Possession - To bring or cause to fall under the influence or control of.
Ownership - To have or hold as property.
Guardian - One who has the care of the person or property of another.
Slave - A person who has lost control of himself and is dominated by something or someone. A drudge, who is forced to toil without significant reward.

Within the D/s community we often accept simple words without delving into the truth about what those words may or can mean. There are times when people using this lifestyle deliberately set out to impose upon a new or susceptible submissive the "idea" that the literal translations of these words are the correct meanings. Or they sometimes seek to blur and skew the meanings of words and ideas to suit their own needs or ends. D/s is not about true slavery or ownership of one person by another. To use force to control any other individual is immoral and unethical and violates their spiritual and legal rights.

As a Master I do not not own, as property, the submissive I bond to or collar. A submissive may seek to create the illusion of ownership to enhance our pleasure, by freely and voluntarily agreeing to and accepting her Master's control and desires. However, true possession of her "self" is intrinsically her own and will always remain so. If a novice or charge should loose her ability to freely choose, then she cannot offer voluntary consent and must therefore be considered a non-voluntary victim of the usage or abuse of the Dominant. In other words, you must be self-possessed before you are truly able to offer consent!

I may assume the role of guardian of your well-being, should you offer yourself to Me, but you are never an involuntary drudge as defined above. If you are possessed by Me, it is in the sense of a gift that is treasured and protected from harm.

Being My possession may seem to imply that I may do "anything" I wish to you, but every human being has inherent rights and regardless of your professed consent, it is impossible to "own" you as an object. It is possible to give portions of your time, energy and usage to your Master within legal, moral and ethical constraints. Employment is an obvious example of receiving money or goods in exchange for your work. Some people consider marriage to be another example of the exchange of time, energy, affection and money in the expectation to receive like value. Within the D/s relationship we commonly use the terms Master and slave, but the meanings of these words are vastly different from the true definitions above. A Master does not take or bond to a submissive in order to create a drudge or menial servant. A submissive does not seek out the attentions of a Dominant in order to spend their life doing hard, menial and monotonous work. Further, a submissive retains possession of their "right to choose" and their right to "re-choose" or alter their decisions. Regardless of any contract or rules that may have been negotiated, signed or agreed to by both parties, there is never a point in a D/s relationship where a submissive gives up these inherent rights.

I act as a guardian or caretaker for the life, welfare, mental and physical well-being of any novice or charge I accept into my "family." I will care for you and demonstrate My regard for you for as long as you agree to consider Me your Master, and continue to demonstrate your care and regard for Me.

Care comes from desire or esteem. Regard is a "feeling" of respect and affection. These are different words and meanings from those of ownership and possession.

My "ownership" of you, is the illusion we create to enhance our emotional fulfillment and sexual pleasure. We work together to create this "feeling" and both enjoy it as partners.

Thanks to Mistress Steel Butterfly for her ideas and phrases.

--Kinglizard
Email Kinglizard at: kinglzrd@ptd.net

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