Tattoos…every corner of the world and every space in time
Tattoos have something in common with many ancient arts…yoga, art, meditation, acupuncture, dance, music…..its found in every culture and in all time epochs.
My view on Humanity is that we are NOT the most evolved creatures that exist. No one has to agree, its just my opinion. But I do feel a shift for Humanity to at least try to evolve. I feel we de-evolved or dis-evolved from ancient times as we worshipped the goddess, ourselves, and our power within as well as lived in harmony with Mother Earth. Even today we are the only living creature that does not live in harmony with the planet…no animal, plant or living thing destroys the planet, well except you know who…..
I do feel with this shift to evolve that we are returning to all things ancient…a simpler but more powerful life. Yoga and meditation are taking precedence over medication. I see more people returning to faith whether it be a belief in God, the goddess, angels or their higher selves. Many ancient arts are surfacing but one that is not resurfacing because its always been around but is losing its stigma is tattoos.
In any culture anywhere in the world in any time era you can find tattoos of some sort. They may be for connecting with power animals or a marking on a sinning person or for protection against outside evil forces. Tattoos can be a form of belonging to a certain group whether it be a navy squadron or a caravanning tribe. Tattoos define the wearer. They make that individual more individual even if it’s a marking signifying a group. They can be a connection to the unconscious and underlying wants and desires from the soul.
From an anthropologist viewpoint, they are interesting to repiece a past together such as Oetzi the iceman… see… http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/ancient_tattoos.htm Antropology is another clue that these living artforms (or at least they once were in some cases) survived the test of time and stigma of the aristocratic culture and have prevailed today not just in one part of the world or a tiny dark street but are boldly announced on every street by all walks of life.
Where once the tattoo was a stigma or a strange occurrence its now been flipped or at least in my viewpoint. For me to see a complete tattoo virgin is strange. Almost everyone has at least the small cutsie tattoo on the back of the neck or ankle. Very rarely will you find an au natural person. I do however have a very fine and outgoing goddess friend who has no tattoos and not even her ears pierced..but she is a different kind of weird all together..haha. (you know who you are!)
So spells and shamanism may have seemed to disappear (but we really know they just hid themselves from the uneducated) but tattoos never even tried to hide. Whether in a small island tribe or in a highly populated prison tattoos never accepted their unfair judgement and stood the test of time in public in all places and all continents and all eras of time passage. Whether from the 1950’s salior and pin up tattoos to the recent fad of tribals which were based on ancient designs, tattoos still find their way on modern skin from all historical realms. Tattoos I hope will lead Humanity to re-evolve again into other ancient arts such as meditation and manifestation through vibration and creativity and lead us away from power hungry wars and media lies.
January: Book Made of Man's Skin Found at Sale
February: Woman Who Sold Pierced "Gothic" Kittens on eBay Convicted
March: Teen Assaulted, Forcibly Tattooed On Forehead
April: South Carolina Finally Lowers Tattoo Age From 21 to 18
May: Busted: Mom Walks In On Teen Getting Tattooed (Illegally)
June: Six Flags Over Texas Denies Tattooed Patrons Entry
July: Tattoo Shop Owner Victim of Heinous Murder Plot
August: Study Determines Top 10 Most Tattooed Cities
September: Court Rules Tattoos Are First Amendment Right
October: Court Rules in Favor of Suspended Girl, Church of Body Modification
November: Kat Von D's House Burns, Pet Cat Inside
December: Piercing Implant Technology Used in Unprecedented Medical Procedure
Tattoo and piercings...why so addictive?
We joke that if you are a tattoo virgin and come into the shop for your first tattoo be careful and buckle your seatbelt because once you break the skin you’ll keep coming back…good for our business anyway!
So why are tattoos and piercings so addictive, especially since they hurt so much??!!! Is it because once you experience live art it boosts your self esteem? Or is it because once you get a tattoo that means something to you it heals something so down deep you just want to keep the healing going? Could it be that it’s a competition of pain thresholds? Look I'm a badass-tattooed and dangerous and can kick you ass! The more tats and piercings you get the more it shows you can handle the pain. Maybe it’s because it separates you and makes you more unique!
I laugh when people ask “did that hurt?” Really are you asking that? And if I said “no” would you believe me?? And when I see our dear and beloved clients in the chair wincing in pain I try to remind them…it's just like labor-a few hours of pain to have something beautiful for the rest of your life and you don’t have to feed or change diapers for this new addition!
I know I have quite a few. I have people ask me “so how many tats do you have?” I reply “Almost one.” They just keep growing together and a whole new one can become a part of an existing one or series. I am not sure of why they are addicting. I am so excited to get a new one and then in that moment the gun starts up and I feel its shrieking vibration start I silently ask myself why am I here again???
But I always go back. And I have quite a few in progress and a list of several others I want. Maybe it’s a control thing…you can chose what you want, in what colors and where on your body. When other things seem out of control at least tattoos and piercings you can be in charge.
