Vision 2023 Presenters – Vision Lotus

Leo

Leo found his path in life learning to live radically and authentically in 1988. He is returning from a sabbatical and is eager to get back to serving others in the leather and kink community.
Leo’s passion for piercing, body modification, and other manipulations of the flesh knows no bounds. He is always eager to share his knowledge with others, from basics to intensives to one-on-one mentoring and sacred rituals. He is especially passionate about topics such as service, protocol, blood play, energy, recovering from addiction, and emphasizing practical applications. Leo is an educator at heart and has been educating since 1997, and is also the founder and owner of Beyond Piercing.
Many would tell you that Leo is approachable, straightforward, kind, innovative, and able to teach folx from wherever they may be in their journey. He is Leather, spiritually focused, Master, heavy sadist, disabled, and trans-masculine identified. He believes that learning is a lifelong process and is constantly seeking new experiences. Leo enjoys that every day he is given the opportunity to remember that he is human and laughs at himself often.

Classes

Nailed It!

Do you want to learn how to dig in and put them in their place? Titties and scrotums that is. Whether you want to learn to apply it or be a voyeur in experiencing the intensity of using a hammer and nails through the flesh.

Intertwining Kink and Spirituality

Curious about the intersectionality of kink and spirituality? We ask that you come with an open mind and be willing to look inside your own experiences while accepting and owning them. Welcome home to "you" where we integrate the sacred and profane.

The Romance of Being Non-Romantic

Despite the massive shifts in how our culture understands human relationships and sexuality, power dynamic relationships are often assumed to possess elements of sex and romance. Sex is considered by many to be a necessary element of BDSM and power dynamics, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! In “The Romance of Being Non-Romantic,” Leo engages attendees in a discussion that redefines “romance” and “sex” and shares how fulfulling non-romantic power dynamics can be! This class aims to validate attendees and others who design their dynamics in ways that work and honor themselves rather than outside observers. This class welcomes anyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or relationship status!

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Miss Velvet Steele & Master Todd

Miss Velvet Steele (she/her) is a dominant, cisgender, heteroflexible Leatherwoman with a penchant for electricity, scalpels, and needles. She is the proud owner of her slave, Master Todd (he/him.) They share a passion for Master/slave relationships that are built on service, commitment, and love. In the dungeon, they enjoy all manner of sharp and pointy things. As educators, they enjoy making folks think and long-held assumptions and hope to inspire reexamination of your beliefs. Miss Velvet currently serves on the board of NLA-Dallas, volunteers for the Mentors Program, and is part of the Beyond Vanilla planning committee. Master Todd is honored to have served as the 2013 Southwest Master and currently serves as the Regional Director for the Southwest Region of MAsT International. As educators, they enjoy making folks think and long-held assumptions and hope to inspire reexamination of your beliefs.

Classes

Speculums, Sounds, and Scalpels, Oh My! Infiltrating the Mind and Body with Medical Play

Not just playing doctor in the dungeon, medical play encompasses a wide array of play styles, toys, and activities. Medical play is much more than violating existing (or freshly made) orifices, and when done correctly, it offers a way to deepen the intimate connection that occurs when we exchange power. In this presentation, Miss Velvet Steele and Master Todd will discuss a variety of play ideas. Class will conclude (time permitting) with a cutting demonstration to satisfy your, and their, bloodlust.

Building Your Kinky Character Sheet

You know you’re an expert flogger, or perhaps tea service is your jam; but have you considered how your own unique mixture of background, experiences, and personality traits are part of what you have to offer? Have you ever thought about how these combine with our values, skills, and life obligations to form our kink identity? In this class, we will use the paradigm of the character sheet to help us take a look at how the elements of our personal foundation inform our availability as a partner and community member.

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Mama Gail

Hi, I’m Gail (she/her). I’m a leatherwoman and kinkster that’s been kicking around the scene for a while. I’m known for my #LovingLeatherSpaces, and I hold the title of Women’s International Leather Legacy 2018. While my leather history began in the gay male bar scene, these days I find that I’m more drawn to women and trans inclusive queer centered spaces. I enjoy a great conversation and hearing what you’re passionate about. I’m low-key and go with the flow, but I do have a wicked kink streak that is snarky AF. My mind is absolute filth.

Classes

What Consent Really Looks Like

**CW:** Consent Violation / Sexual Assault
Talking about consent and negotiation is foundational to all in the BDSM community. But what does that look like in LIVE ACTION?
Join us as Mama Gail (and her consensual demo bottom) show us how to give/gain consent throughout a scene, and where things cross a line. There will be a short demo, discussion about what occurred in the demo, followed by open discussion about other potential scenarios where consent is given or violated.
Whether you are brand new, or you’ve been kinking for decades, there are nuances in this demo that everyone can learn to be a safer, consensual player.
*Consent and Personal Safety/Responsibility: This demo and discussion includes Consent Violation / Sexual Assault content. Self-care and consent are of the utmost importance, so you won’t be asked to do anything without your consent. You will not be peer-pressured to participate, and you won’t offend anyone by leaving at any time.

