Educational Opportunities

MIND & SOUL

Endorphin Soup For The Unconventional Soul – Self Emergence Through Body Stress Rituals (Part 1 of 2)

Stressing the body is often done to indelibly print the significance of a ritual. From kavadi pilgrimages to the Sundance to firewalking, these practices show sacrifice and can be used to achieve transcendence. Delve into the history of body stress rituals and explore how various body modifications and stresses can be used to recreate useful rituals in our lives. Limited offering.

Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour (Archer & Elegant)

 

Endorphin Soup For The Unconventional Soul – Self Emergence Through Body Stress Rituals (Part 2 of 2)

We’ll facilitate a kavadi pilgrimage inspired flesh hook ritual and a modern blood ritual in this portion of the experience. All workshop participants will play an integral and often emotional part in the ceremonies, if desired, although only two pre-selected people will undergo the actual blood rituals. To honor the sanctity of the ritual experience please do not enter or leave the room while the ceremonies are being performed. Limited offering. NOT available without Part I.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer & Elegant plus others)

 

Ordeal Origins - Hook Pulls And Other Body Stress Rituals (Suggested before a hook pull experience) 

Throughout history people have used various body stress rituals to reach altered states of consciousness. From Kavadi to the Sundance to firewalking, these practices show sacrifice and can be used to achieve transcendence and often allow participants to cross the boundaries between worlds. We'll explore numerous body stress rituals from cultures spanning the globe and discuss purposes, ways to magnify energy, and how to honor roots while avoiding the trap of cultural appropriation. Information about the planned Hook Pull will also be discussed if appropriate. Note: some graphic images will be shared with the audience.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer & Elegant)

 

Accessible Body Rituals - Seven Chakra Piercing Ritual 

Many of the rituals we see take specialized knowledge which can be difficult to obtain. But ritual play doesn't always require hooks, fire, suspension or edgier play styles in order to access the power of body ritual. We will discuss ways to take simpler SM techniques in ways that can access the benefits of body stress ritual. The end of the class will include a ritual using only 7 needles…designed to open energy pathways in the bottom's body and soul. 

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours.  (Archer & Elegant)

 

Emotional Self-Preservation During Ritual Experiences

Empaths, folks who have heightened awareness, or just emotionally sensitive people…sometimes they avoid joining or witnessing ritual experiences because of the soul draining effect or the build-up of unwanted energy that occurs within. Do you tend to shy away from weddings, funerals, ordeal paths, coming of age ceremonies, body stress rituals, and similar experiences because of the stress on your own mental and emotional wellbeing?  Explore methods to prepare yourself before taking part in such rituals and discover ways to filter and shield the energy so that you can take part in the experiences.

Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour. (Elegant)

 

S/m Play: More Than Meets The Skin

Hidden behind the SM practices many of us enjoy are reasons and lessons that sometimes get lost in the play. SM Practices can build trust, teach us to handle fear, show us perceived limits are not actual limits and so much more. Join us as we explore, discuss, and share life lessons hidden in our play. Take a fresh look at SM practices with an eye towards additional purposes of just having fun.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer)

 

Invoking The Power Of Others : Using Exemplars For Master and 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 Mastery or 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. An interactive session.

Time: 1 - 1 ½ hours depending on class size. (Archer and Elegant)

 

Forever and a Day….By Day….By Day

For some people, entering into a Master/slave relationship is a frequent event, a union that they can shrug off like the latest fashion.  Somewhere along the way many have forgotten that keeping a connection with someone actually does require effort, sometimes day by day. It may seem easier to dismiss a slave or beg release from a Master when things are not going well but working on bettering the relationship is likely to make an even stronger bond. In this workshop session Elegant and Archer will discuss how their relationship has progressed over their 20 years together. Their covenant is for forever and a day…but they live it day by day.  They will share how they structured their relationship, offer tools they use to navigate through turbulent times, and even tell about some mistakes they have made. There will be ample time for questions.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer & Elegant)

 

Removing The Stigma Of Service Topping - Service Topping Without Becoming A Fetish Delivery System

Service Top…..eww. Many people dismiss Service Tops as if they are not really dominant and the term gets used as a pejorative. Service Topping can be a wonderful experience for people who have a dominant personality and are fulfilled by providing service. The two things are not mutually exclusive however, Service Topping can sometimes end with the Top not getting their needs met. Learn ways of being comfortable as a Service Top and how to negotiate to avoid burn out and get our needs fulfilled.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer)

 

Bases Of Power

Knowing the sources you draw power and authority from and those you have less access to may help you better understand your own relationship strengths and potential areas to work on. Using French & Raven’s ‘6 Bases of Power’ as a starting point, we'll examine options of where we draw power from. Additionally, we’ll look at leadership strategies and how to convert personal and relational power into authority within relationships. Interactive exercises, worksheets, and group discussion.

Time: 1 hour. (Archer)

TACTILE & TECHNIQUE

Needles For The Novice - You Say Eggplant, I Say Poke It With A Needle.

Shiny and sharp, the needle penetrates the skin, breaching the protective wall around the body, the freshly pierced virgin hole becomes wet and sticky as the tube slides in and back out again. This class will cover safety, setting up your space for infection control, and general techniques of temporary piercing. All participants will even be able to get some hands-on practice…because you must start sometime!

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours. (Archer and Elegant)

 

Magic Marks - A Very Hot Topic

From at least Neolithic times people have marked themselves in various ways. Marking bodies was done to indicate familial lines, tribal status, and the deities who they worshiped. While they were no doubt artistic, they were also a source of protection and other magic provided by ancestral spirits and deities. Today, branding is mostly a decorative body modification. In this class we will discuss various methods of hot branding, how to design brands, how brand design affects the techniques you will select to give the best results, and limitations of techniques. Share a moment of time with us as we use one or more hot branding techniques to access the magic in the marks.

