One of the objects recently discussed by Neil MacGregor in his fascinating Radio 4 series "A History of the World In 100 Objects" was a lintel from the doorway of a Mayan temple which depicts a royal blood-letting ceremony. As the BBC website explains:
"King Shield Jaguar III stands facing his wife, Lady Xook, as she pulls a rope embedded with thorns through her tongue. She is undertaking this painful ordeal in order to contact Shield Jaguar's ancestors in the spirit realm."
Are there any hardcore mistresses/subs who'd be up for this - Lisal perhaps? And, more seriously, does anyone have any thoughts on using pain as a means of accessing the spiritual world?
It's object number 51, in case you want to track down the podcast.