ABCs Of Kink

No Shame: Workshop Space

November 30, 2019 by ABCs Of Kink

I’m looking for a storefront space or accessible first floor of a residential building with enough room to create and teach in. I have until March to find the place I want to be next, but I’d like to potentially move or expand my situation sooner than that. I like the Providence area, though I’m not married to it. I’d love to be in a space that’s live-work, though work-only is doable. My budget is on the small side, but my need for open space is important. As with all performance artists, I’m asking what seems to be the impossible from the universe. But I’m still asking.

Super Grandpa in his workshop (which was really just me moving parts of my workshop to the Oberon Stage for performance)…

Ideally I would have the ability to have a lot of plants in this space (sunlight!) and an herb garden outside. A first floor space is ideal, or a private entrance if it’s a building with multiple units on one floor. I’d want to build out a small reception area in the front, a changing room off the reception area, and to build out sufficient storage space in the back. The main space (what’s remaining) would be large and open, taking up about 70% of the floor plan. There will need to be a restroom, and hopefully a sink and stove of some sort. I would like room to teach about 20 people in the space while displaying my art, and have room to create. If I was producing a larger event a 100 person capacity would be divine.

A favorite needlepoint piece of mine (2019)

Does anyone know how to help me find such a thing? Does anyone have such a thing they’d like to work with me on? Does anyone know where, in this economy, I can find a landlord who will not gouge me and who will allow this space to be mine for as long as the projects I have in mind are served by the space and our agreements? I’m an extremely clean and responsible tenant, a hard worker, and respectful of my environment and communities. Let me know if you have ideas. I am calling this space to me.

“Medusa” played by Creature at Pulqueria Los Insurgentes en Cuidad de México as a part of The Scarlet Tongue Project. Photo by Juan Carlos Ruiz Vargas

The hardest part of being an artist without means is having so little control of my environments. Renting is all I can afford. I wish that were not my situation. It’s hard for me to stay in a space I can’t plant a garden at, paint and design to my desires, superficially restructure as needed for various projects, teach in (due to space size, neighbors, and noise)… and so forth. I want a space I can make my own, which is sustainable for all of the varied types of work I do.

Meet “General”, my first puppet made completely from scratch

I want a space I can share with other creators and with audience, patrons, clients, and students. I want a wonder shop, a place people are inspired to visit, and who value a living, unfolding, representation of my voice and my work here on Earth. A space that can inspire and invite others to join in and play.

Hunkering down and making a place my own is important for moving forward. The vision of who I want to be and what I want to be able to provide within community is contingent on being able to find the space to do these things. Having space to teach in would be ideal on its own, and I’d like my space to be a resource for more people than myself.

It’s intimidating to advocate for myself and my work this way. I don’t know how I will get to the place I want to be, but I do know that I must keep on placing one foot in front of the other, dreaming of the day I’m able to share my space with all who are curious enough to show up and spend time with me.

Play On My Friends,
~ Creature

My writing takes time, research, and consideration: it is my art.
Please help me continue by joining my Patreon campaign, Donating, or booking a professional or educational Session with me. Thank you!

Filed Under: Brain on Download Blog Tagged With: building the future, dungeon classroom, finding space for classes, help a teaching artist, Holiday wishes, teaching artist, what I want

Submission Training

November 27, 2019 by ABCs Of Kink

I have been engaged in various forms of training submissive types for the past 3 years. How training goes is specific to every trainee. I have my own interests, of course, so there are particular lessons everyone learns and experiences most everyone is subject to (within negotiated consent boundaries, of course). An emphasis in my teaching though, is to connect with those areas an individual sub needs help with in order to meaningfully gain the skills they require to serve Me skillfully, pridefully, and with heart.

With heart. Teaching to the heart and spirit as much as to the body or to the mind is ideal. To serve with heart means to be capable of being fully present and attentive, energetically generous, to be open and capable of sharing, to roll with the punches and mistakes which inevitably worm their way into situations, to have boundaries and communicate appropriately, and to care about service itself—to care about it internally as much as it is a gift to Me.

The protocol I start with is: keeping a journal. I require my subs to journal at least once after each time we see each other, and I leave it open to them to make entries more frequently. The purpose of this journal is to keep communication open between us, to give them a place to think about our time together, to critique it, to reveal their own thoughts and feelings, and to offer me something of what is hidden in our interactions: their experience, their feelings, their heart and my effect on it. It’s a way for them to be held accountable to the homework I give, and for me to read through the results of their daily practices when I assign such things. I have them keep a written account of the protocols I teach, which is useful as I don’t get to see trainees daily or even weekly sometimes. In this journal I also offer insights in response to their entries and I give homework assignments. At times I find myself very touched and inspired by what is shared with me.

