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Garden of the Goddess ~ Sacred Tattoo Mandala Design
It’s always an interesting challenge when I’m presented a piece to create that incorporates an already existent tattoo. With this design, I was to create something that integrated what you see at center – the Pentagram with Celtic Knot inverted triangle and the Moon phases.
From there, I wove the rest of the journey, incorporating my client’s essence and aspects of herself she wanted to draw forth for the new leg of her journey, as well as to bring to the surface in a more empowered way.
I told her immediately that I was feeling to create something ethereal and graceful, yet powerful, embodying a sacred and empowered Goddess essence. I also wanted it to have both an Earthy and mystical energy, combining balanced sacred geometry, but with a flowy, organic quality that is unique and feminine, actively creating itself in the moment.
It turned out to feel very Faery in essence and almost like a stained glass window or lattice work effect…so it’s like a vision peering into the soul essence of who she is and her intricacies – very tender and vulnerable, but regal and intentfully strong. A beautiful weaving of who she is, like an illuminated star blossom.
Immediately when I started tuning in, I received the Peacock, Moth, and Star Jasmine and the rest wove itself as I wanted to tie in qualities that would enhance the tattoo she already had, and also work with its essence, so that it looks like it was meant to be and not pieced together.
Overall, I feel like it’s a portal into this enchanted Garden of the Goddess (or Empress/High Priestess). So magickal!!
I love when my clients are open to what flows through, realizing there is a reason that something they may not have considered, shows up. This client had shared a couple of things that she resonated with, but they did not energetically do so for me when I tuned in, at least not in literal ways, or particularly for this piece. They were not matching the essence of the design and what wanted to come through, so I was guided that there was another way to bring about the energy in a more subtle and feminine flow that worked in alignment with her current tattoo.
For instance, my client had shared resonance with Elephants, and while a very powerful symbol, felt heavy, even if done in line drawings that she liked, and not as intricate and beautiful to her layers and this sacred feminine quality that ended up being created. It also didn’t energetically feel to fit with her current tattoo and I don’t like to just add things together that have no connective factor…I wanted it to blend and feel like one unified piece.
And the Tree of Life she also was drawn to came out in sort of an energetic/abstract way through this piece, rather than literal like so many other people have. There is a quality of entwined and wrapping branches from the six-pointed, organic star that bloom/grow from the center, which is like a Heart Chakra Lotus, because it has 12 petals. So the family connection and her roots are at the core of her being and heart, and are the connection of unity for her. The branches, rather than purely straight, bend like vines in this lattice work, showing her resiliency and strength to flow in any situation. And the branch-like vines double as the Star Jasmine vines, from which they grow as well – so many layers of symbolism, as you’ll continue to see.
Anyway, there is so much to continue to find and unravel in the piece. Here are some of the aspects included:
Personal Empowerment Mandala: (feels like the mandala is fluid and moving, so it is not static, although created with sacred geometry – has a flowing quality that recreates itself each moment as she shifts and changes) Mandalas are geometric figures representing the Universe. In this case, she is the Universe and this empowerment mandala is a reflection of the very “fabric” of her You-niverse – the core of her being and aspects of her higher self to help her to move more gracefully into expressing that. The mandala will help to focus her energy in a way that is connected to her authentic self.
Peacock: the Peacock was a surprise to her, although she resonated with and loved the energetic symbolism of them always. I find it powerful when things are revealed to my clients about themselves that they hadn’t fully thought of, or that sneak up on them. Often the very reason things at first sit a bit odd, is because they haven’t yet fully embraced this part of themselves it reflects, or the responsibility and power it might bring up for them. The Peacock has a very regal essence and is both humble and yet stands with dignity and strength. There is a tenderness in its eyes and a feeling of honoring and respect, as well as flowing grace. I just wanted hints of the peacock coming forth, so two gorgeous flowing tail feathers delicately peek through one end, as the Peacock emerges from the other. Almost as if this mandala is a dimensional portal where things manifest from and come through as it shifts into the right elements to create alchemy. And all of the things you find in the piece are qualities of her essence and wholeness that are peeking forth and emerging more, as she steps into her fullness and power. From elegant, Earthly being, majestically and gracefully reigning over the gardens of life, they transform into an other-worldly, Phoenix-like creature soaring magickally through the limitless sky. Peacocks symbolize many things including integrity, the beauty we can achieve through showing our authentic colors, guidance, protection, holiness, nobility, vibrancy, help on your spiritual path, breath of new life into your experience, rejuvenating self-esteem, expansion of your creativity and imagination, and courage to show up as your unique self. They also symbolize glory, vision, watchfulness, royalty, spirituality, awakening, immortality, refinement, beauty, desire, enjoying life, generosity, longevity, compassion, sensuality, immortality, and expansiveness. In Buddhism the peacock symbolizes expansive consciousness and is representative of the all-compassionate goddess Kuan Yin. The eyes of the peacock feathers symbolizing the omniscient essence of the soul that is all-seeing and all-knowing. As a royal status, peacocks represent the realm of the Empress and High Priestess. Being a solar animal peacocks express the essence of vitality, radiance, glory, stimulation, life, health, and invigoration. Alchemical traditions compare the resurrecting Phoenix to our modern-day Peacock, bestowing the symbolism of renewal upon it.
