Editing Blindfold

{{short description|Garment tied to one's head to disable the wearer's sight}}
{{Other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2010}}
[[File:Truly and Bluford Asleep on Middeck - GPN-2000-001079.jpg|225px|thumb|right|Astronauts [[Richard H. Truly]] and [[Guion Bluford]] sleeping on board the Challenger. Bluford, in the foreground (upside-down) wears a sleep mask.  Astronauts may find it [[Fatigue and sleep loss during spaceflight|difficult to sleep in space]], especially if they are light sensitive.]]
[[Image:sleep mask.jpg|225px|thumb|right|Sleep mask]]

A '''blindfold''' (from [[Middle English]] ''{{lang|enm|blindfellen}}'') is a [[garment]], usually of [[cloth]], tied to one's head to cover the [[human eye|eye]]s to disable the wearer's [[visual perception|sight]]. While a properly fitted blindfold prevents sight even if the eyes are open, a poorly tied or trick blindfold may let the wearer see around or even through the blindfold.

==Applications==
[[File:Military spouses exercise finding objects while blindfolded as part of a workshop by Marine Corps Family Team.jpg|thumb|A blindfolded woman]]
Blindfolds can be used in various applications:

* As a sleep mask: They block out light when sleeping, especially during [[air travel]], or for those who sleep during the day, given that shutting out light<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gooley|first1=Joshua J.|last2=Chamberlain|first2=Kyle|last3=Smith|first3=Kurt A.|last4=Khalsa|first4=Sat Bir S.|last5=Rajaratnam|first5=Shantha M. W.|last6=Van Reen|first6=Eliza|last7=Zeitzer|first7=Jamie M.|last8=Czeisler|first8=Charles A.|last9=Lockley|first9=Steven W.|date=March 2011|title=Exposure to Room Light before Bedtime Suppresses Melatonin Onset and Shortens Melatonin Duration in Humans|journal=The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism|volume=96|issue=3|pages=E463–E472|doi=10.1210/jc.2010-2098|issn=0021-972X|pmc=3047226|pmid=21193540}}</ref> allows the user to achieve a deeper level of sleep.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellwood |first=Beth |date=2023-02-27 |title=Wearing an eye mask while sleeping improves memory encoding and makes you more alert the next day |url=https://www.psypost.org/2023/02/wearing-an-eye-mask-while-sleeping-improves-memory-encoding-and-makes-you-more-alert-the-next-day-68600 |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=PsyPost |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=The4 |title=The Benefits of Silk Sleep Mask |url=https://vazasilk.com/blogs/vaza-blogs/the-benefits-of-silk-sleep-mask |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=VAZA SILK |language=en}}</ref> They can also provide relief from [[claustrophobia]] for [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI) patients.
* In children's games, such as [[Pin the Tail on the Donkey]] and when hitting a [[piñata]].
* During both [[martial arts]] and [[weight training|weight lifting]], to encourage reliance on other senses, such as touch or hearing.
* As an added challenge in activities such as [[blindfold chess|chess]] and [[speedcubing#Blindfolded|speedcubing]], forcing participants to rely purely on their memory.
* As a [[sensory deprivation]] tool in [[meditation]], to focus attention on oneself rather than outside imagery.
* As a way to keep a [[kidnapping]] victim, [[hostage]], prisoner, etc., from being able to identify locations or people.
* To cover the eyes of a blind person for health or cosmetic reasons.  (Since the invention of [[sunglasses]], this is much less common.)
* As a [[Theatrical property|prop]] in [[magic trick]]s. One common trick involves a blindfolded performer doing a task that requires vision, such as driving.<ref name="The News Today">[http://www.thenewstoday.info/2005/01/18/opinion1.htm The News Today Online Edition, ''Of entertainers and blindfolded drivers''] by Atty. Cyril Regalado (retrieved July 31, 2011)</ref>
* As an aid to simulate [[blindness]] during training of [[Blindness#Mobility|Orientation and Mobility Specialists]], so that they develop empathetic understanding of blindness and learn how to rely on their other senses to get to know the environment and move around freely and independently.
* During executions, to relax and calm the accused, as they will be unable to see their execution and thus less likely to panic.
* Sexual activity may include blindfolding. They can be constructed with feathers and sold with handcuffs in novelty "bondage kits".{{cn|date=September 2024}} Many impromptu items already found in the bedroom lend themselves to such use without preparation or prior purchase of specialized equipment.
[[Image:Blindfolds.jpg|thumb|150px|left|A collection of [[BDSM]] blindfolds]]
Use of a blindfold is said to enhance the remaining senses of the wearer, focusing attention on sound, smells and physical contact. This increased awareness is said to allow for greater excitement and anticipation by eliminating visual cues, as one cannot see what to expect. It also requires trust of the [[submissive (BDSM)|submissive]], with all the emotional ramifications that entails.<ref name=NeoVox>[http://neovox.cortland.edu/archives/2005/12/psstpass_the_ha.html NeoVox International Magazine, ''Psst...pass the handcuffs''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920021823/http://neovox.cortland.edu/archives/2005/12/psstpass_the_ha.html |date=September 20, 2008 }} by Alex Reid, December 22, 2005 (retrieved August 1, 2006)</ref>

==Symbolism==
The blindfold has been a powerful symbol in [[divination]] and [[mythology]] since the 15th century.

In law, it is seen being worn by [[Lady Justice]], to represent objectivity and impartiality.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.justiceblind.com/issue.html |title=Blindfolds in justice. |access-date=2011-12-06 |archive-date=2018-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218082613/http://www.justiceblind.com/issue.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The blindfold as a symbol is also a common theme in [[tarot]] and other divination methods. It can represent themes of the victim, resistance to clarity, denial, or limited views. It is often accompanied by underlying themes of integrity and truth at a cost. Likewise, the icon of the blindfold can symbolize the dichotomy of the conscious and the unconscious, as wearing a blindfold represents a stasis or a lesser state of consciousness, whereas taking off one's blindfold represents a form of awakening or rebirth. It also represents connection to feeling over senses, emphasizing the importance of emotion over [[perception]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tarotteachings.com/blindfold-symbolic-meanings.html|title=Blindfold Symbolic Meanings in the Tarot by Avia from Tarot Teachings|date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Eyepatch]]
* [[Blinders]] (blinkers): for horses

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blindfolds}}

* [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/blindfold Merriam-Webster entry]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ed0DAAAAMBAJ&q=sihk&pg=PA598 Early use of the Sleeping Mask]

{{Eyewear}}

[[Category:BDSM equipment]]
[[Category:Eyewear]]
[[Category:Blindness]]
[[Category:Cloth masks]]
[[Category:Sleep]]