Masochism, specifically pain explored via implement-driven corporal, is something that I don’t get to talk about, depict, or, consequently, do a lot in my scenes. Bondage is easy to show, promote. I’ve got the gear. I can take dramatic scene pictures of my play partners in all kinds of positions. Hoods and other encasing or obscuring equipment mean that my play partners can easily retain their anonymity. What’s more, bondage is inherently visual. Empirical, even. You can pretty much look at it and know exactly what’s going on, how immobilized the person is, how absolute the fact that he’s not going anywhere. And while the presence of the Mistress is certainly a bonus, the rigging speaks for itself.
Corporal, on the other hand, is way more of an … I hesitate to use this word because it makes me sound all hippie woo woo… but corporal is more energetic for me. It’s about creating an energetic connection and structuring a scene of increasing intensity until the endorphins start to flow. More often than not, my intention when it comes to dishing out pain is simply a ritualistic means to achieving an endorphin release. Ideally, we develop what I call a “reciprocal energy loop” where I’m pouring my strength and power into him with these implements and he feeds me with his surrender and devotion until we’re both flying. Few scenes give me such a rush.
Although I usually describe my whip throwing as “sensation driven corporal,” when I whip, flog, cane, spank, or otherwise strike someone, I DO want him to hurt, too. I’d even go so far as to say that I’m a sadist because, well, when it’s good, whipping people makes me wet. Those of you who’ve played with me before have probably seen my eyes flutter with ecstasy as I inflict some kind of torture on you (whether it’s pressing the tips of my fingernails into your nipples or calling for five hard cane strikes: when I hurt you and you take it … Mmm. So. Awesome. gurgle…)
Where was I? Ah, yes. Right.
Despite identifying as a sadist, I have a hard time relating to the, er, dominant notions of masochism. The clips-for-sale videos and breathless online reviews give the impression that unless you’re beating the ever-lovin’ shit outta someone, it doesn’t count. Maybe because the only way to make pain visual and thus identifiable, is by implication: the bloodied ass, the welted back. “Ow! That musta HURT!” you think when you see it. “She really dished it out on him!” However, even in my most intense corporal scenes, it’s rare that I’ll leave anyone bloody. In fact, because of the nature of my work and the personal circumstances of many of my play partners, if I really want to whip someone, I have to know how to do so without leaving significant or lasting marks.
That’s why it’s rare I’ll show corporal photos on my site or take snapshots from my scenes. There’s nothing to see. This picture to the right is the result of more than an hour — maybe even 75-90 minutes — of spanking, cropping, paddling, single tailing, and caning this man’s butt (he calls it his “candyass ass” … in other word, NOT a leather ass accustomed to corporal). Did it hurt? Yes. Quite a bit. Was it intense? Definitely. But hardly any hamburger here.
It wasn’t even like I was using wimpy instruments (and that’s not quite even all of the ones I used that day on him). Still, as much as I love corporal, my strict masochist play partners are few and far between. It’s not for lack of positive reviews, either. (e.g. 1, 2, 3). It’s not for lack of quality equipment (my corporal gear collection rivals my bondage gear). It’s definitely not for lack of enthusiasm. If anything, I’d say that it’s just really difficult to promote my corporal skills because my style is more attuned to my play partner’s experience than it is for the bloodlusting camera or the “Break me, Mistress!” masochistic fantasy. (This reminds me of a Domme I used to see doing whippings at various fetish events. She put on a spectacular show of astonishing technical skill — double handed throws, lots of cracking, very Carnivalesque — yet she might as well have been hitting a paper donkey for all the connection she seemed to have with her very human (and usually miserable looking) targets.
For the masochists who do see me, I often marvel at how predictably they’ll say afterward, “Oh, I’m sorry I couldn’t take more for you!” as if they believe that the only way I could possibly be sated is by turning them into a sobbing, bloody pulp.
I love the discipline a great corporal scene requires: the pacing, the shifts in intensity, pushing him further and further to the edge and just holding him there. That’s what makes it all so juicy and exciting. The “Wham! Wham! Whap!” anyone can do. But the corporal scenes that take time, rely on variation and nuance, that use pain as a mean to the ecstatic endorphin end. Oh yes. I want to go to there.
I’d love to hear from you about your corporal experiences and what you think makes them great or makes them fall flat. How do your corporal fantasies differ from your reality? What do you struggle with? What do you seek in your corporal scenes?
I’m guessing most people you play with just feed off of your energy. That’s what they’re seeking more than anything.
This post brings back fond memories of a session I did with TroyOrleans in a hotel room when she was traveling a few years ago. The room lacked the atmosphere of a dungeon but my experience was exactly as you so accurately describe. The bondage was minimal. The beating was steady, even relentless, not always so very painful, and brought me to the deepest level of subspace I have ever experienced in many years of sessioning. I was in the presense of a real artist of dominance and submission, hypnotized by her control over me and our surroundings.
I’d add that electrical can add a lot more to corporal than the pleasurable aspects it’s often associated with. Combining the reciprocal feedback loop with the more direct feedback loop of a microphone driving an erostek and probe or pads at some very inconvenient location creates a challenge for a feedback-minded sub. The sting of a lash that might otherwise evoke a yelp is moderated when the sub knows that the yelp will result in a worsening predicament from the secondary feedback channel.
But more importantly, the overload pushes the sub to maintain the feedback loop with his Domme, in ever more challenging conditions. Overcoming that challenge is, to me, the demonstration of my temporal devotion to my Domme. If I can please her viscerally, make her wet, a scene continues to build. No amount of planning or requests can match that.
