Conversio Virium

CV Meeting: Erotic Writing as a Tool

We’re joined by Jack Stratton (http://writingdirty.com/) this week for a workshop in erotic writing.

Erotic Writing as a Tool: Erotica and Sex Blogs as Tools for Negotiation, Seduction and the Articulation of Desire
1. How to use writing as a tool to articulate and process your desires and experiences.
2. How to use sex writing and correspondences as a negotiation tools.
3. How to use erotic writing as a tool of seduction and a way of making partners and prospective partners aware of your desires.

The presentation will include handouts and a short writing exercise in which participants will try and express their desires in artistic ways to communicate to partners and prospective partners.

I’ve presented at Sex 2.0 DC, KinkForAll NY and DC. I’m a published erotic and non-erotic writer with a thriving erotica and sex blog at writingdirty.com

CV Meeting: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Hurt Me

Conversio Virium returns January 25^th with Mistress Coraline

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Hurt Me: Playing with a Vanilla Partner

Your lover is sweet, your lover is hot, your lover is… vanilla?!? Not everyone is kinky but a lot of vanilla people are kinkier than they know. We’ll talk about broaching the subject, negotiation for beginners, where to learn the basics, what NOT to do and how to deal if your interests simply cannot match. Kink is a wonderful way to deepen intimacy, explore yourself and your partner, and have a hell of a lot of fun. Isn’t it time your lover found that out?

This class is presented by Coraline, former pro-domme and long time pervert. She entered the scene in 2002 and has learned from and played with some of NYC’s greatest players. She has has taught classes for TES, DSF, WHAP and Galleria Domain 2.

Location: 316 Hamilton Hall, Columbia main campus

CV End-of-Semester Party

Sassafras Lowry has elected to avoid inflicting finals-ridden Columbia students with her ongoing case of H1N1 by staying home tomorrow night, rather than regale us with her presentation on Leather Storytelling. She will be making her debut next semester.

Instead, CV will be throwing a small party; food and drink will be provided, CV’s next semester will be discussed, and fun will be had. We promise.

CV Meeting: Trust

Lolita Wolf joins CV this week to present on trust.

Location: 316 Hamilton Hall, Columbia campus

How do you achieve intimacy and create an awesome, even sacred bond with a partner? How is it that one person allows another to take control over them? Before such a potent understanding is forged between adults, trust needs to exist. Trust can be built up in a number of ways. Come, learn and put to use the communication skills and honorable actions that go hand in hand on the road to complete and total trust.

CV Meeting: BDSM ER

Sir Guy will being giving a presentation on BDSM ER, or what to do in case of an emergency.

316 Hamilton Hall

BDSM ER: It’s Not a Scene
Your fire play session was hotter than expected. Now someone got burned. What do you do? Your knife play was cutting edge and your bottom got the point. Now you’re in for some unexpected blood play. What do you do? Your breath play scene took your bottom’s breath away…literally. What can you do to breathe life into the scene? Sir Guy, a NYS certified EMT, will review medical emergencies, show you what questions to ask before you play, what to do when things go wrong, and how to deal with first responders. In addition he will give tips on creating a first aid kit.

CV Meeting: Gendering Power

We are joined this week by Sinclair Sexsmith, writer of the Sugarbutch Chronicles (http://www.sugarbutch.net/) and kinky presenter. Expect a more extended description of the presentation in the next few days.

Gendering Power, or: How to Spice Up Your Roleplay! An interactive workshop on how the addition of gender to power dynamics in sexual role play scenarios can increase desire, vulnerability, and intimacy, as well as explore deep inner personal gender identities. It will be a lecture with lots of discussion and probably some writing prompts.

LOCATION: 316 Hamilton Hall, Columbia campus

CV Meeting: The BDSM-iad – Self-Discovery Through Mindful BDSM

Ray Warman headlines tomorrow night for one of CV’s few forays into the world of art.

“The BDSM-iad of John Van Tuyl,” an autobiographically-based poem (“John Van Tuyl” being my bygone scene-name) in four cantos comprising some 700 lines that are tightly constrained, but that also burst with exuberance celebrating both the journeys on which BDSM can take us and its power to connect us intimately with one another and to transform our lives (as well as, of course, its power to provide plenty of down-home “boner-bringing diversion”). The constraint — quirky, even manic, but surprisingly workable — is that each line contains just four poetic “feet,” each with one or more words (or compound or contracted words) beginning exclusively with that foot’s designated letter (B, D, S or M, in that order). Thus, “stereotypical masters boast drill-sergeant manners,” because “boys denied spankings mature badly”! Or (from the concluding canto, which shifts to a broader, if not elegiac, perspective): “dim-visioned society marginalizes BDSM.”

LOCATION: 316 Hamilton Hall, CU campus

CV Meeting: Topping as Service

We’re joined by Conrad, addressing questions and applications of topping as service.

I am a sex worker that started first with stripping back in 1995 and since has been a male model, escort, investment banker, squater and now a pro dom for the past 2 years. I also co founded swop-nyc the new york city chapter of sex workers outreach project and swank sex workers action new york, both being sex worker organizing and activism. I have spoken at Desiree Alliance 2008 in Chicago and at Critical Resistance 2008 both on the subject of sex worker activism. I have been in the BDSM community for 2 years and attended as many conferences and workshops as possible. Roughly one per month. And now I want to start to give back what I have learned.

