Tat-two

Today was tattoo day!! This is my second one as the title of this post implies. I checked out the shop (a different one from my first tattoo, as the primary artist of that business is in semi-retirement) and made sure that they met and surpassed all of the health unit requirements. It is a lovely, friendly shop run by a couple with two young sons. I felt comfortable as soon as I walked in a few weeks ago to discuss the design and make the appointment.

After confirming the design and discussing colour, dimension and after-care, the process began:

 

Pain-wise, it was pretty much as I recalled from last time. The most painful parts are the solid black lines. The needle has to stay in and move smoothly and continuously in one motion. If you stop and start, it doesn't look as good. I used my relaxation breathing techniques and a bit of toe-wiggling for the rainbow lines, but otherwise, I passed the time by having a fascinating theological discussion with the tattoo artist who is very well-read on matters of the spirit.

 

Tattooing is an ancient art. The original ink for tribal tattoos was often made by mixing wood ash with water. Tattoos were symbols intended to represent artistically the individual's personal and cultural place in the world. Culturally, a tribal tattoo would tell the world "I'm with these folks" while on a personal level, a tattoo might indicate that a rite of passage has been reached.

 

Why a cross and a rainbow? Well, the cross is of course the primary symbol of the Christian faith. While I struggle with the ancient sacrificial and substitutionary atonement theologies that often get tangled up with the image of the cross, at the end of the day, the empty cross still connects to me on a visceral (and today, literally, visceral) level as the sign that says, "Jesus."

The rainbow reflects my bloggy alter-ego, InnerDorothy.... *starts humming Somewhere Over the Rainbow.... and also reflects my belief that God's love is inclusive in every way.

Together, the cross and the rainbow say "God's radical love is for all of us. No exceptions. No fine print. All of us." Finally, as a theological symbol of hope, the rainbow really speaks volumes.

If you're thinking "Holy crap Sue, it's HUGE!" ~ no worries. We tried it out with a smaller drawing and it just got lost in the sea of freckles on my back. I'm still mildly freaked out by the enormity of it, but the colours are just so beautiful that I'm alternating between thinking "it's so big!" and "it's so perfect!"

Headache report for the day: about 6 most of the day, now 7, but waaaaaaaay better than yesterday. The tattoo process at least took my mind off my head for a couple of hours.