Today, we're expanding our erotic arts and crafts toolkit to include the fine art of naughty knots: Rope Bondage.

via GIPHY

There are several reasons why bondage can be a fun and thrilling addition to one's sex life. For some individuals, bondage is an exercise in trust, as the person being tied up is essentially at their partner's mercy; this might be for the purposes of teasing or (consensually) inflicting pain. BDSM allows us to experiment with power dynamics in our relationships; to feel what it is like to have control, and to relinquish it. Others may simply enjoy the aesthetic of bonds, as rope bondage can also be an art form (such as with the case of the "shibari" rope bondage style associated with Japan).

An awareness of safety precautions as well as an ability to communicate and set boundaries, are critical in ensuring a positive first experience with all types of kink. Check out this comprehensive list of rope bondage tips and tricks from the folks at Venus Envy:

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Discovering lube as a grown-up is like discovering what your clit does as a kid. "Who," you think, "was the brilliant mind behind this idea? And why did I not know about this sooner? Why did I memorize the quadratic equation in high school, but not hear a word about this vastly more life-improving substance?" Below you will find an introduction to this lovely stuff.

Because without changing any other single thing that you do in your sex life, you will completely change the feel of most of the things you're already doing. Ever had a hard time coming because the friction of your hand on your clit left you less than excited? Ever been enjoying a nice long round of intercourse only to be stopped short by irritation? Ever ended up with a raw penis after a vigorous jerk-off session? **Ever had a condom break?** Lube, lube, lube, lube.

But not every lube is ideal for every person or every situation. Each lube has a main ingredient, and each has pros and cons. Some lubes are better for anal...