| WORDS ON GOREAN SLAVERY AND HOW SLAVES MAY BECOME A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY |
Female slavery, at least in the Gorean sense, is based primarily upon this difference between the sexes, particularly the instinctual attraction between the submissive female and dominant male. No institution or custom is even needed for these instincts to exist or be fulfilled, for they predate any and all such things going down into the biological makeup of humankind. These instincts remain regardless of cultural attempts to suppress or alter them, though a civilization developed in accordance with nature promotes a society in harmony with its humanity, rather than existing as its antitheses. Slavery of this kind cannot be accurately defined simply by what that word normally brings to mind in our modern world - the ruthless subjugation of the unwilling individual whose only overwhelming desire is to be free. Gorean female slavery, as seen in the novels and as practiced in the Gorean lifestyle, is obviously based upon Gorean philosophy, the ideological root upon which the rest is built. The two differ in that the former is a societal institution illustrated as part of a fictional world's civilization, something that is ingrained into that society, culturally accepted, and legalized in form, while the latter manifests itself as a consensual relationship that is based upon particular beliefs and customs, one that is lived as a lifestyle alternative to what modern society commonly expects. While not legalized slavery as displayed in the novels, that which is found in the Gorean lifestyle does hold the same philosophical and biological basis as the institutionalized form, with slavery being a recognition and realization of certain innate desires and impulses, and each participating person seeking to accept the "place" that is instinctually fitting to them. The beliefs and customs which are practiced in the lifestyle are taken from those depicted in the books, tempered where appropriate by the limits of our modern world's laws. The knowledge of these things are part of what makes a woman a Gorean slave, or "kajira," rather than someone in a submissive or "slave-like" relationship. In general terms, Gorean slavery is a natural outgrowth of the "fundamental biological relationship between the sexes." It does not fight this, but seeks to embody it in a form that is fitting to both men and women, one that is developed in accordance with nature, not contradiction. As earlier stated, the Master/slave relationship in the Gorean lifestyle is consensual in form. Individuals are not forced or made to enter this lifestyle, but accept it as a cognizant wish. This wish is accepted and not actually chosen for a reason, because one does not select one's instincts and desires, but accepts them as the way they were meant to live. A relationship of this kind is a natural reaction to these things, usually one that was unconsciously sought by those accepting it, prior to its actual recognition. These desires manifest themselves through the habits and mannerisms of the given person, the partners they seek, how they carry themselves in life, and obviously, in the dreams and fantasies they have. While some might say that the woman chooses to be a slave to someone because she consents to the relationship, the fact of her being a slave, in the internal sense, is something that she simply is, regardless of when she comes to accept this, or whatever types of relationships she finds herself in before it. It is from here that we see the difference between being a "slave" and being enslaved. A woman can be a slave without actually having a master, in the sense of her being naturally predisposed to being owned by men and submissive to them. She is a slave to men by nature, if not actually enslaved by a man who has acknowledged her as his property. Enslavement is a completion of this need to be owned, and a fulfillment of the dreams and fantasies she harbors in her mind, but her being a "slave" is something that was always true. The nature of the slave does not end with the loss of a master, and it does not begin with enslavement to one either. A girl grows in her collar, and learns of her femininity at the feet of men, learning also how to take that slave within her and develop it into an owned Gorean kajira, but what she is learning of is something that was already inside of her and part of what she is. Some come to realize this and seek a means to live and enjoy it, while others never actually understand what they feel and never come fully to terms with the urges they have, but their nature still makes itself known, however repressed or possibly limited in fulfillment. "So how do I proceed?"
