The first stop in a journey that started two years ago was on Saturday the 25th. And what a strange day it was. But first a little of the history behind the whys and wheres.
At A Glance Author Jacktar Contact Jacktar@bme.anon IAM jacktar When It just happened Artist Anodyne Studio Private location Location Cape Town For a while now I have seen suspensions being done around the world, including here in good old South Africa. Always at a time or place just outside my reach, as I have rather insane working routines and hours. So I started gathering information, even visiting some piercing clinics but was simply told at the one: 'sorry, we don't do that...', and this was just trying to get some information?
So I ended up with Anodyne. We have known each other for a while and she had worked on me before. The chemistry was there right from the beginning. I trusted her. A very important part of having someone push a hook through your skin I guess. Not just that though, she has been suspended herself, and basically put the ball in my court for the motivations. After a couple of meetings it was decided that first option would be my birthday,or as close to as possible.
The 25th of November was the closest, had no work, could relax, I thought. Until the morning of the 24th that was. Suddenly I had work, and not the kind you can get out of. So the suspension was first canceled, but thanks to Anodyne we just ended up moving it till late afternoon. This soon turned into early evening, and it was here where the professionalism of Anodyne just kept on coming through. The day ended at the time we were supposed to start, we were an hour late.
But I was also starting to feel that this was important. I little work has not killed anyone yet, so let's get this thing going. A very small gathering it was too. Anodyne and SO, my and mine and Valkyrie, a very good friend. All of whom I was going to need and use to finally get up.
After a lot of nervous chatter and introductions we started. Anodyne cleaned my back, measure the placing out, re-spaced them, pinched, pinched and...
My biggest fear was that during the steps to the suspension it would somehow became to sore, to much. So apprehensive as I was i thought the following: If the needle goes in, then the hook goes in. If one hook gets set, then two, then three, then four. If I can take four hooks, they can lace my up. If i can get laced up, I can go up a little. Up a little can be all the way. But that was way to far to worry about.
..Asked if I was ready for the first cast? Deep breath in, out(pinch, needle through...) warmish feeling but not bad, I can o this. Now the hook. The first part was easy, but then we struggled a little. My poor yoga lady would never have thought that this is what her breathing exercises would be used for. I have a very thick skin it turns out. No pun intended here. But with Anodyne carefully making sure I was fine, me breathing into a rhythm and a couple of good hard pulls there was a pop, and was in. Anodyne was very concerned at this point. Had it hurt to much? Was I fine? Did I want anything to drink?
Thinking back now all is not that clear, but I then thought: If this was as bad as it gets, we can go on now. And it is here where the little red jacket came in. The temperature had dropped a little and I was getting a little cold. The second setting had almost the same trouble as the first, but now Anodyne knew what we were in for, me breathing in a pattern she setting, pulling and this was a lot easier than the first.
The two inners were smaller, so compared to the thicker hooks, set as easy as one, two, three...Four, actually.
Now the next step: Getting set up to go up. The tree, the lights, a little chair, all set up, as this was now getting to be much later than what we thought. Although time flies when you are doing this, trust me. After evening everything out and checking the tension on the rope a couple of times they took up some slack. I stood up, more tension, chair away and more pulling. Getting comfortable was not easy. My SO, LadyRaven held me up for a bit before I came down, not settled at all. And above all of this from Valkyrie the words floated in:" Invite the pain in , boy, don't fight it..." not more than a whisper it was I'm sure. My other also stepped away, and that was it: Lift, lift, lift-off...Straight into my world. They took the photos, and slowly I uncurled from an almost fetal position. Talk about a release.
I have no idea how long I was up there before being a little light headed and a stomach that was making slow turns made me asked them to take me down. How strange it felt to be back, heavy legs that did not quite know what to do at first.
Taking out the hooks was the easiest of the whole thing: First in, first out, with the last two out so easily that I did not even feel them come out.
And that was it? No, not at all. While setting the hooks I felt the same heat from Anodyne hands that I feel when I go to my Shiatsu person, the presence of each of the people there something that extended beyond just onlookers. They all played a part. For me this was not an intense spiritual experience, nor just hanging on four hooks. This was some that binds the people there through pain in a way that it is hard to describe. But they all know it.
Advise? Get the best. Anodyne took all reasonable precautions, S set the whole thing up to the point of perfection. The attention to detail speaks of a for deeper interest in what they do than just the run of the mill kind of thing. Prepare yourself for it to hurt, set small goals as you go along, get to them, and really, it is your experience. Set your pace. Here once again how professional Anodyne is shone through, always there to do what needed to be done, never pressing. But once committed, no hesitation.
The amount of confidence that that carries over is unbelievable.
And I did say that this was just the first stop...