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SCENEprofiles Interview with
kajira jewel of Immediate Family
and the Gorean House of Sar

kajira jewel and Master Sar

jewel- jewel@houseofsar.com

Immediate Family provides non-discriminatory non-medical acute crisis intervention, shelter, information and/or program referrals to persons in qualified emergency situations regardless of gender identification, race, creed, religion, color, sexual preference, or handicap for a 3 to 7day period. Immediate Family Inc. creates an atmosphere that is safe, open and accepting encouraging self-reliance, promoting safety in a supporting family environment, which assists in personal and professional restructuring and growth.

SADIE: You founded Immediate Family, Inc., which is the world's only 501(c)(3) recognized family abuse prevention and rescue service for the BDSM community. This is a remarkable thing you've done. Please tell me what gave you the idea to start such a unique service?

JEWEL: "In February of 1998, Master Sar and i attended an alternative lifestyle event in Chicago, IL. We had been 'out' for about a year by then. We met a woman who had Old Guard experience. Later she would tell us a bit about the old Safety Net in Old Guard circles. We wondered how people came to find this 'net.'

"We knew that 'Three hots and a cot' (Three meals and a place to sleep) could be provided to those in need by people involved in the old safety net. So, as a family, we started there.

"The idea was simple; people who shared a common interest could keep information on one another to help those who were in 'crisis' in the community. These individuals had special and unique needs that could not always be met by conventional society resources. Society is known to often provide less than standard services to people of alternative lifestyles. A lot could be done by simply assisting people in getting services that were rightfully theirs and offering them support in asking for these services.

"The need for assistance grew (and keeps growing). The number of people who wanted to also be of assistance to the alternative lifestyle community also grew, not only in Michigan, but also around the country. It became difficult to keep track of which houses were available and what services they could provide to be of assistance to people in need.

"In August of 2002, Immediate Family began to work on a more formal organization. Two Michigan homes began putting together a corporation that could be registered as non-profit and not only keep organized track of which people were available or in need, but also to locate funding to be of assistance to all of those people as well.

"In no time at all Immediate Family Inc became a reality. In it's first quarter of operation it was discovered to have 100 resource homes in 10 states and 2 provinces of Canada, England and Austria. Before 2004 is complete, we hope to have all of these homes registered and cataloged according to lifestyle choices and what type of resources they can provide. A Beta project to place people in need in 'satellite' homes is scheduled to begin this fall.

"This project is becoming very large in a very short amount of time. The need out there is great; there is no doubt about that. Right now, personally as secretary and treasurer for this organization I handle everything from phone calls to membership to home organization, fund raisers, speaking engagements, PR, funds allocation, grant concerns, email, almost every aspect of the organization. It is a very tiring labor of love. As a 501, there is no payment for those of us on the board of directors, (not that there is money available for it anyway).

"People are very excited about having a new person in their personal home, and offering them respite, and that is great. (It really is!) These days I am trying to let people know that they are either going to have to be patient with me while I get all of these things in order, or they are going to have to step up to the plate and help me do the grunt work."

Shameless plug: EVERYONE please join the mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Immediate_Family/

Sadie: What kinds of services do you offer to people in crisis situations?

Jewel: "A lot depends on the needs of the individual combined with what the organization has to offer at the time. Currently, our abilities are very limited, but it is evident that they will continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.

"The Internet has caused an explosion of people who turn their lives up side down seeking their dream alternative lifestyle situation. A lot of those situations leave them homeless and penniless. We try to help them get back to where they started and get their lives going again.

"We still go out as support for individuals who need to seek standard community resources. We still have people in our home who (for whatever crisis reason) need three hots and a cot. We believe that sometimes just a few days with people who bring you into their family, and treat you as such, can be a life altering experience (thus the name, Immediate Family). Some go on to create this environment in their own way. Some go back to family they already had. Some go on to seek out this kind of situation in another alternative lifestyle home. To me, the fact that they have had a positive experience in the midst of their crisis is what is most important.

"It is also no sad secret that the family unit in the United States has been altered (for a variety of reasons) and often cannot meet the needs of their own (or won't). Sometimes it is too expensive, sometimes those individuals have exhausted their extended family causing them to set their own boundaries and sometimes there just isn't anyone there.

