This is dedicated to the beginner Dominant. Many of you (I will leave out capitalization for this essay) will find this different than my many posts, but I have been asked so many time something like the following, "โฆI'm trying to get my husband to open up to BDSM but he's not sure how to startโฆ do you have any suggestions?" And I find myself always answering the same way, "โฆ hare some very good links that helped me get startedโฆ allow timeโฆ talk a great dealโฆ get him to understand that in a way it is simply reverting to what I perceive to be the natural rolesโฆ"
The question that kept nagging me was, yeah that sounds great, but really, if you're a beginner and you pump me full of rules and regulations, do's and don't's then I'm going to get a bit discouraged and after all, "this was [her] idea not mine". Once I would reach that point I would be back to whatever I call normal and I would shut down inside. The shutdown would not be because of fear or distaste, but because of lack of "actionable" knowledge. What do I [do]?
I was watching a movie the other night and it came to me, there is a great approach that can be taken and help the first timer get through that very first Topping experience on his way to becoming a Dominant. The movie I was watching was Nina Hartley's Guide to Sensual Domination number 2 [How to dominate a woman]. I highly recommend it actually for the first timers, and as a way to perhaps break the ice and open the conversation.
First let us start with some of the basics about sensual Topping:
The foundation of BDSM is "Safe, Sane and Consensual" and if you're going to start exploring this, you must understand that this is not "sort of safe" or "mostly safe" or "should be safe" but that it MUST be SAFE. So, if in doubt, start slow and make sure your partner understands your concern for her safety and together explore it. If you get to a point where it does not work for you or you're too concerned for her wellbeing then stop. Listen to your inner voice because it's there for a reason. Find out more about whatever it is you're trying to do, and experiment together.
In the BDSM lifestyle we make a big distinction between pain and harm. Pain is just one of the heightened sensations we feel, it is sharp short lasting and does not injure the person. A red bottom does not count as an injury, but third degree burns certainly are an injury and that most certainly qualifies as harm.
Many misunderstand the "sane" part. A top must be in full control of his senses. That means, no alcohol, no drugs, nothing that would keep your reaction time or your understanding of the situation from being the best it can be for you. The same goes for the bottom. She cannot be affected by alcohol or drugs and still be able to tell you that you are approaching the line the separates pain from harm.
BDSM play requires that it be consensual. Now you may be asking yourself, "โฆwait a minute, I thought I gave the orders and she followed them? How can that be consensual?" Well the answer is simple; BDSM is an exchange of power, not a license to be a domineering asshole.
So then, what power is being exchanged and how?
The power that is being exchanged is whatever you define it to be. In many cases women are willing to give their ability to give and to receive pleasure, in exchange for not having to worry about his pleasure or her own pleasure. She is seeking the ability to get lost in the moment and to release control completely; but only to someone she completely trusts. The numbers of conversations I've had on this topic with women [both submissive and vanilla] center around one general idea. The idea being that there is stress in everything that they do: work, home, kids, and sex. Yes, sex can be stressful believe it or not.