I love it when an idea comes up in the community and different bloggers run with it from there, each in their own way. For example, slave shae recently had an experience in which Amanda had other people write on her body with a sharpie. It was a powerful experience for her – well, in the middle of a lot of other powerful experience – and as always she writes about it in ways that touch and inspire me – and others.
Nora, at Finding Strength in My Submission had her own experience with having her body written on by her Sir and writes beautifully about it. She found it to be a powerful experience as well. If you missed the post, here’s a link.
But Michael, at The Dionysian Experience, took the topic to a whole new level. You know the geeky part of me loves it when we can talk about BDSM in terms of mythology and archetypes and such. The whole thing is well worth reading.
In the post, Michael talks about erotic humiliation and sexual objectification of course. But then he introduces a concept I had not heard of. Inversion. He describes inversion as:
Inversion happens when we become what we are not. A common example of inversion appears in D/s relationships where the submissive woman is actually a very independent, strong-willed woman in her day-to-day life. By submitting to the will of her Dom, this woman experiences inversion. She passes through a threshold and becomes what she is not. In this transition, she finds and experiences a euphoric, transcendent high. If done well, the threshold between fantasy and reality blurs for the inverted. The further one sinks into the other side of the threshold, the stronger the erotic intensity.
I read that and thought, “omg, YES!” I’m fascinated by that description, and want to do some more reading on inversion. Although – I don’t think I exactly “become what I’m not.” I think I become the part of myself that is otherwise hidden, even from myself. Um, that would be my Shadow self right? But I like the way it talks about passing through the threshold. I can feel that.
Olivia 
Have read both of these posts, simply on your recommendation. The person we are not and the hidden Shadow are very often the same experience, examined from different angles. Often the Self places what it believes it is not on the Shadow, the difference is that the Shadow accepts that part. It’s a fascinating example of how different people view the same action or thought.
Another great post, as they often are.
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Thank you, KM!
That makes sense – that the person we are not and the hidden Shadow can be the same experience. And yes, thank goodness, the Shadow is willing to hold space for all those parts that we’d rather not have or be.
It’s interesting stuff – I’m glad you like it. 💜
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Hi Olivia,
What fascinating ideas. I do love the marks and reminders after a spanking and they definitely help keep me in a submissive mindset. But actual body writing, I can see how this could be a powerful experience and nora expressed it so beautifully. And what a fascinating concept inversion is. I love the discussion above about the person you are not and the hidden shadow being the same experience.
Hugs
Roz
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Isn’t it cool? I’m glad you think it’s interesting too! So many ways to explore how we are. 💜
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Like most of us I’m sure, when I read posts with activities in them I try to place what it would look like in our lives and see how I would react, at least in theory .
While it worked for shae, I can say without a doubt this would not work for me. I do not automatically come to that conclusion on a lot of things, because over the years I’ve learned to eat my words when it comes to ttwd. I have read many accounts where subs allow this to bring them ( the words) to a place they desire. For me it would bring me to a very dark place.
Reading nora’s post was different. The fact that she had to struggle to write backwards and the words he chose gave me a different feel. One of ownership. That I can not only process but feel pride in, much like a collar. In nora’s case it isn’t permanent like a collar, so I can see it being effective because it is new ( or as Roz said his marks).
I can identify with your comment on Michael’s post. It’s a place that is more me as well. Though I don’t need erotic humiliation to get there. Sometimes I do have to swallow my pride however .
willie 💕
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Yeah, agreed, there’s a real difference between shae’s experience and nora’s. I don’t know – I can’t imagine how I would have felt in shae’s place. nora’s would feel more like being claimed, which is different but still powerful. And maybe shae’s felt like that too, for her.
Inversion though is fascinating. Lol, at not needing erotic humiliation but having to swallow your pride. I get that. 💜
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A deterministic view would state that it is impossible to become something one is not. I would agree. On the flip side, it is quite possible for such an action to feel like a transformation, but that would imply some metaphysical essential element that frankly seems unlikely to exist. (Interesting thought experiment though.)
As for the act of writing on my body with a Sharpie? Not gonna happen. LOL
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Hi KD and thanks for reading and commenting. Lol, I have the sense that the idea of inversion has been firmly dismissed and you’ve brushed off your hands of any residue. Ditto body writing. I really do appreciate you sharing your thoughts here! Opposing opinions generally welcome… 💜
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Thanks for the shoutout, Olivia – so glad that exploration struck a chord with you. 💫 Your thoughts on becoming what you are not vs. tapping into your Shadow is thought provoking. Perhaps this distinction is a fork on this path of this exploration or maybe they are indeed the same. Love thinking about it. 🤓
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It is fascinating. I’m glad that we can share this kind of exploration! 💜
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