Ep168: Discovering the ‘eight-course meal’ of Shibari - An interview with Anna Noctuelle

Anna Noctuelle is a highly experienced and versatile Shibari practitioner with over 18 years of experience. Her journey with Shibari began as a personal discovery and has since evolved into a multifaceted practice encompassing teaching, modelling and performing. Her dedication to sharing her passion for Shibari has taken her to various rope communities across Europe, teaching workshops and captivating audiences with performances since 2015. Anna’s artistic journey has been deeply influenced by her diverse background. With a foundation in classical dance, she brings grace, elegance, and a keen sense of body awareness to her Shibari practice. Her exploration of Buddhism, tantra and meditation, as well as her commitment to yoga, have shaped her aesthetic and philosophical approach to Shibari, lending it a spiritual depth and tranquility. A linguist in her other life, she’s constantly exploring the communicative aspects of Shibari. Anna Noctuelle’s blend of skills, knowledge, and experience make her an exceptional practitioner and educator of Shibari who understands what it means create safe and inclusive learning environments which reward inquiry, curiosity, courage, experimentation and playfulness. In this episode, Fox and Mya discuss her rope journey and experiences. Listen to hear them talk about: • How she started her two decades of rope • Opportunities for nuanced communication in rope • The richness and depth of Shibari and why she loves it • Exploring living room rope • Marrying a non-rope person • Her links with Anatomie Studio • The place of rope in her life now • How she became a rope educator • Making sure she doesn’t let rope take over her life • The importance of a ‘beginner’s mind’ in rope • The pros and cons of a classical dance background for rope