Silver'd in the moon's eclipse,
I got my first tattoo 35 years ago. Back then I wasn't sure what I wanted or why. It just seemed like a really daring thing to do. Back then it probably was. That tattoo isn't included on this page because none of us like to show the bad ones, although I will show you a couple of regrets. It has been said that lots of people have one bad tattoo but few people have just one good one. If you are into ink then you will understand that. I know there are some elitists who don't consider anything smaller than a 6" square a "real tattoo," but I think every tattoo, no matter how small or trivial is important. They all mark some event in our lives. That event might be as simple, or as huge as making our first decision on our own without the imput of parents or peers. They are a rite of passage.
My first tattoo was a little butterfly on my right hip. Of course I had no idea it was going to hurt so I jumped and my butterfly has a big gob on the tip of his wing. Then I got daring and added a little flower underneath the little butterfly. That whole thing consists of about 2 square inches. My but I was brave! Then I got a little heart on my right ear lobe and a Janice Joplin heart on my left breast. I laugh now to think of how brave I felt having those little bits and pieces. I was very proud. Now I have larger tattoos. For a time, it was a yearly birthday present to myself, but then I ran out of money and incentive. I've gotten over both ailments. Well, kind of, I still don't have much money, but who does?
Last year, I took a trip to Moscow, Idaho to Falling Moon Tattoo Studios where my daughters and I spent eight hours and about $1,000 having Matt Johnson decorate us.
Yes, it does hurt. It hurts like working out, or running ten miles or any of that good endorphine pumping stuff does. It is also addictive. As soon as you get out of the chair, you start planning the next one.
For me it is more than just decoration. It is about "being art". My tattoos are for me. I don't mind showing them. I don't mind answering serious questions. They are my gift to myself...permanent jewelry if you wish. And beyond that they are a celebration of my spirituality and no one's damned business.
Below are some of my tattoos. The right sleeve started out as a celtic knot on my upperarm. I later added the triple goddess symbol on the bottom. The bottom was never quite what I wanted but Matt touched it up for me last year. The fairies are on my thighs, the tribal sleeve is on my left arm. The sweetpeas are a remembrance of my father who's nickname was "Sweetpea," it's also my birth flower. Above the sweetpeas in my daughter Lenore's name. Unfortunately, the guy who was supposed to do Lenore's name didn't think I was a serious collector because I went in wearing a suit. He relegated me to an apprentice who did a half-assed job that feathered out ink under my skin. The ravens are on my lower back, the triple goddess raven design on my shoulders and Lilith howling at the death's head moon is on my upper back on the right. Lilith was drawn by my good friend Greg Loudon.
Last September, on my Dad's birthday I went to a place here at home and had the same Betty Boop my Dad had on his forearm put on my upper back on the left side. I'm not crazy about the red background but I have an idea of how to fix it. Of course I should have let Matt do it in the first place and I wouldn't have to be asking him to fix it now. Live and learn.
In the spring, for my birthday I had Matt do another raven tattoo for me. This time it was a creation myth image of Raven stealing the sun. This one is on the back of my right leg. It hurt like a son of a bitch! Needless to say, I will not be getting a balancing tat on my other leg.
In June I traveled to Moscow once again and had Matt give me a tattoo to mark the end of my job. I wanted something that would remind me that healing is possible and so I had a newt tattooed on my left arm at the elbow. Newts can regenerate ever single part of their body including their hearts. I hope I can do the same.
There are a couple more but they aren't worth commenting on.
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