Tattoo

Tattooing. It is nothing if not controversial, and already some readers may be asking what tattooing has to do with spirituality. But this denigrating attitude to body art is almost unique to the west. Tattoo is a sacred art: tattooing and scarification have been used by the Indians, Africans, Native Americans and the people of Oceania, among others. Such decorations could be for beauty alone, or to denote rank, for worship, to tell one's own story, or to protect against evil. Examples include the tattoo artists of the Polynesian Marquesail Islands. Their practice first became known to the west in 1595: a method using a tattooing 'comb' or needle dipped in ink made from burned seeds and coconut oil. The application takes decades, and is performed on men and women. In the North African Berber groups, women are tattooed around the mouth, nose, eyes, hands and other parts of the body which are not covered by clothes, as protection against evil, while in Kutch, India, women are heavily tattooed to show their beauty and document their life. In Kutch, a woman with no tattoo is not yet beautiful.

In the western world our attitude differs somewhat. Although it is finding some acceptance, tattooing is still often seen as tacky. On discovering my interest in tattoos, one friend proclaimed "but I thought you were a lady"! Yet, tattooing has also become a trendy pursuit, with more teenagers opting for small designs, often to keep up with fashion. Tattoo is not a trend, though, it is an art form, with good artists putting in years of training and practice to perfect their art. There are tattooists who can recreate almost anything or anyone with amazing clarity, and ensure the finished pieces complement the contours of the body.

So why tattoo? Ask any tattoo afficionado and you will get a different answer. The experience of the tattoo, and the significance of the design is highly personal. A tattoo may remind one of something dear to them, commemorate a life stage, emphasise the body, provide a talisman, proclaim beliefs, or it may be used to transform inner pain into something beautiful. It may be an act of self worship, a rite of passage, or both. You can do your soul no greater honour than to decorate the body. The Mentawi people of Western Indonesia believe that everything has a soul, and that life should be a celebration of beauty; therefore a tattoo lends the body 'dignity' and allows the soul to feel at home in its completed temple. The preparation, pain and aftercare should all be a part of this ritual.

Preparation may begin years before, with the consideration of the design. The only designs that are truly personal are ones dreamed by you, and a good artist will be able to bring your visions to life. The meaning isn't so important as the fact that it means something to you, something important - important enough to wear forever. Perhaps the idea will come in a flash of inspiration and you will be ready for the design the next day. Whichever way it happens, the idea should feel wonderful, as if your body will be enhanced by having it there. I prepare for my tattoos by stocking up on sponges and scentless soap for cleaning with, clean loose clothes, and anything else I know I will need afterwards. I make sure I eat and sleep well for a few days before it. It is important to prepare mentally too, by contemplating the design and how wonderful it is going to be, by allowing yourself to be excited about it. I find it's good to think about the experience, to imagine it as transformative. I also like to set aside a couple of hours before the tattoo to just relax.

The moment before a tattoo is extremely empowering. Your body (and soul) will never be the same again. It truly is a rite of passage. The ritual of scarification in regions of Africa expresses this well: the scars are badges of honour and maturity. A tattoo can play the same role. The question of pain has been discussed again and again, so I'm not going to try and tell you how bad it really is, except to say that the pain shouldn't be a consideration. Being nervous is understandable, but if you really want the art, the pain is something you are willing to meet and handle. It is a part of the process. It is worth suffering for something so beautiful and permanent, and if it is right for you anticipation of the finished article will far outweigh the discomfort. If you expect it to be unbearably painful, it will be. This is more likely if you are having a tattoo for 'trendy' reasons. If you are caught up in the experience, you will find ways of meeting the pain, which is different for everyone, depending on the placement of the body, the attitude, how tired you are, and many other subtle things. When I had my back piece the artist handed me a lollipop! Laugh if you will, but believe me if you ensure you have something sugary with you, even a sugary drink, you will be glad. Not only does it distract you, it keeps your blood sugar up and makes the whole experience easier. Taking good care of yourself before the tattoo also makes a difference. Some artists will accommodate requests for certain music, others will let a partner or friend in with you, or you can just sit and let the experience happen. Nice outer trappings can help with the headspace, but having a tattoo is essentially a personal transformation which requires no more or less than your engagement with it. The more you put into the tattoo, mentally and emotionally, the more rewarding the experience will be.

