Inner Stillness: Meditation & Tattoos

tattoo by Ariel Fenomenon

Mental health is becoming a more acceptable topic to discuss in many countries. This has led to a surge in self-help/development advice being recommended and even encouraged by many accredited professionals. Therefore an increasingly open-minded general public is exploring the behaviours, practices, and beliefs that relate to healthy minds.

For example, meditation has been recognized for its overall calming effects, and gained popularity for the remarkable emotional stability it seems to provide when any specific individual's practice

increases and becomes part of a regular routine.

At the same time, all types of people getting and having tattoos are also noticeably becoming a familiar part of contemporary society. This growth in popularity among the mainstream, despite it's questionable reputation, could very well be due to the necessary individul aself-exploration and personal growth that comes with the experience of getting tattooed.

On the surface these two practices seem completely unrelated, that is until we acknowledge that they both share a feature of individualism at the core. Furthermore, there is actually a fascinating and even an essential interplay between the two. At first glance, they are totally distinct pursuits with not much in common. Yet, the fact that they complement and enrich one another so profoundly has been overlooked, or at very least, left unacknowledged for reasons unknown.

Meditation is a powerful tool that is praised by it's practitioners for cultivating inner peace and self-awareness, among many other psychological benefits. It is shockingly rare and often incredibly difficult for individuals to develop, access, and maintain a means of connecting with their true inner selves, also known as the higher self. Or in other words, our most authentic and righteous intentions, those that usually lie beneath things such as false beliefs, the ego, or environmental and social stimuli.

This issue is the main focus of most meditation paths, as one can imagine the results indeed can be life changing. Once this ultimate goal is achieved, it fosters a deep and lasting sense of tranquility, a transcendental state of mind leads to a breakthrough state of being, which can be carried out of the meditation session itself and applied, as needed, during other daily activities. This state of being has been termed 'mindfulness' and is frequently presented during most recent mental health movements as a solution or at least considered a step towards solution, in regards to the many issues that are being presented in the current science of the psyche.

Just as a blank canvas awaits an artist's brushstrokes, meditation opens up a space within our minds for self-reflection and exploration. Each and every one of us has our own masterpiece or 'super-self' inside, which can grow, if only we can learn to escape the heaviest of burdens and the cause of most of our miseries; the dark mental cloud we allow to develop or create for ourselves. Depressing and detrimental clouded thoughts that some carry with them through the majority of their lives.

Alternatively, tattoos are considered external expressions of our inner selves. They are most often intended to convey beliefs, experiences, and emotions in a tangible and visual form. Similarly to meditation, the beginning of the process of getting a tattoo ultimately requires some introspection. Choosing a design and it's placement on the body involves contemplating the significance and meaning behind the chosen imagery. If done correctly, the design, the placement, and the purpose will all equally reinforce and emphasize each other, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the tattoo. This can seem to be a complicated formula to get just right, and inexperienced tattooers will unfortunately often fail to realize the importance altogether, but a skilled artist will be able to do this almost instantly, as if subconsciously, like 'second nature.'

In order to truly appreciate and possibly grasp this concept, we must think like the master tattooist. These 3 elements (design, placement, purpose) are constantly intermingling and wrestling each other for dominance. Before the first stroke of the pencil the master must consider all 3, and visualize the final outcome to ensure that all are of equal strength, because if one is weaker than the others it will negatively affect the image, and possibly convey a different purpose entirely, if it does convey one at all. the master must think beyond the completion of the tattoo, and into the future of the patient. They must consider how the patient will see themselves in the mirror, in the reflection of a restaurant window, in photographs. The master must consider how other people will see the patient, at the grocery store, during an argument, or at their wedding. This is an important part of the tattooist's job, simply because no one, not even the patient, is truly considering anything of these things.

Let's use an example. Chuck walks into the studio because he has decided he wants a tattoo of a dragon. He explains to the tattooist that he has thought about it for over a year and is absolutely certain about his decision. His favorite tv show as a child was about dragons, and there is nothing more fierce and powerful than the unconquerable dragon in Chuck's mind. Plus his Chinese horoscope corresponds with the dragon sign, which indicates to Chuck that his destiny involves the dragon tattoo. After listening very intently and quietly to Chuck's words and paying more attention to his facial expressions and body language then Chuck realizes, that tattooist considers the information he has been given. Now an amateur might assume that Chuck's decision may seem arrogant and somewhat cliche. However based on the low volume of Chuck's voice and his tendency to finish each statement as if it were a question, including when he explained hed thought about it for a year, these are clues to the artist that Chuck does not see himself as posessing similar qualities of a dragon, but rather feels quite the opposite, as if he might never personally gain any dragon like attributes, and adding the fact that it was his horoscope validated his choice despite having nothing in common with his chosen design. So from this short conversation the tattooist has gathered the following information; design- the best dragon for the design will be a japanese style dragon, these are more versatile, sleek, and have more flow in their movements than medieval style dragons who tend to resemble a type of large canine or a dinosaur.

