I had a lot of fun working with and creating the energy of these pieces for my lovely client. They were created to enhance simple Lotus tattoos that she already had at the back of her ankles, which she wanted to shift the energy of (more representative of her now and what she wants to embody and create), as she hadn’t been satisfied with the pieces when they were first executed.

I am pleased to share that she now looks at the designs in a whole new light and shared, “I actually didn’t think they could look so beautiful!! I never thought I would love the Lotuses again, and thanks to you I can’t wait to have these beauties inked up!!!! I can’t stop looking at them..”

It brings me great happiness to hear this and honored I could assist her with what she wanted to create.

You can see the original designs in the image here, that I was given to work with. The rest was a process of her sharing and me tuning in.

The way I created these were like mirror images, since the Lotuses she had were already as such, but with a couple of modifications that would make each their own unique energy. I first had to make a rough sketch of the Lotuses to the measurements I was given, in order to be able to work with them and create a flow. So I did that first and then started integrating the new extensions and additions to each that would embody the energy that was coming through and felt to be most empowering for her.

The one that flows to the right, of course is for the right foot/ankle and the one that flows to the left is for the left foot/ankle. I integrated four Runes within the designs. Each design has two Runes embedded in them and each design also has a different little being.

The left foot has a Faery and the right foot has Kokopelli. Both Faery and American Indian energy was very strong for my client, something she has been in tune and working with. It came to me right away that both of these images would be part of how she walks through life, and would assist the energy she is working with and carrying “forward” as she moves through her journey.

The designs are in a Mehndi design flow to work with the Lotuses and to go with the design quality she is drawn to. I wanted anything that was put in as symbolism, to blend in and only stand out, if you know to look for it. So everything is hidden and “encoded” so to speak, in unique stylized versions. I wanted each to be similar, but unique, so just a few changes to each of the little beings was done to make them connected, yet different.

The Faery felt good for her left foot, since this is the side connected to the right brain and the intuitive, creative and healing qualities she has within. So the Faery energy can communicate with her more via strengthening these aspects of herself. And I felt Kokopelli for her right foot because it is connected with your left brain which is more action oriented and putting energy out in terms of the work in how she expresses herself, whereas the other is more inward.

Kokopelli is a source of wonder, music making, dancing and spreading joy. He is known as a healer, prankster, story teller, and fertility god. His hunch back is said to represent a sack he carries that contains seeds for the harvest, as well as songs he carries and beautiful rainbows. His flute symbolizes the music that shifts seasons from winter to spring – symbolic of our own embrace of change – as well as brings the rain for successful harvest – again supporting our own journey in productive and beneficial ways.

He felt important to support her major transitions she is going through and the journey she is taking on her path to bring good fortune, lightness, joy, her creative self-expression, aid her in dancing through life more and transitioning with greater ease and harmony. Also to help lighten things up so that she can embrace being here on Earth more, find things more fulfilling with a new perspective, and help her to let go easier and find the humor and fun in things.

He will also help her connect to the Earth and be in “rhythm” with it. The designs themselves are very Earth Mother connected, as they embody the roots, blossoms, and foliage of her embodiment. And as they flow down from the back of her ankle and around the sides to her feet, they ground, root and keep her balanced and in flowing motion of the “dance of life” – just like Kokopelli and Faeries know so well to do. The spirals of course are about the cycles of life and flow.

So the right one has Kokopelli, whom you can find near the tip, and he will come to rest on her foot. He has a Lotus head and plays a Lotus flute, his body made of vines/roots and more Lotuses, as well as his arms that support the Lotus flute. His core body is comprised of two opened, blossoming Lotuses, which again speaks to something in fruition and the “actualized” experiences supported through the male channeled energy of the left brain.

From his flute comes the rune Raidho – which is about the journey of life and travel in a physical or spiritual way. Runes have many ways to interpret their meanings and these here are only part of the story that is shared from info gathered to give a little insight into their energy potentials that can be explored. (Laura Bruno is really adept at Runes if you’d like to learn more about them. We received a lot of interesting info from a Druid we met once, but she retained and explored the info more than I did.) 😉

But in simple terms, Raidho provides having the foresight to make the right choices, the rhythm of you being connected to the rhythm of the world, and the forces of life moving and dancing. It also governs living in the present, access to inner advice and following the inner compass of the heart, movement within your natural abilities, consciousness of natural processes, mastery of circumstance and control of situations, taking the lead, creative rhythm brought into your activities, protection while traveling, clear connection and follow thorugh between decisions made and immediate actions.

