Saturday, December 31, 2011

it's all in the mind - introducing the Photosonix

Most of our readers probably realize that we are a 24/7 D/s or M/s couple, and that we incorporate elements of Tantra into our lifestyle.  That's the simple explanation for our site's name and web address, that we combine spiritual practices from Tantra with BDSM styled activities to create Spiritual BDSM.

Among other things, we are seekers of truth, sensual hedonists, and dedicated "psychonauts" - a term that translates from it's Greek origins to mean "sailors of the mind/soul."  I'm not positive Serafina would describe herself exactly that way, but I certainly feel it's an apt description for both of us.

Tantra and BDSM both lead to altered states of consciousness, probably most familiar as "sub-space" within the BDSM community.  Exploring those states can help bring about peak sexual pleasure, spiritual insight, and cathartic experience, not to mention being extremely intense and enjoyable.

Now, Serafina and I are beginning to explore a technological means to alter our consciousness through a "light and sound" machine produced by a company named Photosonix.  It's something that can also be incorporated into BDSM play, as evidenced by the fact that Mr-S-Leather offers a Photosonix machine along side their electro-sex gear.

Some of the earliest episodes of Wired Pussy also incorporated a Photosonix into BDSM play.  And, I also remember Kaya of Under His Hand reporting on a scene using this machine, although I can't find the exact post this morning.

Altough I'm not sure it's the most apt descriptive phrase, gadgets like the Photosonix are sometimes called "mind machines."  Here's what Wikipedia has to say on the topic:
A mind machine uses pulsing rhythmic sound and/or flashing light to alter the brainwave frequency of the user. Mind machines are said to induce deep states of relaxation, concentration, and in some cases altered states of consciousness that have been compared to those obtained from meditation and shamanic exploration.
As I alluded to before, similar altered states occur with BDSM play, so it seems the Photosonix could be well used as another means to the same end.

We've only been experimenting with this machine for a few days, so we can't give a complete report, or indicate if our experiments in incorporating this machine into our BDSM play has been any kind of success.  I don't want to give an expensive piece of equipment like the Photosonix a simple cursory review, because the machine and it's effects aren't simple themselves.

What I can say is that at least two of the "sleep" mode settings were effective in helping bring relaxation and clarity after I had a long and stressful day last week.   Before the sessions I had been feeling the onset of a migraine headache.  When the session was done, there was no longer any kind of pending headache at all, the nausea that often accompanies a migraine had also disappeared.. After a short 15 or 20 minute session with the Photosonix, I was left feeling mentally alert, but also very calm and relaxed.

If nothing else, this kind of reaction has great promise for me as a dominant, as there are times where the hardest part of getting into the "masterful mindset" is shaking off the cares and concerns of everyday life.  Anybody who's ever suffered from migraines knows, the ability to stop a monster headache in it's tracks is priceless.

I have no idea at all if a Photosonix unit would help other migraine sufferers.  And, I'm fairly certain machines of this sort aren't allowed to make any real medical claims at all, such is the world of government regulation.  What I do know is it's already proven helpful for me, and we've only scratched the surface of discovering what different combinations of light and sound can do to enhance our practice of Spiritual BDSM.

Serafina and I plan to return to this topic in a few weeks with a more complete review, so like they used to say on television, stay tuned for further developments.

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