[NOTE: It is the best thing in the world to inspire one’s Dominant! Though be careful how you inspire—not all reactions to inspiration may be to a sub’s benefit… 😜]

Recently I received an entry that made my week, and one that I think is fitting to share. For some background, the training session my sub is writing about was a bad day for me. Service morning had arrived and I was struggling emotionally. I decided to invite my sub on a trip to a huge gorgeous plant nursery in my area, then we got lunch together. I’m training my sub in cooking and dining service currently, so we’ve been sampling food from restaurants to critique, break down the recipes, and get inspired… By the time we were back at my place for chores to get done all seemed much better with the world. This was the journal entry I received the following week:

Dear Sir,

We walk together through the warehouse of growing things. Lost in the labyrinth of plants of all shapes, sizes, colors, and hues, i breathe deeply in the natural aroma of it all. You show me Your favorite plants, sharing what You find beautiful and special. i begin to see the forrest for the trees, and the jungle for the plants, as i look with new eyes at the things around me, sharing in Your joy and finding things of my own to admire.

We return, bellies full, to your house, where you take home small plants to feed and water and grow into thriving, brilliant, impressive houseplants. Here we connect, and water each other with stories and dreams, energy, and foot massages. As the spicy tang of sautéed asparagus and sweet flavor of mango dance in my stomach, i begin to plan which tasty treats i will prepare to add warmth and joy to this space.

Nature is a beautiful mystery. Everything exists within a symbiosis; the soil feeds the plants and the plants feed the soil. Small sprouts grow and evolve into tall trees, and all is fed by the brilliant, beautiful sun that feeds all living things as the ball of life known as the Earth spins about it. And on that ball of life, in a small one bedroom apartment in a small city, two living, growing souls embrace, feeding each other in a symbiosis, two travelers through the ups and downs and cycles of this existence.

To many more days like this.

Your sun whenever You need it,
xxx

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My sun indeed. It turns out D/s is an offering to one another, not just the game of “breaking wills” so many so-called “Dom(me)s” seem to believe it is. I left that training session uplifted, and the following week when I read this journal entry I was grateful. I was grateful for this person in my life and all they have come to be (and are continuing to become) under my tutelage. Every success of theirs I feel as a success of my own.

If you are interested in expanding your skills in Dominance, providing training to a submissive partner of your own, or want to know more about the ways Dominant partners construct D/s relationships, please join Myself and Mistress Couple for our “Dominance Development Seminar“. The next weekend intensive dates are January 24-26, 2020, and we’ll be housed in a gorgeous location in New Hampshire. The seminar is open to anyone regardless of whether you identify as a lifestyle, professional, or private player, and we’re happy to have students who are switches and even submissives who want to learn more about Dominance. I hope to see some of you there. Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions through the seminar’s application link.

I wish you and yours ever-mounting meaning and warmth this season.

Play On My Friends,
~ Creature

Filed Under: Perspectives on Kink Blog Tagged With: BDSM protocols, D/s training, dominance seminar, dominance training, kinky journaling, sub training, submission training, what assignment should I give my submissive

Dominance Development Seminar: A Weekend Intensive

November 25, 2019 by ABCs Of Kink

Photo: Mummification of my submissive trainee—a perfect footrest! In related business, I invite you to my Dominance Development Seminar…

For the last couple years I’ve been collaborating with a good friend and Professional Dominant. We’ve been co-teaching and evolving curriculum for a weekend long intensive aimed at becoming a more skilled and ethical Dominant play partner. Our class is appropriate for both professional and lifestyle players of all sexes, genders, and orientations. In attendance there’s usually a mix of experienced Doms and those newer to the role. Sometimes even submissive-identifying people make it out to learn more about this fascinating subject. I LOVE teaching this intensive weekend packed full of information, fun, and action!

Today I’m announcing our next seminar. I’m excited to share that we’re collaborating with the Star and Snake, who will be hosting our upcoming session in New Hampshire in January 2020! Below is more information, and if you’d like to apply for attendance or if you have questions, you can contact us through the registration link.

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Dominance Development Seminar
Instructors: Mistress Couple & Creature Sir
Location: Star and Snake
Center Harbor, NH
Dates: January 24 — January 26, 2020 (4pm Friday — 4pm Sunday)
(Snow Dates: January 31 — February 2)
$1200/person (includes meals and bedding option: details below)

Who this course is geared toward:

Professional Dominants who wish to expand their knowledge base.
Private and lifestyle players wanting to learn or develop Dominance skills.
Individuals of any skill level or persuasion interested in learning more about Dominance and D/s relationships are welcome.

