Suspended by the Flesh - An outsider looks In
By Bret Thompsett
26 Jun 2009
I had an awesome opportunity to follow the Ephemme Suspension Group on a 5 day camp in a remote part of Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles.
Knowing the basics of Body Suspension, I kind of knew what to expect, I had seen many a show and thought of it as more of an extreme body modification rather than anything spiritual. Once in the wild though things where rather different, the group explained to me that they where doing this to offset Columbus day (it was over this weekend) and to pay homage to the traditions of the native indians whose Shamans practiced suspension to take their minds to the next world and communicate with the dead.
Over the next few days my eyes where opened even more, with a professionally trained body piercer on hand, the group lined up and where pierced with large meat hooks, some through their backs, some through both back and arms and even legs.
They where then suspended under a tree and allowed to hang by their flesh. All under close supervison of course. Whilst suspended the individual showed almost no signs of discomfort and where allowed to swing freely as if they where at a playground as a child. They spoke of great euphoria and where all smiles as they hung a few feet off the ground, their skin stretched but not tearing.
It was an amazing experience and one I really enjoyed capturing. I myself did not take part, I can appreciate the art but do not feel ready for enlightenment just yet.
2 responses
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Zerina Phillip gave props (27 Jun 2009):
Oh my!!! This got to be painful.
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Zerina Phillip said (27 Jun 2009):
Thank you for sharing this documentary. I would research more about this.
