This scroll was originally written by, Master Navarre-, First Captain of Port Kar. It has been edited for purposes of Real Life.

kajira training lecture 3

The kajira as property, an animal, a meaningless slut

To the Gorean Free Person, the kajira is property. In particular, the kajira is his property. The kajira belongs to the Master, much as his sword, or his kailla, or riding beast, or his hunting sleen. This means that the Master will treat the kajira appropriately. That doesn't mean that the kajira is typically abused in any way. Rather, it means that the kajira is used, cared for, maintained. The kajira, if found pleasing to the Master, may also be embellished, even garnished, with clothing, jewelry, special lessons which improve the kajira's service to the Master, and overall value. The Master cares for his property, and would no more abuse a kajira than he would kick his hunting beast for the fun of it. If the kajira merits punishment, the kajira can expect to receive it. It doesn't mean that the Master no longer likes his property, rather, it means that he cares enough to improve it.

The kajira is often referred to as an animal, and it is true that the kajira is certainly held as property, just as an animal is. However, the real sense that the Gorean Master means when he calls the kajira an animal is that the kajira is human. Goreans see humans as an intrinsic part of nature, and Goreans have a tremendous amount of respect for nature: violating nature and the natural order of things is almost inconcievable to the Gorean, and a heinous crime. Humans, as a part of nature, are animals too, just as the sleen and the larl and tarn and the urt are all a part of nature, and animals as well. While the Master is quite likely to refer to a kajira as an animal, never does the Master take offense when he too, is called an animal. In fact, when a kajira calls the Master a 'beast', he is usually rather smugly proud of that fact, and acknowledges it fully. The Master too, is a human animal, and calling him a beast is confirmation of his nature as an animal, and of his humanity.

It is often the case that a kajira may be called a 'meaningless slut', or simply referred to as 'meaningless'. Like their Earthen counterparts, Goreans do not like to consider themselves to be overly materialistic, or 'enslaved' to greed, or their own desires. To demonstrate that in public, a Master may call even his most beloved kajira 'meaningless', when in fact, he would risk his very life to save her from danger. A slut is one who is both well used, and is bound by their own carnal desires. The term is quite apt for the kajira.

The nature of Free Women, priceless

The Gorean Free Woman resides in a place of great honour, and respect, in Gorean society. She is treated with courtesy and even, to some degree in public, deference. Gorean Men tend to put their Free Women on the highest of pedestals until the Free Woman proves that she does not deserve it. Remember, a Free Woman is the Gorean Man's mother, his sister, his spouse or Free Companion. A contract of Free Companionship is not lifelong, it expires and must periodically be renewed. If either party fails to appear for renewal, it automatically lapses. Such an institution precludes a mate from taking the Free Companion for granted or levying abuse, and getting away with it indefinitely. To the Gorean Man, the Free Woman is priceless. Bear in mind that this applies to the Free Women who are of the Free Man's Homestone, his City and his family. To a lesser degree, the Gorean Man gives the assumption of basic courtesy and respect to all Free Women, unless he is on a raid or trying Chain Luck in another City, in which case the women of that other place are both prey, and prize to be captured. It is a basic ritual for a young Warrior to gather his first honours in the capture of a Free Woman of another City, and bear her home to be made kajira. In his home, the women of his family, his mother and sisters, will bathe and prepare the woman in silks to be presented to the young man that night, the glorious proof of his manhood and worthiness to be a Warrior. Even in capture and defeat, even as she is transitioning from Free Woman to kajira, she has great value to the Free Man.

A point to consider from the Books; in spite of the far larger scope given to kajirae, Free Women on Gor outnumber kajirae in the average Gorean city by a ratio of 40 to 1. This is not at all surprising, when one stops to think about it. Truly, it would be difficult for it to be otherwise. Only a Free Woman can bear a Free Child... And Gor honors its Free Women.

It is said that in every kajira, there is something of the Free Woman, and in every Free Woman, there is something of the kajira. This is very true in most of the cases out there. However, like all general statements, there are of course, exceptions to the rule. There are women who are wholly Free Women and will never understand, or be able to be, kajira; and kajirae who are wholly kajira, and will never understand, or able to be, Free Women. In Gor of the Scrolls, it is extremely rare that a kajira became Free, but common enough for a Free Woman to become kajira. In real life... most women truly do have both sides within them, and are natural switches. It is up to the Master, and the circumstances of the society and the relationship, which determines how much of each side is permitted to come out.

