The Barbed Pentacle: bondage

Showing posts with label bondage. Show all posts

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Nyx Oracle

Nyx is the Greek goddess of the night. In our modern mythology, the character of Elvira is probably the best embodiment of this ancient archetype. Born from Chaos, Nyx is both creatrix and a destroyer. She can bring pain and unhappiness, or she can soothe it all away under the cover of darkness.

Nyx is the mother of Sleep, Death, Atmosphere, Day, Blame, Doom, Death, Dreams, the Fates, Retribution, Deception, Friendship, Age, Strife, and according to some texts, Love. She was also known to operate as an oracle from the depths of a cave. Outside of the cave, ecstatic dances took place while the petitioners waited for their answers.

Nyx Oracle Ritual

This ritual can be rewritten for a solitaire or a couple, but it works best in a small to large group. One person needs to volunteer to be Nyx. This position should not be taken lightly. The person doesn't have to be female, but he or she should be very comfortable with a goddess taking over their body, should be at least vaguely familiar with Nyx, and should not be opposed to bondage nor claustrophobic.

Timing: Obviously, this is a night time ritual. The best time to do it would be the dark of the moon. That way Selene is not competing for attention.

Materials: Hood (for Nyx), mugwort or other such divinatory incense, pen and paper, drums or other instruments, absinthe (it's worth the time and money to hunt down the real stuff--not the cheap stuff a lot of places sell. For more info on absinthe: http://www.absinthebuyersguide.com/), and pieces of rope to bind "Nyx" with that will represent her children.

The Ritual: Before the ritual, "Nyx" needs to decide if the oracle will be received after a long ritual or if the oracle will be received during sleep via dreams. If the second option is the case, then a tent needs to be set up for Nyx in the ritual space and a babysitter appointed since Nyx will still be in bondage.

Set up your outdoor ritual space as you normally would. Light a large censor or several small ones and place the mugwort on it. The smoke should completely fill the ritual space. Now pass the absinthe around several times, including Nyx in the rotation. Don't forget to libate to Nyx as well. Next, bring Nyx forward into the middle of the circle. An invocation to Nyx should be said, either by one person or the group. The invocation can be original or borrowed. As Nyx is invoked, the hood should be placed over Nyx's head and that person should open him or herself up to the Goddess, allowing the Goddess to take over.

Now the group needs to decide and settle on three or four of Nyx's children that have been bringing them the most problems. More can be selected, but three or four is a good number.

Now, it's the bondage rigger's turn. The bondage for this ritual can be simple or fancy. For each rope, the rigger should say the following as Nyx is tied up: "Nyx, your child_____________, has been giving us problems. I bind your child ___________to you and ask that you tell us how to deal with the problems caused by your child."

If Nyx is not going to be sleeping, then he or she needs to be helped to a sitting or lying down position if he or she has been left standing. If Nyx is going to be sleeping, then Nyx needs to be helped into the tent. Either way, the baby sitter should stay close to Nyx with pen and paper to write down the oracle message. As the participants wait for the messages, they should feel free to drink more, dance, and play music. The energy raised from the music and dancing aids "Nyx" to make more of a connection with Nyx.

Once the ritual is over, either because the oracle has spoken or because Nyx has woken up, Nyx and her children need to be released. This can be done in a reverse manner than the children were bound to her.

"Nyx, thank you for your wisdom. We now release you and and your child_________. We release your child __________ from our lives." As the child is released, the rope for that child is untied.

After Nyx has been completely unbound, make sure to say a prayer of thanks to Nyx for her presence at the ritual. The person who was Nyx is probably going to need some aftercare, such as food, coffee, and a willing ear to listen.

These folks know Nyx too:

Quadrivium Supplies http://www.quadrivium-supplies.com

Erotic Sensations http://eroticsensations.us/

Tonia Brown www.thebackseatwriter.com

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Holly Boy tied up the Ivy Girl (or maybe it's the other way around)! Happy Litha!

I find it really amusing how my last post really upset some folks. However, most people chose to post their complaints on other people's Facebook pages or social media sites instead of having the courage to post on my mine. Tsk tsk. But that's ok. Good or bad, you all really boosted my stats. Thanks! My sponsors are thrilled.