Aftercare is, of course, of paramount importance. Atlantic Coast offer a good online care sheet, as do Images in Ink . Everybody feels different after a tattoo, from elated to fragile, from emotional to content. There are one or two tips I have found useful. First, after the bandage is off, wash it regularly. More soaking means less scabbing and itching. If it is painful to touch, use a sponge to squeeze soapy water over it. I find drying with kitchen towel is much gentler than an ordinary towel. I use Puran tattoo cream, which I find very effective. These are just personal recommendations and aftercare should always be thoroughly discussed and decided with your artist. There is an emotional and spiritual aspect to aftercare too, of course. It's important to rest and reflect after the experience, not to rush off as if your life were just going back to normal. Look at it often (I had pictures taken of my back!), enjoy it, love it. The tattoo will need regular care, at least four times daily for the first week, and this is a wonderful opportunity to honour your body and become aware of it, and of caring for it. You might find that issues arise, or spiritual interests are deepened, after a tattoo, and you should embrace this and revel in the unique and beautiful feeling of having transformed and decorated your body. It is as much a rite of passage as marriage or childbirth.

To those who say tattoos are ugly, dangerous, etc there have been plenty of refutes. My personal reply is that the beauty and artistry of the work are limited only by your imagination and the skill of your artist. A good artist will pay attention to safety and hygiene. Of course, one should never pay heed to narrow minded people. If they think you are a rebel, and that to be open minded and freethinking is the worst thing you can do, perhaps it is as well you don't meet their approval, knowing what that would entail. There is nothing ugly about the way we choose to decorate our bodies. Some people do it through clothes (or lack thereof!), body paint or jewellery. Some choose to do it through tattoo. I'm not suggesting everyone should go out and have one. Tattoo isn't for everyone, and if it is for you, you will know. Don't ask how; it's like falling in love. If you don't feel it, I can't describe it. But you will know. We should acknowledge and celebrate the different beauties of our own and other's physical forms, regardless of how we choose to decorate and adorn them, or whether we choose to leave them as they were when we are born. Perhaps some people will argue that tattoo is in that case unnatural, and not in keeping with the philosophy of spiritual naturism. But a tattoo isn't a garment to cover the body, and it isn't worn to keep up with trends or gain acceptance. It is a personal ornament, which you take right into your skin and soul, as much a part of your body as your hair or toes or fingernails. It doesn't feel like the needle and ink are adding something that wasn't there to begin with. It feels like they are uncovering something which has always been within you.

I'd like to end with some thoughts about choosing an artist. The National Tattoo Association and The Alliance of Professional Tattooists, both have excellent advice on the considerations when choosing an artist and studio. One of the best ways of course is personal recommendation, but if you don't know anyone you can ask, following the guidelines on the above pages, and your own intuition, should ensure you find what you are looking for. As well as the safety and hygiene issues outlined by the NTA and APT, you should be looking for an artist who makes you feel comfortable. The tattoo is a joint effort, a joint visioning to a stunning result. Your artist should speak your language, and you should feel they understand your ideas. Their input, talents and wisdom should answer your questions and make you feel you are in good hands.

If you're looking for further inspiration and a wonderful illustration (literally) of just how spiritual and beautiful tattoo can be, please do visit Poppy Palin, visionary artist and tattooist.

To see some beautiful examples of tattoo, alongside some sound advice, visit Atlantic Coast Tattoo Studio, Varry Tattoo, and Draconian Tattoo. I have had tattoos by Atlantic Coast and Draconian, and highly recommend them.

Reference: Karl Gröning, "Decorated Skin - A World Survey of Body Art" (Thomas & Hudson Ltd, London, 2001).

The FimFour Production The Zebra Man is based on the true story of Major Horace Ridler. Tattooed from head to foot in black and white stripes, he became Omni - the Zebra Man.

You will need Realplayer to see this short film, free versions are available.