The whip- instrument of torture to sex toy

Every year during Holy Week processions, in a town called San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a brotherhood of penitents called “los Picaos” allow themselves to undergo severe beatings. They receive more than a hundred lashes from a whip with short tails. It’s impressive to see the great skill with which they handle the whip, as well as the care they give to every penitent, using herbs to prevent and sooth injuries, and massaging balm into the welts to minimize bruising. Though it may just occur to some that all this special talent be directed towards more earthly pursuits instead of heavenly fervour … And indeed, people have done so over the centuries…

The sadomasochistic art of erotic spanking with whips has its roots in religious penance, punishment and methods of torture, although as the purpose of erotic spanking is different, a series of safety standards have emerged to ensure the spanked person experiences pleasure with their pain. Certain materials have fallen out of favour for being too abrasive for whips and certain zones have been identified as areas that can struck without risk.

The aim of erotic spanking is to cause pain, but just the right degree and at the right speed, so the body may transform that pain into pleasure. There are many types of whips, but all may basically be divided into two groups: the so-called cat of many tails of more or less short fibers (twenty to sixty to seventy centimetres each), or whips with one long tail such as riding crops, like those popularized by Indiana Jones or in the movie Catwoman. In the case of cat o nine tails, it is important to choose the material and thickness of the strips that compose them: the most pleasurable will normally be soft leather, suede, rubber or cotton braid. The feeling caused by different materials varies, with rubber and cotton braid whips generally causing more sharp and acute pain (especially the finer tips), while with suede and leather, which are softer, more whippings are needed to produce a similar effect.

Cat o nine tail whips are relatively easy to use with a few lessons and some practice, but the management of long whips is complicated and requires training by a qualified person. In Barcelona there are many places where you can find you can find BDSM whips as well as individuals versed in their use that can give you valuable advice: the club in Rosas 5, the Fetish Cafe or the Scorpion’s Nest (http://nidodelescorpion.com), a cultural association which organizes occasional meetings of sadomasochism enthusiasts where they can informally exchange views, stories and advice.

So if you have the desire to discover a new world of pleasure, don’t hesitate: just rent apartments in Barcelona and prepare for a journey into the world of erotic sadomasochism…