A Reflection from a Slave Within a Gorean Leather Household
I’ve often been asked why we emphasize protocol so deeply within my Masters' household. Why do we insist on titles, positions, rituals, the arc of a lowered gaze, or the grace of a kneel? For some, protocol might look like performance, outdated, overly rigid, or even unnecessary. But for us, especially within the walls of a Gorean Leather household, protocol is far more than tradition.
It is reverence in motion.
In the House of Koch, where Leather values and Gorean philosophy intertwine, protocol isn’t just about structure. It is about honor, intention, and sacred service. It creates an atmosphere where every act, no matter how small, carries meaning. Whether it is the exact placement of a cup offered by a kajira, the collaring ceremony imbued with oath and fire, or the ritual greeting in the morning light. Protocol becomes the language of devotion.
I believe protocol gives shape to the intangible. It translates power exchange into poetry, turning abstract desires into lived reality. When I kneel before my Masters, it is not simply kneeling. It is affirming a mutual truth. I serve, you protect. I yield, you guide. And I do not take that lightly. Every protocol we observe is infused with mutual responsibility and deep care.
In this household, we do not serve protocol. Protocol serves us. It supports the emotional architecture of our dynamic. It gives me something stable to cling to, a way to focus my submission and honor my purpose. For me, as a slave, it is a daily reminder to serve with integrity, patience, and accountability, to be worthy of all I receive.
There is a spiritual quiet in a well practiced protocol. A sanctity. It slows down time. It silences the noise of the world and reminds us of who we are and why we are here. In Gorean thought, reverence is embedded in the fabric of life. Slaves serve not out of humiliation, but out of devotion and pride. And Masters rule not from ego, but from earned authority and strength of character.
In our Leather lineage, where merit and honor shape one’s path, protocols are more than tradition. They are a living expression of our core values: Character. Honor. Integrity. Merit. Trust. To outsiders, protocol might appear as theater. To us, it is sacred practice.
So yes, there is reverence in protocols. And in my home, that reverence binds us, deepens us, and calls us ever forward on our shared path.