My first suspension was a "suicide" suspension, aptly named for the body hanging from hooks as a person would from a noose. Although my housemate did his first a year ago with six 8-gauge hooks, I decided to go with four since all my other friends who were suspending for the first time did the same. I figured if two girls are going to do four hooks instead of six (which is more painful) then I have to also. BIG MISTAKE! I am not sure if I did a six-hook suspension if I would have been up there longer, or been in less pain, I will only find out later in life. This intense and painful suspension lasted approximately five minutes.
At A Glance Author Brother Droogie Contact Brother Droogie@bme.anon IAM brotherdroogie When It just happened Artist Rites of Passage Studio Rites of Passage Suscon 2005 Location Providence, Rhode Island I chose to do my first suspension at Rites of Passage's third annual Suscon (Suspension Convention) because of many reasons. First, my housemate suspended for the first time with them the previous year, and went the year before as a guest. He told me about how wonderful, nice, and professional this group is. Secondly, fiends from across the country have told me that Rites of Passage is one of the better groups in the country, and that their reputation stretches outside of the United States, and finally, what better timing than during the vacation I was already taking.
I went to the Suscon with little fear or worry about the event. I talked to many of the staff and regulars via email about all the pros, and cons of suspending, what to expect, and whatnot. I got to the location, and signed up and my body started to get pumped up for suspending.
Since I already have a piercing (genital) that was done at 8-gauge, I was not too worried about the pain of being pierced, but rather the hanging from hooks. I was fortunate to have two awesome guys throw the hooks in my back, one who I have known for years who used to pierce at a tattoo parlor my friend inked at, and the other whom I have been emailing for a few weeks about suspensions. They had me lay down on one of those medical tables with a hole for your face, when you lay on your stomach and they marked me up, had me stand up looked at the lines, and then lay back down. Now became the time for the piercing! They had me breathe in and then out, then in and as I breathed out two needles pierced my skin and the hooks were inserted into my upper back near the shoulders. Then again, for the final two hooks we did the same. I was expecting a great deal of pain here, but it was nothing, I was all set to go suspend!
When I entered the room to be rigged up, I started to get scared. I had two new crewmembers with me, and they were very nice and explained everything before doing it. I stood under the rigging and it was lowered, and as the ropes were threaded through the hooks and carabiners, I was told everything, and constantly reminded to focus on my breathing, and to not panic. The biggest piece of advice I got was DO NOT TENSE UP AND RAISE YOUR SHOULDERS, RELAX AND KEEP THEM DOWN, AND DON'T FORGET TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS. Yeah, I forgot to do all of that...
They had me hold a crewmember's hands and walk forward and back just a few steps each time, and on the fifth set, we started to go up and I was on my tip toes and in a lot of pain. I kept trying to focus on my breathing, but all I could do is focus on the pain. Before I know it I was over a foot off the grown and not holding onto anyone. I tried to breath, but the pain was too intense, my shoulders stayed tense and up, and I saw flashes of white light. I tried to deep breathe and started to panic, my body hated me and I asked to be let down.
I was then sitting in a chair all hooked up, and was give water. They asked me if I wanted to go up again but I declined, my body was definitely in shock and shaking excessively. The ropes were cut and I went to the back room to be de-hooked, and bleed out. This was not bad at all just massage the holes to get al the excess blood and air out.
Although it lasted only 5 minutes, I am glad I did this. I went in with way too many expectations of what I wanted to get out of it, and I left knowing that I am still mortal. I suggest for your first suspension to not do a suicide suspension, but if you really want to, realize it will hurt a lot. On the other hand, you could do six hooks like my housemate and be up there for half an hour.
As far as afterwards, my back was sore for a few days and are healing up nice, just dark dots right now, no bumps you can feel. It was quite the experience, and something I will never ever forget, nor the people who helped me through it.