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Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 2:35:06 PM

slavejali

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Whats your definition of power on a personal level? How does this play out within your D/s M/s relationships if at all?

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:29:33 PM

KnightofMists

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Power "The ability to Act or Not Act".

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:32:09 PM

slavejali

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I was beginning to think this was too hard of a topic...ugh..thanks for the response KNightOfMists

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:34:00 PM

crouchingtigress

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yeah too hard jali...can you simplify it?

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:34:24 PM

Serenityy

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I have always viewed power as a persons ability to bring about change in themselves and others.

As to how it would play out in a relationship:

I give my partner the ability to help me evolve within the relationship; it is then up to him how to use this 'power' that I have given him. The same is applied to me.

We exchange this power between ourselves; and in the process, we both grow and evolve.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:37:19 PM

JalisMaster

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technique, speed and mass applied....in that order...oh...thought this was the martial arts forum

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:43:42 PM

slavejali

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Thanks for taking my topic seriously Master

(that icon is me pouting I guess)

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:45:10 PM

crouchingtigress

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i am taking it seriously.....its just so broad a question is all....

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:45:31 PM

KnightofMists

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KnightofMists

Power "The ability to Act or Not Act".

To answer the OP's second question.

My relationship is about Transfer of Authority.... which is the same as transfering power. They transfered the authority or right to choose to excercise their power in specific ways, but it doesn't remove their ability to do it in the first place.

IE... They can ride a bike. I tell them they do not ride bikes anyone longer... They obey and do not ride a bike anyone longer. Interestingly enough they must use their internal power... to obey and Not ride bikes, even thou they still have the ability to ride a bike.

Power is very important in my dynamics. But, contrary to what seems to be the common Mantra of Power exchange, I prefer, Power Enhancement. The more Powerful my girls are ... the greater their ability to Act or Not Act. I guide and manage this power in the manner of my choosing. I personally find it to my benefit for them to grow in Power as a person.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 3:50:23 PM

slavejali

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crouchingtigress...yeah it is

...but I guess cause we do have those words 'Power exchange" within our D/s M/s whatever slashed letter terms...what is it we are exchanging....we would have to have an idea about what power is within ourselves and to be able to communicate with others we would have to understand what they thought it was, otherwise we might be talking two different languages...so perhaps that is where the topic stemmed from.

Like some people will say "There is no power exchange at all"...and others will say "There is"...yet their differences might only be in their understanding and perspective or what power is "to them"...and so might not be disagreeing at all.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 4:02:37 PM

slavejali

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quote:

I personally find it to my benefit for them to grow in Power as a person.

I'm pretty sure I know what you're going to respond here...but what is it that you see that describes power as a person. You mentioned having the "skill" to bike-ride and the "power" to consciously obey if told not to participate in their skill....so what exactly would be the dynamics involved in developing "power as a person" and what would be the effects that would benefit a D/s M/s relationship? (basically asking this cause I'm presuming it means more than developing manual skills that could be used by a dominant..and I think it would be a good thing to be expressed.)

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 4:21:27 PM

KnightofMists

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quote:

ORIGINAL: slavejali

quote:

I personally find it to my benefit for them to grow in Power as a person.

I'm pretty sure I know what you're going to respond here...but what is it that you see that describes power as a person. You mentioned having the "skill" to bike-ride and the "power" to consciously obey if told not to participate in their skill....so what exactly would be the dynamics involved in developing "power as a person" and what would be the effects that would benefit a D/s M/s relationship? (basically asking this cause I'm presuming it means more than developing manual skills that could be used by a dominant..and I think it would be a good thing to be expressed.)

Power is very much more than just a manual skill Characteristics of a person... Like Integrity, Open-mindedness, Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence is just a few of the Mental/Emotional aspects of a person that can be developed and increases the Power of a person. Power is rooted in Physical, Mental, Emotional and even the Spiritual. As we enhance a persons power in whatever manner it increases the effectives of ones choices. Since I make the choices on how the power is exercised... Enhancing it can only increase the effectives of MY choices.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 4:49:28 PM

SusanofO

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Maybe it's -the ability to activate, motivate or coerce someone to do something, or behave or think a particular way (or oneself, in which case it really does apply to submissives and slaves, too - being a.k.a. self-discipline).

