The Rewilding of Eros: Un-Domesticating the Erotic Body and Reclaiming Erotic Sovereignty

The Rewilding of Eros is a healing workshop in somatic sexuality education, led by Victor Warring at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. It is a weekend for people who want to understand why their erotic lives feel limited or difficult, and to explore, through body-centered practice, how to reconnect with their own erotic aliveness. Individuals, couples, and people of all relationship orientations, sexual identities, and genders are welcome.

The starting premise is that we are erotic primates living in culturally imposed domestication: hunter-gatherer bodies in a modern context that is afraid of Eros. The workshop's message to anyone asking whether they are sexually broken is "You are not broken." It names the domestication, not the person, as the source of disconnection.

What to Expect

The weekend runs from a Friday evening opening through a Sunday midday close. Participants are invited to:

- Build a working understanding of what it means to ReWild Eros and un-domesticate the erotic body
- Explore the foundation of somatic erotic sovereignty
- Look at the role of internalized and social shame in interfering with erotic connection to the body
- Understand how grief and Eros are connected, and how moving grief can free erotic expression
- Practice playful, connective, experiential somatic exercises that build erotic energy and aliveness
- Learn how to integrate these practices for erotic sustainability in life and relationships

The learning mixes traditional, experiential, and somatic approaches, including movement, consensual touch, and group interaction. Participants can modify any exercise to suit their own boundaries and safety. The space is sex-positive and erotic-inclusive, built on embodied consent and boundaries practices. Eros is invited into the room, but no overt sexual behavior is part of the workshop.

On Friday, the workshop opens in the evening from 7:15 to 9:30 pm. Saturday has a morning session and an afternoon session, with lunch between them and dinner afterward, leaving the evening free for rest or open campus classes. On Sunday the workshop concludes with integration from 10:00 am to noon, followed by a final lunch. Checkout is at 2:00 pm.

Together, participants also build a shared altar. You are invited to bring two small items: one connected to your family, lineage, or ancestors, and one connected to your body or sexuality. Everything is returned at the end.

About Victor Warring

Victor Warring is an Erotic ReWilder, somatic (body-centered) sexuality educator, mentor, and coach. He is dedicated to supporting people in reclaiming their erotic sovereignty and removing self-imposed, internalized, or socially imposed obstacles to the expression of their bodily erotic brilliance.

The Setting

Esalen Institute sits on the Big Sur coast. Guests have access to the natural hot springs and other campus features, and can attend open classes during their stay. Check-in and room key pickup begin at 4:00 pm on Friday, followed by a 5:00 pm orientation session, How to Drop Into Esalen.

Housing is included and comes in a range of room types, from a shared sleeping bag space and bunk beds to standard shared rooms, queen and two-bed rooms, and premium rooms with ocean or forest views. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served, with coffee, tea, and snacks through the day. The workshop can also be taken as a stay off-site or with an individual day pass.

Access to Esalen from Highway 1 has at times been by Caltrans convoy, running only at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, so it is worth checking current travel conditions before you plan your arrival.

Before You Go

Healing arts sessions such as Esalen massage, specialty coffee, tea and alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are not included. Scholarships are available through an application.

The workshop is not designed to support people with unaddressed primary sexual or somatic trauma. Recommended reading includes Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, The Spirit of Intimacy by Sobonfu Somé, The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor, and Dr. Kim TallBear on the For the Wild podcast, in the episode Reviving Kinship and Sexual Abundance.