Dominance

lark sparrow

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What makes for a dominant of quality?

By Fetish Diva Midori http://www.fhp-inc.com/html/writing.html
For: http://www.spectatormag.com/
(in part)

1. Know the domain of your influence.
A good domme always understands when dominant behavior is appropriate. She knows when to go into domme headspace and when to turn it off. She knows that she is not in a D/s relationship with the entire world. She knows that the tone and attitude of dominance wielded upon unconsenting people around her will only earn her their contempt and disrespect. She knows that such behavior is displayed only by the misguided, insecure and bullying. She doesn't condescend to business people she has dealings with. She treats them with kindness. She doesn't assume strangers will bow to her powers. She treats them with the respect that all humans deserve. She doesn't let the dominant energy bleed into the egalitarian relationship once a hot scene has ended.

2. Confidence is the root of power
A good domme understands that the ultimate dominant aphrodisiac for the sub is genuine self-confidence. Sometimes it may come off as cocky-ness, but the difference between the cocky and the self-confident is the source of validation. The cocky needs to see her greatness reflected in the eyes of others, while the confidant simply knows she's great. The good domme has taken inventory of and is comfortable with her own talents, skill assets and strengths. She is confident enough to see her own flaws clearly.

3. If a dominant cracks a whip in the woods and there are no submissives is she still a domme?
Absolutely! A good domme is not defined by the other, in this case the submissive, but rather she is defined by a sense of self and comfort in her own identity as an erotically dominant woman. She knows that it is false confidence to need to define oneself by the others around her. Every dominant from time to time will find herself alone, whether by circumstance or by choice. She knows that her relationship status does not change who she is fundamentally.

4. Seduce... not Force
The good dominant knows that the ultimate power is that of persuasion. To get them to want to do for you what you command of them. Any fool with a fearsome enough weapon can force another against his will to do things. That's the power of the brutish, fearful and those lacking in self-confidence. It's down right annoying! The art is in bringing out a desire previously unaroused in the submissive by the domme's persuasive powers, confidence and graceful seduction.

As my favorite leather teacher, Joseph Bean, loves to say... The number one job of the dominant is to continually seduce consent from the bottom.

5. Humility begets Respect
The good domme understands that she must be humble in the presence of the magic that she invokes... That magic of wondrous connection created in the arena of genuine D/s. There is a moment, during the most amazing scenes, where the rest of the world melts away, leaving a universe of two... the domme and the sub. In a universe of two, she is god, for that brief moment and in that time warped space. To accept that, one must be humble. She must know that she is but a mortal woman at all other times.

Such humility has an amazing effect of calming an individual, bringing an air of grace and elegance that is so alluring. This sincere humility and consequent grace earns a quiet respect from others around her and most certainly from her submissive.
Without respect, there is no leadership. Without leadership, there is no dominance, only brute domineering.

6. How to get their submission?
Give respect and gratitude to your sub
The good domme knows the value of respect and thanks given to submission and service well executed. Even the cool and aloof have their ways of showing respect and thanks. The good domme respects the humanity of the submissive even after the most intense objectification scene. She is thankful for their act of submission given, even when it may appear externally as if it were wrenched from them. She knows that it is the submissive who chooses surrender. She knows how difficult true surrender is and is in awe of that. She knows that it takes the truly strong and self-aware to fully submit and she shows gratitude for that.
The good domme knows that the limits and emotional vulnerabilities of another must be respected. That includes respecting the limits of a non-participating party to not have to deal with wantonly splattered dominant attitude. It includes respecting the limits placed by the submissive for such respect of them leads to them feeling safe with her. Such sense of safety often leads to deeper surrender previously not ventured into.

As a dear friend of mine, David V said: "Always be respectful in spirit, even if the scene is not."

7. Be honest in these things... Your desires, your limits, your flaws and errors.
The good domme knows clearly what she enjoys in kink play. If she doesn't she'll simply be pushed this way and that by the desires and projected expectations of others of her... like a leaf pushed around in the currents of a fast river... always haunted by a vague sense of helplessness and lack of control. What's a dominant if she doesn't have control over her own pleasure?
The good domme knows her limits and displeasures just as well as her thrills. Setting boundaries gracefully such that the submissives want to respect them is the art of the polished domme.

She also knows where her flaws and weaknesses are and simply accept them. She is strong enough to know that covering up with bravado and pretending such flaws don't exist is the game of the sad shell game of the insecure domme. She is, after all, comfortable in her humanity. She also knows where her technical limitations are and know how to work around them to avoid undue risk. She knows when to seek more learning of such skills and does so without making each step of dominance education a battle of egos.

When she makes an error, which she knows must happen from time to time, she knows the error made and acknowledges it. Then she does what needs to be done to correct the situation, check with the sub and moves on. She neither over reacts nor does she ignore the errors.

8. Decisiveness is enthralling.
The good domme knows to approach dominance with decisiveness. Each action is committed with mindfulness, whether arrived to by conscious thought and decision making or by instinct. The person who openly waffles in the act appears to have no control. She appears to have no control over even her own thought. It is fine to wonder and consider choices in one's mind. It is even fine to seek counsel and advice. Do that with decisiveness as well.

The good domme knows that with such decisiveness also comes the potential for her making the less than optimal choices. This is the awareness of consequences. She takes responsibility for her actions and, once again with decisiveness, grace and compassion, will handle the consequences.

http://www.fhp-inc.com/html/home.html

------------------------------------------------------

I was thinking about dominance and it's qualities after responding to the thread about attraction and remembered this article I enjoyed reading. Any comments or thoughts welcomed, off the platform of this article.
 
rosco rathbone said:
Who knew that the lesbionic forces were so wise?

