floggin' floggers - Tool Talk (pt 1)

Samadhi House Floggers (photo by Serafina Samadhi)

Have I said before that I absolutely love floggers and flogging?  This is the one fetish activity I think that I could literally do to anyone who desired a flogging, regardless of their sexual expression or orientation, regardless of their body size or shape.

Yes, regardless of any of those "minor details", I could get a kick out of flogging you, your sister, your brother, your Father or Mother, if your children are of age to consent, and they wished to feel the touch of my lash, I'd enjoy giving it to them too.

Now, before anyone gets concerned for the welfare of their parents, siblings, or children, I should point out that my wild and wanton flogging desires are always kept under complete control.  I'm hardly some kind of psychopathic serial flogger, as I can literally count the number of individuals who have felt the bite of my lash on my two hands, with perhaps a finger, or even two to spare.

In order to earn a flogging here at Samadhi House, you've got to request it, and I actually prefer to hear at least a little sincere begging.  Not to worry though, they really are worth all the trouble, as my array of floggers can produce most any sensation, from mild to wild . . .

Not only am I an aficionado of the fine art of flogging, I'm also a collector of fine floggers for practicing my art.  What I can't count on my two hands is the number of floggers in my collection.  The current home for my floggers, a converted DVD case, is pictured above, albeit a bit blurred.

I have decided to become more dedicated in making posts sharing my BDSM tool collection.  Through the years, I've amassed a pretty amazing array of implements, and it seems that it's high time I shared my many blessings, at least vicariously, with you my dear reader.

Please note that I very deliberately avoid calling any part of my collection "toys", as this isn't child's play.  While the term "play" or "playing" may be commonly used to refer to BDSM scenes in other circles, that's not how Serafina or I refer to our activities.

We don't "play" BDSM . . . We live it . . .

And that's the real reason your families are safe from my lash.  Serafina knows my many talents as a dominant, as her Master, quite intimately.  She very much enjoys my attentions, even when the sensations I create are more extreme, and she's not exactly itching to share.  (Not that I blame her.)

Perhaps someday, if the time arrived where we found an individual desiring to submit to us both, in service and in love, a slave to serve us both, to share together as Master and Mistress; such a reward might be worthy of the price paid in sharing her Master.  Meaning - unless you or your family are applying for that slave position at Samadhi House, I can assure you, my dear reader, that everyone else is quite safe.

So, the only way I can really share my flogger collection (not to mention all my other lovely tools) is to give you a virtual tour here, at our web home.  I'm not going to write reviews in the standard sense, as I won't be talking about packaging or my ordering experience, I just can't be bothered with so much of the other BS that's common in toy reviews I keep encountering these days.

But as is typical with men, I'm willing to talk about my tools.  Entire TV shows have been based around that concept, careers made . . .

Well, my name's not Tim, and my sidekick's name is Serafina not Al.  I can also promise to always endeavor to avoid parroting copyrighted show names too closely, as a sign of respect (cough cough) . . .

With that said, nothing changes the universality of gender stereotyping that continually reassures me that guys are always happy to talk about our tools.

Meaning, I have to ask . . .

"If I show you mine, will you show me yours?"

Samadhi House - Bookshelf Display (photo by Serafina Samadhi)

this Purple Mamba will bite!

A newly revised version of this post can be found at MichaelSamadhi.com.

A pair of true Beauties!

self-photo by Serafina Samadhi - caption by Michael

I've posted before about my love of floggers and flogging, so it should come as no great surprise for you, my dear reader, to learn that my most recent BDSM related purchase is yet another flogger. And let me tell you, this one's a beauty.

I tried a new flogger maker for this purchase, Snake Pit Leather Works, and although I only brought my purchase home from the post office a few days ago, I've had enough time to carefully inspect the quality and workmanship of my new tool.

I am impressed!

My flogger collection is fairly extensive. Although a few of the oldest of my "impliments of instruction" came from unknown sources, all the rest were custom made for me by one of two established flogger artisans, Adam and Gillian or Happy Tails. Both of those flogger makers produce high quality products, beautifully designed and wonderfully functional.

But, I have to say, as well as my previous purchases serve my needs, my new Snake Pit Leather Works (SPLW) flogger looks to be the best of the collection. It's truly a piece of art. Of course I still love all of my older "implements of instruction", but when it comes time to purchase my next flogger, I'll be contacting Nancy at SPLW.

The flogger I commissioned is called the Purple Mamba. Most of my more recent flogger purchases had fallen on the more sensuous side of the flogger spectrum, so I wanted something heavier for this purchase. While looking around online at my various options, I showed Serafina the two pictures from SPLW's website that accompany this post (far bottom), and she fell in love with the Purple Mamba's look.

The tresses or "falls" are a nice heavy bullhide, and, as might be expected from this particular flogger's name, they are colored a beautifully deep shade of purple. Despite being a heavier and thicker leather, the feel of this bullhide is still fairly soft and almost buttery. Running my fingers through the Mamba's tresses is truly a sensuous delight.

The flogger's handle is very tightly and well braided, a real work of artistry. This is what really sets this offering from SPLW apart from the other flogger maker's I've previously frequented. Adam and Gillian's "signature" flogger handles use very different styles and materials than SPLW, so a direct comparison isn't really possible, it's "apples and oranges".