Each of the Lotuses also have a symbolic design above them. Each again are the same, but they have within them a different Rune that is embedded in the design. I’ll get to those after I show you where the Faery is.

The Faery is on the left foot, near the bottom, just like Kokopelli. They share the same Lotus head and vine hair, but the Faery instead has graceful vined wings rather than a hunched back, a Lotus bud at her Solar Plexus body core (which speaks to the feminine energy of the right brain in how it is cultivated from within and its power emanates from that birth origin, to be supported by the male into action), and lovely vined arms and legs, similar to that of a butterfly, or dragonfly.

Between her arms is the Rune Ansuz. This Rune is the rune of knowledge and communication, voice of the Universe, helps you learn and teach new things, helps you open your mind and speak things clearly. Ansuz also governs all powers of conceptualization, powerful and magnetic expression through communication and expression, acquisition of creative wisdom, inspiration, ecstasy and divine communication, the ability to reason and analyze, connecting and networking with others, listening to oneself and one’s own particular inner-voice.

Then back to the top above the Lotuses. I created a design/symbol to draw the energy up. So there’s the roots and stems/vines drawing the energy to the Earth and grounding, but also now we have the energy being moved up and also to receive from above, as much as from below. I see these as personal symbols (which my client had wanted created unique for her) of higher consciousness, extensions to her Crown/Lotus energy that are receiving, and as well to provide her with clarity and present awareness, to keep her feeling safe and providing the knowing of protection always.

A fun inversion of the design that I played with

The design incorporates an All-seeing Eye near the top, with spiral center that rests between the two extended arm vines of the very upper Lotus. And below each Lotus that has extended feelers/like lashes to the eyes – for sensory perception – there is an embedded Rune. The Right one has the Rune Algiz and the left one has the Rune Thurisaz.

Both assist protectively. Algiz offers protection, wards off so-called “evil”, and offers opportunities for growth. Algiz heralds that things are coming to fruition that you’ve been working on, new relationships and experiences to enrich your life with positive influences are coming into your existence, and the knowingness of always being protected with wisdom and vision as your allies. It governs your higher self and awakening, as well as aligning with the divine plan, activating the higher self, communication with divine entities and other worlds, facing fear with courage, protective teaching force, strengthening life force through courageous deeds, drawing energy from Source.

On the left you have Thurisaz and it gets its name from the god Thor. It offers powerful protection and assures you that you are not alone. You are supported, you just need to ask for help and it will be there to assist and provide you with what you need. It governs having breakthroughs, strength, destruction of enemies, awakening of the will to action, breaking resistance of blockages in body, mind and spirit,  increased potency in romantic relationships, focuses psychic energy clearly, synergizes right/left brain processes for generating powerful realization.

You can research these more and explore other uses of the Runes, as this is just surface scratching for some insight on how you can utilize symbolism. But these are the four Runes that loudly spoke for what my client was wanting assistance with and that would be empowering at this time in her journey.

I can’t possibly write everything, but I think this gives you an idea, and of course you may find hidden gems and things you see in the designs yourself, as everyone has different eyes they see with and it will speak in different ways to you at different times.

But what I see as themes are, “Dancing Spirit” which is a name my client shared with me as one of  her Indian Guides and how this speaks of an aspect of her, a journey she is on, power symbols unique to her, protection, guidance, vision, flow and joy, coming into her fullness, empowerment, approaching everything with lightness and being able to accept all parts of herself, having much support and wisdom all around and within, the dreams she is hoping to manifest, and the spirit guide energies that she works with for healing and service to others.

If you would like to partner in co-creating your own sacred visionary piece of artwork or tattoo design to embody the empowerment you desire, you can contact me at tania@spiritualskin.com.

There is currently a waiting list, which I am moving through as quickly as I can.  I can only provide a guesstimate on timing. You can easily make your deposit at the link provided below to embark on this journey in partnership with me.

For more information about the process and pricing please visit: What is a Tattoo Design Consultation

Some people have preferred to read my book, Spiritual Skin ~ Sacred Tattoos: More than Skin Deep, especially if they are new to sacred tattoo designs, before embarking on this journey.

If you are drawn to learn more about sacred tattoos you can order a copy of the book here: Spiritual Skin

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