~ SJW 09' Class List ~

  The presentations offered at Submissive’s Journey Weekend are geared towards the new submissive, as well as the more experienced submissive.  Although the classes are facilitated by the counselors, we encourage each attendee to offer their own thoughts and experiences.

  Sessions are broken down into three areas: Relationship-focused, Service Skills, and Group Discussions.  Attendees will be offered the classes listed below.  If you find that there is a scheduling conflict, not to worry- each reference booklet will contain the outline and reference material for each class.

Relationship Focused

Invoking The Power Of Others: Using Exemplars For Slave Personal Development 
  Role models, mentors, counselors, teachers…so many ways to look towards others for guidance but most of the traditional methods rely on emulating behavior. Learn how identifying exemplars can represent the essence of singular character traits you wish to improve in your slavery. We’ll explore various definitions, differences, and techniques for pinpointing exemplars for personal growth and then discuss how to utilize this knowledge in your everyday life.

Finding Wholeness In Service and Submission
  We often hear submissives and slaves refer to their surrender as a calling what does that really mean and what examples outside the lifestyle can we look at for guidance. What about service and surrender makes us fulfilled? During this class, we will take a close look at how we evolve as submissives. We will also discuss how we come to a sense of peace in a world that often does not often understand our desires to submit. We will also discuss challenges in finding that peace and finding that with your dominant partner. Come to this class open and willing to share your own perspectives on surrender.

The Four Agreements: A Template for Effective Communication In M/s Relationships

  A large part of success in today’s D/s relationships is based on effective communication. This is often more difficult than we might initially think. Using Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements we will explore some effective communication skills for our D/s relationships and also how to apply them to specific tools such petitions and contracts. Lastly we will look at communication and what tends to get in the way. Everyone will be able to participate in interactive exercises to help make your communication become effective communication.

10 Tips for Surviving (and Enjoying) a Long Distance D/s Relationship 
  When being at their feet means a 12-hour drive, it is sometimes hard to keep one's focus. Beth will share her own experiences -- which include 9 years of being in two separate long-distance D/s relationships -- and will share a few of the challenges involved along the way. We'll talk about reasons for choosing such a relationship, communication, staying connected (and how to do it yourself) and ideas for serving from a distance. Most are aware that distance can make things harder -- but we'll also discuss how distance can make things easier. Together, we'll explore distance -- its pros, cons, benefits and drawbacks -- and ways to help make it successful.

Loss, Uncollaring, and Other Changes

  Unfortunately, in our lifetime, we will all experience loss of some kind. During this session we will take a close look at the emotional and social implications of uncollaring, and other losses we experience in the lifestyle.

  We all understand that we will go on and survive our losses but this class is set up to reveal ideas concerning the grieving process, re-entry into the community at large after an uncollaring. How we can care for ourselves and others who are grieving.  How to identify when we are stuck and need help and  lastly, we will explore ways we can begin to heal from our losses. This is a very intense session and openings will be limited. 

Path to Surrender
   The journey to surrender and service varies greatly from person to person. However, when we look closely, there are some commonalities to the path. In this session we will explore how to put our desires into clear and concise actions.  Exploring common traits among submissives that fall outside the realm of what we do but rather how we think. We will also discuss ways to deepen our submission in the dance of D/s. Come share what you find as important qualities of the heart mind body and soul of the submissive.

   This class is not just for beginners, it is geared towards all ranges of experience starting with the beginner on through those who have nee in the lifestyle and who have been in service before.

  Preparing for service is not only what physical service skills we acquire, it also pertains to what we know about ourselves, and what we can offer others.  During this session, we will take a holistic approach to preparing for service, by exploring the idea that the journey to submission is really a journey of self-discovery. It is through this discovery be we can then begin to understand our motives for submission. Understanding those motives will lead to understanding who are. The more we understand who we are as individuals, the better we are able to express those thoughts and ideas to others. During this session, we will also look at the importance of self-motivated learning and the idea of creating a service resume.

Protocols: Making the Connection

  The word protocols has always sparked some controversial discussion on its meaning and correct execution. This interactive session is not a forum for debate but rather a chance to share a variety of protocols experienced with those attendees who choose to join. We will be exploring various definitions and why we find protocols so important to our D/s dynamics. We will also examine the role of rituals, routines, etiquette and traditions in relationship to our daily protocols.

Transparency: Re-thinking the Submissive's Responsibility
  Is it really ok to not share ... everything?! Being transparent is wonderful -- openness is essential to power exchange -- but there are duties that come with the territory. Being self-aware, and selecting what needs to be shared with the Dominant/Master/Owner, is just as important as being transparent and open. Just as you don't need to ask what to use to clean the bathtub ... there are probably some issues that don't need immediate attention (or attention at all). We'll talk about how transparency can sometimes become a self-serving tool, and how to tell when it's not. We'll discuss various emotional tools that are available to us, and how those tools can, in certain situations, add to our ability to be the leader in our own self-care.

