At The Edge

A workshop with Noam Raz.

Reaching an edge can be a thrilling experience. It can open us to life, give birth to insights and create a special connection with others. There is often a lot of potential precisely there – where something is unsettling me and my habits, but not in a way that overwhelms me. However, going beyond or over an edge (= boundary) is very close to reaching one, and that is already dangerous. It can hurt quite a bit, close us to each other, make us numb and block our exchange with the external world.

And so (for good reasons), many of us become very good at avoiding edges altogether. We learn to retreat when we notice a hint of destabilization. We apologize, look away, rush to repair, or move away from the tension. This is indeed often the safest option, and often also the most functional one. Being constantly on the edge is exhausting, and it is very difficult to achieve anything concrete from within that liminal space.

This workshop is an invitation to practice and explore the opposite: to step into the somewhat forbidden territory where we intentionally bring one another close to an edge, and explore the what lies there. All of this is, of course, strictly consensual, and the workshop will move at a very slow and gentle pace.

Through games and embodied exercises, we will explore questions such as: What is an edge, actually? How do we recognize it? How can we notice when approaching an edge is expanding us, and when it is starting to become too much — before overwhelm sets in? And what helps us reconnect if we do become overwhelmed or close down?

What to expect

We will begin with a thorough solo warm-up to connect to our bodies, become more sensitive to boundaries, and attune to our sense of inner authority. From there, we will gradually move into various consent games and relational explorations. We will work with touch, though alternatives will always be available. While this is a sex-positive space, and exploring sexual edges is welcome, the theme of the workshop is much broader. Edges exist everywhere: with friends, family, strangers on the street, and in countless subtle moments of everyday life. No one is expected to engage with sexuality in order to participate fully.

Throughout the workshop, we will also take time to verbally process and reflect on our experiences. While the topic touches something somewhat transgressive, there is a strong emphasis on care, gentleness, and mutual attention. It is an adventure we embark on together.