Slavery is in the belly, slave heat, oil, and juicing

The Gorean kajira feels her slavery in her belly. Why this is so, I have absolutely no idea. I am a Master, and, in spite of having asked this question of kajirae who do feel their slavery in their belly, have still not received a satisfactory answer. It may be that it is something which needs to be discovered and realized, before it is understood. I can say this, however.... as the Scrolls have said it, and from what kajirae have spoken in regards to the matter, it appears to be true. That they feel their slavery deep in their belly, at times almost a physical need that can be so extreme as to cause cramping and pain. They are kajira, and that need is answered by a Master's presence, acknowledgement, and firm handling of the girl. Often, you will see kajirae referring to "slave heat". What this refers to is not the fiery need of the girl's slavery, which is felt in the belly, or also sometimes when she is strongly in love, in her heart; but rather slave heat refers to the heat between her thighs. The heat generated by her arousal, and, sometimes, the moisture beading about the crotch area from this.

The flow of vaginal lubrication caused by arousal is referred to as "juicing", or "oiling", in Gorean terms. The liquid itself is called the "oil of submission".

A kajira is defined by her devotion, and her needs. By what she gives, and what she craves.

Pride and honour in a kajira

It is often said that a slave should not be proud, and that no kajira can have honour, that honour is a thing for Free People only. The nature of honour defies absolute definition, and I will not try to constrain honour here, but will say that the honour amongst kajira is not the same as the honour amongst Free People.

However... the actions of a kajira can certainly reflect honour on the place they are in, on the one who holds their collar. Some may try to deny this, but if a kajira serves poorly, a Free Person has to wonder about not only the quality of her training, but who it was who trained her, and at the Master who would permit such a sad creature to wear his collar about her neck. Is he such a poor Master that such a sad creature is all he can afford, or attract? Such a poor Master that he doesn't even know when he has a sub-standard kajira? Is he such a poor Master that he is incapable of training a kajira to decent standards?

On the other hand, if the kajira serves well, the Free Person will look upon the Master with approval and perhaps even envy. The Free Person will think, "This kajira has been exquisitely trained, she must be a dream to her Master, what a lucky fellow he is!". The Free Person will be interested in knowing who trained such a kajira, and if such training might be made available to his own kajira one day. Who then, is being honoured? The kajira's Master, first... the kajira's trainer, second... and last, to an extent, the kajira herself receives praise in the form of the acknowledgement of her ability to learn, and be pleasing. As for pride.... The Gorean slave girl is expected to be proud of her skills and talent, her capacity for love and devotion, of how much pleasure she can bring to her Master, and how pleasing he finds her.

13:193 A kajira should be proud of her sensuousness, and her passion, as well, for these are things which she places at her Master's discretion and disposition, for his pleasure.

Courtesy and respect

It may seem redundant to say this, but having seen that too many times a would-be kajira fails miserably in this single, basic regard, it is important to cover this aspect. A kajira must ALWAYS behave with the utmost in courtesy and respect to all Free People, no matter what the provocation to behave otherwise. There is very little that is more disgusting than seeing a kajira break from this fundamental behavior and act more like an Earth sub, being discourteous and disrespectful to a Free Person who may or may not have given the kajira cause to do so. Bear in mind that what is sufficient cause for another Free Person to behave without courtesy and respect is in no way sufficient cause for a kajira to do the same. There is no excuse, ever, and failure in this regard is taken very seriously. Forgiveness for lapsing in courtesy and respect is not easy to obtain, if it is even possible.

Even in dealings with other kajira, courtesy and mutual respect will get the kajira much further than being unpleasant. Other kajira can be of inestimable help to one another, but if they are at odds with a kajira, they can easily be that kajira's downfall. Thus, if there is no interest in being decent towards one's chain brothers and sisters, at least let self-interest be the motivation. It goes without saying, one should hope, that a well-trained kajira would never DREAM of squabbling with a fellow slave in public, no matter WHAT the provocation.

A kajira should not expect to be respected in the least regard by Free People. If a kajira desires to be respected, and that is of paramount importance to the kajira, then the kajira should have been a Free Person, and not a slave. A kajira is property, and any consideration for the kajira comes from the kajira's Owner, and that Owner's discretion. It is good if others respect the property rights of the Owner as well, but that is not the same as respecting the kajira for him or herself.

