Twin Oaks Hosts Annual Women's Gathering

Just about every August since 1983, Twin Oaks, an intentional community in Louisa, Virginia, has opened up their land for their annual Women's Gathering, a three-day celebration of strength in community. This year marks 30 years of women coming together for workshops, yoga, drumming, dance, song, sweat lodges, mud pits and more. There's still time for you to be a part of the experience; this year's event will be held from August 15-17, and is open to all women, both female assigned at birth and/or woman-identified.

"Last year was really wonderful after a year not having it -- 2012 was the first time it was cancelled in 30 years," said organizer Erin Tucker, whose partner lives in Twin Oaks. "You definitely get to know people. There are women who have been coming for years and years and have a real bond because of that. The workshops are manageable, and everyone is able to participate."

As campers arrive to the commune on Friday, they tote their gear to the campsite and assemble their tents. Guests are asked to bring a snack or something to share on Friday night. The commune provides entrees, vegetables, drinks, and all other snacks.

Registration is offered on a sliding scale of between $60-160, depending on one's financial ability, and work trade is available for those who can't afford registration. Paying more helps subsidize a financially challenged women's attendance.

"We have a work week and weekend, so depending on what fits people's schedules, they can come the weekend before and work, or camp that week and work then," said Tucker. "If they can't afford the full amount of money, we ask that they pay at least $20 to cover food costs, and take a couple of extra shifts during the gathering. But we don't want to turn any women away for not being able to pay."

All gathering attendees are asked to put in some sweat equity, and sign up for two work shifts of two hours each. If you have children (all girls, and boys under 5 years old are permitted) you're asked to do childcare shifts.

With only about 100-200 participants each year, the gathering is much smaller than sweeping events, like the Michigan Womyn's Musical Festival, which can be a boon to those who feel lost in a sea of women at those other festivals. And unlike Michigan, Twin Oaks permits transwomen and non-bio women to participate in the weekend.

Twin Oaks Women's Festival is a great way to recharge your batteries, physically and psychically. The commune makes and sells beautiful hammocks, which are available throughout the camping area for women to relax. They host a sweat lodge with a mud pit nearby, both located close to the river, where campers can swim. And a wide range of workshops will help focus your energies on what you'd like to achieve.

"There are so many workshops, we are really excited," said Tucker. "There's everything from DIY construction projects to movement workshops to radical healing, chanting, drumming and more."

Blue O'Connell will lead Sacred Chants and Songs Circle, and Thea Page will head the Acu-Detox Program. Valerie and Kele will run the Up Close and Personal workshop, to take turns observing the "main different shapes and sizes of our external and internal genitalia."

Valerie will also lead the East Practice workshop, to help find peace during times of struggle, and the Happy Feet workshop, using a combination of hydrotherapy, gentle stretching and massage to give feet a wellness session.

Angie Tupelo will head the Navigating Kink Through a Feminist Lens workshop, looking at porn, BDSM and kink in a feminist way. She will also lead the Poly 101 workshop, for those who are considering opening up their relationship.

Kadye fen Deardorff will hold the NIA Playshop: Choosing Sensation fitness practice blending dance, healing and martial arts. She will also lead the Demystifying Lyme Disease workshop -- important for those living in Central Virginia, an endemic area.

"On Friday night, Kadye will be playing music for us, and there will be a belly dancer who specializes in the American Tribal style," said Tucker. "We are also doing a sharing stage on Saturday night, and women can bring anything they want to share to the stage. I get so much from just seeing the wonderful things women are capable of doing. You can share your reading, poetry, sing, get the audience involved; it feels really empowering, but it's not so long that people get tired and wander off. Some women who have never shared in front of anyone in their life get up there and share because they feel so safe and empowered."

Michele Zehr will lead workshops including Intro to Basic Self-Defense for Women, Rediscovering Lilith: An Uncensored Talk about Women's Bodies and the Safe use of Pleasure Toys, and Listening to the Wisdom of the Land: Reclaiming Our Intuitive Connection to Our Sacred Earth Mother workshop, to teach women to listen with their hearts.

Karen Mulder will host the Locating Yourself in the Archetypal Women workshop, and Feminist Twin Oaks member Brittany will host the Women's Spaces Matter workshop.

"I think in [intentional] communities they are not as attached to women's spaces because women are generally treated with equality, and there is not as much anti-feminism and genderism as in the mainstream," said Tucker. "But for women out there, it is so important to have spaces like this every year, where women feel safe and feel like they have a voice. I am so grateful that Twin Oaks has continued to do that."