Monthly Archives: November 2014
The Secret Garden ~ Sacred Tattoo Design
Another enchanting journey in the realm of sacred tattoo designs comes to closure, and yet for my client, that journey has just begun. The title of this one is inspired by my Faery friend, Laura Bruno, who has the most enchanting garden both indoors and outdoors, reflecting a true magickal and witchy “Secret Garden”.
I love hearing and feeling the way these designs have an effect on my clients when they are revealed for the first time. The energy we share in the process is such an intimate connection and so each person becomes dear to me as we share that exchange during the creation and manifestation. Their powerful and beautiful reflections upon seeing them is the reason for why I do what I do.
This particular design is quite a large piece at 15″ long and 7″ at widest point, as it is created to flow down right side of my client’s back from shoulder to waist.
Having a larger space to work with is a lot of fun because I have a larger canvas to weave things in and detailing isn’t as challenging, since it will interpret better in ink when larger. With the size I was also able to create a graceful and ethereal, feminine flow to the piece where there are areas that just have beautiful delicate extensions and swirls and other areas that are a little more solid.
Yet, still, I kept to an organic feel with this and everything has a very balanced essence that anchors and centers the focal point. Although feminine, it is quite a powerful piece and will be a reflection of her sacred and empowered Feminine energy.
My client had shared butterflies and sunflowers were very important to her, which I couldn’t have been more excited about since those are two of my favorite things! Sunflowers are my favorite flower and butterflies have been with me on my spiritual journey as my own empowering symbols.
I felt from the start that there would be more than one butterfly and the same with the sunflowers. I’d seen this vine-like flow immediately too, and then a few other symbols started to flow through that felt key for her. These included a dandelion and dandelion leaf, a ladybug, and two Runes. I will share a bit more on each.
There is on the surface the feeling of this very enchanted garden and then as we dig further we uncover the symbolism embodied within it, to reflect things important to my client and her energy.
Two butterflies: I created the butterflies with a very magickal/faery-like essence with flowing tails to their wings and very ethereal shapes. Each with lovely spiral antennas. The one at top left has antennas that create a subtle heart shape, bringing universal love along with its transformational gifts. Butterfly medicine symbolizes transformation, celebration, transition, lightness, soul, time, grace, elegance, freedom, joy and bliss, miracles, flexibility, cycles of life, creativity, gentleness, preciousness of life, as well as the medicine the ability and clarity of mind needed before self-transformation. These butterflies also represent the more feminine aspects with their gracefulness and curved wings and design, and that connection with understanding both the strength and fragility simultaneously in life. The top left one has a Rune inside it, balanced between both wings from center. More on that below. The butterflies are fluttering around the sunflowers, whose nectar and bright colors attract them, pollinating and bringing “hope” to the flowers in the circle of life. Two is the energy of balance, duality, kindness, equalization, diversity, stability, reflection, choice, exchanges with others, partnerships, communication, desire, and asks us to exert our natural flow of judgment to do what is best for our souls. In alchemy, two are the opposites – like Sun and Moon, King and Queen, Sacred Male and Female, and also are like the Twin Flame aspect within yourself.
Three sunflowers: I created two that are in full blossom representing aspects of my client that are in their wholeness, and to empower her into her wholeness, and one that is a bud, which represents spiritual/personal growth and the ever-evolving journey, where she is learning new things about herself and going through continual transformations into these new layers as she continues along her path. Sunflowers are symbolic of the Sun, spiritual attainment, flexibility and opportunity (the way they move their massive heads to meet the sun), faith, longevity, healing, nourishment, focus, good luck, magick, worship, spiritual knowing, life giving force, vitality, warmth, pleasure, and light. I created the two open blossoms with spiral centers. The spiral is a symbol of creation, movement, fluidity, surrender/releasing, holistic growth, and awareness of the one within the context of the whole. It reveals the cyclical nature of life, the consciousness of nature from core center expanding outward, and the relationship between unity and multiplicity. It is the limitless spirals that move both “inward towards the Source of creation and eternally outward with Source’s continual self-creation.” In this way, the spiral reflects the contiguous journey home to who you really are and the journey to be one with Source. There are three sunflowers and the number three generally symbolizes creative power, growth, magic, intuition, expression, versatility, pure joy of creativity, celebration, very goddess energy connected and reflective of the Empress in the Tarot, overcoming duality, manifestation, integration, complete cycles, flow.
Spirals: in the stems and antennas of the butterflies as well, which signify growth and the above mentioned symbolism of the spirals inside of the sunflowers.
