’ te ~~ Piercing: the H Mat xo: oa st ory » Mat is a rather unpierced guy Jenn fer 5 for one who advocates and enjoys experiencing S t oO r ; premeditated, self-mutilation, Y ‘Jennifer is currently a tattoo artist He has five piercings in places that sort of make up for this low number - He’s pierced in his tongue, both his nipples, his cheek, and his septum, “it sounds like rectum, but it’s something quite different,” he says. The septum is the cartilage in the middle of the nose and Mat can be seen wearing a noticeably large circular barbell in it. There is also something called a retainer that can be worn when attending more formal functions. The retainer can be flipped up into the nose where it remains invisible while keeping the hole open. When asked why he did/ does thes€ mutilations, he replies - “I wanted to feel it being done, to experience the process of a needle going through my [body]. I can’t lie, 1 knew it would hurt - '% was looking forward to that.” Within three months Mat was back for more. He wanted to experience that endorphin rush (a natural painkiller released when the body experiences pain). What does it feel like? “Well, the body reacts by releasing this natural drug; the mind is calm but the body knows there’s something going on... it’s an amazing, natural high... After getting my tongue pierced, I laughed for half an hour. I felt so good. Actually, I had never felt better.” “The most painful self-mutilation I’ve ever been through is She is currently training with a training to become a piercer. “I don’t like tattooing in black, colours met him when a friend filmed a pie are much more fun to work with” she says. “Although tribal designs _ later had him pierce her tongue. She are amazing, it is cool to work colour into them as well!” Once she for a while, but found it difficult to learns how to pierce, she is going to start a shop in Saskatchewan Now Jennifer works with Bear which incorporates both tattooing and piercing. “There’s working with him for a month and] nothing like that there yet...” she says. first official piercing any day now! Jennifer had her first piercing experience two One of the qualities that a pier years ago. Now she has 19 body piercings: ten inthe make a client feel comfortable; she last six months, and seven of those in one sitting- seven! and project a calm energy. Jennifer She tells how it took about an hour and a half to get “if piercing a client for the first tin the seven piercings done: tattooing anyone I may be slightf “T got three first, then had a break - I wish that tattooing for a year and a half now I hadn’t stopped, though, because my body had to comfortable with this new experienc get prepared for the experience all over again... it When asked which body part s was more painful for the remaining four “the navel, because it is the hardest piercings.” (comparatively speaking - easier tha Jennifer had her inner labia pierced six times What other piercings ‘n’ stuff and her clitoris hood pierced once saying that, a brand, (an “on purpose” burn wit “T’m going to put beads on the rings - so it’s back that will compliment an existin sort of like a runway.” She also has her nose, _ labia piercings. Right now her inner nipples, tongue, navel, and ears pierced. the outer ones done too. having my lips sewn shut! I volunteered at the last minute one time when this guy didn’t show up [at a demonstration] and hadn’t really psyched myself up. SS “I was fine for a while, but the pain was so great and the endorphins were so strong that I lost sense of what was happening.” “During the procedure, I had to write notes to communicate. My eyes watered, sensations traveled through my body ! with no apparent } purpose, and I didn’t even know how the stitches were going to be taken out afterwards. I actually thought that my lips would have to be unsewn!” “My pain threshold was pushed and pushed until I didn’t think that I could go on, but | did! I had crossed new boundaries. I had reached the edge. I was proud of myself and my new limit to ing pain.” 9 : 2 ; : meee a half an hour and six stitches, which is six holes on the Db arren > Sensation of sensuality, top and six on the bottom, the thought of being unsewn was story * slippery and slinky. I’ ve always been a nipple boy, therapy, wh unbearable. The stitches were cut. Whew!" "the tickle of this tenderness was always the height meditation, s "This actually healed quickly. There is a video available.” h of arousal in my admittedly limited sexual experience. An expensive As ; lay Two future projects have been thought about. The first is a Pp Otos replacement of such feeling is the nipple piercing - I’m single, prepatseon full body tattoo, starting with one arm. It will take about thirty b happy, and as said by Black Adder, “prepared for all eventualities”’. this pleasur¢ hours and a lot of money. Time-wise, it will most likely be a year y I’m not as brave as people would think for doing such a thing off, but hey? before the arm is completed. Who knows how long the whole body Zeebo (piercing); even with such an instinctual desire, I was nervous on was such a fi will take? the planned day. If hadn’t been accompanied by my friend, A’ Liza, was mellow, The other project, and maybe the first to be finished, is a long, I may have wimped out. I’m not justifying this; I’m simply saying exhale and o three-inch, barbell that trusting my instincts has yet to leave me in regret and the only I positively through the ear. It doubt comes from the presumption of the feeling of others - you ear. “Now y would enter the know, the parental type! in a casual ¥ | top, going through I confess, I digress! I was three or four parts It was Granville St.- The Underground - which is now above disinfectant of the cartilage and ground! The environment seemed much more personal since the be sure; I sti ear, then exit the employees emerged from their previous location - the cave. it four times | bottom. Getting a Roach, the lady of piercing, was very laid back about the whole I apply thes | multiple piercing thing in general, but most insistent on after-care. The piercing corner and to keep‘ feels better! was at the back and to the left of the store where I was, thankfully, I was tc “Yes, I want not on display for those who were curious. Once | entered the give it a frie to feel the pain! My piercing area there was no turning back, especially after I had signed this experie! mom bought me the release form. baby - no tu the Modern Roach’s method was so comfortable, it was almost To que Primitives book disappointing because intense pain was definitely expected. Roach’s day the whc but don’t tell her soothing voice led me through the breathing technique and aroma Darren, Ze I’m a masochist, O.K?” ‘ A 4 et we ha eee A rr te ee. _— — =e ce hi le em ‘.