Emdash
@emdashery.bsky.social
Mid-30s demi hypno-nerd with a passion for punctuation. Always glad to talk shop about hypno and kink.
That's it. That's the skeet. I like the thing. It's not always theory with me!
(One must imagine Emdash trying very, very hard not to turn this simple post into a theory thing.)
(One must imagine Emdash trying very, very hard not to turn this simple post into a theory thing.)
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
That's it. That's the skeet. I like the thing. It's not always theory with me!
(One must imagine Emdash trying very, very hard not to turn this simple post into a theory thing.)
(One must imagine Emdash trying very, very hard not to turn this simple post into a theory thing.)
My personal favorite thing to toss at someone in the Penumbra is leading questions. They're agreeable, they're groggy, they'll say whatever you want them to say to get back into that sweet, sweet trance. It's a great way to practice confusion induction (on easy mode).
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
My personal favorite thing to toss at someone in the Penumbra is leading questions. They're agreeable, they're groggy, they'll say whatever you want them to say to get back into that sweet, sweet trance. It's a great way to practice confusion induction (on easy mode).
...with them, it's absolutely magical because they're often just as suggestible in the Penumbra as they were at the bottom of trance.
Or, well. Differently suggestible--and that can be a REALLY fun twist on your play!
Or, well. Differently suggestible--and that can be a REALLY fun twist on your play!
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
...with them, it's absolutely magical because they're often just as suggestible in the Penumbra as they were at the bottom of trance.
Or, well. Differently suggestible--and that can be a REALLY fun twist on your play!
Or, well. Differently suggestible--and that can be a REALLY fun twist on your play!
When people talk about the ~feeling~ of trance, they're usually talking about that very specific, dissociative deepness from mid-session, but I think that does the Penumbra disservice. Some people have an especially prolonged period of trance-iness before they "sober" back up, and when you play...
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
When people talk about the ~feeling~ of trance, they're usually talking about that very specific, dissociative deepness from mid-session, but I think that does the Penumbra disservice. Some people have an especially prolonged period of trance-iness before they "sober" back up, and when you play...
I don't have a lot of magical insight about it. I'm not going to tell you what it is or anything. But I am going to ramble just a little bit because it makes my (infrequently switch-y) heart delighted.
November 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I don't have a lot of magical insight about it. I'm not going to tell you what it is or anything. But I am going to ramble just a little bit because it makes my (infrequently switch-y) heart delighted.
(99% of the time, that is a REALLY small risk, compared to some other kinks with potential for lasting damage. But it's still there, and you should still keep it around as you FAFO responsibly.)
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
(99% of the time, that is a REALLY small risk, compared to some other kinks with potential for lasting damage. But it's still there, and you should still keep it around as you FAFO responsibly.)
Knowing that's possible is how you prepare yourself to deal with it appropriately and gracefully, whether you're subject, tist, or switch. It's the risk that's inherent to risk-aware consensual kink where hypno is concerned.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Knowing that's possible is how you prepare yourself to deal with it appropriately and gracefully, whether you're subject, tist, or switch. It's the risk that's inherent to risk-aware consensual kink where hypno is concerned.
So, know that if you play, there's always a real chance that you'll say/do/imply/suggest something that is going to ~majorly~ not vibe with someone else, even if you're working in good faith to honor their wishes and boundaries. Shit happens! You fucked around and boy, you both get to find out.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
So, know that if you play, there's always a real chance that you'll say/do/imply/suggest something that is going to ~majorly~ not vibe with someone else, even if you're working in good faith to honor their wishes and boundaries. Shit happens! You fucked around and boy, you both get to find out.
The tist dropped off about a minute after that. I know how to handle panic attacks, so I was able to figure shit out, but I'm deeply grateful to the experience because even if he HAD been staying in bounds, that landmine would have still been there for someone else to trip.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The tist dropped off about a minute after that. I know how to handle panic attacks, so I was able to figure shit out, but I'm deeply grateful to the experience because even if he HAD been staying in bounds, that landmine would have still been there for someone else to trip.
And the hell of it is: I wouldn't have known to tell them to avoid it! I didn't know that the feelings about Topic X were big enough and anxious enough that they could, if poked from a certain angle, lead to a panic attack. But those feeling were there, and they got poked, and I panicked.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
And the hell of it is: I wouldn't have known to tell them to avoid it! I didn't know that the feelings about Topic X were big enough and anxious enough that they could, if poked from a certain angle, lead to a panic attack. But those feeling were there, and they got poked, and I panicked.
--goes a long way to dealing with it when it eventually does happen.
Storytime: The very first time I went under for someone, they went way off script and beyond what we had agreed on. It wasn't, like, an egregious thing...but it did trip over a landmine.
Storytime: The very first time I went under for someone, they went way off script and beyond what we had agreed on. It wasn't, like, an egregious thing...but it did trip over a landmine.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
--goes a long way to dealing with it when it eventually does happen.
Storytime: The very first time I went under for someone, they went way off script and beyond what we had agreed on. It wasn't, like, an egregious thing...but it did trip over a landmine.
Storytime: The very first time I went under for someone, they went way off script and beyond what we had agreed on. It wasn't, like, an egregious thing...but it did trip over a landmine.
