The Energetics of Dominance and Submission through Rope

This workshop explores dominance and submission as energetic forces, focusing on polarity and energetic principles. Drawing inspiration from tantric perspectives on energy and connection, as well as Shibari as an art form and practice, we use rope as a medium to amplify the subtle dynamics that can arise between two people. The rope can transform bondage from a purely mechanical act into a charged and magnetic exchange. The aim is to create more life, depth, and energetic dialogue in rope sessions, rather than focusing solely on technique.

In many rope sessions, attention easily falls on patterns, precision, and the next knot. Here, we instead direct our focus to what moves beneath the surface – the energy, intention, and dynamics between two people in the rope. We explore how energetic principles can take form through rope and how they affect the experience of tying and being tied.

Through exploratory exercises, we work with polarities such as leading and following, dominance and submission, giving and receiving, taking and being taken. We examine how these dynamics can be felt in the body and how they can be amplified through tempo, presence, direction, and intention in the rope.

The goal of the workshop is for participants to feel more comfortable expressing and engaging with dominance and submission through rope. By working with energetic principles and relational dynamics, we explore how these qualities can become a natural part of a rope session, so that the rope not only binds the body but also conveys intention, presence, and energy between partners.

The workshop focuses on the relational dynamics between partners and on how rope can be used as a language for dominance, submission, and polarity. It is suitable for both beginners and more experienced practitioners who want to deepen their exploration beyond the technical aspects and develop a more alive and dynamic way of working with rope.

Practical Information

The workshop is held in a small, intimate group with a maximum of five pairs.

Participants register in pairs and need to bring their own rope.

Minimum requirement: able to tie a single column tie.

Price: 1800 SEK per pair

Time: 10:00–17:00, including a lunch break

About Us

Adonam has practiced Shibari since 2015, but was in contact with rope even earlier, through a more Western approach. He appreciates rope for its aesthetics and the way he can influence the person he ties by varying tempo and intensity. He enjoys creating sculptures with the bodies he ties, and as a hobby photographer, he often captures these creations.

What Adonam wants to teach is both how to make safe ties adapted to the body you are tying, and how to influence the person you tie to create different feelings and sensations. He places great emphasis on safety and two-way communication to ensure consent and respect for boundaries.

Awakeatnight_ discovered Shibari in fall 2023 and immediately felt how the ropes called to her body, long before she was even tied. She loves exploring her inner world, and through Shibari, the body can express feelings and parts of herself that are otherwise difficult to reach. As a model, she appreciates how the ropes allow her to go on intense emotional journeys, feel the shape of her body, experience awakened emotions, and explore the dynamics and connection that arise between her and the rigger. For her, these expressions are both symbolic and liberating, and the ropes serve as a way to make the inner world visible and alive.

The sound is immersive. The lights can soften.

A small group. A serious practice space.

Rope, breath, structure, sensation.

The room includes:

• Five suspension points

• Mattresses covering the entire floor

• A four-speaker surround system for immersive soundscapes

• Adjustable, dimmed lighting to shape the mood of the space

• A maximum of 10 participants to keep the container contained