1 hour – 1 ½ hours. (Archer and Elegant)

 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Deep Impact Play

Put up your dukes and let’s get down to it…punching, hitting, kicking and other forms of deep impact play. We’ll evaluate safety concerns, methods and materials, aftercare and psychological effects on the Top and bottom while providing various demonstrations and hands-on opportunities.

Time: 1 – 1 ½ hours depending on class size. (Archer and Elegant)

 

Flogging For Effect: Making Your Floggers More Versatile

For many folks a flogger seems so basic that they move to other toys in order to get different effects. Let’s learn how to be more versatile! No Not That Way…With our tools…Not Those Tools ya horny harlots. Learn how a simple flogger can convey sensations and effects that you may not realize it can provide. We’ll have some hands-on kinetic learning so bring along a flogger…and a bottom if you want. If you don't have a flogger, bring a hank of soft (or not so soft) rope and use that instead. Ample space needed.

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours.  (Archer)

 

Florentine Flogging: Two Hands Are Better Than One

The name is based on an Italian sword and knife fighting style but in this class, we’ll use floggers to impart a continuous swirl of painful pleasure for the bottom and a rhythm induced headspace for the Top. Join in this hands-on (and bottoms on) workshop to learn the techniques of double handed six-count flogging with style and rhythm. Guests need to bring two floggers as closely matched in length and weight as possible  Ample space needed.

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours.  (Archer)

 

Microbondage: Clipping The Edge

The simple laundry room S/m pevertable can be used for simple skin bondage and erotic edge play.  Hang up your preconceptions about clothespins and learn about edgeplay techniques, medical info, dangers and different types of clippy things. Observe demos and experience hands-on activities.

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours. (Archer and Elegant)

 

Toy Spa – TLC For Leather Toys

All play and no work makes dirty toys! Clean toys last longer so bring your whips, floggers, crops and other leather play implements to find out how to clean and store them properly. We’ll discuss various cleaning and conditioning products and, if time permits, you’ll have the opportunity to give some of your toys a much needed spa treatment.

Time: 1 hour – 1 ½ hours. (Elegant)

Leather Care for the Non-Bootblack

Not everyone is a bootblack. Not everyone has a bootblack at their beck and call. But there are some tips and tricks you can employ to take care of your boots and leathers that do not require the extensive knowledge and skilled experience of a bootblack. From essential everyday maintenance to what not to do to leather, you will learn techniques that will extend the life of your boots and garments and keep them looking respectable until you get to a bootblack. This is not Bootblacking 101.

1 hour. (Elegant)

 

Bob Ross At [your event]? - Painting On Leather

Let’s paint some happy little trees...or macabre skulls, or playful flowers, or wicked animals.Unleash your inner artist in this hands-on workshop.Learn unique techniques of applying painted designs to leather goods. Whether you want to customize a jacket, personalize accessories, or decorate boots, you'll get basic skills to turn leather items into custom creations.Tools, paints, and various small leather items are provided. Maximum 20 active participants.Others are welcome to watch and learn.

Time 1 ½ hours. (Elegant)

  

BIOS

Archer

Leather, just the sound of the word gives a sense of the sensual power of treated skins. As a teen Archer started working with leather, the smell and feel of it had some primal effect on him. Even then the power images of leather had a part in his sexual fantasies. Leatherwork went by the wayside for awhile but returned in Dallas TX in 1996 when he started his leather business, Fantasies In Leather.

Archer’s relationship with his slave Elegant started in September of 1998 and prompted him to get more involved with the leather community. His immediate leather family now also includes Trinity, Renee, and Boi Lane. He is an Environmental Health & Safety Professional and incorporates this technical knowledge in many of his presentations. He provides educational experiences on subjects ranging from S&M technique to Using Exemplars For Master/slave Development and classes on the spiritual application of BDSM activities. Archer completed Fakir Musafar’s body piercing and branding intensive schools in order to offer these arts with a more spiritual, less clinical focus. Archer…Covered Leather Master, Fire Walker, Hook Flier, Traveler Between Worlds, Shamanistic Journey Guide, Teacher, Student, Marked with the Sacred Ink, Preparer of the Soup, Bottom to the Universe

    

Elegant

Elegant began her leather journey in Dallas, Texas in 1997 and has been an active part of the Atlanta community since moving in 2001. She is a polyamorous slave to Master Archer, leather artisan, bootblack, co-owner of Fantasies In Leather and Fulfill You, and a Burner. Elegant is past Marketing Director for Southwest Leather Conference (2008 – 2016), past Marketing Chair for SouthEast LeatherFest (2004-2007), Founding Member of the Bootblack Brigade, co-producer of Southern Sole Bootblack Weekend, former co-producer of Submissive Journey Weekend, and creator of Twisted Toyland Atlanta. Her experiences have led her to judging opportunities at International Community Bootblack competition, Southwest Bootblack competition, South East Master/slave contest and other leather contests. Elegant had the honor of being selected as Southeast Bootblack 2005 and 1st Runner-Up at International Community Bootblack 2005.

She leads workshops on S/M techniques and workshops of the mind and assists Master Archer with spiritual ritual experiences, identifying as a Spiritual Clown and Warrior Goddess. Her dedication to the community and specifically in spreading a positive awareness of D/s~M/s is a never-ending path to understanding her own life.

   

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