Relating Lab: The art of taking

The art of taking
with consent, but without guilt

It took me some time to offer this new Relating Lab session because, honestly, this theme feels a little tricky.

Taking.

Even saying the word brings something up.
Life teaches us to be giving, generous and considerate of other people's needs. Then, perhaps, we learn the art of receiving.

But taking?

We rarely talk about it. Yet it's essential to how we relate to ourselves and others.

How often do you hesitate to take up space?
Have you ever noticed the line blurring between something happening for you and somehow finding yourself in the giver's role again?

Maybe you've noticed how much easier it is to offer something than to simply say:
“I'd really like to do this. Would that be okay with you?”

With all the conditioning, guilt and stigma around taking, we can end up pushing this part of ourselves aside.

But what if taking didn't have to mean being selfish?

What if we could enjoy something simply because we want to, while fully respecting another person's boundaries?

In this workshop, we'll explore Taking through the Wheel of Consent, where it means:
“I do this for me, with your agreement.”

It's not about pushing boundaries, persuading someone or taking something that hasn't been freely offered.

Quite the opposite.

It's about recognising what you want, being honest about it, and allowing yourself to enjoy it within another person's freely given agreement.

It's also about learning to hear a no without feeling rejected. To trust that someone can change their mind. And to discover that our desires and another person's boundaries can exist together.

What we'll explore

I've prepared a series of playful, embodied exercises to help you explore your own relationship with taking.

Through guided meditation, we'll notice what happens in our bodies when we think about taking. What feelings, sensations or beliefs arise?
Through solo exploration, we'll reconnect with our small desires and pleasures, including the ones we might usually overlook.
Through relational practices, we'll experiment with asking for what we want, responding to someone else's requests, and navigating yes, no and maybe.
We'll explore what it's like to take up space, express a desire, change our minds and stay connected through it all.

My hope is that you'll leave with a little more curiosity, a few new experiences, and perhaps more permission to explore what you want in everyday life.

The practical bits
Sunday, November 15th, 2–4 pm. Calm Rooms, Monkstown. Early bird available. Up to 15 seats. Wear something comfortable that you can sit on the floor in.

A few things to know

Everything in this workshop is an invitation, never an obligation.
You're always welcome to pause, observe, say no or change your mind. Any touch-based exploration will be optional and based on explicit agreement.
No prior experience is needed. Come as you are, with whatever this theme brings up for you.

Please bring: a bottle of water, a notebook and a small object from your home that you're comfortable using in the exercises.

About me
I'm Olena. I'm a psychologist (PSI graduate member) doing a PhD in organisational psychology, with somatic and consent-based training. I run cacao ceremonies and cuddle therapy sessions in Dublin. I'll run The Relating Lab, a four-event series, over the coming months. Each event is focused on a different quadrant of the Wheel of Consent. This is the entry point. Come and share this space with like-minded people.

Can't wait to see you in the Relating Lab! ❤️