Thursday, October 30, 2014

Butchmanns Experience: A Journey Into Leather Heart And Spirit

January 30 thru February 1, 2015



Proudly brought to San Diego by SIR Magnum of FetishmenSanDiego, in conjunction with Butchmanns of Arizona:


Friday, January 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM - Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 7:00 PM (PST)


Description:
The Butchmanns Experience is an intensive educational weekend designed to provide an opportunity for self-discovery in pursuit of self-actualization. The event includes hands-on training in basic SM practices, protocol and rituals, and a view of leadership and obedience through the lens of Master/slave dynamics. 

Butchmanns Experience allows us to explicitly visit areas that challenge and soothe us for the purpose of identifying who we are. Happiness comes from living authentically. When we are ready to be who we truly are, we encounter the next step on our path.

The emphasis of activities is on personal transformation and growth and includes intentional flogging, ritual temporary piercing, the call to serve and be served, and transformational mummification. These activities are further explored through in-depth discussions. The environment is structured to encourage safely entering new experiences, with the instructors and staff supporting each individual’s unique experience.


Where:

San Diego, California
Venue for the event will be disclosed upon registration
Near-by hotels are in the HOTEL CIRCLE area (92108)



Cost
Early reg. price: $250.00
After January 1, 2015: $275.00
Repeat participant: $200.00
(Includes meals: Dinner on Friday and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Saturday and Sunday)
Butchmanns Scholarship Fund is available for financial assistance.
Questions: contact Magnum 619-922-2855 or email strongblkbull@yahoo.com

To register visit one of these sites: 






Frank Explorer on the left, and SIR Magnum on the right.

From Magnum:

I'm excited to bring the Butchmanns Experience to the San Diego kink, leather fetish community. 

The Butchmanns Experience allowed me to look at various aspects of erotic dominance and submission including the spiritual through the Master/slave dynamic. 

I had the opportunity to perform rituals (flogging, needle piercing and mummification) to release energy that was blocking my authenticity. 

Overall, this workshop elevated my kink, BDSM play and experiences to a higher level. 

Please join me and other men (gay, bi, straight and transgendered) on this journey in Jan 2015.



From Frank Explorer:

Magnum and I participated in the Butchmanns Experience this past June.
It was an affirmation of the path I am creating in the BDSM community for myself, in this journey of life.

Here is my reflection on the Butchmanns tenets as I understand them and that experience.

The Butchmanns All Male Experience led us through a few basic SM practices designed to provide an opportunity for self-exploration. By identifying who we are we can learn how to be authentic.
Happiness comes from being/living who we truly are.

When we identify as Leatherman and incorporate leather into our life doesn’t that make us happier?
I think the answer is yes.

However, there may be times we are not able to express our leather self. The Butchmanns Experience uses SM intentions and rituals to assist us to live our leather life more consistently.

A lengthy discussion about SM role definitions was followed by choosing, for the weekend, to act as a Master or slave, understanding that growth would occur no matter which was selected.

Master or slave is the person we believe our selves to be. Unlike Top/Bottom, as Butchmanns expresses it, that is the visual queue of being the flogger or floggee. Unlike the Dom/Sub, again as expressed by Butchmann, which is a time limited agreement between each other and the roles we will play.

The Master needs to be on a path to authenticity (learning who they are) so they can give clear direction to the slave and it (the slave) can trust that the Master knows what they are doing. The slave needs to be authentic in its obedience, completing all they are asked to do trusting the Master will not mislead them. All can be authentic here and now to the degree they are able here and now.

Each Master was assigned a slave and then collared it for the weekend. A protocol of commands and responses was used and it was the job of the Master to teach those protocols and the slave to follow them. Using the protocols simple tasks were asked of the slave; serve the Master’s meals, request permission for any activity be that eating or peeing; coming or going. This really gave us a view of leadership and obedience through the lens of Master/slave dynamics.

Flogging at the Experience was used with the intent to inspire the slave to obey, because let’s face it flogging is what it (the slave) wants. Through a discipline of providing the slave with this regularly it makes them want to serve and obey. Additionally, the flogger itself is the implement to intentionally transfer power from Master to slave through intense…directed…strikes.

More about not being able to express our authentic selves; we need to figure out how to do this while maintaining the integrity of our life. Maintaining authenticity is not interchangeable with maintaining integrity. If you are authentically a Leatherman and if exposing yourself at your job could impact your livelihood then you need to maintain the integrity of your livelihood, thereby maintaining your authentic life. However, when opportunities arise to express your authenticity they must be taken.

We performed a ritual to give up things in our lives that prevent us from being authentic. Things like, self-doubt (I am not good enough); fear of rejection and being alone (if they find out they’ll leave me). Each of these things was offered up with a ritual temporary piercing. The needles were each then removed with the intent to bring something into your life; the truth about myself and true service to others for example. For someone like me that has never been pierced this was an intense ritual releasing unexpected emotions.

