Kinky Konnections
Hello Beautiful Beings,
We live in a disconnected world, disconnected from both ourselves and our communities. The ongoing pandemic has isolated many of us from family and friends, exacerbating the loneliness and isolation felt by many living with chronic illnesses and disabilities and/or by those experiencing marginalization at the hands of their families or community members. Moreover, trauma can disconnect you from your own body as you dissociate in order to survive and move forward.
Reconnecting or continuing to connect with yourself and community can be a complex and ongoing process. Reconnecting or exploring your connection to yourself may involve developing a spirituality or mindfulness practice that brings you back into your body. It may involve finding tools such as tarot for self reflection and self care on a daily basis. It may involve exploring kinks that have always appealed to you but that you have yet to try, for whatever reason. It may include finding kink community, whether online or in-person. I personally have found very meaningful connection through attending Camp Crucible. I'll be returning for this intimate, rustic experience from August 4-7, during which I'll be teaching classes on Dark Roleplaying and Conscious Dominance as Submission as well as assisting with rituals.
As you explore your connections to yourself and others, you may find the following free resources to be helpful:
Afrosexology's Instagram post, "How to Build More Connection with Self or with a Partner"
Passion and Soul Podcast, Episode 105 with Aida Manduley, "Webs of Connection and Change with Aida Manduley," in which Aida and I discuss building community and connecting with your ancestors
Passion and Soul Podcast, Episode 90, "Swinging, Communication, and Connection with Mistress SinD and Reverend Jon," in which we discuss connection and communication within the swinging community
Passion and Soul Podcast, Episode 75, "Food, Connection and Redemption with Caroline," in which we discuss building connection with self through food
The following connection resources are also available to purchase:
Connecting to Kink: Safely exploring your BDSM fantasies online, by: I.G. Frederick
More Shibari You Can Use: Passionate Rope Bondage and Intimate Connection, by: Lee Harrington
What are some of your favorite connection tools right now?
If you choose to explore connection through Shibari and rope bondage, I offered folks who subscribed to my newsletter a 20% discount on More Shibari You Can Use through the end of August! You can click here to subscribe to my newsletter.
***
In the past few weeks over on Patreon, I have had a chance to connect with my Patrons regularly through:
A draft of my Orientation Zine that explores eroticism, romance, identity, and behavior
My live class for all patrons, "Erotic Pain Processing"The recording of that class for Spirit and Soul patrons
Tarot and Oracle spreads for self-love and self-connection
For August, come join me LIVE at:
Power Exchange with Rope
Online Worldwide with Karada House
Tuesday, August 2nd, 11a-1p PST; 2-4p EST; 8-10p CET
Buy tickets today: https://karada-house.de/events/power-ropes/
When I was under the weather recently, the wonderful folks at Karada House were game to reschedule my class on Power Exchange with Ropes to this week! What a great chance for you to attend if you would have missed it before.
You have come to me to submit yourself to my will, and I will use my wicked mind and simple ties to bind your spirit to mine, my desires to yours. Have you always longed to say those words, but aren’t sure how to use your rope bondage skills (or don’t have any) to create dynamic tension in your D/s relationship dynamics? Whether you are looking to explore D/s in your ropework for the first time, or are passionate about power exchange but hoping to explore some beginning rope, this class will give you a chance to examine and sample rope and power from all sides of the play using conversation, demonstration, and hands-on exercises.
• Pick up a few fast, sensual, and useable rope techniques that can apply in diverse expressions of dominance, control, submission, and surrender
• Learn how to take rope techniques you might already know into tools for expressing dominance
• Develop techniques to surrender in a rope scene
• Express your individual styles of power exchange or authority transfer through applying concepts shared
Camp Crucible Weekend
N. Maryland
August 4-7
Register by August 1: https://www.crucibleweekend.org/registration-2022/
It's time for s'more kinky summer camping! In just a few weeks, I'll be headed to Camp Crucible Weekend in Maryland. From August 4-7, campers can explore bondage, pain play, pony play, and so much more!
During Camp Crucible Weekend, I will be teaching my class, "Dark Roleplaying."
