Conscious Lesbian - Queer Dating and Love Toronto

Tue, Dec 23 · 8:00 PM EST

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Online

Holiday Open House -- and support for lesbian/queer thriving :)

Online

2 attendees from 27 groups

Holiday Open House! And an excuse to connect :)

Are you curious about the Conscious Girlfriend Academy community? Or, just seeking some extra support as the holidays draw near? Either way, we'd love to have you join us on Tuesday for some open-hearted connection.

We gather 5:00-6:30 Pacific Time (start time is 6:00 MT, 7:00 CT, and 8:00 ET) and it'll be a chance to meet some of the beautiful women and queer people involved in the Academy, have some thought-provoking and authentic conversations, and learn more about the Academy, too. We charge $1.00 for newbies, to keep the space safe. You must register and pay here -- a Meetup RSVP won't get you the link.
Now, let's get real. Cultural mythology tells us that the holidays are supposed to be full of joy and connection, but for many of us, these are actually some of the hardest days of the year.
You might feel lonely. Or you might be dreading your time with family members who don't "get" you, or are homophobic, or are on the other side of the political chasm.
Or you might be with a partner or friends, but still have a feeling of... emptiness, or exhaustion, or "Is this all there is?"
It can be stressful and exhausting, expensive and over-stimulating. And it can also push our attachment buttons, and make us polarize along the predictable fault lines of our different attachment templates.
Here's how that might look.
If you're on the anxious side, you're probably working overtime trying to make sure everyone else's needs get met, shopping till you drop, cooking, caring for others... and then deep down feeling like a martyr because no one is doing the same for you.
It feels like your girlfriend or other close people are just not as present. You start feeling lonely, and it feels even worse to be lonely at this time of year. So maybe a complaint slips out, and then all of a sudden, you're fighting...
Because your GF, or your close person who is more on the avoidant side, has been feeling stressed and overwhelmed, too. And just as you (or the more anxious-template person) want to go toward other people when you feel anxious, the more avoidant-template person wants to get away, get some space. She starts feeling Bah-Humbug, "I hate the holidays, I can't wait till this is over!"
And the anxious person then starts feeling even more frantic to get on the samepage, to feel connected again, to have that "happy holiday" everyone is supposed to have.
Yikes. The gap between how it looks on the outside and how it feels on the inside is getting even bigger. And of course, that just makes the more avoidant person feel more pressured, and pull back even further, which makes the anxious person feel more disconnected and frantic and sad...
So then here we are, getting more polarized into our separate patterns -- and both people are suffering, and neither of us is in that fabled "holiday spirit" at all!
OUCH.
If you recognize yourself on either side of this seesaw, here's what to do.

1. Know that you are not alone.
2. Stop taking it personally. In times of stress, we revert to our default templates. It's not your fault, and it's not her fault, either. You're actually each doing the best you can.
3. Compassion is the remedy. Compassion for yourself, first, just like putting on your own oxygen mask first. Then, compassion for the other person. Then, as you keep breathing, compassion for all of us.
4. If you believe in any deeper spirit behind the holidays -- the bringing of light into darkness, the spirit of giving, the wisdom of Jesus, the miracle of the lamp oil that burned for eight days instead of one -- tune into that.

If this is a challenging time of year for you, >sign up here to join us at our Tuesday Open House.

Here's the thing: it's so easy for negative momentum to get going. Tension increases, loneliness deepens, words get said that you'll later wish you hadn't said. (We all know that whoever made up that line about sticks and stones hurting, but words not hurting, was just plain wrong. Words can hurt a lot, and that hurt can linger for a very, very long time.)
But on the plus side, it's also possible for even one person to turn that negative momentum around. That one person can be you!
And that's the very best holiday gift you could ever give anyone, including yourself.
So, take a walk. Sit still and sip some tea. Breathe in and out slowly, making your out-breath longer than your in-breath. Lie down for a few minutes and pull the covers up over your head and cry. Or meditate, or sing, or chant, or gaze at a flower or a candle, or spend a few minutes of quality time with your pet (who doesn't care at all about the holidays), and let yourself come back to center.
From that place in the center of your heart, you'll see that holidays don't have to be perfect. Nothing is or will be perfect, and has to be perfect, which is fortunate, because nothing is perfect -- and in spite of that, and even because of that, this life is unutterably precious.
May love prevail.
Much lesbian and queer love to you,
Ruth
P.S. Don't forget our pre-Christmas sale! Hit "reply" to get $100 off your registration for our Roadmap Retreat, January 11-15, on the Manatee River near Tampa, FL! Learn more about the retreat here. It will be an amazing way to start 2026 in community, fun, friendship and learning. Or, sign up for both the retreat and the online Roadmap class and get $200 off, this week only.

Sun, Jan 11, 2026 · 4:00 PM EST

Lesbian Learning & Friend-Making Four-Night Florida Retreat

Location not specified yet

7 attendees from 26 groups

What would it be like...
...To spend four nights and five days in a peaceful place on a river, surrounded by thoughtful lesbians who are curious about themselves and about you, building real community and friendships in a safe, supportive environment?
To feel accepted exactly as you are, whether you're in your 30s or your 80s, or anywhere in between... whether you've been out for decades, or are just coming out now... and have fun, go deep, and gain skills for your life as a woman or non-binary person who loves women?
Dancing. Walking. Swimming. Sun-bathing. Canoeing. Playing conversation games that help you really get to know people. And attending what some members have called "lesbian university," with classes that help you make lasting changes to create the dating and love life you really want.
For many lesbians, a retreat like this one is a dream come true, a chance to break out of isolation and make connections that will last for the rest of your life.
Here's what a few recent participants have said.