If being a slave is something you feel is within you, and learning to be a Gorean kajira is something you feel is the answer to what you have sought, then you need to do some serious thinking before you start rushing down any paths to anticipated fulfillment. Gorean slavery is consensual in form, but not in content. It is a surrender of a woman's power to another, in which she relinquishes all of her rights within the relationship and has no limits except those defined by her master. A commitment of this level is not an easy one to make, especially by someone who has been taught by society to do quite differently. It is something that should only be made when the veracity of what it means is understood and accepted by both the owner and the slave. She must have a realistic grasp of what it means to be a Gorean kajira, what it would mean for her to be one, and have a clear enough understanding to feel that this is the answer to what she has been looking for. This opinion must be based in reality, not simple fantasies, before she obligates herself to another in a serious relationship of this kind. A woman is not a kajira simply because she says she is or wants to be. While her nature and manner may imply the possibility, being such also requires living as would fit the definition, even if not "owned," and also understanding the culture and customs which actually define it. Starting in this should focus on two main things, getting to know oneself and learning more about what it is to be a slave by Gorean custom. The former is the process of becoming reacquainted with one's nature, accepting the slave within, while the latter is a development of this natural slave through an understanding of Gorean philosophy and culture. Neither is something that can be done quickly, and in truth each is a task that will never end, for a girl is always learning more of herself and her slavery, but an initial understanding of what this is must be had, before the girl then considers whether or not she can live up to what being a slave entails. Thinking you know what a slave is, and actually knowing what Gorean slavery is all about are two different things. The word slave, in Gorean terms, has a particular meaning that is not identical to what BDSM groups or contemporary society choose to define it. It comes with a series of expectations and customs that must be learned by the girl, along with a surrounding culture and philosophy which she must come to know. As with anything to do with Gor, the best way to start learning is by seeking out the books and reading them, looking at the culture that is presented and in particular, the many scenes detailing the relationship between a master and a slave. Much like anyone else wishing to learn of the Gorean lifestyle or the philosophy it is based upon, this requires a study of the material itself. Wanting your life to be what you read, and wishing for the fantasy to be real is not enough. Slavery must come from the need to be a slave, as a means of personal fulfillment, the result of an innate desire to be pleasing, and a natural instinct to be submissive to strong men. This instinct must belong to someone capable of giving their personal control over to the will of another individual, wholly. Not a partial or part-time commitment, but one that is the very basis of the relationship itself, and exists at all times. Is this something that you feel yourself not only wanting, but are actually capable of giving? Is this the type of relationship you seek and a way of life you feel truly drawn to? Do the scenes in the books parallel your own feelings and desires, and if so, do you have the courage to seek a means to fulfill them? Consider these questions. Do the ideas presented in the Gorean novels depict the basis of a relationship you could live by, and in doing so, would it be something that comes natural to you and you feel fulfilled in, or would it be a contradiction of how you truly would live and truly do feel, no matter how much you say you want it to be otherwise? If you think this to be so, then the only way to really tell is by doing, by applying these ideas to your life, seeking to live in accordance with them, and facing the reality of yourself. Offline enslavement need not be the next step in this, but to further discover the slave within, you must start allowing it to come out through the way you live. The possibilities for doing this are obviously endless, but one way to learn more is by interacting with those who share a similar frame of mind and similar intentions. While online interaction should not be considered "living" the lifestyle in itself, it does provide an acceptable and safe means to expose yourself to a little more of what Gorean culture and the Gorean lifestyle are all about, so long as the places chosen to visit are worth the title they try to claim. Just because a group throws around the word "Gorean" does not mean they know what that word means, in fact online it more often means they do not, so one should be careful who they seek to learn from, for you may well learn nothing at all. Safety is a primary concern for anyone who is involved with this lifestyle, and should not be sacrificed for inflated hopes and dreams. It is unwise to jump into any relationship where an exchange of power is involved and you do not know who you are dealing with, because not everyone is honest in their intentions, and some seek to use things like Gor as a means to deceive, manipulate or worse. It is especially important to those who wish to take online involvements a step farther to offline. Utilize the forms of communication that are available to you to get to know the person you wish to meet before you actually do so. This will allow both parties