Alicia Cardenas
Denver, Colorado
For the last three years I have made a pilgrimage to the mountains beyond San Diego to meet with, and participate in ritual with, my brothers and sisters from California. This event is called The ONE Project. The ONE has been a cornerstone of my personal survival over the last three years; my year starts and ends with this event. It has made me a better person, piercer, leader and friend.
There are few requirements to participate in this event: You have to be willing to face your fears, face your friends, and open yourself up to healing. This is neither a cult nor a religion; it is an opportunity to connect with your spiritual self. The mountain is sacred; the work on it is sacred. Every conversation, interaction and activity is a part of a spiritual awakening and honoring. It is beautiful that not everyone on the mountain is in the same place, so we learn so much together. Different parts scare and excite different people. There are times when you are asked to express yourself to the group, times where no one says anything for hours, and opportunities to cry your eyes out in the safest space on the planet.
This event makes me a better professional in my studio and among my colleagues. It’s the best bedside manner and grounding class--just without the classroom. The only way a piercer can offer comfort to a client is if he/she feels confident, comfortable and well grounded within him/herself. Even the most seasoned piercer struggles with this. Not everyday is a great day, life happens, and you have to be able to find a way to continue to be that example of a strong, stable guide for those who come seeking a journey. This event asks its participants to explore parts of themselves that make them the leaders in that journey.
Throughout the days on the mountain, each part of the person is addressed: the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. There are exercises that range from yoga to suspension, each event requiring 100% presence, and fearlessness in trying something new. There are all different types of piercers, piercees and enthusiasts in attendence. It would take me a year of guest spots at dozens of different studios in order to pierce alongside of all these different people, and in one day I get the opportunity to work with all of them. (And I get to lie down and get work done by them all if I want.) Watching everyone work was magical--every move was a conscious one with only love and well being behind it. And on the top of a mountain is a world away from the comfort of our tidy studios; it is a challenge (and a delightful change) to work under these less-than-ideal conditions. It forces you to really look at what is truly necessary in our practice.
Every year I grow as a person, piercer, and friend. I love every part of this gift, and I hope it continues to be a part of my life for years to come. Thank you to each person who attends and facilitates this gathering.