Our March 2026 retreat sold out so fast that we added this January retreat, and we're making it available to women* new to Conscious Girlfriend Academy, as well as existing members. (All of our work is open to all self-identified women and adjacent non-binary people who love women, or want to. Late-in-lifers are warmly welcome!)

For more info or to sign up, visit our retreat page here.

The Academy is a truly unique LGBTQ space, both online and offline. In a world that sometimes seems to have gone mad, full of disconnection and dysfunction, we create an oasis in our own lives and for the lesbian/queer community. We're the authors of the Amazon bestselling book Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love (start reading the book for free right here) and have changed lives in 25 countries.

Academy work is based on cutting-edge neuroscience and attachment research, combined with decades of real-life lesbian and queer hard experience. Our teachers and coaches have been through many trainings, including the "school of hard knocks," and we're dedicated to making YOUR journey easier.

Together, we shift isolation... into connection.
We transmute heartbreak... into healing and empowerment.
We help lesbians and queer women create the friendships and love we've always wanted.
And in the process, we make life better for all of us :)

Learn more at www.consciousgirlfriendacademy.com -- and visit soon if you can, because annual memberships are on sale for 20% off through December 1.

Wondering if we're the right fit for you? Visit our retreat page to learn how to schedule a free 1:1 chat with our outreach director so you can get better-acquainted with our program. Do it today, and tomorrow you'll be glad you did :)

Sun, Mar 8, 2026 · 10:00 AM EDT

Conscious Lesbian/Queer Retreat In The Sunshine, March 2026

Dayspring Retreat Center, 8411 25th St E, Parrish, FL, US

29 attendees from 26 groups

Open-Hearted. Growthful. Fun. Friendship-Making.
Welcoming all women-loving-women and adjacent non-binary people.
Tampa Bay Area, Florida
March 8-12, 2026
Conscious Girlfriend Academy Retreats are for our members only. Learn more about the retreat, and about becoming a member, here.

FAQs About Conscious Girlfriend Academy Retreats
Q: What are Conscious Girlfriend Academy's lesbian retreats like?
Conscious Girlfriend Academy is the leading global online community and learning hub for growth-oriented lesbians, queer women and adjacent non-binary people. Our retreats are focused on heart connections and learning. These multi-day events invite you to:

• Connect with approximately 60 lesbians and queer women in open-hearted ways
• Experience a non-hookup, community-focused environment
• Explore workshops and conversations that support personal growth and authentic connection

For some, CGA retreats are their first time in a group of lesbians. It's a safe, welcoming space to step into community. For others, CGA retreats rekindle the joyful spirit of past decades of lesbian gatherings.

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Q: What is the setting of this retreat?
Dayspring is a warmly welcoming 97-acre retreat center on the Manatee River, with kayaks, trails, gardens, wetlands, a labyrinth, great food and cozy retreat lodging. It's about 45 minutes from the Tampa International Airport. Temperatures in March should be in the mid-70s to low 80s during the day, and low 60s at night.

Q: Who are Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats for?
CGA retreats are especially for single lesbians and queer women seeking community and friendship, though couples are warmly welcome, too. Each retreat brings together approximately 60 attendees.

• Most attendees are ages 30s-80s.
• Women who are just coming out, are bisexual or are exploring their queer identity are embraced here.
• Longtime lesbians looking to reconnect with lesbian culture and community will feel like ducks in water :)

It’s the perfect space if you’ve been longing for meaningful connection without the pressure of a bar or dating scene and if you are a growth-oriented woman-loving-woman who wants to hang out with and/or date people committed to conscious, healthy relationships.

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Q: What can I expect to experience at the retreat?
At our Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats, you can look forward to:

• Workshops for self-discovery and personal growth
• Morning meditation or mindful walks
• Structured opportunities to make new friends and go deep
• Evening gatherings that foster joy and belonging, including campfires and maybe even s'mores (gluten-free for some of us)
• Fantastic meals
• Time to relax, reflect, and recharge in warm-hearted company, welcoming to introverts, extroverts and everyone in between

Many participants say the true magic is in the friendships and confidence they take home with them. And yes, some conscious romances have begun at our past retreats, too :)

Learn more about the retreat and membership at www.consciousgirlfriendacademy.com

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Q: I’m just coming out. Will I fit in?
Absolutely! This retreat is crafted for inclusivity and comfort, offering a gentle landing for those:

• Newly coming out
• Exploring their lesbian or queer identity
• Seeking their first connection with lesbian community

You’ll be surrounded by growth-oriented, open-hearted women who will support, uplift, and welcome you exactly as you are.

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Q: What makes this lesbian retreat unique?
Unlike a larger event or party-focused weekends, Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats offer:

• A non-intimidating, community-first atmosphere
• Workshops and activities that prioritize self-acceptance, learning, and authentic connection
• Opportunities to bond with other single lesbians without the pressure of a hookup or dating-focused event
• An opportunity to meet in person with your past, present or future classmates in the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, the world's only online school and community devoted to helping lesbians and adjacent queer people live our best lives, date wisely and love well.

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Q: Why do you have to be an Academy member in order to attend?

• Academy membership creates a culture based on being conscious, compassionate and curious, and this container transfers over to our retreats, making them both richer and more relaxed. When you're at a Conscious Girlfriend event, you can expect genuine warmth, not a frenzied focus on "meeting someone." You will definitely "meet someone" -- lots of someones! That said, all of our retreats yield friendships, and some of those, in the fullness of time, also turn into romantic relationships.
• Most Academy members find that the Academy dramatically uplevels their capacity for higher-quality, authentic friendship and relationships. So it's a special perk to be able to spend F2F time with those women you've previously seen in the Zoom squares, and see what blossoms.
• Learn more about the retreat and membership here.