Proper branding!

[fallen_nemesis]

hm. I went through a phase of wanting scarification/branding for a good few months. I haven't seen that many scarification jobs healed as well as I'd like mine to though. I always kinda favoured branding anyway.

I'd quite like getting something really small like a little star or a a dragonfly branded onto me

[Lyris]

I'd quite like getting something really small like a little star or a a dragonfly branded onto me

That was my feeling too. But like any tattoo plans I have, I'll have to sit on it for a few years to double-check I'm good with the plan.

[Jenpot]

I don't think my pain threshold is high enough for that malarky...

[XMachina]

My plan is to get a few 1-4 cm long flames done around my phoenix. That way if I wuss out midway thru what I have will be complete and the rest can get done when I have the bottle to get it finished.

[MyElegantChaos]

Branding still is and always will be a beautiful form of primal art....The previous pic, is breaking boundaries of what can be done with a hot iron, but certainly not traditional in its appearance or method. For me, body modification should be primal and relate to its origins. Branding should be made of many small strikes with fine steel strips which collectively make a work of art on the skin. On my travels i have seen many people with excellent work, where the artist has taken time to discuss the design and make branding strips to fit the persons body....on the other hand i have seen disasters......Fakir Musafar wil always be the master of 'the kiss of fire'

[karbon14]

strike branding isn't always sutiable for the kind of result wanted though.

and the don't agree at all with the "body modification should be primal and relate to its origins" if you are not part of the culture which it originated from then you cannot fully understand the reasoning and methodoligy of performing the modification, outside of this culture to do such a thing is in very bad taste (imho of course). things like oh kee pah suspensions actually disgust me outside a native american background.

[MyElegantChaos]

I agree Karbon, respect for culture is paramount. Suspensions that you mention are becoming a craze and totally violate tradition and the entire spirituality of its people...However, many techniques can be learned from traditional methods, and with branding it would be my personal choice to stick with those.... My mention to those methods were for technique purposes only.......

[fallen_nemesis]

I don't know. I also think it's rediculous when people jump on the bandwagon with things like suspension and have absolutely no concept of what it's about or any of the ideas behind it.

That being said I don't always think traditional methods are best. I'd place importance more on whatever the modification is having a personal meaning to the individual and as a process over sticking to traditional methods alone. If that process means taking advantage of modern techniques or maybe a few different techniques then so be it. It's quite easy to have people take advantage of traditional methods within their culture and have no ideas of what it means.

[MyElegantChaos]

Indeed, it is ....However, i have been lucky to experience different cultures at various levels...It would be my personal choice to have it done that way....I agree modern techniques are of great importance and pioneer new boundaries....

[fallen_nemesis]

it's not always possible though for say tattoos to be done in a tradition Maori way or for stretching to be done as it is in tribes. Tattoos etc are pretty symbolic anyway and while yeah it would be nice to have it done so as a kind of experience in your life not everyone has the money to go travelling to places where they can undertake such an experience.

Mythology in particular Greek mythology has always intruiged me and I've studied it full time for 3 years. Even my forum name is from Greek mythology (yes pathetic I know) and I'd say it's quite important to me and of great interest. I was planning something with a personal twist that I was going to draw up myself but to do with mythology of some description. I do not however have the money to go to Greece (before I get it done, I have to go next year for honours) and I would not expect everyone in Greece to have a knowledge of their own heritage / mythology or getting it done in Greece to make it mean any more to me even if the technique varied over there .

To be quite honest I think you need to take into consideration the quality of the work too. You can have body modifications done in traditional techniques and get absolutely butchered. Of it came down to it I'd far rather go to a tattooist I'm comfortable with/ know is work is of a good standard, and have him produce something that's personal to me but in maybe a different or more modern technique, than get butchered for something that's personal to me in a traditional technique.

This goes for piercings too and other body modifications

[faerie_child]

prblem with branding is, if u dont get it done somewhere good and look after it properly etc etc u'll fuck urself up. it can go seriously wrong very very easily. much more so than tats and piercings. burnt skin is so fragile and prone to infection and you can end up with some seriously nastly diseases.

ive always liked the idea of a small piece of scar work, something very delicate and pretty. but, alas, i do not scar well and my scars tend to be very light and hard to see even when i do scar. makes scar wrk kinda pointless for me.

[fallen_nemesis]

Originally Posted by faerie_child

prblem with branding is, if u dont get it done somewhere good and look after it properly etc etc u'll fuck urself up. it can go seriously wrong very very easily. much more so than tats and piercings. burnt skin is so fragile and prone to infection and you can end up with some seriously nastly diseases.

ive always liked the idea of a small piece of scar work, something very delicate and pretty. but, alas, i do not scar well and my scars tend to be very light and hard to see even when i do scar. makes scar wrk kinda pointless for me.

i'm the opposite i'm really really pale and have really sensitive skin. I've still got a wee line on my arm from where my high E string snapped and whipped me across the arm leaving what resembled almost a paper cut. That was about 3 - 4 years ago Looked like I'd been self harming because of where it was too

[faerie_child]

Originally Posted by fallen_nemesis

i'm the opposite i'm really really pale and have really sensitive skin. I've still got a wee line on my arm from where my high E string snapped and whipped me across the arm leaving what resembled almost a paper cut. That was about 3 - 4 years ago Looked like I'd been self harming because of where it was too

i wish i scarred a bit better sometimes. just means i have no cool scar stories. does mean the huge scar on the back of my eye will heal quick so my blind spot will shrink again and i can learn to drive.