Oh, Midori: a mere mention of her name will cause a dreamy expression to soften the features of those familiar. Beloved and revered, desired and idolized, Midori weaves complex webs with a potent amalgam of elegance, intellect, and sheer unadulterated kink. I first became aware of her many years back, when a corset designer sang her praises; later, I was tuned in to her Shibari prowess when a dominatrix friend shared with me The Seductive Art of Japanese Rope Bondage. Upon devouring the lush photographs and gorgeously written text, I was an immediate convert; and since that time, I have observed her from afar. Established photographer, brilliant wordsmith, Fetish Diva, educator, intoxicating kinkstress: Midori is nonpareil.It goes without saying that I leapt at the chance to attend her Aural Sex workshop (held this Sunday past at Seattle Babeland). How shall I describe her first? Perhaps the figure she cut as she strode into the room: elegant and poised, clad in rich silky brown, seamed stockings, her hair upswept; but no, her exuberant confidence and attire were but a portion of the nights events. It was when she spoke that all in attendance were fully aware of why we?d gathered on that chilly eve: to glean knowledge of seduction, suggestion, and titillation through the power of voice.As has been stressed time and time again, the most powerful sex organ is not between your legs, but contained between the ears. In a voice that could melt a pat of butter in Antarctica, Midori led us through a relaxation exercise; as her voice caressed and suggested, we closed our eyes and rolled tension and stress from our shoulders, down our arms, and from our fingertips: enchanted by cadence and word choice, the entire room fell hush with a palpable sense of wellbeing. Our eyes opened, and we breathed a collective sigh of relaxation brought upon us without visual or physical stimulation. Lesson learned: the voice indeed is a powerful tool.It was along this vein that the workshop continued. Keen on audience involvement, Midori demonstrated the way in which oft-perceived ?taboo? activities (play piercing, bondage, fisting) can be approached. One young man intimated that he would like to try fisting, but never had. Midori focused her attention entirely on him, describing the way in which he could approach her, seduce her, and invite her to partake in such an intimate act. (He later relayed that her voice [which she describes as an arm clad in velvet] allowed him to focus in such a way that everyone else in the room melted away, forming a mist about her face.) She demonstrated how to slow down the speed of verbal communication, the softening of tone, the power of silence; too, she offered examples of calling a lover at the office, spinning a tale of an amorous evening, and drawing the erotic tension taut from morning ?til the moment of consummation.Through a combination of participatory exercises, volunteering, and demonstrations that took her voice from a luscious purr, to a stern bark, to vibrant peals of laughter, the entire room was entranced. Not only is Midori a riveting educator, but she is personable, warm, and uproariously funny as well. I find it difficult to impart the extent of what I learned, due to sheer amount of information packed into a mere two hours. I advise that you check in on Babeland events and mark your calendar for her next appearance, or follow her schedule at Planet Midori. Simply put, she is not someone to be missed.