The BDSM Dominant clock: What Time of Dom Are You?

No, that's not a typo: the clock system is an excellent way of gauging how BDSM dominant your dom or domme is, explains writer Sienna Saint-Cyr.

When I first admitted to my Dom that I was a switchy girl, he asked me what time of Domme I was. It was pretty early on in our relationship, and I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. I thought I’d misheard him, and that he’d said ‘type of Domme’, but I was wrong. He had said 'time'. He told me he was a twelve o’clock Dom. As in, he is a BDSM dominant that doesn’t submit to anyone.

He’s only on the top, above many other D’s that are at the ten or eleven o’clock. This seemed an interesting way of looking at things, but I didn’t see the usefulness of referring to things that way until later. At that time, I was only about a six or seven o’clock Domme. I loved submitting but did occasionally top or dominate other girls as well.

Figuring out the BDSM Dominant clock

Later, though, as I began seeing myself as a Domme that submitted to my Dom, I realised that I was actually pretty high up on the scale. More like an eleven o’clock Domme. This came in handy because I realised that the dominant side of me touches everything I do, even the non-kinky things. The moment I began seeing things in the clock/time scheme, I could instantly recognise a dom that was above me or below me even if that person claimed to be an alpha, rather than a dom. Then I knew how to behave in their presence. Or how to interact in cases outside of the kink community. It is extremely helpful.

Some of us only desire submission, but no matter how submissive someone is, everyone has things they’re passionate about, which means that I have yet to find someone that would be considered a one o’clock dom. A three yes, but I’ve not found lower on the BDSM dominant clock scheme. Even a highly submissive person will have areas that they don’t want to submit or behave as a beta. He or she will want to project outward at that moment, with a more dominant and controlling energy. So the clock system works amazingly well. It’s clear and more comfortable to follow. No tricky math involved. Just a simple time of day.

The BDSM Dominant clock can be a useful tool for both sub and Dom.

What type of BDSM Dominant do you long to submit to?

As an eleven o’clock Domme, I submit to one person completely, because he’s higher on the clock. I can submit to people at my range, but it’s on a case by case basis. I might even be able to submit to a ten o’clock dom, but that would have to be very playful, topping from the bottom sort of scene.

Overall, I find that by using the clock system to gauge people’s scale of dominance, it helps me find my place. By using this method, I know that if someone is throwing out a six o’clock, I need to lead and not follow. This method allows for individuals to explain their dominance and submissiveness with one simple hour of the day.

Sienna Saint-Cyr writes erotica and blogs about kink, poly, body image, and most things relating.