What would you think of this as a tattoo?

[pegkerr]

It's something I've been thinking about for awhile. For years, I thought, "No way." Then, I thought, "Well, maybe. If I found the right design, something that summons up a powerful idea for me, and if it was something I could see living with for the rest of my life." Lately, I've been thinking that it would be the Tree of Life, the Holy Tree. This would evoke Yeat's poem, "The Two Trees," and of course Tolkien's tree mythology. This, of course, also all ties in to the hearts of stone and flesh, too. See my entry here.

Yesterday, I finally found a design that made me think, "Wow. Maybe."



I'm not sure I'm going to do it yet, but for the first time, I'm really seriously thinking about it. What do you think?

Edited to add: Of course, friends list, you must accept that I may still like the idea, and you may all think it's beautiful, but I may still NOT get it. As kijjohnson and I say all the time, "You can make different decisions than I do." This would be a huge thing for me, and I'm not quite sure I have the courage to do it.

But I must admit, the idea is looking more and more attractive. For the first time, I can actually imagine myself doing it.

As for WHERE I would put it, well, that is a problem that requires some thinking. How big do you think it should be? I think I would really like it centered. The back is one option, except I would like to be able to SEE it. I think I would like it to be covered much of the time, making it private for me, but somewhere I could also show it if I like.

The poem speaks of the holy tree growing within the heart, so over the heart makes sense, and it feels like the most right position to me. Kij tells me, however, that since there is little fat over the breastbone, it can be a very painful location. I think if I did it, I would do it right, getting it with colors instead of black and white.

Here is an article about the artist. I like the fact that his art has a Christian emphasis. I found the design on a cover of a quarterly devotions guide handed out by our church.

Rob, by the way, is rather appalled at the whole idea.

Edited to add again: rarelytame, who should know, tells me that the flowers are a bit too small and fiddly and would have to be adapted to something else that is simpler, which doesn't surprise me. I would be willing to see what an artist could do to simplify it but still keep it lovely. redbird warns me that perhaps these specific colors wouldn't be best; paler ones don't show up as well. I would be willing to consider other colors.

Comments

[drewan.livejournal.com]

That's a really nice design! Where are you thinking of placing it?

I can't quite picture you with a large tattoo across your back (which would look amazing), but maybe a smaller one somewhere between the base of your neck your shoulder blades would look good.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Where are you thinking of placing it?

That's the problem, isn't it?

It might make sense to put it on my back, except I would like to be able to see it. The point about the poem is that the holy tree grows within the heart, and so over the heart makes sense, and that way I would be able to see it, but cover it up much of the time, making it private for me, which is what I think I would prefer. I understand, however, that over the breastbone is much more painful.

Hmmm . . .

[drewan.livejournal.com]

Well, you could do it on the inside of your wrist, then you could see it all the time.

Yes, I've also heard that over bone can be very painful. But maybe it's a pain that you can handle. You might be surprised.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

This is an analogy many people would probably find appalling, but I'm going to make it anyhow. When orthodox Jews bind tefillin, they put them on the forehead and the left arm, as a symbol of keeping the divine words in your mind and in your heart. It's called "hand tefillin," but the box is actually put on the upper left arm, the side next to the body.

The skin there is fairly sensitive. (I don't know about tattooing, but mine is quite sensitive to other stuff.) However, it's not over bone, so it might not be as bad as breastbone or back. It would be visible to you and anyone you wanted to share it with, but you could cover it easily with sleeves, even in summer. I don't know how much of an issue this is...but it seems like it could feel like more of a private place for you. You say Rob is appalled at the whole idea--is he reacting to you getting a tattoo at all? to you getting that design? or to you getting a tattoo on your chest? Position can make a difference.