to not only get a better understanding of the person they are involved with, but is also an excellent way to grow into the lifestyle and learn more of what it is to be a kajira and be in a Master/slave relationship, in a gradual way. But you cannot live a lifestyle or call yourself by a term which is used to indicate a person who follows a particular belief system, if you do not understand what that belief system is. There are many different types of Master/slave relationships out there, most of which have little consciously to do with Gor and probably have never heard of it, so simply being "owned" and carrying yourself in a way that seems similar to Gor does not mean you are living such as a Gorean lifestyle. It may well be a lifestyle, and a valid one that you are happy with, but living a Gorean lifestyle requires that the person so doing understand just what it is they are claiming, and apply such to their daily lives. Even if you have taken the time to learn, you still cannot do so if the limits of your involvement are a knowledge of the issues and a feigned agreement with them. You also cannot if your "life" begins and ends with the turning "on" and "off" of a computer, no matter how much time you spend online or how "real" you say this is to you. Simply knowing what to type when and where in an online setting, or what book facts and theories to repeat in certain situations, does not make a kajira. All too often women seek the easy way out to being falsely recognized as a Gorean slave girl, though learning as much as they can on the subject and flaunting it through chat rooms and message boards. All the theory in the world with no true and honest application behind it, leaves one with a hollow existence that in time fools no one. One cannot be a slave, in the sense of what is meant in the Gorean lifestyle, on a part-time basis. While the condition itself does not have to be readily recognizable to all, it is not something that can be turned on and off like a role. To do such is to not really be a slave, but a submissive that assumes a Gorean-like manner during her sessions with her "master," or when the audience has gathered. If truly a Gorean kajira, then being one is something that you have no true choice but to accept and live as, embracing it within yourself and striving to act in a manner that is consistent with who you are and what the source novels present. "So how then could someone become a part of a community like Sardaria?"
Slaves do not really "join" cities or communities in the same sense that free persons do. As property, their existence, and where they exist, is more defined by who owns them, with this person also being their primary and overwhelming focus in life. They can exist within a community and be very much active in it, but they are not members in the same fashion as the free, and obviously do not have the same rights and privileges a free person would have. Such things are defined by their owners, to whom they belong, and through whose ownership they are recognized by the community. (It should be noted that by "ownership" what is meant here is an actual committed relationship between consenting adults, not some form of online play acting or bedroom "scene.") If you have a master then all other considerations should at best be second to him, with gaining entrance into a community being something that he decides he wants and you travel along into with the rest of his property. If your master is seeking to join this particular community, then what occurs is only your business so far as he decides it to be, with you being instructed to learn all you can of the community if he will be keeping you. If you are unowned, then there is the possibility of being taken into the community as the property of an individual who is a part of it. The only way a slave can be considered for ownership, is to be seen, and the only way to be seen by those of Sardaria, is to frequent those places that they are known to occupy. Seek out those of Sardaria and present yourself to them in some fashion, begging for the opportunity to learn more of the community and to be considered by those of it. Collaring is not a necessity to interact with those of Sardaria, and proper slaves are given permission to attend those online rooms the community sponsors regardless of whether they are owned or not. If acceptance within the community and a collar from one who is a part of it is what you seek, then expend the time and effort to prove yourself, and the determination to regularly return. This simply means attending those rooms that are frequented by Sardarians and interacting with them, learning of their ways and the ways of Gor, and becoming known yourself. A collar is not something lightly given, and we do not choose to waste our time with those whose only real intent is to waste it. Worth can be proven not just in what you have learned, but how bad you want to learn, with the latter sometimes counting for more than the former. Depth of knowledge is not initially as important as depth of potential and depth of obedience. In some cases, an unowned girl may be recognized and accepted by the community without being owned by an individual within it. This "community ownership" is given in lieu of a personal collar to those girls who have proven themselves to the group as something worth the community accepting. Personal ownership is expected to occur in the future, when the possibility of a consented relationship presents itself. We expect perfection in our slave girls, but also expect that this perfection is attained through a willing and attentive student. No slave is absolutely perfect and no slave knows everything, those that think otherwise have already proven themselves wrong.