Happy Tail's floggers are made with a similar style handles, so a really meaningful comparison is possible, and I have to say that this is where the SPLW really shines in comparison. The braiding on the SPLW handle is significantly tighter and very much neater in overall appearance. The pictures don't even do it justice!

While this may very well be the most handsome flogger in my case, I don't purchase "implements of instruction" solely for their looks, what matters most is how they perform. Let me tell you, the Purple Mamba by SPLW truly delivers as beautifully as it looks.

I should, however, include one note of caution. Although it's very well balanced, this is a relatively heavy flogger, as bullhide is a thicker leather with significant heft. I didn't use a scale to measure relative weights, but this is the heaviest flogger in my collection.

I love the Purple Mamba's weight and feel. But, it's worth noting that I'm six feet tall and over 200 pounds. Smaller and lighter individuals with less upper body strength will probably tire relatively quickly when using this implement.

The bullhide tresses are weighty enough to produce a very significant thud. When "testing" a new flogger, I always use it on myself first, on an arm and/or a leg. I also will test it thrown over one of my shoulders, much as I've observed Christian penitents performing their own rituals.

It was the "over the shoulder" test that let me feel how this flogger will perform when swung with any real authority. SPLW's Mamba is a nice heavy beast with lots of thud, it can produce sensations much like being lightly punched by very soft fists, like a sudden deep massage.

Interestingly, there's also at least a little bite thrown into the mix of sensations. Despite it's almost buttery feel, the Mamba's bullhide is just stiff enough, the edges of the individual tresses just sharp enough, the textured top grain of the hide just rough enough, that some bite is inevitable.

the strike of the Purple Mamba 
(photo by Serafina Samadhi)

When it's all tallied up, Purple Mamba is a heavy and fairly serious implement of instruction. When wielded strongly, this offering from Snake Pit Leather Works has the potential to be rather punishing. This isn't soft leather taken from Bambi's ilk, it once adorned a mean old bull. There's no escaping that origin, no matter how buttery the finished hide might feel to the touch.

In my experience, it's pretty rare to find this delicious mix of both thud and bite in a single device. Most floggers elicit one sensation much more strongly than the other, but the Mamba delivers both with authority. With a little care, or when wielded by the arm of an experienced flogger who understands nuance, it can also be a sensuous delight.

For a bottom/sub/slave into heavy sensations, this flogger can be used at will during a session, anytime from warm up to cool down, and all times in between. Other individuals, ladies like my Serafina for instance, will likely find this particular flogger a touch too heavy for the very beginning of a session, but should love it after being "warmed up" with a softer and more sensuous implement of instruction.

When it's all said and done, the Purple Mamba is a very special, and very versatile flogger. I think it's safe to predict that it's destined to become one of my personal favorites. Thank you Nancy for creating this work of art!

SpiritualBDSM.com is not associated or affiliated with Snake Pit Leather Works in any manner or form.  The reviewed Purple Mamba flogger was purchased at regular retail price, and no compensation of any form has been exchanged in return for this review.  The two photos that "bookend" this disclaimer are from the Snake Pit Leather Works website, and are used here for review and demonstration purposes only.

my new floggers are coming . . .

A few weeks ago I ordered three new floggers for myself..

I dearly love floggers and flogging, it's one of my biggest BDSM interests.  One of the things I love about floggers is the wonderful range of sensations I can create with them, everything form tickling to torture.

Yesterday, I got an email from my new favorite flogger (Happy Tails) maker giving me shipping confirmation for my order.   My new toys are expected to arrive tomorrow, Saturday at the latest.  They will be just in time to provide some "warm up" or perhaps some "cool down" for Serafina's impending caning.

I do plan to start giving a full tour of our complete collection of adult toys soon.  It's going to be a significant project as I have 5 different storage containers full of various rope, whips, floggers, clamps, plugs, vibrators, etc.  The tour is planned to include a brief post about each of our individual toys, one toy a day, starting around the first of March.

With that in mind, I thought I'd do a sort of "preview of coming attractions" by providing some details about the order due to arrive this week.  I haven't seen them in person yet, so a proper "after action report" will have to wait.  What I can provide is the manufacturer's description and pictures, I can state with certainty that they have has proven to be very accurate in past dealings with this flogger maker.

Flogger #1 - Red Lambskin - 16" tails - red & black handle - 

This is expected to be the most gentle of my floggers.  I usually prefer longer tresses, 20" or even more, but this flogger is for a very specific purpose, I wanted something to use on Serafina's breasts when we make love and/or to use on her back in one of the rear entry positions many people refer to as doggie style.

Flogger #2 - Blonde Horsehair - handle as pictured (above)

Here's the manufacturer's description, which also tells a little history of this particular whip maker - "A full 1/2 pound of hair makes for a powerful horsehair that does more than sting, it has a heck of a thump to it, as well! Also available with just a 1/4 pound of hair, for a less thumpy sensation, too. Our horsehair doesn't shed, either. Years ago, the first flogger we bought was a little horsehair one, and the first time we used it, all the hair fell out! We knew there had to be a way to make them better and Happy Tails was born."

Flogger #3 - Black Elk - 23" tails - black handle

Manufacturer's description reads - "A big, all-black, premium elk flogger with 23-inch long tails. A very generous bundle makes this a heavy flogger."


This kind of big heavy beast is more to my normal taste in terms of flogger length.

All three floggers are going to be treasured addition to me collection.  I look forward to telling you, my dear reader, more details after I've had a chance to use them on my darling Serafina (who loves being flogged!)