The Landscape of subspace..

When you're spaced, where do you go, and what do you do? Do you fly, swim, float, melt, evaporate? Is there light or darkness, sound and fury, or is it all quiet? Can you talk? Do you want to? Do you hear music? Is it the same as the music on the stereo (if you play music while playing that is?)

Just curious. Inquiring minds want to know..

Good question. For me, I am sort of flying or floating and bathed in warm white light. Its quiet and peaceful. I don't hear music or anything like that. I do hear Master's voice. I can talk, but I don't speak alot and I doubt I'm particularly coherent. I've also been told that I scream really loudly with the right stimulus. LOL

It always made me giggle when I heard subspace described as some out of body experience complete with the cliche` lights and music and godly wonders. For the longest time, it was those very descriptions that made me completely disbelieving that subspace was anything but a fantasy. It all just sounded so pre-packaged and perfect.

However, subspace is so unique to each person that I've come to realize that for some, what I view as cliche`might very well be what their experience is like. It has been a bit of an eyeopener for me, but one that took actually experiencing subspace to really understand. My friends sometimes laugh at me, how I used to scoff at subspace and now get so wordy over it. *smiles*

For my partners, my subspace can be a little scary, or so I've been told. I stop responding on a level that is easy to recognize, and you have to know me and understand me to understand my reactions. I am deaf, so I believe this allows me to achieve an even deeper space than some, and quicker. It also requires that communication be on a completely non-verbal level. I get the shakes, my whole body trembles and doesn't stop until long after the "high" has faded and the scene has ended. I am not very verbally responsive, or physically responsive...my responses are there, but they are much more subtle. I'm quite quiet to start with. Someone that enjoys playing with a person that is very vocal and responsive won't enjoy playing with me.

Non-physically, I tune everything out except the sensations, even my partner sometimes. Subspace is a very selfish thing for me....I lose focus on pleasing my partner, I lose focus on them except their connection to me. It is all about what I'm feeling right then. Most of the people I play with are fine with this though...it is quite a compliment to someone to be able to take someone that far, I think. I've often compared the subspace journy to Alice in Wonderland, falling slowly down an unknown hole only to discover all sorts of exotic wonders at the bottom. I can take so much more, and the pain is so much more exquisite...my limits are often sky-high when I'm in subspace, my partner really has to know me better than I know myself sometimes...as I won't know when it is time to stop. I don't hear anything, I don't see anything, I don't think anything...I just feel. I could go on and on.

Yup yup, love that subspace *sigh*

link below is to a story I wrote after my very first time being caned, and thus, first trip to subspace.

With One Stroke

D's mariposa said:

When you're spaced, where do you go, and what do you do? Do you fly, swim, float, melt, evaporate? Is there light or darkness, sound and fury, or is it all quiet? Can you talk? Do you want to? Do you hear music? Is it the same as the music on the stereo (if you play music while playing that is?)

Just curious. Inquiring minds want to know..

Click to expand...

In the beginning, i fall inward, in slow motion, like falling through molasses. Even though i might be breathing fast and hard, each breath feels like i'm taking it through molasses. Everything is thick and heavy at first, and i have trouble talking or walking or moving, or even thinking. At some point, everything breaks away or falls away and i am clean and flying and my head feels light and i'm looking at myself and what He is doing to me, and it's easier for me to talk, and respond, (but still only one or two words at a time) and i can hear the some of the music again, and everything is much sharper, with clean edges, and the things that He may do to me feel sharper and harder, and i want more, and more, and more. This is the place to ride it, after the scene is over, and He is cuddling me, and gently talking to me, i'm still riding it, although the sharp edges recede and everything sort of shrinks and i gently ease back into myself again.

I apologize for the run-on sentences...it's really hard to describe subspace with coherent thought, i've found. *wry grin*

Oh, and BTW, the music i hear is the same as on the stereo...we usually scene to alternative or metal.

~anelize

Hmm for me, it seems to occur in stages or levels. In in traditional BDSM scene, a voice, touch or direction will make me feel a bit floaty. I am easily led, but still able to speak and interact to some degree.


Then, as the scene progresses, I begin to feel a swimmy feeling, as if I am viewing everything through a bubble and there is only the Dominant in my focus. My senses are heightened and his voice, touch or whatever seems amplified in a warm and caressing way.

