I recently acquired a new piercing. My first facial piercing to be exact, and I am absolutely in love with it. This would also be my fifth modification. Why do I do it? I was researching online and I found a website that answers "why" for a typical individual in America. Let's read the three main reasons and evaluate:
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1. It's the trend.
2. To be spontaneous.
3. Mods are glamorous.
I will start with the number one reason people adorn themselves with modifications. That would be because people want to fit in. They believe that the media is pushing for body modification, so in order to be trendy, they must get a tattoo or piercing. If this were true, it would be the longest running fad in the history of mankind. Body modification is not a fad for those of us who truly use it or even need it for personal reasons. It is something within ourselves. A fellow modder said it best with the words "modern tribalism". It has nothing to do with pleasing others or trying to fit in.
Reason number two is to be adventurous and spontaneous. Unless you are drunk or do not fully understand why people get modified, then you know that this is not a valid reason. With the exception of certain piercings, body modifications are permanent. They are with you for a lifetime, which is what makes them special to the holder. Whether it be a tattoo, scarification, transdermal implants, tongue or genital splittings, etc, someone who properly respects mods will not get any of these done merely on a whim.
The last reason is that for an unknown account, people are believing that mods are glamorous. If Jennifer Lopez had her septum pierced, would she still be glamorous? What about a tongue splitting on Heidi Klum? Would you think a facial branding on George Clooney would be sexy? The masses say "no way". I personally think that light body modification is absolutely beautiful, but if a celebrity did anything harder than an average piercing or tattoo, they would be considered "trashy". Those of us with mods know better. My first paragraph was eluding to this: Mods are personal. So personal in fact, that once we get them, we know the labels that go with it, but guess what? We do not care. It has nothing to do with everyone else or what they think. It has nothing to do with glamour or trends. It has nothing to do with anything but ourselves.
Mods are a permanent expression of individualism. I understand that it is mainstream to get a piercing or a rebellious tattoo, however the reasons behind them are purely personal and completely different than for everyone else.
So, you ask, what underlying personal reasons are behind my piercings and ink? What is it that drives me to mod?
Well, I am glad you asked.
My tattoo is a symbol. The Eye of Horus has a very specific meaning relating to my de-conversion. The Ancient Egyptians thought this eye to be the "Eye of God". On the rational side of life, the eye is the receptor of input from these six senses: touch, taste, hearing, thought, sight, and smell. These are the concrete senses that can not be used to detect a god of any sort. I love the paradox, and I love my tattoo.
My conch piercing represents my break from the ties of Pentecostalism. A traditional Pentecostal woman does not wear any jewelry of any kind or make-up & nail polish. She wears long skirts and never cuts her hair. A piercing on the inner ear is representing the stereotypical childish, "I'm not listening la la la la! I don't want you to tell me how to live my life!" In a metaphorical sense, of course, for my jewelry doesn't really block out noise.
My lobes are nothing special. The reasoning behind my 10g is because I can't find any 14g earrings that I like. However, I initially got them pierced out of rebellion because of my strict upbringing.
I went a different route with my new piercing. I got a stud on my nose to represent my devotion to modification. Ear piercings and covered up tattoos are one thing, but a visible "on my face & in your face" piercing is a big step for me.
I feel pure joy with my mods and I plan on getting more. If you've never had something done, I suggest it. Not to be a part of a fad, or to feel prettier, but because everyone has something deep inside of them that makes them a part of who they are. Why not bring it to the surface, so everyone can have a little taste of exactly who you are?