Mody Bodification: More than Skin Deep part two

“The act of suspension is hanging the human body from (or partially from) hooks pierced through the flesh in various places around the body. There are many different reasons to suspend, from pure adrenaline or endorphin rush, to conquering one's fears, to trying to reach a new level of spiritual consciousness and everything in between. In general, people suspend to attain some sort of "experience."

In a previous post, I breifly discussed Scarification, for those of you who aren't aware of what that is, here is a quick description: Scalpels are used to cut deep enough into the skin tissue to leave a permanent scar. No anesthetic is applied, because most body modification practitioners are not anesthesiologists, someone with appropriate training does it in a sterile environment.

“The purpose is just as much ritualistic as it is aesthetic. The most common question I get is “did they numb it first?” this only serves to show the difference of perspective of a scarification collector to the average person on the street. The pain aspect of scarification is a very important one, and proves the mental and emotional stamina within the collector’s pain threshold. Changed the way I view pain in general, it is no longer something to be feared, but simply your bodies natural response to injury. If the injury is contained and there is no real threat you can study the pain as another one of the bodies sensations completely apart from the fear generally associated with the presence of pain. It is not by any means enjoyable, but it has broadened my perspective on pain and using it as a right of passage, the aesthetic value is also really important for me because it is permanent and I want something on me that is beautiful, the piece that I picked is one that appeals to me aesthetically and is not just a series of random lines in a cry for help, but a work of art that I am proud to have on me forever. The fact that it is a set of scars and not a tattoo speaks to a level of commitment to body art culture and the right of passage I have been through. Most American kids get a car from daddy when they turn 16 and others choose to redefine their reality.” Claims, Ryan Soeder

“The act of suspension is hanging the human body from (or partially from) hooks pierced through the flesh in various places around the body. There are many different reasons to suspend, from pure adrenaline or endorphin rush, to conquering one's fears, to trying to reach a new level of spiritual consciousness and everything in between. In general, people suspend to attain some sort of "experience."