Hooded

I have erosblog to thank for pointing me towards this photograph of this beautiful leather hood. It’s taken from this gallery on the topgrl site.

If you’ve never played with hoods you might be tempted to dismiss them as simply a nice way to depersonalize someone. That was certainly my original naive take on them. They looked fun as way to experiment with objectification, but didn’t seem to offer much as a device of torment or punishment. After all you can still hear (vaguely), talk (or mumble) and breath (just). Could wearing one really be any different to just keeping your eyes closed?

Having now played with various types of hoods (including this one minus the additional outer straps), I can honestly say that nothing raises my pulse rate and stress levels quicker than seeing a hood come out. You can electrocute me, burn me or stick needles in me and I’ll be fine. Noisy, but fine. Hoods, on the other hand, are far more problematic. The sensation of losing control of key senses, coupled with physical restraint, has a major psychological effect. The only way I can normally deal with it is to mentally picture the dominant and project onto her. I try to detach from whatever panic signals my mind and body are throwing at me and focus only on an internal and idealized view of the mistress. Which, of course, is exactly the kind of effect you’re after in D/s play.

Another photograph in the series shows the mistress raising the stakes with some breath control play. This is obviously a tricky area to play in, and certainly not something to try alone. But if you can find someone experienced enough, and who you absolutely trust to do it, then I’ve found this can be an incredible experience. Nothing gets me into subspace quicker than the combination of bondage, sensory deprivation and somebody toying with my ability to breath. Giving someone else the power over something so fundamental very quickly creates a deeply submissive state.