Entering the World of Shibari..

My first engagement with learning Shibari was in 2019, in a workshop at a regional Australian burn. After seeing many Shibari performances at events around Australia, I was intrigued by the art and curious about the dynamics of rope exchange. I felt drawn to the intensity of witnessing someone fully surrender, as they become bound and (sometimes) suspended in the air, embodying full trust and surrender.

Since my first workshop, it has been nearly 5 years learning on and off through group workshops across Australia, local Sydney studios, online and through small community rope circles. I mostly practice floor based Shibari and recently delved into self-suspension.

Rope has been a very personal and introspective journey for me. I was surprised at the contrast between what my expectations were from witnessing rope exchange and what actually came through when engaging with the practice myself.

I held the perception that Shibari was solely erotic and BDSM/Kink focused, as that is the most prevalent context in the western world. However, when I connected with the rope and began to tie, I discovered that it is much more multifaceted than just an erotic or kinky dynamic, and that the act of relating so intimately (with self, or other) can be platonic and foster an environment for nurturing connection, healing and release.

Shibari is a practice and ritual of holding of deep and sacred space that involves trust, connection and a high level of care. This requires great awareness, intention and holds bold responsibility to maintain a safe and supportive exchange between you, the rope and yourself or another person.

Having experienced an array of healing modalities, bodywork styles, embodiment workshops, breathwork, tantric teachings, chinese medicine therapies, flow arts, and more - I felt that Shibari spoke to me in the same way that these practices traverse along and through the somatic landscape (the body), and offer great expansion, expression and release.

This is what I began to explore through self-tying. Learning about my own somatic landscape, the sensations, emotions and feelings that arise through mindful weaving of rope upon the skin. I then shifted into holding space for others. Noticing how the pressure, the tension and the patterns affect the breath, how it moves thoughts in the mind, and generates energetic flow within the body. How the vibrations of the rope upon itself and upon the skin, activate the senses and drop one deeper into presence, into sensation. Witnessing someone fully land in trust, in surrender and open up to being vulnerable so I can hold deep, nurturing space for them.

I felt inspired to learn more about the connection between the soma and psyche, so I studied Somatic Pyschotherapy with @embodiedphilisophy which gave a great perspective on the science and semantics behind this work. Forever being a student is inspiring, as we all uniquely experience the world around us and each of us have a different imprint that we relate from, so every interaction will be nuanced which we must have awareness about.

My next body of study will be on the chinese meridian lines and understanding the interconnectedness of the systems within the body and how to work with that through this modality.

The placements of the rope lay upon different acupressure points and meridians on our inner framework, connecting our vital organs and systems. Every inhale constricting and adding tension to these points, every exhale releasing the tension, moving the energy through different channels in the body, aiding in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual release. It will be fascinating to discover the depth of Shibari in relation to the meridian system.

It’s incredible how transformative and this release can be.Every contraction and expansion causing a dissolution of tension through the body, through the mind, through the spirit. The unraveling of ropes, a deeply cathartic experience. Untying, unwinding, as the vibrations pulse through the body, shifting any stagnant energy into ultimate release.

It is significant to hold sacred space and to be held in safety without judgment, with deep attention to care and with a knowing that all of you is welcome. You have deep permission to let go and  surrender into the unknown, allowing all of yourself to melt, to unravel and just be.

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I am honoured to share this practice in this way and when it boils down to it, I am truly just sharing a modality of connection. The ropes are but a language to communicate with, weaving our intentions, our emotions and our felt experience into a orchestra of embodiment, connection and expansion.