Dandelion and dandelion leaf: dandelions symbolize growth, warmth, clarity, healing, radiance, illumination, positivity, progress, hopes and dreams. The white puffball (rather than the yellow flower) is symbolic of intelligence, clarity, purity, cleansing, spirit/soul, space, and new beginnings. To me it felt also very magickal and faery in essence, with those white little puffs like star seeds when they blow and seed new spark of life. The green leaves/stems represent mother earth, groundedness, wholesomeness, growth, resurgence, nature and life.
Ladybug: the ladybug channeled through along with runes and so one graces one of the sunflower leaves adding her magick. Lady bugs are a sign of good luck, of wishes coming true, love and protection. Lady bug wisdom carries the Golden Strand that leads to the Center of the Universe, represents past lives, spiritual enlightenment, death and rebirth, protection, happiness, love, luck, friendship, good deeds done, and good omens.
Two Runes: Algiz and Dagaz came through for her given things she had shared and what I intuited. The Rune Dagaz is the one at the center of the upper left butterfly. You can read a bit about it at this link: http://runesecrets.com/rune-meanings/dagaz which includes: Awakening – new worlds, new possibilities, new opportunities arise as others fade away, awareness, hope-happiness, the ideal, paradigm shift. All things are interconnected and in a state of constant flux. There is balance in all things, celestial and material. The Rune Algiz is found within the center of the dandelion leaf as part of the stem extending into the leaf. You can read a bit about it here: http://runesecrets.com/rune-meanings/algiz which includes: the essential link or connection with the patterns of divine or archetypal consciousness. It is divinity, state of listening, protective teaching force, the divine plan, awakening, higher life, connection with gods, courage in the face of fear, activation of higher self, communication with otherworlds, mystical communication, strengthening life force through courageous deeds, promotes independence and faith, spiritual force that envelops you with so much energy you that you are sacred and protected by Divine power.
It is a very magickal and powerful piece all around, which I really enjoyed creating and birthing into life. Flowing with the energy of it and the divine essence my client embodies in her wholeness that I see, enabled this vision to come through.
There is so much more that can be said in how things are placed and how they all intertwine and weave their energy, one into the other, but as always, I hope my clients and the people that view these will enjoy figuring out their own interpretative reflections daily.
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, and a monthly limit of only 6 additional clients I can take alongside that. 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: Life Changing Tattoos
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
It is also available in Kindle format here: Spiritual Skin
You can also order your personal copy here: Signed and Inscribed Copy of Spiritual Skin
Net of Indra : Large-scale Structure of the Universe
Such beautiful images and words revealing the exquisite interconnectedness of all things. Cosmic love!
Fiona Broome ~ How Shakespeare changed everything
Yay Shakespeare and Faeries! A fun post amidst all of the intensities.
My name’s origin comes from Titania, so you might say I have a wee bit of a magickal connection to the Fae. And having been to Ireland, I have literally skipped with the Faeries and immersed in the “lore of the Fae” as Fiona Broome shares.
Thank you Laura (my Faery sister) and Fiona for such a light and mischievous-evoking post.
The Intuitive Guidance (and Creative Inspiration) of the Higher Self
This post explores two things that I cherish – love (heart-intuitive guidance) and creativity (passionate, courageous inspiration) – as a means to connect more with your Higher Self.
I’ve quoted before, “Creativity and heart are not separate. It takes a heart to dream and it takes creativity to love unconditionally.”
The author, Wes Annac, shares similar in saying, “Love and creativity go hand in hand, and you may notice that your creativity’s enhanced when you’re in a pure, loving space.”
Let’s remember that when we listen to our hearts and intuitive guidance, it may take us into realms of both shadow and light, and all of this is part of the powerfully creative journey to empowerment, greater conscious awareness, and loving transmutation.
Why Todays Young People are Going Crazy
This is a long, but really good article about the challenges today’s children and young adults are facing and why genuine heart presence, guidance, and connection is so vital to return back to, as it not only affects our relationship to our children, but also to self, every relationship we have with others, and to our relationship at large with Earth and all of life.
If you’re a parent, parent-to-be, care-giver, or simply want to enrich your relationships and gain better understanding and compassion, then this article will shed some helpful insights to be present with in your life.
Of course these are just part of the story, but the more you engage making changes on these levels, the more likely you’ll start to become more in tune with the other levels that are also operating, and come to understand things more deeply.
The Gift of Color Vision
As a visionary artist, I have always been passionately obsessed with color and when I paint, I am always exploring and playing with vibrant combinations that you don’t always see, but are the way I “feel” them to be.
I may not have “tetrachomacy” like this article shares about, but my inner vision seems to be similar to how this rare eye condition provides the ability to see hues that aren’t visible to everyone.
