Aristasia ... Lhe Great Escape ¢ + by Polly More lly is getting nervous sitting in the office. Funny how the mind is drawn to the macabre: images of serious, unreserved corporal punishment pre~ vail, IMlusionary projection clouds the vision, not good when visiting unusual situations ‘when ie is best to keep an open mind, take a deep breath and plunge. Holding my nose 1 return to the Aristasian Embassy to visit ‘Miss Martindale, the official face of this dis television, 's radio programmes and current newspapers are amongst the things you will not find here, nor much evidence of 1996 in ‘general, As far as is possible everything — furniture, clothing, objects, ete will be from the past. A sub-dialect, with coded words also exists besides “Good English”, to fi ther distinguish their world from ours Bongo”, "Pie", “Pette” etc.) Miss Martindale (Miss M.) along with a group of ‘ther women have been constructing, and living in this all-women hierarchy for over 16 years. (Men may visit occasionally but cannot experience what women ean) Aristasia, a familiar sounding word (Aristasia/Fantasia) is the umbrella term for the “provinces” (historical zones) including Vintesse ~ the 1920's, Trent ~ the 1930's iT SLIP amar Schoo! PUNISHME! Maryhill County Gram ee and other un-dated more ancient regions Such as Amazonia which together form the fabric of Aristasia, [eis up to and no later than the late 1950's (Quirinelle) that Aristasia exists (pre-eclipse Thave been reading Children of the V by Miss Regina Snow: “The astonishing true-life novel of women who created an all female world of glamour and discipline”, the latest in a series of Aristasian novels published by Wildfire Publications. Other ‘commercial Aristasian ventures include, to name but a few, the sale of traditional fully fashioned seamed stockings (which wrinkle cenigmatically around the ankle) a range of lingerie and high quality Malayan cattan The hook is an unusual mixture of styles =a very specific fundamentalist matriarchal Philosophy, a wash of fact and fiction and some very detailed (skin-smarting and bot: tom-tingling) descriptions of the effect of harshly treated, soft female flesh. Aristasia is not geographically bound, but spans from London to the South West ‘of England as far as France and even America (via the World Wide Web), is more a “chain” with a set of rules which Tink the various centres. In theory anywhere can be Aristasia with the devotion and dedi cation required to cteat Arriving at che Embassy as arranged, Mise M. isn’ yer ready: A voice emanating from the letterbox directs me to the garden where I wait. ! admire the impressive qoan- tity of empey wine bottles in the broken green house and the relaxed atmosphere of the garden. Everything rakes longer in Aristasia. The contemporary rush is replaced by a supine calm and “sophisticat ed” pace which either encourages patience fr provokes fury. Summoned, I travel the distance from garden to door, yet notice that Miss M. takes noticeably longer despite the relative distances. What mystery slowsthe pace in the inner sanctum? Tam often surprised just how much some one's physical presence afects the way they appear to be, The Miss M. who grcets me today seems quite different from the wprih disciplinacia of my first vist. Then, she wor a severely dark ited dress nipped at the ‘waist witha ighe patent leather bet, hair drawn back ino a sleek and elegancoitfve eyes topped with charcoal grey and a hom rimmed spectacles upon her powdeced check emphasising the severity of wickedly red lipstick Today, in our one-to-one meeting, she weats along and flowing evening dress i demerara gar brovn, with red stiletcos, pearl jewellery and haie w fied ina black bow. The fabri discloses the regulation Ar stockings and suspenders, the little tension nf the dress is pleased by the fluidity of the fabric and how itenhances the bods: Iris a celebration of che fer other worldly. Unforcunately the same cannot besaid of me. Looking me up and down she points a trained finger at the armchair wh Tong wvet skict has been placed for my splendid, immediate wear. Trousers are not worn by svomen here, it not feminine The calm is momentarily broken by this by my insensitivity. She fry outburst, caus threatens to propel Smoothing out the situation, I discard the levis, don the skirt and looking somewhat mngainly we continue. Miss M. isa very charming, inceligent and enigmatic woman diately draw of charseter and self confidence are alluring qualities. The darkened living room i serocted, from the persian carpet glass lamps which emanate a suitably sot light, The room resembles a period set from a The cartans, velvet, are always closed here, to ack ou any interference from the “Pit and presumably keep all Arstasian energy pure (t takes years to purify a previously tainted household). = being uel ompanionship and healing to name but a few Arstasia is a smelting pot where the wholesome and che rather more piquant co The young brunette, Edwina, the School Ma'am Miss Martindale, the schools! Heather Win-Sarah, Embassadress Lady Trent rebut afew of the many ch encounter here. One would assume that a ear fantuan household would be necessary to house this group of women, How do they all corhabit ? You will ever see them in the same room together, you will probably not up 718 ser aes tunorean aiven subject, However there is a marked Similarity between them, You will soon realise that part of the lfe of an Aristasian is to construct and