ravishment

Coming across many types of Subs & Slaves, I felt necessary for newbies or more experienced souls to re-publish this compelling analytic on differentiating the level of commitment.
This list (“Ten levels of Submission and Slavery”) has become sort of a “defacto BDSM bible” of “Submissive Levels” a submissive/slave may or may not attain. The danger in reading the word “attain” is that a submissive or Dominant may look at this list as something to “work toward.” This is NOT at all the case. It is not a “stair-step” type of thing, where one begins at level one, and progressively moves through the steps up to the platform’s auction block, No. These ten levels simply gives U/us a VERY broad idea of where a submissive may be upon her own Path. This piece (again, copied all over the web) serves as a more convenient guide When communicating early with a prospective Sub/ Slave. I like to know where the submissive is in this “pseudo” hierarchy to better s) in the exchange. I hope it helps some of you sort thru your own feelings and functions. We tend to like labels, though I do not particularly care for them Myself. There are far too many shades of kink to pigeon-hole vanilla people - let alone those in O/our life. As with anything, I suggest you take from this article what speaks to you - and discard the rest. No level is “better” than another, or classifies one as a “real submissive or a real "slave”. And again, the lines of demarcation are not cast in stone - you know who and what you are, and the only person to whom one’s level of submission should matter - is the Master. TEN LEVELS OF SUMISSION AND SLAVERY:

1.THE OUTRIGHT NON-SUBMISSIVE MASOCHIST or “KINKY SENSUALIST” - no servitude, humiliation, or giving up of any control; just some minor pain and “spiced up sensuality”. Akin to the bedroom submissive – light bondage, spankings, chair suspension, toys, blindfolds - all for the pleasure & pain of the two vanilla people involved. Roles can be reversed and the “masochist” (bottom) can easily switch and take the role of the “sadist” (top).

2.PSEUDO SUBMISSIVE - not even into “playing” slave but into other submissive role-playing, e.g. school teacher scenes, infantilism, “forced” ransvestism, “forced"? rape all of which are very consensual - even planned together. At this level the submissive might be into humiliation interaction to a some degree. Very capable of topping from the bottom by using passive aggressive techniques. Eyes are lowered only in jest. Bondage games seldom include real pain and are unsophisticated using inexpensive bedroom "tools”.

3.PSEUDO-SUBMISSIVE PLAY - likes to play at being a slave; likes to feel subservient; might, in some cases, like to feel s/he is being “used” to gratify the partner. May even really serve the Dominant in some ways, but only on the “slave’s” own terms. S/he dictates the interaction to a large degree. This person can switch very easily and may even suffer from an “approach-avoidance conflict” in this third realm. She has a lot of hard limits and may not be able to reach subspace at all.

4.TRUE SUBMISSIVE - Really wants to give up control (though only temporarily and within agreed-upon hard limits), but gets her/his main satisfaction from aspects of submission, other than by serving or being used by the dominant. Usually turned on by suspense, vulnerability, and/or giving up responsibility. Doesn’t dictate the scene except in very general terms, but still seeks mainly his/her own direct pleasure (rather than getting pleasure from pleasing dominant). S/she has hard limits and S/he must be told to switch if you want her to play the Dominant role - but her heart and soul are not really in it. She may reach reach levels three, seldom four - in the subspace stages.

5.SUBMISSIVE “PLAY SLAVE” (I have a real problem with the term “slave” here - even though it is a popular term for new people at this level in the lifestyle. I feel that a slave is pretty much what is described in numbers 8 thru 10). At this level (#5) the semi-sub really gives up control (though only temporarily) and gets her main satisfaction from serving her Master - but only for FUN purposes, usually erotic. May or may not be into minor pain play. If so, is turned on by pain indirectly, i.e. enjoys partner’s pleasure of inflicting pain - on which the submissive places few requirements or restrictions. The “Healing Syndrome” starts here. S/she wants to save the world - starting with her Master.

