s room for that too.
The aim is to help you experience closeness while staying connected to your own choices.
What can you bring home?
The retreat finishes with an integration plan built around your actual life.
That might mean:
Asking for affection instead of waiting for someone to notice.
Saying no before you become resentful.
Making room for touch and connection while single.
Recognising what you want when dating.
Keeping a short self-touch or movement practice.
Having an honest conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Letting rest, pleasure and creativity into an ordinary week.
You’ll choose a small number of practices you can realistically continue.
A retreat can open something. Repeated practice helps you carry it into your relationships, work and everyday choices.
Your choice belongs to you.
Every practice is optional. Touch requires consent. You choose your level of participation, and you can change your mind at any time.
You don’t need experience with intimacy work, a partner or certainty about your sexuality.
Late bloomers are welcome. So are nerves, questions and taking your time.
You deserve relationships where your needs have room.
You deserve pleasure you can actually feel.
You deserve a life you have a say in.
The Antidote is a place to begin practising that.
RECEIVE. FEEL. EXPRESS.
THE ANTIDOTE · VENUS BAY · 6–9 NOVEMBER 2026
THE ANTIDOTE
A Tender Core retreat for pleasure, self-intimacy & authentic connection.
For queer and queer-curious women and non-binary loves, 30+. FLINTA only. Especially welcoming late-blooming queers.
Venus Bay · 6–9 November 2026 · three nights, $1850.
You’re good at looking after everyone. But who’s looking after you?
You’re the person who checks in, holds everything together and notices what everyone else needs.
But when someone asks what you want, you go blank. Or you know—and feel guilty asking.
You want closeness, but receiving attention can make you uncomfortable. You crave touch, but don’t know where to find it outside a relationship. You say yes to keep the peace, then feel exhausted or resentful afterwards.
Perhaps you’ve spent years in therapy. You can explain your patterns beautifully, but in the moment you still struggle to say no, ask for affection or let someone care for you.
Maybe you’re discovering your sexuality later in life. You want to explore, but feel inexperienced, self-conscious or worried you’re behind.
Or your days have become a loop of work, responsibilities and scrolling. There’s hardly any room for desire, creativity or the parts of you that used to feel playful.
The Antidote gives you time, support and real opportunities to practise something different.
To ask for what you want. To receive without immediately returning the favour. To notice what feels good. To trust your boundaries. To enjoy being close to yourself and other people.
Why this work matters beyond the retreat
Your relationship with yourself comes into every part of your life.
It comes into dating when you decide whether you actually like someone—or just want them to like you.
It comes into relationships when you need to ask for affection, name a hurt or stop doing all the emotional work.
It comes into work when you’re already exhausted and someone asks you to take on one more thing.
It comes into pleasure when your mind is busy monitoring how you look instead of noticing how you feel.
And it comes into everyday decisions: what you spend your energy on, who you make room for and whether your own needs get a place in your life.
When you can recognise what you feel, understand what you need and express it, you have more information to make choices that suit you.
That’s why self-intimacy is foundational. You become someone you can listen to, care for and stand up for.
At The Antidote, you’ll practise those skills through three Tender Core gateways:
RECEIVE
Let care reach you.
If giving feels natural but receiving feels awkward, this is a place to build that capacity.
Through guided touch, embodied consent and connection practices, you’ll explore asking for attention, choosing the kind of touch you want and receiving without owing anything in return.
There will also be meals, quiet time, nature and sauna downtime—space to rest without having to earn it first.
At first, receiving might feel unfamiliar. You might notice guilt, tension or the urge to look after everyone else. You’ll have room to slow down, communicate and choose what works for you.
The experience to take home: being able to ask your partner for a cuddle, accept a friend’s support or take a break before you reach exhaustion.
FEEL
Hear yourself beneath the noise.
When you spend your days thinking, planning and coping, it can be hard to notice what’s happening in your body until you’re overwhelmed.
Through guided self-touch, breath, movement, a nature walk and a self-intimacy masterclass, you’ll practise noticing sensation, emotion and need.
What happens when you slow down? Where do you feel tension? What feels nourishing? When is your yes enthusiastic—and when are you agreeing out of habit?
There will be space for private self-pleasure exploration, with attention to your comfort, curiosity and choice.
You may feel softer, more present or more able to enjoy simple things: warmth on your skin, a meal, music, a moment of closeness.
The experience to take home: recognising when you need rest, affection, space or expression—and having practical ways to respond.
EXPRESS
Give the parts you keep editing out some room.
Perhaps you hold back your voice, desire, softness or queer identity because being seen feels risky.
You might want to dance but worry about looking ridiculous. Ask someone out but fear rejection. Wear something you love but decide it’s “too much.”
Through a dance journey, authentic connection practice and opportunities for play and expression, you’ll experiment with being a little less edited.
You can move, speak, ask, decline and take up space at your own pace. You can also discover what you enjoy without needing to turn it into a performance.
The experience to take home: more willingness to start the conversation, wear the outfit, share the idea or let someone meet the person you actually are.
What will it feel like to be there?
Imagine a few days where you can put down some of the responsibility you usually carry.
You share meals. Walk in nature. Rest in the sauna. Practise giving and receiving touch with clear agreements. Dance. Spend time alone when you need it. Gather around the fire, where conditions allow.
You have opportunities to be close to others without having to flirt, impress or pursue a relationship.
You can say, “A hand on my shoulder would feel good,” or, “I’d like to sit this one out,” and have that choice respected.
Some moments may feel joyful or relieving. Others may bring awkwardness, emotion or uncertainty. There’s room for that too.
The aim is to help you experience closeness while staying connected to your own choices.
What can you bring home?
The retreat finishes with an integration plan built around your actual life.
That might mean:
Asking for affection instead of waiting for someone to notice.
Saying no before you become resentful.
Making room for touch and connection while single.
Recognising what you want when dating.
Keeping a short self-touch or movement practice.
Having an honest conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Letting rest, pleasure and creativity into an ordinary week.
You’ll choose a small number of practices you can realistically continue.
A retreat can open something. Repeated practice helps you carry it into your relationships, work and everyday choices.
Your choice belongs to you.
Every practice is optional. Touch requires consent. You choose your level of participation, and you can change your mind at any time.
You don’t need experience with intimacy work, a partner or certainty about your sexuality.
Late bloomers are welcome. So are nerves, questions and taking your time.
You deserve relationships where your needs have room.
You deserve pleasure you can actually feel.
You deserve a life you have a say in.
The Antidote is a place to begin practising that.
RECEIVE. FEEL. EXPRESS.
THE ANTIDOTE · VENUS BAY · 6–9 NOVEMBER 2026
