On December 2, the Divines of DSF will hold their monthly tribunal, a convocation of the full complement of Divines and slaves in joint purpose. An inquisition cum confessional cum sacrament.
Second Life contains multitudes of experiences. Art and Culture, role play of every kind, sexual and sensual distraction, music and dance, friendship and romance – but most of SL has an unspoken playful undercurrent. SL is a game of experiences, most laced with a puckish knowledge of the element of pretend. The Virtual always commenting on the Real, like a jester whispering perspective into the ear of the King.
But the Rites of Redemption on DSF have a solemnity and seriousness that is unlike almost every other group experience on SL.
i attended the last Rites, back on November 4. i can almost picture them. i start to remember…
(on your TV, you see wavy lines and hear ethereal music, as the universal language of “flashback” turns your attention to recent memory….)
All the slaves huddle, naked, in a small cramped cage, their sweaty torsos jostling each other, awaiting their fates; watching the Divines enter, one by one, greeting each other warmly, taking their places in the circle. The cathedral’s ruins are adorned with hooks, crosses, iron maidens and other torturous points of binding.
Divine Goddess Jaminda calls the assembled to order and invites Divine Queen Bitch Tanarra to deliver an invocation. This is the moment where the energy shifts from SL roleplay to something more grounded – breath altering, speaking words that are not preplanned, but from the heart – all start to feel the strength of the sisterhood, and the haplessness of the slaves’ transgressions.
One by one, we are called, crawling, prostrate on belly, to confess our sins. The Divines are quick to remind us of any forgotten ones, and they comment on the severity. Comments are made, judgements rendered, sentences pronounced. And on to the next.
And what are the sins?
trias was taken to task for smacking another slave without permission, and for an overemotional reaction.
i was criticized for extended absence without explanation.
kai was rude to a Divine, but most of his failures were playful ones, trying to please many demanding women.
bodee IM’d Divine Queen Bitch Tanarra in a mocking tone, both rude and disallowed
dj replay failed at a task, losing focus on completion
gendius (now Spunk Undies) disrespected and misspelled Divine honorifics over the month, and mis-handled his own avatar
talis (now bimbozo) did not treat Divine Goddess Tsol with respect, and failed to send in two reports
The Divines react with strong comments, no-nonsense assessments. But punishments, such as they are, follow a different sort of theme. slaves are sentenced to:
Posting to the Community Discord (quotes, songs, haiku) on themes of respect, unity, pride, and more
Unity, songs, haiku
Reading books or other material on Emotional Intelligence
Using Discord to keep connected
Writing notecards
Writing for the blog
Doing breathing exercises
Suffering humiliation (funny voices, silly names)
The worst sins, in short, are rudeness, ignorance, disrespect, inattention, negligence. And the punishments fit the crimes. slaves are firmly sentenced to – Self-Improvement. slaves are assessed penalties of — Being Better. slaves are given punishments of – Personal Growth.
These are disciplines, chastisements of Compassion. And that is the outcome of the Rites – slaves facing and addressing their worst selves, under the guidance and counsel of the Divines. SL, which famously encourages distraction, is finally a source of focus and attention.
Then, as the closing convocation is spoken, the energy reverts to playfulness and warmth, the slaves are unbound, and we all return to our Real Lives or other Second Life pursuits.
Until the next month
(**details of this blog post made possible by talis’ excellent notes)
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