The author is not lesbian, Rosco. Which points did you find especially enlightening? ;)
 
Thank you for sharing this wonderful article..there is not a single word that I could disagree with.
It is wonderful to read such honesty and reality.
 
A Dominant Woman is strength and courage.
Confidence and caring.
An unbending yet fair example of Female Power.
Nurturing, inquisitive, and creative.
She is not afraid to discipline when needed,
punish when required,
take all sexual initiative,
soothe,
comfort,
or torment.
She knows that rewards for good behaviour and work well done
are as strong an incentive
as punishment for wrong deeds or slovenly work is.
She is comfortable with both aspects of training.
Recognizing the value of each.
She knows that She is not always right
and has the confidence and common sense to admit it.
She can say She is sorry without feeling a loss of Her Power.
She can accept an apology gracefully without feeling weak.
She knows that class will take Her further than vulgarity ever can.
 
Wow, this ought to be required reading for Dom/mes and submissives alike.

Thanks Lark.
 
Great stuff, thanks Lark!

There's a lot of that which I have sort of "discovered for myself" (particularly about seduction), and I suspect that most, if not all, would apply equally to we Doms as the Dommes.
 
I think that the article could apply equally to Doms as well as Dommes, as could Shadows' words.
 
I love this article, particularly the humility bit, it's so widely lacking and it really separates the adequate from the brilliant, to me, more than any other factor.

Nice post, as usual.

I think that the decisive/confident thing is really a journey, for most people, and definitely for most women. I don' t think many people find it early in life, and I do think that most people really have to journey out to get them, work for them, stuggle with them. I don't think they define a Dominant, but I do think that *wanting* to get there, feeling a need to get there...that does. They are the aspiration and the ideal. The best scenes bring a sense of them that is almost all-encompassing.

When I was a total novice, I played with an experienced bottom. He told me "look in the mirror and think of every right decision you've ever made" It was good advice, and the more I did it the more I could carry the good decisions with me all the time.
 
I'm glad it was enjoyed and appreciated - the input and additions after reading it have been some great insights as well. She uses feminine pronouns in this article (which is not at all uncommon in reverse) but it does apply to Dominants in general.

The points about seduction, respect and humility really spoke to me as well, and play into the attraction to a Dominant for me. I will occasionally run into people with whom I simply want to take direction (which is pretty rare for me ;) I sometimes think I am the anti-submissive, which is still a submissive at heart).

No ego, no outside reward - I am simply eager to do their bidding and the inspiration to do my best is present. I trust them to use their power without belittling, babying, bossing or manipulating me in destructive ways. That they will use me and my resources wisely, in appreciation, and it feels an honor (however big or small) to be a part of something they desire or are creating.

In the more obvious sexual arena, I cannot count the times when Mistress has orchestrated and calculated a slow but steady rise in my need, to push me further into the directions that please and excite Her, which ultimately rewards us both in the culmination of deeper D/s. In areas where I have a real love/hate for a certain activity/concept She will have me begging for it in true need before She takes that pleasure. I think in truth, when in that space She could probably push me past many of my hard limits, but I do feel safe in the surrender I have given Her - that she will bend me without breaking me.

Just a couple of the many reasons why, in reality, submitting to a Dominant with the qualities outlined in this article is so valuable - truly such a deep pleasure and rewarding exchange of trust and power.

And many kudos to the writer - Midori is the "real deal". I have attended her classes before, and she was actually my first "real" session as a terrified seeker before she retired from pro dominance to concentrate on education fulltime.
 
yeah yeah
no one pulled my chain and no it isnt cage cleaning day
but
in MY eyes

i find said article to be full of too much fantasy and not enough real life substance

but that is MY view
 
I actually thought all the points were exceptionally good and valid points.

Point 8 however I was not in complete agreement with. I could see the point being made and do not disagree entirely with it. I think this point largely depends on the circumstatnces of the moment. I think taking control of a situation and not making a decision until an optimal decision can be made can also show a strength through patience.

There are times I agree when one must make the best decision they can in the moment, and it should be done with clarity and show confidence that the decision being made is the best one they could make at that point in time. I just thought this point could have been also balanced with the other side of the coin. To often people are quick to respond to circumstances. This could lead to circumstances dictating responses, which in my view places a person in a reactionary type mode.
 
Shadowsdream said:
A Dominant Woman is strength and courage.
Confidence and caring.
An unbending yet fair example of Female Power.
Nurturing, inquisitive, and creative.
She is not afraid to discipline when needed,
punish when required,
take all sexual initiative,
soothe,
comfort,
or torment.
She knows that rewards for good behaviour and work well done
are as strong an incentive
as punishment for wrong deeds or slovenly work is.
She is comfortable with both aspects of training.
Recognizing the value of each.
She knows that She is not always right
and has the confidence and common sense to admit it.
She can say She is sorry without feeling a loss of Her Power.
She can accept an apology gracefully without feeling weak.
She knows that class will take Her further than vulgarity ever can.
-----------------------

i JUST...HAVE TO ASK...
and i am heart attack serious...
WHY is it...ALL i EVER see...is all this foo for all about punishment b.s.---and the sex thing...
why is it...it seems to ME in MY mind..it is more toward raising little boys than it is having a matured full grown man that does his job...
and has NO need of any of this?
NO ONE has YET explained this..
it would SEEM..."I" am the last adult male that is happy to just do his job and be left alone.
i fail to grasp 98% of this foo for all in this made up fantasy lifestyle.
it makes absolutely NO sense to me whatsoever.
thank you to whomever where ever
 
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