Concerning the Gorean slave girl

Greetings all,

Though I have never said so directly, I identify very strongly with the philosophies and ideals but forth by John Norman in his series of books about a mythical planet called Gor. While the fiction of Gor makes for an interesting backdrop to the various tales (there are about 25 books in all) it is really the philosophies and the ethics that result from these ideas that I find attractive. These cover many aspects of how man should relate both to the world around him, with other men, and with women.

It is the last point that has probably garnered the most attention down through the years, and it is that point which I wish to address in today’s blog entry.

Before I begin I should mention that Norman espouses the idea that men are naturally dominant and females are naturally submissive. IOW – it is their respective natures to compliment each other. One way that this is expressed on the fictional planet of Gor is through the institution of female slavery. Woman can, and often are, placed in chains and collars, branded, bought and sold, etc. Norman uses this institution as a mechanism to illustrate how the female reverts to her naturally submissive role, when she has no choice. IOW – instead of fighting her servitude, she embraces it as her natural way of bring.

On Gor, the slave girl, also called kajira, is considered the pinnacle of femininity, both in sensuality and attitude. Much of the bulk of many of the stories is occupied with the discussion of these things.

Just so I am clear – I am not advocating the slavery of females. Not only would that be wrong, but it would be stupid thing to do. All I am saying is that the use of slavery within the books of Gor was a useful way for Norman to explore certain notions of a natural relationship between man and woman. Of course, this hasn’t stopped many many people on this planet from calling themselves Gorean Masters and slaves. More realistically, it has allowed for dialog concerning the nature of some girls’ hearts. A girl may be said to a slave heart, if she could see herself as a Gorean kajira, if such a thing really existed.

All of this is a preamble to the real topic of today’s blog entry. In my communication with a girl I am currently developing I made the following statement:

>The Gorean slave girl, that magnificent creature, needs to be held to an even higher standard, for much the same reason. She needs the structure, the framework, and the boundaries. She is, at heart, a consummate perfectionist. This is both her virtue, and often her failing.<

I had thought I was clear, but my girl said she really didn’t understand what I was saying and asked me to elaborate further.

So here I go.

There are slaves, and then there are slaves. In today’s BDSM community it seems that almost every girl out there is calling herself a slave, with a variety of sub-types such as collared, un-collared, owned, un-owned, in waiting, waiting for the One, etc.

The other day I read a post in a thread called “slaves with lists.” It was about how slaves come to a potential Master with a list of their limits, requirements, etc. This particular slave’s list included how she expected her Master to dress, groom, etc.

Ha!

Now don’t get me wrong, if you want to call yourself a slave, be my guest. It’s no skin off my back. Hell, if you even want to call yourself a real Gorean kajira, knock yourself out. It don’t matter none to me. But if you show up at my door, carrying that label, then be expected to be treated exactly as I think such a female should be handled.

IMO – the Gorean slave girl is rare and very special creature. For her, there are no safe words, there are no limits, there are no restrictions. For her, there is only her Master’s will, a desperate desire to please, and the total yielding of submission of self to another. The kajira knows it is her nature to submit, and admits that all men are, in a general sense her Masters, even though she belongs to a single man. The kajira knows that left to her own devices she would be lost, out of control, and out of balance. She needs slavery to provide her with the rigid context she requires to find her place. She can only attain the true perfection of self, in the chains of another.

Sounds pretty pitiful, doesn’t it? Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here is the amazing thing, the kajira is actually empowered by her slavery. She is enhanced, made whole. How can this be? Simple, in slavery she is completed, without it she is only half of what she can be. Her potential is unrealized. But collared, branded, and chained she has the freedom to be who she really is, sensual, beautiful, sexual, and submissive. She needs her bondage to be uncompromising so she can attain her perfection.

Consider a lock without a key. Consider a radio with no transmitter. They can exist without their match, but not well. So too the kajira, only in slavery is she realized. And not play slavery either. Not something that is taken out in the bedroom at night. Not something that is done when the kids have left for school. Not something that is done at the weekend play party. No, she lives her slavery every moment of the day, fully obedient to the will of her Master.

On Gor, that fictional planet, attaining such a condition is easy. There are many ways women can be made slave. In fact, all a woman need do is kneel at a man’s feet and beg the collar.

Here, in the real world, things are not so simple.

Now obviously such a thing is not for everyone. And also obviously, an earth-type “slave” girl cannot walk around shopping mall clad in slave garb and a thick iron collar. So, with all due respect to all those girls out there who call themselves “slaves” or “kajira,” the truth is that it is simply not possible.

OTOH – what they feel in their heart, what they aspire to, can certainly be the full and total submission that Norman speaks of in his books. This is the slave heart. This is the deep desire. Not all women feel it. I suspect only a very few do. But those who do feel it, know the truth of my words.

All others need not apply. Call yourself what you want, but be careful if you do so at my front door.

Be seeing you,