With that said, Happy Litha! In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the longest day of the year. The long sun filled evening is perfect for outdoor play and ritual if you're lucky to have a private outdoor play space. I debated how to approach Litha, because there's just so many ways to go, but the Ivy Girl has been giving me a "come hither" look for a while, so I decided to follow.

Please note: When I use the word "Ivy" in this post, I'm am speaking of English or Boston Ivy, not poison ivy.

See? One leaf, not three.

While the standing myth of the Oak King and the Holly King are well known (The Oak King rules from Yule to Litha, and the Holly King rules from Litha to Yule. At each of those sabats, there's a fight, with the victor being the ruler and the slain king's blood acting as sacrifice for the coming season.), many Pagans do not know about the Ivy girl. The Ivy girl has had many shapes, forms, and duties over the years. Some folks see her as the Holly King's helper and connect her with the wren of Cutty Wren fame. Other folks see her as winter and the Holly King or Holly Boy's foe. Other folks see her as a go-between for both the Oak King and the Holly King, neither serving or belonging to either but enjoying and balancing both. This last guise is how I see her. In this form, she can be seen as representing the in-between times of Spring and Fall that tie the time of Plenty and Leisure (Harvest) with the time of Leanness and Perseverance (Winter).

There are lots of ways to honor the Ivy Girl, Holly King, and Oak King this Litha. The easiest and most passive way is to buy an ivy plant and try to keep it alive. Ivy, which represents fidelity, is a great gift for new couples. If the plant dies, you can always tell them that it means one of them must be cheating (it's doesn't really, but they don't know that!). Ivy vines, because of the plant's meaning, is also very appropriate for a handfasting cord.

My favorite way to honor the Ivy Girl is with bondage. Ivy, like all vines, are really just Nature's ropes. For light bondage, one strand of ivy can be used. If sturdier bonds are called for, multiple strands of ivy can be twisted into a rope, or a rope and be used for the base bondage with ivy intertwined over top for a nice look. Ivy also makes a nice, sexy outfit, as can be seen in the first photo. If you want to honor all three Solstice players, tie the one you love the best to a strong oak tree with ivy vines and use holly leaves to awaken his or her senses before having your way (consensually, of course). If outdoor play is out of the question, seek out a piece of oak furniture. The wood will still convey the same strong qualities.

As with any sort of S&M and or sex ritual, be responsible. Use safe words and condoms and respect boundaries. No under aged participants or spectators. Outdoor sex should be on private property. Bondage should allow for blood flow. If you break skin, use first aid to treat it and clean your equipment properly. And for heaven’s sake, avoid the spine and kidney area!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

All Tied Up

I've been a little tied up lately, suspended between all my different worlds and responsibilities. However, now that May(hem) will be over soon, things should calm down some and my bonds will be loosened.

The winner of the Erotic Sensations (http://eroticsensations.us/) three candle gift package is Catherine W.! Please email me your mailing address at chirp_sparrow@yahoo.com. A big thank you to Erotic Sensations for being a sponsor of the Barbed Pentacle the last couple of weeks and for sponsoring our giveaway.

The winner of the Barbed Pentacle prize pack is Bones! Please email me your mailing address at chirp_sparrow@yahoo.com.

There's lots of fun blogs in store. Just because I've been in bondage, doesn't mean I haven't been busy writing! In the next week or so, we'll finish up the "May You Never Thirst" series. Then, we'll start examining hunting and Paganism. If you hunt, fish, or trap, and you're Pagan, please email at chirp_sparrow@yahoo.com. I'd love to interview you. Also, along with the hunting series, look for a review of Tonia Brown's new novel, Skin Trade (http://thebackseatwriter.blogspot.com/)!

Soon, not too soon, but soon, the Barbed Pentacle will be moving to a new home. Yes, things will be different, and you may not like them at first, but it will be a safer place--with far less censorship--to explore the grittier side of Paganism. Look for more information on the new site address in the coming weeks.

New drawing items will be posted soon!

These folks are all tied up too:
Erotic Sensations: http://eroticsensations.us/
Tonia Brown: http://thebackseatwriter.blogspot.com/

Friday, April 13, 2012

My Blogoversary Party Post: Sexy, Dark, and Bloody--Of Wiccan Bondage

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Of Wiccan Bondage

Photo by Nobuyoshi Araki

Ever since I've found this photo, I've been fascinated by it. I like pretty Asian women, and I like them even better in shibari or other bondage. I had thought originally that I might write a bit of fiction using this photo as inspiration (because believe it or not I can write some very strokable prose), but my muse has led me in a different direction.

