Suspension is a ritual, ordeal, form of body play, or rite where a person hangs from flesh hooks put through temporary piercings. I know it seems strange, but suspensions can change people's lives for the better...and occasionally the worse. There are many more possible placements of hooks for suspensions. The preparation for a suspension is a combination of different mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. You really do need a different state of mind for something like this. If you walk into suspensions frightened, you are far more likely to have a bad experience, and your chances of falling into deep shock are increased. Remember that suspensions are more mental than physical.
Historically, suspensions have been performed as rites of passage, vision quests, healing rituals, penance, rituals of deity devotion or as means to gain visions by leaving the body and/or communication with the spiritual realm. They have been used for testing the endurance of the mind and body, or even just to freak people out. Most notably, some Native American tribes and different parts of the Hindu religion have used suspension-like rituals. Although other cultures may have used suspensions ritually, these two are the best documented in that they are still in practice today. Thanks to artists like Stelarc and modern suspension groups like TSD, suspensions are being increasingly used as performance art and even for entertainment.
Only you know if you are ready. Suspension readiness is much more of mental state than physical. As with any form of body modification, one must make the decision based on personal experience and research. At the same time, no amount of research or even watching suspensions in person can really prepare you for the feeling of it. Take a long, hard look at the experiences of others. Ask yourself why it is worth it to you to face these outcomes and whether or not simply trying would satisfy you. If you can seriously say that it is worth it to simply try, then wait and think about it more. A good test of whether anything in life is something you really want and are ready for is if you can stand to wait to have it. A serious commitment will withstand the wait and only strengthen your resolve. Dont be surprised if you still find yourself overwhelmed with fear. This fear will disappear if you accept it and let it pass through you...resist it and your suspension will not be a pleasant one.
There is no way around suspension being traumatic. Regardless of how many times you do it or how 'tough' you are, you are putting your body through an ordeal. This means that your mind will be affected. Generally, a suspension is not something that one should be doing when not felling mentally 'well'. Trauma forces you to focus on the act at the time and that focused state can extend beyond and to other aspects of your life. Of course, it can just as easily make a confused and troubled time worse by adding to the stress you are under. To be mentally prepared to suspend, a person must be first and foremost calm, collected, and very sure about their motivations behind suspending. And you must have complete trust and faith in the people helping you as well as the rigging you are hanging from. The simplest way to achieve this is to research suspension and become heavily involved in the planning of the suspension. This will make it much easier to relax, which is essential—to have a positive experience, you must be in a good state of mind. If you find that you are not, cancel the suspension and do it another day.
Spirituality is entirely a matter of individual perspective. You must realize that if you go in looking for something, you'll probably find something else. Suspension tends to give a person what they need, not what they want. Sometimes they are the same thing, but more often they are not. Trust in your beliefs, but don't attempt to force them on the experience.
Physically, the experience is a feeling of pulling, burning and pain all at once, but for most people, this physical aspect is "tuned out" very quickly. Individual experiences differ greatly. On one end of the spectrum you find people that enter a trance like state, feeling no pain whatsoever, and on the other end you find people that experience extreme pain, nausea and panic attacks. In general, most people enter a shock-induced state of disorientation spiked with moments of pain and euphoria.There are some general commonalities expressed by most suspendees, such as the feeling of intense tugging which gives way to a more relaxed sensation as the body leaves the ground. Some people find it boring, others are changed forever, and some don't ever even think about it beyond simply performing the act. However, many find that it is not what they expected. Almost everyone agrees that the hooks are painful, but some people find the sensation of tension on the skin moving and inspiring. For some people, the experience is much lighter; they just want to try it, and when they do they get no emotional release and find themselves smiling and just enjoying the feeling of flying. Where spirituality is concerned, there is nothing necessarily spiritual about suspending, but, like fasting, drug use and many other activities, it can be used and play a major role in a person's spiritual and religious life.
There are many large health concerns with suspensions. People suffering from blood pressure issues, heart conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, immune deficiency, hepatitis, and blood clotting problems should seek the advice of a doctor before suspending. If you suffer from any medical conditions, it is essential that the people helping you are entirely aware of them. If you are approaching a suspension team to help you suspend, you MUST inform them fully of your health. The risks associated with a suspension are very high:
Extreme shock
Convulsions
dizziness
pain bleeding
loss of consciousness
nausea
vomitting
scarring
numbness
infection after the suspension
There are many diffenrent suspension groups spread out over the US and even the world. They are all professionals, and if you are seriously considering doing a suspension...these are the people that should be consulted.
Ascension
Body Evolution
Circus Carnis
Constant Elevation
The Hanged Man
IHung
Life Suspended
Modern Body Suspension
Perth Pirate Core
Rites of Passage
Swing
TSD
Extreme shock