As a prodom in my work life and as a lifestyle service top in my private life, I feel that “Topping as a Service” will be the most beneficial workshop I can give to our community.

LOCATION: 316 Hamilton, Columbia campus

CV Meeting: Wrapping it Up – Drop, Aftercare, and Closing Rituals

Conversio Virium welcomes back Corey Alexander. A NYC based transgender stone butch kink educator and writer, he has been a professional teacher/trainer for over ten years. He has taught at places like TES, LSM, Instigate NYC, The Citadel and Conversio Virium, and at kink and queer events like The Floating World, TESFest, NOLOSE, Forge Forward, New Jersey Leather Weekend, Butch Voices, and TNG3. You can email him at PraxisProductions@gmail.com.

You have gone to scary and wonderful places. You have flown high, dropped deep, exploded into tiny bits, or feel like you own the universe. Ever have a hard time getting back to the rest of the world? Ever struggle in recovering from scenes or weekend events? Ever feel like the ending was too abrupt, lingered, or never really ended? Ever struggle to find a natural end when it feels like it could go on forever? How do you close the scene, the dynamic, or the BDSM relationship so that it feels like it has a real tangible end? This class will offer tools to strategize closure in our kink lives, discussing ways to close scenes, make aftercare work for you, deal with drop after a scene or event, and find closing rituals that assist you in letting go of BDSM relationships that have ended.

CV Meeting: Hypno-Sex – Turning Fantasy into Reality

CV welcomes back Dr. Charley Ferrer from the Institute of Pleasure, http://www.instituteofpleasure.org/

Hypno-Sex: Turning Fantasy into Reality
Ever wanted to turn fantasy into reality? Want to enhance those erotic scenes? Ever wanted to belief you were the Princess captured by the evil sex hungry Pirate and not just pretend to be? Learn how to create a world of Hypnotic reality that’ll rivals any erotic video! This workshop teaches you how to hypnotize yourself and your partner so you can intensify your scenes and make that mundane sexual encounter extraordinary. These simple techniques work every time. No prior experience necessary. You control it all! Come join us and put a smile on your face and a tingle in your body-and theirs.

LOCATION: 316 Hamilton

CV Meeting: Pleasure Positive

CV welcomes Morpheus for its second meeting of the year. Founder of the Pleasure Positive movement and The Pleasure Principle, Morpheus has taught BDSM/Tantric/Sexuality/STI classes for 12 years and has taught classes for: Mr. S, SMOdyssey, SOJ, DomSubFriends, TES, Lifestyles Convention, PolyamorousNYC among many others along with appearing on national television.

The Pleasure Positive Principle: Pleasure is an inherent right as long at that Pleasure does not infringe upon the rights of others or endanger them. Groups that have sexuality as part of their agenda are being marginalized. Through an interactive workshop, we shall focus on what these disparate groups along with others have in common and seek ways to build bridges between them to create positive social change by developing synergies. Pleasure Positive will be explored as: (1) a new perspective to unify disparate groups, (2) a philosophy to live in a more fulfilling manner and (3) a movement to create positive social change. The presentation will also cover the intentional living community, Pleasure Positive Village, that I am forming. Members of CV will learn how they may be able to host events in this ILC.

LOCATION: 316 Hamilton

CV Meeting: Conversio Virium 101

Conversio Virium is starting the year in a blaze of narcissistic glory! Our first meeting will be all about us.

A short presentation on the hows, whys, and wherefores of CV will give new members an idea of what to expect for the rest of the year, with our more intensive presentations and demonstrations, in a more relaxed environment. We’ll cover: the range of topics we plan to cover (including a tentative schedule for all our meetings of the semester), how presenters will explain and demonstrate their topics, what is expected of people attending a presentation, our rules for audience consent during more challenging demonstrations, and some more general issues behind how CV is run. A mini demo is planned for the end of the meeting to give some real live-audience experience!

This meeting will last no longer than one hour; everyone is encouraged to stay until the end of our time to socialize, meet new and old members, and talk to the administration about our goals for the year.

LOCATION: 302 Hamilton Hall, Columbia University campus

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!

CV Meeting: Humorous Roleplay in Serious D/s

Join CV and Jeff Mach this Monday in 302 Hamilton, 9 PM.

Alternatively titled: “Nobody Told Me My Dangerous And Taboo Life As A Slave Would Come With So Many Harry Potter References”, this presentation will be about how humor can work in scenes, deliberately or accidentally, and how it can be used to enhance the overall scene experience.

CV Meeting: Strategies for Upping Your Mean Factor – Working with Physical Limitations

CV cracks back into the semester with some deliciously vicious presentation goodness, courtesy Corey Alexander.

Despite the image of the all-powerful-never-tiring Top, most of us work with physical limitations: height, strength, size, disability, stamina. This interactive workshop will offer you concrete tools and strategies for upping the level of pain and psychological distress that you cause, within your own set of physical limitations. This workshop unabashedly celebrates sadism, and is for all who are interested in upping the mean factor in their play.

Location: 302 Hamilton on Columbia’s campus.

CV Meeting: Behavioral Status as a Scene Tool

Conversio Virium’s own Maja will be presenting this week about Behavioral Status as a Scene Tool. Using ideas yoinked from theater games, we’ll explore how to method-act your way into an empowered role.