Tattoo You

It is hard to accept that sometimes in life, the people and places and things that drive us the most batty are set there to teach us and probably teach us more than we ever thought possible.  Barbados, for sure, has shown me more than I ever expected.  There were many dark nights of the soul, many wrenching, painful hours where just being me emotionally and spiritually, hurt me physically.  Sure, a little dramatically stated, something I have been accused of before, but truly a time when questioning myself, my experience, my capacity as a human being, was the leitmotif of my existence.

This was not the first time and I suspect it will not be the last that I got on a path fraught with perils, trials, tribulations and found my way again to joy, to love, to understanding.  At the end of the tunnel, light.  And for me, at the end of the journey, tattoos.
Jonathan Foster at Soul Touch on the South Coast of Barbados was recommended by pretty much everyone on the island who had a tattoo that I liked.  He is a surfin', tall drink of water with a sleeve of tattoos on one arm and some others on his neck and hand, with a soft White Bajan accent, different than the Black Bajan accent, dreamy blue eyes, and a references for any and all cultures, designs, fonts, you name it, that you might want.  I'd planned for months to get in to his shop, but during surf season his little blue car was nowhere to be found.  He was out on the waves.
Driving one afternoon with my friend KC I saw that OPEN sign and we went in immediately, even though it would soon be time to pick up Virginie from school.  I talked with Jonathan about lots of images, things that were swirling in my head, ink I knew I would get either with him or in the future.  We talked a lot about the Hand of Fatima, an image I am still considering though finding the perfect design has proven difficult.  Perhaps I will have to create one of my own.  I am interested in protection symbols, not only for tatts but in art, design, culture, images or amulets that ward off the Evil Eye, evil spirits, bad energy and juju.  The world I live in is full of magic realism and I can use all the guidance, protection, and light I can get.

After scheduling with Jonathan, I sent him my images via email so we would both be prepared.  I wanted something to signify my relationship to my girls, in whom I have begun to heal some of the wounds of my childhood and for whom I have chosen life in the clearest, cleanest possible way.  I am superstitious about names written on the body unless it's Jesus, Buddha, Zarathustra, something along those lines to remind you of something greater than just the name.  I think once a name is on your body you are either doomed to break up with whomever's name it is you have inked or you will lose them, like they will die. I know, magic realism.  I told you.

So in the crook of my arm it now says MAMAN, French for Mommy, with two stylized butterflies on each side for each of my little girls.  They both come to check out their butterflies regularly and feel pretty special to have a touchstone right on Mommy's arm to show them how magical they are to me.

The Eye of Horus on the inside of my wrist under the symbol for infinity (already there 2002?) and the word DIVINITY above it gave me not only protection, but a reminder of our souls' infinite journey and of the divinity, God's breath, in all of us.  I wanted to remind myself to be aware of all the divine moments in life, places where signs were offered, where angels came to guide me, where the path, sometimes obscured was revealed.  I have felt blessed and well guided on my journey, even when life was fraught with craziness.  Inner peace and tranquility prevailed.  Divinity.


(c) Copyright 2011.  City Mom in the Jungle.