BDSM in the 1800′s

The amazing Tall Ships were in town here in Montreal a few weeks back and some of us from the ALCC-CCVA had the chance to go down and check it out.

You wouldn’t believe what we tripped on… many interesting facts about life aboard ships in the 1800’s. Don’t quote me on dates please! The photo above is from the Bounty and I was surprised at what I read. Take a moment to read it and pay special attention to the last paragraph!

It would seem that discipline was well enforced in those days to prevent mutiny. Didn’t work did it? Too bad!

As in many cultures and religious practices, many different types of BDSM was used in those days… read the photo above. Honestly, there were a million CRAZY things we discovered about the lives of sailors who battled the seas.

You’d of had to be a masochist to be a sailor in those days. That, or you’d just be whacked over the head and FORCED aboard. Unfortunately, they didn’t practice the SSCR-A (safe, sane, consentual, and risk-aware).

Imagine, having to make the very tool that is used to punish you!!! I really like this idea even though it is terrible. In the 21st century of BDSM, it’s a GREAT idea and I intend to use it!

Swap the deck scurvy slaves 😉

– Contessa Alura

Beginners Flogging Workshop – Sept 7

I had a small group for his workshop, but a very enthusiastic one!

We looked at the various types of floggers and what they do, how the material of floggers change the feel and force of the impact, and how to move the body and wrists.

We talked about starting soft an incorporating sensuality in flogging. I often see people begin wailing on others or starting rough. If you like that, great, but there’s a lot to be said about starting slowly and softly to establish comfort and trust and then progressing to hard. Enjoy the journey I always say.

We talked about safety and areas NOT to flog with too much force. We covered warm-ups and getting the skin ready for flogging.

The students had a chance to practice some of the techniques we covered such as finding their wrists, and aim, by hitting the backs of chairs. Then we moved on to people. A big thank you to Glovesub for being our fabulous demo model and braving the newbie floggers. I was amazed to see how quickly some people progress and how others are truly naturals and just get it right away.

We will be doing an advanced flogging next month, learning how to Florentine (double handed flogging) and as well another basic course for those of you who missed this one.

– Contessa Alura