Brr!

[smokingboot]

Big fat flakes of snow stinging the grass, confusing the air. Do not go outside belovedest ones, stay in and keep warm, if British Gas will let you; 22%up on prices and no explanation beyond complaints about 'European suppliers'. Thank God they are not spending my cash on some massive ad campaign featuring cartoon blue-gas flames with cute regional accents explaining how BG is sooooo worth the money; cos that would get me really angry.

Moving swiftly on, I found something pretty;


I like tattoos but have never dared have one first because I am as needle phobic as they come, and second, cos I hate the idea of being branded, so to speak. I wanted a tattoo for the first time ever last year, once my melanoma was removed; had to make a big decision about taking the hard option (local anaesthetic, lots of jabs right away) or the easy one (general, 4/5 weeks away) Somehow, I took the hard option and we got the drop on the cancer quickly. But I had to face a big fear, and realise I could do it. I would like a reminder of that rite of passage, to remind me that I can do big things, not just in my head but in the real flesh of the world so to speak. But I haven't found any design to inspire me for more than a day, never mind permanently. And of course, it would mean more needles.

But then you see things like this: http://www.ringsofdesire.com/angel-poster.html

This woman, Elayne Angel, owns the first ever patented tattoo design, these black and grey wings that cover the back. And see how she had made her legs like a mermaid's tail. I don't care for that too much, but I love the way the feathers curve across her lower back; there's something so amazing about someone not only feeling magical but tracing that magic under their skin, for always. She's mermaid, she's angel, her body's aflame, no ordinary creature, part born, part self-made, her beauty unique in all the world.

If I find myself with something huge to celebrate, I would love to have the wings on my back. Not tattooed because I don't know if I can always be angel, but painted, just for a while, so I could go out to clubs and show off my back and hips with the newness of it. But of course, real angels would tell me I was missing the point.

One day maybe...

Today I am a huge red nose with magical mucus powers. This will never be the subject of a tattoo.

Comments

[thru-her-lens.livejournal.com]

I'm not so fond of the mermaid tail either...but I think that's largely because I prefer monochromatic tattoos. But the wings are fabulous!

*hugs* and hope you're feeling better soon!

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, but I will not hug you back, as I wouldn't want to even risk giving you an astral version of this, it's so icky!

I haven't worked out why I prefer the wings to the tail; usually I like colour. The wings are apparently grey and black. I wonder what a white version would look like, or even an 'etched' version, just risen lines under the skin - celestial braille:-)

[jennifermc.livejournal.com]

I'm not usually a big fan of large tattoos, as I think less is more when it comes to body art. But this is a fantastic piece. I like how the slight curl at the bottom of the wings accentuates the waist.
There is something not quite right about the mermaid legs though and I can't put my finger on it. Maybe that the two halves are at odds at each other, air and water.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I agree about how delicate it makes the curve of waist and hips.

Re the legs, I don't know; I got used to flying mermaids from various adverts for visiting Turkey, but still, wouldn't the tail dry out or the wings get sodden? Maybe they just plunge into the seas from great mountain tops!

Water/Air combinations are either awesomely beautiful and intangible like snowflakes and rainbows, or awesomely beautiful and destructive like stormsand typhoons. Hard to represent well artistically I guess.

Thinks a bit more...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Just suddenly struck me - I don't think the themes are the problem for me, I think it is that the wings enhance the natural shape of the back, the spine, the curves of hip and waist, they can adapt to the back, the legs must be forced to adapt/be masked for the tail effect.

Still lovely, but I would prefer the wings alone.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

I once read an article by a woman who was covered from head to foot in tattoos.

She said that when she got her first tattoo, it was a sign to her that she'd moved in to her body. That it now belonged to her, and noone else -she made the decision for it and accepted the consequences. If she regretted the tattoo, it was _her_ regret about _her_ decision - noone else had a right to comment.

it was with her in mind I got mine done, and have never regretted it :o)

Moved into her body

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

wow, that's got me thinking...see, I have the opposite, a really strong sense of existing separately from the being I see in the mirror. Sometimes even when I've been hurt or crying I look at that person and think 'but this isn't really me,' whatever's bothering still bothers, but I am somehow apart from it, like its a front person or at least another person.

Mileage for therapy in that I'm sure!

But the ownership of one's body, the acceptance that you're in this life together one and the same, a mark to prove it...it's like a marriage. Of course, I've never been a fan of those either!

But it is a powerful and beautiful idea.

I don't think I've seen your tattoo. Is it recent?

Re: Moved into her body

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

I had it done on honeymoon :o) I have pictures, I'll send you sometime, if you like.

Re: Moved into her body

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I would very much like that.

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

Tattoos don't hurt nearly as much as you think they're going to. I was pleasantly surprised.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it is even the actual pain that bothers me, or the old needle phobia. I know a lot of the second still impacts.

Funny though, I have heard two different opinions when it comes to tattoos; one is that they hurt like the devil sawing your bones with his teeth, and the other is that it's not that big a deal.

I never know what to make of such extremes!