People come to second life for different reasons. Some view it as a game. Some want to make friends or find love. Some people want to be able to just hang out, explore and live the life that they cannot do in their real life. That is the beauty of a virtual world, you can do that. In the journey of Second Life, people have the opportunity to explore the lifestyle of BDSM.
One place in SL, Triskelion Academy, and Black Moon Acres Community, aims to change the way people learn the truths about the lifestyle of BDSM in a safe community. They have done so by developing a curriculum with a team of staff, mentors, and leaders who are, themselves, members in the lifestyle.
I had the chance to sit down with Faxi, a mentor and one of the founding leaders to revisit and reflect on this program and celebrate the milestones we have achieved over the past 3 years.
ELY: WOW! Can you believe it has been 3 years already? I can still remember my first time stumbling into my first class that you were teaching. All I remember was that so many people were there. **Giggles** What made you want to start a program like this?
FAXI: So, I started Triskelion in April 2019 for a couple of reasons. I had experiences in real life where I had seen people getting hurt or making poor decisions. A lot of time, it was due to a need for more education. In SecondLife, I was looking for a worthwhile project as I always needed something to keep me busy.
I looked for Sims with BDSM education. I found some, but all of the programs taught the Doms separately from the subs. While good programs, I wanted a program that the Doms and subs learned together. I felt that it was good for Doms to learn things about the submissive and vice versa. That is when a couple of good friends started Triskelion.
ELY: Over time, the program kept growing, and changing. How did you get to where you are now? What sets Triskelion apart from the other BDSM Schools that are out there?
FAXI: Our school has continually evolved by placing a strong emphasis on listening to our students, which has proven to be a paramount factor in implementing changes. Additionally, we have learned through a great deal of trial and error. Our team of dedicated staff shares a common purpose and drive to offer authentic, personal experiences that enrich the learning process. The diversity of our staff members has also been instrumental in our growth.
What distinguishes our school from others is our unique approach to teaching BDSM. Our program caters to both Dominants and submissives, creating a rich, collaborative learning environment where individuals can learn from one another in the same class. We believe in teaching practical knowledge based on real-life experiences, enabling our students to acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the different types of dynamics within BDSM.
ELY: Being on the team, here at Triskelion myself, I can see how valuable it is to learn from all the leadership and students we have here. What is something that you have found to be valuable from being a Triskelion and having this community?
I have found value in learning from other people and the varying perspective and experiences that other people bring to the community. There is continually so much to learn. While everyone has experienced so much and people do not always agree, everyone is respectful and helps one another learn and grow as individuals in their own journey. You can see that each member of the leadership team, as well as the staff, wants to assist people in learning and want to help people learn the lifestyle in a safe manner. It is amazing that, although they express the challenges that SL brings to the community, they still help others learn in a respectful way how they may have been shown in an unhealthy manner, and they are non-judgemental.
ELY: I know that you have so many things for the school to do, with the classes and study times. Since the change and growth of the community, what activities can someone do on the sim? And is it only open to the school and community members?
Triskelion Academy within the community of Black Moon Acres Community, an adult land that embraces and accepts the BDSM lifestyle, in addition to other areas of everyday life. For example, the community has regular events, dances, discussions, G&S Fishing and other G&S Activities, horseback riding, and gaming, just to name a few activities. Mainly, Triskelion and Black Moon Acres want to know that the BDSM lifestyle is not any different than any other way of life.
ELY: For anyone interested in attending, how often do sessions run?
Sessions are 24 classes long (split up into 30-40 minute parts long) and graduation occurs once students complete the classes and assignments. Although the academy is based on the students completing them at their own pace, they do ask that students complete them within a couple of session times. Overall, Triskelion does understand what RL happens and works with each student.
ELY: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Triskelion Academy is a community that continues to learn, reflect and adapt to the lifestyles needs, including always learning and attending RL workshops, as well as listening to the students and the team as a whole. Each staff member has experience and/or has been through the academy. We believe that each opinion should be heard. We take it to the team and the leadership to be discussed and worked through. Questions, please talk with a member of our leadership team.
Additional Information:
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Black%20Moon%20Acres/137/231/1534
Discord: https://discord.gg/5bypSG7UQf
Preferred Contact: Faxi (Faxi2016)
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