Power Circuits: Polyamory In a Power Dynamic

By Raven Kaldera

Power Circuits is an alliance between two alternative lifestyles: polyamory, or multiple open and honest romantic relationships; and power dynamics, relationships that choose to be consciously and deliberately unequal in power, such as dominant/submissive or master/slave. Both lifestyles are on the cutting-edge frontiers of romantic and sexual relating, and for a long time practitioners of both have found little sympathy in either camp. This is the first book of its kind that navigates the waters of effective polyamory and power exchanges, with many essays from the brave practitioners who swim there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312302198

Raven Kaldera

Raven Kaldera is a Northern Tradition Pagan shaman who has been a practicing astrologer since 1984 and a Pagan since 1986. The author of Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practitioner and MythAstrology and coauthor, with Kenaz Filan, of Drawing Down the Spirits, Kaldera lives in Hubbardston, Massachusetts.

Reviews for Power Circuits

[jessmahler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Highly recommended for D/s folks looking to explore polyamory. Otherwise, not so much.

I finished Power Circuits with mixed feelings. As someone who identifies primarily as polyamorous but has had kink in my relationships since before I knew what polyamory was, I was really looking forward to a book that brought the two together.

That book... isn't this one.

What this book is, is a mostly-solid practical guide for couples in D/s relationships looking to open up their relationships. It has a very heavy focus on situations where the D-type wants to open the relationship and little space is given to s-types who are drawn to polyamory for their own reasons.

For what it is, this book is very good. But the description made it seem like a book that was more balanced in it's presentation and it's focus on D/s folks opening up leaves this polyamorous & kinky person kind of disappointed.

[hippielunatic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For anyone who is interested in power exchange relationships, this is nearly a must-read. But added to the complexities of a relationship format such as power exchange is the concept of ethical, loving non-monogamy. If that type of relationship isn't headed for disaster in most cases, I'm not sure what else could be more doomed when engaged in by the masses. Between society's nonacceptance and the lack of discussion about how to handle yourselves in the situations that arise in both of these spheres, there aren't many resources available to people who are having a difficult time establishing working, loving, and lasting relationships. However, Kaldera and the other contributors find ways to explain the requirements for both dominants and property to fully incorporate power exchange AND non-monogamy into a healthy aspect of their lives. While most of the polyamory suggestions were par for the course in a non-monogamy guide book (Communication, communication, communication anyone?) the collision of mastery and submission with multiple loves for other partners was well discussed, and from various angles, including those of the subs.I can't say this was an earth-shattering book for me, but I can say that it well solidified the need for compassion in both aspects of my relationships.