Shimmering Muse posted this amazing poem on her blog and I love it so much I have to share it here.
To the Woman She Is,
Take up space….
not to shrink, but to claim your place.
Inhabit your body like the universe
it was always destined to be.
You were never meant to fade,
never meant to dim your light,
never meant to fold yourself
for anyone else’s comfort.
Let joy flow unrestrained,
let passion burn untamed,
a constellation igniting
against the night.
Own your power—it pulses through your veins.
Own your pleasure—without restraint.
Let it course through your bones,
whispering ancient truths…
you are fire, you are free.
Claim your voice when silence is expected.
Claim your rage when meekness is demanded.
Claim your joy when sorrow is predicted.
Be a woman—rooted in grace, fierce in love.
Unbound.
Unburdened.
Unstoppable.
But how does that fit with submission?
D/s is a power exchange. An exchange of energy which you use to generate power. I’ve learned from a dear friend that energy work is an actual thing. If you hold your hands up, palms facing each other, you can feel energy between them. If you do that with another person, the energy may be even more highly charged. You can feel the energy in a room. We know what it feels like to be depleted and feel like we have no energy.
If you’re going to have a power exchange with someone, what do you want to experience? Do you want a power exchange with someone who has wrapped up their power, restricted it as much as possible, and tries to hide it? Shaping themselves into a small submissive bundle so all you see is submission?
In my youth, woman were often taught that we needed to play small so that the men around us could feel big. I always thought that if I were a man, I’d be deeply offended by that.
I love a man who stands strong in his own power and isn’t threatened by the strength of his submissive. Who recognizes the joy of a power exchange that charges us both up. His exercise of his own power is combined and heightened as I join my power to his.
My power can enhance his. My strength is not a threat. I need his dominance not because I’m weak but because the exchange enhances me, just as it enhances him.
You can be that woman described above and be submissive, or vanilla, or a Domme. We are (in my opinion) all called to be that woman. Then you bring that power and energy to your relationship in whatever way works for you. That’s how it fits with submission.
As we become more of who we are, everyone around us is more free to be who they really are.
Olivia 
The ending is quite powerful! 👏
And this part—I’m definitely saving it in my notes:
’I love a man who stands strong in his own power and isn’t threatened by the strength of his submissive. Who recognizes the joy of a power exchange that charges us both up. His exercise of his own power is combined and heightened as I join my power to his.
My power can enhance his. My strength is not a threat. I need his dominance not because I’m weak but because the exchange enhances me, just as it enhances him.’
Couldn’t agree more! 🥳🔥
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yay! I’m so glad it resonated with you. I wanted to expand the spirit of your poem. Thanks for commenting! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also loved that particular line!
LikeLiked by 2 people
💜
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this poem and your thoughts on power exchange. I was drawn to the same passage as Shimmering Muse! Why dim my light for His to shine more brightly? Especially when we can create a blinding hot light together in which we both glow… 🔥💞
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, cool! I’m glad it resonated with you too. I confess, I probably spent too much of my life trying to be smaller so someone else could feel bigger, but at least when i notice I’m doing that now, I stop it! Thanks for commenting! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Beautiful poem by Shimmering Muse…thank you for sharing ❤
LikeLiked by 4 people
💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Sir told me once that he doesn’t worry about me when I am out in the world, or when I am dealing with male dominated industries (such as construction workers, etc.). He says I have a natural power, all my own, and he tells me this is something he loves about me. He also told me that dominating me, his submissive girl who possesses this natural, beautiful power, is all the more satisfying for him because I am strong in my own right. I LOVE that he can see this about me, and not feel threatened by it. I am grateful to submit to a man who lifts women up, and who has spent his lifetime advocating for positive social change. Perhaps it seems like a contradiction…in one way he uses his natural power to protect those who have historically not had a voice in society, but in another way he uses his natural power to fulfill the need within both of Us, by engaging in the power exchange with me. But I love this about him. Sir doesn’t expect my submission because he is a powerful man. He worked hard to earn my submission, and he places great value on it ❤
LikeLiked by 5 people
I love hearing about this side of your Sir! Being able to recognize and appreciate your strength – and then bending you to his will… ahhh. There is so much to appreciate there. Thanks for sharing this. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL…okay, one more comment. I am laughing at myself a bit because I re-read my previous comment and realized just how enamored with my Sir I sound. I know he’s not perfect. He messes up sometimes too, and often he is so busy trying to change the world that he spreads himself too thin. I do put him up on a pedestal, especially when I am in such a happy place with him, but I truly admire him and just want to shout that from the rooftops sometimes. And I am grateful that he values my natural power and that he encourages me to continuing growing and expanding myself. Great post, olivia! I truly admire how you bring attention to the strength associated with submission. XOXO
LikeLiked by 4 people
Lol, nora, I think it’s lovely that you’re feeling this way about your Sir. Of course you have ups and downs because relationships are like that. But it sounds like you’ve got good reason to admire him, as a person and as a change-maker in the world. Of course, I think we are all called to be change-makers, but I won’t pontificate about that here! Thanks for the support for my writing topic – it means a lot to me.
💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well stated and a great explanation. It’s all very true that together they can be so much more as they work together to enhance each other. Thanks for the post.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it. Yes, it is the reciprocity that makes it work. 💜
LikeLike
This reminds me rather acutely, of buying a new car in December. My husband came with me, so I didn’t have to drive the hour alone, he wanted to test drive it, too, etc. Also, although it was to be my car, we share big purchases and discuss them. The sales people kept looking to him while I was negotiating and he was just sitting there – a little scared by how firm I was being – and wondering why they thought he had any say. It was a moment when, if he wasn’t gone, I might have wanted my father present for, but my husbands support and actually doing it made me feel so empowered and I really felt how strong I was.
Go us 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg I am just now realizing that my response to this didn’t send. I am so sorry. It is really a wonderful feeling when your husband supports your ability to do something rather than stepping up and doing it for you. The car example is perfect. It’s often like that with car mechanics too. They will talk over a woman like she doesn’t exist. Thanks so much for commenting and for sharing this story.
Go us, absolutely.💜
LikeLiked by 1 person