Transformation through Extreme Ritual with Phoenix B
Below is our Q&A with Tyesha Best and Janet Ryan. They have experienced ritual scarification with Phoenix as their facilitators. Watch this to hear about their experiences and perspective.
This is the first in our series on Transformation Through Extreme Ritual; in today’s episode we talk about Ritual Scarification with Phoenix B. Rituals, and specifically extreme rituals have long been a part of humanity. Why are we drawn to these experiences despite the fact that they have become taboo in modern, western cultures? Get ready to think outside the box as you learn the ways that other people practice communal, ritualized healing. It doesn’t have to be the answer for you, but it could inspire you to find your own path to restorative transformation.
Phoenix identifies as a Two-Spirit Native of the Cree First Nations and Scots. A Gender Queer Top, Sir, and Daddy. Their “official” entrance into the Seattle BDSM community was by joining their local kink group- Outer Limits- in 1985. Phoenix served as a coordinator for PowerSurge Conferences in the 1990’s and was the co-founder/producer of the Wicked Womyn SM conferences in Seattle. They have taught workshops across the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland since 1990. Phoenix produced the video “On The Cutting Edge” demonstrating artistic cutting, which was accepted for the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival 2012. They love “hooks” and have facilitated many energy pulls and suspensions. At the end of the episode notes is a list of some of the events they have attended to do their work and present.*
Photo of Phoenix taken by Max Rulz
Here a couple of related resources:
Extreme Rituals Promote Prosociality Dimitris Xygalatas et. al
This is a short version of a fascinating interview that covered so much more, like- details of my own ritual scarification, a challenging conversation about consent, we talked about Tops, bottoms, negotiation, power and control, even a little bit about Phoenix’s friend and my fantasy guest Barbara Carrellas and her writings on tantra. So much great stuff!
If you have questions or if you want to learn how to gain access to all extended versions, including this one, go to to the page for PwMS and click the “join our community” button.
There is no charge to join and it’s where the conversations happen.
Like- the Q&A we’ll have on May 20th where I’ll have a small panel of folx talking about their experience of extreme ritual. And, a bonus Q&A on May 15th with the Amazing Dr. Joli Hamilton who will talk to us about making peace with jealousy and all the different ways that we can negotiate structure within our relationships.
Go back and listen to her episode and if you want to hear the extended version- which has all kinds of amazing information that had to be cut out…
*Some of the events Phoenix has served include Rome BDSM Conference - Italy, Women at Leather Pride - Amsterdam, Schmacht-Easter Conference - Berlin, SM Dykes - Manchester England, Reykjavik BDSM-Iceland, OZ Kinkfest – Melbourne AU, Judge at Australia’s 1st M/s Contest – Melbourne, The Reformatory – Brisbane AU, Tawse Manor - Christchurch NZ, Fetfest – Baltimore, Black Beat – Baltimore, Dark Odyssey – Baltimore, Lesbian Sex Mafia - New York, Thunder In The Mountains - Denver, Southwest Leather Conference – Phoenix, International Ms Leather – San Francisco, Floating World – New Jersey, TES Education Series - NYC, Kinkfest – Portland OR, Pacific Friction – Portland OR, Bad Firks – Portland OR, Canadian Mayhem – Vancouver Canada, Indigeo Conception – Victoria Canada, Northern Exposure – Anchorage, Southern Bash – Atlanta, South Plains Leatherfest & International Master/slave Weekend – Dallas, Women In Leather International – Dallas, New England Leather Alliance, Brimstone-NJ, The Society - Connecticut, EvoRevo - Albuquerque, and in Seattle: Wicked Womyn, PowerSurge, Seattle Women of Leather, Center for Sex Positive Culture (the Wetspot), C-Space, Kinky Carnival, and the Blood Faire.
Now, in May, our Podcast guest is Jen Erickson, a Ph.D. candidate in the Social/Industrial-Organizational Psychology program at Northern Illinois University. She has been studying extreme ritual, the positive consequences of pain, and altered states of consciousness. She is a part of the research group that Phoenix was talking about so get ready for a different perspective!