Dark Moon Rising: Pagan Bdsm & the Ordeal Path

by Raven Kaldera, Bridgett Harrington (Photographer)

Throughout history, from the Hindu Kavadi ceremony to the Lakota Sun Dance, the Ordeal Path has been an honored spiritual road to the magic of the flesh, and to touching the Gods. Today many Pagans are discovering this path, by accident or by design. Simultaneously, many practitioners of secular BDSM are finding themselves having spiritual experiences in the middle of their most secular scenes. This book explores the crossover points between both these communities and practices, a cross-section which is growing steadily, baring controversial articles on topics as diverse as sacred pain, bondage, hook suspension, cathartic Pagan ritual, the spirituality of dominance and submission, and being the slave of the Gods. With contributions by noted authors and activists in both communities, and stunning photography by artist and Shibari-Do master Bridgett Harrington, this book is an awe-inspiring gateway into the Realm of the Underworld… and back again.

Genres: BDSM, Sexuality, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Paganism, Magick, Religion

437 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2006

About the author

A female-to-male transgendered activist and shaman, Raven Kaldera is a pagan priest, intersex transgender activist, parent, astrologer, musician and homesteader. Kaldera is also the author of "Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook" from XLibris Press. The founder and leader of the Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel and the Asphodel Pagan Choir, Kaldera has been a neo-pagan since the age of 14, when he was converted by a "fam-trad" teen on a date. Since then, he's been through half a dozen traditions, including Gardnerian, Dianic, granola paganism, Umbanda, Heithnir, and the Peasant Tradition. He is currently happily married to artist and eco-experimentalist Bella Kaldera, with whom he co-founded the Institute for Heritage Skills.

Reviews

[Fulani Fulani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays starting from the point that self-knowledge and self-development are hard-won prizes on a life journey and often associated with 'ordeals' of one kind or another. Those who seek understanding, moreover, must often accept that they will be challenged on their quest and the challenges will almost certainly involve emotional and sometimes physical stress. I might add that those who don't seek such understanding often have it thrust upon them, in unexpected ways, and have to cope with the pain and stress anyway.

So what about BDSM? Its practices can, at least sometimes, be framed as the deliberate infliction of an ordeal that leads to self-development; and in other ways they can be ceremonial ordeals that mark, cement and celebrate self-development in very powerful ways.

The book is written by a pagan and for pagans. But if you don't identify as pagan, don't let that put you off (personally I don't, though my partner sometimes accuses me of being a 'oagan in denial'!). It's very accessible, psychologically astute and you don't have to have any pagan leanings or 'buy into' any pagan worldview in order to understand the issues discussed and the logic of the arguments. For my money it's one of the most perceptive and intelligent books on BDSM I've read, and also contains more intelligent advice in its pages than all the other self-help books I've read put together.

[Emma Sea]

Intriguing

[David Given Schwarm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the Ordeal path written by a very odd character who is in conflict with his community.

A lot of this book is written in reaction to other peoples beliefs which reads combative and dated--mostly the sections written by Raven. Other sections, written by other voices, are excellent--some fun poetry and interesting reflections on rituals.

overall I cannot really recommend this -- the spirituality sections are short and generally not well developed and a lot of the book focuses on the sexual aspects which is generally difficult to read or recommend.

I had lemmed this book because it got to "pervy", but I am glad I went back and finished it--the end sections were strong.

[Andrew Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard book to review. It covers a wide range of takes on the subject of Paganism and SM by a wide range of authors. Some of the chapters are spells, some our discussions and some reports on ceremonies / scenes. It is hard to imagine every chapter appealing to all readers. Certainly, I thoroughly enjoyed some chapters and just skimmed through others.

The main theme of the book is using pain (or the ordeal path) to enter into a spiritual space or as a spiritual practice - as opposed to fasting, meditation etc. A completely new idea for me but the book is well written and the authors know what they are talking about.

I will read more from Kaldera.

