pegkerr: (Tree of Life)
pegkerr ([personal profile] pegkerr) wrote2007-03-08 09:10 am

What would you think of this as a tattoo?

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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: [livejournal.com profile] 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. [livejournal.com profile] 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.
naomikritzer: (Default)

[personal profile] naomikritzer 2007-03-09 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
What tattoos do you have these days, Angie? I remember years ago you having all sorts of elaborate ideas, like a mermaid perched on your ankle, and no money. What did you wind up getting done (so far)?

[identity profile] aelfsciene.livejournal.com 2007-03-09 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Right now, just the old dragon, along with the gorgeous Hokusai's wave on my lower back (last year's birthday/Xmas gift). Someday, I plan to take the edges of the wave to curve up over my hips and swirl around my bellybutton, which will itself be surrounded with concentric circles of earth, air and fire before being subsumed by the water. That'll wait until I'm a bit lighter, though, because the belly, she's rather padded.

Next Thursday, however, I'll be getting my third piece, in the form of a piece of giant kelp twining around my ankle and down my foot, to symbolize every step I take towards my dream of working with the ocean (cheesy, but hey).

After that, I'm planning on a giant red octopus on my shoulder, tentacles trailing down and partially around my arm (which may end up being the start of a sleeve, I dunno yet); a couple of friends are working on a design for me which I cannot wait to see. If there's anything left in the fund after those two, I may do a small water symbol on my right wrist or the San Jose Sharks symbol on my lower hip (hip check!).

All watery, so far, and more or less easily hidden, but I'll probably branch out before long; money's the only limiting factor now, as I've definitely caught the bug, and have a good dozen concrete ideas.

And I'm sure to post pics of the kelp on my LJ in a couple of weeks!