Rope for Every BODY

Mama Gail strongly believes in creating more accessibility to various types of play, but especially rope. This class educates on how to play around everything from mobility issues to emotional challenges – for both the top and bottom. Everyone that wants to experience rope should have that opportunity. Let’s eliminate the stereotypes, body shaming, gender preffing, etc. stuff that really just gets in the way of a great time among consenting play partners.

Active participation is not required in this class. This one is rope centered, but the ideas are universal in all types of play, and anyone can benefit.

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Beast & Echo

Born in Germany to German and Lakota parents, Beast (He/Him) is a pansexual, polyamorous Leatherman, a Master, a teacher, and a student. Among his many interests, Beast is a rigger and ropemaker, pyromancer, biker, bodybuilder, musician, and Cigar enthusiast. He is an event producer, live cast host, impassioned educator, and ardent community volunteer.

echo (she/they) was born and raised in England and has been here in the U.S. for just over 8 years. She’s a pansexual, polyamorous Leatherwoman, a slave, switch, event producer, community organizer, and a fucker of minds. echo recently became a parent to Wicket and Cricket the sugar gliders and spends much of her spare time crocheting. She is passionate about mindset/relationship skills, and sociocultural theory.

Beast and echo are honored to represent the International Master/slave Title for 2022! The Southwest region as 2021 Southwest Master/slave and Colorado Master/slave 2019 - 21. Together with their partner Liv, they are raising 3 children in beautiful Colorado. While they love safely connecting with others in-person whenever possible, they are thrilled to have found ways to connect with kinky, Leather, and M/s folks around the world through online conferences, classes, and other virtual points of connection.

They enjoy sharing with and learning from others and have found a storytelling style that allows them to share triumphs and mistakes with honesty, transparency, and humor.

Classes

Sweetest Sound - URETHRAL SOUNDING FOR VAGINA OWNERS

Some play is fun, some is sensual, some is intense, some play is a mind-fuck, and some is a bit terrifying. Sounding can be all of those things wrapped up in one. If you can overcome the common initial reaction of, "you wanna put what? where? why??" you may discover an amazing sensory experience, and often the most intense orgasms of your life, as the sounds pass right through the internal anatomic structures of both the clitoris and the g-spot. Sounding is intensely amazing, and Beast will walk you through the mechanics of it, as well demonstrate how much fun these scenes can be for both the top and bottom.

Moments that Matter

Sometimes Moments that Matter Sometimes, everything comes together just right to create a perfect moment; one that shapes our life, provides direction and meaning, or cements a lasting memory. Many of us spend much of our lives chasing those moments. Imagine being able to intentionally create and craft these moments within your relationships, dynamics, and your Leather and kink experience. In this session, Beast (he/him) and echo (she/they) will share their approach to curating these moments and provide the tools necessary for you to take the lead in crafting moments that matter to you

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Sir Alice

Sir Alice is a poly, queer, sadistic Leather woman from Dallas, Texas. She has been active in the Dallas community since 2016. While she adores body bags, knives and canes, her view of play is do whatever the heck is in your risk profile!

Alice currently holds the education title, Ms. Route 66 Leather, 2022. Her additional community involvement includes former co-owner of Smoke and Mirrors DFW 2018-2021; Leader of the Underground Cigar Social since 2017; served a member of the council of DFW Dungeon 2019-2020. Member of the NLA Dallas Executive Committee since 2019; Beyond Vanilla committee member since 2019; Volunteer Coordinator Oklahoma Leather Fest 2019; Event Coordinator Oklahoma Leather Fest 2021. Presenter at both Beyond Vanilla 2021 and Oklahoma Leather Fest 2021. Den Daddy for Texas Power Exchange 2021.Emcee for Colorado Leather Fest 2022.

A graduate of the Dallas Mentors Program in 2018; Alice has done year and a day one-on one mentoring with members of her local Leather/BDSM community since 2020.

Classes

Bag it Up I'll Take it...

Curious about body bags, if you are into bondage, power exchange in a scene, fear play, breath play, temperature play. This class will be right up your ally. Learn the basics, get some new ideas in this hands-on participation class. Come find out how fun body bags can be.

Get to the Point!

Essential and exotic knives are one of the things used daily in our lives. Let’s take the knives out of our kitchen drawers and pockets and look at how we can exchange power and energy, screams and giggles with this versatile tool of the BDSM trade.

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