I am going to start filtering some of my more private musings. Since blogger does not have a tool for that, you will need to visit my Live Journal and ask to be friended there. I will continue to post Daily Gratitude and other subjects here. There is also a FAQ for my Journal at the same link.
a post on leather spirituality
| Sunday, March 19, 2006 @ 08:15 I wrote the following in response to a question on a discussion list. boy said I should share it in my journal. The original question asked how spirituality affects my leather lifestyle and views on how things "should" be in the leather community. The topic of spirituality in What We Do is a close one to my heart and my relationship with slave boy. I have spent years exploring different spiritual paths and philosophies. That exploration is ongoing and as I re-learn things my soul forgot, I adapt them into my daily life. The result has been a slow evolution, rather than a single epiphany that changed everything overnight (i.e., I was not "born again" into any spiritual path or religion). I long ago reached a point where I could no longer define my spiritual path as belonging to any tradition, religion, or philosophy. All I can do is walk the path as it appears in front of me. For a long time I tried to separate my spiritual side from my daily life. I thought it infused all parts of my life, but it was not directly related to my sex or my SM. Partly that was because I did not have a deep enough spiritual connection with most of my partners. However, it was also due to the fact that our society teaches us that sex and other bedroom activities have nothing to do with church which has little to do with daily life. Eventually I realized that my spiritual sElf is the only sElf I have. I *am* a spiritual being and that being is equally present when I'm inflicting pain as when I'm having orgasms or eating good food, etc. There are three distinct ways that spirituality enters my M/s and SM (and countless other fluid ways). The first is through approach: I am a spiritual being engaged in a spiritual journey. My Mastery of slave boy and my path as a Master must be in synch with that spiritual journey. I would not act as a Master in any way that is contrary to my spiritual beliefs. In fact, I try to exemplify the highest spiritual standards in my interactions with and guidance of slave boy. In addition, I would not enter into an ownership agreement or other long-term relationship with someone who did not have their own clearly defined spiritual path or goals and that path should be compatible with mine. My relationships are meant to encourage and nuture my spiritual growth and that of my partners, not detract or distract from it. The second way is through intent: I approach my SM interactions and some of my M/s rituals & protocols with the desire to increase the flow of energy between the participants. Deepening spiritual connection with others helps strengthen my spirit. Now, I don't say that I approach every interaction in this way; sometimes I'm just having good physical fun with someone. However, more often than not (and almost 100% of the time with slave boy) I have a spiritual intent, even if it is only a secondary intent within the interaction. The third way I incorporate my spiritual beliefs is through transformation. While this is similar to intent, it is much stronger. This is when spirit takes over in an interaction (sexual or SM) creating a tremendous level of spiritual energy and transforming one or more of the participants. On a personal level, this is intensely intimate and I won't share any examples on a group list. On a public level, I have witnessed edge play scenes, ritual cuttings and piercings, and group events such as the annual energy pull at Southwest Leather Conference where spiritual growth and personal transformations occurred as a direct result of the marriage of spirituality and BDSM. The larger group events have the added benefit of changing the energy and spirit of an entire community as well as those who participated. Coming from a community where Leather and Spirituality are nearly synonymous, I don't have any projections of how things 'should be.' I have learned to accept people and honor their choices as their own personal truth. I watch the ideals of living an authentic life spread and observe that people are slowly having spiritual conversations across the country (and the world) and I have no doubt that there is a spiritual revolution occuring in the larger BDSM community. There will likely continue to be people who separate their spirituality from WWD just as there will continue to be people who separate their religion from any spiritual core. But there are more and more people who are understanding that incorporating conscious intent and transformation in their SM and sex can lead to tremendous spiritual satisfaction and growth. I can not impose my will or my vision on any being or community. I can simply continue to live my life as a spiritual, sexual being in a Master/slave relationship and participate in those group discussions and energy events that call to me.
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