Domination & Submission: The BDSM Relationship Handbook (32 page)

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy
sensation-play that utilizes vibration or oscillation effectively.  In
fact, you may not have to spend anything
at all
, if you already have the
right items sitting around in your home.   Take, for example, the
simple hand-held, battery-operated
electric toothbrush.
  They can
be purchased for a pittance ($3 to $10) at just about any drugstore, and most
can be turned into
very effective sensation-play toys
with little or no
effort.  Simply remove the brush-tip if it is removable, or cut it off
with a sturdy set of kitchen shears if it isn’t.  What you are left with
is typically a stainless steel metal rod that extends a few inches from the
handle.  Turn the device on, and you’ll see the metal rod
oscillating
very
quickly and intensely, which -
if you’re as pervy as I think you are
-
should easily conjure up
infinite possibilities
for sensation
play.  The slender metal rod may or may not have a bulbous or rounded tip,
but if it doesn’t you can file it down a bit so there are no sharp edges. 
The oscillating bare metal rod tip can be an
incredibly intense
and
effective way to stimulate or torture any part of the body, particularly the
most sensitive ones.  Additionally, various kinds of items can be
permanently or temporarily attached to the rod tip to achieve different effects. 
Such items may include small rubber or plastic balls, small dildo or
finger-shaped items, or even a variety of
ticklers.
 

Another household item, which you are probably less
likely to have sitting around but may be tempted to procure once you read this,
is the
Waterpik. 
If you’re unfamiliar with the Waterpik, a product
patented, trademarked and marketed by Waterpik Inc., it can be best described
as a
high-pressure water-jet flosser or oral irrigator. 
There are
several different models available, which range in price from $35 to $115, but
they all essentially consist of a reservoir which holds the water, a powerful
compressor that forces the water in rapid high-pressure pulses through a small
flexible hose to a variety of interchangeable nozzle-tips.  Most models
allow you to adjust the water pressure to your liking, and there are even
models which are entirely hand-held, self-contained, portable, and battery
operated.  They are, for all intents and purposes, just like the pulsing
high-pressure water nozzles you see at your local coin-operated self-service
car wash,
except smaller, and for your teeth.
  Or, if you’re an
adventurous and creative kinkster, for your
nipples, clit, cock and
anus. 
Of course, now that you’ve read this,
whether or not
you
ever use a Waterpik in this fashion, you’ll probably never be able to look at
the
coin-op car wash
the same way,
ever again.

Vibrating and oscillating toys are generally quite
safe to use, as long as a minimal amount of common sense is applied. 
Obviously, you should
always
avoid using a
corded electrical device
anywhere where it might become submerged in water.  Make sure that any
vibrating attachments or, for that matter,
anything
that is inserted
into a body cavity can be easily
retrieved.
  And
do
keep in
mind that too much of a good thing -
even good vibrations
- can
sometimes be a bad thing.  The continuous or excessive application of a
vibrating implement
of any kind
to a single spot on the body
may
result
in localized numbness, loss of motor control, or residual tingling.

Violet Wand

It can sometimes be difficult to describe a
violet
wand
to someone who has never seen one before.  I usually do it
thusly:  Remember visiting Spencer’s Gifts in the mall and seeing those
little glass globes crackling with purple lightning on display?  Did you
ever touch one and watch how the electricity sizzled, tickled, and followed
your fingertips wherever they went on the surface of the globe?  Now
imagine the same thing, only smaller, safer, designed to be hand-held, and with
a wide variety of kinky attachments. 
  
     

Violet wands
have
recently become quite popular in the fetish culture, so it’s easy to see how
some people might be surprised to learn that these things have been around, in
one form or another, for close to a
hundred years.
  In the 1920s,
they were called
“violet rays”
and used by medical quacks to treat a
variety of physical, psychological, and sexual maladies.  Eventually, the
courts and the FDA forbade the manufacture and sale of violet rays for
medical
use after finding the makers’ claims of medical efficacy to be completely
groundless.  Violet rays
were
allowed to be sold as skin and scalp
treatments, neon light gas-leak detectors, and for purely aesthetic purposes,
however.  Sales of violet rays diminished significantly and most of the
companies that sold them either went out of business or focused their efforts
on supporting the WWII manufacturing challenge.  Several more decades
would pass before they were rediscovered in the 1990s by the fetish community,
adapted for kink play, and rechristened
“violet wands.”
  By the
way, if you’re at all interested, I’ve included at the end of this chapter the
tale of how I serendipitously became the proud owner of an authentic 1922 Parco
Super High Frequency Generator & Violet Ray.

Modern violet wands aren’t really much different
from their violet ray predecessors.  The major differences include safer
and more reliable electrical components, the use of acrylics or safety glass, a
wider and kinkier variety of electrode attachments, and the ability to plug
them into a wall socket.  Most violet rays were manufactured long before
electrical wall sockets became common in homes, therefore, users had to connect
them to ceiling
light fixtures
to power them.  When wall sockets
became more universal, most existing violet ray owners clumsily spliced
standard wall plugs onto their power cords, which also explains why the power
cords on most antique units that are still around tend to look like the dog ate
them.

If you are in the market for a modern violet wand,
here are a few things to be on the look-out for.  The first should be the
components included in the package that you’re considering.  Some violet
wands are sold in such a way that you must purchase all of the components
individually.
 Components may include the wand itself, standard or specialty
electrodes, adapters or attachments, holsters, kits, and cases.  
Other times, you may be offered
starter kits
, complete with a
handy-dandy case and/or an assortment of electrodes and attachments. 
Either way is
fine,
as long as you understand what you’re getting for
the price.  Just be sure to read the fine print.  It can be pretty
frustrating to receive your brand new violet wand in the mail, only to learn that
you can’t try it out because the
electrodes weren’t included in the purchase
price.

