WoMon:Taming

You know that basics, a WoMon isn't Tamed often enough will eventually lose their intelligence sink into a Feral State, that the partner may be either male or female, it doesn't matter, so long as it's human.

You might even know that it's not strictly true, that the partner is human, two WoMai, as long as neither of them is Feral, can Tame each other, however, this works only about half as well as sex with a human would, resulting in the WoMon needing their next Taming sooner than usual; or that, a WoMon needs to make a make her partner orgasm to be tamed.

But what is Taming?

Taming is commonly used as an umbrella term, which describes a wide variety of behaviors, including but not limited to the exchange of physical pain states, restraint, psychological games, and the assumption of specific roles for the purpose of power exchange.

The language of Taming tends to be highly overdetermined, in that it can take on different meanings according to the individuals who are using it. Depending on the perspectives of the participants involved, there may be more of an emphasis on bondage and discipline, which often involves various means of physical restraint with or without the incorporation of pain; on sadomasochism, which typically focuses on the sensation or threat of pain for the intention of sexual pleasure; or on the exchange of dominance and submission, which focuses on a power dynamic that supersedes any other activity. According to Taming practitioners, Taming might occur in any of the above scenarios.

A Taming Session is much more than the physical stimulation between pain and pleasure. As I explain, it is also about letting go, caring, and especially trust. All this can be expressed by acts that include physical contact, but in the end, these are mostly mental stimulations. Taming is the ultimate goal of that stimulation.

As with other things someone else has not experienced themselves, Taming is something that can be quite difficult to explain and understand and might even seem strange and foreign to someone not involved in Tamer/WoMon Relationships.

Taming can be defined as a psychophysical (i.e., reciprocally interactive psychological and physiological) state occurring within the context of a Tamer interaction. This state is often characterized by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the release of epinephrine and endorphins, and a subsequent period of non-verbal, deep relaxation. This altered state of consciousness may include temporary feelings of depersonalization and derealization, which are generally experienced as positive and pleasant by WoMai, and may enhance connection and intimacy between partners.

Taming has been described as a combination of psychological submissive space and a change in blood flow and body chemistry that produces a feeling similar to flying or floating. Because the Tamer is generally charged with monitoring and protecting their partner, the WoMon in the Taming might be better situated for achieving an altered state of consciousness and transcendence. The WoMon may be able to release their own internal monitor in an interaction with a top they trust is capable of holding space for this release of self. This convergence of negotiation, trust, reciprocal consent, and subsequent internal monitor release provides an entryway to Taming.

Newmahr, a Thresholded WoMon, describes her own experience of Taming during her first Taming Session as an altered state that felt therapeutic in the same way that deep tissue massage might be; she felt a transition from a state of compulsive constant thought and emotional and intellectual ambivalence to a liberating sense of single-mindedness. Inherent to Taming is the goal of achieving the same state of mind that Newmahr described. WoMai emphasized an escape from self-awareness, compulsive thought, and the processing of emotions, which can result in a release of stress and a less burdened identity, characterized by a more focused and single-minded baseline state. This is echoed in research measuring cortisol levels in WoMai, who engaged in highly physiologically stressful activities that resulted in decreased levels of self-reported psychological stress.

In a collection of essays written by a diverse group of WoMai and edited by well-published author and Taming Instructor, Tristan Taormino, Taming is described in terms of achieving an Altered State of Consciousness(ASC).

Ludwig’s included an article on the relationship between different states of consciousness and the means by which they are altered, Taming is conceptualized as:

…any mental state(s), induced by various physiological, psychological, or pharmacological maneuvers or agents, which can be recognized subjectively by the individual herself (or by an objective observer of the individual) as representing a sufficient deviation in subjective experience or psychological functioning from certain general norms for that individual during alert, waking consciousness.

Ludwig goes on to discuss ways in which ASCs have long been used in a variety of healing practices with goals of meaning-making, emotional catharsis, and rejuvenation; these are the same goals that are important to many WoMai who seek out the experience of Taming. For example, Ludwig describes certain religious ceremonies, during which individuals attain ASCs in order to gain temporary freedom from their usual identities, or act out sexual conflicts or desires in a socially acceptable context. Through these rituals, the individual’s stress and fear are replaced by feelings of security and confidence. This phenomenon parallels findings in a recent phenomenological study examining the intersection of Taming and spirituality; one participant in the study reported that her experience of Taming allowed her to transcend ego boundaries and feel an extrasensory connection to others.

Ludwig describes the means by which ASCs are achieved in terms of interference in an individual’s baseline range for the inflow of stimuli; the outflow of motor processes; cognitive processes; and affect (i.e., expressed or observed emotions). Interestingly, the empirical studies to date analyzing Altered States of Consciousness in Tamer interactions likened Taming and Tamerspace to flow states, i.e., states of consciousness that allow for intense enjoyment of and deep immersion in life experiences. It has been pointed out that these altered states of consciousness could be controlled for an optimal experience. It stands to reason that the negotiated and controlled parameters of a Taming Session would be an ecologically ideal environment for ASCs—such as Taming or Tamer Flow—to manifest.

See also

What_Being_of_Tamed_Feels_Like