Temperature play can be a fun and effective place to play with different nervous system states. Changing our core temperature as well as playing with temperature on the skin's surface can all move us from homeostasis to aroused/excited, relaxed and surrendered and back again.

You might start by noticing what is your body's temperature now? How do you feel temperature on your skin? And then what might you like to feel?

Depending on how much arousal/excitement you want, below are some ideas about how to play with temperature to affect arousal.

• Ice cubes - a simple & powerful way to 'turn on' your skin's sensitivity. Try moving ice cubes to sensitive parts: behind the knees, armpits, spine, toes, genitals. Play with it in your mouth. Leave it on a body part and feel it melt.
• wax play - light a candle and let it drip. Feel the anticipation of the drip. Try it on different body parts, layer the wax, change the height of the drip to change the temperature. Use only soy or paraffin candles. For more in depth wax play, this guide might be useful.
• Cold showers/baths - For a quickie, jump in a cold shower or bath or get out naked in the rain if its available. Feel the cold, shake, make sounds. If you stay in more than 2-3 minutes it might have a relaxing effect. Hence the power of cold plunges. Experiment. Do what feels pleasurable to you.
• Fire play - If this feels like a edge but still interesting to you, you might get excited by playing with fire. It also might feel like 'too much' and that is just fine. You might start with running your hands through a flame or moving a candle around your body and feeling the fear. If you have the chance to jump over a fire naked, that can be an exhilarating experience. For more experienced fire play, I would recommend taking a class.

*If you are interested in fire play, there is a class coming up in New Orleans. Send me a message for details.

Reflections

What is your relationship to temperature and pleasure? How does temperature effect your pleasure? Your arousal? Your desire?

What does temperature teach you about arousal?