Control?

I think there are multiple layers of control.
Not using your hands would be one layer. On top of that there would be the control of anal/PC/rectal (etc.) muscles. There's a mental layer of control, where you can try to create sensations or hold on to them. And I think a second layer of mental control on top of that, where you let go of self-monitoring, and stop inspecting the experience from the outside, and surrender to the moment completely.

I think a measure of surrendering control at this last layer is necessary, for me at least. There's something I'm doing unintentionally at this level that limits the intensity of sensations. I notice I can let things intensify and flow harder if I somehow open more to them. I can't really get on-board with the whole chakra thing, but it does seem like a way of conceptualising what ever is going on here.

"... And I think a second layer of mental control on top of that, where you let go of self-monitoring, and stop inspecting the experience from the outside, and surrender to the moment completely.

I think a measure of surrendering control at this last layer is necessary, for me at least. There's something I'm doing unintentionally at this level that limits the intensity of sensations. I notice I can let things intensify and flow harder if I somehow open more to them. I can't really get on-board with the whole chakra thing, but it does seem like a way of conceptualising what ever is going on here.

Thanks to @Clenchy ... This is the finest, most simple and easy-to-understand expression of how-to let-go I've seen in my 6 years of Aneros use. It took me over 10 months to get to this point and another 3 months to 'undo' the damage I had inflicted upon myself through the exercise of my finely honed 'control skills.' rook

Thanks. I don't know if the damage can be avoided really. I've fought tooth and nail for every bit of re-wiring I've gained over the years, and being a sensations micro-manager and trying to lead the experience feels like it was necessary to advance. Kind of like practising kung-fu moves until they become second nature. There's a quote somewhere in the back of my mind about learning the techniques so you may forget them. And when it comes to opening up sensory pathways, it rings true for me. If I hadn't experimented with "that weird rectal contraction that I don't know how I'm doing", I wouldn't have become sensitive to the feeling it produces. Now when I'm just letting things flow, it can light up on its own.

In reminds me of my more hardcore FPS gaming days, where the best shots I've ever landed, and the most amazing I've ever played was while being in "the zone". A place of thoughtless and almost trance-like certainty, confidence and composure. It sounds bullshitty, but there was a place in my brain that could play the game better than I consciously could, but I had to get out of my own way. If I died too many times, or started missing shots, I'd get frustrated and start "trying" to aim again, and everything would fall apart from there. I got stuck in that rut for a long time, only visiting the zone very occasionally.
But without training and muscle memory, there's no zone to go to in the first place.

I think the parallel with the aneros is frustration, and grabbing the controls, trying to manually do things you can already do without trying, because you don't trust that everything is working exactly as it should.
And it's hard to not do this because we so desperately want the orgasm, and know we can manipulate the experience. Yet it's somehow impossible for our brains to accept that this control isn't part of the experience we're looking for. Finding a way to tip-toe around this mental booby-trap, is pretty interesting. I think I've unwittingly passed it a few times, and every time it was like that zone, where everything is unfolding exactly as it should. There is nothing to correct, no adjustments I need to make, and that climax is certain and inevitable. My two best super-o's were like that, for about 20 or 30 seconds leading up to the peak there was zero doubt. So the question I have to ask myself is - was there something special about what I was feeling that took away all doubt, or did the lack of doubt pave the way for the experience to take over? Or are they even mutually exclusive, maybe they feed one another.

It's the weirdest balance between desire and lack of need. And I've been trying to approach it with some attitude that works, where the conditions of failure and frustration don't exist. Like maybe being denied release is the goal, or that I don't really have any control to exert, that I'm helpless and this is just happening to me.

I think I still struggle with this mindset issue, how did you undo it rook?

@Clenchy
Some quite deep remarks in all you wrote here.

One among many : " But without training and muscle memory, there's no zone to go to in the first place "

I might also add to this all :
If we have a subconcious it is for a good reason. Fighting it isn't exactly wise.

IF ONE HAS DISCIPLINE, ONE THEN HAS CONTROL. WHEN BALANCE IS ACHIEVED, CONTROL IS MAINTAINED.