Moth: (there are two on the right top and left bottom at a diagonal) Moths are nocturnal. They symbolize dreams, shadows, otherworldliness, secret knowledge, higher awareness, psychic awareness and enhancement, inner knowing to navigate through the darkest hours of our lives, faith in uncertain shadowy times, vulnerability, determination, wise and balanced use of concealment – blend in when necessary and adjust and adapt when needed, attraction, subtlety and subtle allure, intuition, determination, navigation by lunar energy and light (feeling), vigilance in following your path of light, keeping your vigilance, adjusting your course accordingly to indications sensed rather than drive forward without heeding signs…
Star Jasmine: Jasmine remind you that all is in Divine order with the Divinity of your existence. (they remind me of nature’s stars and worked symbolically and aesthetically so beautifully I felt) They are simple star-shaped, five-petaled blossoms – ethereal and magickal. White Jasmine is both known as poet’s Jasmine and the “Queen of flowers.” They have an intoxicating fragrance that draws in hummingbirds, butterflies, and humans alike. Jasmine flowers symbolize many things to many different cultures. Some of these include love, romance, modesty, sensuality, amiability, nobility, grace, and elegance. However, the Jasmine also holds strong spiritual and religious significance, as it has been a constant symbol of divinity and hope. They felt like the perfect magickal touch to this piece, both of nature of also like star blossoms, tying in the star pentacle you have on your tattoo, and your own integration of cosmic and earthly essence. They float like the illumination the moths are instinctively and intuitively following to stay on their path/which is you and your instinctive clarity guiding you. Some of the star jasmine are entwined in the flowing Celtic knots of the mandala, as they speak of integration and the many layers you have, how all things are connected and integral to the journey.
Hexagon: The mandala took on a 6-pointed design, which holds a very potent and beautiful quality. The number six is also significant and felt meaningful for her. It represents harmony, balance, soulful integration, perfect union, communication, sincerity, love, beauty, truth, enlightenment, naturally revealing solutions for us in a calm, unfolding manner, delicate diplomacy in sensitive matters, reliability, home, family, lighting our path in areas we require spiritual and mental balance, and encourages compassion and forgiveness. It is connected with the very powerful Hexagon and Merkaba.
Star Essence: the total piece has the essence of a star symbolism, as well as a blossom…or rather I’d say – a star blossom. Her current tattoo nestled as the center of this organic flower that then emanates, opens and reveals more layers to itself as it blossoms.
Celtic Knot: found in the branching vines are used to tie in with her tattoo at center, creating the essence of eternity and continuity.
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
In Memory Of ~ Sacred Mandala Tattoo Design
This design is a custom Mandala created for a client that wanted to honor her mother. She wears a tattoo that honors her father already, and so this one will be in compliment to that piece.
It will bring balance as a sweet energy partner to the more masculine, bolder energy of the piece she wears, with more feminine qualities, as well as a more spiritual, ethereal lightness/softness. I didn’t want to create something overly dual in nature, but rather something that would combine some energetic elements so that they enhance and merge, rather than are complete opposites. So I used some bolder lines to match her other design, but with a softer quality.
Her relationship with her mother was different than her relationship with her father – much more layered, in depth, and complex.
There’s a sacred centering quality with this design in creating symmetry, and a mix of pointed edges combined with rounded ones, and flow/organic, as well as sacred symbolism.
