Step into the dark, inhabit the other – and let your senses be illuminated differently – naturally.
Queer-Natural Night is a SENSational, experiential and immersive workshop that invites us to explore the dark, the other, the unfamiliar. To discover something new. To perhaps even see more clearly – beyond what our eyes habitually see. By feeling into all our senses our brain can paint a new picture, create new visions of what is around us and what is possible. By stepping into the shoes of our night-active kin, the creatures of the dark, we learn about different and fascinating ways of living beyond the human perspective. Or perhaps re-learn a human perspective that got blinded in the artificial light? By gazing into the star-speckled universe above, observing the moon phases and listening to nature’s stories around us, we may experiment with navigating the world around us and within us differently, queerly, sensationally.
The dark might not be so dark, the other might not be so other, and the unknown is awe-full (rather than awful).
Join me on a dragventure of queer-natural discovery & play!
What is this workshop about?
This workshop invites us to explore the mysteries of the dark – an opportunity to de-mystify “the other” and re-mystify ourselves. To challenge our (human and habitual) perception of the darkness, to discover our night vision and to delve into all our other senses (at least 8 of them!) as they awaken, become more visceral and communicate to us and with our environment. To lean into them, allow them to guide us and learn how to trust them.
We will get an embodied glimpse of what it might be like to live in the dark as we hear and learn about creatures that come alive as sunlight dims and humans scuttle into their brick-built and light-up shelters. What possibilities of being, surviving and thriving are hidden in the dark? How much life and how many lives exist all around us outside our vision?
We get to experience how dark – or not – the night is and wonder about the celestial elements that illuminate this little world from the expanse of the universe (cloud-cover depending – one of the many surprises nature has in store). And how they might influence lives, cycles and seasons on this planet beyond the visibility, awe and wonder they provide.
We get to challenge ourselves in a supportive way, to step into the unfamiliar, experience the excitement of adventure, and explore less-human and more-than-human spaces with care and curiosity.
The activities and experiences will involve walking through different terrains, and spaces – from open field into woodland, from “lower” ground to “higher” ground, away from the lights of Brighton and towards them. We will get as hands-on, feet-on and senses-on as you feel comfortable to explore with – the added sense of – play. And we will spend time standing or sitting to observe, think, discuss, wonder out loud and listen to stories.
We will meet 30 minutes after sunset, which means there will still be light to arrive, see where you are and who you are with – and transition into the fading light and growing dark. Experiencing the liminal space between daytime/daylight and nighttime/moonlight.
The aim of this experience to explore our senses and what darkness feels like (or how dark/light the night actually is). This is why I will ask you to not use your torches. It takes human eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to their full night vision and being exposed to bright/artificial light resets that to having to adjust again. Wildlife and nighttime creatures also appreciate not being brightly illuminated and we want to respect and experience their way of life as we gently explore their habitat. But we will, of course, have light at the ready if we need it.
Weather allowing, we will have a form of natural & warming light in the shape of fire or candles at the end. And warm ourselves with a warm drink as we talk about our experience and lean into stories of the dark. Please bring a thermos and I will bring my camping stove. You might want to already arrive with a hot drink in your thermos for the start.
Participation:
All exercises are an invitation for you to explore different aspects of experiencing nighttime and walking in the dark. You can participate in whatever way or however much feels comfortable to you. The exercises and paths are adaptable to individual/group needs – they are about experience, and stepping perhaps outside of your familiar/comfort zone in a supportive and incremental way that feels the right amount of challenging to you. Walking aids, chairs to sit while we pause to talk/observe, etc. welcome. Due to the low visibility and uneven ground please do bear in mind and let me know any concerns around confidence in walking. You may not wish to carry a stool while walking, but you could leave it where we set off from and gather at the end.
🗓 When: Saturday, 2 January, 16:30 – 18:30 (2 hours) (sunset is at 16:00, end time weather depending)
📍 Where: Hollingbury Golf Course / Wild Park Nature Reserve, Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 7HS (details closer to the event)
👉 Register: Free / donations welcome.
