Pathei Máthos - Wisdom Through Suffering: An Exploration of Ordeals & Pain Trials in BDSM - October 25, 2025

This class will be presented LIVE on Saturday, October 25, 2025 @ 2 PM - 5 PM EST. A recording of the class will be sent to all ticket holders after the live presentation.

An ordeal ritual is a painful experience that requires courage and strength of will. It is a trial one sets for oneself. A rite of passage and a quest for personal power, Ordeal rituals can fill a void missing in our modern world. Ordeals have been used by cultures and religions throughout history. Many are now enacted in more secular ways, although some prefer to mix some spirituality into their rituals. 

Learn why ordeal rituals have been used in the past and why they are still relevant today. As kinky people, we are no strangers to pain, and many of us choose to engage in activities that intentionally push our limits. Ordeals take this to the next level. While they may look different to each person who chooses to engage in one, an ordeal is always a test of the spirit, the inner strength of that person.

This class will not teach you how to do a specific Ordeal; it will teach you the foundation that Ordeals are built on. We will discuss the historical and cultural contexts of these rituals and how they are missing in our modern world. I will talk about my own journey and the various ordeals I’ve engaged in, as well as why you might also want to challenge yourself in a similar manner.

While we may draw inspiration from other cultures when considering Ordeals, we need to talk about cultural appropriation. Your culture may have a rite of passage that you will want to recreate, and that’s awesome! However, we shouldn’t try to “recreate” rituals from cultures we don’t belong to. 

We will look at different types of Ordeal rituals and how to create one that suits you. Finally, we will look at the psychological effects of engaging in a pain trial and the prospect of failure. By the end of this class, you will be able to move forward in creating your own pain trial.

Recording:

If you are unable to attend the live class, it will be recorded. The recording and slides, as well as any links or other resources discussed in class will be sent to all ticket holders. Only my feed and the presentation are recorded, none of the participants are recorded, the chat is not recorded. The recording of the class is only available to ticket holders and will not be available to anyone else. You will have access to the recording for 1 year.

Workshop Access:

Tickets are on sale until class begins. When ticket sales close, 1 hour before the start of class, you will be sent the Webex link. Please check your spam folders if you do not see it. The email is sent via Eventbrite and can sometimes get caught in your inbox filters. 

Presenter Bio:

Morgan Thorne has been practising BDSM all her adult life. She got an introduction to kink through the Queer community in the early 1990s and knew she had found ‘her people’.

Morgan has also spent a decade working as a Professional Dominant, which has allowed her to expand her skills as both a Top and a Dominant. Morgan has been offering workshops, lectures and BDSM training for a number of years as well. She has a successful Youtube channel where she educates about D/s relationships, BDSM basics and various kinky skills.

She is the author of a number of successful books about BDSM, including “Exploring BDSM: A Workbook for Couples (or More!) Discovering Kink“. Her latest book, “Sensual Spanking: How to Introduce and Enjoy Erotic Spanking in Your Relationship” is due in autumn 2025.

Morgan identifies as both a Sadist and a Dominant. She enjoys playing with a variety of people of all orientations/genders/identities. BDSM is an integral part of her personal, romantic relationships. Morgan is both asexual and pan-romantic.

Prior to her work as a Professional Dominant, Morgan worked in health care. This has allowed her to gain a more thorough understanding of health and safety concerns in kink. She retired due to an injury that lead to chronic pain and disability. It also spurred her interest in medical play, a way to continue to use the skills she learned in health care and to find comfort in the loss of a much-loved career.

Morgan has been active in various forms of activism, including LGBTQIA rights and sex worker rights. She is a strong advocate for equality and the human rights of all people.

Medical Bio: Morgan Thorne is a retired medical professional and avid medical player. She has also worked in the body modification field, performs hook suspensions, pulls and physical ordeals. She was a founding member of Circus of the Damned and Triage Sideshow and has also worked as a solo performer.