Shibari and Surrender…
What is Shibari?
Shibari is the consensual practice of tying rope around the body in intentional, intimate and artistic ways. Japanese rope bondage for some, is erotic. For others, it is meditative, connective, or simply an artistic expression.
Shibari drew me in because of my lifelong connection with Japanese culture. As a teenager, I had many Japanese exchange sisters stay with my family; sometimes for two weeks, sometimes for a year. That connection to Japan became a significant part of my life, and when I discovered shibari as an adult, I was captivated by its beauty.
Shibari is never just about rope. It’s an energy exchange. It’s about connection and trust. It’s about being held, seen and safe; especially in moments when life feels unbearably heavy.
I practiced shibari regularly for a few years. Outwardly, the images looked powerful: poised, elegant, in control. Behind the lens, I was walking through postnatal depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, betrayal and deep loneliness. I was utterly broken. My marriage was strained, my mum was fighting cancer, my husband was battling suicidal thoughts and many of my long time friends had walked away. I was raising a daughter while holding all that pain inside.
During one of the darkest seasons of my life, being tied in rope was one of the few times I felt peace. I experienced friendship, connection and support when everything else in my world felt like it was falling apart. It was never about sex for me; it was about stillness. Surrender.
Surrender is not about weakness; it’s about choosing trust. In shibari, I surrendered my body to the rope and chose to release control. In faith, I learned to release everything into God’s hands.
When I encountered God in a real and personal way in April 2024, I recognized that same sensation of safety, release and rest. Only this time, it’s not temporary; it’s Eternal. Shibari was a doorway to understanding stillness, release and trust. I look back and acknowledge that God was always there with me through every season..
Shibari Rope taught me the language of surrender in the body. Jesus Christ has taught me the reality of surrender in the soul.
I find my surrender not in ropes, but in Jesus Christ, the One who holds me in every season and never lets go.
Sylvie Rose x