Transformational mummification or as Master Z called it ‘shake and bake’ was the next ritual. After a heart full discussion about the prior discussions, rituals and the impacts to each of us we literally wrapped it up in clear plastic wrap to contemplate what the hell just happened.  Each of us was wrapped from shoulder to ankles, blindfolded and ears plugged. We needed to work through the anxiety of being forcibly confined and restrained with the only thing free being our mind.  And using our mind alone to settle down and allow us an experience….whatever that would be.

Lastly, the greatest gift of this Experience was that all of this was done amongst brothers that were gay, straight and transgendered; TRULY AMAZING!

I recommend the Butchmanns Experience to anyone seeking confirmation of the path they are on or direction on a path they want to create.

Join us in January 2015 as we bring the Butchmanns Experience here to San Diego.

Your Brother and Comrade, Explorer Frank (xplrrb @gmail.com)



“It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Events as of October 23

As always, if the pictures are EXCELLENT, they are by Scott Smith and Felix Moo!



NEWS YOU CAN USE


Photos from the Gear Potluck Picnic - Saturday, October 18, 12 noon




Photos and videos from Mr. Southern California Bear And Cub 2014 Contest, featuring our own Donnie Vella, Mr. SoCal Bear 2014!




Coming soon:  Photos from the Gear Swap Night and Photo Extravaganza


UPCOMING EVENTS



Saturday, October 25: From Robb Rodd: This Year's LEATHER FETISH BALL Has a new date..... So get ready for this Biggest Leather Fetish Pre-Halloween Party of the Year.

Dress Code Encouraged:
Leather, Fetish, Military, Uniform, Rubber

For further information contact your host:
Robert Rodriguez
Mr. San Diego Eagle 2013 at
MrSDEagle2013 [ a ] gmail.com

http://www.leatherfetishball.com




YOU HAVE TO RSVP BEFOREHAND BY THE 28th FOR THIS EVENT!  It's a courtesy to the staff, who need to prepare.

Wednesday, October 29, 6PM: Gear Invasion and Awards Buffet Dinner.  The plans are coming together FAST - the dinner will also feature our next Awards Ceremony, where men who have achieved their next level of personal growth will be publicly acknowledged.

Get in your Gear and enjoy an evening with your friends and Brothers. October 29th, 2014 @ 6pm Join FMSD at DiMille's on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights for an All You Can Handle Italian Buffet.

Start off with Pizza Bites Appetizers, a Mixture of three different pizzas cut into appetizer size pieces. Enjoy a Garden Salad and some warm Garlic Bread. Grab a Beverage. ( Soda, Tea, or Coffee included) Choose from Demille's Specialty Lasagna or Chicken Parmesan or get yourself a bit of both. Then enjoy a selection of fine Italian desserts.

All of this while enjoying the company and love from your FMSD Family and Beyond.
Join Papa Tony and other Members as we celebrate each other and take notice of how far we have come this year. 2014 has been a Grand Year so let's celebrate and have a Grand time.

Buy your ticket early at the next couple of meetings/events and be entered into a raffle for prizes and gifts for only $25, this way we can have an idea of how many folks are interested. Money will also be accepted on the night of the dinner just make sure you RSVP to Papa Tony at SignMeUpForEvent@Gmail.com and specify the dinner along with your name and how many people.

Dust off your Leathers, Put on that Harness, Wear that outfit you have been wanting to show off as long as it's Street Legal, we would love to see it.

See you on October 29th.

Send an RSVP to SignMeUpForEvent @gmail.com, with a Subject line of "Gear Dinner" to get more info.





October 30 - November 2: Desert Leather Pride in Palm Springs

Note: This is a BIG CHANGE in the scheduling, since this usually happens on the SECOND weekend of the month  - Make a note of it!


Here are pics from last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pslp2011/collections/72157638918774085/






Saturday, November 1 (first Saturday of each month), 4-7PM: Cigars & Boots at Redwing Bar & Grill4012 30th St. - Relaxed, happy, comfortable, serene. Pure brotherhood.

Saturday, November 1 (first Saturday of each month), 10PM: BearNight Dance @ Numbers Bar,  3811 Park Blvd.

Wednesday, November 5 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!

Wednesday, November 5 (first Wednesday of each month), 9PM: Puppy Night @ San Diego Eagle, at 3040 North Park Way.


Thursday, November 6 (first and third Thursday of each month), 10pm: Yellow Hankie Social Night @ the San Diego Eagle, at 3040 N Park Way




Nov. 7-9: Palm Springs Gay Pride, with the parade on SUNDAY, Nov. 9

Wednesday, November 12 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!



Thursday, November 13 (second Thursday of each month), 9PM; Red Hankie Social Night @ the Eagle, @ 3040 N Park Way.

Friday, November 14 (second Friday of each month), 10PM:  Harness Party @ Numbers Bar, at 3811 Park Blvd.

Wednesday, November 19 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!

