What to expect from Bound<3 events
Who are we?
Well, basically, Bound<3 was founded back in 2015 from a frustration that Shibari was taught with a whole series of formal steps, techniques and skills to learn before you were allowed to have fun and play with ropes.
Neeka and FittGlitter had spent a couple hundred hours in tutelage with the Japanese masters and started to get a glimpse that there wasn’t any magic beyond that elusive veil, you apparently had to create it along the way.
So, in sheer petulance we asked ourselves how you could learn shibari if you started with the fun parts: the joy of connection, the playful exploration of sensuality, the discovery of the persons both in front and within, and let the other things follow from that.
And the result is what we call the Bound♥ project: An eclectic mix of authentic presence, genuine playfulness, adventurous exploration, and enthusiastic co-creation of each shared moment.
We usually start with the simple premise: Just Share Something, and if the ropes get in the way, drop them.
With practice and exploration you find ways for the ropes to add to the experience, to the setting, to the interaction, to the senses, and to all that flows within.
Today there’s more of us driving the project, and we invite any and all to partake and share it wider.
We keep ideas of sex positivity, empowered sexuality, authentic relating, genuine play and some other inspirations, which basically mean we invite you to co-create a shared moment from whatever inspires you in that instance, be it sensual, casual, silly and/or hot, just focus on the persons with you, and create some magic. If the ropes enhance it, use them, but they are never important.
Practicalities
So, what does this mean in practice?
Well, that’s a bit hard to say, as we’ve had an intermission since the pandemic, and we’ve all had to mourn, grow and become new people since. But we expect that
a) our community yearns to allow themselves to be vulnerable,
b) they will continue to question norms and expectations of rope,
c) they will feel real emotions (someone will cry),
d) it will be conceptually much more challenging for people with some background in traditional shibari teaching,
e) it will be silly, playful, naive fun.
f) Neeka will be abstract, and both share too much information and too little specificity (although you’re always welcome to ask follow-ups, which often help 😉
Norms & Conduct
Normwise, we strive for:
Enthusiastic consent as a baseline – if something doesn’t feel “Yum!”, pause, share a breath and see which way it’s leaning, act accordingly.
Empowered Co-creation – you are encouraged to shape your shared experience, and give as freely as you receive. Don’t hide behind expectations of gender, power dynamic, roles, etc. – consciously choose them, and challenge or act within them.
This means both in pleasure, safety, adaptations and communication – express yourself, support and help each other to express yourselves.
Loving Boldness – Dare to be present, let yourself to be vulnerable, accept your notions and lusts, and bask in the magic of being your authentic self. Love and honor your effort, and similarly graciously support those taking their furthest steps, no matter how many they’ve taken before.
You will typically be invited to share your emotional state at times during the event (“What are you feeling”, “What are you in the mood for”, etc.), you are invited to bring some fika for yourself and 1-2 more to share communally, we clean up together, and we encourage any social hangouts/cuddle piles/discussions, etc, as long as they are suitable for the surroundings (maybe don’t argue financial policy next to a steamy sensual session).
And if there’s anything we can do to help make you feel more comfortable, send us a message and we’ll see what we can figure out together.
♥