"Some of our work also includes acting as mediators for situations where people just aren't able to talk to one another in a constructive manner any longer. Some of those meetings put the relationships back together and some of them end the relationship and set people on new paths.

"Some nights we stay awake to hold the hand of a lonely person who is awaiting a loved one in a hospital.

"This is just a few of the things we do, as I said, it depends on the persons situation and what we have available at that moment in time."

Sadie: Do you find that most of the victims are women as they so often are in the vanilla community?

Jewel: "I can tell you that the demographics for the persons we have provided service to are overwhelmingly female individuals."

Sadie: Do you think that people who are oriented toward being victims would be victims whether they were into BDSM or not?

Jewel: "Absolutely. Some people (regardless of gender) are 'Professional Victims.' They function best in chaotic situations. Unless they see this trait in themselves and move to make changes, yes, they will always be victims. I believe good many persons who carry this trait are not aware that they even have it.

"As an organization, we have learned to limit the amount of help we can provide to a single individual so that our resources are available to a larger number of people.

"Let me further stress to you that it is not now, nor has it ever been the role of Immediate Family to make such a diagnosis on individuals, let alone try to assist them with the prospect of making such changes. We are primarily a short-term support network, and while we may know where to look to find some answers, we also know when it is appropriate to refer to someone to a professional (doctors, lawyers, psychological intervention, etc.)."

Sadie: You provide support and education for adults who share alternative lifestyle interests in the context of caring relationships. What kinds of education does Immediate Family offer?

Jewel: "We offer a wide range. We try to look for what the community WANTS to learn. We draw from a personal library of knowledge, including books, the Internet, video, professionals and those with experience on a particular subject. Here are some examples of information we have shared in the past:

Boot-blacking
History of the Geisha
Kitchen Sanitation (according to Michigan State code)
Gorean Discussion Group
Viewing of 'Out of the Darkness'
Etiquette of the 1950's
Transgender Discussion
16^th Century Courtesans
Fisting Demonstration
Two handed flogging

Sadie: Abuse in the BDSM community is a very touchy subject. I imagine that most people would prefer to not admit that it exists, if only because we're having a hard enough time getting the broader community to accept the concepts of Safe, Sane and Consensual. What are the challenges that you encounter around these issues?

Jewel: "It is a touchy subject. We want to show that we are people who face the same pressures as any vanilla person out there. We also try to educate people on how to speak about their problems in a politically correct manner that allows the greater population to get to know us better. This type of kinder, gentler speech is unfortunately important. There is a large difference between, 'This is our dungeon where we beat on one another.' And 'This is the room of our home reserved for adults to gain privacy and quality time with one another.'

"When the words are simple and less scary for general society, we have found that many of them will listen intently and begin to open up to new ideas. This also keeps us on a more even playing field with other professionals. When we have difficulties acquiring services for an individual we have yet to be met with 'you people are freaks.' We are calmly told, 'I am sorry, but our organization is unable to assist you at this time.' For me, the latter leaves some hope in my soul that they genuinely tried. At the very least, I have left them with a certain impression that us perverts might be human after all.

"Our home has had to walk police officers, adult services personnel, narcotic agents, child protective services and the like through our dungeon and we made it! There have never been any arrests and our children have never been in danger of losing their home. We try to stand as an example of what can be done.

"Our greatest challenge is simple: educating those who don't understand."

Sadie: Articles that describe the difference between BDSM and abuse are probably one of the most common type of articles in the community. I suspect thought that there are many situations that simply don't fit into these neat categories of Abuse or BDSM. Have you run into some situations like this that are "fuzzy?" What parameters do you use to help you figure out what to do?

Jewel: "It has been pretty evident in the clients we have worked with (thus far) when they are in crisis. People in crisis exhibit a pretty usual pattern of behaviors, regardless of their lifestyle choices.

"A good deal of our parameters are therefore based on common sense. The person who calls us saying they 'need to get to their Dominant right away' and comes with a string of special needs, (i.e., I have two cats, a house full of furniture, can only stay in X brand hotel, will not travel by bus, etc.) is probably not in a 'crisis.' But the crying individual who calls and says, 'I will give up everything and do anything, my life is in danger' (for example) probably needs prompt attention.