Pay close attention to the interchangeability of
electrodes and attachments.  There are several violet wand manufacturers,
with new ones popping up all the time.  Most violet wand electrodes and
accessories are interchangeable and compatible with one another but you should
always check, to be sure.  The standard electrode socket size in the
United States is 7/16”.  You might also want to take note of the type of
plug at the end of the device’s power cord.  Some violet wands use a
grounded three-prong plug, others a simple two-prong plug.  It probably
won’t matter much to you, either way, until you can’t plug your three-prong
plug into a two-prong socket or extension cord.

Prices on violet wands can vary widely, but you
should expect to pay $100 to $300 for the wand, and $10 to $100 for most common
types of electrodes or attachments.  Rare or custom-made violet wand
attachments can, of course, be much more expensive.  For
those
accessories,
you may want to consider the old maxim,
“If you have to ask the price, you
probably can’t afford it.”

Violet wands are used in many different ways. 
Direct
use
refers to the direct application of an electrode and current to the
subject’s skin, which arcs to the subject because he or she is grounded. 
Indirect
use
refers to the practice of the wand user touching or holding an
electrode, and allowing the current to pass through his or her own body before
passing it to a grounded subject, either by touch or through an electrically
conductive object.  
Reverse use
typically involves attaching
an electrode or accessory to an ungrounded subject and applying current in such
a fashion that the current will arc from the subject to anything or anyone that
is grounded.  Permanent and semi-permanent
branding
can also be
done with a violet wand, with proper training and the right attachments.

The most common uses for a violet wand are for
sensation
or tickle play
at lower settings,
torture and branding
at higher
settings, as an igniter for fire play, and for the general
amusement and
aesthetics
of playing with
electricity.
 Once you own a violet
wand, you’ll find yourself classifying everything in your house as either
electrically
conductive or non-conductive.
  Trips to the local crafts store or
hobby shop take on
new meaning
, as you pore over their selection of
supplies and wonder about their electrical conductivity.  Suddenly, tinsel
and garlands
aren’t just for Christmas, anymore!

The sparks that you feel from a violet wand are, for
all intents and purposes, just like the static electricity spark that you get
from touching a doorknob, only
continuously.
  Unlike most of the
electrical appliances and devices in your home, a violet wand converts potentially
deadly household electrical current into one that is extremely low
amperage
,
but high
frequency and voltage
.   When
used correctly
,
a violet wand is an extremely safe kink toy; when used
incorrectly
or by
the wrong people,
not so much.
 

The safety concerns for violet wands are often
confused with those for TENS units, which we’ll discuss in the next
section.  The bottom line up front is, a violet wand is safer to use than
a TENS unit, and has an entirely different set of safety precautions to be
aware of.   Contrary to popular belief, violet wands
are
safe
to use above the chest and on the head and face, as long as they’re kept away
from the eyes.  Even though the wand is kept far from the eyes, contact
lenses and metal-framed eyeglasses should be removed as a precaution. Violet
wands should
not
be used on anyone who has implanted electronic devices
such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, or chemo-therapy pumps.  Additionally,
the wand should be kept away from any
metal in the body
, such as replacement
knee joints, orthopedic pins and braces, or dental braces.  Long ago,
these types of devices were sold as ultraviolet (UV) light and ozone
generators, but the amounts of UV light and ozone produced by a violet wand are
insignificant and should not be a concern to users.  

Never use a violet wand around liquids.  This
includes not only showers, tubs, and sinks, but
any
nearby liquid,
including drinks which could spill and become electrical conductors.  If a
violet wand gets wet, the full force of the household electrical current could
travel along the wet exterior of the wand and deliver a potentially lethal
shock. 

Do not use the violet wand anywhere near flammable
fumes, as the open spark will ignite them, and could cause a fire or
explosion.  Flammable fumes may include hair spray, rubbing alcohol, hand
sanitizer, fresh paint fumes, lubricants, and fuels for household lamps or air
fresheners.

Many people wonder if a violet wand can be used
internally
in the mouth, vagina or ass.  The answer is
yes,
you
can,
as
long as the device you’re using is a true violet wand and you are using an
electrode that is
specifically designed for such use.
  As a general
rule, internal electrodes are built more ruggedly and have a larger, sturdier
plug than the standard 7/16” to prevent the electrode from snapping off under
pressure.  In other words, if you’re interested in using a violet wand for
internal play, you’re going to have to buy one that will accept the
larger-sized plugs on internal electrodes.

Despite taking every other possible precaution,
there will always be a
miniscule
chance of an electrical malfunction of
some sort that could cause unfiltered household current to travel through the
violet wand.  This risk may increase somewhat if the wiring in your house
is getting old or if you’ve had electrical problems in the past.  If that
worries you, you should consider purchasing an inexpensive portable Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) at any hardware store or electronics shop for
$20 to $40.  When it senses the type of electrical surge that could cause
a problem, it automatically breaks the connection the same way that your
computer’s surge protector does.

All things considered, a violet wand is actually
much safer than it might seem at first blush.  Obviously, if you notice
that someone is particularly sensitive to the effects of a violet wand, you
should reevaluate their suitability for this sort of play.  If your
subject continues to experience tingling or numbness after a few days in
affected areas, that should definitely be considered a big red flag.  As
is the case with just about any BDSM toy, the greatest risks associated with
the use of a violet wand are usually the result of careless or inappropriate
use.