So yah, I like corporal. And yah, I’d have to agree with Jim that MTO is truly masterful at it. I always look forward to my next session with her.
@axe
I certainly feed off your energy. The way you contort and moan is really hot. It’s such a hard thing to quantify though, you know? If I’ve never played with you, then you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. There’s no picture that can capture it.
@Jim
Ooh. Now who are you!?! There are two masochist Jims I recall from my travels. I’m delighted I made enough of an impression that you’d keep up with me! Please feel free to email me with more revealing details if you’re inclined. Glad you enjoyed the beating. I’m sure I enjoyed giving it.
@brian
Generally, I’ve used electric during corporal scenes to redirect some of the pain. Some, I’ve found, can take more of a beating with selectively placed electrics. For feedback loop scenes like you’re talking about, I’ll usually use the audio setting when the bottom’s in bondage, as a layer to whatever tortures (NT, eg) I’m imposing. (A memorable one was having the bottom screwed to a piece of wood with metal strips and then using him as a coffee table for a Boggle game. The rattling letters…. ). I like your idea though of using the audio setting as a noninvasive gag. Clever.
And I look forward to playing with you again, too. 😉
MTO,
So great to see you back and posting again. Your insights really have been missed.
I suppose I’m one of those guys who thinks he rarely gives enough to the Domme when doing an implement driven corporal session. The times that I believe we’ve shared that energy loop are magical. It’s not a matter of being left a bloody pulp, but rather having the Domme reach her topspace the way I reach my subspace.
Bondage is great. Bondage and corporal is beyond awesome. Your recent Serious Bondage shoot coupled with another story I read awhile back has given me a wicked fantasy that will mix the best of both these worlds. Something tells me you’ll be hearing about it in the not too distant future.
Be well.
Yours,
Whizzer
There I was, all prepared to write a nice, intelligent and spell-checked little comment on this wonderful topic (which, as you know fascinates the hell out of me) but then I innocently followed your link to the Mira Stern posting. So I guess you can forget all about rational thought for tonight………………………Dear God, was this guy writing posthumously? I am beyond gurgling.
MTO,
Corporal is so debatable for me. In videos i get abused, but the connection isn’t exactly amazing. In my private sessions, i i’ve felt emotion from corporal about three times, in my public sessions i’ve felt it a couple of times. Still it pales in comparison to activities like bondage, CBT, NT, and sensory deprivation.
So while i think a connection occurs through the corporal dance, it’s nowhere the same as other activities and I put it quite low on my list.
Hi Ms. Orleans:
I absolutely adore corporal. I long for the whip if I haven’t felt it for awhile but every time I feel it again I am amazed at how much it really hurts! I have to ask myself; “is this really what I thought I wanted so much?” Then as the beating gets more intense the endorphins start to flow, I submit to my Mistress, we bond and I am once again transported to another word! *Sigh!*
I love it when I am allowed to worship her feet while she whips me. It feels like I am being permitted to have my forbidden heart’s desire while simultaneously being punished for it! To me that is tantamount to having my cake and eating it too! We have a short thick leather single tail from the OWK which is perfect for up close and personal punishment. It has been known to leave deep purple bruises. I agree with you, however, that a beating does not have to be incredibly intense to be a beautiful and memorable experience.
This was a great topic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it! And what a wonderful collection of toys you have! 🙂
All The Best
hmp
I recently got spanked (paddles mostly) by a young domme who is being trained by my mistress. She loves inflicting the pain and she knows I am thoroughly maso. An ideal pairing, she suggested. However, in the end, it mostly just hurt.
It got me to thinking about a number of my recent sessions. I’m not getting as much out of them. The reason I mentioned the young, beginning domme is that it is possible that in her delight in finding an outlet for herself she hasn’t yet learned to see a session the way you described, “structuring a scene of increasing intensity until the endorphins start to flow.” At least not a vision that includes my endorphins.
That is understandable because of her inexperience. My own mistress is wonderful and skilled, or skilled and therefore wonderful. But even in some sessions with her of late I find I’m not getting into that subspace. Maybe it’s just me. But after reading your entry I’m wondering whether even an experienced domme can be lead by familiarity and repetition into unintentionally thinking hard is enough. Is there much a sub can do to enhance that “reciprocal energy loop”?
Thanks for the thoughtful read
MTO,
My concept of a good session is an escalating series of ‘hits’ with a variety of instruments. I also like an alternation between getting hit on my ass and having my nipples pinched. I like different positions also from bent over a horse to standing against the wall to sitting on all fours on the floor. My favorite is when I am suspended on my toes and being hit on my ass. A real hard smack now and then is like the spice of it.
After an hour of hitting, my ass usually likes your picture with perhaps a few more marks. It takes about 3-4 days for the appearance to return to normal but several weeks to consider doing it again.
I would prefer to use first names in scene and to skip the ritualistic and dogmatic aspects of bdsm. I do not think that humiliation is a necessary part of bdsm; some people like it, but I just like the interaction and the sensations.
It’s always about the connection between the sub and the dom. I’m usually not as much for cp as a other kind of pain. Which is kinda strange as one of the main highlights I have experienced in BDSM play was an out of body experience while being whipped with a crop.
It’s when I feel the that the dom has a good control over the instruments (e.g. not hitting all over the place) and good phasing and reading the body language I get fairly quickly on orbit around Pluto. Adding a good chemistry, knowledge about each other and an extra amount of trust, things sometimes can be brought to levels where I am willing and capable to endure things that I usually can’t under normal circumstances.