"So far we have found no magic formula for deciding who qualifies for assistance or not. It is a difficult thing because as we work to get services provided by more homes, this question arises often. I envision us having a call center and a set of guidelines for people who answer those calls one day. For today, we rely on our own common sense."

Sadie: As any police officer knows, domestic abuse situations can turn violent. Have you run into any situations like this? How did you deal with it?

Jewel: "Our experienced staff is professional in all situations. Our non-profit status, professional appearance and trained intellect on these matters give us the ability to speak with law enforcement easily.

"We go into situations in pairs, often one person being female. We go in with the expectation that things could get violent and keep our cell phones readily available to contact authorities. We go in as friends and confidants ready to help the situation and all parties, not just the one who feels she/he is in trouble. We do not choose sides; there is more than one side to every story. We plan for every contingency we can and then we take a huge risk and go, trusting the universe has sent us where we were needed and will take care of us while we are there. In short, at times, we are nuts and we know it.

"Still, it depends on the situation. If it is overly hostile, and we can snag a person while the perpetrator is not on the premises, we help the person prepare for our quick arrival and departure. We get people to bus stops and rides to airports. We put them on a train at three in the morning or we simply chat with them on-line and help them assess prioritize their own situations. We do always try not to have to go into another person's home and assist them in their own disruptions wherever we can.

"In addition, the whereabouts of a person in our care is always kept confidential to the best of our ability."

Sadie: One of your goals is to bring acceptance of BDSM into American culture. As I'm sure you know, this approach is somewhat controversial in that many people feel that much of the thrill has to do with the "underground" quality of the scene. Can you explain your philosophy around this?

Jewel: "I agree that there is a mystique that goes along with the quiet nature of the BDSM culture. However, I believe it is a fine line. While we do not want our sex life displayed on a street corner, we also do not want to be discriminated against on account of it.

"There will always be quiet negotiations between a Top and a Bottom to do something naughty. What we do behind our closed doors will never seem sane to everyone. I will never keep my professional office (that of Immediate Family) in room with black walls and next to a St. Andrew's Cross. I said I was nuts not stupid. I want people to honor my right to have a choice, not necessarily the choice itself.

"Master Sar reminds me, from his time in the Military, 'I will defend to the death the right for you to make stupid decisions.' This is America. The lucidity with which some people decide to shit in one another's mouth should always be questioned (providing that naughty feeling), but their choice to do it consensually should not be interfered with or cause them to be discriminated upon.

Sadie: Our mutual friend, author & activist Master Alan has described you as a "spiritual and powerful" couple. What is your spiritual approach?

Jewel: "I look up to and have a great deal of respect and admiration for Master Alan. His kind words flatter me.

"I was born into a catholic family and still believe in a lot of tenants of that faith. Over the years I have discussed a lot of religions, faiths and spiritual aspects with a great number of people. I have taken bits and pieces of each conversation with me. I strongly subscribe to the idea that 'We Are The I Am.'

"I have a great love for the poem Desiderata (purportedly by Max Ehrman in the early 20th century). I find a lot of my faith and instruction on how to live life within its verse. I believe with all that I am 'the universe is unfolding as it should.'

Sadie: With the caveat that you are not the poster child of the Gorean lifestyle, can you give me a short description of the Gorean lifestyle, as it is described formally in the books, and how that may or may not differ from your individual practice?

Jewel: "Thank you for not making me a poster child. The people of the planet Gor have not yet made allowances for a sirik (Gorean slave attire made entirely out of five single lengths of thin chain) in a size suited for someone of my rubenesque stature. This could be potentially scary posted in the local paga tavern and on tower sides. ::: HUGE GRIN :::

"Gor in and of itself is a planet on the same orbit as earth. We, on earth, have not seen it because it is directly on the other side of the sun. It is a smaller planet, which lends to some differences in time and weights. Think of barbaric cavemen (who own their women like common chattel) and then give them a little reason and logic. Spice it with the human struggle for self, family and the fight for right. Add some cool inventions. Give them their own language and tradition with a splash of mythological style creatures and you have Gor!"

Sadie: In the continuum of Gorean lifestyle people, where would you put yourself as regarding living it real time versus just as role-playing?

