Queer BDSM and spiritual experiences
tl;dr - Is spirituality, however you define or connect to it, if at all, part of your experience and/or practice with Leather/Kink/BDSM?
I haven't seen any posts related to Queer BDSM and spirituality (your own definition), so I've been hesitant to post this. Has anyone experienced, incorporated, or had thoughts about the spiritual aspect of Leather/BDSM and what it means for you as a Queer person who practices BDSM, if anything?
I just read about Dr. Melissa Wilcox's upcoming book exploring the spiritual experiences of queer BDSM practitioners, and I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. My uncle told me about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence years ago, and I admire not only the history, but the fun, irreverent, celebratory persona with a legacy of community activism and unwavering advocacy, education, and support. The Sisters are still kicking righteous ass, with their Safety First|Sexy Second hookup PSA, fierce community outreach, and so many other worthwhile things.
For me, as an irrepressibly twisted horny perv, I always knew that my sexual expression and intensity would not survive in vanilla, but as I explored and practiced, my experiences quickly became more and more interwoven with my spirituality. I haven't experienced kink outside of a deep connection, so maybe it would be different if that weren't the case.
(Context: I'm 29, and started practicing when I was 18. I've never been in a vanilla relationship, and, since the age of 18, I continue to love and live in the same chosen family household.)