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Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:04:24 AM

UniqueRaven

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Note**** by "Spiritual" in this post i don't necessarily mean including the worship of any particular G-d. It could also be just how someone connects with the universe, or karma, or just the energies of other humans. i'm referring to that sense of something "other", or even "higher", outside of yourself, and whether that plays a role or not.

i had someone read my profile and my journal recently and say that he thought we could be a good match, but that i was a much more "spiritual" submissive than he was used to.

This got me thinking - i am spiritual, yes, it comes a lot from my yoga training, but i tend to see the spirtual as enhancing the functionality of my submission, in other words it enables me to just be - and to just be present for my D-types desires and needs from me.

And then i realized that there really is a range on this - there recently was a thread in the sub/slave forum on spirituality enhancing submission, and i saw that quite a few s-types related their submission strongly with their spirituality, including myself.

But then i see D-types who post who are purely "do it, don't think about it, etc. etc." and don't really care about spirituality. Conversely, i also see D-types who want to take their s-types on a spiritual journey of sorts, who want to lead him/her in that way.

So overall, where do you fit on the range? Do you see D/s as more "functional" or "spiritual"? Can you relate or be engaged with a partner who is on the other end of the range as you? And i'm particularly interested if it is the general trend that s-types are more spiritual, and the D-types are more functional, or if i'm just putting too much of my own interpretation on things.

Looking forward to the responses!

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:08:13 AM

LillyoftheVally

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Spirituality/ideology/philosophy whatever tends to entrench on every area of your life, you ideas around politics and sex and relationships, the meaning of life whatever. I think it is very difficult to maintain a relationship with someone who has a totally different world view to you, if you are pulling in opposite directions then the relationship will suffer from it.

I do not see D/s as intrinsically spiritual, no more than anything else in life its based more on how spiritual the individual was.

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:17:05 AM

Level

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I see d/s as "functional", even though I'm a "spiritual" person. As long as both parties involved in a relationship were respectful of the other's spirtuality/religion, or lack thereof, I wouldn't see a difference as being problematic, unless she's into one of those snake-handling gigs

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:18:28 AM

Level

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*goes to look at UR's lovley rear-end, uh, spirtualness again*

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:22:18 AM

Aileen1968

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I don't consider myself a spiritual person at all. My thoughts on higher powers tend to be very private and rarely influence my relationships. So that isn't a guiding factor for me at all. I also don't see my submission as just purely functional. I am in a warm and loving relationship with a warm and caring sadistic man who cherishes me as he beats me. I would say, for me, that I am more influenced by my love for him more than anything else.

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:23:26 AM

UniqueRaven

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*Covers her rear end with the Yoga Sutras*

*cough*

*points back up at the Topic which does not include my rear*

hee hee!

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:29:50 AM

Jeffff

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I have to agree with Aileen. Spirituality is not at the top of my list of things I look for.For me any relationship is functional.

I think that if you go looking for this spiritually "pure" relationship, life is gonna smack you right in the face. I believe in love but I don't see it as this mystic thing. It can be a bitch and any relationship takes work. Work is functional.

Jeff

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:33:59 AM

UniqueRaven

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For me my spirituality makes the "work" of life easier though. i tend to see my life as a journey and where i am on that path, and it makes the "work" where i am more simple, if that makes sense.

It's hard to describe, in a way - it's the whole yogic principal of relenquishing control and simply being present with whatever happens. This is a big part of submission for me, even though it is *me*, and i don't expect my Owner/Master to be part of my spirituality in any way, i'm happy accepting him as he is. i do think it would be hard, if not impossible, if he asked me to release my spiritual side, though, it is as LilyoftheValley said, an entrenched part of what makes me "me."

< Message edited by UniqueRaven -- 1/9/2010 7:34:47 AM >

_____________________________

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?" ~Snoopy (Charles Schultz)

My blog is at http://takinghishand.wordpress.com

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:36:18 AM

Jeffff

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I didn't mean that people can , or should not be spiritual. Too much naval gazing can get in the way.

There is stuff to do and life to be lived.

LaoJeff

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:51:23 AM

CarrieO

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OP,
This is a great topic and I'm looking forward to reading the responses.

My spiritual beliefs are a part of everything I do...including D/s. I would find it difficult to be in a relationship (which is how I prefer to experience D/s and bdsm as opposed to having many play/scene partners) with a man, dominant or submissive as I identify as switch, who didn't share at least some if not all of my beliefs.

For me, this is part of the inspiration you hear many speak of when they say why they serve a particular person. I'm functional in my job...in my personal relationships I can allow myself to be functionally spiritual and spiritually functional.

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:52:20 AM

liketobeBlues

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I think the wonderboy and I tend to be more "spiritual". There is something about the blending of energies that is near magical ...
~ Blue ~

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:52:51 AM

cpK69

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quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

So overall, where do you fit on the range? Do you see D/s as more "functional" or "spiritual"?

For me, it is both, but for the same exact reasons.

Having a Dom who is "functional" is probably easier for me, then if he was interested in being on “a spiritual journey of sorts”. If he doesn’t ask, I don’t tell.

I suspect the other type of Dom would attempt to persuade me to discount my current beliefs, and probably want me to stop research on them; I wouldn’t want that.

Kim

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 7:53:03 AM

Aileen1968

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quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

For me my spirituality makes the "work" of life easier though. i tend to see my life as a journey and where i am on that path, and it makes the "work" where i am more simple, if that makes sense.

