with Anna Lysee
Picture: Swen Brandy (@carnivore_pictures)
Fear is one of our most primal forces. It’s raw, universal, impossible to ignore. It sharpens the senses, strips away masks, and pushes us to thresholds we rarely touch in daily life. In rope, fear is not something that simply happens by chance. It is a deliberate choice, a conscious element that can electrify a scene, heighten emotion, and open pathways to unexpected depth.
But fear is not lightweight. It lives directly in the nervous system, it can stir old wounds, and can overwhelm in an instant. To weave fear into play means stepping into great responsibility for yourself, for your partner, and for the shared space you create. In this workshop we explore how fear can be engaged with deliberately and ethically, without tipping into chaos or harm. We will ground ourselves in its psychological and biological roots, in the function of triggers, in the role of personal boundaries, and in what happens when those are ignored or transgressed. Just as importantly, we will look at how intensity can be held in safe containers through preparation and intention, through clear communication, through presence in the moment and reflection afterwards. Alongside this grounding, we move into practice. Together with a trusted partner, you will explore the textures of fear in rope. You will learn not only how to induce fear, but how to recognize its signs, how to hold it, and how to channel it into creative, connective play. Here, fear is neither spectacle nor cruelty, but an opportunity to touch something real that is trembling just beneath the surface.
This workshop is an invitation to dance with intensity without losing sight of safety, to push at the edges of comfort while staying anchored in consent, and to discover how fear, when engaged with openly, can become less of a threat and more of a mirror.
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Basic rope skills (no suspension required), experience in play, a fixed partner you trust, any “fear gear” (e.g. knives) you’d like to bring, curiosity about edgeplay and a willingness to engage with your own and others’ experiences in a compassionate and respectful manner.
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Anna Lysee has been active in the world of Shibari for over a decade – both as a model and as a rigger. She has been co-teaching since 2015 and has been leading her own courses since 2018, in which she reaches far beyond pure technique. Her focus is on bringing the interpersonal, personal and creative dimensions of ropes and kink to life and creating spaces for curiosity, depth and authentic connection.
She is the main organiser of EURIX, one of the most renowned Shibari events in Europe, and is involved in projects such as xplore Berlin, the Institute for Body Research and Sexual Culture (IKSK) and the Death Festival Berlin. In addition to workshops, she offers individual kink-specific coaching as well as rope sessions tailored to the wishes and needs of each individual.
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