I combined the elements that were important to my client and managed to get them all in. In this case, she knew what she wanted and the symbolism it all represented, but it was up to me to figure out how to put them all together, interpret, and combine them somehow – to tell the story.
Sometimes my clients have very clear ideas of what they would like and other times they bring the essence, and I supply the vision to reflect it.
The elements she brought to me to work with were the Dragonfly (represents her mom’s spirit/have shown up for her since her passing at meaningful times – she desired something abstract), Scales of Justice (representing Libra, which her mom was), Star (a beautiful bright star was in the sky the last night before her mom transitioned/this also provides comfort of her presence), Greek Key (her heritage), Mandala (sacred/spiritual connection), and Heart Chakra essence (her spirituality and yoga practice).
The Dragonfly is at center and I created it abstractly, as desired, subtly but strong, and with a transparent quality, and yet her presence is integral and stabilizing to the energy. She anchors the center and the middle of the body I actually created as an Infinity symbol for that unity and cycles of life essence – all things are connected and eternal. The darker lines are the wings at both sides that you can see through clearly, sort of mirroring that reflective/luminescent quality they have in real life. The Dragonfly of course representing her mother and the way she has messaged her. The Dragonfly also very subtly has a mirroring quality to the Scales of Justice it points to above.
I wanted the whole piece to have a very layered and complex feel, to symbolize the more in depth and layered relationship she shared having with her mother, as well as each of their individually dimensional layers. So the design is built upon these layers and also the wings of the Dragonfly are transparent, creating vulnerability and dissolving of illusions, as well as clarity of focus and intent.
The main part of the Mandala is created as the Heart Chakra Twelve-Petaled Lotus. Inside of the twelve petals this blossom is layered with almost like a Sun and even Star quality effect with tiers of petals both rounded and in temple points with some delicate dot detailing on some and shaded aspects for depth and contrast. The center of the blossom, like a full Moon, illuminates behind the Infinity symbol.
The bottom of the Dragonfly is created almost as a stem and petaled detailing (also somewhat reminds me of the fleur-de-lis design) that holds the Infinity symbol and anchors the body in grounded balance, but also holds and frames the emanating center that is blossoming and illuminating outward. The Dragonfly has a strong and refined presence, although is integrated into the design and revealing to the layers beneath it.
I added 3 dots at both top and bottom to tie in with the dotted quality in the blossoms (adding some hints of delicate Mehndi quality) and to draw energy both up and down, in and out, as above, so below…Three is a symbol of 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.
And at the top of the center, and above the Dragonfly, is a Seven-Pointed Star anchoring flowing tendrils of energy at either side that double as the Libra essence (her mother was a Libra) with subtle Scales of Justice ending in Greek Key design (again her heritage). The Seven-Pointed Star is also known as the Pleiadian Star or Faery Star and is a Gateway to the Otherworld. A beautiful reminder of eternal life and her eternal connection to her mother.
This, along with the entirety of the symbolism in this piece, representing her ability to connect with her mother through the portal of her Heart Chakra, as her presence – the Dragonfly – is always with her and can be accessed in this way. The energy also speaks to the qualities she is gifted to integrate into the totality of who she is as a reflection of her mother…and also father (the design she already wears), as a blending of both and yet emerging as something more.
Such a beautiful energy and connection between mother and daughter that I was able to assist in bringing forth. It’s meaningful to be able to create memorable pieces like this for 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, 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
Personal Empowerment Mandala/Visionary Dream Catcher Sacred Tattoo Design
It’s been quite the energetic week and continues to be so. I’ve been immersed in a bunch of creative projects, as well as new things for 2014 and all I can say is that I’m grateful to have learned balance and flow in my life.
Today I would like to share one of the several new sacred tattoo designs I’ve been working on. Creating this piece was like weaving a tapestry. It required a piece at a time, and it revealed itself in much the same way – never something to rush.
Working with these sacred tattoo designs reminds me of the abundant and infinite creative energy in the Universe and how truly unique each soul is, even though sharing the collective energetic themes. The way an individual’s frequency comes through will always have it’s own unique shine.
This piece is quite a large one and will be complimenting an already beautiful design that my client has on her back. Her current piece is also quite large extending from lower back, up half way and then flowing up to the right and across the left of lower back.
This piece will be at the upper back center and flowing down to the left in the open space she has and will tie in with her gorgeous large peacock that sits in front of a cherry blossom tree which extends up to the right, and that has a lotus sitting at the peacock’s feet, center.