Why this choice? well we must consider the context of the character in each legend. Typically the medieval dragon is associated if not held captive by a dominant king figure, or has contained itself to a certain area for the purpose of hoarding treasure. The Japanese dragon is more of an independent figure of freedom whose legends are mostly about the cycles of nature and traveling or transforming, usually dedicating itself to the completion of a goal or destination of some sort. purpose- clearly Chuck consciously or unconsciously admires the qualities of the dragon and has hopes that by getting this specific tattoo he will appear to have some of the qualities such as strength, bravery, power, etc. the design should express the purpose as much as possible, down to every tiny detail. placement- because of the many versatile shapes the japanese dragon can take, a well designed one could essentially 'look good' on many places of the body.

However, we must consider each of the 3 elements, and they must coorelate and reinforce each other. By considering that Chuck is hoping to feel empowered a good placement would be chest or shoulder area. These areas are where most men demonstrate strength, also he will see it often in the mirror and others will easily notice the ferocity when he wears shorter sleeves, which will return the frequencies that Chuck emits with his new tattoo.

Do you see how getting a medieval dragon tattoo on his shin would not fulfill the purpose he seeks? Do you see how the design, the purpose and the placement correlate? In ways that Chuck probably never had or would consider? How the Japanese tattoo would likely create positive change to the rest of his life whereas the medieval one would have no effect or even cause Chuck to feel less empowered and the world to treat him no differently than if he had not gotten a tattoo at all because it would likely be covered by clothing most of the time?

Introspection aside, the next important thing to consider before getting in 'the chair' is engaging one's mental preparation for the difficult task ahead. Experienced meditators have found that the ability to effectively meditate provides a valuable foundation for the tattooing experience. The practice of mindfulness allows them to be fully present during the process, enabling them to endure any discomfort with grace and composure. By honing their ability to remain centered, individuals can enhance their overall tattooing experience as well as outcome. A tattoo session then turns into an intense and extremely beneficial meditative ritual in itself.

Moreover, meditation can aid in clarifying one's intentions for getting a tattoo. By encouraging introspection, individuals better understand the symbolism and significance behind a chosen design. This self-awareness ensures that the tattoo becomes a meaningful and authentic representation of their inner world.

Properly chosen, placed and executed tattoos can also serve as visual anchors for meditation. For those who have done so, gazing upon their tattoos can evoke a sense of calm and grounding. The imagery etched onto their skin becomes a tangible reminder of their journey towards inner peace. This visual cue can serve as a focal point during meditation, allowing practitioners to dive deeper into their inner realms.

In some cases, individuals choose to ink sacred symbols or mantras that hold personal significance. These tattoos can serve as powerful meditation aids, imbuing each session with a profound sense of purpose and intention. Through this integration, the body itself becomes a sacred canvas, bearing witness to one's spiritual journey.

The relationship between meditation and tattoos is a testament to the intricate ways in which we seek to understand and express our inner selves. Both practices offer unique avenues for self-discovery and personal growth, ultimately leading towards a more profound sense of wholeness.

By incorporating meditation into the process of getting a tattoo, individuals can infuse this transformative experience with mindfulness and intention, while also making the time seem to go by faster, and most importantly; lessening the intensity of the application by allowing distraction, determination and essentially mental strength take power over any physical sensations to move, which can be an unpleasant experience for artist, patient and the overall aesthetic of the completed tattoo.

Likewise, tattoos can serve as powerful visual reminders, anchoring meditation practitioners in their mental practice.

Whether one meditates or not, it is of the utmost importance that a person is mentally mature and capable enough to realize that getting a tattoo is no small feat, and one that will likely require all of the might they can possibly muster at certain times; regardless of size, spot or design. The responsibility lies mostly with client to follow the artists exact instructions from before the appointment begins and all the way throughout the healing process. Being the best artist in the world is pretty much worthless, in terms of the finished tattoos visual value. If a client refuses to relax their muscles, sit still, or decides to follow someone else's aftercare advice the process will be unnecessarily very slow and painful, and in most cases there will be details that vary from the intended design. If an artist has a very impressive portfolio, but you feel like your tattoo doesnt fit in with their other work, ask yourself 'did they for some reason not care about me?' or 'did i do the best job of listening that i possibly could have?' Chances are the latter is the more realistic scenario. There's only so long that you can call the rest of the world crazy, before asking yourself if in fact you are the crazy one.