Whether it is through sensory deprivation, domination and submission, rope, whipping, fetish, breath reduction, masks, humiliation or animal play, the ultimate purpose of many BDSM practices is to reach altered states of awareness. This is irrespective of the specific role one may have within the play. When a play participant comes into a trance, it touches everyone in the space.
In this 6 hour workshop we will engage in a group process to create an atmosphere where it may be possible to experience erotic trance states through the use of BDSM tools and practices. While such experiences cannot be made to happen, one can create conditions where they have permission to happen, i.e., where they are inquired into and encouraged, rather than shut down, stigmatised or judged.
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR: This is not a beginners' workshop. It presumes that already has had some experience with BDSM and awareness of what one's particular interests or kinks are. Like all our workshops, this one is open to all genders and orientations, as long as you are over 18.
HOW WILL THIS WORKSHOP BE CONDUCTED: The first part of this workshop (three hours) will focus on mind-body exercises, whose purpose is to lead you to work consciously with certain fundamental principles of BDSM. These are: 1. Power Exchange (dom/sub, top/bottom, master/servant, owner/pet, predator/prey, and so on.); 2. Energy Exchange (the reciprocal circulation of energy between partners within a power exchange) and 3. the eroticisation of 'negative' emotions such as fear, sadness, frustration, shame, and even guilt. This body-mind work will form the basis of the second half of the workshop (three hours), where participants will be invited to negotiate play sessions with one another. These play sessions will be guided by the interest in erotic trance states. Participants can organised themselves as couples, threes or other group formations. All play will be risk aware, voluntary and consensual.
HOW DO WE PARTNER UP? For the first part of the workshop everyone will be paired at random with different people during activities. For the second part you can engage specifically with your partner, if you have come with them. You do not have to engage with anyone unless you want to. Intrusive behaviour and rudeness will not be tolerated.
WHY IS THIS WORKSHOP UNIQUE? Most kink workshops focus on teaching specific techniques, relating to specific interests. The focus of this workshop is the erotic trance itself. While we will focus on technique, the technique will be in service of the inquiry into trance states. By making this the focus of the workshop, one necessarily changes the character of what happens as well as what one will learn.
WHAT DO WE WEAR AND WHAT DO WE BRING? For the first half of the workshop, loose fitting comfortable clothes are appropriate. For the second half, you are invited to dress up in erotic and/or fetish wear. Please feel free to bring implements you would like to use in a session, such as rope, whips, masks, blindfolds, electrical toys, etc.
WHO IS LEADING THIS WORKSHOP? This workshop will be lead by Peter Banki, Ph.D. Peter is the Founder and Director of the Festival and School of Really Good Sex. He has been teaching courses in BDSM since 2006. He taught for several years at Schwelle7 and Xplore in Berlin before setting up his own school in Sydney. He enjoys both dominance and submission. The kind of BDSM play he is most drawn to is deep and psychological.