At this point, I will do anything. Hence, I am careful about who I submit to, far more than before I found this space and since I foudn a modicum of self respect

Then, we have the subspace that is connected to certain activities...intensity in scening or specific activities. I can't describe it accept to say that it is nearly primal. (A term I borrow from Mistress Steele) Existing only for the moment and giving complete trust to the person I am with. I am essentially non verbal, but can manage a safe word...short and sweet, if necessary. However, my awareness for my safety is questionable. This doesn't happen every time and only happens with someone who has my complete trust and has demonstrated an ability to know what to do with it.

Great thread!

subspace

I am new to finding subspace. I have been told that I go there but untill recently I was not sure that is what I was feeling. I always heared subspace was a floating experince. To me it is very carlming and relaxing. I can hear my own breathing and my heart beating. I get kind of tingley all over. I have only just found my subspace so i have a lot of exploring to do there to see just how far I can go. I know for sure that a firm spanking will put me there.. YUMMMMMMM

bump, with a plea for more info.. I know we have more subs around here somewhere.. (Yes, I will eventually post mine, but I'm dying of curiousity here...)

And a million or so thanks to those who answered already.

I am so completely new to experiencing subspace, but i find it to be thoroughly intoxicating and overwhelming. I tend to get very quiet...my voice is small and I have trouble responding. I feel all hazy...my head is clouded and my body feels somewhat tingly and floaty all at the same time.

If this occurs when I am on the phone, I almost always place a hand over my eyes to block out any external stimulus so I can focus on the voice commanding me. Or..i will simply close my eyes to find myself deeper in the feelings and emotions. Keeping my eyes open seems to be a challenge LOL

It is a very new and powerful place for me. If taken too deep or pushed too far, I break down and eventually will cry...usually at the end, but sometimes before.

afterwards it takes me a while to "come down", and I often tremble...

Thanks for answering!

I'm one of the subs who doesn't fly, I sink. I slowly fall into a silken darkness like water, but better, this water eventually closes over my head and it doesn't drown me. It's warm, but a few degrees cooler than body temp. I don't swim, I drift with the current or the tide. I get confused about D. I don't know if he's the current or the water or what, but he's there and that's all I really need to know.

There are no fireworks or shooting stars or anything. There is a diffuse sort of light. Consider being outside on a full moon light with your back to the mood. This delicious mysterious light is enough to illuminate the surroundings but you can't see the source. No stars either, just a deep bluey black sky that merges with the surroundings so there's no horizon or anything. I may see some small visions, no angel or avatars of the gods or anything. I remember snow once; and being breathless at the beauty of it.

Sometimes I talk a bit, but the speech is slow incoming and my voice is so quiet D can't understand what I'm saying. I can't respond to a direct question, so he doesn't ask me to repeat myself if he doesn't catch what I'm saying. If he asks what I'm seeing, I may say something like, "I love the colour green." or "Isn't it just beautiful?" I laugh sometimes, and D says my hands and feet move softly, and sometimes I flinch.

When I start coming out of it, I get cold and shaky. I usually need a blanket and a cuddle. I'm all relaxed and as soon as I am capable of movement and speech I usually show my gratitude in lovely ways!

Re: Thanks for answering!

D's mariposa said:

I'm one of the subs who doesn't fly, I sink. I slowly fall into a silken darkness like water, but better, this water eventually closes over my head and it doesn't drown me. It's warm, but a few degrees cooler than body temp. I don't swim, I drift with the current or the tide. I get confused about D. I don't know if he's the current or the water or what, but he's there and that's all I really need to know.

There are no fireworks or shooting stars or anything. There is a diffuse sort of light. Consider being outside on a full moon light with your back to the mood. This delicious mysterious light is enough to illuminate the surroundings but you can't see the source. No stars either, just a deep bluey black sky that merges with the surroundings so there's no horizon or anything. I may see some small visions, no angel or avatars of the gods or anything. I remember snow once; and being breathless at the beauty of it.

Sometimes I talk a bit, but the speech is slow incoming and my voice is so quiet D can't understand what I'm saying. I can't respond to a direct question, so he doesn't ask me to repeat myself if he doesn't catch what I'm saying. If he asks what I'm seeing, I may say something like, "I love the colour green." or "Isn't it just beautiful?" I laugh sometimes, and D says my hands and feet move softly, and sometimes I flinch.

When I start coming out of it, I get cold and shaky. I usually need a blanket and a cuddle. I'm all relaxed and as soon as I am capable of movement and speech I usually show my gratitude in lovely ways!

Click to expand...

