Safe, Sane, Consensual

Safe, Sane and Consensual - this phrase is known to anyone involved in BDSM. These famous three words present the three main principles of BDSM. What do they mean?

Safe - no BDSM activity should harm the participants.

Sane - implies that any participant of a BDSM activity should be in sane cast of mind.

Consensual - means no violence. Any activity in the framework of BDSM should imply full consent of its participants.

Everything seems to be quite clear. However, each person has his or her own idea on what is safe, sane and consensual. There is one more problem - being aware of the three main BDSM principles people do not take into account some nuances this or that principle might involve. Therefore often these principles are violated thus affecting those who are involved in BDSM community.

That is why it seems very important to speak about the three main BDSM principles in detail in order to provide their common proper understanding.

Safe

Taking into account that BDSM activities cannot be completely safe we speak about safety implying necessity to minimize possible risks to health. However the following things often are not taken into account.

1. Physical and psychological safety. BDSM activity should imply not only physical safety, but psychological health maintenance as well. This means that no activity should involve anything that might harm a person's psyche.

2. Individual characteristics. When trying to make a BDSM session safe people do not take into account the fact that safety depends nor only on activity performed, but on the partners' individual characteristics as well.

These are such characteristics as peculiarities of anatomy and physiology, tastes, experience, emotional state, presence or absence of some phobias, reactions to stress situations, etc. As well safety greatly depends on quality of BDSM toys you use. These factors if not taken into account might lead to quite serious body injuries or psychological traumas.

How to avoid troubles

Actually here two tips can be given

1. Have a permanent partner for BDSM activities. By being aware of your partner's personal characteristics and peculiarities you can considerably minimize the risk.

2. Be careful when using a BDSM toy for the first time. Only when you get familiar with this or that BDSM toy and peculiarities of its use you can get further by experimenting with it. This especially concerns such BDSM toys as flogging toys and various kinds of restraints

Consensual

Consent as well is not as unambiguous notion as it might seem. Usually it is provided by so called safe words. However there are some obstacles that prevent people from using safe words as a way to express their will.

What prevents the submissive from using safe words?

1. Inability to pronounce the safe word.The submissive might simply not be able to pronounce the word, for example if being deprived of ability to speak with a BDSM toy - for instance with a gag.

2. Psychological reasons Some psychological reasons might make the sub agree to something he or she does not want to do. For instance the Submissive might be afraid of disappointing the Master.

How to avoid troubles

1. Necessarily agree on a special sign if you use a BDSM toy like a gag. Make sure the submissive any time can give a sign when experiencing too severe pain or when feeling that something can harm him.

2. Establish atmosphere of trust. The partners must necessarily trust each other, there should be no misunderstanding, no insincerity between the partners, otherwise your activity might involve a great deal of risk.

Regularly discuss your relationships and your sessions. BDSM implies that preliminary establishing of limitations and acquiring of voluntary agreement to do something is a vital necessity rather than a caprice. Never dare experiment without your partner's agreement! Only consent can make BDSM activities really safe.

Sane.

Actually this principle implies two things.

1. Any person involved in BDSM session should be fully aware of things he is doing. Otherwise he is very likely to harm his own health as well as health of his or her partner. Therefore no BDSM activity should involve drunk or mentally abnormal persons.

2. Sanity implies ability to properly value risks and refuse too risky activities.

Take into account everything said above and let your BDSM activity be always Safe, Sane and Consensual!