| Safety Manual by Catherine Gross |
| Ear plugs, hoods, tape, plastic bags and gags are a few items that can be used for sensory deprivation. Remember not to completely block air passage. Gags can do that and if your bottom is gagged they also won’t be able to call their safeword. You can give them a silent safeword such as an object in the hand, stomping a foot three times, or other methods that are clear. |
| Sensory Deprivation can be construed as a type of bondage. This form of play deprives a person of one or more of their senses. Don’t blindfold someone and then have them walk alone as they could injure themselves by running into objects. Don’t place the person where if they could knock over a candle if they move their arms. |
| Many prefer something other than an object in the hand, as it could be accidentally dropped. It’s prudent to use silent safewords if verbal communication isn’t possible. Options should be discussed with your partners prior to play. (cont. page 6) |
| Bondage & Sensory Deprivation |
| Whips, Flails & Quirts: An Overview |
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| There are many positions that one can use to whip/flog a bottom. They can be standing, laying down, bent over a spanking bench or kneeling before you. It’s important to strike where you are aiming to hit. Whips are an extension of your hand. For the most part, you should aim with the tip of the implement. That is where the most power will be concentrated in the strike. They are tools which allow you to create sensation. The power inherent in them also needs to be respected. Bottoms should know what a good flogging is and isn’t. It’s a bottoms responsibility to take care of themselves and make sure they do not submit to something which will harm them. Bottoms should not lock their knees when being flogged while standing. This could cause fainting. Areas not to whip or flog: eyes, ears, nose, mouth the neck (front or back) the spine joints (elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, etc.) tendons ligaments organs which are close to the surface of the skin such as kidneys the middle of the back (waist, that is the location of kidneys) from the knees down (knees and feet are very vulnerable) |
| Areas which are good for whipping or flogging are: muscular or fatty areas of the body padded front and insides of thighs (not where it connects to the hip) the sweet spot of the ass across the shoulder blades Now there is considerable debate as to whether or not one should flog and/or bruise breasts. There isn’t any empirical evidence to support that they shouldn’t or that it is okay to do so. Some people believe one should not bruise breasts as it could make one more susceptible to fibroid tumors and the development of cancer. The only suggestion that seems clear is not to create deep bruising on breasts that are cystic or fibrous. You want to make sure that when you whip/flog that you don’t wrap. Wrapping is when the tips of he flogger or whip curl around the surface of the body such as shoulders, sides, and hips. Some folks do this on purpose and enjoy this type of play. Wrapping is not generally a damaging act. When one wraps with skill, meaning they hit where they mean to hit, it is not a cause for alarm. Someone who wraps due to lack of skill is another story. Use your whole body when flogging, not just your arm. This can help you avoid injuries to your shoulder. |
| Genital Whipping With this type of play you want to make sure you have cleaned your whip well afterwards. Or, you can use a garter belt, stretch a dental dam over the area and then flog it. One option is to flog while you are holding a finger over the clit. That can allow the person to take more as it is covering the most sensitive part. Hygiene Keeping your whips and flails clean is imperative. You must clean them well, condition them to keep the grain and leather in a state which will is healthy for the leather. Disinfecting leather is particularly important if body fluids have come into contact with it. This can be particularly difficult if the material is braided. Sometimes you can get a dry cleaner to hand dip the item. However, if this is not an option, perhaps you need to dedicate the item. If this is not possible, clean well as explained earlier. Pay special attention to all the nooks and crannies. Another possible solution is that a bottom keeps their own whips and floggers that are to be used only on them and offer the top use of those items. Flogging can be experienced as soft, hard, deep and even spiritually intense. Check in periodically, watch your aim, keep your body aligned, and allow yourself to fly. |