Body Play Magazine, Issue #10 (available online.)
When the sewing was completed, it was odd. The design looked like it was supposed to be there. Physically we had made it rise to the surface. But it had always been there.
transcript under the cut
SEVENTY STITCHES
INTRODUCTION BY FAKIR
Cricket Keene is a remarkable young woman. I have known Cricket for about two years now; she always delights and surprises me. I first met Cricket in November 1992 when she attended my Basic Pro piercing school. Her natural abilities for body piercing were evident from the start. After graduation, she returned to her native Michigan and opened a successful body piercing studio. About a year later, Cricket had a serious auto accident which resulted in some troublesome dis-abilities. Showing great courage and strength, she has since overcome most of them and regained her former brightness, inventiveness and first-rate skills.
Early in 1994, Cricket decided to relocate to the West Coast. She moved to Seattle and opened a second studio called Pink Zone, also a great success. Since she was now closer to California, she began to travel frequently to San Francisco. I asked Cricket to help me with the piercing school where she has been a regular faculty member and right arm for me since January. In September 1994, Cricket, along with Michael Sims and Ken Coyote, opened a third body piercing studio in San Jose.
This new studio, called VOODOO THERAPY, is located at 325 South First Street in San Jose (phone 408-280-6699). It is one of the cleanest, most attractive and spacious body piercing studios in the State of California.
CRICKET'S PIERCING ADVENTURE
In June of 1993, my life was changed by something out of my control. After this event, I looked at life quite differently. I realized life was something that could be taken away at any moment. From then on, I wanted to feel every second of it. I felt I had to put myself through a series of tests to reclaim the things I had lost.
The first test was a vertical suspension. It was important for me to be outdoors and looking down at the earth. I needed to feel comfort in hanging, so I chose a eucalyptus tree in Monterey. Coming down from hanging was empowering. I had done it with virtually no fear, and it felt great. I remember feeling like my body had been extended. Mentally I knew I had extended my limits. I could now move on.
The second test was more complicated. I wanted to incorporate the test with a healing rite. I had had problems with my upper and lower back ever since June. I had been trying physical therapy, acupuncture, cupping and many other forms of healing. None of which had been completely successful. I tried reaching within myself for answers. I had heard of people doing temporary piercings or ball dances and getting great releases emotionally and physically. This interested me, but I wanted something very quiet and focused on what I particularly needed to heal. I thought of piercing a pattern in the middle of my back and bridging it together so that both areas met, creating a union, and hoped the integration would cause it to heal.
I spoke to Erik Dakota about the idea and asked if he would be willing to do the piercings. In conversation, a new idea came into play. The idea of actually sewing the pattern into my back. In search within myself, I had a visual image that I hadn't been able to explain before, and it sounded like what I had been envisioning. I had a pattern all planned out. I wanted a specific symbol, a Japanese character, which represents my spiritual beliefs. I wanted to stitch this symbol in my back and ask my higher power (my WA) to release my pain.
Time moved closer to the sewing date and I realized I wanted it to be perfect. It was very important to me that everyone surrounding me on this night be in the right frame of mind. i asked Fakir's partner Carla, whom I respect and regard very highly, to assist. She prepared me through the day by keeping me focused on what I wanted from the experience. She set up an altar, cleansed the area and asked each one of us what we wanted to happen and what we hoped to take with us. We then started charting out the design. I was particular about the size since I wanted to link both upper and lower back. I also wanted it to look how I had envisioned it.
I had hopes of leaving it in as long as possible. I had even asked a plastic surgeon about the risk of infection, and how to care for it while the stitches were in. I asked how long I could comfortably leave them in, and could I possibly create scarring. A length of time was not determined, except that it must be kept sterile. So the time was up to my discretion.
The sewing, in its entirety, took SEVENTY STITCHES.
In this time I went through a plethora of emotions. Anxiety, anger, happiness, sadness. I even experienced telepathy. I felt a special closeness to the people around me that I hadn't felt before. Especially toward the Sewer. When the sewing was completed, it was odd. The design looked like it was supposed to be there. Physically we had made it rise to the surface. But it had always been there. Leaving the space that I had grown very attached to during the sewing was very hard. It was dark and getting very late. As we headed home, a strange thing happened. An owl landed on the road right in front of the car with wings widespread. I had to swerve so that I didn't hit it. The symbolism I did not know, but it seemed to me like a "WA" thing. One of the people I was staying with the next day showed me a book, "Animals of the Soul in which the owl is referred to as the Medicine Man's power!
I left the sewing in for three days. The stitches were starting to work their way out and three seemed like a good number. Once the stitches were out, I felt a great release and a loss at the same time. Release because the pain I knew before this was no longer present; neither was the discomfort of the monofilament riding underneath my skin. Instantly I wanted my stitches back. The beautiful design was gone. The pattern that had seemed so natural was erased. I'm glad I documented it! My special thanks to Dave Shelton for photographing the event and letting me use his space for my ritual.
Now it being a few months from when this all came together and happened, I can honestly say IT WORKED! I have not had any pain in my upper or lower back, and I discontinued my physical therapy soon after. I know I have a third test to go. I'm not sure what it is, but I know it will come to me when I am ready for it. My guess is that Fakir will play a major part. Thank you Fakir for letting me show this new modification and tell your readers about my experience.
CRICKET KEENE.