Who knows the real reason they are addictive and it probably ranges from person to person. We would love to hear your feedback on why you think you are addicted to ink…..
Russian Gypsy Card Readings…
Ok so everyone knows that I am a self proclaimed witch (my license plate does say “BRUJITA”) but not everyone knows what that entails. One of my many magical talents is doings various readings one of witch (intentional misspell! ;o) being reading the Russian Gypsy Cards.
These cards came to me in the Dark Night of My Soul. When I could find comfort nowhere they came to me to change my life and help me to help others find a way to change theirs.
I have to explain more about these cards and my idea of oracle readings. They are NOT Tarot. Not that I have anything against Tarot, I love getting Tarot readings but these are and Oracle set. Tarot is an Oracle but not all Oracles are Tarot. (Did I confuse you yet?) Ok here goes…
For me a reading is not a glimpse into your set-in-stone future. For me your future is ever changing depending on every word, thought and action YOU decide to take. So there is no fear in getting a reading. It is a birds eye or what I like to say an angels eye view of your path. Where you are right now and where you are going with the current decisions you have recently made and are making. If you do not like your reading for any reason YOU can change it! That is the beauty of knowing where you are and what direction you are headed.
Its like if you do not like your current situation in life…change it! Only you can.
So the Russian Gypsy Cards are 25 cards with 4 half pictures on each card. There are 25 pictures that can be read in 4 different meanings depending on how they lay (rightside up, upside down or to either side). First step is to shuffle the cards and ask “What do I need to know?”, because they are tricky they can only tell you about your life according to Free Will (with your permission) and if you ask too precisely, such as about love, you may miss something you NEED to know about but they can’t tell you because you didn’t ask. From there we lay out the cards and see how many full pictures you get. Readings can range from 20-30 minutes to 1-1.5 hours depending on how many pictures you get and how in depth we get into your situation.
Again if you get anything you don’t like now you know to change it. Also they may give you some things to think about. Because you ask “What do I need to know?”, they may tell you something that knocks you off your feet. Sometimes we are so focused on our goals that we have blinders on and we cannot see what may be coming at us such as someone trying to sabotage us. So they cards can give you warnings to this. This is GOOD. I would rather have a “suspicious” reading of things to look out for than to have an-everything- is- perfect reading (because it never is!). THEN you can be prepared to handle whatever it may be that is brewing outside of your peripheral vision.
And sometimes the little buggers will tell you stuff you have NO idea what it is. That is normally when it’s a bit ahead in the future and you don’t know what that thing is. Often if you are intuitive you have an idea of the unfolding of events or of what they are related . Or in three days at 3:34am you will shoot up in bed and remember what the reading said and what it is connected to waking up your spouse with a shrill “YES! Now I know!”
So there is no reason to fear a reading and every reason to know where you are like landmarks on the road to life. So call or write to make your appointment via skype, phone or chat or even better in person. So be it.
Crystal Mitchell Hinojosa
984-131-2328
Implementing scars into your Tattoo Design….(thanks Matt)
So Tattooluum has done a piece on how tattoos can hide scars but what about embracing them into a tattoo?
We spend so much time trying to be perfect but isn’t what makes us imperfect what defines us? If we have a scar it’s a landmark or better bodymark of where we have been, what we have done, or what we have been through. Lets embrace it an celebrate it with none other than a …..tattoo..after all that is what we do!
A friend of mine opened my eyes to this when we were discussing his keloid scars he has on his body. These he wants to make into a background or a topic for his tattoo, and why not? Scars can give a tattoo texture and make it come alive. We can dress up scars and celebrate them. Why not join the two forces that individualize us..scars and body art….into a more detailed roadmap of our lives outlined on our body??
Ok so let’s hear it..comments anyone? And feel free to leave comments on our other blogs as well…..thank you for your time.
Many of us dangerous tattooed people already know the healing power of tattoos. Inner scars are literally far deeper than outer scars but sometimes in covering the outer scars inner ones can heal too. A tattoo by a good artist can help. Covering scars is not an easy task..depending on the type of scar and where it is and its texture really determines if it can be covered. Especially here in Mexico many women have scars from childbirth after having a Cesarean birth. This can lead to shame or a low self esteem when it comes to wearing a bathing suit and here in the Mexican Caribbean its like our uniform.
Martin has been able to help women like this and others through scar covers. It really points to the talent of our artists when they can handle such a multi-faceted subject, because with a scar appointment you must be sincere but sensitive to the client. Then you must be able to determine the type of scar and if this tissue will be able to be tattooed. There is nothing worse than a client hoping to better their deformity than to make it worse. Its important too that they do not expect a miracle, that way when one happens they are pleasantly surprised!
Tattooluum is proud of the clients that take the time to face their physical deformity as well as the inner scar in order to cover as well as heal. None of us are perfect and we all have battle wounds inner and outer but if we can make the outer ones just a bit prettier and ease the inner torment and make the person feel better about themselves, well that is just priceless.
