addy ✧₊⁺

i've seen this discussed a ton on tiktok by @ocean_bythesea, and i wanted to discuss it a bit more with my personal experience & other sources this reminds me of. she has been discussing ancestral traditions of body modification—such as ear, lip, & neck stretching, teeth shaving, scarification, & more—and how it can be applied in the modern day, such as glamour or independence workings.

these videos recently reminded me of some lyrics from Lorde's Hammer, from the 2025 album Virgin:

Today, I'll go to Canal Street, they're piercing my ears

I'm making a wish when the needle goes in

Take an aura picture, read it and tell me who I am (Show me who I am)

i bring these practices into my life in a multitude of ways, as someone who gets body modifications:

in terms of tattoos or multi-piercing designs, i almost always get something with some kind of spiritual significance or sigilry within.

esoteric associations with the left and right half of the body, as well as for specific locations on the ears, hands, and entire body may also be consulted for placement of body modifications.

when designing my facial piercing setup, i designed a few hypersigillic spiritual designs through the placement and chosen gemstones/metals for the piercings. (i'll provide some examples of this below the cut.)

i do manifestation and/or meditation rituals during and after body modification sessions, especially with the artist if they are interested. when i stretch my ears i love to turn on music, light a candle, and dance while i do an oil massage before size-ups.

i anoint my tattoos and stretched piercings with lotions, balms, oils, and prayers of blessing and protection.

i consult my spirit guides and perform divination before getting a body modification, primarily pertaining to my satisfaction and caretaking of it throughout my life (as they are permanent)!

thorn dividers by @pixopix