Do tattoos find us?
Sometimes, I really wonder. What is speaking into the void, so loudly, that our subconscious hears the call. What drives us to moment we decide, “I am ready for a tattoo.” This choice doesn’t have be an all encompassing, deeply meaningful symbol of our spirit. What if it’s just meant to be, for us?
The topic of: no one really needs a tattoo came up recently. It kept me up all night thinking, sure, I definitely agree. It is a luxury at the end of the day.
But what if tattoos are similar to the way people are inherently who they are—regardless of the trauma or success they’ve experienced in their lives. Tattoos are the one thing we can *literally* take to our grave. You could adorn your body with the finest of jewelry but it will not rot with you. All of the money you’ve saved, passes onto the next person. The countless materials you collect in your time alive doesn’t actually matter when it’s time to rest. All of it, is meant for the living.
I have a theory that some tattoos could simply be marks for the soul, waiting for the time to come where it’s ready to show up in our lives and get us through to the next stage. The main catalyst for most individuals deciding to get new work is due to a big transitory period in their life. A death, a birth, a memory, or even a breakup. It’s really fascinating to me that art manages to show up for us in when we are in this space. Maybe it’s because its moments like that, we are lead back to this path of self discovery. Continuing the progression of the human experience, and what it means to be you in this short period of time—floating around a piece of rock, spinning around in space.
This theory is a lot of fun for me to play with—it drives the belief that I have always had: nothing is a coincidence, and that everything happens for a reason. Everyone we meet is either a lesson, gift, or a combination of both.
Now just because my theory is a fun little romantic love-affair that I have with tattooing—it doesn’t mean you should get your current romantic love affairs name tattooed on you. That’s not a tattoo waiting to call to your body and spirit. That’s just guaranteed profits for your local laser tattoo removal company. Be smart, yeah?