Lab work that's on the wild side
Megan Butcher
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The fetish diva herself
photo: Steve Diet Goedde
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Midori harnesses students' keenness for kink
Fall is a good time to go back to school for everyone. Fetish diva Midori, who runs the "sexy education" company Fire Horse Productions and is the author of the sci-fi novel Master Han's Daughter and Wild Side: The Book of Kink, is gearing up for a fall semester that includes a series of workshops in Ottawa. With titles like "Hands-On Rope Body Harness" and "How to Get What You Want in SM," the workshops are both theoretical and practical, and teach everything from cultivating a good SM scene to tips for the budget-minded perv. XPress recently caught up with Midori for a quick but, uh, stimulating chat. How did you get your start in sexual education?
I started with grassroots volunteering for San Francisco Sex Information. They trained me fully with the [Sexual Attitude Restructuring] program. As part of that training I became comfortable talking about and answering questions about sex. I'm really a deep nerd, so the "why" of human sexuality is very fascinating to me. As I figured out the whys, I started to share my insights with others. I also experimented, explored and learned. The insights and information I gathered and shared with others were really appreciated. I realized that there was a great need for kind, humorous and real sex information.
You've been to Ottawa in the past and given workshops on topics like Japanese bondage, humiliation play and feminine dominance. Anything particular you notice about Ottawa audiences? Also, do you tailor your workshops
depending on what city you'll be visiting?
Ottawa audiences are a bit on the quiet and shy side to start with. I'm pretty goofy so I don't think they know what to make of me at first. But once they get to know me, they're really sweet and genuine and considerate. However, I modify the presentation to the specific audience, and not to the city. If I'm presenting to an undergraduate human sexuality or women's studies course, then the tone is considerably different than, say, teaching Joystick Secrets to swingers.
Joystick Secrets?
The best ways to use your hands, mouth and anything else on him to blow his mind! It's a fun class, using zucchinis of all things. Unfortunately I won't be teaching that this time.
During this visit, one of your workshops will focus on how to create a good SM scene...
Yes, a "scene" is fun sex with a few or a lot of "kinky" elements to it. So to have a satisfying scene you have to know what you expect out of it and communicate that to your lover. That doesn't have to be all dry and boring, or demanding, or awkward - it can be as simple as sharing a fantasy. Unspoken expectations, even between long-time partners, can ruin any sexual encounter.
Do you think that uncertainty about what to do in SM stops many people from exploring kinky sex?
For some, yes. Some still carry around old cultural baggage of sexual shame. Some may even come to a screeching halt because they so deeply want the experience to be perfect - for both them and their partner - and they think that if they can't be perfect, then they shouldn't even try.
Midori's SM workshops take place this weekend: SM on a Budget (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.), Getting What You Want in SM (Sunday, 7 p.m.) and Hands-on Body Harness Workshop (Monday, 7 p.m.) at Venus Envy (320 Lisgar). Tickets are all $25. Email ottawa@venusenvy.ca or call (613) 789-4646 for more details or to register.