Solemnly: If you play with hypno, you will cause an abreaction in the fullness of time. You will say something or trigger an association or just give off a vibe that will do SOMETHING unpleasant in your partner. Being aware of that and respectful of that--
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Solemnly: If you play with hypno, you will cause an abreaction in the fullness of time. You will say something or trigger an association or just give off a vibe that will do SOMETHING unpleasant in your partner. Being aware of that and respectful of that--
Enthusiastically: If it's not already apparent, I ~love~ being playful in hypno kink. I love to poke and prod around and see how someone's brain responds. It's a great and wonderful way to just explore what tools are in your partner's toolbox already--so you can think of what to do with them.
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Enthusiastically: If it's not already apparent, I ~love~ being playful in hypno kink. I love to poke and prod around and see how someone's brain responds. It's a great and wonderful way to just explore what tools are in your partner's toolbox already--so you can think of what to do with them.
(I've got a lot more to say about states, but that's for another day.)
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
(I've got a lot more to say about states, but that's for another day.)
Basically: Do anything you can to make it easy for them to take the process step by step so they can confirm for themself that each little bit is possible.
Once they've seen that, stuff sticks A LOT better.
Once they've seen that, stuff sticks A LOT better.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Basically: Do anything you can to make it easy for them to take the process step by step so they can confirm for themself that each little bit is possible.
Once they've seen that, stuff sticks A LOT better.
Once they've seen that, stuff sticks A LOT better.
Once they want it, need it, enjoy it, then you can drill them to the point where it becomes automatic.
If they have trouble getting triggers to work post-hypnotically, I like to suggest that they can open their eyes without waking up and continue the practice.
If they have trouble getting triggers to work post-hypnotically, I like to suggest that they can open their eyes without waking up and continue the practice.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Once they want it, need it, enjoy it, then you can drill them to the point where it becomes automatic.
If they have trouble getting triggers to work post-hypnotically, I like to suggest that they can open their eyes without waking up and continue the practice.
If they have trouble getting triggers to work post-hypnotically, I like to suggest that they can open their eyes without waking up and continue the practice.
You can tie a reward to it. That can be a trigger too, but it's often easier for someone to feel something automatically than to do something automatically; feeling is always a subjective internal experience.
(Just don't demand that feeling be something specific unless you know they can do it)
(Just don't demand that feeling be something specific unless you know they can do it)
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
You can tie a reward to it. That can be a trigger too, but it's often easier for someone to feel something automatically than to do something automatically; feeling is always a subjective internal experience.
(Just don't demand that feeling be something specific unless you know they can do it)
(Just don't demand that feeling be something specific unless you know they can do it)
So, it's easier to make someone ✨want ✨ to do something than to get them to dissociate and do it automatically, right? Especially when that ✨want ✨ is backed up by their own kinky little desires. So rather than jumping straight for a trigger, move them towards wanting to do X...then needing to do X.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
So, it's easier to make someone ✨want ✨ to do something than to get them to dissociate and do it automatically, right? Especially when that ✨want ✨ is backed up by their own kinky little desires. So rather than jumping straight for a trigger, move them towards wanting to do X...then needing to do X.
A state differs from a trigger because it's about a mindset, not a behavior. A good state is, apologies for the word: Juicy. It leverages what the sub thinks is hot, interesting, and engaging. Subspace is a great example! And honestly, a great place to start getting triggers to happen.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
A state differs from a trigger because it's about a mindset, not a behavior. A good state is, apologies for the word: Juicy. It leverages what the sub thinks is hot, interesting, and engaging. Subspace is a great example! And honestly, a great place to start getting triggers to happen.
Especially if you're working with a new partner, I feel like it's good practice to give them some framework. Unless you know they can go blank at a snap, you need to show them that they're capable of it. How do you do that?
Well, I like to do it through states.
Well, I like to do it through states.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Especially if you're working with a new partner, I feel like it's good practice to give them some framework. Unless you know they can go blank at a snap, you need to show them that they're capable of it. How do you do that?
Well, I like to do it through states.
Well, I like to do it through states.
But a lot of tists treat triggers like they're universally easy for subjects to achieve, and that can set folks up for disappointment. Learning to "allow" a trigger to happen is a skill like any other--specifically, the skill of automaticitity, letting something become instinct/flow/automatic.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
But a lot of tists treat triggers like they're universally easy for subjects to achieve, and that can set folks up for disappointment. Learning to "allow" a trigger to happen is a skill like any other--specifically, the skill of automaticitity, letting something become instinct/flow/automatic.
So, quick reminder: What's a trigger? Just a behavior linked to a stimulus. When I snap my fingers, you'll sink back into trance; when I wiggle my fingers, you'll feel yourself getting tickled; etc etc etc.
Classic kink elements, because they're all about power exchange.
Classic kink elements, because they're all about power exchange.
November 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
So, quick reminder: What's a trigger? Just a behavior linked to a stimulus. When I snap my fingers, you'll sink back into trance; when I wiggle my fingers, you'll feel yourself getting tickled; etc etc etc.
Classic kink elements, because they're all about power exchange.
Classic kink elements, because they're all about power exchange.