Skill Focused

  So why are these classes so popular? Over the years, I have found that the more skills we can learn the more fun we can have while we serve our owners.  The more I know the more value I am to my owner. Although formal service is not something we do on a daily basis, it’s my feeling that the knowledge can be helpful when it’s needed.  If being able to serve formally pleases them why not learn as much as we can.  After all isn’t that the point?

Advanced Leathercare: Beyond the Boots 

  This session will cover care of leather and latex clothing and toys. Bring your leather and latex wear and we'll learn how to make skirts, jackets, pants and other items glow again. We'll also discuss leather toy care and the difference in cosmetically clean and medically clean. In this age of infectious disease this is very important knowledge to have in your service repertoire.

Bootblacking: Start Off On the Right Foot

   We’ll start with an understanding of what bootblacking is historically, and explain how it pertains to the lifestyle.  A discussion of essential supplies and their uses will have you ready to shine! Bring your own leather footwear and we will take you through fundamentals of bootblacking.  We will have basic supplies available for you to use during the session but you will need to bring your own horsehair brush.

Erotic Massage: Taking Massage as an Act of Service to the Next Level

  This class covers focus, intent, touch styles, and practical approaches to erotic massage. However good you are at massage now, come to this class and take your touch to another level. For all the hard work they do, it’s a beautiful way to soothe those aching shoulders that work so hard to give us the intense experiences we love and crave. The class is split into two parts, the front of the body and the back. Come and explore ways to wake up, arouse, and please the whole body. “Happy Endings” will be discussed as part of the class but will not be covered in the hands on portion of the class. This is an experiential class that will be part lecture and part hands on learning.

Formal Service

  This class will introduce you to the world of formal service- Serving at table, formal, semi-formal etiquette levels. We will focus on silent service and how to "speak without speaking"- Anticipatory Service in a formal setting, or "how to read" the ones you are serving and interpret "service cues" . This class will speak to a wide range of skill levels ranging from basics for beginners, to polishing service movement and refining skill sets for the more advanced.

From Maid Ready to Dominant Ready

  One weekend of service, in a hotel, without a car. What in the world can be done? We'll talk about taking a hotel room from maid-ready to Dominant-ready. Beth will share her tips and tricks -- and at least one horror story! -- for turning the mundane room into a functional space that meets wants, not just needs. Bring your own ideas, too -- together, we'll compile a master list to make (almost) any Dominant happy in a hotel room!

Heart and Sole: The Art of Erotic Boot Worship

  Ever seen a hot pair of boots and just wanted to fall on your knees and worship them? Ever looked at a submissive and pictured them on their knees licking your boots? If so, this is the class for you. We will discuss the erotic aspects of boot worship and why it makes some of us so hot. We will also cover some basic safety tips, general boot care tips, and various ways to worship different kind of boots. At the end of the class there will be a short demo showing you just how erotic boot worshiping can be.

Personal Service: Everyone Loves Jeeves
  During this presentation we will look at a variety of personal services one can offer both in private and in public. We will explore ways to serve even in mixed company; all to make their lives easier and more enjoyable. We will also discuss ways we can take initiative in the area of learning more about personal service and how you can incorporate it in your daily life with little or no effort.

Hospitality: The Heart of Service

  Feeling the pressure of being all things to all people: the obedient submissive, meticulous housekeeper, loving partner, understanding family member, successful employee, volunteer extraordinaire? The list goes on! Hospitality, an invaluable component to our community yet the tools needed to be successful in the skill of hospitality is rarely discussed. Come and explore the differences between "entertaining" and "hospitality", discuss every day struggles, share practical ideas and creative solutions as well as how the D/s component plays into the actualization of the hospitality. You can do it all, it is a matter of defining what that "all" is.

Discussion Groups

The Power of Teaching

  Who can teach? Why we teach? Can I mentor? What is mentorship? Is mentorship a form of D/s and how much value should we place on the information and skills we have?

  We live in and age of information and people are coming to the scene at an astonishing rate some are coming for the sex and SM while others come to learn a new way of life. Most groups offer us an opportunity to gain exposure but few can address our specific needs with regards to learning.

  During this session we will discuss the important of mentorship and the need to be prepared to teach what we know. We will also discuss ways to set up mentorship relationships that are successful and explore the skills of a good mentor such as assessments, goal setting contracts and the personal traits of a skilled mentor. In addition, we will explore finding the right mentor for you.

Open Discussion

  We realize that try as we may our class sessions can’t cover everything. So we have provided a session dedicated to the attendees and their specific questions. Our lead instructor, slave ziggy along with other counselors will host an open discussion session on Saturday evening. We ask that you take a moment and jot down what you would like us to address prior to attending this session. Your questions will be completely anonymous so you are free to ask what you need to and we will attempt to address them.