Topics of study in our 20-hour newly updated course includes:

Friday
4-6:30 Understanding Submissive Archetypes
6:30-7:30 DINNER
7:30-9 Finding your Relationship with & Wielding Power (Part 1)
9-11 Dungeon Tour & Personal Exploration
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Saturday
9-10 BREAKFAST
10-12 Finding your Relationship with & Wielding Power (Part 2)
12-1 LUNCH
1-3 The Art of Impact: Communication and Techniques for Play
3-4 BREAK
4-6 The Art of Bondage
6-7 BREAK (Dress for Dinner and Playtime)
7-8 DINNER
8-11 Mini Play Event ~ Demos, Practice time, & Play, oh my!
(Students who have partners in the area are welcome to invite them to attend this portion of the seminar)
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Sunday
10-11 BREAKFAST
11-1 Fetish and Fantasy;
The Art of Scene Crafting
1-2 LUNCH
2-4 The Art of Discipline and Punishment;
Wrap up: Lingering Questions & Hands-on Topics

As always, the weekend will be accompanied by trusted trainees and subs who will be offering their insight, expertise, and even bodies to practice on! Apply for admission to our Dominance Development Seminar here!

Tuition Details: $1200/person

Boarding: Meals are provided. (As is coffee & tea service, and a selection of healthy snacks.)

Room: Beds are limited. Lodging at the venue we teach in is not guaranteed with tuition. You have the option to room at the venue as long as we have beds available (first come, first serve). We find the cohesion and energy of the group is best when we’re predominantly staying together over this intensive weekend. However, if you are a person who needs or desires a more private or solitary space to unwind, or if you have a partner in tow, there are definitely AirBnB options, and a hotel is located within walking distance. You are responsible for booking and paying for your own room if you are not assigned a bed at the venue.

Payment: To reserve your spot, a 50% deposit must be received no later than two weeks prior to the event (January 10, 2020). Balance is due upon arrival to the venue. Payment options will be sent to you after your application has been submitted and reviewed.

Snow Date & Inclement Weather Policy: No refunds are offered as a result of inclement weather. We are not planning to cancel this event (if at all possible). Knowing that late January in New England can be unpredictable, we have scheduled a snow date in advance. Should we need to cancel the event due to inclement weather, we plan to simply push the date back a week and meet from January 31^st — February 2^nd. If you cannot make that snow date, we’re happy to apply your deposit to a future workshop. We teach this curriculum several times a year.

Early Bird Discount: We’re happy to offer 10% off to students who are signed up and have paid their deposit at least one month in advance (offer expires: 12/23/2019).

To apply or get on the waiting list for our upcoming seminars: Register Now

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About the instructors:
Creature Sir: In this era of #metoo where we are striving as a society to understand and take consent seriously, I believe building one’s communicative fluency is as fundamental to picking up a flogger as practicing good form is for when it’s thrown.

I’ve been a Sexuality Educator for 20 years, BDSM Skills and Safety Instructor for 6 years, and a Professional Dom for 3. I’ve developed curriculum for, taught, and co-taught at a number of kink conventions, private events, dungeons, festivals, colleges, and one-on-one with individuals over the past 20 years in the sexuality industry. I am trans, queer, a career performance artist, and I also teach workshops in queer politics, drag, gender performance, and identity. Parallel to my artistic career, I also produce events centered on kink & BDSM for couples, groups, and individuals.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a sex, BDSM, gender, and identity nerd. I’m quite passionate about these subjects. It’s been a joy to help shape the Dominance Development Seminar curriculum. You can learn more about my professional offerings at: www.CreatureKink.com, or support my artistic work at: www.Patreon.com/CreatureKPW. I hope to see you in January!

Mistress Couple: As the Head Mistress of a long-running dungeon I ran the Master/Mistress-in-Training program that produced some of the world’s best professional and lifestyle Dominants. While this was an extensive process (1-2 years of immersive experience to become a fully realized Dominant), I realized that many people are not able to make such a serious time commitment.

For this reason, I developed a weekend workshop as a primer for those who would like to embark on a deep exploration of their Dominant personality and hone their technical skills. I’m happy to share the expertise I’ve drawn from 6 years experience as a Professional Dominatrix, Couple’s Coach, and BDSM Educator over the course of this workshop weekend. To learn more go to: www.MistressCouple.com.

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Play On My Friends,
~ Creature

Filed Under: ABCs Blog, Perspectives on Kink Blog Tagged With: bdsm classes, BDSM lessons, how do I dominate a partner, how do I dominate my husband, how do I dominate my wife, how to be a dominant, kinky class, kinky university, new years kinky resolution, star and snake