perhaps, for those that struggle with this idea of power exchange, it may help to think of power as "flowing."

It is true that power flows from the submissive one to the Dominant one, the method of this exchange varies greatly. This leads many to suggest the submissive "has the power", however as Ozme, denu, lucy, and others have illustrated, within the context of scene or relationship this is not so.

After all what power does one wield when tied wrist and ankle to the bed?

Yet power will, as it must, eventually flow back to the one who has surrendered it, be it the end of a scene or day or relationship or life, and so, as most things in life it is cyclical.

For me the true question, isn't who wields power, but how that power is wielded. And the answer to that is as unique and similar as each one of us.