My Piercings Are Cultural.
I literally felt a calling to all the piercings that I got growing up. Having a new piercing was more than enhancing my beauty, but enhancing my spirit or making a promise. I would get a new piercing each time I reached a new transition in my life. For example one day I was praying deeply and when I was done I first got my septum pierced at the age of 16. It was calling me for months before I had finally committed the act. I could feel my ancestors directing me to this piercing. As an Urban Ndn I was actually raised with my culture and tribal ways,but I took it for granted. It was at this age I began to truly dive deeper in my culture and have understanding of my peoples ways. Eventually I had stretched my ears, just like my ancestors. Each time I stretched, I felt closer to the creator for that is my tribes belief. My labret piercing..I originally pierced my labret when my ex had took her life away....the day I found out about this tragedy I pierced my lip for that was the last piercing she had before she had passed. I have and always had a deep understanding for death. I was sad and in disbelief I had lost someone close to me. I mourned her death by getting my labret pierced. This processed seemed slower than usual. Though about 3 days passed before getting my lips pierced,I felt bottled up. It was only after I felt relieved when my ritual was done. Once the needle had reached my lip and pierced through the flesh of my skin as blood dripped down my lips, all I invisioned was her. I had mourned for a couple of months..and finally was ready to let go which means that I was to remove my piercing and let it close. Later on I re-pierced it in a different stage in my life where I was educating other Urban Ndns from the tribes that im mixed with on Native Identity and History. I then re-pierced my lip to symbolize I too speak with wisdom. Many non native people think that this is a trend amongst young people however africans and native people have been practicing body modifications before European contact.
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