Mini SCENEprofiles Interview 
with Mimi Andronica, Writer 

MIMI: "I've never believed in a higher power truth be told. Even as a small child in Catholic school, the idea of there being a God just seemed silly and improbable. Though as a humanist and someone who's interested in Transhumanism (a movement centred around man merging with machine), I tend to put more faith in intelligent design or the mathematics of life. Buddhism also interests me because it is about transcending the now and being aware of your thoughts and actions."

Mimi: "Yes, my religious upbringing did not really take place at home, since my father is very agnostic (though raised Anglican) and my mother just had no desire to practice Catholicism. For a long time, I studied Judaism on my own. The intellectual angle appealed to me, but the ethnic aspects did not.

"My current beliefs grew out of my quest for self-ownership or true self-awareness. I have strong values and believe in treating your body, your mind, your heart, and others, with as much respect as possible. These beliefs, combined with my interest in technology and transcendence (through meditation, yoga, and D/s) have provided me with a good set of tools for living I think."

Mimi: "I only recently started exploring this connection, after ending a year-long BDSM relationship with a Dom. Yoga had appealed to me for many years, but I never took a class until after my breakup. The similarities between D/s and Yoga were striking, and this realization came along just I had started immersing myself in literature about cybernetics and transhumanism."

Mimi: "My goal in all of my spiritual activities is transcendence; the feeling that you are aware of yourself, but not. The energy whether it be physical or emotional, rushes through you and the pain and discipline move you to a higher state. I don't do drugs and only drink occasionally, so these activities provide me with that buzz that so many of us crave. They also put me more in touch with my mind, body and of course, spirit."

Mimi: "I practice Power/Ashtanga Yoga and simple meditation, with breathing exercises."

Mimi: "At age 28, my beliefs and lifestyle finally came into perspective. I truly know myself and what I am about, and D/s and spirituality are large part of who I am."

Mimi: "Both D/s and Yoga are activities that involve mental and physical discipline. The rush I get from each of these is quite similar, though one doesn't replace the other."

Mimi: "I've been lucky in that I've never had a bad D/s situation. I've always been very careful and deliberate when getting involved with a Dom, and shared interests are important, but I have yet to meet a play partner who shares my specific interests."

Mimi: "No, not really. I write to draw together and discuss ideas that I find interesting. Talking is something I find very intimate, and writing is just another way of having a discussion."

Mimi: "Just that I am very flattered that you liked my article on Yoga and D/s that appeared in the Summer issue of Discipline magazine. I look forward to learning more about the BDSM writing community."

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Sensuous Sadie is the author of It's Not About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene (http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html). She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of Rose & Thorn , Vermont 's first BDSM group. Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com  or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com. Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing in most venues.

Copyright 2003 Sadie Sez Publications