I think all religion is bondage. If you're a good and proper adherent to your religion's beliefs, then you're a slave. Even with "free will" and "free choice", if you're a really ardent believer then you're a slave to the Divine force that you follow. Just as the Nazi's had "Work brings freedom" over the gates of Auschwitz, I've had riggers whisper, "Bondage brings freedom" before they put the finishing touches on me. They were right.

People who are not into bondage, or any sort of dominant/submissive acts, may not understand what the bondage riggers meant. In voluntary physical bondage, you have willingly given up all control. You can struggle, but there's no reason to because you can't get away. You can scream, but there's no reason to because your words aren't going to change the plan that your Dom(me) has decided upon. There's no reason to do anything but trust and go with the flow, and in that forced helpless state, your mind is set free to discover things about yourself you're normally too busy to notice. Things are quiet enough, finally, for your mind to be free to roam within the depths of itself.

Spiritual bondage works the same way. Once you have given your will over to your Deity, and you fully trust your divinely provided intuition, you're free from worry, free from guilt, free from distrusting the way things work, free to embrace happiness. This freedom opens up other freedoms that often merge with the same freedom that physical bondage brings. I know all of this sounds a little like butterflies and ladybugs, but just like everything, there's a spider and scorpion side too.

Wiccans who embrace all aspects of their faith fully are bound by some fairly stout ropes, that if broken by free will, can bring about some pretty powerful strokes from the Cosmic scourge. The main belief that Wiccans (myself included) are bound by is the Wiccan Rede, "'An it harm none, do what thou will." You can ask five people, and each person will give you a different interpretation of it. This is where the freedom of being guided by Divinity comes into play. I believe that the Rede should be interpreted differently by each person because each person engages life differently. However, despite this belief, if I go against what my God and Goddess are leading me to do, if I break my bond not to harm, then there are consequences--just as there are in the play room when you choose not to stay put.

Most Wiccans also follow the Threefold Rule (or Law): What you do, say, and spell, will come back to you threefold. This is where the Cosmic scourge comes into play. Since you have willingly decided to be spiritually bound by Divinity, you have to trust that if you've been "good" that the lash will be soft and playful (and maybe lined with fur!), but feel certain that if you've broken your bonds, the lash will be harsh and bloody. The same is true of being in bondage to Divinity as was true in the Old Testament of being bonded to Rehoboam, "My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." I believe that because most Wiccans have sought out this spiritual bondage and were not forced into it, that the Universe holds us to a higher standard of behavior. Like any good submissive, we need to push ourselves to meet that challenge all the while realizing that we'll never reach perfection.

Just as all Wiccans have been given different interpretations of the Rede, Wiccans also engage their Deities in a myriad of different ways. While a lot of Wiccans like to chase the fluffy bunny aspects of Divinity down the endless rabbit hole, I tend to like to linger in the shadows for a quickie against the wall with my God and Goddess. Sometimes they don't even take my panties off; they just pull them aside. Then we rip the fluffy bunny apart barehanded and enjoy it raw.

My bondage is sexy, dark, and bloody. My bondage has been sealed with sex and blood, just like an "Old Time" Gardnerian handfasting. And that's as it should be. The only key that will unlock my shackles is my trust in my Deities, since my bondage and servitude to them has set me free.

Check out these Sexy, Dark, and Bloody folks:
Erotic Sensations eroticsensations.us
Tonia Brown www.thebackseatwriter.com

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Dogs and Bitches: Happy Lupercalia! (oh and that other holiday too......)

As many of you may remember from the Scourge series of blogs, Lupercalia is typically celebrated on February 15th. Lupercalia is all about scourging for fertility, wolves, Pan, and fucking!

"I said bite my neck!"

Many scholars suspect that most of our Valentine's Day traditions are derived from Roman Lupercalia practices. Over the years, the original practices, which included racing around naked, killing dogs and goats, showering in blood, and lots of sex, has been toned down. Thank the Victorians. It's all their fault.

Then there's the St. Valentine issue...........

According to the best source for information on the web, Wikipedia, Valentine "was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner – until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor – whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273."

