Shibari body mind spirit

Shibari - although the emphasys is usually on the bondages - is an integrated concept of body, mind and spirit.

The objective is to unlock erotic energy through trance or trance-like experiences.

Trance (a different level of awareness) is being achieved through a refined mix of atmosphere, ritual, meditation, love, techniques and intensity of the situation.

Most forms of oriental lovemaking are hardly ever straightforward sexuality, but an intriquing game of exploration and challenges and a delicate combination of subtlety and expliciteness. Shibari is no different.

Japanese bondage

What is trance?

Trance is a situation where one is so concentrated on one specific goal or situation, that the spiritual capacities of the mind are eniterly dedicated to that specific activity. This opens the mind to be able to experience - and use - things it never could under "normal" circumstances, since the brain will be too distracted and too busy.

Certain hormones - endorphins especially - play an important role in trance. Endorphins (morfine-like amino acids produced by the body) are the key factor here. Endorphins are known as the "mood chemicals" in your body. They create your moods, all of them. They come in complex cocktails and also serve other purposes. For example, they are a natural painkiller. Experiencing high doses of endorphins is called an endorphins rush. This is known as the "runners' high" in athletics and as "subspace" in power exchange activities.

A combination of endorphins, dopamine, enkapheline and adrenaline releases creates "super awareness" and this is the key factor in creating trance. Since experiences such as fear, anxiety, stress and physical impulses such as pain all cause the release of high doses of adrenaline and subsequently endorphins - these impulses are being used to allow you to climb the first steps of the trance ladder. Endorphins have a "sister-hormone" called enkephaline, which works on the spinal cord in the same way enderphines work on the brain.

Since mood is important atmosphere is important, which is why - in Shibari body mind spirit terms - a lot of emphasys is being placed on preparation and the physical area. For this, such things as candle light, aroma therapy (incense or evaporating essential oils), bathing and other rituals and techniques are used to create "Makama" - the "circle" (area), the physical area where both partners will experience their intens lovemaking. Meditation helps to focus the mind and eventually Ki energy exchange is being used to further enhance the bonding between partners and the forces of gravity and sensory deprivation techniques are being used to create full trance.

The patterns of passionate lovemaking

Ropemarks are often an essential part of bondage. In a Shibari body mind spirit context they play a role, similar to other ways of leaving lovemarks.

In its original form these patterns should follow specific designs and all serve specific purposes. The idea is to leave physical marks that will function as a "tell tale", which - for example in ancient India - forced the "marked woman" to hide these marks since they indicated lustful, wild love. The more intens the temporary mark, the more intens the lovemaking had been. Complicated, repeated combinations would indicate that the woman had really suffered during the lovemaking and the complicated patterns make it clear that she had to remain still during a long foreplay, while pain-impulses and excitement increased her lust.

The magic of knots

The magical power of the knot is as old as mankind. You will find references to the magical power of the knot in almost any ancient culture, be it Babylonic, Celtic, Oriental, Hermetic, Wicca, Voodoo or other.

Love magic - and there are many forms of that - almost always involves the use of knots and, of course, rope. Actually, we still have some of that left in modern times. Tie a knot in your handkerchief so you will remember something really important

How does it work?

Magic is all about manipulating the energy of life. This energy is called Ki in Japanese, Chi in Chinese or Prana in Sanskrit (the ancient language of India, still used in yoga for example). Conciously tieing one or more knots in a rope is a way to bundle this energy and store it there. Of course this energy will not make your car run. Neither will it make the lights go on. But it will be more than enough to have its influence on the subtle network of Ki energy exchange, that is everywhere.

In Shibari these "energy loaded" knots and ropes will replace the heart and hands of the giver and as such will contribute to the entire physical and spiritual experience. They enable the giver to "still be close to the recipient", even when physically not around. The interaction between the giver's energy - temporarily stored in the knots - and the pressure points on the Ki meridians in the recipients' body is what will release very powerful sexual and spiritual experiences.

Sexual energy is one of the most powerful manifestations of Ki energy. This is the reason why we still refer to whatever happens between love partners as "the magic", "the spark" or "the energy".

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