Jewel: "I can only speak for Master Sar's household when I say that the cornerstones of the Gorean life are Honor and Integrity. There is no question that the House of Sar lives that real time. Beyond our own personal values, we are all role-playing.

"It must be understood that the Gor books are fiction. We know this to be true. We know that we are humans on earth with limitations and boundaries that cannot (and should not) be crossed here on Earth. Keeping that in mind, I personally look at it much like the way that the people who participate in the SCA (The Society for Creative Anachronisms) do. If you read all of John Norman's Gor Books, there is a common theme: honor & integrity. These things can be practiced day to day without pissing off anyone in general society (too badly). But in the sanctity of our own home we follow other traditions also described in the books:

My Master has 3 slaves.
The collaring ceremony is very specific
I wear a permanent kef mark upon my left thigh
I own a camisk
I know and can perform on command all Gorean slave postures
My Master owns me

"… and so on The list is very long and would be difficult to collapse into a single article.
I guess I really don't know which or what continuum we might be compared to."

Sadie: Some BDSM players have issues with the Gorean lifestyle because it appears to not follow the safe-sane-consensual creed in that a slave has basically no rights over their body or their life. Is this correct, and if so, can you explain how the lifestyle offers protection to its players, particularly in light of the abuse prevention work that you are doing.

Jewel: "Yes, that is correct, but I can only speak of my personal experiences. That is only correct because we negotiated it to be correct long ago.

"Those who have not studied the Gorean books or asked questions of Gorean households often get that impression. We feel that the precepts are not all that much different, but having never lived a BDSM lifestyle it could be my view is skewed.

"I have more than just a lifestyle with my Master. I have a relationship. Yes he has the final decision on issues and yes he may use MY body in any way shape or form he chooses. That took around ten years to put together. We know one another quite intimately. When we scene together, I not only trust that he will not harm me, I know it with every fiber of my being. I know that he knows which of my cries is out of agony, not ecstasy, and I know that he will stop to help me. I know that he knows the tone of my voice and the difference between when my words mean red and when they mean 'I can screw with you in the context of this scene.'

"Master Sar does offer the safe word option to anyone else he plays with (yes, even his other slaves). That is where Master Sar and myself started, it was only after we had developed such a deep trust of one another that things came to the level of what they are now. That is highly personal.

"So, yes, we do not always appear to be in the context of SSC. I highly recommend that people who do not have that conviction between one another always play with safe words and according to the ideals set forth behind Safe, Sane and Consensual play.

"I tell anyone that I speak with, especially in the context of Immediate Family that this lifestyle does not offer any protection to it's players. Only the players themselves can do that.

"If you are genuinely afraid of your partner, in or out of a scene, you are probably experiencing abuse. If you took away consent to scene without a safe word and it goes ignored, you are probably experiencing abuse. If anything goes on in a relationship that is outside of the consent you have given another person in the context of your relationship, you are probably experiencing abuse.

"abuse: maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage, abuse -- (cruel or inhumane treatment)

2. abuse, insult, revilement, contumely, vilification -- (a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; 'when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse'; 'they yelled insults at the visiting team')

3. misuse, abuse -- (improper or excessive use)

Only the individual can decide what falls within that definition. Especially 'in the lifestyle."

Sadie: What is your response to BDSMers who feel that living a lifestyle based on a series of books (of which I have read the author does not support people actually living out his stories in real life) is an artificial construct?

Jewel: "John Norman has defiantly written that he does not support this series of books as a lifestyle. As an author he has taken enough heat on the series. It has been banned in many countries. For him to in any way show support in such a lifestyle would probably render him more unpalatable than he already is. It would be bad for business.

"I return the question to you, 'artificial based on what?' Is your answer 'normal' life in these United States? That would probably be akin to the feeling of general society that says that all forms of S&M are an illness. Watch The Matrix again; there is no fiction in that we are all constructs."

Sadie: What do you personally get out of the lifestyle that makes it superior, in your opinion, to a more traditional BDSM arrangement?

Jewel: "Quite recently I spoke with a Master who is highly regarded within the lifestyle (all of them). He made me realize one thing; it is my nature. My lifestyle choices include some things that I never found in BDSM alone. The honor and integrity, the fight for one's own, the simplicity, the common tradition, the sisterhood, the warriors, the castes… all of it contributes to a satisfaction of that which is my own personal nature. It is superior for me."

