Pagan Fleshworks: The Alchemy of Body Modification

Mercury, Maureen

ISBN 10: 0892818093 / ISBN 13: 9780892818099

Published by Park Street Press (edition Original ed.), 2000

The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way. Seller Inventory # 0892818093-7-1

Synopsis:

A groundbreaking work that sees the contemporary cultural trends of tattooing, piercing, implanting, and branding as a quest for a transformative psychic experience.

• Features unforgettable color photographs by Steve Haworth, the foremost body modification artist in the United States.

• Introduces a subculture that has gone far beyond the realm of simple tattooing.

Acts of body modification are deeply rooted in physical impulses that are obscured in our technological society. As we become more removed from the physicality of our existence, we lose touch with an essential part of our humanity. Body modification is a way of reconnecting to our bodies, to the earth, and to the divine.

Pagan Fleshworks reveals that the prevalence of body modification--tattooing, piercings, brandings, and implants--is the postmodern way to heal the body and enliven the soul. These "fleshworks" are the result of people creating their own rituals and symbols of meaning in order to feel a sense of the divine within.

Maureen Mercury relates the various stages of obtaining fleshworks to the stages of alchemy, showing how fleshworks lead to psychic transformation--soul-making. Using mythological imagery and the stories of those who have chosen to modify their bodies, she identifies the signposts of our journey toward self-expression, exploring the connection between our desires and our outward life. More than 30 riveting color photographs by leading body modification artist Steve Haworth provide the perfect visual complement to this examination of the soul as it rises toward freedom.

About the Author: Maureen Mercury is completing her Ph.D. in depth psychology and has an M.A. in counseling psychology. Her earlier work includes an in-depth view of modern male tattooing. Mercury also holds workshops that focus on the ritual piercing experience. She lives in Ventura, California.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Pagan Fleshworks: The Alchemy of Body ...
Publisher: Park Street Press (edition Original ed.)
Publication Date: 2000
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Fair
Edition: Original ed.