It's hard to describe, in a way - it's the whole yogic principal of relenquishing control and simply being present with whatever happens. This is a big part of submission for me, even though it is *me*, and i don't expect my Owner/Master to be part of my spirituality in any way, i'm happy accepting him as he is. i do think it would be hard, if not impossible, if he asked me to release my spiritual side, though, it is as LilyoftheValley said, an entrenched part of what makes me "me."

There are many ways to achieve these goals that aren't even remotely spiritual.

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:12:40 AM

osf

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i get an almost spiritual high, but that's all it is, a high

i don't think d/s exists on a higher spiritual plane just one level above hell at best

to me it boils down to being raw visceral sex, but fun sex

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:20:10 AM

sexisubi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

So overall, where do you fit on the range? Do you see D/s as more "functional" or "spiritual"? Can you relate or be engaged with a partner who is on the other end of the range as you? And i'm particularly interested if it is the general trend that s-types are more spiritual, and the D-types are more functional, or if i'm just putting too much of my own interpretation on things.

Looking forward to the responses!

i would say im more functional but it doesnt mean my believes or philosophies dont add to my submission. i mean my sign does say bound by love because love makes me want to give them everything. while if i just have a crush or like someone the things i give are still going through me to make the final choice.

opposites attract :)

i think both my dom and i are both functional, whiles hes a self improving dom and also very religious his ideas are always with a functional premise.

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:21:18 AM

UniqueRaven

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From: Austin, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen1968

quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

For me my spirituality makes the "work" of life easier though. i tend to see my life as a journey and where i am on that path, and it makes the "work" where i am more simple, if that makes sense.

It's hard to describe, in a way - it's the whole yogic principal of relenquishing control and simply being present with whatever happens. This is a big part of submission for me, even though it is *me*, and i don't expect my Owner/Master to be part of my spirituality in any way, i'm happy accepting him as he is. i do think it would be hard, if not impossible, if he asked me to release my spiritual side, though, it is as LilyoftheValley said, an entrenched part of what makes me "me."

There are many ways to achieve these goals that aren't even remotely spiritual.

i totally agree. For me i "get there" through my yoga, and there are definitely other ways.

_____________________________

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?" ~Snoopy (Charles Schultz)

My blog is at http://takinghishand.wordpress.com

(in reply to Aileen1968)

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:23:24 AM

Prinsexx

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quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

So overall, where do you fit on the range? Do you see D/s as more "functional" or "spiritual"? Can you relate or be engaged with a partner who is on the other end of the range as you? And i'm particularly interested if it is the general trend that s-types are more spiritual, and the D-types are more functional, or if i'm just putting too much of my own interpretation on things.

Looking forward to the responses!

Why does there have to be a dichotomy?
Do unto others as one would be done by is pretty functional in my book. And it seems to form the basis of most spiritual course books too.
In D/s terms serve thy Master as he would want to be served. Easy peasy lemon squeezy n'est-ce que pas?

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:26:03 AM

nephandi

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Greetings

To me Spiritual and functional are the same. When I sub for someone it is a Spiritual act, pain play lead to different states of consciousness which leads to a closer connection with the Spiritual. However it is my mindset which makes BDSM Spiritual, just that when I cook that is a Spiritual act to, and then to it is my own mind who makes a mundane act Spiritual. I see the blending of the foods as alchemy, the rising fumes as a way to communicate with the Gods. Our minds can make anything Spiritual. I think it is closer to say that when you are a Spiritual person, everything you do, every practical thing you do becomes a ritual and becomes Spiritual.

The off course one have BDSM done for the sole purpose of Spirituality. One can have a relationship where the Master is the priest and communicate with the Divine, and the sub or slave when serving the priest, serves God or the Gods or whatever is being worshiped through Their priest. One can have a relationship where the sub or slave is a magickal tool for the Dom, his or her body becomes the altar, their Energy, their skill with the occult becomes tools for the Master to use. Or one can have a relationship where the sub is an assistant or apprentice in the practice of the Dom, learning and expressing their Spirituality through service to their Master or teacher.

Or the act of BDSM can itself be Spiritual, whippings and pain play can be a wonderful tool in magick, sex magick can be practiced with a BDSM flair. Or one can just see the whole thing, the act of surrendering or the act of dominating as a way to express one self in Spirit. There is so many ways one can use BDSM as a Spiritual discipline that I really understand those who call BDSM a Spiritual practice.

I wish all well

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:29:47 AM

UniqueRaven

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From: Austin, TX
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Prinsexx

quote:

ORIGINAL: UniqueRaven

So overall, where do you fit on the range? Do you see D/s as more "functional" or "spiritual"? Can you relate or be engaged with a partner who is on the other end of the range as you? And i'm particularly interested if it is the general trend that s-types are more spiritual, and the D-types are more functional, or if i'm just putting too much of my own interpretation on things.

Why does there have to be a dichotomy?
Do unto others as one would be done by is pretty functional in my book. And it seems to form the basis of most spiritual course books too.
In D/s terms serve thy Master as he would want to be served. Easy peasy lemon squeezy n'est-ce que pas?

Whoops, i should have added a question to say if you see it as "both" - both spiritual and functional, or even one level plain with no distinctions between the two. i started out by defining myself that way and then didn't ask if anyone else was the same. My mistake - consider that officially added! :)

_____________________________

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?" ~Snoopy (Charles Schultz)

My blog is at http://takinghishand.wordpress.com

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RE: Functional vs. Spiritual D/s - 1/9/2010 8:31:36 AM

breatheasone

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This is an awesome question, for me i think it will be more a combo, with the heavier leaning toward spiritual.

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