WHERE & WHEN
Location: Bay Six Studio (3112 Commercial Avenue).
Awaken with Ritual Steel is our three-day event, and is a transformative ritual piercing weekend intended to provide a unique and educational experience, as well as a “first look” for many people into the world of body-stress rituals. This iteration of Ritual Steel’s Awaken is being held in conjunction with BAY SIX STUDIO.
Open to any consenting adult who purchases a ticket, the event is structured to provide a unique experience based on the needs of each participant. Through piercing, weights, hook pulls, cheek spears, flesh suspensions, and other piercing rituals, the producers of Ritual Steel will work with the participants to provide coming-of-age transformation, catharsis, rebirth, and other energetic or spiritual revelations through extreme sensory experiences.
Typically, Awaken events are anchored by a workshop, social, and ritual. In Madison, we will have a number of additions before the “main event” group hook pull on Sunday, and your weekend ticket includes access to everything
EVENT SCHEDULE
Workshop
The Friday evening workshop is open to everyone ($25 charge for non-weekend-ticket holders), and will cover the basic history of hooks in a modern context including our intersectionality within the queer Leather community. We will additionally have a piercing demo to help demystify the physical aspects, and also share experiences and information that may help you choose your energetic adventure for the weekend. Additionally, we will discuss intention setting for Ritual and a participatory Salt ritual and the "official" altar opening, allowing participants to begin establishing connections for the coming events and establish intent.
Social/Meet & Greet
Immediately following this workshop we will transition into a Meet-and-Greet social, and those who are interested in suspending on Saturday will meet with the piercing team. Rather than go off-site, we will provide some light hors d'orvures and a mocktail bar so that we can all spend as much time socializing as possible. The meet-and-greet social on Friday evening is for all participants, witnesses, and their friends to meet and mingle. Ritual Steel staff will be available to answer questions and make connections with other participants as well. Any remaining tickets for the weekend will also be available for purchase at this time.
Doors Open
On Saturday at noon doors will open and after a brief discussion we will perform multiple suspensions. All Participants are welcome and encouraged to attend and provide energy to the space for those who choose to take flight.
Suspensions
Suspensions involve 2 or more larger gauge hooks in the body, with a guided experience to help the participant get off the ground and “fly”. This individualized focus requires significantly more time and piercing resources per person, and will require a $150 surcharge on top of the normal ticket price.
Doors Open
SUNDAY at noon the doors will open to all participants, and we will begin with a ritual opening at 1pm.
Hook Pull
Once the ritual opening is conducted, piercing stations will be available for any of the following: body piercings, third eye piercing, cheek spears, throat piercing, ball/bell dance piercings. You can find information about each of this in our "What is A Hook Pull" article.
The Hook Pull will include a combination of live drumming and pre-recorded music. Overall, the Ritual typically lasts from 3-4 hours, and will conclude with a brief closing.
At 5pm Sunday we will conclude with a Ritual Steel follow-up discussion/Q&A for all participants, and formally close the altar, bringing a close to our weekend. We ask that all RS participants attend this final closing if they are able.