[Joep · Rating 3 out of 5]

The combination of pagan religions and bdsm are interesting. I wouldve loved to read more on those relations and examples. The book dedicates to much time on specific practicalities of rituals.

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one hears the words like pain, submission, ropes or any other similar word normally one would tend to cringe. If i told you that pain and submission could be used for spiritual growth you would look mat me as though I were nuts. Truth be told pain and submission have been used for spiritual growth. Think of monks going into a monastery they sometimes give up their right to talk, they eat set meal times and are forced to live a life of austerity. This is submission to god. In the movie "DaVinci Code" we saw an albino monk whip himself quite regulary and tie something rather painful around his thigh. Thee pain could have been used to toughen him , expiate sins or force him into s certin state of mind. Some of the more painful rituals include the Lakota sun dance where in the celebrant put hooks though his body and supends himself . those hooks do leave scars. The pain supposedly puts them more in touch with the gods.

With the passing of the rule for gay marriage and Bruce transforming himself into Caitlyn, this is a time of celebration for the communities of alternative sex and lifestyles. Now whether such stuff has appealed  to you in the past well that is another story. Using BDSM tactics for spiritual growth will leave some wondering . Many CHristians feel that BDSM belonmgs to the realm of "Fifty Shades of Grey" Many neo pagans are very uncomfortable with inflicting pain and forcing submission . Yet on the the other hand there are people that feel a strong need to live that lifestyle.

In rituals is is the submissive who build the energy and it is the top who guides the energy. The top or master can use the pain to help the submissive reach a gnosis or certain state of mind . THe top also acts as a guide for the submissive taking him to the underworld and back. Pain can also be a helpful catharsis to relieve traumatic events.

Raven Kaldera himself a transgendered individual is quite knowledgeable about dwelling in those in between states. This book here which is the first I have read from him represents an excellent book. He has done his research and produced a top rate product. Raven describes the BDSM thoroughly and and all the interrelated magicals parts that could come along with it. I liked the techniques for charging user specific and purpose specific tools. There ar also seasonal rituals which use BDSM. Raven also discusses the top or dominants obligation towards the submissive and that that the dom is him or herself a slave or the gods meant to do their work.

Several other authors have written pieces and essays that add to the flavor of this book. Galina Krasskova tells how she was selected by ODin to be her bride. AUthor Jennifer Hunter tells of how she was seraching for a dominant pagan man and how the search continues. Joshua Raven's slave also writes severl essays.

This book is well reseached with plenty of reference to older cultures using pain for spirtual transcendeance. Flogging, hook suspencion, bondage, different pairing are discussed in detail.No review could capture all the details of this book..

[Eliška · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really excellent delve into the place where BDSM meets paganism, and the various purposes that this intersection can fill.

Four stars instead of five because of just a few things: there's a huge section in the middle that is merely detailed ritual scripts, that I did not find immediately relevant and skipped at first, coming back to it after I finished the rest of the book. Also, the last quarter or so of the book is a very detailed look into a spiritually-founded 24/7 D/s relationship, which would be extremely useful to anyone contemplating such a thing...and completely useless for me, except as an intellectual exercise and a view towards understanding those who have such relationships.

There's some really good example scenes in here that help illustrate what the authors are talking about (because while the main frame of the book is by Kaldera, there are numerous essays and other contributions from other members of the pagan BDSM community, such as Lee Harrington and Lydia Helasdottir). Overall, I found this to be an incredibly useful and thought-provoking guide.

[Jeannie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of what's here has been published online: essays, personal narratives, poetry, rituals. Even though it was very clear that the author/contributors often were coming from very different places from me in many ways, I got an awful lot out of parts of the book and imagine I will be going back to them. Kaldera's writing come off as pompous and a bit off-putting at times, but there are a lot of ideas here, and a lot of very earnest perspective and experience. Given that there's not a lot in print on the intersections of kink and paganism, anyone interested in both will want to read this at some point.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addresses many different topics, that aren't usually covered anywhere.

[Heathir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. This was not what I was looking for, unfortunately.