I was given ability not only to create purely from channeling, but to tune in to any other area, besides the back she was thinking of, that may have been calling forth for a design. But, indeed the back was coming in clear for this piece of her journey. It was also very clear that the Higher Heart area, with synergy of Throat and Heart Chakras, was the place of power to ignite. All of these to help express her creative self through love and to be and speak truth with clarity, and always from the heart. The Higher Heart is the area where intent originates. It supports speaking your heart’s whispers and it connects the emotions of divine love, truth, compassion and forgiveness with your way of expression. This area is the etheric heart and helps in releasing fear so you can come into that divine love and way of being. It is the bridge between your emotions and intellect and makes a connection between your soul and physical body.
That being said, this design will be sitting at the top of her back/just under neck, in that Higher Heart area, with some of the design extending onto the back of Throat/neck and the rest flowing into Heart and then flowing into integration of drawing energy down and balancing her more “right focused” piece that flows up with “left focused” energy.
The new piece helps to emanate and move energy in all directions and will balance and integrate, while empowering the specific energies embodied in its symbolism.
Being that this piece is going to be part of what she already beautifully had on her back, it needed to have a tie-in and flow, which revealed near the end. The current piece has a mix of very organic energy and also a symmetrical flow right now and I wanted to compliment that, as well as add some new elements, yet keep with the integrity of her current design style.
What came to me was to create a Personal Empowerment Mandala, but it is simultaneously an organic version of a visionary Dream Catcher as well. I wanted it to be extremely potent, but to also be delicate and graceful, and to include Nature elements to convey her connection with it, an organic feel, but also a little subtle sacred geometry aspect.
The layers of the personal Mandala came through in vision, as I don’t think about the energies, until later. Below I will share some of the energy each element has. The bottom blossom/feather flowy extensions tie in with her current cherry blossom tree. I call them cherry blossom feathers, as instead of creating the feathers you normally see at the bottom of a Dream Catcher, I felt that the lightness and grace of the cherry blossoms appearing as if they are flowing on the breeze, felt more appropriate and not to mention perfectly compliment the more grounded and rooted full cherry blossom tree with a nice integrating element.
For people who like to know about symbolism, here are the individual elements and their energetic messages:
Hummingbird: The hummingbird symbolizes timeless joy and the Nectar of Life, as well as a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible and will teach you how to find the miracle of joyful living from your own life circumstances. They also symbolize energy, vitality, renewal, sincerity, healing, persistence, peace, infinity, agility, playfulness, loyalty, and affection. They are also messengers of hope and remind us to be persistent with the pursuit of our dreams. Apparently, a not-so-known fact is that their wing flutters move in the pattern of an infinity symbol, which then embodies the symbolism of eternity and continuity of infinite cycles. They are seen as being tireless, always seeking the good and beauty of each moment and day – and yet let us know that the sweetest nectar is found within. Since hummingbirds call our attention to how we expend our energy, when they appear it heralds us to honestly look at how we are managing our energy – are we wasting it on needless things like fears, worry, or unimportant details and things to avoid something? Or, are we staying well-balanced and efficiently honing in on productive use of our energy? (I created the hummingbird in a mix of organic and ethereal, with wings and tail that end in flowing spirals)
Spiral: 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.
