It was 7-7-07 and I made an appointment for 7pm to have my ear lobes pierced, right to a 4ga. This was something I've wanted to do for years but had difficulty in accomplishing for one reason or another (mostly the thought of "no going back"), but thanks to the synchronistic date, I was able to convince the superstitious parts of my subconscious that this procedure was in 'our' best interest. Luckily I fell for it.
At A Glance Author Gitchel Contact Gitchel@bme.anon When It just happened Artist alec Studio Straight to the Point Location Portland I read the experience reports on this website of people jumping right to a 4ga from nothing at all, and hearing all good indications as well as reassuring words from my piercer, I decided to go through with it. I headed downtown about an hour early, experiencing some standard pre-piercing anxiety (have had the tongue pierced twice before and a Prince Albert, though all are out now ... tongue piercing hurt the teeth, and as for the PA, well I got tired of surprisingly otherwise innocent nice girls). I was wishing I brought some friends with me, though I realized that this was about me and my evolution, not about having witnesses to see how 'bad ass' I think I am. The support is good, but having my own inner-support (for me) is better. I think there is really something sacred in piercing (or rather, that there can be) and even though that means different things for different people, it should be embraced in that spirit.
I got in, signed all the paperwork, and found a cool spot on the pavement to sit (the sun was fierce and all the waiting seats were in the sun). I just tried to remain collected and in sensation of my body ... I didn't want to miss a thing, or be caught up in useless daydreaming or worry or whatever before such a big event. It was amazing to me how close I came to walking out ... I just kept touching my lobes and thinking 'this is a big thing!' It was also interesting to me how much I was considering in my head what other people would think and how I would explain it, etc. I knew why I was doing it, and that was enough. They call it a "memento mori" ... that is, a reminder of death. I wanted a reminder, and someplace I would see it everytime I looked in the mirror. But I also realized I didn't completely know "why" and maybe I'll never know. Maybe I ate lead paint as a kid, or maybe because my Chiron is in Taurus, but all I could tell is that the desire came up from deep inside me, and I agreed to not resist it.
The studio was clean and everything was very professional. The main piercer was walking an apprentice through the whole procedure, which really helped put me at ease because I could tell he was making sure everything was very precise, not only for me, but for her sake as well. I would prefer that (for myself) then someone just doing it like they've done it a thousand times before, even if they had. I remember I was trying to follow both what he was saying, and trying to relax my body, and then got to a point where I was just going to relax and watch.
He got everything ready, cleaned my ear, marked the spots, clamped the lobes and, as I saw through the hand mirror which I asked for so I could watch the whole thing, he asked me to take a deep breath, then as I breath out slowly, he pushed the 6ga hollow needle in the marked spot. Then, he followed with a taper to a 4ga, then inserted the 4ga eyelet and closed it off with the o-ring. I think there was some surgical lube or something in there too. Anyways, he repeated the same on the other ear and all the while I watched and didn't flinch a bit. Why would I want to be adverse to my own inner process? I just wanted to be present in everyway. I think seeing it all happen in the mirror really helped a lot. Even though I knew I was the one experiencing it, looking back it almost seemed like I was watching it happen to another person.
There was no bleeding, during, after, in the night, or the next day. The only blood I saw was in the very small bit of flesh that the needle took out (maybe the width of a toothpick? maybe less, and looked more like plasma that flesh). They gave me cleaning instructions, h20cean spray cleaner and after paying $90 plus a tip, left with a smile on my face. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but so far, so good :)