Transitions - small rituals

An odalisque lives in captivity (occlusion). She is kept hidden from the world. She lives indoors, out of view, where she is kept for her Master’s services. From time to time, though, it may be necessary for an odalisque to go out. This is called “sojourn”. She may need to attend classes, or visit her Overmistress, or she may just go for a walk. In fact, few contemporary women are in circumstances where they can be in occlusion full-time. Many need to have jobs or for other reasons can only serve in occlusion on a part-time basis. Code d’ Odalisque is very flexible in this regard. An odalisque can manage her time – in accord with her Master’s will – between occlusion and sojourn. In occlusion she lives as a naked sexual slave. In sojourn, though still a slave, she goes about in the world like a freewoman.

The transitions between occlusion and sojourn are important. Occlusion and sojourn are two distinct states and distinct roles. It is important to make a sharp distinction between them. It is best to establish some small rituals to help mark boundaries and to create a proper transition in the psychology of the slave. It is best, too, if times of sojourn are rare and are carefully managed. A slave should not just come and go from the house. Leaving the house – moving out of occlusion – should be a significant event.

An effective strategy is to use the purifying qualities of water to mark the boundary between occlusion and sojourn. Thus, when a slave leaves occlusion and goes on sojourn she should have a shower first. She showers, then she gets dressed, ready to go out. It is customary for her to wear an anklet or some other reminder of her servitude. She puts this on after showering.

Conversely, when she returns home after sojourn, she should shower once again. She removes the anklet. After showering, she puts on her slave perfume (attar) and, naked, returns to occlusion.

So, before going out, and when returning home, the slave showers. She showers before going on sojourn and she showers upon returning into occlusion. On sojourn she wears an anklet. In occlusion she wears her attar (perfume).

Another ritual might involve her shoes. Her Keeper should control her clothing and her shoes especially. When she returns into occlusion, she should go to her Master and give him back the shoes she has been wearing.

A Slavekeeper might also require her to make certain affirmations to herself. For instance, upon returning into occlusion after sojourn a slave may be made to stand before a full length mirror and say an affirmation such as “I am my Master’s cunt” to reaffirm her role as odalisque. Small rituals like this can be very effective if repeated faithfully.

Small rituals – and especially the ritual of showering – help the slave change her roles, her mind-set, as she moves from occlusion to sojourn and back again. The anklet and the attar are also effective devices. A slave on sojourn wears an anklet. She takes it off before returning into occlusion. A slave in occlusion wears attar. She showers and removes the perfume before going on sojourn.