What is it: -
The sort of mummification that most
people are familiar with, or have at least heard of, involves wrapping dead bodies in
fabric bandages in an attempt to preserve them and then for some strange reason sticking
them in a gold box next to a stone cat. Well - with a few minor differences that just
about sums it up. Of course some of the differences are quite important - like the person
inside the bandages is alive - and even stays that way, and the idea is to have a good
time, not just to try to make them last forever.
What is used: -
There are 2
materials in common use for mummification, one is cling film often used in conjunction
with duct tape, and the other, and less common is rubber bandages. Of course other things
are used too - but these are the main ones. We have a definite preference for rubber
bandages as we think they look, feel and smell better, and are more flexible to play with
- especially as the bandages can be easily moved around to access all areas. Any pictures
on this page of rubber mummification were done by us, whereas the picture of
clingfilm/tape mummification on the left was taken by a friend of ours.
Mummification is basically another form of restraint, but there is also a lot more to it, as the persons head is covered (usually) a degree of sensory deprivation is introduced - sight is lost, sound is lessened and blurred and the subject becomes totally dependant and highly focussed on whatever external stimulation is supplied to them - it is therefore also an interesting control mechanism. For the mummified person a detachment from reality is often found - as an added bonus many mummification bottoms state that for them extended mummification can also be a relaxing experience and is very good for removing stress. Of course the only way to really understand why we do it is to try it!
Cautions:-
Whilst mummification is generally fairly safe a few things should be kept
in mind. The main thing is not to restrict the breathing (too much) either by covering
both nose and mouth, or by applying too much pressure with bandages around the chest. Also
it is important to keep an eye on the temperature. It is also worth remembering that an
inexperienced person can panic inside the bandages - so keep an eye on them and be able to
remove all coverings quickly if it should become necessary - it is probably best to try
this the first time with somebody who knows what they are doing!
What can be done:-
Anything - just about any body part(s) can be mummified, individually or as a whole. We tend to prefer head, cock and ball, or full body mummification - it seems a bit pointless just to do a hand or a foot. There are a few more pictures below showing some of the options. Some of the pictures on this page can be clicked to download the full image.