JOURNEYMAN III ACADEMY |
There is this amazing group centered near Salt Lake, Utah who is exploring who they are. Led by Master Aylett, and inspired by Grand Master Kee, about 20 men and women meet each month for a weekend to expose themselves to what they don't know, and what they haven't experienced before. At the last minute Master Steve of Butchmann's Academy in Palm Springs at the time asked me if I would consider presenting in Salt Lake because of a family emergency that would prevent him from going. I almost said "No" because of my commitment to be in Boise, Idaho the following weekend for my niece's wedding. I would have to either make two trips or change my and #4's schedule to be gone for two weeks. After thinking about it several minutes, I said "Yes". As soon as the decision was made, everything started to fall into place. Clients were cooperative, and it felt important that we go. It also seemed somehow appropriate that we would follow the Baptist Convention in Salt Lake City. Friday evening #4 and I arrived south of Salt Lake. There had been no mention of a Friday night commitment. Only Saturday and Sunday had been discussed. I began to ask who the attendees were, and whether or not there would be anyone else presenting over the weekend. There was no one else. We were there to discuss the spiritual nature of SM, and the 2 1/2 days were ours to do with whatever we thought would accomplish that objective. The cadets (as they are called) began to collect moments after our arrival from six hours of driving. It quickly became clear that this was an amazing group. All the cadets are committed for 1 1/2 years to following the guidance of Master Aylett in the pursuit of self discovery. Each has been required to read most all the major books on SM, sexuality and alternative lifestyles. They have written essays and book reports. They have been exposed to many "big names" in the lifestyle during previous months. All are experienced in SM activities. All are adventurists and open, loving and motivated. Most are women, few are exclusively gay male. It was a wonderful mix of sexual, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, and multi-sexual. Most notable was the average age. Very few were over 30 years old. Most all were in their 20's. Most had already experienced enough to force them to accept the truth about themselves and about their lives. Before this weekend I had never met anyone less than 30 years old who was ready for the truth. I, actually, had concluded from all my previous experience that it wasn't possible to get serious about life before the age of 30. Part of these cadets' rapid maturity has come from having been rejected, damaged, or broken by religious bigotry. Salt Lake is known for its strong, but narrow values. So long as a man or woman's attitudes and appetites are statistically mainstream there is unequaled support and guidance. Any variation, however, allows for no tolerance. It was easy to pick up the attitude from the surrounding community where #4 and I spent a day after the Academy III event was over, before continuing on to Idaho. Families sat silently, and self-controlled in Mexican restaurants, normally known for having a fun, expressive atmosphere. Everywhere there was rehearsed friendliness from retail staff. It was easy to feel the inhibition and lack of spontaneity everywhere. In a breakfast restaurant, the only display of disgust that we have ever experienced anywhere was demonstrated by a man who also had sat silently through his meal. There was a strong feeling of oppression, and righteous indignation prevalent in most the people. Minorities, and others who were obviously not mainstream, were the exceptions. They stood out distinctly. Even though I wouldn't choose to live in such a community, it has all the conditions necessary to force young men and women to grow up fast when they don't fit into the expected, required mold. The mature and successful see that as a blessing. The cadets of this Academy see it as a blessing. The harder, and more oppressive the conditions, the more opportunity there seems to be for men and women to discover and develop their greatness. No one who is extraordinary comes from an ordinary background. Even through my first impression was that Salt Lake would be the last place I would expect to observe mature, advanced issues being considered, by advanced people doing advanced things, after experiencing it, there is no more logical place from which the unusual could be expected to develop. People either bemoan their condition, or they accept the truth and deal with what they experience. The unusual men and women of Academy III are the true seekers of truth. They have no choice, but they don't know that. They have accepted being different, and have decided to exploit and develop those differences, and are willing to lead us all by example. These are all young men and women, with full lives ahead of them. These are the leaders of both today, and tomorrow. I'm impressed when 70 year-old's are so aware and committed. To see young people at this mature place is astounding. But hold on, because these men and women are raising the standards and expectations for all of us. Being ordinary is now going to be harder and harder to justify. They are proving at Academy III that you don't have to be ordinary, and that you don't need to look outside yourself, that you don't need to depend on the acclamation of others. They are showing us that it is better to do something about who we are rather than find someone to blame for not doing what should be done. These people have lots of others they could easily blame, but they don't. They are teaching us that neither should we. It was a privilege to be included in Academy III, to meet with and witness Master Aylett's leadership, to see him hold the vision, and to have been with and learned to know the highly usual cadets who will leave everything they touch and everyone they know different from the way they found them. Because of these men and women, things will never be the same once they have been there, wherever that is. My sincere thanks for for the hospitality, and for the opportunity. I will never be the same either. SlaveMaster |