Thursday, November 20 (first and third Thursday of each month), 10pm: Yellow Hankie Social Night @ the San Diego Eagle, at 3040 N Park Way

Wednesday, November 26 (Fourth Wednesday of each month), 7PM:  FMSD Hands-On Demo Night.

Wednesday, December 3 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!

Wednesday, December 3 (first Wednesday of each month), 9PM: Puppy Night @ San Diego Eagle, at 3040 North Park Way.

Thursday, December 4 (first and third Thursday of each month), 10pm: Yellow Hankie Social Night @ the San Diego Eagle, at 3040 N Park Way

Saturday, December 6 (first Saturday of each month), 4-7PM: Cigars & Boots at Redwing Bar & Grill4012 30th St. - Relaxed, happy, comfortable, serene. Pure brotherhood.




Saturday, December 6, 3-6pm at NUM3ERS Nightclub, 3811 Park Blvd, San Diego, California 92103

From Mr. San Diego Leather 2013 Eli Correa:

Have you ever wondered what a jock smells like that, has been all used up by someone you always thought was hot?

Well, join us as we auction off jocks from some of the hottest leather men around. These men have been getting the jocks all nice and ripe just for you.

SPORTS GEAR ENCOURAGED, but make sure you are street legal.

We have men like Andy Cross, Eric Paul Leue, Chuck MrMichigan-Leather, Jay Heimbach, Keith Johnson, Matthew Mullins, Dan Lovell, and more that have donated their jocks. So bring your money and we'll bring the goods. It is also Bear Night later on, so grab a bite then come back ready to dance your ass off.

WHY: To help get our Mr. San Diego Leather 2013/2014 Eli Correa to IML, Compete, and ensure he has the funds to focus on winning.



Saturday, December 6 (first Saturday of each month), 10PM: BearNight Dance @ Numbers Bar,  3811 Park Blvd.

Wednesday, December 10 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!

Thursday, December 11 (second Thursday of each month), 9PM; Red Hankie Social Night @ the Eagle, @ 3040 N Park Way.

Friday, December 12 (second Friday of each month), 10PM:  Harness Party @ Numbers Bar, at 3811 Park Blvd.

Wednesday, December 17 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of each month), 7PM: FMSD Men's Discussion at Mission Gathering. Come to a quiet, safe and welcoming space, where we can talk about stuff that matters, learn from each other, and build new friendships outside of a noisy bar!

Thursday, December 18 (first and third Thursday of each month), 10pm: Yellow Hankie Social Night @ the San Diego Eagle, at 3040 N Park Way

Wednesday, December 24 (Fourth Wednesday of each month), 7PM:  FMSD Hands-On Demo Night.




January 16-19, 2015: Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend is a three-day long party and event with participants that now number in the thousands. The heart of the weekend is the historic leather formal Saturday evening cocktail social, Leather Cocktails. Leather Cocktails is the weekend lynchpin gathering from which all other weekend events evolved.

The Weekend also includes official events organized by weekend hosts, Centaur MC that include a bustling Leather Exhibit Hall; Sunday brunch; Mr. MAL Contest and the official Sunday night closing party, REACTION. In addition, Weekend hosts provide hotel space for what has evolved into a huge leather-loving community and affinity annual reunion. Weekend participants may purchase a full weekend package that includes access to all events. Tickets to a few select events are sold separately.

Photos and video from Mr. Southern California Bear And Cub 2014 Contest

Photos by the ever-superb Scott Smith.
Every image could be an oil painting!

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Panel of Judges


From Donnie: 
The Most Amazing Night of my Life Just occurred. I can't believe this that I was chosen out of 4 Awesome Guys to not only represent San Diego as a Whole but Southern CA as The New Mr. So Cal Bear. I owe my dream of this happening to the Fabulous Folks that came out this Weekend to Support and show Me Love this weekend. Mainly Papa Tony Lindsey and Blair Griffin (David), Scott B Smith and Richard Cook without you this would not be possible. I Look Up to each and every one of You. 



Pre-Event Publicity:

Welcome to BearQuake 2014

On behalf of the Southern California Bear Club Alliance, Bears San Diego, and the BearQuake 2014 Steering Committee, I am pleased to welcome you to our weekend.

BearQuake grew out of an idea of forming an alliance between the various clubs in Southern California and elsewhere. A "Bear Weekend" was planned where we could all get together and get to know each other. A contest was also held for Mr. So Cal Bear and Cub. The success of that first event opened the door to future gatherings which has become "BearQuake".

The concept has remained the same: a weekend full of activities that are fun and exciting, a price tag that makes it worthwhile, and an opportunity to make new friends and visit with old ones.

The weekend has also become a major fund raising event for the host club. This year's beneficiaries are Special Delivery San Diego, Being Alive San Diego and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

We hope you join us for this weekend, get to know some of wonderful people participating in our event, and take away fond memories.

Jeff Rosenfeld
Chairman
BearQuake 2014 Steering Committee

To register for BearQuake, go to www.bearquake.com