enact a range of differ: ‘ent personae, The amount and variation of these rely on the individuals ability to mul tiply yet pay no particular attention to chronological age, shape or size. As would befit a lady near the top ofthis feminine hierarchy, Miss Martindale has many per- sonae, an expanding body of girs. All of these though wil fi into either one of the two indigenous sexes: “blondes”- (ultra feminine, oft, lufy, submissive, girly), brunettes” (feminine, intelligent, forth right, assertive), Actual hair-colour is irrele vant, but all are “superior to the masculine”. Taday Tencounter Edwina young brunette ~ wise excitable, warm and express Transformation here is a re-oceurring theme as ies in many sub cultures. Spaces, ie, rooms, gardens, passages as well as peo: ple all sce thei fair share of changes. When fs a dining room nota dining com? When it's a cinema, When is a Mistress no Mistress? When she is a maid. There isa tnarkable creativity lavished on the poss bilities of one thing which has the potential to hecome another. Part ofthe current fascination for Aristasia stems from the similarities inher tent in other escapist worlds notably the S SM world, The spanking, personal tran formation and fantasy element as wel as exclusionary culings and suggestion of les bianism all add co the intrigue. Excluding the occasional pinch, squeeze, stroke oF kiss this isa "Chaste” environment w suality, not sexuality prevail. Despite the rules this is far more than a polite girls . Most of the recent press coverage ab Aristasia has concentrated on the corporal punishment that is administered on a re lar basis, Ths isan integral part of what is ‘on offer to women he and is seen as a purification means and return co “essential discipline ‘Unable to help herself, Annalinde, pin ioned firmly by the hands, twisted her legs is if to avoid the pain, opening her sus: pendererossed thighs in the most ungainly manner, Aunt Alice deftty brought down the hard bi niece's exposed inner squealed like Ber legs demurely as her rly means of pro: tecting this most delicate place of feminine anking her despite in agonising reproof to the ighs. Annalinde ‘modesty, For the rest of t legs 7 ly side b the mounting pain in her bottom and thighs. Even so, that burning soreness would make walking a delicate task next day, as her inner thighs rubbed together. beneath the folds of her skit Spanking provides part of the edged” regulating discipline, which is seen to be lacking in the outside world where chaos abounds - "in the pit they have been hard taught to feed their souls om poison ~ on @ cdoure that ma them cynical and discon rything, tented, tat cheapens and dirtes e most of all themselves’ Punishment given by a superior is nota “Silly Monkey” (Sado Masochist) game for those seeking “sensual gratification”, but a serious business “Genuine discipline ard true submission require true authority There are no safe words, sub/dom inte. changeability of obvious sexual content (all seen as facile). Instead, “wh the individual charge” is administered with ove, in the name of the higher le” Apparently a cleansing and detoxifying experience. Miss M never gives out what she herself has not received Miss M. is keen forall girls co feel wel come, telephone the Embassy in the fist instance, to find out whether or not you areready to benefit from the experience. A visit might include School Lessons, Maid Service, A Lick ofthe Cane or even isis 0 the in-house “Park Place” Odeon, forthe “Constant Nymph Club”. Contact with previously lost or inexperienced pares ofthe self will play a vital part of your stay 25 will meeting some of the extraordinary inhabitants and enjoying the sophisticated hteye Despite the more civilised aspects of Aristasian life there is more than a passing similarity co some other fundamentalist religions and organisations who trawl for recruits amongst che lost and the searching. In adhering toa formal structure one can abdicate personal responsibility. Yer where oes this ultimately leave-us? Sure, the strong and the intelligent may well get a lot out of Aristasia, but what of the unques- tioning, the malleable, or the plain fucked up? The book outlines rigid life definition siving specific rulings regarding correct ind acceptable behaviour: “You cannot pick or choose what Aristasian discipline you will accept, or decide when you think you h ‘enjoy punishment Tes the whole thing or le it be the Aristasian death of you! Tn talking with Miss M. iis clear that her intentions are pure and good, She is joubredly an advanced spiritual being with firm beliefs abour channelling the will and way of the Greater Goddess Even after three separate visits Lam left with mixed thoughts and feelings regarding Aristasa. Bittersweet, Suck it and see ? @ Call Miss Martindale atthe Aristasian on 0181 989 0281 All quotes are taken from ‘Children of The Void’, published by Wildfire Publications, See listings for comprehensive info regard: ing all things Artistasian, Glossary of Terms: Bongo - An inhabitant ofthe Pit, particularly one deeply affected by the ethos ofthe Pit Eclipse - The culeural and spisitu al collapse of the early 1960s, Civilisation proper ended at this time and the Void (or the Pit) took its place Pit - The psychotic anti-feminine ‘world outside Arismsia, created by the Eclipse. AN jaunty and ultra-femi: nine Aristasian gic Real World - Everything outside the Pit, not only Avistasia but the world hefore the Eclipse. ens mveceuncrcan 19