6.UNCOMMITTED SHORT-TERM BUT MORE THAN PLAY SEMI-SUB - Really gives up control (usually within limits). Wants to serve and be enslaved by the Dominant; wants to provide practical/non-erotic as well as fun/erotic services; but only when the so-called “slave” is in the mood. May even act as a full-time slave for, say, several days at a time, but is free to quit at any time (or at the end of agreed-upon several days). May or may not have long term relationship. Either way, the “slave” has the final say over when she will serve and when she leaves. She’s still doing it “for her Master”

7.PART-TIME CONSENSUAL, BUT REAL SUBMISSIVE - Has an ongoing commitment to an owner/slave relationship and regards oneself as the dominant’s property at all times. Wants to obey and please dominant in all aspects of life – tactical/non-erotic and fun/erotic. Devotes most of time to other commitments (e.g. job, kids) but dominant has first pick of the slave’s (submissive’s) free time. At this level the biochemical/hormonal imprints no longer allow her to be a switch. The Healing syndrome is in full swing here - described as a number of signs and symptoms where the individual is unwilling or unable to take care of themselves adequately in order to take care of “the more important” O/other. These submissive are often imprisoned in their own early and unresolved feelings of abuse, neglect, trauma or loss - and are often willing to self-lessly serve Another in order to avoid dealing with their own pain. Unless these issues are resolved along the Spiritual Path - the results will be depressively implosive. At his level the Master usually has more “bedroom” tools and may even have a space devoted solely for scening. As for her - whether she knows or acknowledges it - submission, like slavery, is a Spiritual Path no matter where on the imaginary stepladder s/he finds herself. hen, because of her devotion, s/he steps up a rank and sees herself both above or below other subbies - it’s time to see with the eye of an eagle. If s/he concentrates too much on those below her and continues to look down aka “expansion”) s/he might get dizzy and fall back - or once again turn into the girl she once was without having learned the lesson. If she focuses too much on those above her (aka “contraction”), instead of the goal - she may become discouraged and will never become for that her soul longs. The lesson is to be present in the moment - not to look below or in the past too much, not too look above or in the future too much - but to be in the here and now.

8.FULL TIME LIVE IN CONSENSUAL SUBMISSIVE (First level “SLAVE”). Within no more that a few broad limits/requirements, the “slave” regards her/himself as existing solely for the Dom(me)’s pleasure/well being. This slave expects to be regarded as a “prized possession” - not much different from the situation of the traditional legally bound “house-wife”, except that within the S/M world the slave’s position is more likely to be more fully consensual! (It’s a joke people!). But seriously, within the S/M world, a full-time slave’s arrangement is entered into with explicit awareness of the magnitude of power that is being given up, and hence is usually entered into much more carefully, with more awareness of the possible dangers, and with much clearer and more specific agreements than usually precede the traditional vanilla marriage. In other words there is at least a spoken contract and more often than not a written one. At this level zoning is experienced regularly and often - up to the fourth level. The Master usually has an array of sophisticated tools and may even be proficient in one or more bondage styles. He may even have a fully equipped Dungeon The r/l submissive/slave is slightly different from the other higher or lower levels in that she is “attached” (sometimes even in the/a legal and religious sense) to “her” Master and to her “own” material things - including habits and addictions. In fact, the vast majority of submissives/slaves are addicted to something, Someone or another - many to tobacco, caffeine, orgasms subspace, food, etc. To some the difference between attachment and non-attachment is so huge as to be debilitating. But here also - the chasm and lines of demarcation between submission and “slavery” is mostly self-defined. Basically being a sub means (a stronger) bond or feeling of attachment between the Master and “His” submissive, between the sub and “her” things - one that surpasses service. she “cares” for Him in a much deeper sense but her service is more often motivated by a bond of love shared between them. Nevertheless, a submissive, by sheer definition, has many, if not most choices taken away from her and is actually honed and shaped not by a feather but by rough rock and sand-paper until her Master has her mentally and psychologically exactly where He wants her. A very real and practical difference between slaves #8 and #9, (and these are all “for instances” of course), would be that while trust and obedience in # 8 involves a non-permanent, less consequential (having less to do with values but rather instant commands) pertaining to many short-term aspect of life - the # 9 The Lifestyle’s lower, non-dictionary definition of the slave) slowly and meticulously evolves from a more serious power stratosphere and demands a much higher level of trust, obedience and a change of values - indeed a relinquishing of any moral, religious or ethical code in the person. The Master becomes the moral arbiter and enabler for her and He alone determines her moral and ethical structure. But let’s not forget that this too is voluntary and indeed something that one “falls” into without much realization. The lines of demarcation between Eight and Nine must already be closing for the submissive to be morphed into a\the (middle definition of) slave. Take notice here that the slave is still a person. For example - As a slave a Master could command to get a permanent tattoo, wear a permanent thin steel collar, call her “slave” or “slut” in front of people in the inner circle (a form of permanently “coming out”) - or ordering the slave to suck off a friend - (as say, a birthday gift from the Master to him), or being ordered to make love to another woman at a party - or even seducing a woman the Master likes and taking her home for a three or more some, etc. etc. This is a level #9. There are very few limits. But there are still some hard limits left.