We have been “playing pretend” since we were young… but the realm of kinky sexuality opens up all new directions roleplaying can take. Join us as we explore the shadowy realms of our fantasies and roles we can try on: abduction, abuse, torture, snuff, fantastical realms and anywhere else our twisted minds can dream up. We will discuss the joys of playing in our closet, why these dark desires turn us on, how to bring up these taboo interests with our partners, negotiating our desires, and troubleshooting the challenges these types of fantasies can elicit.
I will also be teaching other classes and assisting with rituals.
Woof, Whinny, and Meow: Human Pony, Puppy and Animal Play
Online Worldwide with Wicked Grounds
Tuesday, August 9th, 6-8p PST (7-9p MST, 9-11p EST)
Buy tickets today: https://forbiddentickets.com/events/wicked-grounds/2022-08-09-online-woof-whinny-and-meow-human-pony-puppy-and-animal-play
Many of us have a conscious or unconscious desire to be a noble human equine, a happy puppy dog, an oily pig in a pen, a lazy cat that gets fed, petted and… but what about those of us who have to take care of these “creatures?” Let’s look at the fantasies, desires, and passions behind this richly varied form of identity exploration! Not everyone has the same take on this diverse category of interest: from firm training to shamanic interactions, passive pets to feral monsters, sadistic veterinarians to kids with their favorite pet, cuddly creatures to hard-working guard dogs… there is a little something for everyone. Whether you are a curious handler or an experienced beast of burden, join us as we examine the wide varieties of scenes, toys, lifestyles, and amusement; diving into these practicalities and passions with an open heart and open mind.
Crotch Ropes and Butt Bondage
Online Worldwide with Karada House
Monday, August 15th, 8-10p CET (11-1 PST, 12-2 MST, 2-4p EST)
Purchase Tickets: https://karada-house.de/events/butt-butt/
Rope can be a wonderful tool for spicing up your sex life, and in today’s class, we will learn to apply crotch ropes for a variety of shapes and layouts of bodies.
Assumptions that all people who wear ropes in this area of the body want them tied in the same way are false, and for some of us, it can elicit feelings of dysphoria, cause physical discomfort, or just not feel sexy. Let’s learn and play together to create not just simple-line crotch ropes, but convert them into handholds, hip harnesses, tools that highlight or reduce focus on the area, and create aesthetically pleasing butt ties too!
Finally, we will learn to create our own strap-on harnesses out of rope.
Sacred and Profane Body Modification
Online Worldwide on Patreon
Tuesday, August 16th
Join my Patreon at any level to participate: https://www.patreon.com/passionandsoul
The world over, body modification is used as a way to express identity – whether that is self-identity, cultural (or subcultural) affiliation, milestones, political views, or spiritual connections. We have all made modifications to live our lives, such as having a specific hair style to blend in with our peer circles or dressing in a certain way. We will look at the wide variety of body modifications available today from henna/mehndi to hook suspension, tattoos to ritual jewelry, stage makeup to genital reconstruction surgery, breast augmentation to flesh removal. We will also discuss the energy inherent in each type of modification, issues of cultural appropriation, and the social implications of body modification. Let’s examine why every act of modifying our flesh can be sacred, and every act can be profane – no matter the type of alteration, no matter the transformation.
I also have other classes and events coming in the next few months! I will be teaching about sacred kink, erotic objectification, and more. You can see a few of my upcoming offerings below, and you can visit my Upcoming Appearances page to learn about the rest of my future offerings this summer and beyond.
September 1, 2022 – Teaching “Sacred Kink” – Denver TNG – The Sanctuary, Denver, CO
September 3, 2022 – Teaching “Erotic Objectification” – Wicked Grounds – Online Worldwide
September 6, 2022 – Being interviewed for Midori’s Consent Dojo – Midori and Lee Harrington‘s Patreon – Online Worldwide (interact via Patreon, or watch later online)
September 8-10, 2022 – Teaching two classes – Sex Down South Conference – Atlanta, Georgia
To check out all my further scheduled classes and intensives throughout the year (and more being added regularly), visit my Upcoming Appearances page to learn more. To enjoy further free material from me, consider joining me on Patreon where I share weekly resources, monthly classes, and more :)
Much love to you all and see you soon!
Yours in Passion and Soul,
Lee Harrington