If someone holds power over you, you still have to be able to have some power over yourself to bring whatever they desire of you into being, don't you? (for either their benefit or the benefit of both of you, or just you - presumably) That makes sense to me anyway. The other person may be the "trigger" and even more than that, but your personal power does come into play, in that special sense. You always have a choice (I believe) - even if that choice is to "give it away". Slaves can claim they have "no power", but I disagree (they do, they just use it when their Master tells them to use it).

And I think they also use it to enable themselves to do the myriad little things they do every day that require decision-making on a minor level that may involve self-care, (for instance) or may otherwise have nothing at all to do w/their Master, directly.

Not only that - if rhey had no power at all, then I believe they wouldn't be able to change their lives for the better (as I've heard of so often on these boards), due to their Master's help, because they wouldn't be able to react to his guidance at all.

If they had no power, then they actually wouldn't have anything to submit with, so they wouldn't be able to "submit."

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 12/16/2006 5:14:15 PM >

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 4:50:30 PM

slavejali

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quote:

have always viewed power as a persons ability to bring about change in themselves and others.

That's a good point. I was thinking about changing my clothes and the process of it. It really is quite a process and the effect is incredibly profound. Like what it means is, I'm actually taking off something, removing it completely and then donning something else completely different. At the end of it I would look completely different. If that was applied inwardly, to traits of character, it would amount to the complete removal of some aspect of ourselves we had identified with so strongly and becoming a completely new or renewed person..we would be soooo different. That would take a lot of personal power to do that, I agree. (sorry I took so long to respond to you, I was thinking about it)

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 4:56:57 PM

slavejali

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quote:

Maybe it's -the ability to activate, motivate or coerce soneone (or something) else to do something, or behave or think a particular way.

What would be involved in someone being able to actually do that? And do you see levels of power in being able to do that...or perhaps degrees of...(trying to think of the word I need here)....well I guess I can use an example. Someone with the knowledge of human negative traits (weaknesses) can easily manipulate people and so give them "power" over people....yet is that any real power at all..or just on a superficial level?

< Message edited by slavejali -- 12/16/2006 4:59:06 PM >

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 5:00:08 PM

SusanofO

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I just added more to my answer(above). Hope it helps.
Yes, power used for bad ends is still power - unfortunately (just is in the wrong hands, maybe).

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 12/16/2006 5:02:02 PM >

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 5:13:01 PM

slavejali

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quote:

Power is rooted in Physical, Mental, Emotional and even the Spiritual.

Not disagreeing with you here and liked what you had to say. This line just made me think of something. I think to me power is rooted in the spiritual, in consciousness of a self that isn't reliant on externals for its survival, knowledge of a place within us tht doesn't change no matter the tides or circumstances in life. When one has that it plays out in action (physical), thought (mental) and feelings (emotional). I guess the challenge is to learn to apply or channel that power through our expressions (action/thought/feeling)...and relationship provides us with the ability to do that...

So I'm thinking about how that kinda power can be exchanged within a D/s M/s relationship. Like for example, if you have such knowledge of self that you do not need any externals to have an identity, what would even the point be of having a relationship, much less submit to the authority of another, or dominate them.....(is this too whacky?)..what would actually be the point of exchange?

Hrmmm...ok..gonna have to think about this for a minute.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 5:18:58 PM

SusanofO

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To me the point of the exchange is that "this arrangement"one person can either help the other in a way that makes them feel good and-or sexually or spiritually more fulfilled. That's it in a nutshell, sans all of the romantic flowery dressage.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 12/16/2006 5:20:32 PM >

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 5:37:27 PM

Phoenix2raven

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He said: It's the spaces in between. No dominance without submission and vice versa. That in a very abbreviated way is what power is for us. How it plays out in our D/s is in our interactions.

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RE: Definition of "Power"? - 12/16/2006 5:39:16 PM

slavejali

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