Maintaining a non-defensive spirit

Agreements are a two-way street

The Taken In Hand relationship is an agreement between the two spouses, and to have a good relationship, it is important to uphold agreements.

What if your wife feels scared and vulnerable?

Advice for any man whose wife feels scared and vulnerable during the introduction of a Taken In Hand relationship.

Make each other feel the luckiest person alive!

These anecdotes from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's wonderful book, Kosher Sex, might help.

Giving each other what we need

Aurora on the peace and safety of a Taken In Hand relationship.

Women who take responsibility for their own actions

Women who take responsibility for their risk and who expect mistakes to happen are a better bet than those who don't. Yes, I know: it sounds obvious, doesn't it? But it appears not to be obvious to all men.

Shades of grey

Paul cautions against black-and-white thinking in Taken In Hand relationships.

Do you have unrealistic expectations?

Are you a person who lives and breathes the idea that human beings are fallible and does not expect the impossible, or are you a person who hasn't really grasped that everyone makes mistakes? If you tend to feel very upset or angry about faults in others, or if you tend to focus on the negative instead of on the positive, it might be that you have unrealistic expectations and infallibilist tendencies. This is likely to be making your life much less happy and good than it could be.

Feeling thrilled by the prospect of being taken in hand

Some might find it highly unreasonable to be punished for forgetfulness; others find it fun and thrilling.

The subjection of women

To all the men who understand: thank you. To all who don't: I hope that this will help.

Listening isn't weak

Men sometimes (understandably!) fear looking weak or being manipulated so much that they are intransigent and don't listen when it would really be better if they did. What is a man to do?

Is she afraid of losing control? Topping from the bottom?

Women sometimes say they want a Taken In Hand relationship but then when they actually start a relationship, seem afraid to give up control. If you are a man who is frustrated that your woman is not acting the way you think she should be acting, or if you are a woman who is being accused of not being submissive enough, not being feminine, or controlling with complaints, hit the read article link now!

A good leader accepts that he is only human

In a position of power, a man must be mindful of his fallibility.

Closing the gap

This warm and insightful piece illustrates the fact that even those in the closest relationship can sometimes inadvertently misinterpret the other's signals and think that the other is being a bit distant. It also shows how being able to have fun and laugh together can break any tension and put things back on track.

Could you be a slave, owned, property?

Does property always do what it's told? Does being a slave mean abdicating moral responsibility in the name of obedience? Why might a woman consider herself a slave, and why do Taken In Hand generally prefer not to a slave?

Wedded bliss

For many couples, the move to a Taken In Hand relationship brings fewer arguments not because the woman is then silenced (she is not) but because there is more good feeling and intimacy in the relationship.

Familiarity breeds contempt

An argument against “excessive familiarity” in close relationships.

How we stopped fighting and became happier together

A week after discovering the Taken In Hand site, Louise and her husband had a terrible row. To find out how they resolved the crisis and became happier together, hit the read article link now.

Being Taken In Hand doesn't mean being silent

A man in control would be wise to ensure that his woman feels ‘heard’ – accepting a man's authority should not mean ceasing to have a voice in the relationship. If only one mind were doing the necessary thinking and problem-solving, the other would be superfluous.

Giving up control is not easy

Giving up control to the degree Otter has done is really not easy, should not be rushed, and is not for everyone; but for Otter, ultimately, it has relieved stress.

Greater humility, less defensiveness

Annie D. has been amazed to discover that Taken In Hand has made it easier for her to admit when she has been mistaken.

Do you have these vital qualities women want in a man?

Glitter wants a man who has self-control and integrity – like her grandfather.

My marriage is a safe haven

Bramble doesn't fear her husband and nor does she want to. She is the one her husband protects, not the one he fights.

Dominance, integrity and needing to feel superior

More thoughts about dominant men and the mistake some insecure men make in thinking that being dominant means being right, superior, better than women.

Don't forget your whip

This powerful article will thrill women who crave a man's control. Such women know that it is, as the writer says, sometimes necessary to “get beyond the polite and tasteful, and into the rape aspect of discipline.”

Why is real punishment spanking erotic?

Many Taken In Hand folk do not use physical discipline or punishment in their relationship. But for those who do, this series of articles explains some otherwise puzzling facts and paradoxes.

Offering an olive branch

No one is perfect, so what do you do when you have behaved badly? Following my article, Reaching out by offering yourself, Issie told this story of an offering of her own.

Do you have a commanding presence?

Do you command respect and obedience without even trying? Do you have natural authority, or would you have trouble controlling even a worm? If you don't have a commanding presence but wish you did, hit the read article link.

Dealing with a man who doesn't do as he's told

If your man won't do as he's told, it is time to stop nagging and start taking action. You do not have to allow yourself to be put into the position of being a nagging wife. There are better ways of solving problems – ways that will empower you without destroying your relationship.

Is your new man dominant, domineering, or a dithering wimp?

If you are in a new relationship, or have yet to find a man, and you want to be with a man who is lovingly dominant, you might like to consider this advice.

The dual failures of men

Although rarely explicit, a woman will frequently give implicit permission to a man to do whatever is necessary to keep the relationship together. She then expects him to act on her permission... If the man fails to act in a timely fashion, whatever love the woman has for him will, in time, crumble into a loathing for which there is no human cure.