Free People can say, 'please' and 'thank you' to kajira

When dealing with a kajira, it is not uncommon for Free People who are of civilized, urban regions to use the words "please", or "thank you", or similar courtesies, when speaking with the kajira. Do not make the terrible mistake of assuming that this means an option has been laid before you. It has not. From a Free Person, even a request carries the full weight and freight of the most harshly given command. The Free Person is not being courteous out of respect for the kajira, but rather, the Free Person is being courteous because it pleases them to be so, and to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

A Free Person is not always right, but is, by definition, NEVER wrong.

This is concerns one of the facets of the Gorean Way which many consider to be unfair, somehow, sometimes. Perhaps that is the case, by Earth definitions. By Gorean definition, the Master is in absolute control, the kajira subject to his every slightest whim. The Master can be wrong in relation to other Free People, but never wrong in relation to the kajira. The kajira is, after all, his property, and Gorean Law recognizes the right of the Owner to do as he pleases with that which belongs to him.

Thus it is said, in regards to any argument which may occur between kajira and Free Person, "The kajira always has the last words when arguing with the Free Person, and the last words are 'Yes Master' ".

Nature of abuse, misuse, neglect

The kajira belongs to the Owner, property. Can one be wrong in regards to a chair, or a cup? No. One can misuse or abuse property, that is true, but if the property belongs to the Free Person, in theory it is his right to do so.

Abuse, misuse, neglect of property... Obviously such behavior shows poor managerial skills on the part of the Owner, not to mention that the Owner is revealed as being one who cannot be trusted to take care of what is owned, how can the Owner be trusted with that which belongs to someone else?! It also shows that the Owner may not comprehend the nature of the property... The kajira is property, yes, absolutely... But the kajira is *human* property. Just as the Owner would not toss a porcelain cup across the room and into the sink the way one might toss a plastic cup, or leave a painting outside in the rain and the snow, the Owner takes into account the nature of his property and treats it accordingly. The kajira is human property, and as such, has human sensibilities and human needs. This does not mean that the kajira's sensibilities and needs come first. It means that the Master takes them into account, and acts to take care of his property, fulfilling his property when and where and as needed, giving all due consideration for the property's well-being and growth in the direction that the Master chooses, in order to make his property as good as he or she can be.

What defines abuse, misuse, or neglect? This is a much thornier issue, and the result of numerous recurring discussions amongst all Goreans, each has their own idea on the matter. Each Master or Mistress is different, and unique, just as each kajira is unique.

In general, as a rule of thumb, if the needs of either the Master or Mistress, or the kajira, are not being met, then we have a case of neglect as a minimum.

If the kajira is being used improperly, that is, if the kajira is being used as other than a kajira, that constitutes misuse.

The hardest circumstance to be clear on is that of abuse. What the kajira considers abuse may not be what the Master or Mistress consider to be abuse. The very nature of the relationship means that the Master or Mistress is in the right. At times, the Owner may impose something that is unpleasant or distasteful upon the kajira as discipline or punishment, and that is not necessarily abuse. However, if the situation continues in such a fashion for an extended period of time, a case may be made for actual abuse. In real life, there is no Gorean Law that holds any sway whatsoever. Thus, the matter is wholly at the discretion of the kajira and the Owner. There is nothing that can be said here which will force the situation one way or the other, real life has its own priorities and needs and dangers. All that can be advised to the Owner is that few countries have legal systems which support slavery of any kind, and so the Owner should take that into consideration. To the slave, know yourself before you go into it, and know the Owner as well. A hasty decision can have very serious repercussions. A truly abusive Owner can do an enormous amount of damage, and an untrustworthy slave can wreck an Owner's life. A great deal of integrity is called for, let your conscience be your guide.

Curiosity is not becoming in a kajira

This topic is quickly dispatched. Unless you are specifically told that you may, questioning Free regarding their movements, motives or philosophies is forbidden. It is the role of a kajira to accept the Free as they are, period. Remove the words 'but' and 'why' from your vocabulary.

In a good M/s relationship, you will be encouraged to think, to question, to grow, but ALWAYS respecting your Owner's right to shape your perspective. Otherwise, why offer Him/Her yourself in the first place.