Have you ever been tattooed to mark the significance of an event in your life?
When you think about tattoos and the process of tattooing, what images and scenarios does your mind conjure up? For most of us here in Australia we picture a buzzing tattoo machine in a tattoo shop or maybe a private studio. Some music in the background, waiting rooms full of flash and art, tattoo magazines. You may also be visualizing what has come up in your instagram feed today. That image, our current experience of tattooing that we project and manifest is an acceptable, fun and engaging reality. It is also a long way from what consensus society would imagine 20 years ago. Back then tattooing was a term strife with connotations to thieves, sailors, soldiers and vagabonds. So we have to give ourselves credit where it is due for some progression.
Be that as it may, let us consider whether we have progressed from tattooing 1000 years ago? 5000 years ago? Technically yes, but culturally and spiritually I would say we have not. Tattooing and ceremony went hand in hand. We are definitely coming full circle and heading back towards the roots with exponential momentum. However we are still dominated with the common view of tattooing as a mere ego statement whether we are conscious of it or not. Tattoos used to be something sacred, in modern context almost all that is sacred about tattooing has been removed or had misinformation attached to it. . . but basically tattooing was something special, something to be proud to receive or even more so to give.
Tattoos were done with tools that were made by hand using materials from nature and usually were packaged into a ceremony full of ritual and coincided with significant cycles and events. The sound of the tapping, plucking or sewing sometimes accompanied by music or singing. Sometimes there was no music and the experience was raw and open to that moment.
This is what is lacking in the vast majority of peoples minds when it comes to the place that tattooing currently holds for them. It is not that their idea of tattoo is wrong they just need to make room for the possibility of tattooing as more. More then cool, more then tough, more then sexy, more then patriotic, more then an opinion. Tattooing is more then what it appears on the surface of our skin, its runs much deeper and is capable of further transformation then cosmetics.
I find in my own work that the ceremony usually happens in the moment and unplanned. There is a particular feeling, that fills the space that I’m sharing with the client and I know the ceremony has already begun. Usually a common understanding and recognition of the intention is made through our conversation. I start to create the sacred space falling into rhythmical rituals which carries over into the patterns. Sometimes the feeling is present before the client is and I prepare the night before, and sometimes a therapeutic approach is planned from first contact via email.
Next time you have a conversation about tattooing with someone ask them if they have ever been tattooed to mark the significance of an event in their life? and if it involved any ceremony? Maybe you will be planting an ancient seed and growing the experience and understanding of tattooing as something sacred back into our society. Maybe you’ll get to hear a really good story about a tattoo that will blow your mind. Most of you finding this page are aware of tattooing as a vessel for healing and transformation. Maybe you have at least been exploring the possibility of the concept and are interested in how it would work. I will cover my own therapeutic tattoo process in the articles to come, or you can contact me for more information.
Nara