Sadie: My understanding is that once you become a slave, you are no longer free in any way, and have no recourse of action to reverse this process. Accepting that this is true in the Gorean lifestyle, how do you integrate that into our culture, which does not allow citizens to legally give up their rights? (I.E. you can't sign away your human rights even if you want to) if there are no safe words, and no discussion about limits, what happens when a Gorean master turns out to be unbalanced in some way and is abusive to his partner? How do you negotiate a healthy relationship when your ability to discuss limits is not on the table?

Jewel: " I know a slave who is also a believing Catholic. Her husband is in the midst of a multi-year serious depression. He is very dysfunctional. Yet, this woman believes that she cannot divorce her husband and she believes she cannot leave her Master. So she sticks with it and works and works and works at making the relationship work. In the end, he will probably recover from the depression. So her faith keeps her in the relationship. But, she can leave anytime she wants to. It is her attachment to her faith… her consensual attachment to this belief that keeps her with her husband-Master. Gorean beliefs are similar to those of the Catholic Church. And just as the Catholic Church cannot hold back the tide of divorce, being Gorean is not (and should not) going to keep a slave with an abusive Master. "

"Beyond Gorean rules, I am a wife and mother. I argue with my Master. All of the Gorean couples I know have the same issues as any other American couple and they deal with them the same. The negotiation process for a Gorean is no different than any other negotiation. If there is a problem in the family you work on it. "

"I am also GUARANTEED the last word in any argument, "Yes, Master." But if my Master begins to make dimwitted decisions, no one can stop me from walking out the door if I decide that is what I need to do to protect my children and myself. My Master knows this and must constantly take it into consideration as he makes the final decision on any single topic for the family as a whole or any individual."

"While the Gorean philosophy is that a slave is "property", no different than the farm animals or ones sandals, it is important to develop a relationship first. That is probably the single largest difference between the books and the life. I cannot explain the depth and the importance of that word "relationship". Following some Gorean precepts does not stop anyone from being human."

"Incidentally, Immediate Family does not see a propensity for Gor based couples to need any more or any less assistance than any other alternative lifestyle groups.."

Sadie: Women are most likely to be slaves because they are smaller and less physically adapted to warfare. Why is it that physical prowess is more important than intelligence as regarding whether a person is a slave or not?

Jewel: " In the books, it is because barbarians want dinner, not intellect. That might even be a lovely way to live, but our humanity and earthly restrictions render this impossible. The reality is that someone needs to go out and PAY for the dinner or the "barbarian" will starve. This has little to do with gender."

"On earth there could be something to be said for the possibility that each gender was created to do a specific job. It is not hard to see jobs between species and the gender differentiation in species. Young bull elephants need the presence of older bull males or they never learn to control aggression, queen bees were meant to produce young and populate the hive, lions keep a pride and the males guard it with their very life. We all seem to have a purpose, some gender related and some not. A lot of evolutionary psychology is being done on these ideas for all different species and genders. "

"Let’s look at feminism for a moment because it is supposed to be the polar opposite to Gorean principal. This might show you how it is that we try to be Gorean on earth, but (as long as we are discussing gender) women MUST keep up with general society"

"Some feminists recognize two realities in the 21st century: a) your not going to get "men" (in general) to take care of your every financial need for the rest of your earth life b) it’s harder for women to put dinner on the table because of gender bias. So females are getting screwed coming and going. "

"What gender bias on earth does, is insure that women get paid less for similar work and women get relegated to inferior economic roles."

"Some women ARE left alone with children and they suffer from gender bias in the labor market. Religious and ethnic subcultures can do what they like, but when it comes to the courts and the laws, we want to encourage everyone to give all women a chance to make the same money for the same work. The age of the handsome and chivalrous knight in shining armor has long been over."

"Where we differ is when feminist extend their ideology to personal relationships. We believe that if you’re free you need to be free to surrender to a Master. We believe that you should not be discriminated against in a courtroom or anywhere else for making such a negotiation with a Dominant (male or female) and living that relationship to the best of your ability within these earthly, human and society based constraints."

