Power In Practice

Sometime around 23:00 on 10.06.2009 Flagg passed away. Those of you who listen to PIP know how we felt about him and how devastating his loss is to his family and his pack. There are other places you can go to read about my feelings on this, so I will not repeat myself here.

It is natural that you have questions about how this will impact Power In Practice, so I will take a moment to give out a little information.

• Power In Practice will continue. Before his passing we were working with Flagg on a more interactive format for this podcast so that we could become closer to our fan community. Daddy David and I will reveal the details soon.
• Yes, we will be discussing the effects of Flagg’s passing on our power structures. One of the cores of our pack is the interlocking authority we hold. At the time of his death Flagg had a servant under collar, and how we have been proceeding is I think an important opportunity to discuss this issue.

I am sure you understand the delay in posting this notice and we ask your continued patience as we work through the aftermath.

Flagg was interviewed about his book, The Forked Tongue, over at the Erotic Awakenings podcast. Go have a listen! :)

This evening at TES, Slave Angela is taking over the presentation for the class that Kimiko has planned to give on Service: Keeping you Head above Water. Included are the notes and links provided in the handout.

Keeping Ourselves Going in Service: What to do When it’s Hard

• Your thoughts direct your words and actions. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones
• Separate pieces of a task. When each step is separate, a mistake on one part need not carry over to other parts
• Stay in the present moment. What has already happened cannot be changed and you have little control over the future. Where are you right now?
• Strive to serve with a pleasant demeanor – there is no use taking your bad mood out on others, especially those that you serve
• Breathe through it, and when needed, use positive imagery
• Find a positive mantra that works for you
• Make lists. There is no reason to tax your brain by making it remember everything
• Make a pact with yourself or your Dominant that whatever problem you are having will get it’s time too
• Ask for help when you need it – talk to friends who get it, or ask the one you serve for a few moments to collect yourself
• Follow through with your commitments; know what you have committed and honor your word
• Turn away from “Unless I get _____, I will withdraw my service”
• Recall your motivations for service – what is the charge for you
• Be grateful that you have been granted the opportunity to serve – these opportunities can end at any time
• Find an outlet for your stress – take up a hobby, work out, create something. This will benefit you and the one you serve by recharging your batteries
• Get information – know what tools are available to you and find resources that will streamline your service and keep you on track
• Get the least pleasant tasks out of the way first so you can derive even more pleasure from the rest
• Smile. Simply putting a smile on your face makes it harder to keep feeling bad

Helpful Web Resources

• Google Notebook: www.google.com/notebook (You can take notes on anything at all and store them for easy access from any computer terminal)
• Lifehack: www.lifehack.org (A site that compiles articles and insights on how to streamline different aspects of life and make them run smoother and more efficiently)
• Life Optimizer: www.lifeoptimizer.org (A site run by David Latumahina with wonderful tips and tricks to lead a more productive, more fulfilling life)
• Flylady: www.flylady.net (Practical step by step advice on cleaning, decluttering, and organizing your space)
• Lifetips: www.lifetips.com (A collection of people offering tips on a wide range of subjects)
• WebMD: www.webmd.com (A huge source of information for all things health related)
• Pure Submission: pure-submission.com (Information and articles that relate to service)
• Friendfeed service room: http://www.friendfeed.com/rooms/service (A variety of helpful links)
• Food network: www.foodnetwork.com (Recipes, cooking help, entertaining ideas, tips and tricks for the kitchen)
• Success Consciousness: www.successconsciousness.com (A collection of articles and books about positive thinking, motivation, the law of attraction, etc)
• Pick the Brain: www.pickthebrain.com (A website dedicated to self improvement)
• Your Organiser: http://www.yourorganiser.com.au/ (An online calendar, to do list, appointment scheduler, reminder system)

It’s official, Flagg’s book “The Forked Tongue” is now available for purchase. Here is part of the text from the rear dust jacket.

“This book is not comforting; it does not reassure. It does not teach anything a decent person needs to know. It is a book about BDSM, but it will teach you nothing about tying knots, swinging floggers or spanking. It does not comfort, it does not attempt to reach the vanilla public.

This book addresses control, it addresses change. The recreational uses of humiliation, conditioning, psychological torture, hypnotism and interrogation techniques are explored and laid bare, broken into usable steps and understandable, applicable concepts. It is a workshop of ruin, the tools necessary to cement lasting alteration and unforgettable experiences for those few who truly crave them.” – Flagg, The Forked Tongue

I am really proud of how the whole project worked out. Lot’s of folks helped bunches (I’ll leave specific thanks for Flagg to make at a later date) and while this is the first publication by Power In Practice… it certainly will not be the last.

If you are coming to TES Fest we will have copies there available for signing by the author. If you can’t make it then go ahead and order one online.

Thanks again to everyone!

TesFest 2008 is coming July 4th weekend! We want you to come. If you volunteer for 12 hours you can get in free!

This book is not comforting; it does not reassure. It does not teach anything a decent person needs to know. It is a book about BDSM, but it will teach you nothing about tying knots, swinging floggers or spanking. It does not comfort, it does not attempt to reach the vanilla public.

This book addresses control, it addresses change. The recreational uses of humiliation, conditioning, psychological torture, hypnotism and interrogation techniques are explored and laid bare, broken into usable steps and understandable, applicable concepts. It is a workshop of ruin, the tools necessary to cement lasting alteration and unforgettable experiences for those few who truly crave them.

From The Forked Tongue:

“This is not a 101 or “BDSM for everyone”. Actually, this is not really for anyone.

Most of the things that are in this book I cannot sanction anyone doing to anyone else. Except, of course, that we do, and we will, and we want to. So here are tools to do them well, to do them ethically, and to enact your own, terrible sacraments. We seek to ascend, so we descend.

I called this book a mixed message, a perverse architecture, and so it is. The keystone of this edifice is inscribed with the heart of all these chapters, these words cut at cross-purpose:

 “Here is something you should never do to anyone.
And here is exactly how to do it to someone you care about.”
(back cover text)

Available as of TES Fest, July 4, and through online book retail

Hey everyone! I just wanted to take a second and let you know that we haven’t dropped off the face of the earth. The gang over here has been very busy with seminars as well as working on something big a lot of you are going to really like! :) That should be coming soon so stay tuned to this page.

We have more episodes in the can to edit. Thank you for your patience.

We also want to thank everyone who’s sent in a question for the cast. We can use a few more so feel free to ask up for an upcoming “Ask the Gang” episode.

S’all for now. While you wait go check out www.tesfest.org!

I wanted to update you all and let you know that we’ve had two people send in questions for an upcoming “interview the cast” podcast. We are encouraging more of you to send in your questions for this fun event coming soon! Send your question by email or call in our voice mail number 201.830.1586.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Next week we’ll be working on the next episode to come: Rape Play with Tatsumi recorded live at a meeting in NYC.

Are there questions you are dying to ask Soulhuntre, Flagg, Daddy David, Tatsumi, or Kimiko? Here’s your chance. Comment on the site, send email, or call our voice line to ask your question and we’ll use them to interview the gang! Here’s your chance to ask all those things you wish you could!

The voice mail number is 201.830.1586 Be sure to mention it’s for Power In Practice and let us know if we can use your question on our podcast or not.

There are a fair number of folks who follow this blog, and it seems that the material generates some interest.

If you want to talk to us, ask questions or talk among yourselves.. consider the forums and other interaction options on our very own social network :)

http://powerinpractice.ning.com/

I’ll be watching for you!