Part 3 of the Queer-Natural Discovery series:
Part 1: Queer-Natural Movement – 12 December, 10:30 – 13:00 @ Withdean Park
Part 2: Queer-Natural Being – 19 December, 10:30 – 13:00 @ Withdean Park
Pick’n’choose your own adventure – even more fun if you join me for all three 🤩
Bring:
🎒 Clothes for the weather (waterproofs, comfy shoes with grip, warm layers…)
🎒 Water & Snacks (maybe a thermos flask with a hot drink; mug for communal hot drinks)
🎒 Something to sit on (optional)
🎒 Torch (preferably one with a red light or orange light setting, or different brightness levels)
🎒 Curiosity and a sense of adventure
What to expect:
🤓 Walking in the dark
🤓 Stories & Night-nature fact
🤓 Connecting with nature
🤓 A human in drag
🤓 The unexpected!
Offers of learning & experience:
🌱 Night vision & non-visual senses
🌱 Night-time creatures & nature
🌱 Degrees of darkness & natural light
🌱 The effects of artificial light
🌱 Testing and trusting to step outside the known and your comfort zone
🌱 To be curious and adventurous
Access & Needs:
Activities
The workshop involves walking across and trough different terrains – on uneven footpaths through woodland and on grass or paths in open fields. It also involves a little uphill and downhill. There are several options as we can adapt to needs and conditions on the day, but overall it will be uneven and unpaved ground. You can participate as much or as little as you want. It is about the curiosity and experience, not about distance or ability, or about pushing beyond what is sensorily good for you, or otherwise too scary. You can always take a break, take my hand, have light ready when you need it. We will also be standing while we talk, observe, and reflect. You can bring a chair/stool/sit mat/etc. You might not wish to carry that while walking, but you can leave it at the place we will come back to for the latter part/more talking & listening part of the session. Please bear in mind that this will not be in view of the group or looked after by someone as we move about.
Due to the low visibility and uneven ground please do bear in mind and let me know any concerns around confidence in walking.
Ground:
The ground is fairly even on grass, but we will also walk in the wooded area, which is more uneven with roots and stones. There is some uphill/downhill, but not steep or long. It is winter weather, so the ground might be wet and muddy – wear water-resistant shoes with grip, and that you feel comfortable in for walking.
Environment:
We are outside for the duration of the workshop – there might be wind, it might be chilly, it might be wet. It is a public space and although there won’t be anyone playing golf in the dark, there is the occasional human walking a dog (based on my experience running in that area after dark). You might hear noises and rustling by animals without seeing them (we might spot some though).
Facilities:
There are no public toilets or cafes (open at this time).
Getting there:
Nearby bus stops: Woodbourne, Surrenden Road East End
Free car park just as you turn off Ditchling Road towards the golf course and at the golf course
Relaxed participation:
You can step away any time, you are welcome to move and stim however allows you to be comfortable. While all participation is encouraged, all questions, interactions and activities are invitations and you can engage as much or as little as you want to.
Support humans welcome (no dogs for this one as it can be more difficult to monitor them in the dark and they might react to things we can’t see.)
Ask & Let me know
Please contact me directly via email for access requirements and questions before the event so I can prepare and adapt – where possible. I want to support you the best I can so you can join in and enjoy the experience. So let’s talk about it!
Welcome & Considerations:
All are welcome here – queer, trans, LGBTQIA+ and not queer support humans. All shapes & forms of bodies & brains. Whatever ground you emerged from, whatever ground you call (currently) home.
Enter & engage with: Respect, Consent, Kindness, Open Mind & Heart.
I’m aware that I (myself and on my own) can’t make a space fully safe, but I do my best to make it safer and ask you to help me with that. We can all contribute to looking after our own needs, creating a supportive group experience and taking care of our environment.
Discrimination, intentional ignorance and inappropriate acts will not be tolerated.
About me:
Toulouse Lost-Track is an eco-drag king who follows the signs of nature in an attempt find his own nature, or perhaps escape his nature, maybe become nature, what even is nature… He’s not quite sure at this point. But he invites you to join him on his dragventures and discover a world of queer ecologies and possibilities.
Out of drag, Mar is a multi-(ad)venturous, multi-skilled and multi-cultural human who feels most at home roaming from summit to sea and everywhere in between. Their aim is to create spaces of belonging, possibility and empowerment that allow fellow humans to (re)discover nature, (re)connect with their own wild spirit and care for all beings with kindness and kinship. They do this through drag, nature connection, wellbeing workshops and outdoor adventures.
E-Mail: dragventures.nature@gmail.com
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/toulouse_lost_track/