Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
I have an idea, which may or may not actually come to pass (but in my life, I tend to plow ahead and somehow actually get things done anyway once I set my mind to it, so it's not just a manic dream)...I'd like to see a weekend or 3-day wilderness retreat for survivors to meet and party and learn together.
Here is my concept:
I have access to a campsite in Stillwater, OK which is church-owned. It's a dorm-style lodge, not "cabins with spidery bathrooms down a dirt road" like some camps. It has forests, trails, and a fishing lake...
I'd like to have speakers and leaders run programs for participants so we can gather and discuss issues, find inspiration, have fun/play games, do artworks, hear music, have campfires, and make enduring friendships.
At the end of the camp, I'd like to have a sweatlodge run for whoever feels they would like to go through the ceremony, cleansing before leaving for home.
So my question is this: would people actually want to attend this? This would NOT be "therapy camp" and we wouldn't be sitting in circles and "processing trauma." This would be a chance to step outside the "trauma stuff" and actually be a community, a tribe, coming together. Even a couple of us men, too.
the camp would not be free, but I don't know what the cost would be yet. If we can get over 2 dozen registered members, the cost would drop significantly. We would also need to buy food and feed the cooks, and perhaps have travel stipends for our visiting speakers and group leaders.
If this were held next Spring, would you attend? Would you want to bring family members?
If it were held on a 3-day weekend, would you attend for 3 days?
How much money would you think is a reasonable cost for this, and how much would be too high and prevent you from coming?
What ideas would you like to contribute for the program?
Should I proceed?
As far as I know, there has been NOTHING like this ever conducted around here for survivors. The sad result is that survivors tend to feel burned out, overwhelmed, and obsessed with this one issue, as if it is the center lodge pole of their lives, and they feel burdened by having to constantly deal with is as a trauma, or guilty if they feel led to detach and take a break form it all. I'd like to offer a third alternative: positive, happy, relaxed, celebratory community in which peace, not trauma, is our unifying bond.
Here is my concept:
I have access to a campsite in Stillwater, OK which is church-owned. It's a dorm-style lodge, not "cabins with spidery bathrooms down a dirt road" like some camps. It has forests, trails, and a fishing lake...
I'd like to have speakers and leaders run programs for participants so we can gather and discuss issues, find inspiration, have fun/play games, do artworks, hear music, have campfires, and make enduring friendships.
At the end of the camp, I'd like to have a sweatlodge run for whoever feels they would like to go through the ceremony, cleansing before leaving for home.
So my question is this: would people actually want to attend this? This would NOT be "therapy camp" and we wouldn't be sitting in circles and "processing trauma." This would be a chance to step outside the "trauma stuff" and actually be a community, a tribe, coming together. Even a couple of us men, too.
the camp would not be free, but I don't know what the cost would be yet. If we can get over 2 dozen registered members, the cost would drop significantly. We would also need to buy food and feed the cooks, and perhaps have travel stipends for our visiting speakers and group leaders.
If this were held next Spring, would you attend? Would you want to bring family members?
If it were held on a 3-day weekend, would you attend for 3 days?
How much money would you think is a reasonable cost for this, and how much would be too high and prevent you from coming?
What ideas would you like to contribute for the program?
Should I proceed?
As far as I know, there has been NOTHING like this ever conducted around here for survivors. The sad result is that survivors tend to feel burned out, overwhelmed, and obsessed with this one issue, as if it is the center lodge pole of their lives, and they feel burdened by having to constantly deal with is as a trauma, or guilty if they feel led to detach and take a break form it all. I'd like to offer a third alternative: positive, happy, relaxed, celebratory community in which peace, not trauma, is our unifying bond.
If we brought our husbands, what would they do? I mean, would it be like co-ed dorms, or would all the guys pile up together, and all the girls have a dorm separate? My husband coming with me would depend on how I "sell" it to him.
I love the idea. So many of us are at that place now Matt. You know, where we want the parts of life that don't include the trauma to be in the fore? I read so much of what we all write, and we are there. We still have "issues", but, I think most of us see them as things we will manage, not the pivotal points of our days anymore.
A resurrection celebration might be just what the doctor orders....:)
As for money....that is hard to say. If it's close to a thousand, I can't do it. We are saving for a vacation together that we haven't had in over 10 years, so, I couldn't take away from that. But, if it was moderately priced...I know, what's moderate?...well, I'd just have to know what I would need, tack on travel, and just see if I can scrape it up. I don't know what "reasonable" is.
Personally, I AM burned out at having to deal with these issues. But, I can't just forget some of them exist...., BUT I COULD FOR THREE DAYS...AND I'D WELCOME IT!
By money, I'm not talking a thousand dollars. I'm talking $75, 100, 150...
I like the idea of the men having breakout sessions. I have often wished for my husband to be able to talk to other guys who are in the same situation as he is.
And how cool is it that Oklahoma is kind of in the middle of the states? Okay, the lower middle, but still.
It is an AMAZING idea though!!
Yep, this was your, "I have a dream" moment.