In my BDSM-themed Little Red Riding Hood novel, I'm definitely going to incorporate some bondage and suspension! Real-life experience like this is valuable, it would be a total waste if I didn't do so.
But wait! Before you freak out, I do hope you'll allow me to enlighten you on Japanese bondage.
In my "other life" as a non-erotic model, I've noticed that I kind of get raised eyebrows when I express my newfound love for shibari/kinbaku and suspension. The type of questions and comments I have received lately range from the pleasantly curious to the astonished (for lack of a snarkier word) conservatives. Examples below:
"Please explain more about shibari!"
"Does it hurt?"
"I don't see what's so great about bondage."
"That's freaky s***. I'd only let you tie me up if you blow me."
"Why do you like being tied up and suspended? I don't see the appeal."
My simple answer to the last question: It's the closest feeling to levitating.
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| Photo by Ota Kinbaku |
Since shibari/kinbaku (I kind of use those two terms interchangeably, but this Wikipedia article has a glossary that's more enlightening than my articulation abilities) is very popular in erotic photography, I used to shy away from bondage until I came across some beautiful photos that really captured the beauty of the non-sexual aspects of the practice. I fell in love with shibari for the creative aesthetics and the art of ties and knots and rope patterns and how the human body is supported. Here are some beautiful inspirations to me:
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| Photo by Sphinx Carnival |
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| Photo by Garth Knight |
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| This pose! I absolutely love this balletic pose! |
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| Credits unknown |
Everyone's body handles suspension differently due to the fact that everyone has different weight-to-balance ratio, and different tolerance levels. When done right, I think rope looks so beautiful, and even (dare I say?) empowering (I know, that sounds like a contradiction. How the hell can someone look empowered when they're tied up?).
I really fell in love with the art of it, and the fact that the practice really emphasizes communication and trust between the rigger (the person who ties up others) and the bottom (the person being tied up). I've been lucky to have worked with riggers (they include Ota Kinbaku, Dan of Two Knotty Boys, and the husband-wife-team of The Trousseau) who know what they're doing and are super-communicative with me by checking in on me every minute or so while they're tying me up (a simple "How are you doing?" or "How does this feel?" is sufficient). I guess thanks to that trust and level of professionalism, I get to have lots of fun pretending I'm levitating, heheheee.
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| Photo by Ota Kinbaku |
I was having dinner with a good friend of mine. He asked me if it hurt to be suspended. I only told him it does if it's done improperly, and that there are certain techniques that riggers have to be aware of when rigging someone, such as the fact that one cannot be tied around the joints, and that there are certain ways of tying that allows the bottom to still have a normal functioning blood circulation. I liked the response my friend gave me. He remarked, "Wow! There's really an art to this! One that requires a lot of trust!"
Very keen insight on his part, I must say. Being tied up and suspended is not an action any sensible person should entrust to just any rigger. And every good rigger should feel the same! I've been told that riggers have to be wary of people who have never been tied up, but are curious about it. Especially since once the prospect of being tied up becomes reality, the newbie might become anxious and freak out. That's when the rigger knows that the plan for being tied up should be aborted, for the sake of everyone's physical and mental safety. Not to mention I've heard of horror stories of incompetent riggers that resulted in severe injuries, paralysis, and even deaths of the bottoms. *shudders*
Yet, regardless of its connotation with erotic photography, the art of bondage and suspension is a magical sensation that I really enjoy. I hope this post was at least somewhat enlightening, and that this will pique your interest in my novel when it's ready. I just finished chapter 2 last night!
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