Db and I were talking about spirituality today. (As a side note, I emphasize the word spirituality because I have a bit of a sour taste when it comes to “religion.”) Spirituality or Religion ….. semantics? For anyone that is seeking something outside themselves, it is all a means to an end. And I respect both our rights to go about it our own way.
I once heard religion is for those that don’t want to go to hell and spirituality is for those that have been and don’t want to go back. I would argue that many of us in the kink world have been through more than our fair share of hell. I read stories and know my own. The gift is coming away from that hell and surviving and finding ourselves.
I told her I prayed and she acknowledged doing so as well. Most of my prayers are prayers of gratitude these days. My spirituality is a function of a life change a little over eight years ago. My FOB’s introduced me to a God that loves me unconditionally, more than I can possibly imagine but also loves me too much to stay that way. I try to pray for unselfish things though I’ve been known to toss in an occasional “help me win the lottery.”
So, the point of all this? Gratitude.
The sun came up. My health. Good friends. Awareness (which can be wonderful and really suck at times, like when I ask to win the lottery). My kids. My job. And …..
And ….. my sexuality. My desires and kinks. My own realization, appreciation and acceptance of my sexuality. Understanding and appreciating the love I have to give and need to receive. And my conviction to never compromise what I am looking for in a partner; my sub, my little, my doll baby. It wasn’t this way for a long time. There was internal conflict but no more. What a blessing. Do you know how many people simply won’t explore their own sexual and relational desires? Me neither but I bet it’s a long list.
So, one more thing to be grateful for.
We are a fortunate bunch. Yes, we all have our “stuff” but we are free. Free to express who we are. To explore that which perhaps used to bind us (no pun). Free to find others to share with and learn from. Free to be.
Thanks, God.
Freedom Hunter 
Reblogged this on overHis2knees… and commented:
Master and I are sharing a similar conversation. Thank you for articulating so well EXACTLY where I am right now, Hunter!
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You’re welcome. And wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Yes, absolutely!
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Amen! That seems the only appropriate response for such a beautiful expression of gratitude. We are truly blessed. Throwing off forty years of religious guilt led me back to my faith and freedom. You are a blessing to us all, Hunter.
Annie
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“led me back to my faith and freedom.” Beautifully said Annie and thank you so much. We are a very blessed bunch.
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Indeed we are!
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It’s almost impossible to express how exhilarating it is to have someone in real life not only understand/accept your lifestyle because “they have to out of a sense of obligation to political correctness” but to actually be living it or at least know what it is.
The comfort level between people who share the same lifestyle cannot be replaced by anything else.
We’re born to live our life a certain way and some of us never truly realize how alienated we are from the world especially if we never get a chance to share our experiences, choices, feelings, fears and life in general with people who are part of a real social circle and not one created for this specific purpose.
It’s extremely alienating to have to be just an alias, username or identity that is only a part of me but not completely me in order to become a part of a particular community or group.
I’m not the sort of person who likes to hide behind anonymity. I want to be seen as I am. To be free. To express myself freely. To wear my title as a Dominant proudly and have people look at that and make no judgments whatsoever.
Why should we have to live in shadows and fear of judgment?
We should be able to stand up and tell people that BDSM lies at our core and have them know exactly what it means.
We should be able to tell her friends, our friends, her family, our family that she’s our lover, our friend, our fiance and not leave out “our submissive”.
We should not have to hide the very part of us that makes us who we are. We should be free.
I am free and thanks God.
All my gratitude for your post Hunter.
Salutations.
Symon
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Some really good points here, Symon. As always.
I agree it would be wonderful if there wasn’t any hindrance to our expression of selves. Unfortunately barriers exist, both internal and external. Many of us have to reconcile within ourselves first, at least that was the case for me. Then I became able to reach out and be myself to others. They are a select few but my list outside the D/s community is growing.
One thing i am certain of is the gratitude I have for this community of bloggers. Yes, there are platforms “created” (great use of that term) to reach out, but this group of people (all of you) are truly authentic. Open, honest, real. It’s absolutely a breath of fresh air.
May we all continue to grow in our comfort of selves and acknowledge and embrace all of who we are.
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Thank you Hunter. I love the phrase “religion is for those that don’t want to go to hell and spirituality is for those that have been and don’t want to go back.” I would add to that that Spirituality is then the growth from having seen hell.
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That’s a nice addition, carina. Thank you.
I thought a bit about the “absolute” nature of that statement. So I do want to qualify that I believe for some, religion can certainly be their way out of hell on earth. Mine was a spiritual path. We all have the right and freedom to find it however we can. As long as we find it.
Thanks again for the comment.
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I am truly grateful that in finding this group of people on WordPress who share and understand my kink, I find that many of them also share and understand my faith. A blessing from an unexpected source.
And yes, a place to be myself.
Ash
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