This is a very cool article and I love how Concetta Antico is harnessing her rare gift to help colorblind people by sharing ways to retrain the brain to support color perception in her art classes that she teaches.
Origins Exclusive & Free Worldwide Premier & Cowspiracy, A Ground-Breaking Film Environmental Organizations Don’t Want You To See
I’m so, so happy to continue to see conscious awareness, documentary films being produced consistently these days to provide revealing and eye-opening information that no longer provides an excuse to remain blind to things. What you do with the information is up to you as an individual, but you DO have a choice and you DO have the power to create change with that choice.
Two days ago my sweet friend Dawn Vierra posted the film, Origins, which was the first time I had heard of it. I had the opportunity to watch it since and felt inspired to share it here, especially since it is being offered as an exclusive, worldwide FREE viewing until November 22, 2014.
The link is below for your viewing. I think the film makes some great points and connective dots. Like with anything, there is always more to the story and there are different opinions to explore when it comes to health, in particular, through educating ourselves, but also connecting with the nature of you.
Origins touches on how it’s important to return to our “origins”, connect and align with Nature, and that eating whole, organic foods is key to our health and well-being and integral to Earth’s vitality, ability to sustain us, and the web of life. Nature is within us and connects us and by fostering a deep respect and love for Earth, we protect our future and create our hope. The power of change happens when we work as a community.
I decided to share Origins alongside the documentary film, Cowspiracy ~ The Sustainability Secret, which I believe is incredibly important to watch and takes some of these things to the next level that are touched on in Origins. Although Cowspiracy is not available for free viewing, unless organized as a community screening, it is available here: http://www.cowspiracy.com/
As David Simon, author of Meatonomics (and makes a guest appearance in the film) shares in his article interview of the film’s producers, Cowspiracy is a “source of embarrassment for many of the nation’s leading environmental organizations and government agencies, including Greenpeace, Surfrider, Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, National Resources Defense Council, the California Water Resources Control Board, and others” that turn a blind and/or convenient eye away from matters at hand.
Having watched the film myself, I whole-heartedly agree and cringed for these organizations as they evaded truth.
Cowspiracy may be the most important film made to inspire saving the planet.
— Louie Psihoyos, Oscar-Winning Director of “The Cove”
A documentary that will rock and inspire the environmental movement.
— Darren Aronofsky, Director of “Noah” and “Black Swan”
I hope you get a chance to watch both of these and the many other “awakening” films out there, as well as hope that you invite an openness to the educative resources you have available that can change the course of your life and this planet at large.
Here is the FREE viewing of Origins…but remember it is only available until November 22, 2014.
Masters of Love
This is a great article about creating the kind of strong relationships that will flourish, be enriching, and long-lasting. Thanks Laura for sharing and for your additional comments.
I feel that the insights are for any kind of relationship, not just marriages, and not just for romantic connections either.
From my own experiences the insights from research shared in this article are indeed things I’ve come to find extremely true and important to what cultivates a healthy relationship that either has the potential to be long term or not.
I believe true intimacy comes from things like being present, patient, having gentle kindness, sharing genuine engagement and interest, a lot of vulnerable, authentic and loving communication, mutual respect and honor, and as the article shares – active constructive responding.
This is a great read with helpful insights to implement into your daily relating.
Mirror Reflections of Unity
The sun shines down, and its image reflects in a thousand different pots filled with water. The reflections are many, but they are each reflecting the same sun. Similarly, when we come to know who we truly are, we will see ourselves in all people. ~Amma
Mid-Month Reminder on November’s Reiki Special
Yesterday was another beautiful Reiki 1 and 2 workshop here in Costa Mesa. Seeing the way that the new practitioners’ faces lit up, and shifted during the course of the day, in experiencing the energy of Reiki and sharing it with one another was yet again another reminder of what a gift it is to be able to support others into remembrance of their own empowerment.
And being that my students are massage therapists, they were excited to be able to offer this support to their clients, in addition to their practice. I look forward to hearing the feedback they receive and love witnessing the collective ripple effect of energy exchange, as we each embrace personal evolution.
Reiki is such a powerful and gentle way to support ourselves and others limitlessly.
I know that many of you are struggling through shifts, experiencing intensities, and wanting to create greater peace and grace in your life with all that you are going through. And some of you also are looking for a bit of illumination, inspiration, and clarity to walk your journey with.
So that’s why this month I have been offering all Reiki sessions (done by distance) at 25% off to support your needs this month, in any and all areas of your life.
Please message me with your requests, to receive a separate invoice for your choices, as the prices at the link below of my offerings reflect regular pricing.
You can purchase as many as you’d like, but they must be purchased by 11/30 and be used by 1/31/15.