Something happened in the lives of my partner and myself that caused us great pain. I wanted to mark this time in my life, and it only took me a day or so to decide that I'd get branded. It was something I'd liked the idea of for a while, I'd just never thought so seriously about it before. I wanted to capture this moment in time, it was so important to us. I chose 4 runes each to be 2½" high by 1½" wide. They would be on my upper back, one in the middle top with the next two under and to each side and the last one in the middle under them forming a diamond shape.My partner drew up rough sketch of what we'd decided on and then I had to see if Warren could do it for me. After talking to Warren, he understood why I needed to be branded, and why I felt the need to have it done as soon as possible. After phoning him on Wednesday, a few e-mails flew back and forth, and it was decided that I would be branded just two days later, on Friday 11th October 2002.
At A Glance Author PerfectAngel Contact PerfectAngel@bme.anon IAM PerfectAngel When Three months ago Artist Warren Deane Studio Perforations Location Brighton, UK I didn't feel in the least bit nervous until we got in the car for the drive down to Brighton, I don't think I said more than a few words on the one and a half hour drive. We arrived at Perforations at about 5:30pm. They were just closing and sitting having a chat. After the other 3 piercers left, Warren went over the plans he had for my branding, and we discussed whether I was going to opt for the pen or the strike method. I agreed with him that the pen would be best, after all, I'd never been branded before and I didn't really know anything about it, of course I was going to go with what he recommended.After a few cigarettes, we went downstairs to the green room. This is the room I'd been pierced in many times before, and I felt comfortable being there. We then had to decide how I was going to have it done, and after sitting in a few positions, I decided that sitting across the couch was going to be the best for me. Warren took his time in getting the position of the runes perfect, and after checking with my partner asked if I was ready to start. At this point, any image I'd given of being calm flew out the window and I started to shake. I heard the flick of the switch as Warren got the pen ready.
I didn't know much about brands, but I'd asked Noot and Puck a few questions about their brands, and the one thing I remembered was that they hurt. Because I'm a coward, and I don't take pain well, I'd taken a cushion with me, thinking that if I was going to scream, I could scream into that and hopefully not make too much noise!
So, there I was, sitting on the couch, hugging my cushion, shaking.
Warren checked that I was OK, and put the pen to my flesh. At first it felt like getting an outline of a tattoo done and I said it wasn't as bad as I'd thought...then it got worse. I shut my eyes and concentrated on breathing. My partner was standing in front of me holding onto my hand. I was gripping him so tightly, but I didn't realise I was doing it, I had drifted off to another place...
As the heat built up, I let out a few moans, as I realised what I'd done, I felt a little stupid. I said sorry, and Warren told me not to worry and I could shout, scream or do anything I wanted. He has the ability to turn a scary situation (yes, I was scared) into a calming, almost spiritual experience. He was talking to me quietly and reassuringly, and soon I was drifting back to my 'other' place.
Warren went over the first rune once, then went back over it again, making the lines deeper. When he had finished he asked if I wanted a break and I said yes. We went back up to the waiting room and had a drink and a few cigarettes, and chatted for a while. Then it was back downstairs to continue with the branding. For the remaining runes, Warren decided I may find it easier to have all the first lines done in one go and then do the second lines, instead of doing a whole rune at a time, this way the heat build up would hopefully not be as bad.It helped a bit, but I still found it very painful. I felt like I was screaming, but I was just moaning. The smell in the room got stronger as he carried on burning my flesh, it was strange to hear the occasional 'zap' of the pen, and smell my own flesh being burnt.Whenever I felt the pain was getting too much, I'd feel a hand rest on my side and Warren asking if I was OK. All the way through it I was made to feel that I was the most im portant priority. Time was never mentioned, and I had the feeling that if I'd taken loads of breaks and kept him there all night it would have been fine.
As the last strokes were done, I felt a wave of relief spread over me along with a deep satisfaction that I'd done it, I'd actually been branded! After saying thank you to Warren and getting a (gentle) hug from him, it was time for the journey home. I thought that sitting in the car might have been a problem, but it was fine, not painful at all. Sleeping that night was again no problem. My back just felt a little sore but not painful.
The next day was another story. I had a terrible headache all day, and I felt totally wiped out, probably as the result of how tense I had been the night before. My back had also become very sensitive, I could almost feel every fibre of the t shirt I was wearing. The skin on my back also started to feel tight, and it continued to get tighter and tighter over the next few days. On about day 6 the itching started, I really wanted to scratch at every opportunity. On day 7, my partner pulled off the scabs. They came off intact and I've kept them, who knows, I might even frame them. The brands weren't really oozing like I thought they'd be, but they looked nice and deep. I liked the idea of the brands being raised, so my partner scrubbed them with a nail brush, and that was much more painful than I thought it would be! He continued to scrub them for about a month until the brands looked like they were too well healed for it to make any difference.
It's been 3 months now since I was branded, and they're still red and slightly raised. I'm very happy with how they look and I'll be pleased to carry them on my flesh for the rest of my life.