However, which Valentine was it? There are many different records from that time for many different churchmen named Valentine (and all the different variations) and very little is know about any of them. Why did the Emperor Claudius make it illegal for folks to get married? Because he didn't have saltpeter. He felt that if his soldiers had wives at home, instead of just fun-time girls, that they would be distracted and lose their desire to fight his wars. So, to make sure that this didn't happen, he outlawed marriage. (Evidently, just like always in those early days, the Christians just couldn't follow the rules. No wonder they lost their heads!)

So where does this leave us? Personally, I say fuck Valentine! Headless corpses can't tell you to stop!

The Sacred Marriage

But seriously, as Pagans, Valentine's Day can be turned into a celebration of the Sacred Marriage between the Lord and Lady. At this time in the wheel of the year, the Goddess is about to make her ascent up from the Underworld as the Maiden and the Lord is transforming from a child to a young man--ready to sow his oats! There's no reason why you and your chosen partner shouldn't do the same.

Whether you're bound to someone.....

Or footloose and fancy free to do as you please.
If you have a partner, something fun to do for them is to wrap yourself up as their present.

It lends itself to endless possibilities. Or, if you're solo this year, try reconnecting to the sexual side of your chosen deities.

You could reconnect with your Goddess.....

Your God.....

Or be adventurous and bi-curious and go for a Ménage à trois.

So, what do I want from my partner on Lupercalia/Valentine's Day?

I'm thinking about some knife play.........or maybe a tattoo.......

But most of all, I just want him to

Monday, February 13, 2012

I'm Attending the Party!!!!!!

I'm going to attend!!!! I'm not sure what I'm going write yet, but it's going to be inspired by this photo:

I've been completely fascinated with it since I've come across it. And what is that in her ear? It looks completely awesome. So, on April 13, look for what my dark and kinky muse/Dom(me) whispers in my ear to write. Check out Pagan Culture's blog for more info.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Blessed Be Thy Feet, Supplement A: My sole is bound to you

Shibari (and all its bastardize, alternate spellings) is Japanese rope bondage. It is more properly know as kinbaku. The art form is a true discipline, every bit as much as karate, and people who master it are true masters, not just in the S&M sense. It can be done to any part of the body, including hair, and the designs range from simple to a level of complexity that takes hours to create. Most shibari designs appear to be knotted but really are not. That's the beauty of it.

I love having shibari ropes on me. It puts me in a most delicious head space, perfect for play or ritual. Shibari makes me feel special and cherished--one of the nicest feelings you can convey to a partner. While I love having the ropes on me, I, however, make a mess when I try to put the ropes on other people. At the end of this blog, I've included two simple tutorials for foot shibari. Also, if you decide to really get serious about the discipline, check out anything by Two Knotty Boys or try to see Nikki Nefarious.

Foot shibari is ideal in ritual situations because not only does it lend itself to several different uses, but it can be done in solitary, partner, or group ritual. It can be done to help you reach a meditative state. It can also be done to help with prayers in much the same way prayer beads are used. For every knot or special loop, a line from a prayer can be said or a specific deity remembered. The knots and loops can also be used in conjunction with number magic and knot magic. If using knot magic, you may want to cut the ropes off instead of untying them so that the magic is not undone (unless, of course, that's part of the ritual).

Probably the most intimate and meaningful way foot shibari can be used in circle is in binding rituals. Usually when folks say "binding rituals", they mean a ritual to bind someone, thing, or tendency up so that it/they can't do any harm. This isn't that type of ritual. What I mean by binding here is becoming bound to someone, a deity, or a group. Think of it this way, whoever controls your feet controls you. Feet are your mobility and free will. That's why it's worse to have a foot cut off than to have a hand cut off. However, many of us would gladly give up our freewill to a god or goddess, which is why foot shibari makes a good addition to group or self dedication ceremonies. If your deity has a sacred number, make sure to have that many knots or twists in your design. If your deity has a sacred color, get the right color of rope.

As with any bondage, make sure all participants are of age and do consent. Make sure that your bondage is not so tight that you lose blood flow. Numbness isn't really ideal. Also, make sure that safety scissors are handy in case the bondage needs to be cut quickly. Test cutting your rope with your scissors before you start. Have fun being all tied up!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Happy Krampusnacht!

Who is Krampus and his hermaphroditic counterpart Frau Perchta? They are the epitome of Yuletide Dom(mes)!

