A conversation about slavery and devotion

A conversation about slavery and devotion

One could say that slavery, as it pertains to D/s, literally means devotion. It is the highest level of devotion because a slave connects with her master on a deeply emotional and spiritual level. This means that she not only provides the same types of physical service that a sub would but she also desires to satiate her dominant’s emotional needs. Her sole desire is to broach his every issue with care and concern. A slave provides love and affection with unwavering dedication. I think this is because the slave, in essence, is not making the choice; it’s her heart that guides her into a type of emotional enslavement that can’t be debated or negotiated. To me the definition of love and slavery are the same thing: “a condition by which another person's happiness is essential to your own” as Robert Heinlein wrote.

This is the point where another person takes it upon themselves to be responsible for the happiness and well-being of another person. This is the point where they forget who they are and begin to embrace who they need to become for not only themselves but the person that they feel so strongly for.

I think this happens to both DOM and sub, male and female. It even happens in the vanilla world. For example, when you become a mother or a father you leave the old you behind and become what that child needs. When you become a wife or husband you leave the old you behind and become what your spouse needs. And when a sub enslaves herself to another human being she becomes what he needs her to be. So slavery to me is the purest form of devotion.

Q: Sir Orpheus, do you believe this applies to all M/s situations, or to all those who identify as slave?

A: Orpheus Black: I believe that this applies to all human beings, period. It doesn't matter if it's a D/s, M/s or a vanilla situation. And I would like to go on record and say that self-enslaving is not relegated to subs or slaves either. All people have and will find themselves in a situation where the happiness of another is essential to their own.

Q: How do you feel that concept would pertain to those who believe themselves to be a slave and to serve a Dominant, but are not? Say, those who believe themselves to be slaves but perhaps are not. What makes a slave more devoted than a submissive?

A: Orpheus Black: Let’s look at the basics. A person can be in service to another person and the act of being in service is called submission. The act of being enslaved is called being in love. So a slave cannot be a slave if she doesn't feel that the person she is serving’s happiness is essential to her own. This is how we know if we are a slave or just serving. But I like to see things as they are not as I want them to be.

Q: So do you feel Sir, that a slave is not a slave until they are in love with the Dominant?

A: Orpheus Black: Correct.

Q: So, Sir Orpheus Black, she's a submissive until she has feelings? What if a submissive has feelings, are they now slaves???

A: Orpheus Black: We all have feelings. But are the other person’s feelings of happiness and joy essential to your own? That is the question.

Orpheus Black

{Orpheus Black is a sex educator specializing in Poly, D/s and M/s Dynamics. He is also a, professional and lifestyle Dominant, and alternative lifestyle speaker in Los Angeles. For more information on classes or speaking engagements please email him at orpheusandindigo@gmail.com}