Category: D/s, Power Play
Subcategory: Power exchange / Protocol

Crawling

Crawling involves the submissive moving on hands and knees (or sometimes elbows and knees) rather than walking upright. This may be required during specific scenes, as part of a ritual, as a form of discipline, or as an ongoing protocol within the relationship space. The dominant might dictate specific crawling positions or styles.

This activity creates a profound psychological impact through its physical expression of hierarchy. The lowered position naturally emphasizes the power differential, with the submissive literally beneath the standing dominant. Submissives often find that crawling induces a deeper submissive mindset through the physical act of lowering themselves. The vulnerability, effort, and sometimes discomfort involved can intensify feelings of submission. Dominants typically appreciate the visual reinforcement of their authority and the submissive's commitment demonstrated through accepting this primal position of supplication.

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This is a description of an activity in the BDSM checklist (also known as a 'kink list'). Want to discover what (more) kinks you might have? Maybe share them with a partner? Start the checklist!

About the category D/s, Power Play

Dominance and submission (D/s) and power play revolve around the consensual exchange of control between partners. This dynamic can manifest in countless ways—from bedroom-only scenarios to comprehensive lifestyle arrangements—all centered on one partner taking a controlling role while the other yields authority within negotiated boundaries.

People are drawn to power exchange for diverse reasons: the freedom found in surrender, the thrill of exercising control, the deep trust required, and the opportunity to explore aspects of themselves not expressed in everyday life. Unlike physical BDSM activities which focus on bodily sensations, D/s emphasizes psychological connection and the erotic potential of power differentials, creating experiences that many find deeply fulfilling on both emotional and sexual levels.

About the subcategory Power exchange / Protocol

Power exchange protocols establish formalized patterns of behavior between partners that reinforce and express their D/s dynamic. These may include specific language requirements, postures, rituals, or rules that symbolize and maintain the consensual power differential between participants.

People engage in protocols for the structure and clarity they bring to power exchange relationships. These practices create consistent reminders of roles, deepen the psychological aspects of submission and dominance, and provide a framework for expressing devotion and control. For many practitioners, the mindfulness required to maintain protocols creates a meditative focus that enhances connection and satisfaction beyond what more casual power dynamics might offer.



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