A Magick Cross Completed.
At A Glance Author Terye' J. Contact teryeajoh@netscape.net When Three months ago Artist Didier Saurez Studio Enigma Location San Diego, CA A few months ago I related my adventure in getting my ampallang done while in England by Patrick of London.... "Well Worth the Trip." Here is the promised experience related to my getting my apadravya done by Didier Saurez at Enigma in San Diego, CA.
I had been giving thought to an apadravya ever since I figured out that I could not comfortably wear any jewelry in my Prince Albert due to the position of my ampallang. After ordering the last specialty piece of jewelry for this through Didier, I told him that if it did not work I'd be back for an apadravya. I did not realize that it would only be a month or so later.
I've known Didier for a number of years and have a great deal of confidence in his knowledge and skills. His shop is stunningly kept and his sterile habits are excellent.
I received some EMLA cream ordered from the BME shop on-line and set up my appointment to be pierced within the next week.
About an hour or so before my appointment, I applied the EMLA to my penis (both to the surface and within the urethra) and wrapped it in a condom for my trip to Enigma. When I arrived at Enigma, Didier was working on some other customers, so I filled out the dreaded legal paperwork and took a seat, hoping that the numbness would last. (Having never used EMLA before, I had no true idea as to how long the effects would last.)
When Didier finished with his previous customers, he began setting up for my piercing. At this time we discussed the size of jewelry I wanted. Since my ampallang was a 6ga barbell, I thought it best to have the apadravya fitted with the same size jewelry. We also discussed the method that he would like to use to do the piercing. Didier suggested that the piercing be done with a 8ga needle and then he would use a 6ga taper to install the jewelry. At this point I was just ready to get started and trusted him to use the best method possible. (Didier explained that by doing the piercing this way, the jewelry would act as a tight plug and minimize the amount of post piercing blood)
As Didier continued his prep work, I hopped up on the piercing table and exposed my condom wrapped penis. Removing the condom, I wondered if the EMLA was working, because I could still feel every touch. Yet this worry went away as Didier started to prep and mark the area to be pierced. It was decided that the apadravya would be placed directly behind my ampallang. I was a bit saddened that Didier opted to not use the existing P.A. hole, but in the end it was a good decision.
A quick note: I have had many piercing over the years and using the EMLA for this piercing was the best thing for me. Mainly because I was not getting the piercing for the ritual, but for the practicality and aesthetics of it. As I later thought about it, the technique used would have made the piercing quite intense without the use of the EMLA, so I am quite happy I chose to use the cream.
Didier asked me if I could feel anything. Yes, I could feel him marking me, but the prior cleaning of the area felt like a very light feathery touch. Removing my ampallang jewelry, he placed a clamp in position. Didier asked if I could feel this, but I still only felt the lightest pressure.
Checking on me again, Didier told me that even with the use of the EMLA, he was treating this piercing like any other. So he had me breath in and out, relaxing with each breath. At about the fifth or sixth breath, I felt a pushing sensation, at which time he told me that he was removing the clamps and that the needle was in place. I was totally amazed, because with all the slight feeling I was having, there was not even the hint of pain.
Placing the clamp aside, Didier informed me that he was now going to insert the jewelry using the taper. Since I had not felt the needle very much I simply replied that he should continue on. Again I felt some pushing after which Didier told me he was all done.
Because a taper was used, there was virtually no blood around the piercing. Only thing that concerned Didier was that the jewelry was in place so tight, that it might take some time for it to shift into a comfortable position. Re-inserting my ampallang jewelry, he took a couple of digital photos and I got the first look at my newest piercing.
Wow, it looked great. I once again marveled at the fact that I had felt nothing through the entire procedure.
Wrapping the area in gauze, Didier gave me final care instructions. I paid him and thanked him for a excellent job done. I told him that I'd call to let him know how long it took for the jewelry to shift into place and how the healing was going.
After running a couple more errands, I headed for home. Unwrapping the gauze, I still saw no blood. (Nothing like when I had my ampallang done.) My first after-piercing pee was not painful. The EMLA was still working. I did not start to feel any sort of discomfort until about a day or so later.
I called Didier as promised to inform him of my status and to thank him again for the excellent work.
Well that was back in September of 2004 and things have been going well through out my healing process. Have had some protected sex, which is interesting. Before I was always aware of how my ampallang felt as it pushed and pulled during sex. Yet now there is a new intensity to sex by the addition of the apadravya. Maybe something to do with the horizontal and vertical placing, as well as how close they are to each other. My current lover has told me that although she enjoyed just the ampallang before, the new addition has added more to what she feels when I am inside of her.
My ampallang is fitted with ¾ inch domed balls and have not decided as to whether I will be outfitting my new apadravya with the same sort of hardware. Yet for now, I am enjoying the look of my Magick Cross and the pleasure it gives me and my future partners.
I hope to send some photos in the near future and am already trying to decide what my next mods will be. I have narrowed it down to either a frenum ladder or 4 to 5 genital beads. Well that is a future story. But for now my MAGICK CROSS is complete.