Rethinking Energy, Play and how it all fits into the world of BDSM. Par1

When I first got into the lifestyle I always heard people talking about energy and energy play but it wasn't until I began searching for the more ethereal or spiritual nature of BDSM that I really started to understand what playing with internal and external energies really meant.

So, this blog is going to be about the the external or the energy inherent to the items we use in a play scene and their corresponding energetic release.

When I think about the basics of energy, I have to first break down the items with which I am going to play, into the four elements - which are earth, wind, fire, and water.


Let's start with earth. The earth element is used to ground and calm a person's energy.

Items possessing the earth's energy would be:

- Natural Rope

- Leather / Fur 

And on the more extreme end of the earth spectrum - you would find:

- Wooden, Bamboo, Rattan etc... implements 

How are the energies used?

In rope bondage the bottom is being made to sit still through being bound, and often will fall into a deep meditative state.

In this state, the bottom becomes calm and sedate, leaving
behind the stresses of the world, and she is able to find her place in the scene or dynamic.

It has also been my experience that the subs that can also fall deeply into this state feel safer and are more closely connected to their dominant because once you are bound you are forced into a position of trust, which raises oxytocin, the chemical in human beings that fosters trust.

Bondage, whether it's being done with rope or leather, can lower cortisol levels, as a result of all the constant contact between the top and bottom.  (cortisol is the chemical in the body which is associated with "fight or flight")
Lowering cortisol and raising oxytocin in the body, especially when dealing with a person that is new to BDSM or kink, is important because it will help the person to have a deeper and more meaningful session, as well as stave off some of the feelings of sub drop.

Custom Pink Coach leather floggers made
by  Leather Designer and Bondage Artist
Orpheus Black 

Leather floggers have a similar energy-grounding property, but the difference is that the energy often comes from a deeply rhythmic pattern that lulls a sub into a trance-like state called sub space.

A better way to understand this is to imagine a child being put to sleep.  Oftentimes a baby is laid across his or her mother's shoulder, and small rhythmic pats o
n the back are used to calm the baby, bringing down his or her energy/excitement and allowing him to fall asleep.

The same is often true during a flogging scene because the Dominant (this is not always correct when the Dominant or Top identifies as a Sadist) is using a pattern of hits generally on the back that in their shear frequency, can send a sub into a relaxed and/or altered state.

This is very apparent during the part of the scene that we call the warm-up. During the warm-up, the Dominant is using the lightest strokes in order to raise the sub's body temperature, increase blood flow to the area that is going to receive the most attention, and excite the nervous system, while dulling the body's pressure receptors in the same area.

One piece Collar and Gag made from coach
leather Designer and Bondage Artist
Orpheus Black  

And again what I think is most important is that on a chemical level, the altered state is reducing cortisol by being in this relaxed and altered state, and increasing oxytocin by simply having to trust another human being. (Note: I also think that the elevation in oxytocin is one of the main reasons as to why so many subs need aftercare. This chemical, once released, is an emotional bonding agent that makes a person want to be close to another person and if it is denied, it can trigger feelings of abandonment in some subs, while other subs don't need it at all.)

There are other elements made from leather, such as collars and cuffs, which can also help to ground a sub's energy.

Using a collar can help center a sub especially after a long hard day. By having them kneel and placing that leather collar around their neck - that can take them right out of the rat race and help them to get right back into their submission.

In the next blog we will get into the farther reaches of the earth energy exchange by delving into wood, bamboo and rattan implements.