Sadie: Male slaves make up a very small percentage of the lifestyle. Are there female Dominants at all? How do you feel about a structure that can appear sexist in the extreme on the surface? How do you resolve this issue in your own mind?

Jewel: "It is often confused in the Gorean lifestyle sects that there were dominant females on Gor. This really, to me, is a half-truth. There were some renegade slaves who lived in the woods and considered themselves dominant. In the general Gorean society, however, the females referred to as Mistress are generally defined as free women. That is to say they had not been branded or bonded into slavery. The reason was quite often the stature of their family. Female children born to rich families were often kept as free. Some were put in towers and rarely left that sanctity. Most wore many layers of clothing and seven veils pinned to them with poisoned pins in an effort to keep them safe from Males who would face strip them and take them for slaves.

"These women had the luxury of slaves. These slaves are usually (to my understanding) the property of the free woman's caretaker. That made these women often seen Dominant because they can order these slaves around and the slaves refer to them as Mistress.

"There is also a single city written in the books, ruled exclusively by females. They have many male slaves. Male slaves are usually men who have dishonored themselves in some way. Some men have male slaves, because they find them better able to do physical labor. They like to keep their women thin and shapely and (I think) Goreans would find a woman who has well-defined musculature less than attractive. I don't think anyone is saying that women can't do it, but they defiantly say that they do not want them to.

"Sexist is an over used term. We, in the lifestyle, are especially sexist. We often believe that the dominant sex is whoever is the top in our personal relationships. So be it."

Sadie: The novels state that while less than 3% of Goreans own a slave, slavery is very prominent in the novels and in fact often nonconsensual. A woman can be kidnapped and forcefully collared. Aside from using this idea in your BDSM relationship, how do you feel about this as an actuality?

Jewel: "The books would have been very boring had they only dealt with the outside story of one man being brought to the planet and a bunch of people who worshiped 18-foot tall praying mantises. Some of these things had to be added or there would have been even less plot.
In actuality, that non-consensual concept falls within my own personal definition of abuse and I treat it as such."

Sadie: I understand that you live in a huge complex with eight bedrooms, eight kids, slaves, dogs, cats, an African parrot. Even so, Master Alan says that when he visits you everything is calm when he sits with you. How do you achieve this?

Jewel: "Smile… Master Alan is kind and patient.

"Mostly we are as organized and scheduled as we can possibly be. I would easily kill myself trying to keep up with it all otherwise.

"In addition, everyone within the House of Sar is expected to respect themselves as well as one another. Everyone within our home is held to a high standard of Honesty, Integrity and Honor.

"Our house rules are posted in several locations within our home, and everyone at any age or post is held to those standards. We are also disciplined (from the Latin 'disciple,' defined as 'to teach') according to each individuals needs.

"I do my best to be patient at all times. If no one is dieing, there is no emergency and I try to take my time and deal with each situation as it comes. It also helps to make sure everything in the house is replaceable and put the finer things away until we reach an overall calmer time in our lives."

Sadie: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Jewel: "In 1998 Master Sar and I went for fertility assistance. In my first trial I was said to have a 20% chance of achieving a single conception. I have triplets. My initial response (in front of God the doctor and everyone)? I turned to Master Sar and announced in a loud voice, 'We're fucked.'
Stop laughing! We were!! We had all of our usual expenses and with my being put on 24/7 bed rest, we were going to have to cover these, plus three newborns on a single income. Then our friends (some we didn't even know by name) got together and threw a baby shower – in a dungeon!! Suddenly, there was possibility, light where there was only dark, as it were. Three diaper bags, three little toothbrushes, bottles, blankets, diapers, clothes, sheets – an entire nursery for the three little lives about to be. The community referred to them as the Sarlets and a great number of those people still watch over and look in on these children.

"I promised I would never forget that. I promised that I would 'pay it forward' at my every opportunity to the very community that it came from. I think I do. I try. I tell people this story when they ask our organization 'what do I owe you.' I only ask that they also 'pay it forward.'

In Memory of James, 1984 - 2004

Sadie: Thank you very much!

Jewel: "I really had a wonderful time! Thank you for listening to (reading) me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you enjoyed this interview, read more SCENEprofiles with BDSM personalities on Sadie's website at www.sensuoussadie.com

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 2004 Sadie Sez Publications