Domination & submission _ the BDSM relationship handbook ( PDFDrive )

Sensation Play & Sensory Deprivation
Sensation and sensory deprivation play are just two sides of the very same coin;
one seeks to enhance or stimulate the senses, while the other seeks to nullify
them. The many subcategories of this sort of BDSM activity could easily fill an
entire book but, for the sake of brevity, we’ll limit ourselves to about a dozen of
the most commonly practiced forms of sensation and sensory deprivation play
that you might encounter or have an interest in.
Blindfolds & Gags
The use of blindfolds and gags is probably the most pervasive form of sensory
deprivation play in the world, both in the BDSM lifestyle, and outside of it. The
relative ease with which a blindfold or gag can be fashioned or crafted from
simple and readily available household materials makes this sort of kinky
experimentation easy and exciting, even for vanilla couples.
Simple, ready-made blindfolds can be purchased from just about any fetish
retailer, though the prices may be somewhat inflated, compared to similar
products designed for and marketed to insomniacs and travelers. Some features
to look for may include: shapes that conform to the contours of the face, a
durable and adjustable securing strap, quality materials and stitching, and the use
of color-fast dyes. You can expect to pay $7 to $25 for a blindfold from a fetish
retailer.
Blindfolds can definitely be a great addition to your fetish toy box. When used
with skill, they can alter or heighten a bottom’s psychological and physiological
responses to other stimuli significantly. Introducing an element of the unknown
- not knowing what is happening, how it is happening, or even who might be in
the room watching or participating - can make even a mundane scene a lot more
interesting. The blindfold doesn’t necessary even have to be used just to deny
the bottom’s ability to visually confirm what is actually going on around her. A
blindfold can also be used to stoke the imagination or create the impression of
things occurring when they are not. For example, the two of you may not be
ready or willing to actually invite a third person into your bedroom for a
threesome, but the use of a blindfold can make the role-play scenario seem much
more real, creating the impression that there is someone else in the room with
you. Serving up treats for the other senses can also enhance the imagined
scenario by adding theatrical touches, such as a mysterious knock at the door,