Since the mid-1990’s the BDSM triskelion symbol, as shown on this page, has become the de facto symbol of BDSM culture internationally. The symbol was purposefully designed to be a bit ‘mysterious’, to not stand out too much. It allows people within the community to recognize it, without blatantly screaming “I’m a kinky freak”.
The emblem was originally developed by Steve Quagmyr around late 1994 or early 1995 and loosely based on the description of the ring given to O in that quintessential novel “The Story of O”. In it’s most common form, the BDSM triskelion is a three spoked wheel with curved spokes and a dot in each portion, see figure 1.
In it’s proper form the BDSM triskelion has metallic colored arms with a black background and each dot is actually a hole as shown in figure 2.
The metallic coloring of the arms represent the chains, the irons, of BDSM, while the enclosed black backgrounds represent the so-called ‘dark side’ of BDSM. The curved lines represent the swinging lash and the outer circle the unity of the BDSM community that protects its own. Furthermore, the three divisions represent the three primary aspects of BDSM: Bondage and Discipline, Domination and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism. Some people may also equate the three divisions with the creed of Safe, Sane and Consensual or with the three types of types of people, Tops, Bottoms, and Switches. The holes represent how each individual is incomplete and the individual can only find completion in another person. It reminds us that BDSM can only be practiced with others. It is not a solo lifestyle.
Use the symbol as you will. I have them on my cars. I wear it as a pendant. I know people with it tattooed on themselves. When you see it on someone, say hello. It’s a great way to recognize others in the lifestyle, to show your own pride in who you are, without flaunting it in a mainly vanilla world.
References:
- https://fetjeweller.com/pages/about-the-bdsm-triskelion
- http://emblemproject.sagcs.net/index.html