Review of Fakir Musafar's
Spirit and Flesh

19Inches

Review by Sensuous Sadie
SensuousSadie@aol.com
www.sensuoussadie.com 

Read the SCENEprofiles Interview with Fakir Musafar

Fakir Musafar's Spirit and Flesh is not for the faint of heart.

I who have read Fakir's writings, visited his website, even interviewed him, felt a tremor of shock as I looked through his book of photographs. Fakir is called the "Father of the Modern Primitives" movement, which refers to his passion for primitive body decoration and rituals. In plain language, Fakir likes to play with his body – stretch it out, pierce it, tattoo it, constrict it. Here in his beautifully thick book are magical photos of Fakir over many years, in odd positions, and wearing the most amazingly exotic things on his body. Here too are others who share his same passion, in photos that words cannot even begin to describe.

I come from a cultural tradition of seeing the body as a gift from God, one which I am meant to care for gently by eating lots of greens, 20 minutes of aerobics at least three times a week, and avoiding most of the really fun vices. Where then do I fit this man, who is clearly on the cutting edge of BDSM spirituality, into my happy healthy living approach?

I'm not sure where he fits in. Sure I have my two little tattoos; I've got my pierced ears; and I've got my own flavor of BDSM play. But even I know that is a sweet and mild amaretto compared to the red hot chili peppers of Fakir's world. What I see in his photos is a taste of what I too yearn for, red hot passion for living, a hunger for spice so hot that it takes a cold cold beer to cool. Fakir hides nothing behind nicely grammatical words like my own; he puts his naked self on the table for all of us to look, sometimes to gawk at. His courage and his creative brilliance are shocking, but also unmistakably genuine.

So that's what I have to offer you, the possible reader of his book, Spirit and Flesh. No, it's not a coffee table book, and it's not bathroom erotica reading. This is a book that you will rip open and tear through its flesh with a hunger you didn't know you had in you. If you are at all curious… then buy it.

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Fakir@bodyplay.com 
www.bodyplay.com 
 
Fakir Musafar is known worldwide for his fifty years research and personal exploration of primitive body decoration and rituals, and has been called "Father of the Modern Primitive Movement." Fakir has played a significant part in the revival of body piercing, body sculpting, branding and other body-related practices for personal expression, spiritual exploration, rites-of-passage, healing and reclaiming. Fakir has introduced concepts and practices for the body first approach to explore spirituality in art, body modifications, BDSM and what he calls "body play." Fakir's practices have been shown and his views expressed in the 1985 film "Dances Sacred and Profane" and in ReSearch publications 1986 book "Modern Primitives," (a word Fakir coined in 1979 to describe himself and a few kindred spirits). A comprehensive 50-year retrospective of his work titled "Spirit + Flesh", was published this year by Arena Editions. Fakir’s new book includes an introduction by Mark Thompson (author of "Leatherfolk") and 139 unique photographic images (ranging from l948 to 2002) in an oversize art book format. Original signed and numbered prints of Fakir’s images are available for purchase at faheykleingallery.com. Spirit + Flesh" can be ordered from arenaeditions.com and both Amazon and Barnes & Noble books. Fakir Musafar published his own print magazine, Body Play and Modern Primitives, for nine years; Body Play is now online at his web site. Fakir is currently director of Fakir Body Piercing and Branding Intensives, the only courses of instruction of their kind in the world, and only such school registered by the State of California as a career training institution. See www.bodyplay.com  for more information.

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Sensuous Sadie is the author of It's Not About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene ( http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html ). She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of Rose & Thorn, Vermont's first BDSM group. Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com . Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing in most venues.

Copyright 2004 Sadie Sez Publications