As you can tell from the video, Krampus hails from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and into France and Northern Italy. Pretty much anywhere they speak German or once spoke German, he makes an appearance.

Although now most folks associate him with St. Nick and Santa and see him as a minor devil, he was originally a Pagan nature spirit in his purest form that was associated with the Winter Solstice. His original purpose wasn't to necessarily punish people, although he was a bringer of justice. His original purpose was to scare off winter and bring about spring.

He is a carry over of the horned nature and pastoral gods like Pan and Cernunnos and of the trickster god Loki. This can clearly be seen in his appearance and in the etymology of his name--"claw". Originally he brought chains to bind up winter and any roaming negative spirits. He wore bells to wake the Earth up from it's slumber and to ward off negativity. He was also a bringer of fertility. He is often portrayed riding a broom, which was a common sympathetic magic performed in fields to show the crops how high to grow.

In the same spirit of Lupercalia, he bears a birch rod. The rod is seen as a phallic device. With every lick he imparted his fertile seed to the community. The beatings with the birch can also be seen in the same light as beating the bounds of ones home to ward off evil, which may be how his whippings were twisted into a punitive context by early Christians.

And why does Krampus have his tongue out? The better to eat you out with, my dear!

Even Krampus is a switch!

The Christian version of Krampus is still a big deal in German speaking countries and the pockets of the world where Germanic folks settled. Instead of celebrating him on the Solstice, he is celebrated the night before St. Nicolaus' Day. Every year there are huge Krampus runs in the Alps, where everyone turns out. The runs were originally done by young men to chase away winter and to bring about the spring. However, in some areas the runs were more like an enactment of the Wild Hunt than of a Yule Vigil. Kids today look forward to Krampusnacht and stoically bear whatever beating they may receive.

Carting the babies off to Hell.

Krampus' counterpart and sometime companion is Frau Perchta.

As previously stated, Perchta is a hermaphrodite, but often carries herself as a woman. She represents both man and woman, both light and dark. She is an incarnation of the goddesses Holda, Holle, and Frigg and vaguely of Brigid. Her name means "blaze", and she is seen as a spinster who checks on the girls to make sure they've spun all the materials that they have available. She is also a leader of the Wild Hunt in some areas. Sometimes Perchta is pretty and sometimes she is not!

Instead of beating you with a birch like Krampus, Frau Perchta slits open your belly, steals your guts, and replaces them with straw. Dommes are always more sadistic than Doms! If you're on her good side, you can leave her an offering (she likes herring) and she'll bestow upon you riches and fertility. Around the solstice before she visits, folks usually smudge the house and barns to chase away evil spirits but to also cleanse the air of any germs. Sage is a wonderful antiseptic.

Krampus and Perchta

Now to review just who Krampus is:

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Winter's a long cold season. Make it more fun by enacting some of these old traditions with your partner(s). One night you can be Krampus and the next night the naughty one. Or maybe you're always Krampus!   If you've never prepared a birch rod before, there are instructions in the BDSM ritual section to the right of this post. Chains should be tight enough not to get caught and tangled in things but loose enough to allow for blood flow. Clips for chains are safer than locks.

If you decide to go into Frau Perchta territory, make sure that you are experienced with edge play, and have antiseptic and other first aid materials near by.  If you are not experienced with edge play, an alternative is to blind fold your partner and use a plastic or wooden knife. Both can be made to have sharp edges that don't cut. If your hoodwinked partner thinks you're still holding a real knife, it will feel like a real knife to exposed skin. Using a sterilized pin to simulate a knife point works well too. Since Perchta means "blaze", wax play would be an appropriate tribute to her as well.

There are a myriad of other Solstice traditions out there that are meaningful and fun as well. The wild hunt is one of them. This can be enacted by partners or a group and be something as simple as wild hide and seek or something more complicated and serious. There's also the battle of the Holly and the Oak Kings (or it can be Queens).   The Holly represents the waning year and the Oak represents the waxing year. In some myths there is also an Ivy girl/boy who is a mediator.  An idea for this tradition is a mock Holly and Oak king battle, with the weapons being oak and holly switches. The looser can be bound with strands of ivy for the real fun to start. Holly leaves can also be used on the skin like a Wartenburg wheel or spurs.

Have fun and remember:

May your Krampus put you in the best chains with the loudest bells, wield the stoutest birches, and be super horny to put that long tongue to good use!

Extras