9.CONSENSUAL TOTAL SLAVE WITH FEW TO NO LIMITS. A common fantasy ideal in real life. Probably doesn't exist except on-line and in authoritarian religious cults and other situations where the consent is induced by social or economic pressures, and hence isn’t fully consensual. A few SM purists will insist that you aren’t really a slave unless you’re willing to do absolutely anything for your Dom, with no limits. At #8 the slave still has the right to refuse to be away from the Master overnight. That means a Master cannot “rent”, sell or abuse her out right. The (second level - #9) slave is truly owned and has very few rights - but the relationship is still considered somewhat (at least legally) “consensual” and often still very loving - but only where most of the loving flows from the slave to the Master - (victim loving their captors syndrome). Seldom the other way around. But in fact true slavery in BDSM is something entirely different: she is owned NOT by her Master or Mistress but by her OWN addiction to slavery - her deep, undeniable need to serve. And both Master and slave are aware of it. She is not even a whore because whores get something in return. No, oftentime (though not always) the People she serves are incidental - just another Master, Mistress, another submissive or even a slave sister - W/whomever. S/he is the ultimate pet, the ultimate slut and while s/he may get “used to” (translate “love”) a Master - basically s/he does as she is told - no questions asked. Because her service is mainly motivated by deep scars of the Healing Syndrome, service and obedience gives her the ultimate bliss, the ultimate float, the ultimate zone. she cannot help herself. s/he has given up all responsibility but one - to obey instantly, without thought or even the slightest hesitation - and without any responsibility or thought to the ultimate consequences. There is nothing else in the world that matters. Nothing but (often blind) obedience. Since these slaves have no limitations and depend entirely on the good will of her Superiors to exist - they often refer to themselves in the third person - or even as “it”. “it” can be traded, rented, sold and/or given away in real life - sometimes on the auction block. Masters may trade, gamble, fight or even kill for her. Or they may watch her on a street corner waiting to be picked up by the first stranger who wants her. “it” owns nothing - not even the clothes on her back. “it” wants nothing - not even the clothes on her back. “it” cannot be humiliated and wants for nothing. “it” is numb to pain and seldom flinches. “it” gives no thought to praise. “it” lives neither in the past nor ponders the future but is ever-present in the here and now. it is steady in her e-motion-less. it is ultimate protonic simplicity. its mind does not rule. it slowly becomes pure love - then pure light. it is totally, ingratiatingly - free. This is its spiritual path. So #9 is still the definition defined by the slave it?self - whereas in the next higher level - #10 - the slave no longer has the right to define herself. In fact - she is no longer considered except in monetary terms and functionality.

10. PURE SLAVE - no limits. No rights. Non-consensual pain without pleasure. Can be sold, rented out, given away, left alone, raped, etc. This is the “dictionary definition” of pure, unadulterated (third & last level of) slavery. Works without compensation of any kind. Number 10 is when not only “being in love” is gone - but when “love” is gone as well and there is nothing left but the buying and selling of slaves as property and not as human beings or even a person. This is where the fantasy of the Gorean level makes a futile attempt to exist and the “players” never last a long time without serious breakdowns. Definitely NOT E/eveyone’s cup of tea Level #10 has no place in any D/s relationship and is illegal in most civilized countries of the world.