Clit Piercing as a Life Celebration

At A Glance Author Alonda Contact Alonda@bme.anon Artist Corey Studio Mastodon Location Pacific Beach (San Diego), California

MY BACKGROUND

Before recounting the experience of having my clit pierced, I'll very quickly tell you a little bit about myself so you'll know where I'm coming from. I'm 44 years old. I have several close friends and lovers, women and men I consider significant in my life. My decision to have my clit pierced was for myself alone.

My personal background is somewhat a reflection of the history of our recent times. I became interested in peace and social justice issues in my early teens during the Vietnam War. My interest and activism continued to grow through the late 70's and early 80's, at a time when the peace movement was growing internationally. My peace work has taken me into areas of journalism, graphic arts, street theatre and video. My decision to "put it on the line" led to my involvement in non-violent civil disobedience. In the early 80's, I was arrested and jailed as part of an international peace action. That experience played a major role in my choosing to become an indigent defense lawyer, which is part of what I still do today: represent people who are the less powerful in this society. (I will spare you my on-going critique of the U.S. legal system.)

I have long been interested in positive, life-affirming thought and practices, both on a social level and a personal one. My experience with piercing is consistent with these interests because I see piercing (and other life-enhancing forms of body modification) as ways of celebrating life in all its diversity, complexity and ambiguity.

WHY A CLIT PIERCING?

Up until now, my only previous personal experience with piercing was having my ears pierced when I was very young. My first exposure to female genital piercing came in the form of a delicate gold labia ring worn by a very beautiful woman I met several years ago. From then on, when I pondered the possibility of some kind of piercing for myself, I was at least quite certain that I wanted some form of erotic piercing. A couple of my girlfriends had their navels pierced. I thought it becoming, but not what I wanted for myself.

Within the last year, my decision to get pierced became more concrete. My life was taking me through that part of the journey I now know to be a life passage for women. Menopause. The spiritual, mental and physical changes have been an incredible adventure. And a very great one. I wanted to mark and celebrate this passage in some highly personal and significant way. A genital piercing is the way I chose to do so.

I began to research various forms of female genital piercings both on the internet and by asking questions of those who'd had some experience, or knew of someone who had. As for the internet, I found BME to be the most thorough, sincere and informative site I encountered; which is why I'm taking the time to contribute my experience.

I made the decision to go for a clit piercing. I knew I had the requisite anatomy for it: a large clit. In fact, over the years I've been somewhat self-conscious about the generousness of my sex. My lovers over the years have been delightfully complimentary. But I was always a little shy about myself in this way. So, a clit piercing would have the added aspect of celebrating a part of myself as a fully mature woman that had been a source of self-consciousness for me as a younger woman.

And it would be wonderfully sensuous and erotic! Eroticism I have long equated with a celebration of life force and spirituality in this physical and sensual dimension of our lives. How better to commemorate all this than with a clit ring!

FINDING A PIERCER & A PLACE

With my decision made, the next step was finding the person to do it, and the place to have it done. I'd lived in a part of town with many piercing and tattoo studios. Some doubled as clothing shops as well. I wanted a studio that was serious about the art, very clean and that specialized in body modification. I also wanted a woman piercer, if possible. An acquaintance who'd had a number of piercings performed talked candidly with me about some of his experiences. He had a good friend who knew a woman piercer named Corey, who was considered to do excellent work. She worked at a studio called the Mastodon, in Pacific Beach. I had confidence in my acquaintance's assessment. I called the Mastodon and made an appointment to have Corey do the piercing the following weekend.

Before the day arrived, I stopped by the Mastodon and looked around. What impressed me most were the numerous primitive works of art--statues, masks, etc.--that decorated the studio. I sensed a good reverence for the history and roots of body modification, human ritual, beliefs and practices. The energy of the studio was good. The place felt right.

PREPARATION

In anticipation of what my body would be dealing with, I took certain steps the week before the piercing was to be performed. I stopped taking anything that was thought to interfere with blood-clotting: no aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, etc. I made sure my meals were packed with fresh vegetables and fruits. I got plenty of rest, and tried to keep stress to a minimum. I don't drink alcohol or smoke, so that wasn't a concern.