OK in keeping with Miss T's thread on lurking and just adding an "I agree"...

Nice description and "I agree". I've never had the floating sensation, it is a sinking one for me. And it is exactly as you describe, with one notable exception (for me), I lose speech. The deeper I go, the less I can articulare the simplest of words; I just go completley blank. Although I'm told I still communicate with my face and eyes, I lose words.

And in my case, that is a great relief and part of the appeal of sub space.

~ Cait

For me its like a moment of crystal clarity.....whereas i find it hard to speak when extremely excited as soon as i go into space i can speak clearly and am easily understood.....and all else fades away just me and Master and the feeling of being safe.....its like being wrapped in a blanket of security.....and i feel light and airy blissful yet perfectly aware but sort of like separated from it.....i was being flogged and knew it but there was no pain only the pleasure i was feeling and the security that i was so safe and that there was nowhere i wanted to be but right there with Him.

When i was pulled from it there was a moment of loss that shook me but i look forward to the next time with hope and wonder for it was truely a moving experience.

Subspace is a very new experience for me. I've gone there twice now.

For me, it's almost like I'm hypnotised, my eyes won't open, my breathing rate drops. Whatever I am told to do, I will do. When I come back, it takes a while for me to become normal again.

i have yet to experience sub-space.. my last Dom was unable to take me there. Hopefully, i will be experiencing it soon, and i will let you know!!!

I don't think I've ever experienced subspace. I'm always pretty mentally present in what's going on. I have severe ADHD, so it's easy for me to get spacy at other times, and sometimes I think about other things during sex, but I think actual "subspace" has eluded me. I'd like to think it's not real, so that I'm not missing out on anything, but I don't know that's true.

and now for the rest of the story..

Thanks again for all who responded, and I apologise for making you think more, but I have another question.

Allthough some of our experiences are similar, obviously our subspace is tailored somehow to our psyche. In your opinion, where does the landscape come from? Is it love letters from your subconsious? Are you drawing up some primordial memory? If you do see visions, is there a recurring theme? For instance, my landscape has lots of water in it. I wonder if it is because I grew up within earshot of the sea and I'm remembering that? Or is it because I now live in the desert and long for the sea? Or is it because the first time I ever went to subspace, D and I had just returned from mexico, where he took me snorkeling for the first time in my life? That was a real exercise in trust for me, going away for a week with a guy I had only known for a few months, who liked to tan my hide occaisionally.. Or is it because I'm a water sign astrologically? Or maybe there's no reason at all, thats just who I am.

I'm just curious about stuff like this.

p.s. Etoile, it's not unusual for someone to not have gotten that far into subspace. It took me forever to get there, because I use to fight it so hard. It was far hard for me to release enough control of myself to go. Sometimes it's still hard to.

Re: and now for the rest of the story..

D's mariposa said:

p.s. Etoile, it's not unusual for someone to not have gotten that far into subspace. It took me forever to get there, because I use to fight it so hard. It was far hard for me to release enough control of myself to go. Sometimes it's still hard to.

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Do you think it's something I should make a conscious goal? That is, is it worth it enough that it's something I should work for?

I don't think you can "work" for subspace, it just happens. Some people never experience it, and that is perfectly normal too...your body and mind just have other ways of coping and experiencing sensations.

Re: Re: and now for the rest of the story..

Etoile said:

Do you think it's something I should make a conscious goal? That is, is it worth it enough that it's something I should work for?

Click to expand...

Yes and no.. (Don't you just love those sort of answers?)

From what I've seen it's not something you can consiously work for. Getting there is collaborative effort between you and whoever's working you over. It doesn't happen all the time. When I mentioned that I used to fight it, I used to not relax inside enough to get there. Whenever I felt I was getting close, emotionally I pulled back. Finally I started to relax and not fight it.

As far as it being a worthy goal, I'm not sure. I view it as icing on the cake. I love being submisssive to D and that's not going to change. But I have seen people who get fixated on the idea and it messes with the relationship. Getting spaced becomes the important part, not the other person in the relationship. However, you seem to be a pretty well adjusted and normal person, so I expect you could handle it!

If you do try to work for it, I've heard that meditating can help. Also discuss it with your Daddy and be sure thats their goal too. I know of one Top who doesn't like it when subs space on her because it lessens her control. If your Daddy is cool with it, let her know that you're going to try for it. Subspace can be very scary if they're not expecting it, because it looks sometimes like you might've passed out or gone comatose on them.