Relating to the Body as a Bondage Model

It could be that becoming a bondage model and a submissive/masochist in general, was a way for me to get in better touch with my body!

Recently decided that I would start swimming again. Naturally, I'm someone who lives in their head all the time. This means that although let's face it, I'm brilliant, I tend to trip, walk into walls, and not notice people saying hello on the street. It also means that I've always felt disconnected from my body. It's something that brings me pleasure, pain, and I need to feed it every once in a while.

This is a great portion of reality though! I've realized the need in myself to live in physical reality more, but it's always been a struggle.

BDSM has been great in helping me live more somatically, since it requires a knowledge and awareness of the body (and where the mind, body, and soul connect). It begins primarily as a somatic experience. Knowing the body's boundaries, limits, and feeling the precise places and boundaries where a beating goes from "good" pain to "bad" pain requires one to live in the body. This is so important for people like me.

Just some thoughts!

~Maya

Is it possible to be original?

Is it possible for a human being to produce something original, and if not, what is the closest we can get to pure originality?

To be purely original necessitates a lack of influence from one's prior experience. Thus, in order to embark on this goal, one must first produce a new language to express the original idea. If one uses an already established vehicle of expression, such as words or mathematics, to express the idea, then the idea, however original it may be, will be churned out as some permutation of symbols we are already familiar with. True, we may not have seen that particular conglomeration of symbols before, but if the very vehicle of expression is not original, then how can the idea itself be original?

An original idea requires an equally original vehicle of expression. We already have words, mathematics, and to some extent music. Word express out lived experience, math expresses amounts of space and time, and music expresses feeling or emotions.

If we are to create a whole new language, we first need to figure out what exactly it is that we might want to express. Concepts, argument,s emotions, amounts, these are all things we are currently able to express using our established vehicles of expression, such as words, mathematics, and music? What else in the universe yearns to be expressed? Once we can pinpoint that, then we can develop a symbolic system to express that experience, and from that truly create an original idea or art.

Possibilities:

peak experiences

psychedelic experiences

that nagging spiritual feeling that there is MORE

intuition

ESP

meditation

dreams

Lewbaricon Approaches!

I sincerely hope that everyone will check out Lew Ruben's hot and awesome bondage workshop, Lewbaricon! Check it out: http://www.lewbaricon.com/lewbariSF

The last Lewbaricon I attended was in August, which I helped to organize and coordinate. We held this bondage tutorial workshop in the woods in Sonoma wine country. Gorgeous weather, kinky people, in a cute, funky little camping area out in the woods - it was heaven!

Lew is an excellent instructor. Both articulate and organized, he starts with the very basics, and he doesn't move on to more complex rope ties until every single person in the group has each step down. No one gets left behind. The workshop is a nice environment of learning, socializing with other kinksters, and relaxing. So sign up, and become a rope expert like Lew!

Masochism & Mysticism!

So, I'm thinking of putting together a workshop at the San Francisco Citadel called "The Sacred Inferno." It would be an intense plunge into the depths, splitting into the cracks of the shadow, exploring the energetic, spiritual realms of sexuality through active conversation and contemplation. Each workshop will begin and culminate in a guided inward meditation, and otherwise be a group discussion where we discuss various topics relating to sexuality and spirituality.

"What is consciousness & sexuality?" you may ask!

*Coming to a more integrative understanding of our psychospiritual selves through exploring our sexuality

*Finding healing in the sexual realm

*Learning to engage our sexuality through consciousness expansion & awareness

See, in the BDSM community, there is a vibe of hedonism. People do things for pleasure, but never question why they do the paradoxial pleasure-pain activities we love. Perhaps it's because they have to defend themselves constantly to friends and family who discover their perversions. I think it's time we gather our thoughts and discuss the empowerment and catharsis that arises from our BDSM experiences!

So stay tuned. I will probably start these workshops in April. It'll be a monthly event.

What does "Queer" mean?

I gave up referring to myself as "bisexual" long ago. Although it is accurate, it does not show the full picture of who I am. In recent culture the term "queer," has become in vogue. Conveniently vague, it is an umbrella term for anyone who is not straight. In my case, it can mean attracted to men, women, gender fluid, trans, or whoever.

The term "bisexual," is riddled with stereotypes. Personally, I think of one of those straight girls who kisses other girls because it's fun and turns on the guys. That's what "bisexual" conjurs up for me. The term also seems to provoke hesitancy and wariness in people. Which are you going to choose? If you date one gender, are you going to miss the other? Do bisexuals fuck more people than straight or gay?

These questions don't even make any sense. As a "queer," person who by definition is ill-defined, I can play around with different gender roles and looks, which suits my well-balance feminine-masculine personality.