SSC

SSC stands for Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Those three words sum up the ethics of Shibari. Even though there are still many people who think according to the old taboo, for which Shibari in particular and BDSM in general is a perversion, that is, a sick and inadmissible deviation of sexuality, bondage practices become more widely accepted everyday as a legitimate, if somewhat unusual, expression of sexuality. In this context, it is important to remember that to avoid abuse or any other wrongdoing, SSC must always be present. It is mandatory for every scene or practice of rope bondage.

Safety is a key element in bondage. Bondage implies risk. That’s why the top must have an unavoidable commitment to provide the best and all the necessary safety measures for a given scene. The more dangerous the scene, the more time, thinking and resources he must devote to the consideration of safety in every step of the process. Bottoms are responsible for safety, as well. They have the right, and we could say the duty, to ask about the safety measures taken for a scene. Likewise, they should not work with an irresponsible rigger, and warn other bondage practitioners about that rigger’s malpractices. They both should agree about what to do in case of emergency.

The first key to a sane expression of sexuality is awareness. Participants should know what they are getting into, whether it is a couple of knots or a whole suspension scene. Boundaries provide the ground for a healthy scenario. For example, it should be clear whether the scene is going to be sexual or not. Participants must also condier psychological health. That’s why practitioners insist so much on the importance of communication and the emotional dynamic involved.

Finally, everything in a bondage scene should be consensual. And while participants may have “soft limits”, which might be flexible according to the impulse of the moment, “hard limits” should always be respected as non-negotiable.