I asked one of my very close friends to accompany me on the day of--both as a support person, and to do the driving! He very sweetly agreed. I wore a long, flowing dress which I knew would be comfortable throughout the experience. We had a light lunch, and made our way early to the studio to take care of paperwork and select jewelry.

I was a little nervous. But felt quite confident in my decision because so much had gone into making it. The atmosphere of the studio put me immediately at ease. It felt comfortable, accepting and positive. The staff was very helpful and went through aftercare instructions with me in advance. I met Corey and was immediately impressed! She was warm, enthusiastic and confident. Very good energy. And beautifully adorned!

We talked of what I wanted done. She helped me select a small gold ring with gold bead, carefully explaining the importance of a ring thick enough to avoid tearing or being pushed out by my body. She also explained that for an actual clit piercing, I would need to have a large enough clit for a safe piercing to be performed. She was wonderfully direct and matter-of-fact in this discussion, again, putting me more at ease. I took my place up on an

examining table so she could more easily take a look and inform me as to whether I would be appropriate for a clit piercing--or whether a hood piercing would be more appropriate.

Corey determined that my anatomy would work for a clit piercing--apparently not a very common occurrence! We discussed placement of the

incisions, sterile procedure, method and how long the actual piercing would take (about one second!). She was so honest and open with me that everything just felt right. I noted to myself that this was the time to change my mind if I were going to, but chose instead to settle back and put myself in Corey's very skilled and capable hands!

THE PIERCING

Using sterile equipment, sterile disposable gloves, and excellent sterile technique, Corey prepared me for the piercing. My friend was by my side, he and Corey having previously selected some outrageous classical music to play during the piercing to my great delight! Corey had me do some relaxation imaging and breathing work while she centered the forceps over the marks she'd made for the placement of the needle. When all was in position, she instructed me to now take a very deep breath and exhale long and hard as the piercing was performed. She breathed with me.

I felt the sting of the needle through the first layer of skin, then the second thicker pain of the needle passing through the harder interior of my clit, then the release of the needle passing through and out the other side. It was painful. I won't mince words here. About one actual second of painful. But it wasn't unbearable. She passed the jewelry through with the special needle, and we were done! I sat up as she handed me a mirror to see what she'd accomplished. It was beautiful! Simply beautiful.

AFTERCARE

The suggestions for aftercare provided by the Mastodon were thorough and clearly written. What impressed me was the suggestion of sea salt solution soakings twice a day for best healing--not anti-bacterial soaps, chemicals or ointments. A very natural method of assisting the body to heal quickly and properly. The suggestions for aftercare also emphasized not rotating the jewelry, and always washing hands with liquid soap before touching the piercing. No sex--oral or otherwise--for a minimum of 4 - 6 weeks. And staying away from high bacteria environments like hot tubs and swimming pools for 6 - 8 weeks.

It's now been nearly three weeks since my piercing and healing is progressing wonderfully. It took several days for the slight bleeding to subside. This was mostly because I would somehow jar the piercing when I was in deep sleep at night--probably by pressing my legs together. I found ways to protect my piercing in these early stages of healing--placing a pillow between my legs when I slept was one way--and the bleeding stopped. Healing has been quite rapid since then.

I continue the sea salt soaks consistently. And try to wear long flowing dresses as much as possible.

HOW IT FEELS NOW

Wonderful. Powerful. Incredibly Sensuous. And I have the feeling that I am only beginning to experience the full richness and depth of this new dimension of my sensuality. This probably sounds overblown, but I'm trying to be accurate. It has definitely changed something about how I experience myself and my body. And it is so very beautiful!

A CAUTIONARY NOTE

Clitoral piercing is something to approach carefully. It does require a larger clit. The possible adverse consequences can include nerve damage--to an area one would least want such to occur. With all due respect to those who have tried home piercing or have had non-professionals do their piercing, my feeling is that this is definitely one that should be done by someone who really knows what they're doing...in a clean environment, with sterile technique, sterile equipment and jewelry. There are several other beautiful forms of female genital piercing that might be more appropriate and less risky choices, depending upon one's individual anatomy and personal preference.

If you are considering an actual clit piercing, do your homework, research your options, ask a lot of questions and go to a piercer who knows what she or he is doing. In this way, it is more likely that your experience will be a positive one--life-enhancing and sensuously celebratory!