Conversio Virium

CV Meeting: Kate Bornstein, “Hello, Cruel World”

For our last meeting of the semester, Conversio Virium’s going out swinging—not literally, but equally fun. Kate Bornstein will be presenting at 9 PM, preceded by a potluck dinner at 8 PM (we’ve got utensils, water, and salad, so bring entrees and dessert!). Like all our regular meetings, this event is free and open to the public. Bring your friends!

Kate Bornstein is a gender theorist, author, playwright, and performance artist. She has toured at over 120 colleges giving presentations on sex, gender, and alternatives to teen suicide.

This meeting will not be in our usual location, but rather in 202 ALTSCHUL on Barnard College campus (view a map of Barnard’s campus). Kate Bornstein will be presenting “Hello, Cruel World”:

“Sometimes, whatever it is that gives you the most joy, pleasure or relief also gets you into the deepest trouble, especially when you try to explain it to other people. Like when you love someone you’re not supposed to love. Or when the way you express yourself makes other people queasy. As harmless as you feel you’re being, people may still think you’re bad, wrong or immoral. This is a workshop in which Kate suggests irreverent alternatives to suffering as a 21^st Century outlaw. The workshop is based on Kate’s shiny new book, ‘Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws’.”

Help us promote Kate’s presentation! RSVP on the Facebook event and send it to your friends. (You do not need to RSVP on Facebook to attend.) You can also print out this poster and stick it up around the city.

This event brought to you in conjunction with Q and GendeRevolution.

CV Meeting: Hacking Consent

CV is joined by Rob, who will be presenting on consent as it functions in BDSM. How do you define and maintain consent in a context where pushing limits is often the goal? How can you maintain consent when the idea of a scene is to imitate non-consent? Join us as we address these and other questions.

CV Meeting: Using Hypnosis in BDSM Scenes

CV is joined by Lady Arielle, presenting on erotic hypnosis and its amazing potential to expand the mind and the world of kink play.
302 Hamilton on Columbia University’s main campus.

Dominants, do you want to exercise control over your submissives merely by using your words? Do you desire to see your subs experience the full measure of your power without lifting a finger? Then come to see this demo. Submissives, would you like to deepen your dedication to your masters and explore your fantasies in way that you never have before? Would you like to break down the barriers and inhibitions that are preventing you from experiencing the pure and deep submission that you so crave? Do you dare to turn yourself over to a mercilessly erotic and manipulative Domina? Then participate in my demonstration.

In this demo, I will show how hypnosis could be used in BDSM Scenes. I will also discuss subspace, rope-space and other subconscious phenomena. Participation will be rewarded… with the sensations of pain, extreme pleasure, tickles, taste and anything in between. Volunteer… if you dare.

“Lady Arielle is a Natural Born Dominatrix, originally from Moscow, Russia. She is both a Lifestyle Domme as well as an independent Pro Domme, currently practicing in Manhattan. Lady Arielle is a Glamour Domina with a Mensa IQ and a sense of strong Russian Discipline. She is a Queen of textures and uses many ‘pervertables’ in her BDSM art. Lady Arielle had presented BDSM demos at most of the Jeff Mach’s Wicked Faire Events, at Paddles (the only NYC S&M club), at club openings, and The Baroness’ parties. She was invited to teach 2 classes at the next DomConLA in Los Angeles in May 2009.”

CV Meeting: Religion, Spirituality, and Kink

We are joined this week by Dark Teddy Bear, who will be blaspheming (maybe) for our pleasure.

The connections between kink and spirituality are legion. The Christian monks of the middle ages, flagellating themselves in penitence; the woman in a latex nun’s outfit, threatening her naughty students; the kinkster marveling at how his first experience of subspace reminds him of his favorite moments from synagogue; the scene so powerful it opens spiritual doors, making the scene itself a chance for connection with the divine. Take part in a presentation and conversation on the ways in which kink and spirituality intersect.

Our presenter is an ordained minister with many years in the scene who has studied the interconnections of sexuality, religion and kink. Some of the topics to be covered include: intersections between religion and kink; religious play & religious fetish scenes; pro-kink viewpoints within different religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Paganism, historically and in modern practice; parallels in the nature and ethics of power between pastor and congregant and dominant and submissive.

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion.

CV Meeting: So You Want to be a Slut? Polyamory and You.

This week we’re joined by Mina Meow in learning about polyamory for fun and pleasure. As always, Monday night at 9 PM in room 302 Hamilton Hall.

Survival tips on how to do it safely, sanely, and just have more fun!

Interested in exploring more sexual partners or opening up a current relationship, but don’t know where to start? Curious about polyamory or swinging, but don’t know how to talk about it with your partner? Come to this presentation, explore alternative sexual relationships and avenues of loving and relating, and walk away with skills for venturing into the world of unlimited love and pleasure.

Handouts now available: Mina put together two fantastic handouts for her presentation, which she has been generous enough to share with us digitally. If you missed the presentation, and or if you didn’t but just want a reference, you can download her “So you want to be a slut” handout (PDF), as well as a supplemental “Safer Sex Info” handout (PDF) as well. Thanks, Mina!

Pleasure Salon: Second Year Anniversary at Happy Ending

Can you believe Pleasure Salon has been going strong for two years now? Join Patricia, Mark, and Selina celebrate its second year anniversary at the Happy Ending lounge on 302 Broome Street this April 1^st. No tricks, just fine drinks and fine company!

The Pleasure Salon has been created to build community, allowing sex-positive activists to cross-pollinate. Our gatherings bring together members of the BDSM, swinger, alternative gender, LGBT, sex-activist, sex educator, nudist, sex-magic, polyamory, Pagan, radical faerie, tantra, dark odyssey, sex-blogger, porn, pervert and sex-worker communities, and others whose passion is sex. (Let us know if we missed any one of you!) Through building networks in the sex-positive community, The Pleasure Salon hopes to help create a sex-positive world. It is a place for the open exchange of ideas and sensual expression.

We have been thrilled by the turnout at previous events. Join us in building New York’s pleasure positive community, and bring your like-minded friends to this social gathering. The Pleasure Salon embraces respect, acceptance, and non-judgmental support in this public space.

As always, Pleasure Salon is a free event, but you must be 21 years of age or older to drink. (Sorry!)

KinkyJews: 4th Annual Kinky Passover Seder

Join your friends at KinkyJews for their biggest event of the year, a Passover Seder like you’ve never experienced before!

While maintaining key elements of tradition, celebrate Passover with KinkyJews, as we have a humor and hedonism infused chocolate themed Seder with four cups of chocolate milk, chocolate covered matzah, Hillel S’mores, and more. Have a wild time with the search for chametz kit (candle, feather and wooden spoon), Passover erotica, maggid show and tell, re-enactments slavery and redemption, floggings a-plenty, new friends and fun!

The Seder will be held at Club Casbar, which is located at 117 25^th Street in Brooklyn. Early bird ticket prices expire in a couple of days, so get your tickets soon. This is the biggest KinkyJews event of the year!

Note that the Kinky Seder is three days before the holiday, on the night of April 5^th.