Butterfly: 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. This Butterfly also represents the more feminine aspects with her gracefulness and curved wings and design, and that connection with understanding both the strength and fragility simultaneously in life. (the butterfly is integrated over the center of the Mandala design, emerging from it)
Heart Chakra Symbolism: In the human energy system, the source of powerful and creative, unconditional love energy lies at the center of your chest in the Heart Chakra, or “Anahata,” in Sanskrit. From its middle position as fourth in a system of seven chakras, it is the balancing integrator of opposites (between body and spirit, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity) and acts as an energetic “bridge” between lower and upper chakras. It is symbolized by a lotus of twelve petals and the color green, with emerald as one of its associated gemstones. (the Heart Chakra symbolism was created by the twelve petaled Mandala with inner layers of another 12 petals and then double 6 petaled or pointed stars at the core – representing the depths of integrative healing and core activation)
Six Pointed Star: (or hexagon/hexagram. Here is a post I did on the energy of this: Hexagons and Healings
Maple Leaves: Just as the sweet rich sap produces Maple syrup, so too does the Maple leaves serve as a love symbol, as they depict the sweetness and wonder of love in everyday life. (there are two at both bottom sides of the Mandala)
Cherry Blossoms: The breathtaking but brief beauty of the cherry blossoms, according to Buddhist tradition, symbolizes the transient nature of life. They also reflect, in traditional Japanese values, that of purity and simplicity. The cherry blossom is also tied with the samurai culture, representing the fleeting nature of the samurai’s life and symbolic of drops of blood. They also represent the arrival of Spring, end of Winter, end of difficult/challenging periods, joy, beauty, freshness, new generation, life cycle, feminine principle, beauty and sexuality, love in a language of herbs, promise of fruit to come – fruits of your labor revealing in abundance. (there just so happened to end up being 12 cherry blossoms, which was not consciously intentional – this mirrors the 12 petaled lotus Mandala, as well as 12 being symbolic of the creation of the universe, but combinations and repetitions of 1 and 2 together share that our thoughts are like seeds that are beginning to sprout and a sign that things will and are growing in terms of our intents. It also breaks down to the number 3 which is the Trinity, Union of Divine plus Human, Manifestation, Positive, Negative and Neutral, Expression, Subconscious Mind/Imagination, Creativity, Optimism, Enthusiasm, Expressiveness, Humor, Fun)
Dream Catcher: The dream catcher can also be a medicine wheel and with specific intention, with all the parts of the dream catcher having meaning. To begin, the web represent the spider forever repairing the eternal web of life. Thus weaving your life dreams and energy in the universe when you dream. The ring represents the earth mother and the humble walk we do upon her. As we believe that we are related to all things and that all things are part of us then the Dream Catcher and medicine wheel is a representation of such sacred belief. The ring and the woven web represent love, honesty and purity. All of the elements of the dream catcher together represent the earth, fire and water. Things we need to live. It represents the ability to be love and to love, to take the risk and get out of the nest and fly on your own, the ability to live beyond your shadows. The web is from the spider whose web represents the cycles of life – in each time of life there are many forces that can help or can interfere with the harmony of Nature. The web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center, to be used to help yourself and others reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will filter your good ideas and the bad ones will be trapped and will not pass. The legend of the Dream Catcher is that it captures the bad Spirits and filters them. Protecting us from evil and letting through only the good dreams. It is believed that each carefully woven web will catch bad spirit dreams in the web and disappear by perishing with the first light of the morning sun. The good spirit dreams will find their way to the center and float down the sacred feather. Dream Catchers are believed to bless the “sleeping ones” with pleasant dreams, good luck, and harmony throughout their lives. It is how lessons were remembered and where visions were received. It is said that when you get a good night sleep you can remember when the spirit has talked to you.
Personal Empowerment Mandala: Mandalas are geometric figures representing the universe. In this case, she IS the universe and this empowerment mandala is a reflection of the very “fabric” (my client actually loves fabric) of her You-niverse – the core of her being and aspects of her higher self to help her to move more gracefully into expressing that. This mandala will help her to focus her energy in a way that is connected to her authentic self.
In totality, and not limited to, this sacred design will help her to embody:
- more of her authenticity
- help remind her to flow and let go
- embodies that joy of life and will penetrate that integration through to her heart
- help her to have more courage and step out and into her expression
- will help to integratively heal old emotions and help her step more into the freedom of who she truly is
- will support her through the changes in life with continued promise of renewal and light at the end of each dark tunnel
- reflects her inner spark, connection with self, and the rhythms of nature with her animal totems
- help draw out her passions and come into her fullness more
- feel more peace with each step of transition knowing she is beautiful and loved as she is
- has a regal quality in its design almost like a personal soul crest
- will help create a powerful sense of boundaries when needed
The design as you can see at top and bottom and all sides, keeps the energy flowing and moving through and extends that centered energy it resides in at Higher Heart through all that she does through the journey of her life.
I was honored to be able to create this for her, as I am with each piece I help to co-create. My only hope ever, is that each design will touch the soul it is intended for, as each soul touches me.
If you would like to partner in co-creating your own sacred tattoo design to embody the empowerment you desire, you can contact me at tania@spiritualskin.com. Remember that there is currently a waiting list and price changes are going to be in effect at start of 2014.
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
It is also available in Kindle format here: Spiritual Skin