The Change

By Kittiara

Tal and greetings all,

Before getting into my monthly writing properly, a question. Who came up with the term “rask” as a description of someone’s backside? I wonder what Rask from the books would say about being immortalised as that part of, often, a slave’s anatomy. Let alone his name often being used as swatted, pinched or worse… I cannot help but wonder…

Anyway…in my article for this month I will try to have a look at a topic that was suggested to me by email. It was an intriguing suggestion and I thank the sender of the email, and too it is a challenge that I hope I can succeed in. Basically my article will be about the change from Free Woman to slave, or from slave to Free Woman. How does this affect one? What could have led to something like that occurring? How does one deal with such change…how does one adapt to their new status?

In Gor, of course, the change from Free Woman to slave is one often seen. This may happen by force or may happen when a woman begs steel. Both are seen as a natural thing, a woman finding her place in the natural order. A slave on Gor may struggle against such a change but soon finds she has no choice in this matter and will work hard to be pleasing; she knows she will be punished or even killed if she fails to please. On Gor too it is not that uncommon for a man to free a slave and for example become her Free Companion. It is said that a woman who has known surrender at least once in her life is a true woman. Therefor she will not be as cold as a Free Woman who has never known steel.

We all know what the books say on these matters and have read the struggles of women, but what about reality, be it online or “real life”? Interestingly whilst in D/s such changes are accepted, in the Gorean lifestyle they often are frowned upon. Of course a woman may beg steel, but then to change back? The term “switch” when relating to a woman is not one spoken with fondness. However, again, in the books such changes were not uncommon and a woman could find herself changing quite a few times in status.

From speaking to many women, both Free and slave I know that most women have a Free side and a submissive side. And it may not always be obvious to the individual woman which side is strongest. Therefor many will try out both aspects, perhaps even more than once, to find whom it is they truly are inside.

Let us look at a Free Woman, who finds herself longing for steel, to find out more about that inner desire to serve and please and be at the feet of men. The begging for steel will be in itself a frightening experience because she knows much will change after this. She will be but a slave. Her female Free friends will often abandon her…she may feel shame because her former equals, she now must serve and obey. She will experience a lack of knowledge and may feel inadequate. And, knowing myself, if I were this woman I would have such an amazingly hard time keeping my mouth shut! If she is lucky however she will find support and friendship from her brothers and sisters in steel. And she will have a good Master who will guide her, and who brings out that inner surrender and fire. And she will find happiness. It is my sincere conviction that true surrender comes from inside and not by any steel or punishment. She will feel safe and owned and needed and pleasing. Such will be the benefits of her new status.

Now let us look at a slave who finds herself Free’d. I have observed such changes because either women wished find themselves, or they were hurt as a slave, or real life would not allow them to be slave. The distinction must be made here between a woman who is still in search of herself or one who feels truly slave inside and is suddenly Free. In my experience such women are not happy as a Free Woman and will soon as they can return to steel. The robes, as it is said, suffocate them. Of course there are benefits to being a Free Woman. Though at all times respectful a Free Woman has more choices, more of a say, more freedom in her words. However she must carry herself with more dignity and restraint than a slave.

Being a Free Woman is not easy; it is a different kind of freedom, not suitable for all. Then again the same could be said for being a slave. In the end it all comes down to being who you are… though for many it will take a while to find their place in life and the Gorean lifestyle. To all women currently undertaking this journey of self-exploration, good luck and I hope your path soon becomes clear.

I will stop here as this article is getting rather lengthy, knowing a lot has been unsaid and unexplored. However as always I welcome suggestions, opinions and insights on this article or for future articles. Please send any emails to

I wish you well,

Kittiara